Some clients really pull it off!

This adorable yet bold, black/white/pink cake was made for a favorite customer of mine for a bridal shower she was hosting. She lets me just do whatever I want for her cakes but usually has it based on the invites or decor she's using at the parties. Upon delivery to the venue, we see she has the place fully decked out in coordinating and complimenting party ware. It looked great. Apparently she hosts quite often and has become very good at it. She finds it very rewarding and enjoys the fun part...but from the twinkle in her eye I can see she enjoys the DIY Party Planner thing too.

For this particular party, she used these cute bridal invites from PeekABooPumpkin. She sent me a sample set of what she received so I could use it for cake ideas. As you see, I went pretty literal with it, but we love how it turned out. The ribbon roses at the bottom of the heart cake were so cute! Oh wait, we're talking about my client's skills...she also used some paper products and decor ideas from a site I hadn't heard of; Rosemary Company to pull the decor together a bit more.

Using your invitation as inspiration is always a great idea and one that always works. It allows you to really pull elements together at the party, no matter how small or big your budget. Hmmm, I think they used to call that a "theme"? didn't they? wink* Hey, it also comes in handy for when you attend an event at a venue with more than one party going on...just go to the recognizable decorations! LOL

Now, we all know I'm a big fan of incorporating design elements from invites. I've been doing it with my partner in crime, Erin of Bride Design, for a few years now. We're like super heroes...fighting bad themes and promoting great taste in Syracuse - get it...great TASTE! sigh, sorry. So Erin and I provide what we consider to be the best of the best in our local area, custom cakes, custom invites and coordinating stationery, a great team for helping you pull it together.

But my favorite client whom this post originated about proves every time she calls with an order, that if you can choose only one area to splurge, you can do the rest of the event beautifully with a bit of research, a bit of planning, a bit of online ordering...but always with taste. Pick your priorities people! If you can't afford an elaborately expensive cake, don't get one! Dare I say...it's just cake! If you want the cake to shine (I<3U) reserve some funds elsewhere by purchasing something other than custom, hand made products. If you do want the best of the best for your paper products then go to my friend Erin and cut your corners elsewhere.

It just goes to show, you can have great taste and share it with your guests no matter what the budget or style. And hey...if you're driven by that DIY Party Planner bug that my client has - go for it! You can do it! Great job Carolyn, and thanks again for having me do your cake!

Spring Cleaning and Some Sweet Finds

As the weather gets nicer out there, I thought it was only fitting to make it a little nicer in here. Just changed things up a little bit and added some info that I hope will please the spectrum of my little audience.

Don't ya just love the www? My blog was originally just a little way to stay in touch with a few clients and *gasp, dare I say* fans, but more and more I see so many things that I just love that I thought it only natural to share them.

So you'll see a little bit of new info in the sidebar and some new posts too when I find something I just know you're gonna love. I'll try to keep it cake related...but don't count on it! In the meantime, check out some of my friends; old and new. See ya!

Eat Art in Syracuse?!

Hey, check it out! We're headed to The Delavan Gallery to install the grid work for my interactive cupcake mural! Yep...cupcakes...hanging in a grid...on the wall...interactive (as in you get to eat it!!) How cool is that?!

The installation along with a cookie mosaic (pictured above) also being installed are part of the kick off for monthly drawings at The Syracuse Th3 Coalition events across Syracuse. Not familiar with Th3? Th3 is a citywide art open in Syracuse, New York, that takes place on the third Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This ambitious project, initiated by the Everson Museum of Art and the Delavan Art Gallery, is joined by the most distinctive venues in the city in a grand event to bring the artistic experience to the public. Th3 establishes Syracuse as a city for the arts in this initiative to reach out its local and regional communities. (taken from Th3 website)

For more info you can go to their website of course, and for sure head over to the Th3 blog for a run down of tomorrow's events!

There will be a second cupcake mural at one of the other locations...I guess you'll just have to check 'em all out if you want to find it. And don't forget to enter the drawing for this month's raffle. It's a She Takes The Cake cake of course! Inspired by the sunflower paintings of Van Gogh, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Caillebotte; I've done a small sunflower rendition of my own. You'll be able to see it at each location and then I'll recreate it in delicious cake for the winner! Art never tasted so good!

Hope to see you there!

Once you've had a peek at the cookie mosaic and cupcake murals you're gonna want one...you know where to find me!