Daydream Journals: Memories, ideas and inspiration in stitch, cloth & thread

by Tilly Rose

Begin your creative journey and memory collection with your own gorgeous stitched daydream journals.

Talented textile artist Tilly Rose shows you how to create beautiful cloth journals, among other lovely items, to record precious thoughts and ideas - from fleeting memories to treasured items, sketches, poems and photographs.

There are eight gorgeous things to make, including journals, a sewing case, a project bag and a scroll cloth diary, using a range of exciting techniques that include layering and collage, hand embroidery, transferring your own designs to cloth, stamping, appliqué, embellishing, patchwork and free motion machine embroidery.

A journal provides a fascinating glimpse into your world, is a beautiful object in its own right and will provide inspiration for further embroidered creations.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Art

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Tracy Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly Rose at her very best

I’m a great fan of Tilly Rose, and have created a few pieces of stitched artwork with her as my inspiration. I’m wanting to create a special book in memory of my mum and this book has given me tons more ideas of what to do. She is so approachable so when I wasn’t sure about one technique she answered me straight away. I feel encouraged and ready to make a book which will be so special to me, words can’t describe. Thank you Tilly x

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much, I have recently began a stitching challenge which involves a snippet roll and found some inspirations among the pages. I also work with Art journals and having a reference book at my fingertips can be helpful. It was a very quick read and I am sure I will refer back to it many times.

[Karen Cotton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty slow stitching

Some love!y ideas to stitch fabrics for the sheer enjoyment of stitching. A way to reflect experiences rather than just writing about them. I think it's a good guidance that can be personalised by your own choices.

[Tyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library book.

Oh goodness, within an hour of finishing this book I filled three jars of different flower petals on my window sill attempting to make little fabric dye swatches.

This book is extremely inspirational! It's not that it is a revolutionary book full of alchemic processes I have never heard of. It's just that it is such a nice compilation of reminders. Little things like antiquing the edge of my journal pages with a tea bag.

Tilly Rose says the following, "I'm a big believer in serendipity and often a journal capturing one thing at the beginning invariably finishes on a completely different path (a little like my thought processes most of the time!). The secret is not to overthink things and not try to complete a book with too many rules. Try to let your creativity flow." (page 11). This advice is seems written for me!

My 4 star rating is simply my own taste. Although I was extremely inspired by this book, many of her homemade journal covers are little too hodge-podged (for lack of a better word) for my taste. (For example the cover photo and the journals with twigs couched on the spine (page 59).

All in all, I think I would like to own this book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book with beautiful photography. The artist’s featured pieces are beautiful. The vast majority of the book and its projects are journal covers. These feature vintage fabrics, buttons, natural dyes, and surface stitching. Each is its own unique creation and as such, much of the project directions are somewhat vague. The mechanics are usually featured with step by step photos but since the reader is highly unlikely to have the same stash of vintage fabrics there really is no reason to mention she used a fat quarter of some obscure vintage fabric or a 6x6 patch from the jacket of a loved one.

The author does include how she comes up with her base wrap for the journal covers and a few simple methods for including pages. These methods are likely familiar to junk journalers already but it’s nice to have the directions in one place, right? There aren’t any ‘difficult’ binding stitches to learn, just a simple wrap that holds folded pages in and leaves the option to tuck a few more in.

This is much more a sewing/stitching book than a journaling book but it is definitely filled with eye candy.

[Tamara Zann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great inspiration to start journaling in your own way.
There is quite a lot of overlap with Tilly's first book in terms of her sources of inspiration, materials, etc. This is no surprise, since each book stands on its own but for me it felt like reading something I read before while eagerly waiting to hear about the things I saw on the cover.
However, I am inspired to draw and sew a daydream journal, which is what I got the book for.

[Dorise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about journal making with fabric, thread, buttons and other textiles and found objects. It includes some techniques such as water color washes, stamping, rubbing, berry and flower squishing. Some of the projects use pre-made journals and some use very simple binding techniques. The Tilly Rose aesthetic is a soft mixed media collage style with emphasis on textiles.

[Bridgette Guerzon Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the artist/author's writing on her creative process. Her work is very layered and created from many things collected and made, and there's not really a way for her to give step by step instructions. But what she does is walk the reader through what inspires her and how her pieces evolve, with techniques sprinkled throughout.

[Debbie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable Techniques

So many techniques that did not require purchasing a lot of new supplies. The book is beautifully illustrated and the author’s personal insights just made me feel happy!❣️

[Claire Kist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical, beautiful, imaginative, inspirational... wonderful.

Magical, beautiful, imaginative, inspirational... wonderful. In addition to informative, well taught, and a magical journey. I'll spend a long time with this book.

[Jillian]

Very cute and sweet craft book. It’s not my type of craft, but still inspiring to me!

[Holli · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many ideas and tons of inspiration.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of pretty things and colouring with plants. Mot sure how much I'll use it, it's not really my style, but there's always some takeaways from most books.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with some helpful advice and unique designs!

[Marian]

A great starter book full of wonderful ideas for anyone wanting to be creative or having a place to store notes about things they have found or seen.

[Beki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous inspiration! Great ideas and examples to try, and easy to follow simple stitches for reference at the back.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good How To book. Shows lots of stitches and gives ideas.

[Beth Norman-Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library and immediately ordered it at my favourite book store. This book is full of inspiration.