Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark.
My 2026 temperature project continues to be equal parts whimsical garden and personal nightmare. Four months in, I still love the idea of it. The actual stitching? That’s another story.
I started Good Spirits back near Christmas and fell in love with it almost immediately. B.K. Borison has a real knack for writing stories that feel soft and whimsical in the best way, full of warmth and characters you just want to spend time with.
March’s temperatures ranged from 25.2º to 91.4º. Yes, you read that right. March. The biggest swing came on March 12, with a 46.8º shift in a single day.
My cross stitch temperature kitties are coming along swimmingly. I was expecting a lot more yellows, oranges, and maybe even a red or two in May, but the weather had other plans. The month ended up cooler than average, which kept the warmer shades mostly at bay.
In Burke, the average daily temperatures ranged from 56.8ºF to 75.5ºF. So while we’re still seeing some greens and yellows, the full-on heat hasn’t shown up in my palette just yet.
I really don’t mind though—this project continues to be such a joy to work on. It’s fun to watch the colors shift slowly and to see each little cat reflect the season in its own way. I’m looking forward to June and finally breaking into those brighter, hotter hues, even if I don’t actually love the heat myself.
The moment I heard Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speak those words during a committee hearing, they hit me hard. Yes, they were political, but they were also deeply personal. Because let’s be honest, most women have found themselves in situations—at work, in relationships, even just navigating everyday life—where they’ve had to swallow disrespect or choose to stand their ground.
This quote wasn’t just powerful. It was familiar. It was a reminder that we don’t have to stay quiet. And for me, someone who turns to creativity as a form of expression and empowerment, the best way to honor that was to turn it into something lasting.
So I created a cross stitch pattern. Simple, bold, and meaningful. And now, I’m proud to say it’s my very first digital pattern available in my Etsy shop. Whether you hang it above your desk or gift it to a friend who needs the reminder, I hope it empowers you like it did me.
April brought another fun shift in my temperature cross stitch project, both in color and in vibes. With average daily temps ranging from 42.4ºF to 74.0ºF, we are definitely edging closer to true spring, and my stitching reflects it. This month’s cat features lots of greens and yellows, with just a touch of the deeper teals from March lingering at the beginning.
The gradual warm-up meant a more consistent palette overall, and I loved seeing those sunny colors start to take over. It’s such a satisfying transition after the cooler tones of January through March.
Four cats down, and I’m still completely in love with this project. Each little section feels like a snapshot of the season, and I can already see the full picture starting to take shape. I’m ready for May and maybe even a few oranges. (I say that now knowing full well I’ll be cursing the first super hot day.)
When Courtney Gustafson moved into a rental house in the Poets Square neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, she didn’t know that the property came with thirty feral cats. Focused only on her own survival—in a new relationship, during a pandemic, with poor mental health and a job that didn’t pay enough—Courtney was reluctant to spend any of her own time or money caring for the wayward animals.
But the cats—their pleading eyes, their ribs showing, the new kittens born in the driveway—didn’t give her a choice.
She had no idea about the grief and hardship of animal rescue, the staggering size of the problem in neighborhoods across the country. And she couldn’t have imagined how that struggle—toward an ethics of care, of individuals trying their best amid spectacularly failing systems—would help pierce a personal darkness she’d wrestled with for much of her life. She also didn’t expect that the TikTok and Instagram accounts she created to share the quirky personalities of the wild but lovable cats, like Monkey, Goldie, Francois, and Sad Boy, would end up saving her home.
Courtney writes toward a vision of connectedness—from the dark alleys where she feeds feral cats, from inside the tragically neglected homes where she climbs over piles of trash and occasionally animals, from her own driveway with the cats she loves and must sometimes let go. Compelling and tender, Poets Square is as much about cats as it is about the urgency of care, community, and a little bit of dumb hope.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I can’t tell you exactly when I began following Poets Square Cats on social media, but I do know it was a post featuring Sad Boy and Lola that first caught my attention. How could it not? It didn’t take long for Poets Square Cats to become one of my favorite daily stops on my social media breaks. As I fell in love with all these cats I’d never meet, I also came to appreciate Courtney’s storytelling and the heart behind it.
I’ve anxiously waited for this book since it was announced. I pre-ordered a print copy pretty much as soon as it was announced. I ate up every little tease Courtney posted. When I saw the book was available on NetGalley, I shot my shot for a review copy, even though I’ve not been the most consistent reader and reviewer lately. I was over the moon when I learned I was approved and I dove in that very night. I had no intention of reading it in one sitting. I planned to consume one or two essays at a time over several days. Well, that didn’t happen. I just couldn’t put it down.
Whether you’re a longtime follower of Poets Square Cats like myself or you just consider yourself a feline aficionado, this book should be on your TBR. Especially if you have an interest in rescue and TNR work and the people who care for community cats like Courtney does. Her writing is beautiful and thoughtful. I’ve always enjoyed her storytelling in video voiceovers and captions. This book took it to a whole new level. I especially love how she wove her story seamlessly with the story of the cats and humans she met along the way.
I have to admit, I was afraid the emotions that would come with this book might be overwhelming considering some of the cats who have been lost over the last year or so. Falling in love with cats on the internet isn’t for the weak at heart, y’all. But Courtney struck a perfect balance of emotions so it never weighed me down. Were there tears? Oh, absolutely. My emotions ran the full gamut. I also learned more about the history of the Poets Square house and its cats, as well as Courtney of course. I got angry on her behalf about some of the situations she had to deal with. The link between community cats and misogyny was particularly enlightening (and enraging, to be honest). But most of all, this book just made me thankful there are people like Courtney in this world, people who are strong enough to advocate for community cats and get them the care they need.
Big changes are happening! My old blog was all about books (which I still love, obviously), but lately, I’ve been reading less and creating more: sewing, cross-stitching, running my Etsy shop, and just living life. So, it was time for a fresh start!
This new space will be a better reflection of me: a mix of books, creativity, and everyday moments. You’ll still find bookish content, but now there’s room for sewing projects, cross-stitch updates, Etsy shop news, and whatever else sparks joy.
It’s going to take a little time to move everything over from the old site, so thanks in advance for your patience while I get things settled.
If you followed me for book recs, don’t worry—they’re not going anywhere! But if you’re also into crafting, small business life, or just a little bit of everything, I hope you’ll stick around.
March brought a whole new look to my temperature cross stitch project. The purples and light teals that represent cooler temperatures are almost completely gone, and I’ve started working with deeper teals, greens, and even some yellows as the weather warms up. It’s been so satisfying to watch the colors gradually shift over the course of the month.
In Burke, the average daily temps ranged from 28.9ºF to 73.8ºF. That’s quite the range! It really felt like I was stitching the slow, steady arrival of spring right into the fabric each day.
March also brought a different kind of upgrade to my stitching setup. I swapped out the traditional round wooden hoop for my new favorite find—a square Q-Snap frame. It holds the fabric much more evenly, which makes it easier to work with. I also added a grime guard to keep the edges protected and prevent my fingers from dirtying the fabric as I stitch. They’re small changes, but they’ve made a big difference in how much I enjoy the process.
I just love how these three adorable little cats look seated next to each other. This project is such a mood booster, giving me a daily dose of serotonin. I can’t wait to see how April’s cat will look beside these three. I’m anticipating lots of greens and yellows ahead. Hopefully we’ll save the even warmer oranges and reds for later in the year, but only time will tell!
When the Eras Tour first started back in 2023, I watched in awe as makers took to TikTok showing off their knitting skills and tracking the surprise songs in the form of blankets and scarves. I wished I was that crafty, but also knew I had no business picking up a new hobby at that point.
Fast forward to early 2024 when I had a failed attempt at making a surprise song quilt. If mashups had never entered the picture it would have been a heck of a lot easier. (Also I would have missed the mash ups terribly.) I struggled to find a template that worked for quilt squares when there was anywhere between 2 and 6 songs every night. It was too much. I got overwhelmed quickly and just stopped working on it.
In late 2024 as the Eras Tour was concluding, I still hadn’t come up with a way to honor the tour — and especially the surprise songs. I fiddled with the idea of designing something and having it printed and framed, but I couldn’t ever settle on a design. Then, as I was packing my car for my final craft show of the year, I sprained my ankle. I didn’t want to sew, I didn’t want to just sit around and watch TV, especially since I was going home for a couple of weeks for the holidays. On a total whim, I decided my next “granny hobby” would be cross stitching. I had a brief flirtation with cross stitch as a kid, but hadn’t touched a needle or hoop since. I quickly picked it up and had a great time working on patterns I purchased on Etsy.
In early 2025, I decided I would try my hand at creating my own patterns. Some day I’ll post about those. All of this to say, inspiration finally struck (kinda) — I should commemorate my beloved Eras Tour and surprise songs in cross stitch. I tried a couple different things, but nothing stuck at first. I was making it too complicated, too much. I saw a temperature cross stitch pattern with hearts and thought that’s the one! I can make this work. Fortunately I’d already tracked the surprise songs and colors, so I just needed to work them up into the pattern. I found thread colors that closely matched the Eras colors as shown in the tour poster. And then I got to stitching.
The tour has been over for more than 100 days now (*sob*, I miss it every day) and I’ve only finished shows through June 2023. It’s an easy pattern, but it’s also one of maybe 5 works in progress I have going on at the moment. My goal is to have it finished well before the anniversary of the final show in December. I’ll keep you posted.
As I mentioned last month, one of my (many) current WIPs is a temperature cross stitch featuring the most adorable little cats. I’m honestly having the best time with this project. It pretty much guarantees I’ll do at least a little stitching every day, and it’s so fun to see how the colors shift over the course of a month. I imagine it’ll be even more interesting as we move into spring and summer. It’s such a cool visual representation of the year.
February brought some more temperature swings, which meant I got to introduce several new colors into the mix! The average daily temps ranged from 20.2ºF to 53.8ºF, and I loved watching the palette shift in both directions throughout the month. Also, can I just say—I’m completely obsessed with these purple and teal hues? It might be tough to top these combos.
Another month of tiny cats stitched, and this project just keeps getting more fun. Just look at how cute those two kitties look sitting side by side! I can’t wait to see what March brings.
As a maker, I always find it fascinating to see what sells and what doesn’t. It’s especially interesting when you focus on one product in different variations like I do. Some styles consistently sell both online and in person — Swiftie, bookish, florals, cats and dogs — but it’s always fun to see what’s popular during a given month, season, or even at a specific in-person show.
There are certain trends I can always count on. For example, local universities and sports team bookmarks sell extremely well at my in-person events. I know if I’m doing a show in Morgantown, WV, I should show up with an abundance of WVU bookmarks and anything I have in a blue and yellow combo. Those are a given. Beyond that, show inventory is a mystery because shoppers are unpredictable. Will people want seasonal styles, or are they looking for something more year-round? Are they shopping for women, men, or kids? I’d love to tell you I have it all figured out after doing this for three years, but I’d be lying. I do the best I can to provide a variety of options and offer custom orders as a backup plan.
Case in point: I was in Pennsylvania preparing for one of my biggest shows last November and debating whether or not to take Halloween bookmarks with me. I like to have a good assortment of seasonal bookmarks (even out-of-season ones) at any show, but my displays were quickly filling up with winter and Christmas goodies. I put out a handful of Halloween options — and it’s a good thing I did, because my biggest seller that day was a Halloween-themed bookmark. (And not a particularly appealing one, IMHO.) But I sold every single one I brought, so I guess that was a good fabric to buy… even if I have absolutely no recollection of doing so.
Since most of my bookmarks are made to order, online inventory is a whole lot easier to manage. But I still find it just as interesting to see what others like and purchase. It helps me make informed decisions when I think about buying more fabric. (Something I will not be doing again for a very, very long time — but that’s a blog post for another time.) Evaluating online sales also helps guide what I take to in-person shows. If it’s a good seller online, there’s a pretty good chance it’ll be popular in person too.
I can’t really say there were any surprises when I looked back at my 2024 sales to see which bookmarks were the most popular. Adorable holiday-themed goodies are always a safe bet. (Good thing I’m a sucker for fun holiday fabrics — I’ve got plenty to choose from!) My personal favorites from the first six months of the year? Taylor and Travis (duh), and the tiny crabs.
The bestsellers from the second half of the year didn’t really surprise me either. Everyone loves a bookish-themed bookmark, so the shelf print with the sleeping cat is always a safe bet. Florals continue to sell well, no matter the season. My personal favorite from this bunch is the cardinals — that one has a special meaning for me. And apparently, it holds a special place for a lot of folks, because I couldn’t keep it in stock online or in person.
Looking back at what sold is always helpful… but what’s even more fun is dreaming up what’s next. I’ve already got some ideas (and fabrics!) I can’t wait to play with. Whether it’s seasonal, sentimental, or just plain cute, I love seeing which bookmarks connect with people. I’m so grateful for everyone who supports my little shop and gives all these fabrics a second life as something special.
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