A Month of Creativity, Progress, and Life’s Little Surprises
January was a month of creativity, progress, and a few unexpected twists—both in stitching and in life! I spent time designing and stitching, worked on some exciting new and ongoing projects, and even launched a new mental health resource on my website. Outside of Two Little Kits, I marked a huge personal milestone, picked up some old routines, and braved the freezing cold (though still no snow!). It’s been a full and busy month, so let’s take a look back at everything that happened.
Leading image: We had some seriously foggy days for about a week straight!
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Upcoming Pattern
January included refining and finalising my next cross-stitch pattern, "Love Reminder"! This piece is a simple yet meaningful design that features the words "you are loved", framed by a circular border of red roses above and below. It’s a gentle, everyday affirmation—something to stitch for yourself or as a heartfelt gift for someone special.
"Love Reminder" is part of my "Adulting" collection, which leans into the idea that sometimes, we just need a little extra kindness (whether that’s through a hobby like cross-stitch or in the words we surround ourselves with). It’s an advanced-beginner pattern—while it only uses full cross-stitches and simple backstitching, the colour changes might trip up complete beginners. But with a little patience, it’s a truly rewarding stitch!
A Love-Filled Reminder 💖
Right now, "Love Reminder" is being test-stitched by Jessica, and it's been wonderful seeing it come to life in thread. If all goes well, the pattern will be ready to release next week! It also features my Kathy font, so if you enjoy this lettering style, you can use it to customise your own projects too.
I can’t wait to share the finished pattern with you—stay tuned for the official launch!
What’s Next?
If you want to stay updated on all my latest releases, be sure to sign up for my newsletter—it’s the best way to know when something new is available!
Finished Piece
A Special Family Portrait ✨
My single finished piece this month was a highly detailed stitch people family portrait that I designed and stitched pro-bono. It came together surprisingly quickly—not just in the stitching itself, but also in the design process. Sometimes, everything just clicks, and this was one of those pieces!
This portrait is packed with detail, from carefully chosen outfits to tiny, personalised touches that make it unique to the family it represents. I won’t give everything away here (I’ll let the pictures do some of the talking 👀), but if you’d like to see the full piece and read more about how it came to life, click the link below!
Works-in-progress
January WIPs: Keeping the Starts Under Control... (Mostly) 😅
January was a busy month for my work-in-progress pile! I bounced between a number of different projects, making solid progress across the board. But despite the itch to start all the things, I managed to rein myself in—well, mostly.
I only allowed myself to start two new projects this month (one of which you can probably guess!), and I’ve been trying to finish a few things before diving into any more “just for me” things. The struggle is real, but I’m determined to clear out some WIPs before giving in to the next wave of inspiration!
Now, let’s take a look at what I worked on this month.
Cross-Stitching
A New Start & Plenty of Progress 🧵
It wouldn’t be a new year without a fresh, year-long project—so of course, "Flower Meadow" made its grand debut this month! This one will be my big focus for 2025, slowly coming to life over the months ahead. That said, I may have had a little oops moment when stitching the year banner… Turns out, muscle memory is strong, and I accidentally stitched “2024” instead of “2025”. Whoops! 😅 Nothing a quick fix couldn’t solve, though!
Beyond Flower Meadow, I made solid progress on several ongoing projects. "The Secret Grove"—my dedicated car project—is really taking shape now, which is extra satisfying considering how much of it has been stitched in short bursts. I also put in a lot of time on "Pretty Little Seattle" and "The Haunted Library", both of which are starting to feel like they’re getting somewhere rather than just endless tiny stitches.
Now, let’s take a look at where everything is up to!
Cross-Stitch Design
A Special Commission 🎨
January wasn’t just about stitching—I also spent time designing! The main focus was a custom commission, which I wrapped up right at the very end of the month. This piece features five characters along with some background elements, making it quite different from my usual Stitch People portraits. But honestly? That just made it even more fun to put together!
Now comes the slightly stressful part—stitching it in time for a birthday deadline! It’s definitely a bit of a time crunch, but I’m up for the challenge. Keep an eye out for progress updates as I bring this design to life in thread!
Here’s a peek at the design:
Crochet
Almost There! 🧶
After a lot of trial and error, I finally settled on a border design for my daughter’s lap blanket—and honestly, I’m so glad I took the time to get it right. It was the last big decision standing in the way of finishing the piece, and by the end of January, I was so close to being done!
As of writing this, the blanket is officially finished! Now, I just need to figure out the best way to block it nicely… which is definitely something I need to think through. Any tips are welcome! 😅
Website Stuff
New Blog Posts
A Busy Month for the Blog! 📝
January was a big month for writing—I ended up publishing seven blog posts, plus my regular FlossTube updates! From deep dives into finished pieces to reflecting on Flower Field and even tackling the question of AI-generated embroidery patterns vs. real designs, it was a pretty wide-ranging mix of topics.
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It’s been great to cover such a variety of things, and I’m excited to keep the momentum going into next month! If you haven’t checked them out yet, you can find them all here.
New Landing Page
A New Hub for Creativity & Mental Health 💙
One of the most meaningful additions to my website this month is a new landing page: “Welcome to a Space for Creativity and Care for Your Mental Health.” Stitching has always been more than just a hobby for me—it’s a way to slow down, find focus, and take care of my mind. I know I’m not alone in this, so I wanted to create a space where others can find encouragement, resources, and inspiration.
This page brings together everything I’ve shared about the connection between stitching and mental well-being. You’ll find:
- Cross-stitch & embroidery patterns designed with mental health in mind—affirmations, reminders, and comforting stitches to keep your hands busy and your heart light.
- Links to calming apps that can help with mindfulness, relaxation, and focus.
- Articles & blog posts exploring how needlework supports positive mental health.
- Resources for mental health support because while stitching helps, we all need extra care sometimes.
If you ever need a little encouragement—or just want a reason to pick up your needle and thread—this is a space made just for that. You can explore it here.
IRL
Life Outside of Stitching
January wasn’t just about thread, fabric, and designs—I had plenty going on in my day-to-day life, too! From personal milestones to random little moments (both good and frustrating), it was a month full of ups, downs, and everything in between. I started some new routines, hit a major anniversary, and even had a classic “parenting moment” that involved a very broken TV.
Let’s dive into what’s been happening outside of my stitching world!
Trying Acupuncture
Even If I Hate It! 😬
This month, I started something I never thought I would—acupuncture. It’s meant to help with the chronic pain in my toe from my break in 2021, and while I don’t exactly believe in it, my insurance covers 10 sessions this year… so I figured, why not give it a shot?
That said, as someone with trypanophobia, I hate every second of it. 😅 It’s definitely been a mental challenge as much as a physical one! So far, I can’t say I’ve noticed much difference, but at least it isn’t making things worse. For now, I’ll keep going and see if anything changes over time.
Martial Arts
Hoping for That Red Belt! 🥋
Last cycle, my chronic toe pain made it really tough to attend enough classes to properly progress in my martial arts training. It was frustrating, but I knew I needed to take care of my body first.
Going back this month was nerve-wracking (it always is after a break!), but as soon as I stepped into the dojo, I was reminded why I love it. My instructors and fellow students welcomed me back with open arms, which made all the difference.
This cycle is another kicking-focused one, so I’m having to take it easy again, making sure I don’t push myself too hard. But my goal? To make it through the full cycle and finally reach my red belt level! Fingers crossed my body cooperates! 🤞
Surgery Anniversary
1 Year Since WLS – A Look Back 🎉
On January 19th, 2024, I braved the snow and drove into Seattle for a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (also known as bariatric surgery). And now, just like that, it’s been over a full year since that life-changing day!
It hasn’t been an easy journey—I had major complications (which I talked about here), but ultimately, it’s been successful. Over the past year, I’ve lost around 88lbs (~40kgs) and have gone from Class III Obesity to simply Overweight on the BMI scale. I guess that means I still have further to go, but honestly? There’s no rush.
Here’s a side-by-side of my face from then vs. now—what a difference!
If I had to decide all over again, knowing what I know now… I really don’t know if I’d go through with the surgery again. Everyday eating is still a huge challenge, just in a different way than before. But now, it feels more important—more pressing to get right.
That being said, I definitely feel better in my own skin than I did 13+ months ago. I notice it the most when doing martial arts—I can move more freely, with less strain. And doing moves that require me to jump are easier on the knees! I also notice it in little moments, like sitting down and realizing… I just take up less space. It’s surreal.
Miscellaneous
The Little (and Not-So-Little) Things This Month
January brought a mix of small joys, funny moments, and unexpected mishaps—because life is never boring around here!
For Australia Day, my kids wanted to share a bit about their heritage with their classmates, so I put my printer and Cricut to work to make some Happy Australia Day! stickers, along with some mini Australia flags I purchased. They were so excited to bring them to school and celebrate where our family comes from—it was really sweet to see them take pride in it.
On the food front, I finally treated myself to a small pizza from my favourite pizza place for the first time since weight-loss surgery. And let me tell you—worth the wait! I took my time, eating it slowly over the course of the entire night, and enjoyed every bite. 🍕
Of course, not everything was sunshine and good food. My oldest daughter, in a moment of gaming frustration, accidentally smashed her controller into the TV screen. Honestly, I’m surprised it took us this long to have a broken TV as parents! She was so incredibly sorry, and while it was frustrating, it was also one of those “Welp, that happened” moments that we’ll probably laugh about… eventually.
And finally—still no snow! ❄️ We hit some freezing temperatures (I even snapped a screenshot when it hit -7°C!), but not a single proper snowfall. At this point, I’m starting to think winter is skipping us this year!
The Cats
Kitty Snuggles & Shenanigans
There’s nothing better than being snuggled up with two warm, purring cats on a cold winter day. Two of my three kitties have been more than happy to curl up with me, keeping me cosy while I stitch or unwind in the evenings. And as for the third? Well, she’s trying her best to be more affectionate—cuddles aren’t exactly her thing, but every now and then, she’ll surprise me with a little head bump or a quick sit nearby. Progress!
Here's some cute photos I've snapped of the two boy cats: Milo & Noodle.
Social Media
A Bit of a Clean-Up & A New Start ✨
This month, I did something I’ve been meaning to do for a while—I cleaned up my Instagram followers using a feature that highlights inactive accounts. Turns out, there were about 60 deactivated accounts still following me! It took a little bit of time, but I went through and removed them all. My follower count took a noticeable hit, but honestly? I’d rather focus on engaging with real, active people who are actually here for the stitching!
(5,715 followers).
On a different note, I’ve been wrestling with what to do about Meta’s platforms, given their political affiliations. While I doubt I’ll be disappearing from Instagram, Facebook, or Threads anytime soon—especially for Two Little Kits—I’ve stepped back from using them on a personal level. In the meantime, I’ve started a Bluesky account as an alternative space. It’s still early days, but I’m curious to see where it leads!