Please welcome Katey and her Etsy shop
Bankie Baby
We love the babies and children in our lives so deeply. Katey creates
unique gifts the baby in your life will love for years and years to
come. Perfect for baby shower gifts or for your own little one.
Katey has offered a wonderful giveaway from her shop
Bankie Baby...details are at the end of her interview.
Now let's discover
Bankie Baby!
What is the first creative memory you have?
My first creative memory is intimately tied to the first family garden
that my mother planted. I was 4 or 5 and we'd just moved to a new house
and finally had a little yard. I remember sitting out in the sun with
her, popping little white bean seeds into the cool spring soil. I
remember how novel it felt to see my mom getting her hands dirty and how
amazing it was when the beans finally popped up. Later in the summer it
was incredible it was to eat those first sweet, green beans. It felt
like a revelation to experience being connected to nature like that. And
that feeling has inspired my personal creations ever since.
What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?
I was introduced to etsy by my friend (and now sister-in-law!) Liz
Dickey. She makes amazing clocks made from recycled bicycle gears. Her
store is:
1.by.liz. When
Liz told me about etsy, I had been making and selling organic baby
blankets wholesale for many years. She inspired me to create an etsy
store as a way to get some of my more creative and personal baby
blankets out in the world.
How did you come up with your shop name?
My shop name comes from my family name, Behnke (pronounced Bankie). My
mother began the Bankie Baby journey more than 25 years ago when she
started making polyester fleece baby blankets under the name "Bankie by
Behnke". When I took over the business in 2006, switched to 100% organic
cotton fleece and I changed the name to "Bankie Baby" to make it cuter,
and easier to remember (and spell!).
Describe what creations you have in your shop
I make personalized, super-soft organic baby blankets! Each one has a
unique, colorful, applique design, usually featuring a parent and baby
animal combination. They are bright, cute and sweet and can be
personalized with baby's name to make an unforgettable one-of-a-kind
gift.
What insprires you?
I am inspired by the love that people have for the new babies in their
lives. I have witnessed this love both personally and professionally and
it is something that I strive to give expression to in every one of my
blankets. My feeling is that each baby comes into this world unique and
beautiful and I hope that my blankets offer a way to express that love.
What do you listen to or watch while creating?
I listen to music and sometimes books on tape. Right now I am in the
middle of listening to the Lord of the Ring Trilogy. I'm also
embarrassed to admit that I like to keep up on General Hospital and all
sorts of other "bad tv" while making my blankets.
Please share a favorite recipe
Decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake (based on a Bon Appetit recipe, 2002)
Makes 10-12 servings
Ingredients:
I C (2 sticks) butter
8 ounces of chocolate (semi sweet or dark depending on your preference)
1 C sugar
1 C unsweetened cocoa powder
6 eggs
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter 10" springform pan. Line the bottom with
waxed paper. Gently melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Stir to
prevent burning. Remove from heat. Mix sugar and cocoa in a large bowl.
Add eggs, whisk to mix. Slowly whisk in chocolate/butter mixture. Pour
batter into your cake pan. Bake for about 45 min, or until a tester
inserted int he center comes out clean. Cool cake completely on a rack.
Run a knife around the sides of the pan, release the spring. Cover and
refrigerate. Keeps well for a week inthe fridge.
Serve cool, or slice and rewarm in the oven.
This cake is super chocolatey and rich. Delicious by itself or with a chocolate butter cream frosting!
Where else can we find you?
My business website is:
www.bankiebaby.com
Facebook
Now to see what one lucky winner will win!
Set of Two Organic Lovie Baby Blankets -- Personalized Free for Your Hip Eco Baby
*****Katey will personalize them with one name on each blanket.
*****Ships free in the USA.
The blankets measures 16"x 16", the perfect size for little hands and
arms to hold and snuggle. The topside of these adorable lovies are made
with 100% certified organic cotton fleece and sport a darling poppy
heart. The backside is made in the mirror image with poppy fabric and a
sweet organic white heart.
Katey carefully designs, cuts and sews every blanket.
Machine Washable.
Handmade. 100% Made in the USA.
