Embroidered Gratitude

I started this small project a couple of years ago as a monthly marker for my Instagram - a little quote to stitch each month. It seemed like a fun idea, but after finishing only two (January and February), I tucked it away in a box with other unfinished projects and settled on drawing my Little Miss Mousy instead. That felt much easier to achieve.

Then, at the start of last year, while going through my UFOs (Unfinished Objects), I came across this forgotten idea and decided to give it one more chance. And this time, I kept going. I flipped through my old gratitude journal and picked out the quotes that once spoke to me.

By mid year, these monthly quotes had become more than just sayings. At the end of each month, I would look for a quote that felt right - one that held a personal meaning. In a way, it turned into a gentle gratitude practice, a quiet reflection on the month that had passed. A quiet moment to pause and ask: What truly mattered this month? 

Take July's quote, for example: “A little progress each day adds up to big results.”

Looking back on July, I understood even deeper how small, consistent changes can really bring surprising transformations.

What began as an effort to support a loved one’s health journey became my own awakening. Even though I ate well and stayed active, I felt constantly exhausted, sluggish and anxious. Sugar had quietly become my constant companion through little daily treats.

So I cut out carbs and sugars completely and started exercising daily instead of sporadically. The shift was remarkable. My energy stabilised, my focus sharpened, my anxiety settled, my mood lifted, and even my sleep deepened. I discovered truth behind this month’s quote in the most personal way possible. The biggest lesson? Freedom from sugar came easier than I feared.

This project also gave me a chance to face something I had avoided on multiple occasions: embroidering letters. Different fonts, curves, spacing - it always felt intimidating. But month by month, I tried, and somewhere along the way, my confidence grew, and this became as easy to me as stitching flowers.

I wasn’t making big, elaborate pieces - just small motifs, simple words. But each one felt like a tiny achievement. A small goal met. A bit of progress. That's exactly what I needed this past year. With my sewing taking a back seat to other priorities, I missed my craft time and worried my creativity had evaporated. These small embroideries gently reminded me it was still there, waiting quietly. I just needed time to tend to other things first.

It’s amazing how a little thread and a few words can quietly stitch a year together. Twelve small, simple pieces I can look back on and be reminded of a whole year captured in glimpses of creativity, inspiration, motivations, and meaning.

My next step? Turning this pile of little embroideries into something I can keep close - maybe a small book for my desk. Something to revisit month by month.

What about you? If these were yours… how would you bring them together? 😊 

Happy stitching! Larisa xox