OTHER CREATIONS: October

I just love this time of year .. I get to create the cutest stuff perfect for the Fall season ..... Karibeth's annual Halloween Costume Party was scheduled and the theme, this year was "scarecrows and pumpkins". (last year was a Spider theme) ... Four Dozen pumpkin cupcakes and one cute scarecrow head centerpiece were delivered early this morning for all to enjoy.

These cute ghosts (oreo's) were created for
Meredith to pass out to her young halloween costume clients. I've heard they are being well received.

One of my favorite brides from 2007 (Trina) called about a month ago ... she lives in Virginia. She was travelling to Atlanta in October for her baby shower and wanted me to create the cake. It was created from the bedding design for her baby boy to be. She is due in December .. but I say he won't arrive until January.

Deanna's husband scheduled their daughter's Baptism (and forgot to tell Deanna when it was). So it was a panic phonecall for a cake ...

Brandi G did not use me as her wedding cake designer, but asked me to create her anniversary cake (a couple of year later). When she saw my interpretation of her wedding cake, I think she was quite pleased. Thanks Zoe for making the fondant bow. I also got to meet her handsome red-headed son. Adorable.


This pink and white "princess" cake was created for a special little girls 1st birthday. The pink layers are chocolate .. white layers are vanilla. Love the crown and wand topper, don't you?



Wanda needed a special cake for a bridal shower ... I recreated a design done a couple of months ago. I heard the cake was a "hit".

For the man who is into both, Sports and Music ... here's a cake for you. Chocolate of course.


The mom of one of my brides retired and a large party was planned ... the cake design is my interpretation of the party invitation.




Remember the little girl who wanted a nail polish bottle for her Spa Party (in September) .. well, her original party got cancelled due to illness and rescheduled to October. This time, she wanted a round bottle of polish with swirly lettering. When she saw the cake she said "it's perfect". Thanks go to Kelley for knowing how to make swirly letters.

These are Kelley's "people" .... tuxedo strawberries ... I just love them.

Stay tuned for a baptism cake and Halloween Party cake/cupcakes.

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary !!!

On Friday, October 23rd, Clay and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. If you ask Clay how we met, he will say "1-800-BABE" ...that's not true .. but we did meet on one of those internet dating sites. It's that sense of humor that drew me to him and that I still love. I was once asked why I chose Clay ... it is because he absolutely adores me and makes me laugh ... and he's one of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet.

When we got married, I had Clay commit to be married to me for 85 years. In fact, I had "31,025 days to go" inscribed on his wedding ring (which is 85 years). Happy 5th anniversary, Clay ... 29,200 days to go.

PRO PICS RECEIVED !!!

Thanks to Lamar Gee (www.lamargee.com) for providing awesome shots of the cake from the Shershin-Cook Wedding held at the Atlanta Athletic Club on 8/29/9.

Go check it out !!!

Dym-Hastings, Silverbell Pavillion, 10/11/9

Denise Dym and Ian Hastings had married a couple of months prior .... but it was a private ceremony. So, for friends and family who wanted to witness the joining of this couple, Denise and Ian had an "official" ceremony and reception ... complete with dancing / dining / partying !!!

For those of you who know me ... you know that I've made my reputation on buttercream creations ... you also know that I dislike the taste and use of fondant. Well, my brides continue to push my fondant limits by bringing me extraordinary designs made only with fondant. So, I've dabbled here and there .... and after creating this cake, I may just start playing with fondant a little more. I doubt I will cover a cake in fondant, but I sure will play with fondant accents. I thought this cake came out great. With the help of Clay, we made fondant leaves that I painted red/gold/green and then while at the venue, we rolled stems and twigs using dark chocolate fondant.

I knew I did well when I heard from behind me ... "Oh Wow ! You nailed it !!!" Denise had sent Ian to the Pavillion to check if the cake had arrived.

The "pavillion" was the Silverbell Pavillion at the Emory Conference Center. They have been doing some major renovations and I believe are finished .. and it looks awesome. They even have a 6 lane bowling alley (Wisteria Lanes) .. complete with a beverage area and pool tables. In fact, that's where Denise and Ian had their "rehearsal" party the night before.

Congratulations to you both.

E

Schiff-Donnelly, The Georgian Club, 10/10/9

The Georgian Club, which is located on the 17th Floor of Building 100 at the Cobb Galleria, was the site of the Carla and Kevin's wedding and reception. The weather was a little overcast. Originally the ceremony was going to be held outside, but they decided to move everything inside .. which was a great call. Better safe than sorry.

I can't remember what sports game was on TV when Carla Schiff and Kevin Donnelly came to meet with me back in January ... but all three of us were interested in it, so we moved the tasting from the kitchen to the TV room. Carla and I sat on the couch and worked on the design .. Kevin relaxed in the recliner and gave his .02 cents every once in a while. It was the most fun and relaxed appointment I've ever had.

Carla gave me a photo of a cake design that she liked, but instead of an all over swirl design, she just wanted swirls coming from the bunches of floral. I hope I gave her what she dreamed of.

Congratulations to you both !!!

E

VENDORS:

Photographer: Liz Yeakle (liz@lizyeakle.com)

Music: Any Occasions (Mark Schwartz)

Caterer: Georgian Club

Floral: Carla Duncan - On Occasions of Atlanta

DOC: Kristina Armstrong

Baker: Me

Thomas-Gygax, Stone Mountain Park, 10/10/9

How cool would it be to have the etching on Stone Mountain serve as the backdrop at your reception !!! Well, that's what you would get if you reserved Memorial Hall for your reception. A unique setting for sure. Along the back of the hall is a wall of windows that overlook the lawn and the etching and visitors of the park were cupping their hands over their eyes and leaning into the glass to see what was going on in the hall which was "closed for a private event". As they leaned, they left their nose/hand prints on the glass. The staff at the hall were constantly cleaning the exterior windows free of prints .... and doing everything to make the hall perfect for Wendy and Matt.


Wendy Thomas and Matt Gygax (pronouned Gig Ax) met with me back in April ... they chose a design that I had done about a year ago .. round / square / round ... only their cake would not be iced using my vanilla buttercream .. it would be iced in chocolate fudge. Yummy !!! Their top layer was 1/2 strawberry; 1/2 chocolate filled with chocolate buttercream ... but the other two layers were fake. Three 1/2 sheet cakes (1/2 chocolate; 1/2 strawberry filled w/ fresh sliced strawberries) were prepared and placed in the kitchen area to be cut and served to guests.

Their topper was quite unique .... it was created from a man who had been a vendor at the famous Stone Mountain Yellow Daisy Festival. Wendy will give me his contact information as soon as she returns from her honeymoon and I'll pass that info along to you.

I also created a groom caked that was served at the rehearsal dinner and was a surprise for Matt. Matt and I shared one thing in common ... Boston Cream Pie ... my mom used to make me one for my birthday ... now I make it for my own birthday. Vanilla cake filled with a vanilla custard, and frosted in chocolate buttercream. For Matt's cake, I added the 1970 Marshall Thundering Herd logo on the top. I hope he enjoyed his surprise Boston Cream Pie cake .... I made a little extra filling for me .. it was so good.

Thank you Wendy and Matt ..... I wish you much happiness.

VENDORS:
Music: Spectrum Entertainment (Jimmy)
Photography: 35 Atlanta (Adam and Amber
Floral: Flowers by Joan (Joan Rubenstein)
Caterer: Stone Mountain Park Catering
Baker: me

Together we made a difference .... for MDA

I can't thank enough my friends, family, and business associates who got me out of MDA jail yesterday !!! Your generosity sent at least one kid to camp and provided two Group Support Sessions! That's huge .. thank you.


This was such a great experience ... and what I realized was that no matter how small or large a donation is for this or any cause, it all matters .. it all adds up ... it all makes a difference.

My MDA site will be up for another 45 days, so if you wanted to but didn't get a chance to pledge before I went to jail .. you can do it now. Just click here to make a secure, online donation. Your help is their hope.

Amero-Graves, Magnolia Hall, 10/3

Magnolia Hall, built in 1945, was originally a blacksmith's forge and has it's original fireplace still in place. (3200 square feet and seats 150). The color palette chosen for Lauren Amero and Ben Graves reception looked awesome (burnt orange and brown).

When we arrived, I could see Lauren from a distance ... she looked beautiful ... but I didn't want to disturb her photo shoot. I had heard though that she was asking if I had arrived yet ... actually, I'm sure it was not I she was looking for ... she was very excited about her cake design and was really asking if the cake had arrived yet !!! (ha ha ha)

I went inside and got situated while Clay began to bring in the cake ... each layer was about 7 inches tall, three flavors (red velvet / white / strawberry filled with cream cheese). The floral stems were hand drawn and orange Dahlia's were placed at the top of each stem ... in different stages of bloom. Which is why I have named this cake: "In Stages of Bloom". It always turns out pretty .. no matter what color or type of floral you choose .. all you need is floral in stages of bud to full bloom.

The Groom's cake was chocolate, filled with chocolate buttercream and frosted with dark chocolate fudge .. it smelled amazing ... oh, and it was covered with tuxedo strawberries (which I have Kelley to thank for ... she wanted to help, I needed the help, so after a little tutoring, she took that task and did a great job!)


Congratulations, Lauren and Ben !!!

VENDORS:
Photo: Laura Stone (Artstar)

Music: Spectrum (Matt)

Caterer: Affairs to Remember (Lindsey Star)

Floral: Tamela Scarborough - Southern Bouquets

Baker: me