Probably...

I don't have a lot to say about this one, but I thought it was cute.  Patten is by BananyaStand on Etsy.

It WILL be fine once I can jump into this...

It's still a little cool for swimming, but this is my parents' pool.  They have had a pool (This one is newer, because you have to replace above-grounds every few years) for the past 9 years or so, and it's always so nice to float in there with them, chat, and have a couple of drinks.  I can't wait for pool days this year!  It's one of the things I was really looking forward to when we figured out we were moving here temporarily.  My dad built the deck around it and so there are places to sit and my mom likes to lay out in the sun so she has some lounge chairs she's going to put there.  She's also gonna put an umbrella up so there is more shade.  They really know how to elevate the above-ground pool.  

That's all for now!

True Crime Junkie

 After my Stay Joyful pattern, I was at a loss at which pattern to start next.  I started one and decided I didn't wanna, so I'm not gonna for now.  So I put it aside and looked through the hoard I have and found this one by LevelThreaded on Etsy.  I am a True Crime junkie.  I call it "Murder Porn", which probably isn't the best way to refer to it, but oh well.  

I have always been interested in true crime, even before it became huge with the ID channel and podcasts.  I read true crime books like crazy an amassed quite a collection of anthologies about true crime.  I do not have the library I used to have (the ex kept it, and it was worth it to get rid of him), but I can now watch it whenever I want to on streaming platforms and I have a few podcasts I love to listen to, but my favorite thing is to watch it while cross stitching.  So this was perfect!  I actually finished it on my lunch break today.

Here for a Meh Time for sure...

Well, painting is done!   I've been busy busy!  

Last Thursday, I left work early and headed to Hutto.  I stopped for some Tex-Mex in New Waverly (it was alright, not the BEST but not horrible), and got to Hutto around 8:15 or so.  I listened to They Might Be Giants almost the whole way.  I have not listened to them in almost 20 years, and I don't know why!!  They are so amazing.  I made a playlist so I can listen to them more often. 

When I got to Hutto, I went into the house and moved stuff out of the way of the painters and then just chilled in the hotel room afterwards.  

Friday, I got up and let the painters in to the house, and then I went to Kohl's, then Target where I found a cute black and white striped sweater. It's almost too hot to wear right now, but I'll need it in CO!  Did some craft shopping and then went to the Outlet mall because I need some more walking shoes.  I found a great pair!  I am proud that I was good and didn't spend a ton of money!  Wanting to save for moving and not wanting to have to pack a ton of crap to move also helps with me not buying crap.  I did find a Shaun of the Dead Funko Pop and YOINK!  He is mine!  I bought a book called Obitchuary that's about funny death facts.  Can't wait to start it! I came back to the room, took a nap, and finished this piece by The Gloomy Gremlin! 

I went back out to the house after and locked up after the painters left.  They did an amazing job.   I love our home so much.  I cried like a baby.  It's so beautiful and hard to say goodbye.  I went out into the back  yard, to see my beautiful lavender bushes that are thriving, and to sit on my patio furniture.  My dad and Allen built this patio for us almost 3 years ago and now I have to say goodbye.  They worked so hard on it... it makes me so sad.  I put so much love and magic into that home, and now I have to leave.  It's gutting.  I'm about to start crying so I'd better move on...

After marveling at how amazing the house looks, I went back to the hotel and watched a bunch of TV, ate some pizza and was a fat slob in the bed all night.  I had to let the painters in again Saturday to finish up.  I went up to Lakeline Mall and they were having some big market thing.  I got a Picard Funko for Allen.  I went up to Leander for a bit to visit friends, then went back to the house to lock up after the painters.  They finished up and it looked beautiful.  I will REALLY miss this place. 

On the way home, I met my friend Anja in Taylor to go over some wedding stuff, since I'm officiating her wedding.  Then I went went home!  I got home around 8 and then on Sunday, I spent some time with my parents.  My mom LOVED the "Here for a Meh Time", cross stitch and wanted to know if I could do one for her in the same colors.  So I'm gonna frame this one up for her and she can have it!  I was just gonna put it in a portfolio anyway.  It really meant a lot to me that she liked it so much.

That's about all for now, I think!  

Stay Fucking Joyful

Things in our country are rough.  There is so much arguing and hate being slung around.  I have been really good about ignoring it and not watching the news, despite one of my friends who is constantly sending me links and inundating my messages with YouTube videos of people spouting opinions like they're facts and news.  "They're canceling elections!"  shit like that... makes it hard to protect one's peace and find the joy in everyday life.  

Julie Jackson over there at Subversive Cross Stitch releases patterns sometimes that feel like they are directed straight at me.  I know that's not the case- we don't know each other!  But I saw this one and found lots of joy stitching it up!

It can be hard to stay joyful, but we have to try.  xo

 

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: The Kraken

 I finished another one from The Witchy Stitcher's Cryptid Stitch-along.  These little guys stitch up so fast!

I think most are familiar with The Kraken. My favorite rum is named after The Kraken…it is a colossal legendary sea monster said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland.  Sightings date back to the 12^th century.  Thought to be the scariest, most feared sea beast ever to inhabit our planet’s waters, the Kraken was said to be more than 100 feet long and weighed 4000 lbs. Tales of these creatures describe them as being giant cephalopods (like octopi) having giant tentacles that would envelope and capsize ships.  As the ships would sink to their demise, the beast was said to eat those on board or let them drown in the ship’s wake.  Studies by various sources deem it possible that the Kraken could have been early sightings of a colossal squid. - The Witchy Stitcher, Cryptid Wiki, The Conversation

How cute is this guy??

Love Potion

I have had this pattern for a while.  It's by Haunted Frames.  I don't know why I was so intimidated by it, and then I started stitching it up and it's not really hard... I just kept messing it up.  I think the outline for some reason was tripping me up and I still think I may have messed it up.  The lighter pink thread that I have must be old or just not a very good quality (although it is DMC and I never have issues with their thread), because it kept snagging and fraying.  I finally finished this one, though.  It's on glittery aida, but I don't think it really picked up the sparkle in the picture.  

I bought this blue aida years ago and have barely used it.  I love the color but didn't really know what I wanted to use it for.  Then I was inspired.  I love this color combo.  The pattern is by CryBabyCrossStitch on Etsy.  I LOVE LOVE her patterns and have several in my dragon hoard of cross stitch patterns.

Right now, I don't have anywhere to put my finished pieces.  I thought about framing them all and putting them in some boxes.  I also thought about photographing them all.  Then I thought... I have all of these unfinished pieces I need to do something with and many of them will not fit into a frame.  Then it dawned on me... I need to get an art portfolio and that way I can put these in and they will be safe until I can frame them!  I just need to find one I like... 

Poop and Painting

Well, it's March.  This year has gone by kind of fast in spite of the horrors!  

I have been pretty good about keeping up on my Stitch-A-Day project.  I did something to my wrist and it hurt to stitch for about a week and so I had to to some mad catching up.  

I made one of these long ago for the bathroom at our house in Hutto, but I really like this simpler design, so I stitched it up for the bathroom here in Coldspring.  When I leave, it shall be my gift to the house!  This pattern is from EmbroideryByZeze on Etsy.

We are finally all moved out and we cleaned the house and painted the first coat on the walls.  It looks HORRIBLE... so we thought maybe another coat of primer and then paint.  Allen put some more primer on, and then we went to paint over that... it still looks like shit.  UGH.  Frustrated, we decided to get an estimate on house painters and we are going forward with that.  One of us will have to be there to let them in, but that's okay.  I feel like we have already sunk so much money into this move, and we wasted time and paint and money but... what else are we gonna do??  So that really lifted some stress off of me and Allen.

So, next week, I'm taking some time off and I'll go to Hutto, spend some time with friends, and then let the painters in and lock up after they're gone.  Then I can do some other stuff out there that needs to be done and come home Saturday.  I'm looking forward to hotel time and time with friends!!

We Will Serve The Lord of the Rings

 Monday Monday...

I started working on this a couple of weeks ago, I think, but my wrist started hurting randomly and it hurt to cross stitch anything so I had to take a break and let me tell you how I was Jonesin' for doing something crafty... so I did diamond painting for a little while.  It didn't bother my wrist as much.  

But I got back on it and finished this lovely this past weekend!  I can't wait to frame this and put it in our new house when we get one!  Pattern is from TinyCatPatterns on Etsy.

The Rest of February's Stitches

I have been cross stitching like crazy, and also distracting myself with other things.  I've been hanging out with my parents a lot and then every damned weekend, we have been going back to Hutto (3 hours there and back driving) for something or another.  UGH.  I will be glad when we don't have to spend the weekends out there and can chill and have free weekends!

I love the show Ozark, and like most people, Ruthie Langmore is my favorite character.  She is so cute and fiesty and damn, the potty mouth on her... I love it because I also have a potty mouth.  I got this pattern on Etsy from Shirleysstitcheryco.  I like the weird designs on the top and bottom.  I stitched it on some horrible fabric that I will never buy again and I actually threw the rest away.  It's some aida from Amazon (probably a bad idea but in the middle of nowhere, there aren't a lot of options), and it's almost like a plastic canvas, but it's not.  It's horrible to stitch on. 

I memorialized my love for Judge Judy.  I have watched Judge Judy since she started in the 90s and now I watch her channel on Pluto all the time if I just need something in the background.  Judge Judy on demand... living on this timeline does have its teeny tiny privileges I guess.  I saw this pattern from Pinterest forever ago but couldn't find it for sale.  So I just copied it and just now got around to doing it so I'm not sure who designed it.

I started a "Stitch a Day" project and I fully intend to do a tiny pattern every day.  We'll see how that goes.  This is my progress so far.  

So.. see ya in March!

Back in Perler Action

 My wrist started randomly hurting and it was bothering me too much to do cross stitching.  I was like... well what the fuck am I gonna do with my hands?? 

I did a little diamond painting, but kind of wanted to get back into Perler Beads, so my sweet husband went to our storage space and brought me some of my Perler bead stuff like pegboards and tweezers!  Here are the froo-eets of my labor so far:

I found this on Pinterest and thought it was super cute, so I re-created it using mini beads.

And here are some random ones.  I have tons of designs and sometimes get overwhelmed and don't know what I wanna do, so this happens.  Just little random shit I don't even know what I'll do with!

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: Dover Demon

 Friday at laaaast!  

I finished another cryptid from the Witchy Stitcher.  According to Wikipedia, The Dover Demon is a creature reportedly sighted on April 21–22, 1977 in Dover, MA.  17-year-old William "Bill" Bartlett claimed that while driving on April 21, 1977, he saw a creature "about 4 feet tall with glowing orange eyes and no nose or mouth in a watermelon-shaped head" on top of a broken stone wall on Farm Street in Dover.  15-year-old John Baxter reported seeing a similar creature on Miller Hill Road the same evening. Another 15-year-old, Abby Brabham, claimed to have seen the creature the following night on Springdale Avenue. It's believed that it may have actually been a snowy owl, which would have reflected in the yellow headlights of older cars as the peach color described by Bartlett. In addition, the "long spindly arms" and fingers of the supposed creature could be the partially opened wings and the splayed feathers at the wingtips of a snowy owl.

Let's Talk About Love

 ... and nice things.  I'm actually feeling a bit better, on and off.  I find that staying off social media and away from the news helps.  

I gush about my husband a lot, but he really deserves it.  He is happy if I am happy.  He was happy in Hutto (but really did want to move from Texas because he hates Texas so much now), and he's not into cold weather like I am, but he was 100% happy and up for moving to Colorado.  He has done so much- looking for houses to get an idea of what we will be able to afford, researching good areas and areas to avoid, researching living in CO in general, and being there for me when I break down in an anxious mess.  I have done a Valentine's Cross Stitch piece for him for almost every year we have been together (2025 makes it 19 years total!), and he used to have a little wall of them at our old house.  He has created a wall in his new office of them, which I think is just the sweetest.

I have been seeing a lot of "Until we're ghosts" patterns, but some are so big and big ones take me FOREVER because I am easily distracted, so I created my own more simple one using ghosts from a pattern I purchased from AlliePaigeEmbroidery on Etsy.  I added the rest myself.  This is his 2025 Valentine's Stitch!    I took him to pick out the frame and I think it fits really well!

Does anyone know...?

Living in the woods has been so nice so far. It's quiet.  I see my parents every day almost.  It smells lovely.  And it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL out here.  It's very conducive to crafting.  It's really cozy and being cozy is my goal in life.  

This is how I have been feeling since November 5th, 2024, but ESPECIALLY since January 21st, 2025.  Like.. .WHAT THE FUCK is going on???  Is this real life?  Are these things really happening?  Did people really say these terrible things?  Are they really trying to do other horrible things?  Are people actually believing what is being said?  Did Elon Musk really do a nazi salute at the inauguration (yes he did, I saw it unfolding on national TV) and people are defending it???  LIKE WHAT IN THE GODDAMNED ACTUAL FUCK????  I created this pattern myself :)  Well, kind of.  The flowers are from another pattern I have and the alphabet is one I purchased a while back and I don't remember who created either of them.  I just put them together.

And now, I have to....

This pattern is from Alexsitchinstuff on Etsy.  

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: Nessie

A cryptid that needs no introduction… The Loch Ness Monster, or as her friends call her, Nessie.  I don’t think she’s a monster at all.   Nessie is my FAVORITE cryptid other than Sasquatch.  In 2023, when the world wasn't as scary and I was a happier person (that will change, I know, but right now... I'm honestly barely holding it together some days), we went to Scotland for our wedding anniversary and we went to the Loch Ness Center, where we did a little tour narrated by David Tenant about the legends, history, and hoaxes of The Loch Ness Monster.  That was the trip of a lifetime, and it was so cool to see some of the history.  Sidenote:  Scotland, to me, is a faerie tale dream world and I didn’t wanted to leave.  I have never been anywhere so beautiful.

 

Nessie is said to inhabit Loch Ness, the biggest lake in Scotland, located in the Scottish Highlands.  She was first reported on August 22, 564.  She was reportedly seen in Drumnadrochit by a hotel manager in the 1930s, and that’s when all the fanfare happened.  There are groups in Scotland dedicated to finding her and proving she exists.  She is an animal with sleek, rubbery black skin, about 20 feet long.  She may be a very old Plesiosaurus.  I often wonder if there has been more than one of her over the years. 

That's What She Said

 Well!  It's been a minute but we are moved in and somewhat settled.  I think that it'll take a little while to get everything situated how we want.  But we already moved our great big TV in, of course we have our offices set up, and I have my craft stuff out, so we are set!

It's finally feeling like winter in Texas, and it's been so cozy stitching in front of the TV.  Here  is the first piece I've finished out here!  The pattern is by Jennyslittleartshop on Etsy.  

I have a feeling I will be getting A LOT of cross stitching done out here in the middle of the woods...

The Witchy Stitcher Cryptid Stitch-Along: Ahool

 Happy New Year!  We moved out to Coldspring this weekend.  My parents are so fucking amazing, I can't even tell you.  They were such a huge help in getting us loaded and moved, and partially unloaded.  I hate moving and do not want to do this again.  Well, I DO want to do it again because I want to move to CO, but ugghhh not looking forward to it.

We are in the house I grew up in, which is both very cozy and very weird.  Allen's office is in my old bedroom.  My office is in the laundry/computer room.  I am really looking forward to spending all the time with my parents and seeing my sister more often before we move 13 hours away to Colorado.  

Anyway, on with the cross stitch.  I finished this one last Thursday.  It's the last cross stitch I did in our house in Hutto, which makes me a little sad when I think about it, so I won't think about it.  This is my latest installment of The Witchy Stitcher's Cryptid Stitch-Along.  I must have bought this Stitch-Along two or three years ago.  I rarely keep up with them because I just may not be in the mood to stitch a specific thing when they come out.  I also have her Supernatural one that I will start on after I get through these.  I'm thinking I may do a few of them on one piece of Aida rather than do them all separately.  You're meant to do the entire Stitch-Along on one piece of Aida but... I don't like stitching the big frame because one stitch off and you're fucked and I cant' handle that.  LOL Anyway, here is the Ahool.  

The Ahool is "a flying cryptid, supposedly a giant bat, or by other accounts, a living pterosaur or flying primate.  Named for its distinctive call A-hool (other sources render it ahOOOooool), it is said to live in the deepest rainforests of Java. It is described as having a monkey/ape-like head with large dark eyes, large claws on its forearms (approximately the size of an infant), and a body covered in gray fur. Possibly the most intriguing and astounding feature is that it is said to have a wingspan of 3 m (10 ft). This is almost twice as long as the largest (known) bat in the world, the common flying fox."

Happy New Year!

 I'm back at work after my holiday break.  Happy New Year!  

This year, we didn't really do much, because we are packing our final things to move to Coldspring.  This decision has been extremely difficult for me.  I am deeply connected to our home in Hutto.  I have put so much magic and energy into this space and I feel very attached.  I have cried almost daily having to say goodbye, and honestly, sometimes I doubt our decision to do this.  But on the other hand, we feel like a move to a state that isn't so.... REPUBLICAN... is a good move.  I think we will be happy.  And we will also have seasons!  I am sick to death of wearing shorts on Christmas!

Anyway, here are my final stitches of 2024!

I found this pattern ages ago, I think on the now defunct Feeling Stitchy blog.  My dear friend Haylan has a book of people's art she's collected over the years.  I did a horrible self-portrait in it almost 20 years ago, and she asked me to do another page, so I stitched this up and added it!!  She absolutely loved it.

I am a huge Smiths fan and the end of last year was rough for me.  I stitched this one up in hopes of good times... for a change.  I got this pattern from Follow the White Bunny.

I am a huge fan of The Office, and I really need more cross stitch pieces from that show.  This is one I found online, but couldn't find it to purchase, so I just made it myself.  IYKYK...

And finally, this one.  I had no plans for it, and my friend Cristina asked me how much I'd sell it for.  Well, I normally wouldn't sell it and I'd have just sent it, but since we're moving... I gave her a good price and this is her picture of it after she got it.  It makes me sad, not only because it was one of the last cross stitches I did in Hutto, but Cristina passed away from brain cancer not long after she purchased this.  I had no idea she was sick- she had moved away but we still kept in touch.  She loved it, though, and hope someone worthy inherited it from her.  

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2025!

Ornament Action Shots

 I can't remember if I have posted these, but I can't find them, so if I did, you get reminded of them!  

I love how my friend Heidi added my snowflake one to her Yule altar.

This pattern is from Stitch_X_Love on Etsy.  I made it for my sister.  

And everyone's favorite (Again for my sister)- Ernamernts!

DNHTNS

 I do love cross stitching on colored fabric.  I got this aida on Amazon, and have had it sitting just waiting for the right pattern.  I found it!  I think I'm gonna take this one as my "white elephant" gift for our Yule ritual!  

Pattern is by CryBabyCrossStitches on Etsy. I love love this color of aida.  I think I got it from Amazon.  

Our house is a mess right now and it's making me crazy.  But at least I have all my Christmas shopping and stuff done.  I wasn't able to do as much this year as we normally do, since we're moving and now trying to save money for a move, but I was able to do enough :)  I'm really looking forward to going out to Coldspring and spending some time with my family.  I feel like I'm really gonna be needing them over the next year with how stressful everything may be.  I'm very lucky to have them in my life!  

Anyway... post again soon!

Come and Get It!

I don't really have a lot to write about right now, but I am happy to have finished this cute little piece for my 50s aesthetic friend Anja!

I believe this is from a vintage pattern I found online.  

I'm getting both excited, anxious, and really sad for Christmas and our move.  I love Christmas and I'm really sad that this year, I don't have a tree up, and I didn't even decorate.  I haven't felt like it's Christmastime at all.  It's unseasonably warm, and I haven't seen a bunch of Christmas ads on TV.  I have only seen my favorite one a couple of times and it seems like I've seen one version that's updated and not the same.  It's the one with the Hershey's kisses where they ring the kisses like bells to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  It's my favorite Christmas commercial and has been since I was a kid.  I love that it's one of the older ones they still air.  I really like Christmas commercials (although by the middle of January, it's time to retire them, folks...).  It's almost as if the world is "Meh" about Christmas this year.  And that makes me sad, but in the US, I get it because we're scared of what's gonna happen when what's gonna happen on January 21st happens.  I can't even speak it's name.  

Another reason I haven't decorated, of course, is that we are packing up our house to move, and so there is really no place to put a tree or decorations.  But I'm really looking forward to seeing the tree and Mom and Dad's, and they also have a tree at the "old house", which is sweet.  So, I'll have a tree at some point at least anyway, and then next year, I am confident we will have a home and I can put up decorations and my tree again in 2025!