Spring Availability

It's almost Christmas, then soon it will be New Year's Day and before you know it Spring will be here. Spring time = Wedding Season and we are booking up fast. There are only a few dates currently available for June and July weddings!

We will begin conducting consultations on January 21st and will have various times available throughout the rest of the winter. If you want to check us out before then please stop by the 2012 Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show where we will be featuring our new menu and design details! There will be a lot of fantastic vendors and admission is free.

Also, please remember your date is only secured once a signed copy of the contract as well as the retainer fee has been received.

Happy Holidays!!

Jenny

What we've been working on...

It has been such a long time between posts, but I thought I would give you a peek at what I've been up to the past few months....

Folks, please meet Ashlynn Elizabeth Leisure. She was born in October and has been keeping me on my toes since! Isn't this picture awesome? Our friends at Bungalow Photography did an amazing job, we just absolutely love them!

Even though I've been quite busy with the bebe I have had some time to work on the bakery biz (mostly at 2am...) There will be some exciting changes to the shop and new menu to boot! Stay tuned, we will be launching all of the details in mid-January. Until then please have a safe and happy holiday!

xoxo,

Jenny

Rustic Fall Photo Shoot

Recently I had the opportunity to have one of my photographer friends spend the day at the shop photographing some of our sweet treats. Becky Brown of Becky Brown Photography is a phenomenal photographer working in the Indianapolis-Chicago areas. When she told me she was working on developing her food photog skills and wanted to come hang out for the day I just couldn't wait! You see, Becky has some serious talent and I knew she was going to capture some amazing shots...and well she did. Check out some of my personal favs!

Ok, after looking at these I'm pretty hungry....let's hope I have a spare macaroon!

HUGE thank you to Becky...I love the shots. Next time let's do a winter shoot ;-)

Jenny

Alissa & Nick!

Two weeks ago Alissa and Nick had their wedding & reception at The Hawthornes Country Club (uber amazing venue!!) located in Fishers, IN. I absolutely loved working with this family...they were so into every little detail...and really wanted a fantastic couture cake. (YAY! for me ;-)) Here are a few pics from the wedding {and cake} thanks to my fantastic neighbors who attended the event!! Enjoy.

I am pretty sure rhinestones are fantastic!

Cutting of the cake!

Um...seriously gorgeous couple!!

Congratulations Alissa & Nick!

Next up...Stephanie & Chase

Have you heard the news??!!

I haven't posted in a very long time-I blame wedding/graduation season 100%! It's that time of year where every spring weekend is filled with weddings, showers and parties..it keeps me hoppin'!

Yeah, yeah I'm busy...I'm always nutty busy, that's not the reason for this post. I wanted to officially let my people (all 48 of you) know the big news. We are growing! Well, actually I am growing, at a very rapid rate non the less. Yes, if you haven't heard my husband and I are expecting our first baby in October. We are just over the moon with excitement and can't wait for her to get here. Yes, I said her....It's a GIRL!!

So after all of the joy/excitement/panic subsided I really had to think long and hard about what to do with the cake biz. This totally freaks me out--it is our second "official" year of business and it is growing like crazy. The thought of having to turn customers away makes me nauseous (and it's not from the pickles and jalapeno chips I had for breakfast). After thinking long and hard I came to this conclusion....We are going to be closed from October through January 1st. This might not seem drastic to many of you, but for a custom bakery with one employee, it is.

During this 3 month hiatus I will still be responding to e-mails and booking appointments for the 2012 wedding season which I will begin consultations for in December...just no making of the cakes.

I hope everyone understands this decision is uber hard for me (I am a bit of an obsessive when it comes to cakes) but it is what I feel I need to do for our new little Leisure :-)

xoxoxoxo
Jenny

Side bar: If you are planning on a spring 2012 wedding I recommend giving me a ring soon. I am already booking for May and June :-)

Peonies, Lace & Vintage Keys

Last week was a strange week filled with many different emotions. We saw storms devastate the south, crazy flooding all over the midwest and rain that I thought would never go away. Even London had predictions for rain on the day of the Royal Wedding. But just like in London the rain moved out of Indianapolis to make for one amazing wedding weekend--the "official" start to our wedding season.

Saturday's wedding took place at the historic Laurel Hall . This venue has history and charm oozing out of every little nook and cranny. Add the bride and groom's vision and some seriously talented wedding professionals and you get near perfection.

I must say it was a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful day.











Thanks for stopping by!
Jenny

Sugar Flowers with Ron-Ben Israel

Last week I had the honor to take a 3 day class with Ron Ben-Israel ...it. was. ridiculous. I have been a huge fan of his work ever since I saw him on a Martha Stewart special several years ago. It has always been kind of a dream to meet him, let alone be taught by him.

The Master at work!

Thank you so much to our wonderful host, Minette Rushing owner of Custom Cakes in Savannah, GA.


I love this picture...I look like I just met NKOTB or something =)



Swoon worthy roses, right?


Oh boy...I love this one too.


Sweet Peas!

That's all for now...let me know if you need some uber fancy sugar paste flowers!

Jenny

Food Network, Flowers and French Macarons

Food Network:
First off I have to say thank you to everyone for your well wishes and support as I went through the audition process for the Food Network's Cake Challenge. While I am slightly bummed I didn't make it I am also slightly relieved. I must admit it was pretty exciting getting a call from the Food Network producers. I mean I live in New Pal, in the middle of nowhere with a shop that is, well you know...it's flippin' small. So as my friend Martha would say "It's a good thing".

I firmly believe that all things happen for a reason, you may not know the reason for weeks, months or even years. Eventually it will all make sense, with patience.

Flowers:
I absolutely love making sugar flowers, it is one of my favorite things. It is a hard and time consuming process, which makes them a little on the spendy side. Many bakeries purchase their flowers pre-made via wholesale sugar arts shops to help with costs and to keep production streamlined. I totally understand that this is necessary in many cases where time is important. The reason I make all of my flowers is because I truly love the art of it (even though sometimes making them makes me want to poke out my eyeballs, I love it). So why am I on this sugar flower soapbox? I'm glad you asked. You see there is a man in NYC named Ron Ben Israel and he is a master sugar artist. {Don't believe me? Click here} Anyway, Ron conducts limited sugar seminars each year and they sell out in like 2.2 seconds. Well as fate has it I got in to one of his seminars...and I'm pumped! He really takes sugar art to the next level which I'm hoping his seminar will help take my skills to the next level!

You see I didn't have to wait too long to find the good in not making it on Food Network!

French Macarons
I have been completely consumed by these little french cookies. At one point my entire kitchen was covered with the pretty pastel-ness of French Macarons. They aren't the same as the coconut macaroons we are all familiar with. They are light, delicate and taste amazing {especially when filled w/dark chocolate raspberry ganache} French macarons are taking the bakery scene by storm on the west coast so I thought Indy needed these little wonders too!

I will be featuring the new item at some up and coming bridal shows...in the mean time here is a little sneak peak...aren't the cute?!


Oh ya! Here are some of my favorite cakes from January!


Jenny

Food Network Audition -- Cake Challenge

A few weeks ago, while I was working in the shop I received a call from the producers of the Food Network asking me to audition for "Cake Challenge". You know the show..2 people + 8 hours = 3 ft tall cake that moves, talks, and shoots fireworks. (yikes) Needless to say I thought it was a really mean friend playing a joke on me, but it was actually the real deal. After hanging up with the producer; I died, laughed, and screamed (twice). Once that mess of excitement was over I had to get my portfolio together asap. They needed photos (check), written application (check) and an audition video (WHAT!@#).

Well, thanks to some super awesome folks on twitter (feel free to follow me @coupleofsweets) I was put in contact with a media company to help with the video. A few takes and several goof up's later this is my video....



I sent the producers the video today, fingers crossed :-) I have to say the competition is pretty stiff for this show. I am just thrilled to have been asked to audition.

I'll keep you posted!
Jenny