Christmas is finalized and the recipe for Toffee Bars

I’m so enjoying my free time this month.  It has literally been years since I have had the entire month of Dec. FREE and nothing in the works…it’s such a good feeling.

I finished my sheep hooked rug…if I ever get it put on my stool I will take a picture of it – I love how it turned out especially with the Colonial Blue background.

I also ordered some wonderful checked wool from Cathy at:  http://www.redhousewoolstudio.blogspot.com/  and her regular blog is:   http://orangesink.blogspot.com/
It’s just beautiful – the thickness and quality is fantastic.  I plan to use it as the background for my Pineapple hooked rug I started a couple years ago when I first got introduced to it by Lauren from Rugs and Pugs blog.
Cathy lives right here in Wisconsin but unfortunately she is 6 hours north of me and that’s a loooong way to go for wool.   But…we have a cousin who lives there and one of these days when we take a ride up there you can guess I’m going to Cathy’s studio…so one of these days Carol I will show up.
Thanks so much Cathy for the quick delivery of it – I will be back for more wool at some point.

(click on pictures to view larger)

 

Here’s what it will be the background for…hope I have enough.  I may take a few of the leaves out at the bottom and re-work them – this was my very FIRST attempt at hooking and it’s rough – but it is my starter piece so I’m okay with the quality.  After looking at it I just may take the whole thing out and start all over again - lol.
 

A friend of mine asked for some of my Cookie decorations so I made them this week and she picked them up and loved them – I think I need a set too!

And…a very special customer had a ‘special request’ for a candle hugger with a sleigh and tree on it – I came up with this.  I’m now going to make some Penny Rugs and other things with this design.

 

So what is she going to do with 16 small bottle brush trees….well, every year I make name cards for the Christmas dining table and so this year I thought I might put bases on them and paint their names on the base…or something like that.  If you have any ideas please let me know.  At this moment my mind isn’t in the crafting mood.

 

I have absolutely finished my decorating – you all know it has been a very slow process and taken in stages.
I will leave you now with some extra shots I took this week – some are probably like my prior ones but I did a few close-ups.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you again for all your wonderful comments and prayers the past few months – I love the friendship we all have here – I only wish I could meet all of you at some point.
I also have enjoyed looking at all your wonderful posts and especially your decorating. It gives me inspiration. I may not have the same things to work with but I alter it to fit my space.

Oh…I almost forgot…I told ‘Judy’ I would post my Toffee Bar recipe.
TOFFEE BARS

Makes about 3 dozen
Preheat over 350

1/2 cup pecans – chopped and toasted
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter or margarine – softened
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 16oz. bag Nestle Semi-Sweet morsels

Lightly grease jelly roll pan
*In medium bowl cream butter and sugar
*Add the egg, flour, vanilla and salt, beat until smooth
*Dough will be a bit stiff – dollop onto the pan and press dough into pan
*Bake 20 minutes or until dough begins to pull away from the sides of the pan
*Turn oven oven off
*Sprinkle chocolate pieces over top evenly – return to oven for 5 minutes
*Remove from oven and immediately spread chocolate evenly over cookie and sprinkle with chopped pecans
*While still warm, cut into 2 inch strips, then diagonally into diamond shaped bars
The bars can remain in the pan – just cover with foil or let cool and put in covered container

And Audrey – I am working on the Angel Food Strawberry Cake – still can’t find my recipe or pictures.  They were posted on my website but I must not have saved the images….I will diligently keep looking though.

Blessings to all,

Karen