Artist Submission Policy

Effective Date: May 5, 2026

This Artist Submission Policy governs the submission, review, publication, licensing, promotion, and use of creative works submitted to Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine and Bone & Briar Holdings.

By submitting artwork, patterns, photography, articles, tutorials, written materials, or other creative content to Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine, you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this Policy.

Scope of This Policy

This Policy applies to all voluntary submissions provided to Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine or Bone & Briar Holdings, including but not limited to:

• Cross stitch patterns
• Charts and symbols
• Finished stitch photography
• Tutorials and guides
• Written articles
• Editorial content
• Interviews
• Advertisements
• Promotional materials
• Contributor biographies
• Social media assets
• Seasonal or themed submissions
• Cover artwork
• Digital bonus content

Submission does not guarantee publication, compensation, acceptance, or future collaboration.

Ownership of Submitted Work

Contributors retain ownership of their original intellectual property unless otherwise stated in a separate written agreement.

Submitting content to Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine does not transfer copyright ownership to Bone & Briar Holdings unless explicitly agreed to in writing.

However, contributors grant Bone & Briar Holdings the rights described within this Policy for review, publication, promotion, archival distribution, and related operational purposes.

Rights Granted Upon Submission

By submitting materials for consideration, contributors grant Bone & Briar Holdings a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

• Review submitted content
• Store submission materials
• Communicate regarding submissions
• Display submission previews internally
• Evaluate editorial suitability
• Temporarily archive submissions for operational purposes

If a submission is accepted for publication, additional rights may apply as described within this Policy, contributor agreements, acceptance communications, or publication arrangements.

Publication and Promotional Rights

If accepted for publication, contributor materials may be published, promoted, archived, formatted, distributed, and marketed in accordance with the Publication & Distribution Rights section outlined within this Policy.

This may include:

• Magazine publication
• Issue promotion
• Social media marketing
• Contributor spotlights
• Archive distribution
• Retail and marketplace listings
• Related editorial and promotional use

These permissions may continue after publication for archival, historical, operational, and promotional purposes unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Archive Sales and Continued Distribution Rights

Contributors acknowledge and agree that magazine issues containing their submitted work may continue to be sold, distributed, archived, reproduced, printed, downloaded, or otherwise made available by Bone & Briar Holdings after the initial publication date.

This may include, but is not limited to:

• Digital back issues
• Archive access libraries
• Subscriber archives
• Re-released editions
• Collector editions
• Printed reprints
• Promotional bundles
• Future compilations
• Historical issue collections
• Website storefront sales
• Physical magazine printings or booklet editions

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine may also, now or in the future, produce physical printed editions, booklet compilations, collector print runs, archival magazine volumes, or marketplace-distributed releases containing previously published contributor content.

Contributors understand and agree that accepted works may remain part of permanently archived magazine issues and that Bone & Briar Holdings may continue distributing those issues through current or future sales channels, publishing systems, marketplaces, subscription platforms, print-on-demand systems, retail partners, and archival services.

Unless otherwise stated in a separate written agreement, contributor compensation provided at the time of acceptance constitutes full compensation for the approved publication and continued archival distribution of the issue containing the contributor’s work.

Contributors retain copyright ownership of their original patterns and artwork, subject to the publication and distribution rights granted under this Policy.

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine does not directly publish, relist, or separately sell contributor-submitted patterns as standalone individual pattern products outside the context of the magazine, its archives, issue compilations, promotional previews, or related publication formats unless separately agreed to in writing by the contributor.

Contributor works are featured as part of the magazine publication itself and are not repackaged as independently sold single-pattern releases by Bone & Briar Holdings without explicit additional permission from the original creator.

Publication & Distribution Rights

Contributors featured within Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine retain full copyright ownership of their original patterns, artwork, branding, written materials, and submitted creative content unless otherwise agreed to through a separate written contract.

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine and its parent company, Bone & Briar Holdings, do not claim ownership of contributor-created works.

However, by submitting materials for publication and accepting inclusion within Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine, contributors grant Bone & Briar Holdings and Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license to publish, reproduce, distribute, display, archive, market, promote, sell, preserve, and publicly display the submitted materials as part of the magazine and its related promotional ecosystem.

This license includes, but is not limited to, the right to publish and distribute contributed materials through:

• Digital magazine issues
• Downloadable PDF editions
• Subscriber libraries and archives
• Website-based distribution
• Digital storefronts
• Mobile or app-based magazine platforms
• Third-party magazine marketplaces
• Retail distribution platforms
• Digital subscription services
• Print-on-demand services
• Physical magazine printing
• Paperback or hardcover compilation books
• Collector editions
• Archived back issues
• Promotional previews
• Social media marketing
• Advertising materials
• Email marketing
• Press materials
• Product listings
• Marketplace previews
• Future publication and distribution technologies not yet in use at the time of submission

This includes commercial distribution through third-party retailers and publishing services including, but not limited to:

• Amazon and its global subsidiaries
• Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
• Barnes & Noble Press
• Digital magazine marketplaces
• Print-on-demand distributors
• Future physical or digital retail partners

Contributors acknowledge that published issues of Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine may continue to be sold, archived, distributed, printed, downloaded, or otherwise made available indefinitely following publication as part of:

• Permanent archives
• Collector releases
• Back issue sales
• Print compilations
• Retail distribution
• Marketplace listings
• Subscription libraries
• Promotional collections
• Historical preservation of the publication

Because magazine publishing relies on archival consistency and long-term distribution availability, contributors cannot retroactively revoke distribution rights for issues that have already been published, distributed, sold, printed, archived, or released to customers or third-party platforms.

Contributors remain fully free to:

• Sell their own patterns independently
• Publish their work elsewhere
• Operate their own shops
• License their work separately
• Use their artwork in future projects
• Continue promoting and distributing their own creations

Unless otherwise agreed through a separate written exclusivity agreement, Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine does not require exclusive ownership or exclusive publishing control over contributor works.

Contributors additionally grant Bone & Briar Holdings permission to use submitted materials for reasonable promotional and editorial purposes related to the magazine, including:

• Cover previews
• Issue previews
• Contributor spotlights
• Promotional graphics
• Social media posts
• Product thumbnails
• Marketing banners
• Email campaigns
• Retail marketplace listings
• Amazon A+ Content
• Press and media promotion
• Advertising related to the publication

Whenever reasonably possible, contributors will receive creator attribution through:

• Their chosen artist name or alias
• Business or shop name
• Social media links
• Website links
• Contributor credits

Contributors may choose whether they wish to appear publicly under:

• Their legal name
• An artist alias
• A business name
• A creator handle

By submitting work, contributors represent and warrant that:

• They are the rightful owner of the submitted materials or possess full authority to license them
• Their submissions do not knowingly infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others
• Their materials are not knowingly stolen, improperly traced, or unlawfully reproduced
• They possess the authority necessary to grant the publication and distribution rights described within this Policy

Contributors additionally acknowledge that Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine may reject, remove, delay, or decline publication of submitted materials at editorial discretion.

Nothing within this Policy transfers copyright ownership of contributor-created works to Bone & Briar Holdings unless explicitly stated through a separate signed written agreement.

Pattern Keeper Compatibility Requirement

All submitted patterns must include a compatible export or file version suitable for use with Pattern Keeper. This means while contributors will submit a standard PDF pattern file, they must also submit a Pattern Keeper-compatible version.

Contributors are responsible for ensuring that Pattern Keeper-compatible files are properly generated, functional, and included with their submission materials.

Pattern Keeper versions may be provided through:

• Direct compatible file exports
• PK-ready PDF formats
• Contributor-hosted links
• Shared cloud storage links
• Files provided for internal archival and hosting purposes by Bone & Briar Holdings

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine may store submitted Pattern Keeper-compatible files on internal systems, cloud storage, backup drives, or publication archives for the purposes of:

• Reader access
• Subscriber delivery
• Editorial organization
• Archive management
• Publication fulfillment
• Future issue access and maintenance

If your charting software does not directly support Pattern Keeper exports, contributors may convert their files using free tools or services such as Stitch Fiddle or other compatible programs capable of generating Pattern Keeper-friendly files.

Contributor copyright ownership remains fully intact. Bone & Briar Holdings does not claim ownership of contributor-created patterns through the submission process.

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine does not redesign, redraw, or artistically alter submitted patterns. Editorial review is generally limited to readability, formatting consistency, publication preparation, and usability checks intended to improve the reader experience.

All submissions must also include:

• A clean and organized floss usage chart
• Clearly labeled thread information
• Readable symbol keys
• Clear backstitching instructions where applicable
• Properly formatted chart pages
• Legible export quality suitable for publication

Contributors are responsible for verifying compatibility, readability, and completeness prior to submission. Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to request corrected files, updated exports, improved formatting, or additional supporting materials where necessary for publication standards.

Originality, Ownership, and Submission Warranties

By submitting content, contributors represent and warrant that:

• They own or control the rights necessary to submit the material
• The submission is original or properly licensed
• The content does not infringe upon copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights, privacy rights, or other third-party rights
• The content is not unlawful, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, or misleading
• Any individuals featured in submitted materials have granted necessary permissions where applicable
• The submission does not knowingly violate any agreements with third parties

Contributors are solely responsible for the legality and originality of submitted materials.

AI-Generated or Assisted Content

Contributors must disclose if submitted materials were substantially generated, modified, or assisted using artificial intelligence tools where applicable.

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to reject AI-generated or AI-assisted submissions at its discretion.

Undisclosed AI-generated content may result in rejection, removal, or future submission restrictions.

AI-Assisted Mockups and Presentation Materials

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine understands that professionally stitched and photographed sample pieces may not always be accessible to independent designers, particularly within small creative businesses and emerging artist communities.

Accordingly, the use of AI-assisted mockups, digitally staged presentation images, or enhanced promotional imagery is permitted and may be encouraged for submission and marketing purposes, provided that:

• The underlying pattern design itself is original or properly licensed
• The mockup reasonably represents the intended finished appearance of the design
• The use of AI is limited to presentation, staging, environmental styling, or promotional visualization purposes
• The contributor possesses the rights necessary to use all underlying assets and materials
• The imagery is not intentionally deceptive or materially misleading regarding the actual pattern contents

Bone & Briar Holdings recognizes that access to professional photography equipment, stitched model pieces, framing resources, and styled environments may not be practical for every contributor. AI-assisted mockups may therefore be used as a professional presentation tool when authentic stitched photography is unavailable.

However, Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine reserves the right to reject submission imagery that:

• Misrepresents the actual design
• Alters the pattern beyond recognition
• Uses copyrighted third-party imagery without permission
• Appears intentionally deceptive
• Violates applicable intellectual property rights
• Fails to reasonably reflect the submitted work

Where practical, contributors are encouraged to clearly distinguish between stitched examples, rendered previews, and AI-assisted promotional imagery.

AI-Generated Pattern Restrictions

While AI-assisted promotional mockups and presentation imagery may be permitted, Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine does not accept cross stitch patterns that are primarily generated through artificial intelligence image generation systems and then automatically converted into charts using pattern conversion software.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• AI-generated artwork converted directly into cross stitch charts
• Minimal-effort image-to-pattern conversions
• Automated chart generation from AI-created images without substantial artistic refinement
• Heavily confetti-based conversions created primarily through automated software processing
• Mass-produced or low-effort generated designs lacking meaningful manual design work

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine prioritizes craftsmanship, readability, originality, and intentional chart design within the cross stitch community.

Accepted submissions should demonstrate meaningful human artistic involvement in areas such as:

• Original illustration
• Manual chart refinement
• Stitch cleanup and optimization
• Color reduction and balancing
• Readability improvements
• Artistic composition
• Thoughtful pattern testing and presentation

Designers may absolutely use digital tools, software assistance, or technology as part of their workflow. However, submissions should reflect genuine artistic direction and substantial creator involvement rather than largely automated generation processes.

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to reject submissions that, in our sole discretion, appear excessively automated, low-effort, commercially exploitative, or inconsistent with the editorial and artistic standards of Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine.

Pattern Quality and Chart Cleanup Standards

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine values thoughtful chart construction, stitchability, readability, and overall pattern quality.

Even when a contributor uses their own original artwork or illustrations, automatically converting an image directly into a chart without substantial manual cleanup, refinement, and optimization does not meet our editorial standards.

We generally do not accept submissions that contain excessive:

• Confetti stitching
• Isolated single stitches
• Unnecessary color variation
• Tiny scattered color patches
• Overly fragmented shading
• Excessive thread counts created solely through automated conversion
• Unrefined image-to-chart conversions

This includes charts that retain large numbers of colors used only a handful of times, such as colors appearing in only a few isolated stitches without meaningful visual benefit.

Contributors are expected to meaningfully refine and optimize their charts through techniques such as:

• Removing unnecessary colors
• Reducing excessive confetti
• Cleaning isolated stitches
• Improving symbol readability
• Balancing color palettes
• Simplifying inefficient stitch paths
• Improving stitch flow and overall user experience
• Testing readability across realistic stitching conditions

While detailed and advanced charting styles are absolutely welcome, submissions should reflect intentional design decisions rather than purely automated conversion output.

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to reject patterns that, in our sole discretion, appear insufficiently refined, excessively automated, unnecessarily difficult to stitch, or inconsistent with the quality standards and reader experience goals of Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine.

Submission File and Chart Format Standards

All submitted patterns must be provided in a clean, readable, professionally formatted chart form suitable for editorial review and publication preparation.

While Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine welcomes a variety of design workflows and software tools, we strongly prefer charts created using dedicated cross stitch charting software such as WinStitch or comparable professional charting programs.

Submitted charts should include, where applicable:

• Clear symbols
• Readable chart grids
• Organized color keys
• Proper thread listings
• Legible backstitch indicators
• Clearly separated pages or sections
• Consistent formatting and scaling
• Clean export quality suitable for publication

We do not accept:

• Hand-drawn charts
• Photographs of paper charts
• Illegible screenshots
• Low-resolution exports
• Messy or unfinished chart layouts
• Unformatted symbol sheets
• Incomplete pattern files
• Difficult-to-read color mapping
• Unorganized working files intended only for personal drafting

Contributors are responsible for ensuring that submitted materials are cleanly presented, publication-ready, and reasonably accessible for review by editors and eventual use by stitchers.

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to reject submissions that, in our sole discretion, do not meet reasonable formatting, readability, or presentation standards appropriate for professional publication.

Accepted Themes, Styles, and Content Guidelines

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine is centered around alternative, spooky, gothic, witchy, eerie, emotionally expressive, humorous, and creatively unconventional cross stitch artwork.

We welcome a broad range of artistic styles and interpretations, including but not limited to:

• Witchy and mystical themes
• Gothic artwork
• Dark humor
• Cute creepy aesthetics
• Cozy spooky themes
• Haunted and paranormal concepts
• Occult-inspired imagery
• Alternative fashion influences
• Victorian gothic styles
• Cryptids and folklore
• Cemetery and mourning aesthetics
• Whimsigoth themes
• Fantasy horror
• Autumn and harvest themes
• Macabre comedy
• Emo, punk, and alternative influences
• Soft gothic and pastel spooky artwork
• Horror-inspired designs
• Dark romantic themes
• Halloween-inspired artwork
• Emotional or melancholic themes
• Moody botanical aesthetics
• Fantasy creatures and supernatural concepts
• Cute traditional Halloween artwork
• Vintage Halloween aesthetics
• Tattoo-inspired artwork
• Traditional tattoo flash influences
• Neo-traditional gothic illustration styles

Not every accepted design must be intense horror or heavily gothic in tone. Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine intentionally embraces a wide creative spectrum ranging from cozy and whimsical spooky artwork to darker, more dramatic gothic themes.

We welcome both:

• Beginner-friendly patterns
• Minimalist chart designs
• Small quick-stitch projects
• Highly detailed full-coverage works
• Advanced technical charting
• Large-scale artistic projects

Complexity level alone does not determine acceptance. Editorial consideration is based more heavily on creativity, readability, originality, presentation quality, and thematic fit.

Mature Content Guidelines

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine may accept certain mature themes and artistic expressions where appropriate to the publication’s tone and audience.

Limited profanity, dark comedy, emotionally intense themes, and tasteful artistic nudity may be permitted within interior content areas of the magazine.

However:

• Explicit sexual content is not permitted
• Pornographic material is prohibited
• Graphic fetish content is prohibited
• Excessively graphic violence may be rejected
• Hate speech or discriminatory content is prohibited
• Content involving minors in mature contexts is strictly prohibited
• Anatomically explicit below-the-waist nudity or sexual imagery of any kind is not accepted

Additionally:

• Profanity may not appear on magazine covers or front-page promotional materials
• Artistic nudity may not appear on covers, thumbnails, storefront previews, advertisements, or public-facing promotional graphics
• Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to require modified preview imagery for publication or marketing purposes

Editorial acceptance remains entirely at the discretion of Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine.

We reserve the right to reject submissions that, in our sole judgment:

• Conflict with the publication’s standards
• Create legal or platform risks
• Fall outside the magazine’s thematic direction
• Are excessively graphic or exploitative
• Appear intentionally inflammatory or harmful
• Are inconsistent with advertiser, platform, storefront, or publishing requirements

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine aims to maintain a balance between creative freedom, artistic expression, professionalism, accessibility, and responsible publication standards.

Editorial Discretion

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine maintains full editorial discretion regarding:

• Acceptance or rejection of submissions
• Editing and formatting decisions
• Issue placement
• Layout and presentation
• Publication timing
• Feature selection
• Thematic consistency

Bone & Briar Holdings is not obligated to provide publication explanations, editorial feedback, or revision opportunities.

Submission Standards

Submissions should meet reasonable quality and professionalism standards appropriate for publication.

We reserve the right to reject submissions involving:

• Excessive similarity to existing works
• Copyright concerns
• Offensive or unlawful material
• Hate speech or discriminatory content
• Low-quality charting or unreadable formatting
• Unsafe crafting instructions
• Fraudulent ownership claims
• Excessive plagiarism or imitation
• Technical incompatibility
• Incomplete submission materials

Compensation and Contributor Arrangements

Compensation structures, if offered, may vary depending on:

• Project type
• Publication scope
• Licensing arrangements
• Sponsorship involvement
• Editorial agreements
• Promotional campaigns

Unless explicitly stated in writing, submission alone does not create an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, or guarantee of payment.

Contributor compensation terms, if applicable, may be governed separately.

Contributor Identity and Creator Presence

Contributors may choose how they are credited within Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine.

Accepted contributors may appear under:

• Their legal name
• An artist name
• A studio name
• A business name
• A social media handle or creator alias

Contributors are responsible for ensuring they have the legal authority to use any submitted business names, aliases, or branding identifiers.

To support artist visibility and allow readers to discover and support featured creators, all contributors must maintain at minimum:

• At least one active social media account
• Some form of online storefront, portfolio, or web presence where readers may view or purchase their work

Acceptable storefronts or creator platforms may include:

• Personal websites
• Etsy shops
• Shopify stores
• Ko-fi pages
• Patreon pages
• Social storefronts
• Artist portfolio websites
• Other legitimate creator platforms

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine is designed not only to feature artwork, but also to help readers discover and support independent artists within the cross stitch and alternative art communities.

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to decline submissions from contributors who cannot provide a legitimate creator presence, storefront, or publicly accessible method of attribution and contact.

New and Emerging Artists

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine proudly supports both established creators and emerging artists within the cross stitch community.

While the magazine may occasionally feature well-known designers, recognized creators, or established brands, we strongly encourage submissions from new and first-time artists as well.

You do not need to have a large following, extensive publication history, or an established reputation to submit your work.

We genuinely want to help readers discover new creative voices, unique artistic perspectives, and independent talent within the community.

If you are passionate about your work, committed to quality, and excited to share your creativity, we encourage you to submit — even if you are just beginning your journey as a designer.

Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine was built with the intention of celebrating creativity across all experience levels, and we believe new artists deserve opportunities to be seen alongside more established creators.

Moral Rights and Attribution

Where reasonably practical, Bone & Briar Holdings may credit contributors using names, aliases, business names, or social handles provided during submission.

However, contributors acknowledge that:

• Formatting limitations may apply
• Promotional materials may not always include full attribution
• Editorial consistency may require abbreviated credits

Contributors waive claims arising solely from minor formatting or attribution adjustments made in good faith.

Archived Publications

Published magazine issues and associated materials may remain archived indefinitely.

Contributors acknowledge that accepted works may continue appearing in:

• Digital archives
• Historical issues
• Promotional previews
• Retrospective collections
• Subscriber libraries
• Marketing materials referencing prior publications

Removal requests after publication may not be granted.

Rejection and Non-Use

Bone & Briar Holdings is not obligated to publish or return submitted materials.

Unpublished submissions may be deleted, archived, or retained for administrative purposes at our discretion.

We are not responsible for:

• Loss of submitted materials
• Corrupted uploads
• Technical delivery failures
• Compatibility issues
• Submission platform interruptions

Contributors are encouraged to maintain their own backups.

Confidentiality and Ideas

Do not submit confidential, proprietary, patented, or commercially sensitive information unless separate written protections are established beforehand.

Bone & Briar Holdings cannot guarantee exclusivity or confidentiality regarding broad creative concepts, themes, aesthetics, or general ideas.

Similar concepts may independently appear in future publications.

Withdrawal of Submissions

Contributors may request withdrawal of unpublished submissions before acceptance for publication.

However, once publication production, layout preparation, licensing, or promotional scheduling has substantially begun, withdrawal requests may not be honored.

Intellectual Property Enforcement

Contributors remain responsible for protecting their own intellectual property rights outside the permissions granted to Bone & Briar Holdings.

We reserve the right to remove published works if credible infringement claims arise.

Bone & Briar Holdings may cooperate with lawful copyright investigations or disputes where necessary.

Indemnification

Contributors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bone & Briar Holdings, Chaos Cross Stitch Magazine, affiliates, staff, contractors, editors, and partners from claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or legal costs arising from:

• Breach of this Policy
• Infringement claims
• Misrepresentation of ownership
• Unlawful submitted materials
• Violation of third-party rights

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Bone & Briar Holdings shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or special damages related to submission review, rejection, publication decisions, editorial modifications, or promotional use consistent with this Policy.

Changes to This Policy

Bone & Briar Holdings reserves the right to modify or update this Artist Submission Policy at any time.

Updated versions become effective upon posting unless otherwise stated.

Continued submission of materials after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.