Liz Shim is the cake maker and decorator behind these awesome cakes. Looking at her pink flower cake creations, it is clear that she has a modern style.

She created a stylish cake for a fifth birthday party. I like it when parents opt for something playful yet refined. If you replace the topper and the banner, you get a cute design for a baby shower. It could also be the basis of a circus theme.

You can see her attention to details in the way she crafted the butterflies. If you are interested by her cake, know that Liz served the New York metropolitan area. She founded Eat Cake Be Merry with the goal to combine modern, simple, and clean design with delicious cakes.

+ photos: Eat Cake Be Merry
+ via Something Old, Something New

You might also like these posts

It is a great start for Fellina Sok-Cham. Winner of a student design contest, her Espresso set is a best seller at the MoMA store. This set is ingenious. The bamboo serving tray doubles as the support for the inset bamboo saucers. The spoon nests in the cup. The kit includes 6 porcelain cups and the spoons.

+ Espresso Set by Fellina Sok-Cham $48 USD, members $43.20

You might also like these posts

If you are not ready or if you already gave her the Tiffany blue box, here is another signature blue box that will please her this Valentine. I like the drawings on the artisanal chocolates. It is common these days to see design like the chocolates made by Christopher Elbow. The MarieBelle chocolates gain points for being more cheerful and adorable.

You can buy it online from MarieBelle Chocolates or find at a retailer near you that carry the collection. I spotted this gift idea on Parcel Post, the blog of Urbanic Paper, a boutique in Venice, California. I wish to leave a message to my dear husband. I saw on the store listing that it may be available at Indigo.

A must-go in SoHo

I noted on my agenda a visit to the Cacao Bar and Tea Salon that is inside their retail space in SoHo. Their line of hot chocolate seems awesome and many rave about it. Another idea is to sit down for a nice cacao at their Parisian style salon. It is on the pricey side but indulgences are in order on Valentine’s Day.

+ MarieBelle Chocolates

You might also like these posts

On a cold day of December, Jonill and Colin had their engagement photo session walking in East Village, New York. I like the old style and the emotions that were captured by Viera Photographics. I should plan a photo session for our next wedding anniversary.

I love green. On a fashion not, I adore her coat and her classic ring.

+ photos: Viera Photographics
+ via MyWedding.com

You might also like these posts

NYC-based watercolor artist Caitlin McGauley likes to collaborate with her clients to create custom art piece. Her clients often give her photos as the starting point. Then, Caitlin will reinterpret it in her own style. I think it is a great way to commemorate an event.

The Daily Candy did a short video interview with Caitlin. She seems to be nice.

MORE:
+ watercolor: Caitlin McGauley
+ via A Design Affair

You might also like these posts

More bag options for the fashionable city girl. The laptop bag is available for a 15-inch and a 17-inch laptop version. If you have a 13-inch laptop, I find that a 15-inch flat carrier is often not too big. Plus, it comes handy to bring a magazine with me. Ask then first for exact dimensions, if this is the case.

The silk-screened Canvas shopping bag is big enough to fit a picnic for 2. It is ideal for a stop at Central Park. These bags are made in Brooklyn. You can shop online at nyDesignroom or visit their showroom Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 7 PM.

+ Laptop Carrier $110 USD
+ Shopping Baaag $55 USD
+ via Design Milk

You might also like these posts

When my eyes first saw the soft-cooked egg with caviar photo recipe of Chef David Chang, I thought “What a cool way to serve a Camembert”. The French girl in me is never very far. In the September 2009 of Bon Appetit, David Chang explained the story behind his signature dish. Like he said, eggs (caviar) in egg is funny.

You can find his signature Soft-Cooked egg with Onion Soubise, Caviar, and Potato Chips recipe on Bon Appetit. It will also be published on its upcoming cookbook titled Momofuko. His cookbook will be in stores October 15th, 2009.

For my Camembert dishing idea, I still have to perfect it. It can sit on a bed of caramelized onions. You are welcome to share your ideas.

SOURCING:
+ Momofuko by David Chang $26.40 USD

You might also like these posts

Amy Atlas has made a name for herself in a niche market. She specializes in dessert and candy tables. I am not alone to love her sense of style. With Halloween in 6 weeks, it is good to review what you need to set up  an awesome candy table.

Therefore, I read Amy Atlas’ interviews and examine her marvelous portfolio to sum up how you can try to design your own sweets buffet at home.

• Start with a theme
• Put attention to the table linens and service ware. They should be beautiful and coordinated to get a refined look
• Vary the heights of trays, stands, bowls, jars and footed plates. Design cute tags for every vessel.
• Repeat elements to create a sense of collection.
• Add festive decorative elements to enhance your table. Your goal is to impress.
• Create a backdrop to your buffet table.
• Survey the bakers and candy purveyors on your area. Make sure to taste everything; it has to be delicious not just pretty.
• Order desserts or candies based on what you want the table to look like instead of limiting the quantities to the number of guests. Plan for refilling, when applicable.
• Provide goody bags for your guests to take home desserts or candies. The goody bags can be a container that fit with your party theme.

How much candy you need?

You need an abundant choice to create an impact. Get 8 to 10 candy varieties. You need a least 8 ounces of candy per guest. To give you an idea, 6 ounces fill a small gift bag. Better to add more and round up because people will take some home.

I read on Martha Stewart that you need 8 pounds of jelly beans to fill a 1-gallon bowl. The same 1-gallon bowl will hold 5 pounds and a half of malted-milk balls or 3 pounds of wrapped taffy. Estimate that three quarter of your guests will take individual wrapped candies like pinwheel lollipops.

One practice that is not common is to host a sweet party later at night. Now that you have some guidelines, think about it.

MORE:
+ Amy Atlas

You might also like these posts

I featured Sunday Suppers on several quick link posts. From what I have seen this week, I am not going to stop soon. The concept behind their Market class can be resumed in building a seasonal menu based on what is available at the market.

Casey Solomon and Karen Mordechai propose more than cooking classes. They put attention to details of the tablescape. This is how they first grabbed my attention.

For the market class, they came up with a brilliant yet simple idea. They wrote the menu on brown paper bags. At the end of the night, the guests used their paper bag to bring home fresh peaches.

They filled a wood crate with local peaches and put it next to the door. Small details include placing a piece of jute underneath the crate. You could use potato bags. Tea towels were used as napkins and to make a bed for the peaches. I am sure that many of you will recycle their entertaining ideas.

If you are interested in taking their classes, they are held in Brooklyn, New York.

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ Sunday Suppers

You might also like these posts

Canvas aims for a collection that represents simple, sustainable style. The Canvas line is available at Ochre, a store that I will definitely visit the next time I go to SOHO in New York.

The Bistroware ceramic dinnerware collection is elegant and simple. I read on Remodelista that the plates vary from $15 to $20 each. The Moroccan recycled glasses ($11-$15) are original. I would like to own a bunch of round cedar boards ($32-$38) to use as serving trays.

Apartment Therapy posted photos of new products at Ochre after they visited the SOHO store. If you are a fan of the modern rustic look, check out the water table and bench.

MORE:
+ Canvas
+ US Ochre store
+ More photos on Apartment Therapy

You might also like these posts

To get the wow factor, I suggest you set up an ice cream sandwich bar where your guests can select their own cookie and ice cream combination. This means that you have several options when you wish to serve ice cream sandwiches at a party:

• Make everything from scratch – it is wonderful but who has the time
• Bake the cookies and buy premium ice cream  or Buy the cookies and make your own ice cream- it is manageable for many
• Buy the cookies and premium ice cream – the no-fuss way

I say to do whatever fits your skills and your schedule. Make sure to serve the ice cream sandwiches in either ordinary waxed paper or go the extra miles and get professional grade food paper. You can make your cookies square, round or any almost-square shapes. For a kid birthday, use a butterfly cookie cutter or a castle cookie cutter.

I attached photos of professional made ice cream sandwiches to know what to aim for. Paul of Sweet Paul shows us that waffle cookies adds a twist. I like the look but I prefer the taste of real cookies. The New-York bakery Milk and Cookies sells 6 flavors and plus the flavor of the week.

Coolhaus Concept

Two Los Angeles girls in their twenties start selling ice creams at festivals on their converted postal truck. Instead of paper, Freya Estreller and Natasha Case imagined the Coolhaus ice sandwiches in edible wrapper. Made of rice paper, the wrapper can be branded with soy ink. This is a cool idea for events. They twitter their truck location.

You can order the sandwiches straight off the menu or mix the flavors to your liking. This is one thing that you could do if you are having a big bash. Assembling an ice cream sandwich only takes a few seconds.

CREDITS:
1. Waffle and strawberry ice cream sandwich by Sweet Paul
2. Coolhaus $3 USD without edible wrapper, $3.50 with edible wrapper- more photos on Yelp
3. Milk and Cookies $4.95 USD

You might also like these posts

I told you before about Fairmont Hotels initiatives to bring back bees in our cities to spread pollination. We can also do our part. And to do that in style, Jason Neufeld produced an outstanding collection of ceramic shelters to to attract bumblebees called Bombus Shelter. The nest of bumblebees are in ground. They often use tunnels built by other animals. Each Bombus Shelter artifically and artisfully recreates an environment for a bee hive.

Housewarming Gift Idea for Apartment/Condo Dwellers

If you are looking for a cute housewarming git ideas, here is something handy to carry to a friend’s home. Plus, you can bring the desired canvas bags inside when you are cooking. On drawback visible from the pictures is that you must accept that it will not stay perfectly clean. Therefore, it is not for everyone. In fact, it may be better suited for growing your plants inside.

Like I said for his Honeycomb Toast and Tea Set, contact the designer Jason Neufeld by email to order them since they are no other information on his Web site. There no price information either.

MORE:
+ Jason Neufeld

You might also like these posts