Sage Spirit

My first interaction with Sage was her reposting one of my first finishes of one her patterns back in 2020. I was ecstatic that this incredible artist noticed my enjoyment of her work. Over time, because of my pattern finishes and our mutual love for everything gothic and morose, we became fast social media friends.

I can remember the day that changed in late 2021... she sent me a DM with her cell phone number. Since then, I had the honor of getting to know her on a more personal level. Not only did I get to model stitch for her gorgeous patterns, I got to call her friend.

Over the past few years, despite her anonymity online, which I absolutely respected, I got to hear her laugh over the phone; got to trauma dump together and nerd out over the weirdest things; and had the absolute privilege of visiting her and her partner while I was in Salt Lake for my Oddities and Curiosities Expo, and hug her.

I never took for granted the friendship I built with her and I never will. Even throughout her years of fighting cancer and exhaustion and pain, she showed me such selflessness. She wanted to be there for me through my own hardships and she gave me such sound advice that I'd try to return as she needed it. She was incredibly witty and such a sweet soul. I know that she changed so many people's lives, including my own.

We've exchanged care packages, memes, and tears... I have countless patterns of hers that I cherish, texts and comments I'll forever remember, and my Gothicc necklace (she surprised me with it before releasing the design to her shop) that I wear practically daily. The reminders of this incredible human are everywhere.

We joked one night over Steam, as we were playing Fallout (note- her teaching me how to while I flailed about), that she'd be one of the ghouls to come back and haunt me one day if I didn't figure out how to game with a computer over console.

All I can think about is her Vampire persona and her potential will to haunt all those who loved her... and I'd welcome it with open arms and a sarcastic response. She'll forever live on, but without the pain. You mean the world to me still... Love you Sage, mean it.

—Amber "Dahlia" Dee

Rest In Peace my darling Night Spirit 🥀

I have tried sitting down to write this post multiple times…each resulting in me blankly staring at the screen, writing paragraphs and then deleting them and closing my laptop. How does one say goodbye to a fellow designer, collaborative art companion, and most of all…a friend. Being welcomed into Sage’s life is a gift I don’t take for granted, she truly is a unique and incredible soul. We bore our lives to each other…work, personal and beyond with zero judgement. She always was ready to go to battle or give a hug…whatever needed.

At times I speak of her in present tense, not in error… I do this purposefully as I carry her with me still. She taught me so much during our shared time on this rock. Seriously, without her tough as nails approach to many things I would still be being walked over. Her passion for art through extra kindling on my fire. Her sense of humour still trickles its way into my life and will always bring me back to her. Her strength and ability to persevere through the unthinkable is inspiring. Her fashion, her vibe, her grace. I will never forget her, it is impossible.

The legacy of beautiful art she leaves with us is remarkable. We can keep her spirit tangible and ever-present by continuing to stitch her beautiful patterns and display them fondly and proudly. In bittersweet timing I had finished her pattern "Unexpected Visitor" [pictured] only a few days before her passing. This chart had been on my wip pile for years and by some strange energy I picked it up a few weeks prior to finish the border and call it complete. I have already started another "Meg The Mothwoman", I still can’t believe she dedicated a pattern to me…truly an incredible honour.

This has hit me harder than I could have ever anticipated. I feel like the wind has been sucked out of my sails and every day I am trying to find the inspiration and drive to keep going. I will find it again but for now I am just letting things be what they are. Time heals. I am spending my energy on her with some things behind the scenes. In time they will be revealed.

I could write for hours but we all know how special she is, and what a loss this is for her family, friends and every single one of us in the cross stitch community. Hugs to every single one of you.

Fuck Cancer. Fuck that it took her from us. Fuck that it takes so many too soon.

—Meg Black

Sage was one of the kindest souls I ever got to meet. The way she stepped in to help anytime something happened in my life from the loss of my dad, my cat Misters mysterious lump by his mouth, my uncle's own battle with cancer she helped financially but also was there during the freak outs. She opened her home to me during a cross country road trip from WA to TX for a few hours, pizza was had, some herb 🌿 was enjoyed, watched random episodes of Bob's burgers and what we do in the shadows and just chatted for hours. 

For her friends if she felt you got slighted mama bear mode activated and come to you defense the instance she came across it.

Sage will greatly be missed.

—Amanda I.

I loved and stitched so many of Night Spirits patterns but this one helped me process and pour my grief of losing my daughter into something tangible. Thank you for so much beauty Sage. 🖤

—Lenora Howden

Sage was an incredible friend and I will forever value her support during my first infusion. She had started hers a few months before and she spent over an hour texting me and keeping me calm and entertained. 

—Aster Wise

I found Sage over 5 years ago when I was really finding my love for cross stitch and just fell inlove with her style and creativity and started buying every pattern she released.

It meant so much to me that there were other spooky little beings out there, even if we are on other sides of the world and it fills me with such an immense sadness to hear that she has gone where we can’t yet follow.

—Amy T.

Sage's beautifully Gothic patterns were the spark that ignited my passion for cross-stitch. I loved the unique blending of fibercraft and art that was in each and every pattern. She was the inspiration that led me to creating my own patterns and falling further in love with stitching. 

I didn't know her personally, but I will miss her uniqueness and the kindness she showed to those around her.

—Jessica G.

Sage helped me get my mother back into cross stitching after taking a long break. My mother loved the Plague Nurse design and asked me to help her kit it up.  She proudly shows off her finish in her dough bowl.

—Mary and Jaret

Sage's Lap Dance for Satan pattern was the one that sent me headfirst back into cross stitch.  I was so thrilled to find a spooky designer.  

She and her art will be greatly missed.

—Natalie

I have to say, some of my favorite patterns I’ve ever completed were created by Sage. I was so moved to hear of the life she lived and the passion she had for what she did. One of my favorite pieces I sewed as a back patch on a jean jacket and I will continue to wear it with pride and keep her and her family in my thoughts. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you know the joy and peace stitching these brought me and I hope her patterns continue to bring joy to others.

—Chantel J.

I’ve admired Sage’s beautiful designs for a couple years now, they immediately captured my macabre history loving heart as soon as I saw them. What a huge loss of an extremely talented artist and a strong, courageous human being. I plan to purchase many more of her designs in the future as long as they’re available and keep her art alive in my stitches. 

Fuck cancer.

—Kayla

I was very much on the wavelength of Sage. I had cross stitched before, but once the pandemic hit doing normal kits didn't bring me much joy.  It was only when I found her dancing skeleton that I took cross stitch up again. This ballerina was stitched by me during breaks while I packed up a natural history museum in the middle of the covid shut down. The design gave me something to focus on, versus this black unknown.

—Jennifer H.

When I first found out Sage was fighting breast cancer, I reached out in support as I was fighting Stage 4 colon cancer. I wanted her to know that she was not alone, and that she could message me anytime for support as I understood some of what she was going through. I would check in on her from time to time. She told me about the Luna Moth being her talisman, and I told her how the Blue Morpho was mine - the butterfly being a symbol of metamorphosis and blue being the awareness color for colon cancer. She made a drawing for me and said I could do whatever I liked with it. So I asked if she would put it on a t-shirt for me that I could purchase. I believe she actually sold the shirts in her shop. Here is what she drew, and I absolutely love it.

Rest in peace, Sweet Sage. You've earned your Luna Moth wings. Fly high in the night.

—Chris R.

Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Sage in person I can honestly say She saved me. I came across her work when I was at my most lowest. I needed something to occupy my mind and my time and cross stitch has always been my first creative love. I was never into the flowers and cute patterns that was readily available so when I stumbled on Night Spirit Studio full of what some would call unconventional themes, I felt like I was at home. Through her I found other artists that matched her style and community which made me feel not so alone.

I will forever be great-full to her and will truly miss her.

—Anonymous

Firstly, I'm incredibly sorry to hear that Sage has passed away - may her memory be a blessing.

I only recently discovered Night Spirit Studio but I just wanted to share one of my recent makes based on Sage's Farmer's Freefall cross stitch chart. As you'll see, I'm not really a cross stitcher so I used the chart to create a knitted tapestry instead. It was a really fun and easy to follow project. I'll be recommending NSS to all my crafty friends.

—Kat

These are two of my favorite patterns I’ve stitched of Sage’s. I was a Patreon subscriber for a time, and regrettably stopped when I lost my job last year and couldn’t keep most of my subscriptions. 

Her patterns have always been some of my favorites, we never chatted but I feel like I have a little piece of her on my wall.

—Amanda W.

My sincerest condolences to all who loved Sage. Her patterns brought me a lot of joy and gave me time to reflect on many things in my life. May she rest peacefully 🖤 I will be starting another one of her patterns in her honor.

—Julia

I had the pleasure of encountering Sage very close to when Night Spirit Studio opened. (Some of the first patterns listed in the shop are proudly in my hoard, including some now-vintage anime ones.) The shop was small at that point, but I was eager to see where it went - the types of patterns listed were very, very much my speed. Sage and I exchanged a few messages as I snatched up those patterns en masse. I remember even in passing like that, her words carried such light and joy.

Time went on, and I would always scurry to look when the shop uploaded something new. Pattern-making is such a unique art, one that inherently enables others to make art of their own, and Sage had a particularly wonderful talent for it. Her continued engagement with cross stitch (and through it, what cross stitch could be [insanely cool] and who cross stitch is for [everybody but especially the goths /girls / gays of the world]) was a font of inspiration for myself and countless others.

Sage's enthusiasm and joy showed in everything she made. Without doubt, her work is part of what deepened my interest in this form of fiber art, taking it from a hobby I did from time to time to something that has become a vital pillar of creative expression in my life. For that, and for all the art she created, I will always be profoundly grateful.

I'll have a piece from Sage on my altar in offering. My heart goes to her and all her loved ones, now and always.

—Kristen

I loved her patterns very much.

I'm part of a Satanic community and donated many creations I did of her patterns to group gift exchanges and charity auctions.  And the plague doctor ornaments I sent out in 2020 kept me sane.

She will be well remembered.

—Vryce

Sage is a person I have never met, but I owe so much to. I found Sage’s designs, and sparked my love for cross stitch. It’s a love that has allowed me to reconnect with loved ones, friends, strangers, but more importantly, allowed to help my ADD/ADHD community. I use cross-stitch as a fidget, and has been key in my life and others. Sage’s artwork made me realize that there was a place for me here, and I’ve begun to create my own designs.

We may never meet in this life, but your legacy reaches farther than can be imagined.

—Astrid

I love you Sage, I hope you're in a better place, you’re part of my life forever, your works, your existence helped me during very painful times in my life.

—Ana Q.

This is my favorite NSS related stitch. It's my design,  but it would not have been possible without Sage's inspiration (and her font, of course!). 

Hail the traveler!

—Erik

One of the favorite pieces I’ve ever stitched.

Thank you Sage for all the art and beauty that you brought to the world.

—Michaela

—Elly L.