Sage Spirit

I was looking back through my Messenger app to see just how long it’s been since she befriended me. I made her some beanies around September 2021. My mom is a cancer survivor and told me that scratchy hats were the worst. So I pushed my way into Sage letting me make some really soft ones for her.

Eventually, we started chatting about everything under the moon. She asked if I wanted to stitch her possum pattern and photograph it for her (attached). It was my first ever test stitch and I felt so honored and seen. My mom’s nickname for me when I was little was Possum. I used every black shirt I owned as a backdrop for that picture. 😂

When she needed test stitches for her book, again I felt honored when she asked me. I was so excited for her and so happy to be a small part of it.

Then when my husband took me to Salem for my birthday, I took so many pictures of headstones for her. And I even saw this familiar face when I was there. We had a chuckle over that.

She was always open and so easy to talk to. I regret that I never got to meet her and tell her just how much she meant to me. I’m so happy that I can walk around my house and see her patterns in various rooms. She’ll always be here with me.

I love and miss you, Sage. Thank you for coming into my life.

—Heather Glasgow

I'm so sad Sage is no longer here

I remember meeting Sage on our covid lock down stitch zooms and was instantly in awe of her work and dedication.

The world has lost an amazing artist and a truly kind soul x

I stitched this piece named after me x

—Tony, Twinkle Stitch

Sage was one of the first friends I met when I moved to a new town in the midd '00s. Looking back at old photos of us, we were a pack of teen punks (and me the one ska kid) hanging out and doing the best we could. Sage and I commiserated on life's tribulations, work, school, relationships, family drama. Despite everything, Sage always had a real warmth for other people and deep resolve. We went our seperate ways but stood by each other, and it was with great joy when we reconnected a number of years ago. It was inspiring to see the art she has made and the buisness she grew from nothing. To know now that the world is without her light is deeply heartbreaking. I dont have words good enough to express how much I miss her and our friendship. But to those who were close to Sage I just want to express how much my life was enriched by knowing her from all of those years ago till now.

—Benjamin J. Silverman

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

—Elly L.

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

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.

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

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