Duel Of The Design

Style Laboratory once again will pit 2 florists, 2 chefs and 2 designers against the clock and each other.

Last year an Edible Garden was added for more design fun. Remember my happy garden gnome? This year's sweet table will be just as imaginative, but you'll have to see it to believe it.

Don't miss it!

Czar of Cakes Contest

Thanks to Jen Cress for this great photo of my entry for the Food and Wine Experience Czar of Cakes Contest.

I created a new flavor for this contest, Spice, port poached pear cake, and layered it with caramel buttercream. Rich, a bit decadent and delicious.

What's For Dinner?

Ingredients for "Tonight's Menu".

More to come.......

Shimmer and Sneeze

A few last details to be finished, and then I'll be ready for the Food & Wine Czar of Cakes Challenge. I positively shimmer inside and out, and it's only partly to do with excitement.
The other part is due to a small mishap while applying luster dust.

I wonder what will happen if I sneeze?

A Passion for Purple

Wedding color trends follow fashion(think red carpet) and interior design(what have you seen in the home magazines lately)? Those colors start appearing a few months later in bridal boutiques on gown sashes and bridesmaids attire, at receptions as floral choices, on card stock as invitation accents. Today I'm even finding evidence of it in blog entry titles and yahoo headlines.

This season the color is purple. Just look around, pick up a MN Bride magazine lately?

But the name purple doesn't begin to cover the myriad shades available. Think periwinkle with that touch of blue, lilac- delicate with hints of spring and rich plums and eggplants. I love the shade of lavender that brings memories of it's heady aroma. Wait, lavender could be more than just a color. Add it into your bridal bouquet and reception centerpieces, infuse your recipes with it and delight your guest. It's divine with chocolate and caramel. mmmmmm and a little whipped cream.
Think beyond fabrics and flowers and fully embrace purple.

My Offerings for Something New

Katrina has once again been very generous with her images. She shot some of what I brought to Something New last weekend,
Thanks Katrina.

Something New, Something Successful

Yesterday was wonderful. The Independent Wedding Association's first Something New wedding fair exceeded it's goals for attendance and vendor success. I tried to take photos of booths, but very few were adequate to showcase the beauty and creativity of over 25 wedding professionals.
Here are just a couple of images of vendors displaying close to me. Jennifer of JWP Jewelry Designs creates the most amazing pieces of art to adorn your neck, wrists and earlobes. For something fun, check out her zipper roses.
Julie of Knit-n-Jules just had one of her custom wraps featured on the cover of MN Bride's winter issue. This is a pretty little wrap for the pretty little girl in your life.