Category: Crossed & Found

Okay, yes… this post is very late. Please do your best to ignore the little sneak peek of September’s cat in the photo and pretend to be surprised next month. Deal? 😄

August brought a little bit of everything to my temperature cross stitch project. The month started off cooler than normal, heated up with a solid hot streak in the middle, and then eased back into cooler-than-usual temperatures by the end. The shifting weather definitely showed up in my stitches, with a mix of warmer shades surrounded by slightly softer tones.

In Burke, the average daily temperatures ranged from 64.4ºF to 83.2ºF. It was still plenty warm, but nowhere near the steady, relentless heat of July, and the color variation this month really reflected that change.

It’s wild how quickly this project is coming together, and even wilder that there are only a few cats left to go for the year.

I’ve been waiting for the oranges to take over my temperature cross stitch, and wow, July delivered. The month was full of heat, and my stitching reflects that. Every day fell into the orange range, and by the end of the month, the entire section was glowing in warm tones.

Surprisingly, we never quite hit red, which in my chart represents an average daily temperature of 87ºF or higher. But that’s only because I’m tracking the average temperature, not the daily high. If I were going by highs, we would have been deep into the darkest reds for a good chunk of the month. If I do this project again next year, I might adjust the color ranges a bit on the upper side to better illustrate the hottest days.

In Burke, the average daily temperatures in July ranged from 77.2ºF to 85.9ºF. So yes, very warm and very orange.

I can’t believe how fast this project is flying by. Seven months down, five to go, and I’m already curious to see what kind of shift August brings.

I’m a bit late to my June update because, well, life. But better late than never, no?

June really turned up the heat on my temperature cross stitch project. After a cool start, the month warmed up significantly, and my palette definitely reflects it. This month featured mostly oranges, with a few yellows and greens thrown in for balance.

In Burke, the average daily temperatures ranged from 58.9ºF to 89.1ºF, which meant I finally got to break into those warmer shades I’d been anticipating (even if I’m not a huge fan of the heat).

Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of the finished month because I forgot to take one, so you’ll have to settle for this late June progress shot. But it does include a special guest appearance from my own little kitty stitching buddy, Muffin, so I think that makes up for it.

I can’t wait to see how July shapes up—something tells me there will be even more oranges (and maybe a few reds) ahead!

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.

“I will not yield to disrespectful men.”

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.

Check it out here: https://kimberlyfayecreates.etsy.com/listing/4307571783

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.)

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.