.2024 stitch journal.

 2024 was my second year to finish a stitch journal. I used a linen cotton blend leftover from my summer workshop at the Grunewald Guild, a vibrant mustard yellow with a royal blue #8 thread. I started with my word of the year - devotion - there's a few definitions for devotion. I was drawn to these two most - an act of prayer and the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity. For me, the word represented an open heart and mind - the dedication to being fully open + present to live and what it would bring. It was so fitting, as this year brought so much newness and unknown to me. Life is an experience and I am a devote student.  I stitched it in the middle of the journal/piece of fabric to remind myself every day. Then slowly started stitching blue circles, one circle for everyday. It feels so good to have compete my second year of this tradition/practice. 

I love having a piece to hold the year. A year of so much. 

.stitch journal 2023.

 2023 was my first year to finish a stitch journal. I wrote about the project at the beginning of last year in a blog post. I used fabric from an old dress and bright red pearl cotton #8 thread. I started with my word of the year - attune - to bring into harmony. I stitched it in the middle of the journal/piece of fabric to remind myself every day. Then slowly started stitching red circles, one circle for everyday. The first month or so I had a different stitch pattern for each day until I decided to simplify with just a circle - no drawing or template, just organically stitch, each with their own uniqueness. I love having a piece to hold the year. A year of so much. 

.stitch journal.

 I started a stitch journal this year. The original idea, I believe, came from Claire Wellesley Smith, author of many books, including Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art. It's a simple daily practice. It will be a beautiful reflection upon the end of the year. Even this morning, only five days into the new year, it struck me how illusive time is. The new year feels so far out until it arrives, and time speeds up, and we're almost a week into 2023. 

I love the presence of this practice. As I mentioned in my last post, I selected a word for this year - attune. To find harmony continues to resonate. I stitched attune in the middle of the journal/piece of fabric to remind myself every morning of this intention.