Stitchinglotus ~ 🇨🇦 🪡🧶📚🔮

A picture of a small potted plant, cup of tea, and a book on a wood outdoor table sitting on a deck with a view of a small backyard with a maple tree in the background.

Early autumn mornings are my favourite. A cup of tea (with pumpkin spice creamer), a brand new book, and a tree full of leaves starting to change colours in my little backyard. What could be more refreshing? #booksky #autumn

A pair of striped socks, with one only half knit, laying on a tile floor.

I love it when I get the stripes to line up! 🧶 #knitting

Thank you for the giveaway last night! You are so generous, and I know we all appreciated it.

A photo of a Cricut Maker 3 cutting a piece of black paper in a craft room.

This is the first time in nearly a year that I’ve had my Cricut cutting. It’s well past time to get to work on Halloween crafts. #cricut #cricutmaker 🧶

A photo of the cover of the book No New Things.

As much as I love to collect books, I thought it was appropriate to borrow this one from the library. (Which I also love!)

A cross stitch version of the Mona Lisa painting.

My own version of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece is complete! She was much easier and quicker to stitch than for da Vinci to paint. 😜 She is a bit blobby up close, but take a step away from the screen and magic happens.

The kit is from DMC, purchased at the Louvre in March. #CrossStitch #CraftSky🧶

The front portion of a purple jeep-style car with a while Sailor Moon decal on the driver's door.

I'm still here, friends! Life has just been a big difficult lately. But how cute is this car I saw this weekend? If I drove, I would totally have either Sailor Moon or Hello Kitty on my car... or both! #sailormoon

Sort of... it can be used that way, but it is also a deck of inspiration. Ever heard of Oblique Strategies? It's like that, but for magical people. Very fun!

An image of the Occult Strategies card deck with box and embroidered drawstring bag.

My copy of Occult Strategies arrived yesterday! It is so fun, and weirdly profound too. I highly recommend it!

I keep shouting random prompts at my family. They -love- it. 😁

Picture of Canadian vote by mail kit.

Canadian friends: voting by mail is super simple. Check out the Elections Canada website for details. #canadianpoli #cdnpoli #canadasky #elbowsup

Exterior view of Le Bonheur des Dame needlework shop in Paris, France.

A close-up view of stitched cross stitch designs hanging in Le Bonheur des Dame needlework shop in Paris, France.

I love visiting cross stitch stores when I travel. Le Bonheur des Dames in Paris, France was so charming and absolutely filled with beautiful and unique patterns. More info in my latest blog post.🧶

A cross stitch piece of a person in progress.

It’s a damp and rainy day, so it’s the perfect weather to start a new cross stitch project. Any guesses as to whom it might be?

Clue: I visited one of the world’s largest museums two weeks ago.

A cross stitch design featuring a ghost alongside a bird sitting on a branch.

First Spring comes in and out like a ghost where I live. Second Winter is here right now, but Spring will return eventually.

This is the March ghost from @livingontherainbow.bsky.social 's A Year with Ghosts cross stitch pattern. I really love how the whole pattern is turning out!

A picture of five handmade greeting cards featuring flower designs.

Still absolutely stupidly jet lagged from our trip to Paris, but at least I made a few cards this weekend at Crop and Create. #cropandcreatespring2025

A plate featuring a cartoon version of Marie Antoinette with the words "j'aime m'occuper de mes rosiers".

Friends, I am so tired. With spring just around the corner, this is my new mood.

A small cross stitch design of a ghost in front of a mail box holding a teddy bear balloon.

How cute is the February ghost from @livingontherainbow.bsky.social 's A Year With Ghosts?? I'm a day late posting, but he was stitched in February! I did so much cross stitch last month my shoulder hurts! But anything to stay sane, right?

A collection of seven chevron-patterned cards in red and white, each featuring the message "Happy Ghoul-entine's Day and a see-through ghost.

Happy Valentine's Day! Or maybe I should say Ghoul-entine's Day! These little ghosts wish you a life full of people who love you as you are, and whom you love in return.

I made these card using my Cricut Maker 3.

#cardmaking #handmadecards

A picture of a red crocheted tulip with two green leaves in a light brown crocheted pot. The pot has a smiling face.

Sometimes it is fun to revisit beginner's mind and do a simple crochet project. Also, with all the snow outside, a bright red tulip is a reminder that spring is coming... eventually. 🧶

A large statue of a cartoon-like man dressed in red and gold holding good luck signs written in Chinese.

Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choy! 🎊🧧I’m cooking up some of our favourite foods to celebrate with my Chinese-Canadian husband and our family. And don’t you just love this happy fellow at our local grocery store?

She is my favourite designer ever!

How on earth is it still January? I feel like I’ve lived a whole year since Jan 1st.

Hey, crafty and bookish friends! I'll be sharing posts about my latest craft projects, favourite books, and maybe a little bit of creative inspiration. You'll usually be able to find more about my crafty posts on my blog: stitchinglotus.ca

An embroidered rose surrounded by four leaves on a blue fabric, set into a brass-coloured necklace.

A quick project from this weekend. Normally I usually stick to counted needlework (like cross stitch), but it was fun to do some embroidery again.

The cross stitch design A Study in Skulls stitched on purple fabric.

My first cross stitch finish of the year: A Study of Skulls from @thestitchcrypt.bsky.social . Unfortunately, the purple dye in the fabric ran and discoloured the light coloured floss. It does look kinda cool and antique-y though...

David Lynch's Dune had a deep and lasting impact on my life. His creativity and vision will be missed. (image credit to u/Theborgiseverywhere on Reddit)

A portion of a cross stitch design featuring a ghost wearing a hat and scarf putting a carrot nose on a snowman.

I'm having my own little cross stitch SAL this year, all just for me! I'll be stitching one part of Living on the Rainbow's A Year with Ghosts each month. I'm going to make this a fun year no matter what!🧶

There once was a girl
Who lived in the forest
She whispered to her best forest friends:
“I’ve had a personal experience”

“Wow!” they exclaimed

A man she never met
Miles, miles away
Heard that “wow” and rose to his feet
Climbed hills
Crossed rivers
Fought dragons
Only to tell her:

“No, you didn’t”

A handmade greeting card featuring a grey and green haunted house on a grey and green background.

My entry for Craft Roulette 249. It's never too early to start crafting my Halloween cards. 🧶

A pile of seven books sitting on a fuzzy grey rug.

I love it when I have a pile of new books to add to LibraryThing! 💙📚

Wooden knitting needles are kinder on your hands. Sure, they can snag yarn a little bit, but delaying hand pain is more important to me.