Fifty is Sew Fabulous!

A couple weeks ago my mom turned 50. Nothing extraordinary happened on her birthday, I think she even worked! Us siblings planned to celebrate with her, something low-key, just dinner at my sister’s house. For some reason or other, even that little get together was cancelled and my mom was left feeling a little less than special on her milestone birthday. She didn’t complain, didn’t even show any disappointment; she just thought that she would be having a party of some sorts. After hearing that she expected something but it never came, us sister’s decided to throw her an impromptu, last minute, surprise birthday party.

For as long as I can remember, my mom has sewn. Growing up, she made us new outfits every week for church, she sewed dolls, altered dress-up clothes, stitched up tatters clothes, you name it. We thought it only too appropiate to make the theme of the party Sew Fabulous for the seamstress.

This is literally how our planning process went: “We should throw a party for mom.” “Ok, I have Monday off work let’s do everything then.” “Alright how about we have it a sewing theme. I will look up ideas on Pinterest tonight {Sunday} and we will plan everything tomorrow for Tuesday.”

Ready, Set, GO!

In just under 12 hours and on a tight budget we pulled together a birthday for our beloved momma. We even managed to wrangle about 35-40 friends to celebrate with us! Here are some of the details from the party.

With just some cardboard, party paper and string we managed to make a cute and inexpensive backdrop to look like oversized buttons and spools of thread.

My sister baked the moistest chocolate cake, one of mom’s favorites and we loaded it with 50, yes 5-0, candles!

Sugar cookies, especially little bite sized ones are perfect treats. This whole platter went in no time!

We made an oversized ruler out of a plank of wood and had each guest sign it. My mom kept the huge measuring stick and has it displayed in her sewing room!

How fun it was to throw such a crazy, eclectic party for our loving, devoted mom. So blessed to have a wonderful mom!

Milestone 70th Birthday Cake

There are some people who you automatically have a respect for, people who have accomplished something great or have done something worthwhile with their lives. For Dean’s 70th birthday, his wife wanted to show off some of the accomplishments and characteristics of the man she respects most. This cake highlights only a few things that Dean has done in his life: hunting enthusiast, business owner, motorhead.

All the details in the cake are handmade and edible, from the cowboy hat to the shotgun shells.

My favorite elements on this cake are the modeling chocolate trees and mallard ducks.

Not one detail went amiss, handpainted blue prints, contruction signs and cones went around the middle tier to portray Dean’s successful construction company while tires, helmets and checkered flags showed off his wild side, his love for motorcycles!

What a fun cake this was to make, so cool to see what can be made with some sugar and flour!

 

Lime and Plum Bridal Shower

The flowers are blooming and everything is becoming green again. I think it is safe to say that shower season has officially begun. No better way to start off the season with a beautiful bridal shower.
The theme for the event was a vintage, garden shower. Two sisters coordinated and decorated the whole affair. I love their use of the paper doilies and ribbon; and the deep plum and lime green accented each other just beautifully! As you can probably imagine, I was thrilled to make the desserts for not only this shower but my sweet, childhood friend.

Instead of dessert bar, the sisters set-up a vege bar, they had different vegetables and dipping sauces. A great idea so that the bride doesn’t have to blow her diet right before her big day!

Isn’t this LOVE sign just the cutest! I would love to see someone use doilies like this at a wedding maybe a sign for cards or gifts? The possibilities are endless!

I was a little disappointed in myself because I had a whole design in mind for the cake. I wanted to do some sort of stencil print in lavendar and have mini flowers all over the cake with a monogram…you get the idea. Having other orders in the same weekend just took up all my time so I resorted to a more simple design, rustic buttercream with an oversized sugar flower. Happy to say that the simple cake is probably just as beautiful as the elaborate one and I think went better with the overall design of the shower. Glad that it worked out!

Happy Spring All!

Ice Cream Party!

Today’s party is screaming adorable with all the sweet details. Toppings, sprinkles and cones galore, we welcome spring with the feature today.

Ella’s parents have out-done themselves once again. It is like this party came right off the pages of pinterest. Indeed, many of the ideas did. Mom put her creativity on overdrive with the centerpieces, games and dessert bar. Great job! Everything was picture perfect!

While mom and little Ella were busy with the little details, dad was in the garage setting up shop, an ice cream shop that is. He built a replica, vintage awning which tied together the whole theme. This ice cream bar would make every little guest squeal with delight as they got to create their favorite sundaes.

Last but not least, the cake. Four layers of spongy vanilla cake with whipped cream and strawerries in the middle, Ella’s favorite. We topped the cake with chocolate ganache and a overturned icecream cone.

I am love with this charming cake and all of the details of the party. Big round of applause to the parents who pulled this all off!

 

Birthday Hoedown

Every now and then I get to make a cake for someone very special. This cake was for one of those people. Rob, the birthday boy, has been my husband’s honorary uncle for as long as he could remember. Rob is a man’s man: hunter, fisherman, cowboy. When I first met my husband, I heard countless stories of adventures he had with his uncle up at the ranch. Now, not only do I get to know this loving, Godly man myself, I had the opportunity to make his 60th birthday cake!

Rob’s wife contacted me about a month before the party to ask me if I would make the cake. We went back and forth on different western designs but nothing seemed to be personal to Rob. Then she sent me a photo of a cowboy hat, she told me he never goes anywhere with out his hat. We were finally getting somewhere. Later, we added a gun and his Bible. The three items Rob is never without: his hat, his gun and his Bible. I think we hit the bull’s eye with this one.

I made the gun out of sugar, something that would dry as hard as porcelain so that it could be kept as a memento of his 60th birthday celebration.

The hall was decorated with authentic, vintage decor perfect for a hoedown complete with country music and line dancing.

The coordinator and designer went all out on the decorations. She even thought of the little kiddos and prepared tables just for them!

 

Anne of Green Gables Shoot

A couple months ago I was asked if I would be a vendor for a styled shoot. I was flattered to be asked and excited to make the cake and desserts for the shoot. The theme for the shoot was Anne of Green Gables, one of my all time favorite movies.

Megan Hayes, the photographer for the shoot, and Emilee of Tasteful Tatters organized and styled the whole shoot. I arrived to the location with the cake and mini desserts. Immediately, a grin began to spread across my face as I saw half a dozen other vendors working diligently at transforming a field into an incredibly beautiful, faux wedding. Each of the vendors were a delight to work with and a master of their craft. What a pleasure to meet each of them.

For the desserts, we decided to bring in some treats that were familiar to the Anne books. I made English scones with currants, mini cupcakes and cake pops with pages of books as labels. Probably the most popular desserts were the raspberry cordial petit fours which were glazed with marshmallow fondant.

When coming up with the design of the cake, I did alot of research to try to capture the feel of the series but also add a modern twist. Megan and I swapped countless photos on Pinterest until we decided on something more simple. The cake was draped in white fondant with ruffles around the middle tier and the bottom tier. The top of the cake was adorned with crafter’s moss to bring out the farm element of Green Gables.

 

At the beginning of this week, we all received the exciting news that the shoot was the featured post of the day on Ruffled, an inspirational wedding blog. There are so many more breathtaking photos on the featured post. Feel free to check out the full post.

Thank you for stopping by!

Shoot Location: Newhall, CA / Photographer: Megan Hayes Photographer / Wedding Flowers: Recycled Love Story / Shoot Venue: Placerita Canyon / Wedding Dress: La Soie Bridal / Hair: Lauren Jones / Makeup: Elegance by Alex / Wedding Cake: The Bake Boutique / Vintage Rentals: Tasteful Tatters and The Vintage Table Co. / Wedding Invitations: Details by Jamie Long / Videographer: Larry Chappell

 

 

 

Lace Buttercream Cake

I have noticed that so many more people have been getting married in the so-called winter months, January must be the new June. It has been so beautiful to see all of the winter blooms and the deep purple, forest greens, and classic blacks in all the weddings. This wedding was no exception, boasting a hunter green and dusty pink.

The bride wanted her cake to be old-fashioned which is almost becoming the new fashion. Buttercream and old school, intricate piping are being revamped along with the lace dress and the bow tie. This cake boasts some beautiful, brush-embroidered lace and filigree piping which is accentuated with fresh roses.

I think {dare I say it} that I am falling in love with buttercream all over again.

Florist: The Wild Rose