Mystery Kit, Another Zodiac Sign, and a Whole Lot of Stitching
May felt like one of those months that hums along quietly in the background… until I sit down to write a wrap-up and realise, "Oh! I did get a lot done!".
It wasn't an action-packed month outside of stitching, but it was still filled with beautiful creative moments, exciting new releases, and a handful of special memories with my family. All before summer starts! Let's take a look back at everything that happened in May, shall we?
Jump to:
- Two Little Kits' Stuff:
- Finished Pieces
- Works-in-Progress
- IRL
- Conclusion
Leading image: What was sent out in the Mystery Kit!
"FlossTube Celebration" Mystery Kit
This little experiment was such a fun surprise! To celebrate reaching my 100th FlossTube episode, I put together a small "FlossTube Celebration" mystery kit — and I'm thrilled to say it was a [modest] little success! Seeing people enjoy the mystery and dive into a secret project made my heart happy.
It's definitely got the cogs turning in my brain about future mystery kits I could offer. I've got ideas brewing!
If you're curious to see what the final "FlossTube Celebration" mystery kit design looked like, I've shared the big reveal over on this blog post. Go have a peek if you missed out on the fun!
New Patterns
🐟 "Le Poisson" (Free Pattern)
After a bit of back-and-forth deliberation, I decided to officially release Le Poisson as a free cross-stitch pattern on the website — and honestly, I'm so glad I did! It's silly, it's sweet, and it brings me joy every time I see it. Sometimes you just need a goofy little fish to brighten your day.
♊ "Zodiac: Gemini"
And speaking of joy: "Zodiac: Gemini" joined the collection this May, and I have to admit… I think this one is my favourite Zodiac design yet! There's something about the twin symbolism and the vibrant colours that just click. With this release, we hit three signs in, and I can't wait to keep revealing the rest as each star sign arrives over the coming year.
🌼 "Be Yourself"
I also quietly brought "Be Yourself" on to my shop after waiting the required timeframe from its release of the "Stitcher's Collective", back in November last year, and released it as its own standalone pattern. It's a bright, affirming little design that encourages exactly what it says on the design — a gentle, colourful reminder to, well, be yourself.
Finished Pieces
May also saw me wrapping up my Teacher Appreciation Week gifts — a whole collection of stitched tokens of gratitude for the incredible teachers, therapists, and paraeducators in my daughters' lives. I'd already finished two of them back in April, and I powered through the final five in early-May. In total, there were four custom Stitch People portraits and three hand-embroidered pieces — each one a heartfelt thank you for the amazing people supporting my girls every day.
If you're interested in seeing/reading more about these pieces, you can check out the blog post I made about all seven pieces.
Works-in-progress
It was another delightfully full month in the WIP department, with my needle touching a variety of projects.
"Flower Meadow" continues to bloom steadily — though I've found myself eyeing the remaining fabric with a bit of nervous curiosity (please let it all fit!). I've been inching closer to finishing parts 1 and 2 of "Night of the Frost Dragon", and my big 7-character Stitch People portrait is nearly ready for its final stitches. The "Court of Crows" stitch-along remains one of my favourites — I'm staying on track and loving every moment with it. I also made a start on "Zodiac: Cancer" (my own star sign, so it feels a little extra special), and finally got going with the "Extraordinary Birds" stitch-along — I'm currently tackling the frame. "The Secret Grove" has reached the halfway point, and while it's been slow and steady, I'm really enjoying the calm energy it brings to my car stitching time.
New Blog Posts
Over on the blog, May was full of ideas, reflections, and a few giggles. I talked about how I use floss blending to add lifelike details to my Stitch People portraits, shared the silly story behind Le Poisson (yes, that fish), and even offered some tips for getting kids involved in stitching — something near and dear to my heart as a mum. I also opened up about how cross-stitch has helped me build better habits and improve my mental health, and recapped all the handmade pieces I created for Teacher Appreciation Week.
And let's not forget — I hit FlossTube episode 100 this month (🥳), which still feels a bit surreal! Each of these posts felt meaningful in their own way, and it's been lovely seeing how many of you have connected with them.
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A Little Stitchy Haul
It's been a while since I treated myself to some new stitching accessories, but this month I finally snagged four new cross-stitch project bags — two smaller ones and two larger ones. For years, I relied on a lovely friend who handmade all my project bags (and did such a awesome job!), but she stopped making them a while ago, which left me on the hunt for a new maker.
It actually took me ages to find someone who made bags in the sizes I wanted — turns out, most project bags out there are huge! And while I love a roomy bag as much as the next stitcher, I really needed something a bit more compact. I'm happy to report the wait was worth it — these new bags are fantastic quality, and I'm genuinely so pleased with them. I'm hoping I don't need any more (because wow, I've got a lot now!), but if I do, I'll definitely be heading back to the same shop.
IRL
Life outside the needle and thread was pretty quiet this month — which, if I'm honest, was exactly what I enjoy. There weren't any major events or hectic schedules, and the slower pace gave me space to breathe, reflect, and create.
That said, there were still a few sweet moments sprinkled throughout the month. My youngest daughter has been learning to ride her bike (cue this proud mum beaming from the sidelines!), and she also had her school choir night — always a treat. I was finally able to donate blood again after working through some iron-level issues, which felt really good. And of course, it's that time of year when the neighbourhood comes alive with the cutest baby animals. Squirrels! Bunnies! Tiny deer [not pictured unfortunately]! I'm not made of stone, folks.
Until Next Month…
June is already wrapping up and -as always- is much "crazier" & hectic, but I'm grateful May gave me a chance to slow down and do what I love most: stitch, dream, and share it all with you.
Thanks for being here and following along. See you in next month's wrap-up!
👋 Kate
