Toffee Problem -- SOLVED!

So I had my husband help me make one last attempt at English Toffee, and -- well, the butter separated, but the toffee was deliciously crunchy. He wasn't willing to give up so, even though we had to leave the house in 30 minutes to visit family, he called the expert -- his mom. Now why didn't I think of that? Round two was quick and perfect! Want all the secrets? Okay!

English Toffee

1 C butter

1 C sugar

1/4 C water
chocolate chips (I always use semi-sweet!)

chopped nuts, if desired

Place all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed pan (one you have a lid for!) on medium-high heat and stir with a wooden spoon until it all melts together. Make sure the sugar no longer feels "grainy." Then ditch your spoon -- straight into the sink! -- and put the lid on your pan. Wait 60 seconds or so, making sure the sides of the pan steam up. This removes any crystalized sugars from the sides of the pan. Remove the lid and stir with a clean wooden spoon until it turns the color of a brown paper bag. Watch it carefully, and don't stop stirring! Pour onto a marble slab or foil-lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and wait until they are soft enough to spread, then sprinkle chopped nuts over the whole mess. (I usually put the nuts underneath the toffee, but do it however you like!) Ta-da! Cool, break apart, and EAT!!

Thanks, Carol!!!!

Abandoning Tradition

Every year for the past 10+ years, I make English Toffee around Christmastime. Every year for the past 5+ years (with the exception of ONCE), it fails. Last year I had it down to a science. I researched the topic for HOURS before I felt I was armed with enough information to do it right. And, amazingly enough, it turned out BEAUTIFULLY and CRUNCHY and SO DELICIOUS. Then I made it exactly the same the next week. Fail. I was determined for it to work. Did it again and again. Fail.

This year I decided it was going to WORK, and dove right in.

The flavor? Fantastic! (Can't go wrong with butter and sugar!)
The texture? Nastastic!!
FAIL. AGAIN.

Every year I say I'm never going to do it again. I think this time I mean it.

Anyone know where to buy some REALLY GOOD TOFFEE?

Skirt Refashion

For Mother's Day this year my husband took the kids and let me have the entire morning to myself to sew. I was in desperate need of a new skirt, so I got to work. I wanted to make a tiered skirt, but didn't want it ankle length. I decided to go with knee length.

I had some really cute fabric in mind, but was too scared to cut into it just yet, so I got out some fabric I'd been saving for a couple years to make a "wearable muslin." I spent hours on it. There was a lot of gathering. (I do not love gathering!!)

I got it all finished and tried it on, and... It was AWFUL!! And I mean Really, Really Hideous! I was SO glad I hadn't cut into my cute-cute fabric! So I tucked it away for a "someday refashion." (Fortunately for everyone, I don't have a "before" photo of me wearing it!)

Well, months later, its day has come. I picked out the waistband, busted out my elastic thread (my friend!!), and shirred the top. Then I added ribbon ties, and --

VOILA!! Super cute dress for my super cute niece's birthday! Since the weather is turning colder, it just needs a long-sleeve white shirt to go underneath.

I can't wait to see her in it!

"I-Spy" .....a Failure?

Well, I've gone and done it. I finally picked a sashing fabric for the 450+ I-Spy squares I've been collecting for years. They are 2 1/2" cut, 2 " finished. I sewed together 100 of them with said fabric before I decided...

I HATE IT.

What was I thinking?? The sashing looks horrible!! How did I sew 100 together before realizing this??

It doesn't help that I really dislike how static they are in their perfectly lined-up rows....

Sigh. It's so disappointing. I won't be picking it apart, so I guess I'll be making a smaller quilt for -- somebody.

But, I did learn a couple things for the next attempt. I don't want one consistent fabric/color for the sashing/in-between squares. I definitely don't want them lined up in perfect little rows -- at least not like this. And I don't think I can stomach green again for a little while.
I want it SCRAPPY!

Guess I'll try again sometime after I finish the blasted Halloween costumes....

Fail.

Yep. I've done it again.

Read about it here.

Redemption?

Remember this post? Well, I made a serious attempt at redeeming the poor thing.
Do I think I was sucessful? Not sure.

Take a look here.

Just in case...

Just in case anyone was thinking I am perfect...

Look at this monstrosity.

Failure.

Okay, so I made a skirt last week that was, dare I say, a COMPLETE failure. I haven't got a photo, so you'll just have to trust me on this one. I do, however, have a plan to turn it into a success, albeit not for myself! I will post more on this later......