The Land Baby – Griffin's Nest

First off, I didn’t finish Changing Seasons, the 2022 Mystery Stitch A Long from Fox and Rabbit. I’m working on it but not a great deal. I am more focused on my projects for this year. I will eventually finish the MSAL. I am also NOT doing the 2023 MSAL. I had decided not to last year since I have so many projects I’d like to get done this year, and a huge monthly project will keep me from doing so. This brings me to an Old Friend:

The Land Baby

This project is based on the painting by the same name by John Collier back in 1895. I don’t know who charted it, but they did an amazing job! I have links to the chart in most of my previous posts about this project. I did one half of the chart last year:

This is being stitched on 18 ct white Aida using the called for DMC floss of which there is close to 100! I’ve gotten 400 stitches done on it so far this year, and I’m doing it 2 over 2.

I’m only stitching every other day so I have time for my other non stitching projects. I also have two starts:

Start #1: Girl With the Pearl Earring

This project is based on the painting by the same name done by artist Johannes Vermeer 1632-1675. The charter is unknown, but here is the link to the page I found the chart on

: http://www.free-cross-stitch-pattern.com/artistic4/thegirlwiththepearlearr.php

Here is what it’s supposed to look like:

Here is where I am now:

I am stitching this on 14 ct black Aida using the called for DMC floss. LOTS of color changes in this one! I’m doing 2 over 2 as well. I’ve done 354 stitches on it so far. It’s not nearly as big as Land Baby which is why I went with 14 count. I also chose the size because of the color of the fabric.

New Start #2: Peppermint Purple 2023 Stitch -A-Long

This project is year long, but it’s blackwork which is something I’ve been wanting to try. Now, I’m going to be doing a stitch a long, and I’ll have a whole bunch of people to ask questions of should the need arise. It’s a simple project with basic stitches and only a few colors. I’m working on the borders trying to get to the middle without making the huge counting mistake I made with the 2022 MSAL I was working on. Here is my progress so far:

It doesn’t look like a lot, but that’s 1, 828 stitches done on 25 ct white Natural Lugana even weave from Artiste/Zweigart

The first block for January has already been released. It’s done by weeks instead of months so, I’m already a bit behind. I’m okay with that because I know I can catch up once I get the proper parts of the frame done. I’m doing 1 over 1 for the lines and 2 over 1 for the cross stitches.

So, these are my current stitching projects. I think Girl will go much faster than I’d thought so I might get done with her much quicker. If so, I have some other projects already kitted and waiting for me.

One of these projects is Stitchinati by Morti of Mad Morti fame from YouTube. She designed and charted it up herself.

Isn’t this just so cool!! You can get it from her and David’s shop: Hare and Moon Crafts

If anyone else gets this, I’d love to do a stitch a long to share on Instagram and here on WordPress as well. Let me know!

That’s it for today. I’ll be showing my progress every Saturday on my projects, and I hope you will be there!

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday season including ringing in the new year!! I was too busy with work and family to do any posting until today so I’m a bit late to bring in the new year with you. However, better a little late than never at all – right??

Let me begin by saying I am so very grateful for each and every one of you who read these posts of mine. I don’t mind if you don’t comment or anything, I’m still going to write regardless. Would I like more interaction? Of course, but I’m not going to push things. I will eventually write something you’ll want to respond to, and I’ll be happy to respond back. To those of you who do respond to certain posts, I thank you most warmly. I enjoy the feedback and the interaction with all of you.

So what’s in store for the new year? I think we all have lists of things we want to do, see, make, visit etc. I don’t have a travel list, but I do have a To Do and To Make list. In fact, I’ve already begun several, and I hope you’ll follow along on my journey through this year as I show off what I’m doing, discuss things I’m interested in and so much more.

Projects Begun:

Mystery Sampler Stitch-A-Long called Changing Seasons by Fox and Rabbit(formerly Linen and Threads) – I had to order the Aida cloth because none of my local sources carry them that large. I have also joined the Facebook group for this project, and I’ll post the link when I discuss the project further with you on Saturday.
The Land Baby by John Collier – I have seen this pattern for sale on Etsy and Ebay both. The Link I’m sharing is from a free site with the charts and thread list. I saved them as images and am going to use my Paint program to help me mark off what I’m doing.
Crocheted Baby Blanket for a Co-worker – she’s due in March, and I offered to make her a blanket. I think every newborn should be gifted with a handmade blanket.
Health Potion Twitch Stream Prop inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, the game – my son streams on Twitch, and I have an empty brandy bottle he wants me to turn into a “Health Potion” as a prop for his stream. It should be fun to make.
Frederick the Literate puzzle – this is going to be a challenge, and it’s not exactly like the cross stitch project of the same name so that’s good. 🙂

I have a great deal more planned including the ongoing project called Golden Knave. I’ll keep you in the loop on all my projects, and I hope you will all share with me the projects you all have planned for this year as well.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!!