Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What To Do?

After finishing a quilt I typically have a period of time when I pull out a few to several projects. I might sew a little on one, put parts of another on the design board or pull some fabrics. Last week was like that and here are some possibilities of things for me to work on over the holidays.

Quilting my quilt show committee challenge has a deadline. I took my Bernina in for a cleaning so this one is will have to wait.

These are some of the half square triangles left over from my challenges with the challenge quilt. I have enough to make a small quilt. Not showing all of the hsts here. I just wanted to get an idea of what I will do and how big I can make it with what I have.

Sharon over at Indigo Threads is making a low volume quilt. I admired it and she invited me to join her in making one. I've wanted to do one of these for a long time.



So I pulled out my baggie of waste traiangles from this quilt made with the Square in a Square Ruler-

and started making half square triangles.

Not sure this qualifies as a low volume quilt. It is mostly lights and certainly is low contrast. I wonder how big of a quilt I'll get out of that pile of triangles. Maybe I will make it bigger with other additions, but that will wait for another day.

I've decided to pull out my Lil' Twister ruler and a couple of charm packs I've owned for far too long. 
If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them. The directions are very brief. I don't want to own this holiday charm pack through yet another holiday. Time to sew them up!


I made caramel corn Sunday afternoon (Hail to the Redskins!) for my DH to take to work on Monday. This stuff cannot sit around my house or I WILL EAT IT!!! It is a Southern Living recipe from 1992. I give you this recipe with a warning - it is SO GOOD.  Make it before a party or give it away quickly or you will be tempted even if you have willpower of steel.  ; c )

Nutty Caramel Corn
6 quarts freshly popped corn (about 1 cup unpopped corn)
1 cup pecans (we chop ours, but not too fine)
1 cup cashews (we use almonds, also a quick chop)
1 cup butter or margarine (we use butter)
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large roasting pan; set aside.
Melt butter in a large saucepan; stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes, without stirring (temperature will register about 250 degrees). I find the 5 minutes to be accurate and don't mess with my inaccurate candy thermometer. Remove from heat; stir in soda and vanilla. Pour over popped corn and nuts; stir well. Bake at 225 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool and break into pieces, if desired. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 5 quarts. Attributed to Marion Hall of  Knoxville, Tennessee


I love vintage ornaments-

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

15 comments:

  1. Oh! I am totally making that carmel corn! It looks so good, and sounds pretty easy! I love that I won't need a candy thermometer, since I can't seem to find mine! :o) Great projects....I'm loving the low volume one! A sea of hst is so pretty!

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  2. This is the caramel corn recipe I use every year at Christmas. My neighbors LOVE it! The nuts make all the difference.

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  3. We have so many options with our leftover HST. I like the design you've started with the red ones. I keep sewing and trimming and stacking my HST from scraps. Hopefully I'll actually use them someday.
    I'm too much of a chicken to try a low-contast quilt, large or small. I like their simplicity, but I just don't have confidence to make one.

    I have no restraint with sweets and crunchy snacks, and I'm sure this one would never see the light of the next day if I made it. DH and I would eat it at one sitting. It looks wonderful!

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  4. The caramel corn does sound too tempting....

    I really like the low contrast quilt and new little project you are working on....lovely.

    Judy

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  5. I love creating with leftovers. Can't wait to see how your scrap projects turn out.
    Oh, the popcorn looks yummy! And I love vintage ornaments--have dozens on my tree, too! : )

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  6. Oh my - a great post thanks! Love those red half square triangles and the "low volume" project is beautiful. That is not a term I have heard before - maybe sometimes called a "blended" quilt? - love the look of it anyway!! And I am drooling at the sight of that caramel - definitely must not make that, too tempting :)
    Every Stitch

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  7. love that ornament , so pretty.
    Ok no way could I make that I would eat it all! it looks an smells good from here!!!!
    great projects here, I am tempted to make a low volume quilt too, for me that would be a real challenge!
    might have to be an all shirting quilt :)
    keep going with it I would love for it to be a bigger quilt
    Kathie

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  8. Whoo hoo! Your low volume is starting out great! What fun!

    I think using the Twister with the charm packs is a great idea. The only real tip I have for that is: contrast! (unlike the low volume) Contrast is very important. And when you cut it up and put it back together, I love the surprise of how it looks, which happens to me every time.

    OMG, I could NOT make that caramel corn - because I'd eat it all! YUM.

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  9. what a fun post! so much inspiration.
    your HST blocks are so pretty - don't you love sewing on the FW? I always feel like a pioneer woman. I haven't made a twister - sorry -
    I am definitely trying that recipe, my husband would LOVE it!
    Love vintage ornaments too - those bells are so elegant.

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  10. I enjoyed viewing every picture in this post. Really looking forward to seeing the progress on the low volume quilt... loving it so far! I'm with you... love vintage Christmas ornaments!

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  11. That caramel popcorn looks fantastic! My Dad is at almost 95 is a long time Redskins fan too...we all are devoted to our Packers here too.

    Love your quilt and all the colors...my one and only experience with doing a Twister project was - be aware of the bias edges along the outside...

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  12. oh~!~that caramel corn looks so gooood~!
    i better not make any as i'll just end up eating it all . . . this time of the year is so hard on the waist line~!

    your challenge quilt is coming along and i like the strippy set.
    i'm really loving the low volume quilt idea. i've seen a few quilts done like this here and there and they have a certain charm . . . yours is already looking yummy~!

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  13. I have baggies of HST's - yours look great - what a fun project to pull out. Love the way you arranged the red and white ones. Peppermint candy?
    My FW needs a tune up seeing yours reminds me...need to find a place here.
    Great challenge quilt - I like the way you set the blocks.
    Never made a twister, but they are so darn cute ;-)
    Sweets - waiting until the last minute to bake!

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  14. Hi Maureen, after reading your post I rushed off to find out about low volume quilts. Now I have a better understanding. I have a bit of a fascination with neutrals and hope to try something with that concept in mind. Those hst's are so attractive, lovely.

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  15. Nice to see that your Featherweight has been getting a bit of work out, some very nice work there, your red HST project looks interesting, will be keeping an eye out to see what you do there!!!!
    Have a wonderful Christmas!!!!

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