Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Halloween hornbook

I have returned from our time at Cranberry Cottage and what a great time we had. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed some wonderful peace and quiet there. I am feeling much better after having let myself become totally exhausted. I do want to take this moment to thank everyone for their sweet and supportive comments about my sharing my chronic illnesses with you. I see that there are others who unfortunately share some of these problems with me. I hope that our talking about our lives will encourage others to look beyond the physical problems and enjoy life.


I pack my bag with my hobbies first thing when we leave for the cottage. This week, I had packed two bags. The first was containing two stitching projects and my tablerunner which I am hand quilting. The second bag contained all the items I needed to work on some more patchwork blocks for the Centennial Sampler. That bag came back home today packed just as it had been when I left for the cottage. I am afraid I did not even unpack it to work on a single block.


I decided I really wanted to get my WIP Silent Sampler finished before touching anything else. I will be sharing that finish with you this week too but I also took along a new project which I like to do when we are on vacation.


I pick an easy project that I can try and finish while away. I found it this time in Tanya's (The Sampler Girl) new freebie called Quaker Boo. This came out just the week before we left. Thanks Tanya once again for an adorable chart!


I love it when things seem to just come together. I had found an outdoor chalkboard in a garden center a couple of months ago. I immediately saw that if I turned it upsidedown, it would become a fun hornbook. I bought it thinking I would eventually find the perfect design to use for it. When I saw Tanya's latest freebie, I knew right away that this was the right one for this hornbook. Since the chalkboard slides out, I was able to simply attach the stitching to it.


18 comments:

Joanne said...

Heidi ~ I LOVE the Boo Quaker sampler and the way you finished it into a hornbook. So, now you've crossed another thing off the list for our craft-along weeks at the holiday list :) Glad you had a nice and relaxing time at Cranberry Cottage!
Hugs,
Joanne

Elizabethd said...

That is lovely Heidi, what an interesting idea.
Take care of yourself now.

diane said...

I love Quaker Boo, it is an adorable design and I cannot believe how perfectly it fits your chalkboard/hornbook. What a special find and you are right, things have come together neatly!!
Terrific finish!

Solstitches said...

It's such a great design and it looks wonderful the way you've finished it. Truly unique!

Anonymous said...

Sorry heidi,het is niet de bedoeling om je te verwaarlozen,maarna ons weekje Ouddorp lag bij thuiskomst 'n rouwkaart van het onverwacht overlijden van de vader van mijn schoonzusje,dus naar de crematie.
Toen 'n email van Ria uit La Porte ,die heeft vanwege Ike waarschijnlijk geen huis meer en Zaterdag broers en zussendag in Lisse.
Je ziet een hele rare week,zelfs niet aan quilten gedacht.
Big hug Joke.

Nancy said...

Ok, that explains it. I wondered who you found to make hornbooks now. I was going to tell George he could retire. I think that design is sooo cute. When will the halloween decor go on the tree?
I am so glad you are feeling better. That week at the cottage did you a world of good. Good to hear your voice again on Skype, not the same when we had to type.
Love you, Mom

Annemarie said...

Heidi, I'm so glad you found time to rest and relax up at Cranberry Cottage. I was a bit late in reading your previous post but I have to thank you for sharing this with us. It's not TMI at all - just a way of getting to know your blogging friends better and creating a better understanding of what makes everyone tick. I really admire you for your positive outlook on life despite your illness.

As for today's post, well... What beautiful things you wrought! Tanya's sampler is gorgeous and it is just like you to find the perfect prop for displaying it :o)

Pondside said...

I love that little Quaker Boo sampler - and your way of displaying it.
I hope you've come home with some renewed vigour - that the time at your Cranberry Cottage retreat has restored some of your energy. Do take good care of yourself.

Heidi said...

Your Halloween hornbook is wonderful! I'm so very happy to find you've returned well rested. It's good to have you back, but take care of yourself.
many hugs,
heidi

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Hello Heidi ~ I am glad to hear that you and Jos got some time away to enjoy yourselves and also to get some projects done. So what is your next project going to be? Is Dagi helping out any? tee hee.

Have a wonderful new week. Oh, have to tell you that I have been working on a CS project that I have had for 5 years - in a drawer!

talk soon,
Becky
xo to little Dagi from Doogs and Socks

Saskia said...

Hi,
Love the hornbook.
But i also love the fact, that your centennial blocks are on hold too..!
I'am working on all my ufo's and the yo-yo's are done. But I take the Yo-yo's Mom made, because i have to make a little present for a co-worker who's gona retire in November.
And I have to finish the medallion before oktober.
If you have time, i can come over for coffee on friday, or are you going back to cranberry cottage?
Hugs
Saskia

mainely stitching said...

That is so absolutely perfect, Heidi!!!

Carolien said...

Hello dear Heidi, how funny: yesterday I found exactly the same pattern and decided to save it on my computer to make it one day ... and now I see you having finished it already! It looks lovely! I am glad you had a nice week at CC.

Have a nice evening & hugs, Carolien

Christine said...

Your hornbook has come out beautifully. I love the colour of the thread you chose

Heleen said...

this is all so lovely and tastefull!

Suzann said...

Glad to have you back and rested. Love how you finished up Tanya's freebie and I can't wait to see your Silent Sampler.

Saskia said...

Hi,
My only day free from work is friday. next week I have to work the whole week. Maybe i can take a afternoon free somewhere (i have a lot of extra overtime on my chart), I let you know.
Or else I can come over on a evening.
And you can always invite me for Diner (LOL)(LOL)(LOL)
Saskia

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Heidi,
Your QUAKER BOO is wonderful in that format - you creative, girlie.

Tanya