Sweets la Petite

2010-05-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of moving.....my new site is http://sweetslapetite.com/blog/ It not pretty yet, but I'm working on it, but wanted you to know! Hope to see you there.

Wedding Cake & Favors

2010-05-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been working on all week. Its a wedding cake themed with a feather that she wanted me to incorporate from her cake design and also electric guitar wedding cake favors. Its been stressful but rewarding all in the same breath! I'm really hoping the client liked it. I wasn't able to see the bride when I delivered the cake but from the comments from some of the friends that attended, it was a success!

Fundraiser Display

2010-05-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

I had the best time yesterday at the California Symphony Virtuoso. The event was at Dan Ashley's beautiful home (ABC7 News anchor here in the bay area). He and his wife are super nice and were gracious hosts. The weather was perfect and the guests were wonderful.

I was privileged to have a table at this event and was surrounded by all kinds of wonderful local vendors. I had made a display cake and got several compliments from it. I made pink champagne mini cupcakes and they were a complete hit. I also made some cookie party favors with the California Symphony's logo on it. They were all gone by end of event! I did have a few mini cupcakes leftovers and even was able to barter some bottles of wine from vendors at the end. SCORE!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2010-05-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

This was a fun cake to make. The client asked for a classy & fun cake for her dad's 70th birthday party she was throwing. When the cake was delivered, she loved it!!! (So did the caterer!!) White Velvet Cake with Raspberry filling (bottom tier) and strawberry filling (top tier).

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to try this recipe and thought...what a better time to try a Margarita cupcake than Cinco de Mayo!!!!! Took them to the office and they were gone by noon!!

My Cricut Cake Machine is Here!!!

2010-04-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

WOOOT WOOOOT!!!! This week can't get any more exciting than this!! First I debuted my new website and now I just got in the mail my Cricut Cake machine! I'm so excited, I can't wait to play with it!!! I know there are tons of opinions out there about this machine but I figured you have to pay to win!!!! I'll let you know how it turns out...stay tuned....

Whimsical Topsy Turvy Retirement Cake

2010-04-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

I know I keep saying that I had a lot of fun making these cakes, but I really do!! I love what I do! Its sooo therapeutic for me...and the reaction that I receive from clients...well...you just can't get a better feeling than that! This client originally requested a 1/4 sheet cake and I kindly had to inform her that we no longer produce sheet cakes but specialize in customized tiered cakes. So I suggested a topsy turvy cake (because I like to make them...yes I'm a little bias!!) and she happily agreed. Its a cake for a retirement party and is a White Velvet Cake with Strawberry Mousse Filling and Vanilla Buttercream. Hope they all enjoy!

My Big Announcement

2010-04-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

I'm soooo excited. No seriously. I'm jumping up and down in between typing this post. I have an announcement to make and I can hardly contain myself....ok, sllllllloooooowwwww doooooowwwwn...breathe.....ok, I had to step away from the computer and get some water. I'm just soo excited about this news!! Ok, ready?? Here it is....

I have a new website!!! Exciting right? You gotta go check it out! I'm soo proud of it! Thanks DukDesign, you absolutely ROCK!

SF Giants Jersey Shirt Cake

2010-04-28T09:32:00.001-07:00

I had so much fun making this cake. When my client requested making a cake for a SF Giants fan, I jumped at the opportunity because I've been wanting to make a jersey/shirt cake for some time now...either that or a baseball hat cake...I was torn so I just decided to make the jersey. The client requested a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. I'm pretty excited how it turned out.

Corporate Order

2010-04-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

These clients have been repeat customers and I love that they like my work/cookies! Its just a little weird seeing your own work being eaten in front of you!!! LOL And no Steve, they do not have any kriptenite in them!!! They're just that good!! :D

Ooops I Did It Again...

2010-04-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I forgot to take a picture of this creation...but it looks exactly like this one that I did a couple months back and the new client wanted the EXACT replica of this cake....so I complied... except for the fact that the cake I made this time was Double Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Hazelnut filling and Chocolate Fudge Icing.

Daisies Cookie Bouquet & Cake!

2010-04-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

These cookie bouquets are soo fun to make! I had a birthday order for a co-worker/friend and so I decided to give her a cookie bouquet. They are all daisies. I got the idea from a fellow flickr contact and just made it my own. They really turned out really cute! My friend really liked it too!!

Ironically enough, her job also ordered a cake for her birthday! Its a Mexican Chocolate Cake with Almond Buttercream...YUMMM! Sorry for the bad lighting on the pic, but it was really late when I finished the cake and I didn't have time to put up the 'studio' lights.

Happy Tax Day

2010-04-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a day to celeberate your birthday! But what a fun way to celebrate! With a cookie bouquet!! This was a really fun order to make. I don't make too many cookie bouquets and I'm not really sure why. They are so freakin adorable. And sooo springtime. This order was for a client who was giving it to their colleague for a birthday gift. She requested that some baby onsies be included as her colleague is pregnant. I think it turned out really cute!

Red Velvet Yumo-ness!!

2010-04-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

Today was the second day of my career discovery course at the CIA-Greystone. I'm loving every minute of it! I had a quick order (red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting) for a client to deliver today before I headed back to Greystone---I can't believe how much I'm learning. I love it!!! More to come!

Coconut Cupcakes

2010-04-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

Coconut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting....and a PEEP!! Happy Easter!

I'm So Excited!

2010-03-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

Sooo excited...just got confirmation from my career discovery class today! CIA (Greystone) here I come---at least for a week next month! I'll be rubbing shoulders with the 'big boys' up here in St Helena!!! LOL

Golden Gate Bridge

2010-03-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Being from the Bay Area, its a wonder I don't get more orders for these cookies. They are so cute! They are a lot larger than the standard cookie size (width is about 6in) but too adorable just the same. They also ship real well!

Lightning McQueen

2010-03-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, I confess. I had no clue who Lightning McQueen was until the beginning of this year when a client asked me to make them for their son's birthday! Who knew that this character is really popular amongst young toddlers/boys. This childless woman surely didn't! :D

So a few days ago I got a last minute request from a client to make a Lightning McQueen 3D birthday cake along with some party favor cookies so that he could take them to his school. I was quite pleased with how they each turned out.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Made these green velvet cupcakes for the office for St Patrick's Day. They were all gone by 2pm! I'm concluding my co-workers liked them! :D

Hop Hop Hop...On Over!

2010-03-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

Easter is just around the corner! And this Easter bunny came early to remind you to place your order now!!! He just hopped on over here, sat down on some grass, and is just lookin so cute just for you!!

This cake was sooo much fun to make! I mean it really was! Its one of those cake projects that while you're making it, you keep saying...'oh this is going to be cute' then a few minutes later...'ooooh this is cute!' then a few more minutes pass...tooooo freakin' CUUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!'...repeat 25 times!

This is a white cake with vanilla buttercream frosting 3D sculpted cake made from a Wilton 3-D Bear Pan. I cut off the ears of the 'bear' and used my bunny ears made from fondant. Easter eggs are good ol Jelly Belly Jeans and the carrot...well the carrot is some powdered candy in a plastic formed carrot! Soo cute!

How to Make Decorative Cake Boards

2010-03-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

Several people have commented on my decorative cake boards. I just assumed people knew how to make decorated cake boards. But as I was looking on the web, I've discovered that there is nothing out there explaining how to make these decorative boards. I mean, they have instructions on how to COVER a cake board but not how to make them really cute or match the design/color scheme of your cake. But then again, maybe because its sooo easy and people just assume (as I did) that everyone knows how to make these decorative cake boards. So here is my attempt to explain how I was taught. I'm sure I'm telling you the cheating way and not the 'official' way but then again, that's how I was taught. I learned this when I was taking a class on how to make a purse cake.

I get my paper designs from just about any place that sells papers...from gift wrap paper (I get alot of paper from the $1 store! Ah huh, the dollar store!!!!) , to scrapbook paper (light weight)--I get a lot of this type of paper in the $1 bin at Target!! Like I said, I get paper from just about everywhere! Ideas are endless! TIP: You don't want the cake sitting directly on the giftwrap paper as it is not food safe and the oil from the cake can look very unappetizing!

This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make decorated cake boards. This project is perfect for any shaped cakes. There are many occasions when cake boards are the best choice for cake support. They are ideal for odd shapes because they can be cut to the desired shape.

You will need the following items:

scissors
tape
decorative paper (aluminum foil, florist's wrap, lightweight scrap paper or giftwrap paper)
cardboard cake board (size depends on size of cake project!)
food safe cellophane gift wrap
ribbon (optional)
glue gun

STEP 1 - Choose a cake board at least two inches in diameter larger than your cake layer. This allows a minimum of one inch around the base of the cake on which to add an icing border or sugar designs.

For this tutorial, we will be using 3 cardboard circles. How did I come up with 3 cake boards to use? It depends on the width of your ribbon (if you're going to use ribbon as trimming on the board). If you're not going to use ribbon, then I would recommend you use at LEAST two cake boards for stability. I'm going to be using ribbon for trim that is the width of 3 cake boards. Kinda simple math...use as many cake boards as the width of your ribbon.

STEP 2 - To make your decorative cakeboard stable, you will need to criss-cross your cakeboards. Your cake boards have ribs in them. See black lines in pic above. Criss-cross the ribs, then secure them together with tape. I tend to just put tape on two 'sides' of the circle. Don't overdue it and don't be taunt with the tape! You're just loosely securing the cakeboards.

STEP 3 - Cut wrapping paper and cello wrap. Place them right side down on the counter-top. Cut your gift wrap and cello wrap to the size of your cakeboard, always leave at least 2inches around the width of your board. It doesn't have to be exact but make it fairly accurate.

STEP 4 - Tape down papers on two 'sides' of the cakeboard. This is to keep the papers taunt while you're working on them. Fold each paper fold onto the cake board, taping it into place. Gently smooth the edge of the paper onto the cardboard as you work your way around the cake until all the pieces are taped neatly in place.

STEP 5 - Now take out your glue gun and glue the ribbon to the cakeboard. Don't use too much glue you don't want it oozing out! :D Wal-la

Cake decorators (including the professionals) use covered boards to enhance the presentation of their cakes. Whether you're making a cake for a birthday or a wedding, you can cover the board that holds the cake with foil or wrapping paper for a finished touch.

Hello Kitty

2010-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

Made this 6inch cake for a friend's daughter's birthday. Cinnamon Double Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream.

ICES Convention Here I Come!

2010-03-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited. Today the ICES convention registration just opened and I'm registered to head to San Diego in August. This will be my first ICES convention and from what I've heard, I'm super excited about going. I went to Cake Camp for the first time last year and just absolutely L O V E D it. Learned sooo much and met some really cool people. Hang Ten DUDE!

New Cake Magazine

2010-02-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited. I've been a fan of Cake Central newsletters so some time now and now they have made a magazine! The first issue of Cake Central Magazine is now available. Ordering information is available here. Kerry Vincent is on the cover. I can't wait to see the magazine. Caveat: subscription is kinda steep - a whopping $60/year! YIKES!! Ok, I guess I'll have to save up my $$$$ to see an issue.

Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes with Almond Buttercream

2010-02-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a board (bored) meeting weekend. I always hate the fact that I stay at really nice hotels (4-5 stars) but can't enjoy them because I'm stuck in their conference meeting rooms all weekend. I mean its amazing if I even see sunlight for 3 days (barring the fact that its winter and raining here but even some fresh air would be nice...GEEZ). So after I returned home from the meeting, I went to go pick up my baby from her boyfriend's house (is it wrong that a pitmix is in love with an Australian Shepard?!) and then came home to relax. Some people go jogging to relax...some read a book...I bake! :D

I wanted to make something new and since I was actually watching the FoodNetwork show on "my favorite thing to eat" or something like that, the founder of Sprinkles was on show saying that she loved some donut muffin from Healdsburg. She also said that she has a cinnamon sugar cupcake on her menu. I thought about making something like that because I remember making it before and it being soooo freakin good but I wanted to make something new so when I started research surfing, I came across this recipe off Epicurious and knew I had to make it. This recipe is definitely a keeper. I still have to learn to go against my instinct to fill the cupcake liners to the top....it makes them have a higher 'topper' affect which I don't like! But oooh sooo good!

Cupcake Sisters

2010-02-17T20:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm addicted to the FoodNetwork. I'll admit it. If you come to my house, don't expect to change the channel unless I'm not watching a program that is a rerun or something...and sometimes I'll want to watch reruns! But lately I've been pinning for something new. I mean, I love watching Amazing Wedding Cakes on WE and also Duff on Ace of Cakes, but lately I've been wanting to watch something else. So while I was surfing my food blogs, I came across this bit of news! There a new DC-based reality series called “Cupcake Sisters" in the works and its scheduled to air this summer on TLC!! To read more click here

Photo Courtesy of New York Social Diary

Conversational Heart Cookies

2010-02-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

Conversational heart cookies are sooo freakin fun to make....you can go wild with the sayings on them. Fortunately, my client kept me grounded and I used the 'traditional' ones. It took every ounce in my body not throw one in the back of the bouquet that says "bite me" or "kiss this" or "dream on"!!! See what I mean....now you've got me started!!! hehehehehehehehehehe

Sweetest Samplings

2010-02-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

I made these carrot cupcakes and threw in some leftover client ordered red velvet cupcakes for a print house friend who gave me a sweet deal on some business cards for my business! Thanks Digitek! Hope you enjoyed!

photos provided by Carlos Chin Photography

Are You Ready for Some Football?

2010-02-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

Superbowl 44 is only hours away (but who's counting). Saints & Colts....Have a wonderful game!

Gerbera Daisies & Bees

2010-01-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

Client wanted a cake that would take us out of this gloomy weather here in the Bay Area! Ok, funny thing, when I went to deliver the cake...the sun came out!! It was a sure tell sign!!

Hearts Galore

2010-01-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

Seeing red!! :D These were sooo fun to make. There are soo many ideas out there for valentine's cookies! I didn't have enough cookies to make all the ideas!!

Good Times Terry

2010-01-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

Last minute order for client - lemon cake with lemon zest frosting

Indian Baby Shower Cookies

2010-01-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

Client wanted baby shower cookies with Indian-themed designed elephants.

Happy Birthday LaShon!

2010-01-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Its Complicated

2010-01-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

So I got a new phone number for my business because I was tired of saying "hello" and not identifying myself to clients. Problem is, I have my old phone number out there still (on business cards, flyers, brochures, etc) and they still keep calling me on my old number....what's a girl to do!

Will You Be Mine?

2010-01-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

Prepping for Valentine's Day! Cosmo Cake with Orange-Lime Buttercream. The first cake is a 5inch mini cake. Its soo cute! The second cake below is a sweetheart cake (about 10inches).

Snowboard Cake

2010-01-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

Client was celebrating their boyfriend's birthday in Tahoe. Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

Go Vikings!

2010-01-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

My aunt ordered these in hopes they will go to the super bowl!

Simpson Cake

2010-01-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

I had a last-minute order for a client who wanted this cake delivered to KTVU.

Whimsical Cake

2010-01-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Client ordered lemon cake with homemade lemon curd filling.

Thomas the Engine

2010-01-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

Client ordered Thomas the Engine and CARS cookies for their son's 3rd birthday. I'm very happy how they turned out. So was the client!!!

Welcome

2010-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and welcome to my blog. This year I decided I would create a blog to promote my business and website. I had never succeeded at journaling the traditional way, but an internet expert convinced me that blogging was a great way to get a business/website noticed. So I thought that I'd give it a try.

Its going to be a journey so fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride!