I wish I could tell you that I had a strategy for why I make the patterns I do. The truth is they just come out. I very seldom know what I will design when I sit at the computer each night. Of course, the holidays make it easier because at least I have a theme.
Some nights I will start by saying that I won't do a pattern with a holiday theme. I know that I tend to overdo the holiday patterns but they are both easier to do and very popular when I look at the number of downloads they get. I receive a lot of emails asking for more varied patterns and not so many holiday patterns. Then when I do a non-holiday pattern it will get half the number of downloads.
Honestly, I think it is out of my control anyway. I have done this for so long and so often that it just happens without much thought on my part.
I have two patterns for you today. The ghost patterns were so simple that I thought I would throw in a second pattern.