AJ Reardon (she/her)
@ajbeingcreative.bsky.social
I read and review lots of books with an emphasis on queer fiction and nature-themed non-fiction. I also craft, dance, and talk about my corgi. Find my reviews at ajreardon.com
This isn't to suggest that books can only be enjoyed/of value to people in the main target audience -- just recognizing that books for different target audiences use different tropes, themes, etc. Some have appeal to broader audiences, whereas some are more specific.
November 29, 2025 at 4:29 AM
This isn't to suggest that books can only be enjoyed/of value to people in the main target audience -- just recognizing that books for different target audiences use different tropes, themes, etc. Some have appeal to broader audiences, whereas some are more specific.
I might do that next year! Seattle's challenge was 29 bookstores this past year and that was just WAY too many even with 10 days to make it to all of them, and the Snohomish County one is super spread out so I only did it once even though I live in SnoCo.
November 26, 2025 at 12:42 AM
I might do that next year! Seattle's challenge was 29 bookstores this past year and that was just WAY too many even with 10 days to make it to all of them, and the Snohomish County one is super spread out so I only did it once even though I live in SnoCo.
I've really gotta make a plan to go check out some of these South Sound bookshops!
November 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I've really gotta make a plan to go check out some of these South Sound bookshops!
It feels like they're making all the same mistakes as JoAnn, and probably inventing some new mistakes too (I don't think JoAnn ever got around to installing self check-out).
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
It feels like they're making all the same mistakes as JoAnn, and probably inventing some new mistakes too (I don't think JoAnn ever got around to installing self check-out).
www.etsy.com/shop/badstit... I haven't actually *stitched* any of her patterns yet, but I support her on Patreon because I like her designs and have plans to stitch 'em, lol.
www.etsy.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
www.etsy.com/shop/badstit... I haven't actually *stitched* any of her patterns yet, but I support her on Patreon because I like her designs and have plans to stitch 'em, lol.
www.etsy.com/shop/flossyf... Probably cuter than you're looking for, but I love this artist's use of color and classic video game aesthetics.
www.etsy.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
www.etsy.com/shop/flossyf... Probably cuter than you're looking for, but I love this artist's use of color and classic video game aesthetics.
mathysphere.gay Geeky and queer patterns, including a whole series of pride flag planets that are easy and fun to stitch.
mathysphere dot gay
mathysphere.gay
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
mathysphere.gay Geeky and queer patterns, including a whole series of pride flag planets that are easy and fun to stitch.
lolacrowcrossstitch.com Gothy, creepy, and cool nature stuff. Can get a little more complex but she has some simpler and smaller patterns, too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
lolacrowcrossstitch.com Gothy, creepy, and cool nature stuff. Can get a little more complex but she has some simpler and smaller patterns, too.
www.thestitchcrypt.com/collections/... Has lots of fun creepy/gothy patterns. I'm doing a dragon bookshelf one right now that looks complex but is just full stitches, no fractions or backstitch!
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
www.thestitchcrypt.com/collections/... Has lots of fun creepy/gothy patterns. I'm doing a dragon bookshelf one right now that looks complex but is just full stitches, no fractions or backstitch!
Ok, several messages worth of recs incoming!
junebuganddarlin.com/collections/... Is who I started with when I got into cross-stitch a few years ago. Queer artist, lots of political messages, various difficulty levels.
junebuganddarlin.com/collections/... Is who I started with when I got into cross-stitch a few years ago. Queer artist, lots of political messages, various difficulty levels.
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Ok, several messages worth of recs incoming!
junebuganddarlin.com/collections/... Is who I started with when I got into cross-stitch a few years ago. Queer artist, lots of political messages, various difficulty levels.
junebuganddarlin.com/collections/... Is who I started with when I got into cross-stitch a few years ago. Queer artist, lots of political messages, various difficulty levels.
Would you like some recs? If so, what sort of themes or style do you like?
November 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Would you like some recs? If so, what sort of themes or style do you like?
At this point I'm just buying from artists I'm already familiar with or that other people vouch for. And I'm barely shopping for anything on Etsy due to the overwhelming amount of slop in all corners. Slop patterns! Slop stickers! Slop t-shirts!
November 25, 2025 at 12:21 AM
At this point I'm just buying from artists I'm already familiar with or that other people vouch for. And I'm barely shopping for anything on Etsy due to the overwhelming amount of slop in all corners. Slop patterns! Slop stickers! Slop t-shirts!
The other day I was looking at a cross-stitch pattern made by an actual artist with actual stitched examples, and all the "related" recommendations from Etsy were AI slop. I was so mad!
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The other day I was looking at a cross-stitch pattern made by an actual artist with actual stitched examples, and all the "related" recommendations from Etsy were AI slop. I was so mad!
Nice to see you and your gorgeous work!
November 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Nice to see you and your gorgeous work!
Washington sure is beautiful 😍
November 21, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Washington sure is beautiful 😍