I am going to be moving for a few months and pretty much everything is going into storage. As a foodie, this provided me with an interesting challenge. What do I put away and what do I take with me? To figure this out I had to make a foodie plan, something I usually do not do. My plan? Learn how to make candy. Which I had already been doing. Why candy? It is small, doesn’t require a lot of pots, pans, kitchen appliances… and it is candy! Who doesn’t like candy?
OK, I had a vision. Now I was on a quest. What could I do to make my candy-making future easier?
The Handwork Department
The Handwork Department is located at 1884 Danforth Avenue and went through a move over the last year. I had no idea how big it was going to be and the treasures it was going to offer inside! I am so glad I checked it out.
It is a vintage and consignment shop with so many cool items! You know how much I love vintage everything and I absolutely fell in love with the place when I saw the words “OK TO PUSH BUTTONS” on this old NCR adding machine. This was my kind of place and yes, I pushed the buttons. Of course I pushed the buttons. I am very good, at pushing buttons, LOL.
There are so many cool old and new finds in this store it was seriously challenging to keep focus.
Especially in the cameras section! OMG, I wanted everything!
Downstairs is just as funky with its old retro decorative touches.
The Kitchen Treasures
Don’t get me started on all the kitchen treasures!
I mean seriously… Could this place get cooler?
See that green and white teacup at the middle/bottom of this photo? I have that teacup. It is the same one as my mom’s dogwood teacup, one of the few treasures I have from her. It was a sign. I was going to find what I needed here.
The Candy Case
My Auntie Laima had given me some incredible advice a while ago when I was downsizing. She suggested me pursuing what she calls, hobby suitcases. The idea is to keep your hobby in individual suitcases so you can store them away when you are not using them. I realized that because I am never on the same floor as the kitchen, this would help me so much for bringing items to the kitchen all at once without having to go back and forth, back and forth.
I found this red Samsonite Train Case and fell in love! What colour says candy more than red?!
The prices at The Handwork Department are totally reasonable and fair which makes it EXTRA dangerous for me!
Yes! I came home with the case (and nothing else which was HARD) and got organizing.
The Reveal
On the top I put all the food colouring, Jell-o and Jolly Ranchers (yes, there is a lot, I am working on extreme flavoured gummies), skull mini cupcake liners, chocolate making utensils and lots of flavoured oils.
Underneath you will see my new temperature gun (is it not the coolest?), powdered gelatin, extracts, candy thermometer, glucose and extracts.
Now I have all the basics of candy-making ready to go no matter where I am! I love it. I am the mobile candy lady, ready to make sweet treats at any time.
I bought another case from The Handwork Department but I am not ready to disclose what I am using it for yet. Another story for another foodie day!
What a brilliant idea! My Rare One uses fishing tackle boxes for her painting supplies. When you open the lid, there’s a two-tiered tray that lifts out with it — that’s where she puts the paint tubes. All the bigger items go in the bottom of the tackle box.
Isn’t she smart? OMG, it has made such a difference. Oh how clever your your Rare One! That is brilliant too. And probably not too expensive as well! Huh, I might need to think about that. I still have other hobbies to get boxes for. Thanks for sharing Debra!
Absolutely love the creativity and diversity of your candy selections! The photos are mouthwatering and the handcrafted details are truly special. ✨
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