tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70153653963321015562012-01-30T15:01:50.545-08:00Being the blog of Sweetest Whimsy™ and devoted to unique cakes, cupcakes and other sugar creations by MelissaSweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-39321174671441019412011-06-19T20:33:00.000-07:002011-12-30T13:52:30.691-08:00

Texas Cake-Lovers Rock!(Texas cake, Fall 2003; photo has been swiped by others and has appeared on other sites!)THANK YOU, Sweetest Whimsy customers & fans, for helping to make the Texas Baker's Bill (Cottage Food Bill) a LAW in the state of Texas! I appreciate each and every one of you who took time to call or email your state representatives and Senators as well as the Lt. Governor and Governor

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-88382092496299255162011-05-15T16:51:00.000-07:002011-05-15T17:45:16.407-07:00

So what has Sweetest Whimsy been up to since Summer 2010? Quite a bit, actually! (But obviously not blogging!) I present to you the cakes from Summer & Fall 2010 and Winter & Spring 2011:Retro Baby Shower Cake, September 2011This was an almost exact replica of a cake made in 1974 for the baby's father's shower!Summer 1974Molded Bunny Chocolates & Cupcakes, September 2011(Disclaimer: Yes, those

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-67767768743158089882011-05-03T18:25:00.000-07:002011-05-03T18:41:13.526-07:00

Currently, it is illegal to sell food products out of your own residential kitchen in the state of Texas. A group of dedicated Texans is trying to change that. Last week, HB 2084 "The Texas Cottage Food Law", sponsored by by Representative Lois Kolkhorst, cleared the House committee on Public Health and is moving forward to be voted on by the Texas House. This is big news!This would be a great

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-70958508589244607772010-12-18T14:44:00.001-08:002010-12-18T14:49:18.344-08:00

In an effort to go "green," but mostly because I'm running out of time, I've decided not to send holiday cards by mail this year. So please enjoy this heartfelt "digital" Christmas wish from me to you!Love & Cupcakes,MelissaPlease click on the digital card to enlarge!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-21509817020441278042010-10-16T11:24:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:50:48.925-07:00

The original design for this cake was for Sea World's star, Shamu, to be emerging from the water with his nose and tail up. Due to the client's budget constraints (we are in a recession, after all) the cake was scaled down to just Shamu by himself.I'd never done a whale cake before, and the birthday boy specifically wanted a Shamu cake, so I did some research ahead of time. Even so, after

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-16657589577691707482010-10-15T23:07:00.000-07:002010-10-15T23:23:42.607-07:00

I love pink cakes! October is definitely the month for pink too! Here are some cuties I've worked on recently: Poodle Skirt Girl for a 1950s Sock Hop birthday party! Fondant and buttercream icing, doll courtesy of birthday girl. Who's the cutest mouse in the house?! Minnie Mouse cake in fondant and buttercream icing for a sweet little two year old's birthday. Think Pink!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-34023163721919916262010-09-23T09:19:00.000-07:002010-09-23T09:35:14.569-07:00

Easy for the Leader, Fun for the Scouts!Kids love to help in the kitchen. And now, Girl Scouts can learn how to decorate like the pros with Wilton's new cake decorating program designed especially for them: Wilton Icing Fun! Perfect for all levels of Girl Scouts -- from Daisies to Ambassadors-- Wilton Icing Fun is a totally hands-on Workshop that walks the girls through each decorating step,

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-1401365759967323612010-06-01T13:10:00.001-07:002010-06-01T13:17:49.493-07:00

Hellooooooo, out there! Yes, it's me again. After over 4 WEEKS of nothingness. Sorry! Now it's summer vacation (although not a vacation for me who will be schlepping kids hither and yon to camps and everywhere else!) so maybe I'll have time to blog again!The "structure" I felt that my blogs craved at the beginning of the year has crumbled rather inelegantly over the past weeks. With the

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-15276063938551103322010-04-26T23:49:00.000-07:002010-04-27T00:05:36.612-07:00

Marble Bark using Chips Ahoy! I use whatever I like!Pic from KraftRecipes.comAs many of you know, I am always searching for ways to use up boxes of cookies! As a Girl Scout leader, my pantry is filled year-round with Girl Scout cookies. In addition, we have other cookies we like as well, some we buy and some I bake. Sometimes, you just get tired of eating cookies! So I like to mix things up

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-78803516166452197732010-04-19T11:24:00.000-07:002010-04-19T11:24:00.734-07:00

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Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-72325172519050482192010-04-16T22:59:00.001-07:002010-04-16T23:21:09.800-07:00

Hmmm . . . how busy was I in March and April?! Apparently too busy to blog! My poor blogs, so neglected, yet I think of them often enough. You have no idea how many brilliant posts I've written in my head these past few weeks! Oh, if only wishing made it so.I'm back for now, with apologies aplenty and hopefully enough interesting content for those of you who missed it!The cake of the week is

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-8085473750078900842010-03-10T00:01:00.000-08:002010-03-10T19:53:55.110-08:00

Sometimes I am asked to create a cake designed by a child. The request might be verbal, relayed over the phone by a bemused parent. Or it can be sent in writing, with accompanying sketches. Either way, the request is often very specific in terms of details the child would like on the cake.More than anything, I aim to please! I take kids' requests even more seriously than adults' because while

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-70190035030997577442010-03-01T19:43:00.000-08:002010-03-01T23:49:50.872-08:00

This is the first year since 2004 that I do not have a child at Jewish pre-school. I miss the dedicated teachers and staff, the other families, the cheerful classrooms, the playground and the religion. Although my family is not Jewish, we so enjoyed recognizing and celebrating the cycle of Jewish holy days and holidays each year. Especially the joyous holidays like Purim.Purim was always a big

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-51946595812441970252010-02-24T21:57:00.001-08:002010-03-01T12:35:44.873-08:00

I love art-themed parties for kids. So creative and full of activities to keep the kiddos busy! Even better is when the party is at an kids' art studio, so no artsy messes at your house.I've been asked to create several art-themed cakes for parties at local childrens' art studios in town, and I always have fun with them. My most recent one was for a friend and enthusiastic supporter of my

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-7049433173246958942010-02-22T22:55:00.000-08:002010-02-22T23:03:18.210-08:00

This is one of those recipes from my childhood that I didn't like or appreciate much at the time, but grew to like much more as an adult! I rediscovered this cookie when I was 29 years old and needed a recipe that would make alot of cookies to give out as Christmas gifts to friends and co-workers. I called my Mom and asked for this recipe, the name of which I don't remember because I just think

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-30902599081270640042010-02-19T23:55:00.000-08:002010-02-20T19:56:30.779-08:00

(We devoured our Victoria Sponge without even taking any of our own pics!)I learned a new recipe recently for a specific occasion, Girl Scout World Thinking Day. Thinking Day is celebrated by Scouts around the world on February 22, but my troops celebrated early this year on February 5 due to my surgery the following week.I wanted to make a traditional English tea cake, and you can't get much

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-23666068073795538352010-02-17T20:42:00.000-08:002010-02-17T21:39:22.923-08:00

I think part of being a good cake designer is combining a good amount of inspiration and creativity with a healthy amount of decorating know-how. An inspired cake design on paper is great; an actual cake beautifully decorated with intricate detail is awesome.Since 1998, I have taught over 500 students the basics of cake decorating, and a good number of those have also learned advanced cake

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-23974679648651350742010-02-15T00:39:00.000-08:002010-02-15T00:54:16.918-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, I made a heart-shaped Cookie Cake yesterday. However, due to my recent surgery, this one was made with a few shortcuts, such as using pre-made cookie dough from the grocery store and having my kids decorate it instead of me! But no matter, our friends for whom we made it enjoyed it just the same.Cookie Cakes had their day in the sun about a decade ago, when shaped

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-66292441601812393762010-02-12T21:54:00.000-08:002010-02-12T22:31:05.924-08:00

Wow, it seems like forever since I shared a cake recipe, what with my erratic blogging. "52 Cakes" is back this week, and this week's recipe is a variation on cake. A very popular one right now, actually. Cake Balls. So unbelievably simple, yet trendy at the same time. Cake balls are the sophisticated cousin of the cheerful cupcake.As with cupcakes, you can customize cake balls in so many

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-87505992125369545002010-02-10T23:37:00.000-08:002010-02-11T00:07:21.765-08:00

As I've mentioned before, until a couple of years ago, I'd never done a Classic Winnie the Pooh cake. I'd done the brightly colored Disney Pooh in various forms many times, but never a more low-key, pastel version of the loveable childhood friend.So when one of my best girlfriends told me her new baby's nursery theme was Pooh, I jumped at the chance to do a Classic Pooh themed shower for her!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-65985163964731949192010-01-27T23:15:00.000-08:002010-01-27T23:32:49.482-08:00

I made this a few years ago, not actually intending for it to look like The Rainbow Fish from Marcus Pfister's wonderful books for children. A "fish cake" was requested, and I had seen a similar design online, so that's how this fishie got his start.I actually loved how he turned out! Perhaps he was too cutesy to be a guy's birthday cake, but the thirtysomething birthday boy thought the design

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-83134152755163340792010-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:002010-01-26T15:08:30.617-08:00

Neiman Marcus: Texas IconPic from dallasnews.comI really suck at a schedule, don't I? Thank goodness I don't work on a schedule. Ha! Sorry for the missing Let Them Eat Cake on Friday. I was solo parenting from Thursday through Sunday and things just slipped through the cracks. Like blogging.To make up for missing Friday and in honor of the outrageously wonderful tin of Neiman Marcus

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-4431266132333130222010-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:002010-01-20T22:36:50.098-08:00

For several of my friends' 30th birthdays over the years, I've done a twist on the traditional birthday cake. They've received Candy Cakes instead. I first saw one almost ten years ago in a really unique catalog that I don't think exists anymore. It arrived boxed just like a real cake. It was $60. I cut out the pic for my "idea file."Fast forward a decade and everyone sells a Candy Cake now.

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-34849300143316763882010-01-18T23:23:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:36:55.839-08:00

Today's recipe is a bit of nostalgia from my older daughter's playgroup days! This was often served because it was sort of healthy for the kids, and more importantly, would impress the other Moms with your ability to plan ahead and serve something besides goldfish crackers and apple juice. It's been 6 1/2 years since we were in playgroup, but this recipe brings back some wonderful memories of

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-36164918979829634982010-01-17T20:50:00.000-08:002010-01-17T21:08:00.288-08:00

also posted on Paper Dolls blogFriday was a busy day spent on a special cake order, so I didn't have a chance to blog! Getting caught up today.I love chocolate mint. Such a wonderful marriage of flavors. Cool mint and chocolatey chocolate. Yum.1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder1 1/2 cups sugar1 1/2 tsp. baking soda3/4 tsp. baking powder3/4 tsp. salt2

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-33588986772863689652010-01-13T23:18:00.000-08:002010-01-14T00:32:12.949-08:00

Allison's Roller Skate Cake, May 2009Modeled after her actual skate!The Roller Skate Cake was officially my most popular cake in 2009! No wonder--it's a popular party idea for the 'Tween set. Notwithstanding the fact that my daughter broke her wrist at the skating rink this summer, it's still a great party and cake theme.This week, my first cake order of 2010, is once again, you guessed it--a

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-85446194094222966332010-01-11T23:42:00.000-08:002010-01-12T01:11:24.956-08:00

Ha! I already suck at this blog schedule! I almost forgot to post my Monday 'Foodie Fun' and 'Shop Talk' bits on my respective Sweetest Whimsy blogs. Actually, I did forget what day it was and posted tomorrow's topic on Paper Dolls today! (And then went back and changed it so it's posted on the proper day.) Ay-yi-yi. What next?!So here's the updated blogging schedule for The Sweet Spot,

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-91957308752314790352010-01-08T11:49:00.000-08:002010-01-08T12:18:12.575-08:00

Also posted on Paper Dolls blogEggless Chocolate Cupcakes1 1/2 cups flour1 cup granulated sugar1 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt1/3 cup cocoa powder1/2 cup oil1 cup water1 tsp. vanilla extract1 Tbsp. vinegarPrepare cupcake tins with liners, or if baking a cake, grease small (6-inch) cake pan.Mix all ingredients together with an electric mixer on medium speed until moist and well-blended.Fill each cup

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-67350516356256269772010-01-07T20:23:00.000-08:002010-01-07T20:40:05.667-08:00

Happy 2010! 2009 is just behind us and already I'm blessed with several cake orders and even a wedding order in the new year!I'm trying something new with my Sweetest Whimsy blogs and think it will be fun but possibly overly ambitious. I'm imposing some order and structure to my blogs and creating a slightly-Type A schedule to follow in 2010 (or until everyone gets really bored with it):

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-13300086877840912852009-12-10T00:45:00.000-08:002010-01-07T20:23:43.059-08:00

I'm back after a month-long break from blogging about cakes, during which I was busy baking and decorating like crazy! Particularly the week before and during Thanksgiving, I was baking juggernaut.Also, my plans to complete the National Blog Posting Month challenge bit the dust in November. Novembers are just too busy for blogging!Some highlights of the past few weeks:Whimsical topsy-turvy

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-75096941400652578422009-11-05T23:15:00.000-08:002009-11-06T01:24:25.716-08:00

Pink Mary Jane cakes atop a larger cake, Summer 2006My friend Deb from my old neighborhood in Austin gave me this sweet idea, courtesy of Martha Stewart's magazine, for Baby Shoes mini-cakes! You can make them in several different styles--baby boy's first walkers, baby girl's Mary Janes--and personalize them in lots of ways. I adore these Baby Shoes and always welcome the chance to create them!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-29209158870948486702009-11-04T23:49:00.000-08:002009-11-05T00:02:21.577-08:00

Earlier today I found some pics of Mexican Sombreros that I'd saved, and it took me a few minutes to remember why I had them. They were for a 3-D Mexican Sombrero Cake I created for an adorable little boy's 2nd birthday celebration a few years ago!The fiesta was very on-theme and included a performance by a Mariachi troupe that was likely enjoyed not only by the guests but also by neighbors up

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-50897366032615912142009-11-03T23:15:00.000-08:002009-11-03T23:43:42.287-08:00

Image from MarthaStewartWeddings.comHave you ever wondered how caterers can cut up a wedding cake into about a million slices? It's all in the technique. The same cake, in the hands of a lay person, might only yield half as many servings. But caterers know exactly how to carve it all up to feed the masses.First, a "wedding cake slice" is officially small. Smaller than a party cake slice. A

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-38229108372921995472009-11-02T12:17:00.000-08:002009-11-02T15:29:44.793-08:00

Fall wedding cakes are much more enjoyable for me. For starters, there isn't the added stress of worrying how to transport enough cake for 300 people in 105 degree heat! Buttercream frosting melts quickly in the summer heat, causing all manner of upsets and necessary fixes. It may not seem like a big deal, but it absolutely is!My most recent wedding cake order was for the first weekend of

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-39457607960037649882009-11-01T12:07:00.000-08:002009-11-02T12:08:30.480-08:00

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-77784510861272234572009-10-13T21:49:00.000-07:002009-10-14T21:40:40.948-07:00

In case you've ever wondered what lots and lots of cupcakes look like all at once . . . here's a little over 100 of them in a really large box! This past Sunday, I delivered my all-time largest order ever: 500 cupcakes, 300+ cookies and 1 four-tiered cake. It took two separate trips in a borrowed SUV (my Mom's) to actually deliver the goods. And the most amazing part? I did all of it for free

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-75110172159123906502009-09-20T10:52:00.000-07:002009-09-20T12:23:04.228-07:00

Image from www.cupcakesforacause.orgSeptember 21-27 is the fifth annual Cupcakes for a Cause Week! Cupcakes for a Cause was launched in 2004 by CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer. Cupcakes for a Cause enlists bakeries to sell specially decorated cupcakes to raise funds for the CancerCare for Kids

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-74914290113063897442009-09-10T05:43:00.000-07:002010-01-19T01:05:08.177-08:00

You are cordially invited to take part in a fairy tale Mother/Daughter event, My Princess & Me, at the elegant and historical Red Berry Mansion on the Lake on Sunday, October 11! For just a $30 donation, each little Princess will receive a professional hairstyle from top hairstylists in San Antonio, make-up application, a tea party, music, dancing and a keepsake photo with her Queen Mum – all

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-79466118247717680132009-09-09T21:55:00.000-07:002009-09-09T19:55:54.459-07:00

I have been on "vacation" mode for most of summer, taking just a few orders here and there. One notable exception was these cakes, created for the wedding of a lovely couple who happen to be Carys and Thalia's preschool teachers' parents:The bride wanted a romantic, traditional cake with pillars, flowers and swirls and dots in ivory buttercream. I hope she liked the finish product!The groom

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-51901843726827580622009-07-06T23:54:00.000-07:002009-07-07T00:05:59.697-07:00

I've added some new features to the blog to make it a bit snazzier! Scroll to the bottom of the page to view two new slide shows!The first is a Flickr slide show that features some of my favorite cakes.The second shows a collection of my favorite cake decorating tools that I use in my business and ones I recommend to my students in my classes. Plus, all are available through Sweetest Whimsy's

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-82921233737096094522009-06-21T20:36:00.001-07:002009-06-21T20:45:08.947-07:00

Saturday, May 16 of this year was going to be one of the best days of the year for my family--my younger daughter's 5th birthday party, a big "Disney-Princess-Ariel-Under-the-Sea" themed bash in our backyard with lots of splish-splashing water fun. I am not joking when I say that we had talked about and planned all aspects of this party for at least nine months, and my daughter absolutely had her

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-52870489417866030982009-05-13T10:07:00.000-07:002009-05-14T21:51:12.235-07:00

Sweetest Whimsy turns 11 years old this year. I believe I came up with the original name for the biz, Sweet Whimsy, in January 1999 after creating cakes for six months. The thought boggles the mind. It all started with the cakes--a few orders from good friends turned into orders for friends of friends, and then the next thing I knew, I was a trained cake decorating instructor, which helped

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-8717788106651018422009-03-31T23:15:00.000-07:002009-03-31T23:34:39.639-07:00

I'm happy to say that I've been busy with weddings lately, but haven't had a chance to post anything interesting here! I also made some updates to the website, not that you can really tell, but I spent forever "cleaning up" over there . . . !Seeing a whole line of cupcake-themed stationery, stamps and gifts at Michaels recently has made me want to expand my cupcake offerings! Because really,

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-79417769485190211162009-03-17T11:05:00.000-07:002009-03-17T19:56:10.118-07:00

Paper Duvet Wedding "Pockets"Sweetest Whimsy has another new website with even more paper offerings, featuring invitations and accessories from TATEX Thermographers! You can now browse through the following wedding invitation lines they offer:Bride & GroomNaturally Ever After (see previous post about how much I love this album!)Paper DuvetValue With LoveRainboworldAffordably InvitingGraduation

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-22646786303187671862009-01-29T13:37:00.000-08:002009-03-17T11:04:56.874-07:00

Beach-theme Program Modern inspiration for weddings Sweetest Whimsy launches a new stationery website this month showcasing the Inspirations®<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-28553136258118078612009-01-20T09:28:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:50:55.441-08:00

Happy 2009! I have been neglectful of the blog due to illness (mine) throughout the holidays. But I'm back, and with a new look for the blog in anticipation of Valentine's Day!The new year always starts off right away cake-wise for me; for the past several years I've had the pleasure of creating birthday cakes for a sweet young lady named Maddie, whose birthday is always the first on the

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-17299021823044001722008-12-29T02:12:00.000-08:002008-12-29T02:24:51.021-08:00

Photo from Google ImagesAnother food-related post! You can tell what's been on my mind during the holidays!A Hispanic friend of mine told me a couple of years ago that she likes to have tamales on New Year's Eve. I know tamales are traditional during the holiday season, so last year, when we hosted our very first ever New Year's Eve party, we served tamales, pork and chicken. They were a hit

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-5274178421505712182008-12-24T12:20:00.000-08:002008-12-24T12:29:55.368-08:00

I think I mentioned before that because I'm always making cakes for other people's birthdays, when our own birthdays come around at our house, we like to celebrate with something besides a cake! We usually go for an ice cream cake or cookie cake, but this year I decided to surprise my husband with something different:Do you like donuts? How about Krispy Kreme donuts? That's right, it's a Krispy

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-4751622692901215192008-12-22T13:17:00.000-08:002008-12-23T08:47:39.669-08:00

On the whole, I dislike Cupcake Cakes. You know, the "cakes" that are made up of individual cupcakes that are iced as a whole cake. I just think they look odd. Sometimes they just look really bad. However, they have been "in", especially for kids' parties, for a few years now, so last Christmas I made my first Cupcake Cake, a Santa Claus one:Santa Cupcake Cake, based on some other designs

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-10014067346441958342008-12-17T12:38:00.000-08:002008-12-17T13:11:59.604-08:00

Happy Holidays! How do you like the fancy holiday blog decorations? Just needed a little holiday spirit around here! Free blog background from The Cutest Blog on the Block."Business" is usually slow in December as everyone seems to enjoy baking for themselves! That's ok though; have been busy baking for our own holiday parties, including a large batch of cookies for my younger daughter's

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-72010068342556418292008-11-25T23:19:00.000-08:002008-11-26T00:35:53.256-08:00

If you visit the Sweetest Whimsy website (and I hope you do), you may notice that it's a bit topsy-turvy in the next few days (probably weeks). I am in the process of watermarking my original photos of my cakes in the Cake Gallery and some of the products I sell with a prominent 'Sweetest Whimsy<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]-->

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-65187871241110384922008-11-23T23:00:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:58:44.847-08:00

Russian Matryoshka Dolls (photo from Google Images)Oops, I was just TOO tired to blog yesterday! But I'm back with a continuation of my previous blog about Trends in design in 2009. I said I would post pics that corresponded to the trends, and this is an item I actually found before I read the article! How cute are these Russian Matryoshka Dolls? I've seen several instances of the cute

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-3609724538574470732008-11-21T08:20:00.001-08:002008-11-22T01:23:44.677-08:00

One of the cool things about owning a business is the stuff you get in the mail and email from wholesalers and vendors about their products. I just eat it up! Occasionally, I get to find out about a cool new product coming out before everyone else has caught on. I also get advice and information from marketing and merchandising experts in weekly emails from various sources. This week I

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-62223538371700389042008-11-20T22:49:00.000-08:002008-11-20T23:15:38.323-08:00

Little Pilgrim Girl, Thanksgiving 2004I love this cake, made using the Wilton Scarecrow Pan. The pilgrim girl's cornucopia even had a cascade of molded harvest-theme candies. Now that Thanksgiving is upon us, I have another excuse to bake my chocolate pumpkin cake and possibly use this pan. I love Thanksgiving!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-46349853969758506502008-11-19T23:59:00.000-08:002008-11-20T00:11:43.169-08:00

Kindness In Lieu of Wedding Gifts and FavorsIn the past year, I have been involved in, as well as invited to, several weddings. One emerging trend in the wedding circuit that I've noticed as both a guest and wedding vendor has been the inclusion of some type of charitable element in the couple's wedding day. For example, some are requesting donations to a favorite charity instead of buying a

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-32456920098463056642008-11-18T22:56:00.000-08:002008-11-22T01:25:38.312-08:00

Forget for a moment that Christmas really is next month and let's just focus on the fact that Thanksgiving is next week! For many years, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday. I love that it has everything to do with being thankful, being with those you love, and FOOD!Here's a recipe I was given last year at Thanksgiving and have been making all year since. It's so good . . . more like cake

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-25161787631375041172008-11-17T10:56:00.005-08:002008-11-18T00:05:55.127-08:00

Thanks to all my Facebook friends who requested pics of this cake! Here you go!Katrina & Dylan's wedding cakeNovember 8, 2008

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-39582859489121416802008-11-16T21:08:00.001-08:002008-11-17T00:29:29.381-08:00

Recently I was asked to create a baby shower cake for a teacher at Thalia's school. The date for the shower was pushed back a few weeks due to the baby girl's early arrival, and the shower became more of a welcome party. The shower was hosted by her fellow 2nd grade teachers and the entire faculty and staff were invited to meet baby Sydney. I was extremely honored to be given the chance to

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-4922529447390261462008-11-14T21:39:00.006-08:002008-11-22T01:36:03.639-08:00

for the grandparents . . . for me . . . Today I did some holiday shopping on my own website! I ordered some photo ornaments to send to far-away relatives and it was so easy! The hardest decision, of course, was choosing which photos to use. I hope our family members enjoy trimming their trees this year with our photos from the past year.I usually order at least one photo ornament for my own

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-5596669213974140612008-11-13T21:35:00.001-08:002008-11-13T23:46:18.687-08:00

A Small Business with a Big HeartSweetest Whimsy is, by design, a small, one-womanbusiness. I am Sweetest Whimsy! For 8 years, I created custom cakes and catered intimate get-togethers, working by myself with very, very occasional help from some trusted colleagues and friends when the occasion called for it. When I decided to offer personalized invitations and gifts in 2006, it was something

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-304775706717266002008-11-12T21:07:00.001-08:002008-11-12T23:21:30.153-08:00

Staying Connected in the World of ParenthoodI got such a kick when I first saw these little gems last year! Why? Because our children are so precious to us, and parenthood is the most important profession there is. And because these cards are just adorable! These business card-sized 'Mommy Cards' are perfect for:Announcing your new full time job (possibly the toughest job you'll ever love!) if

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-38653100855968319702008-11-11T20:14:00.004-08:002008-11-11T20:23:47.028-08:00

Photo from Google ImagesAs I mentioned recently, I was a Career Day speaker at my daughter's elementary school for the second year in a row! Both times, I gave each student a copy of my favorite chocolate buttercream frosting recipe, one that I use on my cakes when people request chocolate frosting. (Unfortunately, chocolate frosting is rarely asked for compared to vanilla buttercream.) When I

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-21676624975757129122008-11-10T21:50:00.000-08:002008-11-10T22:47:13.406-08:00

"Christmas is next month." If you say it to yourself, you might be as shocked as I was when I did today! (Not to mention how close Thanksgiving is.)Not to panic! Now is a great time to think about how you want to celebrate the December holidays in relation to everyone else: Holiday Cards? Cocktail Party? Open House? Gifts? Treats?Let's start with the cards: If you're like me and send out

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-29782905763847028222008-11-09T18:56:00.006-08:002008-11-09T19:17:44.727-08:00

A friend asked if I really made a shoe cake because of my previous post with the shoe pi<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-73911400119108510072008-11-07T21:51:00.004-08:002009-01-29T14:28:51.854-08:00

I was recently a guest speaker at Career Day at my daughter's school. One of the kids asked where I get my ideas. Good question. I am almost always given some kind of direction by the client, who may or may not have a detailed idea of the cake they want. The rest is up to me. Sometimes I get inspiration from browsing cake idea books, such as the annual Wilton Yearbook. Or photos or drawings

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-51188850995615314742008-11-06T21:49:00.000-08:002008-11-07T00:13:45.123-08:00

I'm excited to announce the addition of over ten new stationery and invitation lines to Sweetest Whimsy's lineup! Very soon I will be offering paper and gift products by McPhersons. Wedding and social invitations, wedding and party accessories, holiday cards and social stationery from this great company will soon be available at Sweetest Whimsy's website. Their lines will really complement the

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-63093619865014790922008-11-05T21:53:00.000-08:002008-11-05T23:21:22.231-08:00

I wrote the other day how much of my work is heavily dictated by the imaginings of young children. Recently, my daughter's friend ordered up a very specific cake for her 5th birthday--a Rainbow Cake topped with her new Littlest Pet Shop figures with banana cake and strawberry cake and chocolate filling in between. Rainbow Cake, check! Pet Shop toys, check! Banana cake, check! (I have a great

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-91984874635445807822008-11-04T09:26:00.001-08:002008-11-04T22:31:59.035-08:00

Here is a cookie cake, with fresh berries and frosting for the stars and stripes, in honor of Election Day today! Hope everyone made it to the polls!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-33530660485918275462008-11-03T19:34:00.000-08:002008-11-03T19:54:22.271-08:00

2005: Triceratops Dinosaur2006: Lightning McQueen2007: Golf2008: Hot Wheels #5 RacetrackThe cool thing about birthdays is that everyone has one. And the cool thing about creating birthday cakes is the opportunity to do one each year for the same person. With kids, you also get to see how much they've grown in a year and how their cake tastes have changed in that time!I have a very good customer

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-84075574151150537792008-11-02T22:07:00.000-08:002008-11-02T22:09:29.805-08:00

November is National Blog Posting Month! I only found this out yesterday! So I am going to attempt to post a blog at all of my sites (business and personal) each day. I may not be able to keep up with all of them, but I'll give it a shot! I probably needed to try this a while ago!Stay tuned for some sweet stuff every day!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-86150794324393206612008-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:002008-11-04T11:25:53.852-08:00

Stay Tuned!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-65085371271450976842008-09-18T11:45:00.000-07:002010-01-20T21:49:07.973-08:00

Here are some cakes that I worked on this past Spring and Summer, in no particular order:My daughter's 4th birthday cake, a very pink Castle adorned with her favorite PrincessesCastle close-upHawaiian grass skirt-trimmed cake with fondant palm trees and royal icing and fondant flowersWedding Cakes on a stand a la Martha StewartTexas Longhorn Groom's CakeWhat time is it? Party Time! High School

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-64721210488999746592008-09-04T12:24:00.000-07:002008-09-04T12:37:33.325-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce the return of my cake decorating and sugar art classes! I will be offering 2 courses this Fall on Cupcake Decorating. I haven't taught in the San Antonio area for many years, so I am definitely looking forward to getting back in the classroom! I will show you how to make filled cupcakes, various icing techniques, beautiful and easy cupcake decorations, and much more!My

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-59471702334054993812008-03-26T08:56:00.001-07:002008-03-26T19:54:17.270-07:00

Cupcakes are just the in thing! Since 2006, the number of cupcakes I've baked up and decorated for customers exceeded the total number of cupcakes I made from 1998 through 2005! While some people request "exotic" flavors (coconut, lime, etc.), many are eager for the standard vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting. And as for designs, some are interested in special customized decor, but most

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-42890386385786249182008-03-26T08:40:00.000-07:002008-03-26T08:54:09.215-07:00

I've been asked to create a purse cake before for a little girl's 5th birthday, but hadn't done one for an adult until earlier this year! I was so excited to do one for a suprise 30th birthday party in January! The cake was her favorite, intensely chocolate with chocolate chips, and the purse was pink (her favorite color) and black buttercream and fondant. It was a hit with the birthday girl,

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-42275288330404593322008-03-12T22:04:00.000-07:002008-03-12T22:35:03.342-07:00

How sad is it that I can only update my supposed up-to-the-minute blog every two months?! I've been busy though! Lots of cake orders and some lovely paper orders, large and small. Here is a sample of what I've spent my winter months on:Transformers 'Autobot' Logo CakeMy first Transformers cake! He really wanted a 3D 'Blackout'Transformer cake, but I convinced him that an ENTIRELY BLACK helicopter

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-54776685388291826082008-01-05T23:24:00.000-08:002008-03-12T22:01:46.522-07:00

I was been blessed with many cake orders for sweet creations in 2007 from lovely people who ordered them. Here are some from the past year that I am really quite proud of, in no particular order (sorry, these haven't been posted onto my virtual store's website yet!): A non-traditional baby shower cake. My instructions were "no baby stuff." A "technically difficult" creation due to the many color

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-58572722969712226382007-12-18T09:34:00.000-08:002008-11-26T08:58:09.426-08:00

If you've been receiving my semi-quarterly (!) newsletters, you'll know that I started offering blank stock invitations earlier this year. I love them--they're great for last minute or small events when you just need a few invitations. You print them yourself, or you can even hand-write them, at home.Stripes and Polka Dots: Pink & Black Blueberry & Lime Tea-Length Invitations add a splash of

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-40169253968217626422007-12-18T09:31:00.000-08:002008-03-12T22:02:54.402-07:00

Ha! I said I would try to keep up the blogs on a consistent basis! Well, I'm happy to say I've been busy creating cakes and filling paper orders since October! I've also enjoyed some down time with visiting relatives and enjoying Thanksgiving and winter holiday preparations.I've got some cool pics to blog about, so if you're reading this, thanks for visiting and stay tuned!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-25286357595837255102007-10-11T14:06:00.000-07:002008-11-26T09:01:09.289-08:00

I am so excited! I finally have a logo! I originally wanted my 'colors' to be black and pink, but at the very last minute liked the way pink and green looked together. So here it is, plus I have several alternative variations in black/white and different sizes. I was so proud to finally have a logo to upload to the new website!

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-34903140379694203682007-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:002008-11-26T08:59:23.986-08:00

Here is an example of how I very often am asked to turn a party theme into a cake:This cake was based on a Girl's 1st Birthday party theme, Hugs & Stitches, and matched the invitations, napkins, notes cards, plates, etc. The Mom wanted the cake to be butterfly-shaped, and although the butterfly on the design is blue, she specifically requested pink. No problem! Little Sophia also had a matching "

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015365396332101556.post-68266543805283573512007-09-27T11:47:00.000-07:002008-03-12T22:04:25.870-07:00

Welcome, my dearest clients and friends!My new website, http://www.sweetestwhimsy.com/, which has been under construction for several months, will soon be "open" for business! In addition to my new home on the web, I've decided to start a new blogspot as well, to feature some really cool and amazing products I've discovered as well as tips and tricks pertaining to my world of cakes, paper and

Sweetest Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735398978283166789noreply@blogger.com0