Embroidery Inspiration: part I

The dissonance that occurs when I have too many plates spinning, when I’m overly over-tired, when I feel like I can’t think past the RIGHTNOW of life is strong. Like triple shot strong (coffee joke?). However, earlier this month I found enough mental cooperation to pull myself away from the spinning plates and into that very comforting realm of creativity. I have always enjoyed embroidery projects, so one night a few weeks ago I found myself on Pinterest searching for something new.

I tried out a new mental exercise, maybe you do this too, where I search for a new creative project and then let my mind wander through a game of “how would I make that differently?” — and it totally worked! A new idea came to me, so I sent myself a text message with the details so I wouldn’t forget, and then I got started the very next morning.

The freshness of a new day paired with the confidence that I can try try new things re-charges me instantly. I don’t always have moments like these, so when I do they feel extra special to me.

My new project idea is to create an embroidery book for each of my children where I stitch their name & birthday on the front and then write a little letter on the inside, along with a few pages of stitches/illustrations. I plan to hold on to these books until they’re a little older, and then when the time feels right I’ll pass them along.

Right now, this project is a way for me to slow time my time with them as I take the time to stitch some special thoughts. It’s a way for me to mix their love of reading and drawing/coloring with my love for embroidery and textiles. It’s a way for me to sit down come evening time and think through what I really enjoyed about my day with each of them, my children, my arrows.

MY INSPIRATION //

I searched Pinterest for “embroidery stitches” and then clicked around, modifying my search as new ideas came to mind. Here are some images that really stood out to me / catapulted new ideas as I brainstormed how I would make my project differently.

I’m really loving how my first book (for Maxwell) is turning out. Having this creative project sitting in a basket, on the kitchen table or in our bedroom come evening — waiting for me to get started, is really helping to keep the cobwebs at bay.

PS. for my embroidery books I’m using a mix of fabrics: Kona, chambray, and cotton. I prefer to use cotton fabric over traditional embroidery/cross stitch textiles.

xx