1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies, & Cakes

Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books has released a number of a "1,000 series" books such as 1,000 Jewelry Inspirations, 1,000 Ideas for Creative Re-use, 1,000 Artisan Textiles, etc and I'm pleased to share with you that their newest addition is 1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cookies, & Cakes! 

Seven of our portfolio cakes will be featured alongside 993 great sweets :)  This is definitely a book you should get if you need design inspiration, want to see various techniques for all three mediums, or simply like looking at pretty desserts!  It's also a great book to give as a gift to all the home bakers in your life. 

The book will be out in November, but you can pre-order copies now at Amazon.

TLC's Ultimate Cake Off

A couple months ago I went to California to assist Katie Robinson of The Painted Lily with a cake competition: TLC's Ultimate Cake Off.  Well, it aired last night and if you missed it you can watch the entire episode on TLC's website!   It was a fun experience and it was awesome to meet all the contestants, judges, crew, and the other girls on the team.

 Left to Right: Alison, Katie, myself, Eva

   The assistants

Damask

Damask has been an increasingly popular pattern to apply on cakes and here is one version we did for a cake this past weekend. 

Cymbidiums are so pretty :)

Cricut cake

If you're an avid scrapbooker or crafter, you've probably have heard of the Cricut.  It's a paper cutting machine and there are various cartridges with many designs you can choose from.  Well....just last night Cricut Cake was launched for purchase on HSN.  Although it was midnight and I rarely tune in to home shopping channels, I was curious and found myself watching the demo for Cricut Cake and I'll admit, it's pretty cool.  You just have to load a thin sheet of gumpaste into the machine, choose your design, and press cut.  What you are left with is a clean, fast, and easy applique for your cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.  I think it's an innovative product for beginning/home bakers, but you've got to be making a lot of treats to make up for the price of this machine and the cartridges :)  As for me, I think I'll be sticking to my own devices (aka my hands and an x-acto)

Here are some examples of cakes decorated with the Cricut Cake from their website. 

Tables Galore

The current issue of Brides Magazine features incredible dessert tables by Amy Atlas.  We had the opportunity to work with her in creating a few different treats for the three setups.  Fuchsia dahlia cupcakes, blossom motif cookies, raspberry and chocolate cupcakes, chevron patterned cookies and cupcakes!  Also, look at the beautiful cakes created by Kate Sullivan :) 

* Three images of tables + chevron cupcakes via AmyAtlas Blog.

Also, check out Lollipop Designs Blog for some "inspiration-to-creations" of our cakes.    This one was inspired by the pinwheel appliques on a Jcrew cardigan :)

Cox&Cox

Wow, my friend told me today to check out the website to a company in the UK called Cox & Cox.  It's like a combination of the Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Anthropologie, Kate's Paperie, Etsy....a mix of everything that is good.  :)  They have things for the home, toys, gardening, crafts, and wedding stuff.  While browsing all the things they offer, I found some awesome baking stuff. (Yes, they ship internationally)

Cookie cutters with built in slits, so you can have milk and cookies (tea and biscuits) all in one hand.  Genius.

Chronicle Books Cupcake Kit

If you were curious as to where the polk-a-dot cupcake wrappers for the Brides shoot came from, they were a part of a cupcake kit produced by Chronicle Books.   I initially bought it because I thought the packaging was done really well and who can resist buying something so cute?  When I opened it, I discovered there was much more to it than I saw.  Inside is an awesome book with various cupcake recipes, and on the top, there are piping bags, pastry tips, and couplers.  Everything you need for basic decorating are in this kit!

Look familiar? We photographed some of these pretty wrappers for the EatCupcake background on our website :)

Brides April: Turquoise and Orange

Recently, we had the pleasure of creating a mini cake and mini cupcakes for the April issue of Brides Magazine.  The desserts were designed to complement the orange and turquoise cake stands that are made from repurposed candlesticks by a Seattle based company iacoli & mcallister. 

*For the mini cake: The paillettes were made with an #806 tip and pressed in the center with a ball tool for a cupped shape.  Then orange royal icing dots are pipped in the center.

*For the cupcakes: Orange disks were topped with A's (using FMM gumpaste letter cutters) and a turquoise dot border. 

 These would be a good addition to a wedding dessert table or even an intimate bridal shower. 

Papergraphic Illustrations

Last year I saw the work of artist Yulia Brodsyaka and I was in awe of what someone can do with paper. PAPER!  As I was flipping through the pages of the latest issue of Martha Stewart mag yesterday, I saw that her work featured in it as well and it's beautiful.  You must see more of Yulia's work on her site.

Also, Happy St. Patricks Day!  If you are interested in learning about some Irish wedding customs/traditions, make your way over to the blog of Strictly Weddings.  They are a premier wedding site helping brides with various vendors in Chicago and Dallas, but will soon launch a New York site as well.  We look forward to being one of their cake vendors for NY.

Meri Meri!

Recently, I went to scope out Chef Central in Paramus, NJ.  The place is huge and they have an amazing selection of bakeware, cookware, books, equipment, and even classes.  If you live anywhere near there, it's worth a visit.  (Then you should swing by Bobby's Burger Palace

in the same town, which is Bobby Flay's new burger venture.  Delicious!)

As I was browsing the cake decorating isle at Chef Central, I saw these precious little cupcake kits.  They are created by Meri Meri and come in various themes such as birthdays, bridal showers, and baby showers.  (You can order them online too.  They make matching napkins, invitations, and centerpieces.)   Aren't they just fantastic?!?