Stitch Journal 2 (Creativity Matters Podcast 460) | Creativity Matters Podcast (CMP)

Episode 460 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — Continued discussion of the stitch journal embroidery project, choosing an icon a day, and similar approaches in a sketchbook or journal

This is the second half of the Stitch Journal discussion. The other half is in Episode 459. Today’s show talks about the process of choosing an icon each day, just something from the day and to represent the day. There is some talk (again) about Winnie the Pooh, about Harry Potter, and about the pink fog.

The process of picking an icon each day for this embroidery project is similar to several prompts I often include for #illustrateyourweek, like “a detail from each day” or “something that made you smile today.” I encourage you to try drawing an icon in your journal or planner each day. It’s a great way to practice your visual vocabulary for sketchnoting, too.

I mention one book in this show that contains icons, Journal with Purpose: Over 1000 motifs, alphabets and icons. The book is written for bullet journalers, but it can easily be used as inspiration for the embroidery project or for any kind of doodle art practice. Practicing drawing icons like these is excellent for helping build your visual vocabulary for use in your journal, sketchbook, or sketchnotes. The noun project is a really good resource, too, for icons and simple shapes. Some other books you might look at (or anything else your library has):

Journal with Purpose: Over 1000 motifs, alphabets and icons to personalize your bullet or dot journal by Helen Colebrook
Journal with Purpose Layout Ideas 101: Over 100 inspiring journal layouts plus 500 writing prompts by Helen Colebrook
How to Embroider Almost Everything: A Sourcebook of 500+ Modern Motifs + Easy Stitch Tutorials – Learn to Draw with Thread! by Wendi Gratz
Doodle Stitching: The Motif Collection: 400+ Easy Embroidery Designs by Aimee Ray
20 Ways to Draw a Tree and 44 Other Nifty Things from Nature: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Eloise Renouf
Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment by Christi Johnson
Draw 500 Fabulous Flowers: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw Everything: With 135 Nature Themes from Cats and Tigers to Tulips and Trees by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw a Tulip and 44 Other Fabulous Flowers: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw a Cat and 44 Other Awesome Animals: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Julia Kuo
50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life: Practical Lessons in Pencil and Paper (and go listen to Episode 325: Beautiful Ordinary Life)
20 Ways to Draw a Doodle and 44 Other Zigzags, Twirls, Spirals, and Teardrops: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers by Rachael Taylor
Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal by Samantha Dion Baker (and go listen to Episode 352: Draw Your Day)
Draw Your World: How to Sketch and Paint Your Remarkable Life by Samantha Dion Baker
Draw Every Little Thing: Learn to draw more than 100 everyday items, from food to fashion by Flora Waycott
Draw 62 Animals and Make Them Happy: Step-by-Step Drawing for Characters and Personality – For Artists, Cartoonists, and Doodlers by Terry Runyan
How to Draw Almost Every Animal: An Illustrated Sourcebook by Chika Miyata
How to Draw Almost Everything: An Illustrated Sourcebook by Chika Miyata
Florabunda Woodland: Super Simple Art Doodles: Color, Craft & Draw: Trees, Owls, Leaves & More (Design Originals) Over 300 Nature-Inspired Doodles like Birds, Flowers, Animals, Bugs, Branches, & Roots by Suzanne McNeill

Beyond these, just Googling any or this thing “line drawing” or “icon” will often turn up plenty of options to help get you started.

These books are more abstract:

Rebecca Ringquist’s Embroidery Workshops: A Bend-the-Rules Primer by Rebecca Ringquist (of Dropcloth Samplers)
Doodle Stitching Embroidery Art: Move Beyond the Pattern by Aimee Ray

Other shows related to visual vocabulary and sketchnoting:

Randoms

I am on Day 86 now of the 100-day dress challenge (from Wool&). The end of the official challenge is rapidly approaching, and I know deep down that I am not done with this journey. I might have only just begun. I have been chronicling my 100 separately @oamyoamy100.
I just completed week 29 (of year 51) of weekly self-portraits in my illustrated journal.
Some people in the CMP group at Facebook are reading The Authenticity Project (by Clare Pooley) together. I can’t wait to see what other books we decide to read together.
#the100dayproject starts February 13. I’m torn this year between thread and ink….but maybe there is a shape in my future…. last year’s circles and dip pen focus was really important for me and a huge stepping stone in my illustrated journal.

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Tools

Moleskine Art Sketchbook (what I WAS using for regular drawing and my illustrated journal)
Moleskine Art Sketchbook (the REALLY big one — A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″ — I am now using this for my illustrated journal)
Preppy Fountains Pen 02 – this is one of the best starter/inexpensive fountain pens you can buy!
Preppy Fountain Pens 03 (multi set)
Lamy Safari – always a good choice
TWSBI Eco – my favorite fountain pen in the starter range (although I love my TWSBI Iris Vac even more)
Dip Pen holder I’ve been using (with maru nibs)
PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink (multiple color options)
Diamine Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
Noodler’s Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
Monteverde Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
Colorverse Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
Platinum Carbon Black ink (what’s in my fountain pen)
Sktchy app for inspiration photos
Micron 08 (larger nib good for thicker lines or filling in small-medium spaces)
Micron 01 (favorite for drawing)
Micron Sampler
Notes on large format sketchbooks
ROYGBIV supplies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
Uni-Gel Alpha Shaker pencil (mine is listed as “slightly firm” – but it’s super cushy; they do come in other softness/hardness ratings. I really do love this shaker!)
Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Large, White (these things disappear like socks; you can never have too many white erasers lying around)

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Guitar music: Nicholai Heidlas on SoundCloud