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| https://www.etsy.com/listing/209430050/turkey-favor-bags-thanksgiving |
Hanukkah and Christmas gift giving guides will be appearing in the not too distant future!
From Norland Nanny to small business owner
Friday, November 7, 2014
Kid's Thanksgiving Gift Guide
Hi all.....thought I would put together some ideas for you for gifts for children for Thanksgiving. I found all these wonderfully talented artists on Etsy, I hope you'll visit their shops and help support small businesses!
Monday, November 3, 2014
Halloween Party Food
Did you have a good Halloween? What a crazy night! We had roughly 12 8-9 yr olds over for a party and it felt like there were double the number! I think everyone had a great time! We bobbed for apples, had a bean bag toss, a bowling game, darts, and dinner before they all went trick or treating.
Here's a couple of snapshots of my contribution to the party.
Here's a couple of snapshots of my contribution to the party.
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| Pukin' Pumpkin |
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| Veggie Skeleton Man |
Monday, October 27, 2014
Easiest Ice Cream Birthday Cake
....well apart from picking one up at your local supermarket or ice cream shop this is the easiest (and actually pretty quick - less than an hour) way for me to make a birthday cake!
I've made a few cakes in my time....the fondant Ninja Turtle Cake that I had to make as part of my Norland course, the 3 tiered wedding cake I made for my old bosses mother, the handbag cake that I made for my old boss and so many others along the way.
For my boyfriends birthday earlier this year (yes I'm just getting round to posting this now) I made this super duper ice-cream cake. This cake is not for the dieter....what cake is? Oh yeah rice cakes!!! :o)
I made this cake in 45 mins.....here's how I did it.
First the pictorial list of ingredients, as you can tell this is geared towards a chocolate-peanut butter theme.
It's quite important to prepare all the chopping ahead of assembly so that you have everything ready to go.
I bought 3 different ice creams for 3 different layers.....I used a 10" spring form pan which measured about 2.5" high, in hindsight I would have chosen a pan with higher walls, the ingredients 'just' fit in!
This is a pretty messy job, so excuse the lack of photographs of each layer, I had ice-cream, fudge and peanut butter all over the place, so didn't want to keep picking up the camera.
Before you begin, place the cake pan on a double layer of kitchen paper towel with a layer of tinfoil underneath that to prevent drips and fold it up the outsides of the pan.
After chopping the Oreo's and Snickers into small pieces I softened the first layer of ice cream in the microwave a little, you just want it smooth enough to spread it....if I had the time leaving it out at room temperature would have been better. You need to keep stirring it to make sure it's all the same consistency so do a little at a time.
I chose to put the only vanilla based ice-cream in the middle (like a sandwich cake). I started off by putting the Peanut ButterFudge on the bottom, spreading it out evenly, then drizzling the (not so hot) fudge on top of that and scattering the chopped Oreo's on top of the fudge!
After the first layer is done you need to put the cake in the freezer to harden up before adding the next layer.
Next I softened the Salted Caramel flavor and added the chopped Snickers bars and melted the peanut butter before drizzling that over the top, don't let your peanut butter get hot as it will melt your ice-cream more than you need! Back in the freezer to harden.
See how much room is left in the pan and I still had the final ice-cream to add!!!! YIKES!!!
Finally I added the last ice-cream, the Chocolate Fudge Brownie. If you want to add candles to your cake I would recommend adding the holders now before it gets too hard.
Back in the freezer before the party begins. I made this a day ahead which I would recommend, you can't slice melted ice-cream.
And of course I was so busy with everything the day of the party that I forgot to take a picture of the assembled cake out of it's pan! But I did remember to take pictures of a slice or two the next day!
It was a huge hit! And hard to believe there is 6 tubs of ice-cream in there!!!!!
I've made a few cakes in my time....the fondant Ninja Turtle Cake that I had to make as part of my Norland course, the 3 tiered wedding cake I made for my old bosses mother, the handbag cake that I made for my old boss and so many others along the way.
For my boyfriends birthday earlier this year (yes I'm just getting round to posting this now) I made this super duper ice-cream cake. This cake is not for the dieter....what cake is? Oh yeah rice cakes!!! :o)
I made this cake in 45 mins.....here's how I did it.
First the pictorial list of ingredients, as you can tell this is geared towards a chocolate-peanut butter theme.
It's quite important to prepare all the chopping ahead of assembly so that you have everything ready to go.
I bought 3 different ice creams for 3 different layers.....I used a 10" spring form pan which measured about 2.5" high, in hindsight I would have chosen a pan with higher walls, the ingredients 'just' fit in!
This is a pretty messy job, so excuse the lack of photographs of each layer, I had ice-cream, fudge and peanut butter all over the place, so didn't want to keep picking up the camera.
Before you begin, place the cake pan on a double layer of kitchen paper towel with a layer of tinfoil underneath that to prevent drips and fold it up the outsides of the pan.
After chopping the Oreo's and Snickers into small pieces I softened the first layer of ice cream in the microwave a little, you just want it smooth enough to spread it....if I had the time leaving it out at room temperature would have been better. You need to keep stirring it to make sure it's all the same consistency so do a little at a time.
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| In no way shape or form am I promoting these brands. The Ben & Jerry's ice-cream was on sale :o) I actually wouldn't recommend the 'Core' ice-creams, I didn't realize I had bought them but the middle of the ice-cream tub is actually filled with peanut butter and salted caramel. I think solid ice-cream would have worked better. |
I chose to put the only vanilla based ice-cream in the middle (like a sandwich cake). I started off by putting the Peanut ButterFudge on the bottom, spreading it out evenly, then drizzling the (not so hot) fudge on top of that and scattering the chopped Oreo's on top of the fudge!
After the first layer is done you need to put the cake in the freezer to harden up before adding the next layer.
Next I softened the Salted Caramel flavor and added the chopped Snickers bars and melted the peanut butter before drizzling that over the top, don't let your peanut butter get hot as it will melt your ice-cream more than you need! Back in the freezer to harden.
Finally I added the last ice-cream, the Chocolate Fudge Brownie. If you want to add candles to your cake I would recommend adding the holders now before it gets too hard.
Back in the freezer before the party begins. I made this a day ahead which I would recommend, you can't slice melted ice-cream.
And of course I was so busy with everything the day of the party that I forgot to take a picture of the assembled cake out of it's pan! But I did remember to take pictures of a slice or two the next day!
It was a huge hit! And hard to believe there is 6 tubs of ice-cream in there!!!!!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Etsy shop receives new stock
Hello all.....
Just popping in to let you know there are new items in the shop.....and I will continue to add more as the weeks go by. The shop has been closed for the last 2 weeks as I spent time in England with family. But I'm back with a new level of drive to get this Etsy shop jam packed in time for the holidays. If you can't find the following items in the shop that just means they're coming soon!!!! And you can always email on Etsy if you see something you want but can't find it!
Just popping in to let you know there are new items in the shop.....and I will continue to add more as the weeks go by. The shop has been closed for the last 2 weeks as I spent time in England with family. But I'm back with a new level of drive to get this Etsy shop jam packed in time for the holidays. If you can't find the following items in the shop that just means they're coming soon!!!! And you can always email on Etsy if you see something you want but can't find it!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Renegade Brooklyn, September 2014
What an absolutely fantastically exhausting weekend. I had such a successful time at Renegade Brooklyn, busy both days...even in the rain on Saturday afternoon people were still spending money! YAY!
I think I might have sold about 75% of my inventory which is great!!!! The only minor downside is that I have Jersey City 'All About Downtown' this coming Saturday....so I have to work like crazy again this week!
Anyway here's the pics I snapped quickly on Sunday.....I wish I had taken more but I had about a 1 min break with no one in the booth so I had to be fast. If you think my booth pics look a bit one sided, you are right....I had the right side and Le Petit Elefant had the left side.....I stupidly didn't take a pic of the whole booth with both of us!!! Mad at myself for that! Sorry Genevieve!
I think I might have sold about 75% of my inventory which is great!!!! The only minor downside is that I have Jersey City 'All About Downtown' this coming Saturday....so I have to work like crazy again this week!
Anyway here's the pics I snapped quickly on Sunday.....I wish I had taken more but I had about a 1 min break with no one in the booth so I had to be fast. If you think my booth pics look a bit one sided, you are right....I had the right side and Le Petit Elefant had the left side.....I stupidly didn't take a pic of the whole booth with both of us!!! Mad at myself for that! Sorry Genevieve!
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| Going to work on adding risers to the white boxes....it's hard to see in them with the piles of bibs at the front!!! |
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| Just noticing that my 'O' is flipped in my sign!!! Oh well!!! |
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Renegade Craft Fair - Brooklyn Septermber 13th and 14th 2014
So for those of you that are not on Facebook and following my news I'll be at Renegade Craft Fair - Brooklyn this coming weekend Sept 13/14
http://www.renegadecraft.com/brooklyn-september-market-details
I have been busy working my tail off preparing for my first ever two day show! Up at 6.30am and working through til around 11.30pm yes it's exhausting and tonight I hit a wall! I don't think I can sew another bib!
I'll be taking inventory tomorrow so should be able to report back exactly how many items I have made.....it's never enough though I find....you always feel you need to make more. There are fabrics I wanted to use but never got around to.....in the end you can only do so much.
If you are in the neighbourhood swing on by 50 Kent between 11th and 12th street.
I am sharing booth #98 with Le Petit Elefant.....figured I'd try a half booth this year and if it's successful apply for a full booth next year!!!
Here the link the last year when I was a mere spectator.
http://textiletrolley.blogspot.com/2013/06/renegade-craft-fair-brooklyn-summer-2013.html
http://www.renegadecraft.com/brooklyn-september-market-details
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| "99 baby bibs in a pile, 99 baby bibs" |
I'll be taking inventory tomorrow so should be able to report back exactly how many items I have made.....it's never enough though I find....you always feel you need to make more. There are fabrics I wanted to use but never got around to.....in the end you can only do so much.
If you are in the neighbourhood swing on by 50 Kent between 11th and 12th street.
I am sharing booth #98 with Le Petit Elefant.....figured I'd try a half booth this year and if it's successful apply for a full booth next year!!!
Here the link the last year when I was a mere spectator.
http://textiletrolley.blogspot.com/2013/06/renegade-craft-fair-brooklyn-summer-2013.html
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Squirrel Picnic Table
Thought I'd share these pics today....has nothing to do with anything at Textile Trolley but I woke up to these 2 buddies having breakfast on our deck and it made me smile.....it's taken them a month or two to figure out that they can actually sit on the chairs......before they were hanging upside down on the corn cob.
I bought the picnic set for my boyfriends birthday and it's the gift that keeps on giving. Children that come over to visit are mesmerized by our furry friends. Would be a great gift for any animal lovers...this one is screwed onto the railing of our deck.
Anyone interested in purchasing one I bought this on Etsy HERE
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| Would be a better quality picture if I didn't have to take it through glass!!! They run away every time I open the sliding door. |
Anyone interested in purchasing one I bought this on Etsy HERE
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