The Dark Forest Co

TDFC Item of the Day:

Love is a Dagger sticker inspired by Loki's amazingly awkward ramble about love. This one is available in our Etsy shop (you guessed it, link in bio!) and we are starting to run low on stock of this one! Make sure to grab it before it's gone!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

TDFC Item of the Day:

10oz Travel Mug w/Lid featuring our Moon Geometry II design. This item is available now in the shop! Head over to the link in my bio to check it out!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

TDFC Item of the Day:

10oz Enamel Mug with Black Rim featuring the Book Babe design. This mug is currently available in the shop now! Check out the link in my bio to head over to the store and grab yorus!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

↟↟↟ Do you like stickers? ↟↟↟

Swipe through to see the first 4 stickers available at TDFC's Etsy shop!

• Take That Bembridge Scholars! - for those of us who know the best movie of all time is The Mummy (1999)
• Let's F**k Off to the Forest - for those of us who just need to go be with nature
• Monstera Leaf - for those of us who can't stop buying plants
• Love is a Dagger - for those of us who enjoy listening to villains try to explain love (Loki)

All stickers AND wood items in the Etsy shop are 15% off until 11:59pm on 8/2! Link in my bio will get you there! Untracked shipping in the USA and Canada is FREE!

TDFC's stickers are vinyl and are waterproof and dishwasher safe (though I wouldn't recommend the dishwasher on these too often).

Shoot me a DM if you have any questions!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

↟↟↟ The Summer Sale Lives On ↟↟↟

Since I got super distracted last week by house stuff and didn't promote my shop's sale like at all, I am extending my summer sale until the END OF JULY! All tank tops will be 15% off until July 31st at 11:59pm PT!

Just make sure to use the code SUMMER at check out to save!

I'm still working on getting all the tank top designs in the shop (should hopefully be done this weekend since I won't be going out anywhere as it will be approximately 1 million degrees Fahrenheit in my town for the next few days), but this Mummy inspired design is available NOW!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

↟↟↟ Shop/Life Updates + Sale Announcement ↟↟↟

Hey there forest folks! How y'all doing?

I've got some shop/life updates and a sale announcement. I'm doing updates first, so if you just want to get the sale info, scroll through this next bit of my rambling :)

So, life...it's chaotic. My roommate is selling the house, which means lots of showings and somehow keeping everything clean. Then she and I are buying a house together. Which is cool because I get Ollie in my life for the next few years and that's the most important thing ever. But house buying is so not easy in this wild market. With my living situation in such flux, a lot of my posts are going to be mock up photos like this one because I don't have the set up for my normal photo styles. I'm still figuring out what this account will look like, and until I'm settled in a new house, the feed is going to reflect the chaos. Hope y'all don't mind!

Luckily, because I have a printer for all my shop items, the chaos of moving shouldn't mess with the shop too much, outside of me taking a while to get everything back up in the shop. I'm getting all tank tops into the shop right now and they'll be up by the shop reopening on 7/1. Then shirts will get loaded up, followed by mugs, and then sweaters and long sleeve shirts.

The Etsy shop has all the wood marks and prints up right now. AND SOON, there will be stickers! I've got a few designs I've been working on and will be sharing those soon (maybe in a shop newsletter because I swear I'm going to get that up and running this summer)! I'm definitely looking into expanding into more stationary items in the near future and I can't wait to share what I've been designing.

Okay, I think that's all the updates, so now it's onto the fun stuff: SALE INFO!

From 12pm PDT on 7/1 (when the shop opens back up) to 11:59pm PDT on 7/7 all tank tops in the shop will be 15% off! Use the code SUMMER at check out to get the discount! Hopefully some Dark Forest Co tanks can help everyone get through this brutal summer!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡

↟↟↟ Cut Yourself Some Slack ↟↟↟

As a very good friend said to me recently, I need to cut myself some slack.

I've been thinking about that a lot lately.

And I've decided that we ALL need to cut ourselves some darn slack!

I've been struggling HARD today to get cohesive shop work done. I keep getting distracted or overwhelmed, which always leads to me spending more time beating myself up for another day wasted than trying to figure out how to better focus and get the work done. I hate days like this and they make me feel awful.

But you know what? I've got to cut myself some slack.

Maybe I didn't get everything done that I wanted, but I did have a lovely walk with Ollie this afternoon and my misplaced hyper focus got two drawers in my desk cleaned out and reorganized. Yes, I still have a to do list a mile long, but it'll get worked on. I don't have to break myself trying to hit some productivity milestone that society says I need to.

Can't post to social media every day? That's cool, cut yourself some slack!
Can't make a 3 course, perfectly healthy meal for your family tonight because you're exhausted? Totally fine. Cut yourself some damn slack!
Can't focus on a project and instead need to zone out with your favorite media until you feel better? I think you know what I'm going to say here...

We're all just flying through space on a giant spinning dumpster fire...let's maybe relax a bit and enjoy the ride.
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
hashtags

↟↟↟ What are you up to this weekend? ↟↟↟

I am doing a lot of housework, which is not super fun, but I'll feel better once it's done.

While I wait for my roommate to return with some well deserved cheeseburgers, I wanted to share the Stand Against Hate (Pride Edition) design. I really love how this one turned out! All profit from purchases of this design will be donated to the Los Angeles LGBT Center every quarter.

Sorry for the short caption, but my burgers just arrived and I'm HUNGRY!

Happy Saturday everyone!
↡
↡
↡
| You had my curiosity. But now you have my attention.
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of folded white t-shirt with the phrase "Stand Against Hate" in rainbow colored bold font. The shirt sits on a slab of wood and is surrounded by green foliage, a white knit blanket, candles, and baby's breath flowers]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What's something you are excited about this week? ↟↟↟

So, I've got some shop news!

I've opened up an Etsy shopfront!

Now, Etsy is going to be where I sell all the items that I personally ship out myself. All the items on TheDarkForestCo.com are sent out directly from my printer.

Currently the 4 wood items that I previously sold on the main shop website are now up on Etsy (link in my bio!) AND they are on SALE!

That's right! All the wood pieces are currently 15% off and will be on sale until the end of the week. Stock is limited, so if you had your eye on any of the items, NOW IS THE TIME!

Even if you don't want to buy anything now, I would love it if anyone wanted to head over to Etsy and favorite my shop :)

I'm working on getting enamel pins (something I've wanted to do for ages) and stickers (TikTok is to blame for my new obsession) on the Etsy shop as well. More on that in the (hopefully) near future!

If you have any questions, please let me know!
↡
↡
↡
| This one goes out to the one I love.
| Villains or Anti-Heroes
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Flatlay image of wooden print with black design and the phrase "No Mourners, No Funerals". The wood print lays atop blue fabric and is surrounded by an open book with it's pages fanned out, candles, a wooden basket, and baby's breath flowers]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What is a book that makes you happy that it exists? ↟↟↟

Hands down, it's Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer for me.

I love this book so darn much.

I want to expand on my love for it, but I'm still very tired and very busy. And though it makes me sad to not sit here all day, telling you every little perfection of this book, I gotta take care of business.

So just go buy or borrow a copy and then join me in the group of readers who are DESPERATELY awaiting the sequel, Thronebreakers.
↡
↡
↡
| Debuts that knocked my socks off
| Coming of Age or Exciting Adventure
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of Crownchasers title page, sitting on a wooden slab and surrounded by a white knit blanket, candles, a wooden basket with books, and green foliage]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What's something you finished this week that's been on your to do list for ages? ↟↟↟

I finished a design AND updated my shelves!

I've been wanting to update the No Harm design (inspired by the best movie ever, The Mummy) for the last few months, but I felt blocked whenever I thought about it.

But my brain finally worked around the block yesterday and I love this new look for the design!

I will have the No Harm design up in the shop on shirts and tanks by tomorrow night! And I promise mugs are coming soon! If you bought the original No Harm design and you want the updated version, shoot me an email at [email protected] before you buy and I'll do a manual order at cost.

I'm also going to get the Stand Against Hate into the shop by tomorrow night, no matter what. If you scroll through, past my updated shelfie, you can check out the Pride version of the Stand Against Hate design. This version will have it's proceeds donated to an LGBTQ+ charity (I'm still looking into which one to go with, but will have that info on the product page), while the original Stand Against Hate design will have proceeds donated to The Conscious Kid Anti-Racism book fund.
↡
↡
↡
| No harm ever came from reading a book.
| DNF or Read until the End
↡
↡
↡
[ID: First image is of a white mug with the phrase "No Harm Ever Came From Reading A Book" being held in front of a blurred bookcase. Second image is of white bookshelves, filled with books. Third image is of a typography design with the phrase "Stand Against Hate" in rainbow color]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What's a recent release that you're excited to read? ↟↟↟

Ever since my copy of Southern Sun, Northern Star by arrived on 4/20, I've been DYING to read it *shakes fist at chaotic schedule that leaves no reading time*

I love this series so darn much and I just had to make a design inspired by it. The Eyes on the Horizon design is currently in the shop and available on Shirts and Tanks! It'll be back on mugs soon!
↡
↡
↡
| Stars are better off without us.
| Buy or Borrow Books
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white mug with the phrase "Eyes on the Horizon" on a black fighter plane, and three stacked books to the right. In the foreground is green foliage. In the background is a wooden basket of books and baby's breath flowers with illuminated white curtains]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ Revamped Design Reveal! ↟↟↟

Back when I opened The Dark Forest Co., it was important to me to have a design that would give back. For the first almost year, the Rise design was an item where any profit would be donated to The Conscious Kid Anti-Racist Children's Book Education Fund. As an early design, it wasn't my best and now I've updated it a bit.

Let me introduce you to the new Stand Against Hate design! Like with the Rise design, all profit will be donated to The Conscious Kid on a quarterly basis. The design isn't in the shop yet (OMG my day job is kicking my butt this week and I haven't had time to work on the shop almost at all) but it should be up by no later than Sunday! I'll keep you all informed.

I am also planning to make an extra version of this design to support q***r charities as well. I'm starting to research charities for this, so if you know of any, let me know!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of folded black shirt with the phrase "Stand Against Hate" in retro block letters on a wooden backdrop, surrounded by blue fabric, a wooden basket of books, three candles, and green foliage]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ How are you starting out your month? ↟↟↟

THE SHOP IS BACK OPEN!

I'm starting with a batch of items, a few new designs but mostly designs that have been around for a while, and then I'll be rolling more out over the next few weeks.

You may notice that the shop is organized a bit differently and there are more options for apparel items. I wanted to expand the apparel offerings without things getting too cluttered.

I'll have some videos in my highlights to show the changes, but I'm hoping the navigation of the shop is a bit easier and intuitive! If you ever have any questions please shoot me a DM or email at [email protected]!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of a white coffee mug with "Science Fiction Forever" on it, next to a stack of paperback books sitting on a wood surface with green foliage and baby's breath flowers in the background]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What do you do when you are feeling a creative block? ↟↟↟

So, as we all know, I prewrite my captions. Which, for this caption, has led to a conundrum.

I really hope that by the time Wednesday has rolled around that I have a new design to debut here (hey look past Kibby, we got a new design made!). I have a few ideas that I really want to get in the shop ASAP, but I've been running into a very large, very rude creative block lately.

So cheers to this new design that will be available in the shop on Saturday, May 1st when the shop reopens OR here is one of my favorite designs that will be back in the shop when we reopen.

There, now all my bases are covered, lol
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of a black shirt with the phrase "Give me books or go away" in black and white font being held in front of bookshelves]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What have you been up to the last few days? ↟↟↟

Well, on Friday, I worked and then watched the entire Shadow and Bone series over on Netflix!

It's been a good long while since I've marathoned a series like that and it was good times all around. While I have a few critical issues with the show, seeing a YA world that I've been reading for years on the screen was a grand experience.

When the shop opens back up on May 1st (which is somehow next weekend OMG) I'll have all the Grishaverse items available, including this design inspired by one of The Darkling's most iconic lines. The Fine design will be on all mugs and apparel (including the new items like black mugs, crop sweaters, and muscle tanks!).
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white ceramic mug with "Fine" written on it surrounded by a sunburst and antlers, sitting on a wooden slab, with baby's breath flowers to the left, a white knit blanket and curtains in the background, and green foliage in the foreground]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ DESIGN REVEAL ↟↟↟

This one goes out to all my smutty readers!

The Smutty Reader design will be available when the shop reopens on 5/1!
↡
↡
↡
| One way or another I'm gonna get ya.
| Everyone should read
| Love triangles
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white shirt with "Smutty Reader" in bold font. The shirt is on a dark wood surface, surrounded by green foliage, book pages, and candles]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What are some goals you have for this week? ↟↟↟

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things now that my social media break is over and my main goals are to get my routine into order.

Part of that routine is shop work and I've got some news!

First, the shop will be reopening on May 1st! With summer coming in I've got some new tank top styles that will be available and a few crop tops! I'm super excited for everyone to see the new items!

Second, new designs! I've been sitting on a few new designs for a hot minute since I didn't have a firm reopening date, but now I'm ready to start showing them off. First up is Book Babe! We are all book babes here and this design will show the world who you are! The Book Babe design will be available on all apparel and mugs when the shop reopens on May 1st!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white mug with "Book Babe" written in bold font being held by my hand with blurred bookshelves in the background]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ Alright, I'm blanking. Y'all ask me the questions today! ↟↟↟

I've been working hard on the shop, but I'm taking a break today to go to a local nursery with my roommate. I was originally going to wait until after I was fully vaccinated, but after reading some more studies on the vaccine, I feel okay to go even though I just have the one shot so far. Obviously I'll still be double masked, because my mother did not raise a fool.

Who wants to guess how many plants this Forest Hag comes home with? I'm hoping to get at least a Monstera and a Parlor Palm. Maybe some ivy? Oh, and a Swiss Cheese Plant! Maybe a string of hearts if I can find one...

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white t shirt with the phrase "Forest Hag in training" surrounded by green foliage, 3 candles, and a wooden basket with up turned books]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ SHOP NEWS ↟↟↟

Hey there, forest folks!

I wanted to drop in real quick and update you on what I'm working on with the shop. As you know, I've got the shop locked down right now for spring cleaning and I had anticipated opening it back up on April 1st.

Well, I was a fool (oh yes, the April Fool's pun was intended) and April 1st isn't going to happen. Once I really got into what I wanted to do with the shop, I realized the cleanest and best way to do what I wanted to do was to completely gut the shop and start from scratch. So I deleted literally everything from the shop. Which wasn't nerve-wracking at all.

But, I'll be getting everything back in there and we'll have a new navigation set up and more item options (but all on one product page so it doesn't get quite so overwhelming!). I really wanted to get it all done by April 1st, but I know that if I stick to that date I'll end up breaking myself (and my wrists), so I made the executive decision this morning to push the reopening.

Right now I am aiming for April 6th to be the reopening. If that date changes, I'll update you all, but I'm fairly confident in the 6th.

And well, what is more appropriate than me featuring me the Anxious AF design today as I talk about all this shop stuff that is stressing me out lol!

Happy Monday everyone!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white ceramic mug with "Anxious AF" written on it, sitting on a wooden tray with a floral stamped metal bottom. A black gooseneck tea kettle to the right of the mug, and a small black vase with baby's breath flowers. In the background is an open book and off white knit blanket]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What is something you are doing this weekend that you are looking forward to? ↟↟↟

If I haven't given in to my anticipation and have already done it (which is possible since I'm writing this on Monday and I have very little self control), I will be dying my hair this weekend and I am very excited about it. I chopped off a few inches last weekend and I felt like the cut needed color too. I'm going dark violet, because I always crave darker hair color as we get closer to warm weather *glares at the sun*

Well, my caption just has nothing to do with this photo, now does it? Oh well, that's just how I roll! But, I am duty bound to let you know that while the shop is currently closed until April, when it opens back up, this Celaena's Candy design will be available!
↡
↡
| I suppose you think you're brave, don't you?
| Book that crushed you
| Life has science experiments and free time and surprise naps and who knows what comes next?
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of a white mug with a old art deco style logo for "Celaena's Candy" surrounded by green foliage, baby's breath flowers, a stack of the Throne of Glass book series, and a cream knit blanket]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags
# FantasyBookSeries

↟↟↟ Mid-week check in: What are you reading? ↟↟↟

So, as I've mentioned before, I prewrite my captions whenever possible. That means as I write this, it is actually Monday, and I'm not sure what I'll be reading today (Wednesday). I am however hoping that it's one of the many romance novels I've borrowed from my library recently. There are many romance novels on my loans and holds list because this year, I think we all need some happily ever afters, thank you very much!

The Read More Romance design is available on all shirts, hoodies, tanks, and mugs in the shop right now! Check it out at TheDarkForestCo.com!
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
[ID: Image of white ceramic mug with "Read More Romance" written twice on it's side. The mug is on a wooden backdrop with a black tea kettle to its right and in the background are some foliage branches and a wooden basket with books]
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What are some goals, bookish or other, that you have for this week? ↟↟↟

I've been feeling out of it for the last few weeks, but I'm definitely looking to move past that. This week I'm trying to:

• read 50% of the books I have on loan from my library
• keep up with my favorite booksta people's accounts
• eat all the healthy-ish food I bought at the grocery store today
• finish setting up my new reading corner
• actually complete my day job to do list

Cheers to everyone and their goals for this week! May we get through our to do list better than we get through our TBRs!

Addie LaRue Woodmark available at TheDarkForestCo.com!
↡
↡
| Thank you, next!
| Book Accessories
| Librarianship is a form of heroism.
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What is a random quirk a character has that you want a back story on? ↟↟↟

I want to know about James Holden's deep love and addiction to coffee. That man is always looking for coffee. Maybe if I ever finally get the time to start reading The Expanse books I'll find out.

Short post is short, but not so short that I don't mention that this Good Coffee Can Save the World design is available in the shop on all apparel and mugs! Check out TheDarkForestCo.com (link in bio!) for this design and MORE!
↡
↡
| This side character needs a prequel
| Book with religion
| Everybody has a secret world inside of them.
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags

↟↟↟ What are you up to this weekend? ↟↟↟

Well, I spent the first part of today moving some furniture around to prepare for my new chaise lounge. Then the second half of my day was spent standing in line at a pharmacy, attempting not to lose my ever living mind while waiting for my first vaccine shot. As an introvert with anxiety, it was deeply unfun. Especially since the people standing behind me were non-stop chatterboxes and did not understand 6 feet of distance. But the first shot is done and I did not let out an annoyed primal scream at any point during the wait. High five to me.
↡
↡
↡ | I don't want to brag, but Us Weekly once described me as 'up for anything.'
| World you want to visit
| Nothing humans do is set in stone - and even stone changes, anyway.
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡
↡↡Tags
# FantasyBookSeries