Design...Stat

Surprise 10 Layer Cake!

2012-06-26T10:51:00.001-04:00

Hi All!

Long time, no blogging. For my good friend Maria's Birthday it was time to try the 10 layer cake I saw on http://www.bakerella.com/fourteen-for-the-fourteenth/. She did 14 layers but I thought I could settle with 10 layers!! It was fun and not as hard as I thought. My layers are way too thick and the batter doesn't spread out on its own when there is this little amount in a tin. I should have spread it evenly before baking to get a less convex cake at the top!! It got a lil topsy turvy as I put more layers on so I should have spread it out! OOPS!!!!

And the surprise is..............when I cut the cake its ONLY SEVEN LAYERS!!! hahaha- I was a little tired last night! I had no idea. Seven is a lucky number anyway!! Happy Birthday Maria! -Megan

Building and Building

Bought these pie tins to help make the layers quickly

Not too lopsided :)

Count them!! SEVEN!

Pirate Party

2012-05-07T16:44:00.000-04:00

I feel like I am going backwards because this was my first fondant attempt EVER and it was back in January. I should have posted this first before you saw my progression but c'est la vie!

My friend Alexandra threw her husband a Pirate themed surprise party!! It was very creative. My favorite part was an old chest which she lined with plastic garbage bags and it become the cooler for drinks!! It looked like buried treasure. I wish I had a picture of it. I do have a picture my cross and skull bones in fondant on black marshmallow (delicious) frosting! Careful- if you do not properly wrap the fondant for storage it will get hard and crack like brittle bones.
Did you see what I did there? bone, cracked, brittle (you can see where it happened)
Peace Out-Megan

Epic Failure

2012-04-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

Some times you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet... or whatever!!!!!!!!

Maybe I was getting a little cocky from my awesome Easter Egg or maybe I was exhausted after putting a 7 month old to bed and starting the cake at 8pm (my bedtime), or maybe some times you just fail and learn from it and will do better next time!

This was supposed to be a retirement cake for a friend moving to Florida so I thought blue fondant for the water and sandy beach for sitting and sunbathing!!!

Lessons Learned:
1. Don't save fondant- even when they say it will stay- it doesn't. I used two week old fondant that was in a ziploc and it cracked when I put it on!

Cracked Fondant

This was the sandy beach area but it looked terrible so I covered it with chocolate!
Delicious graham crackers for sand underneath the chocolate

This cake is dead to me! STILL tastes good!

What I wanted it to look like.................

I am encouraged to get back on the horse and try again!- Megan Eileen

Birthday Happiness

2012-04-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

Today is my birthday and my dad sent me these pictures of the cutest little guys! I have a thing for weird little creatures that are cute (so no mice or voles- oh how i loathe the voles!)

The top three pictures are Porcupines which I will call Porcus. I never knew porcupines were so cute as babies. Have you ever seen a baby porcupine? Supposedly, their quills are not hard and sharp when babies – makes sense.

AWWW~!

This is a beaver!

Hamster?

Narwhal! Not a whale!

PEACE OUT and have a great day! <3 Meggers

Cake Pop People- Paul Edition

2012-04-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

Hi All. I need to start this blog by saying- we are going back in time!!!

I should have posted the Paul pops first because they are a far cry form how much better I got with Ian pops! Sorry Paul!!! I did not have eye sprinkles yet and I did not realize how good fondant looked as hair yet. I had to improvise. And GEEPERS my photography skills also leave alot to be desired! But this is how you get good at things; try, try again!

Poor Paul! Those eyes are crazy!

Enjoy! I wish I had a close up for you-- or do I? MEGAN

Cake Pop People- Ian edition

2012-04-13T14:04:00.000-04:00

When my friend Chuck left the office I work at to work somewhere else, I tried to think of a good send off and what is better than to be immortalized as your very own cake pop!!! I can not find any pictures of Chuck as a cake pop- I will search high and low for you though! But it became a semi-tradition. Here are pictures of Ian Cake pops. The side by side is the best and please make sure to note the diamond earring on real life Ian and Cake pop Ian. (special silver sprinkle)- Peace- Megs

Cake Pop Creatures

2012-04-11T09:42:00.001-04:00

Since cake pops have become popular they started making sprinkle eyes and wow they are magical!!! It makes little creatures so much easier! Bakerella is an inspiration. She started it all www.bakerella.com

Love, Megs

Lopsided Fish

A school of lopsided fish

Lady Bug

Easter Egg Cake

2012-04-09T10:39:00.002-04:00

This was one of the funnest cakes thus far!! I was so cheap that I refused to buy an egg shaped baking pan- so instead I made two 8" x 8" cakes. I stacked them and froze them. Once they are froze it is super easy to shape into an oval!! I made sure to learn from the baptism cake and make the fondant thicker. Thicker fondant helps hide all the imperfections of the cake!!-Luv Meg

Before-After

Fondant shaped feet and pretzel rods!

The close up!-sort of reminds me of the wicked witch's
feet when the house fell on her!

Poor lil fella! It was bound to happen!

Vote!

2012-04-06T20:27:00.002-04:00

Hello all our wonderful readers. If you like my paintings and would like to help me in this competition that would be great! I only need seven votes to move on, so please take a moment and vote for me (or I believe they are calling it "collect me") Thank you! Anna

Who Doesn't Love a Good Cake Topper

2012-04-06T11:32:00.000-04:00

My sweet husband has gotten me a new cake stand! Its fits a mini cake or one cupcake!! But that's what I love! It's from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's.

Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's

On the same day my good friend Charlotte sent me a link to some great cake toppers since its close to wedding season!! But really- do people use these? I would obviously use the bulooga!!!

What occasion to do you put this cake topper on??

Bear Love

MY FAVORITE!!!!

for all the Hipster weddings out there!!

If you want to purchase any of these toppers visit the awesome website !!! Enjoy! - Meg

http://www.bhldn.com

Baptism Update

2012-04-02T16:25:00.001-04:00

I could not help myself with the powdered white donuts-
they matched my theme and when else do
you get to buy 4 boxes of the delicious treat

Blue Fondant- Easy to cute

Carissa! took the time to shape a cross with individual sprinkles!
Martha would be proud!

Because I threw my back out the day of my son's Baptism I was not on top of my photography!!! But alas... my good friend Maria took photos of the great cupcakes my friends Carissa and Alexandra helped make (in line with the color theme of course because they are as OCD about party designs as I am!)
-Meggers

Some German Chocolate

2012-03-29T16:54:00.000-04:00

Some German Chocolate for a German friend at work!

I have learned to fill my cupcakes to the top cause I like them to look like they are overflowing. For years the box has said fill cupcake 3/4 full- but I have thrown caution to the wind and filled them to the very top and BAKED!! I have some photographers in my office- great pics huh? - Happy Thursday -MEG

Herbs Contained!

2012-03-23T16:09:00.000-04:00

This morning Megs sent me a photo on Pininterest:

via Townmouse

I was so excited that I told her I was doing it! Today! I have oregano in my current garden that is completely out of control and I was contemplating just getting rid of it all together.

But we also put a patio in a few years ago and I've always disliked how it met up with the lawn:

It just looks like a mess and the lawn overtakes it and the leaves get stuck etc. This looks a lot like the picture above, ha! Listen, It's spring things are a little haggard.

THIS will be where my herb pots will go! Yes, I can see it now!

So, I dug some holes as best as I could because I'm weak and our lawn is filled with giant tree roots and rocks. Then I put some weed blocker down to hopefully really just kill the grass (this is wishfull thinking which I do often). I'm glad I am doing this project when husband is not here because Iknow he would have me leveling these pots.

I filled the pots with dirt and put the herbs I had in. and mulched around the pots. I really love it. Now just a few more holes for mint, parsley, thyme, cilantro... oh boy! In a few months I'm sure it will look like that chateaux's!

Party Planning

2012-03-14T11:54:00.002-04:00

The elephant is just too cute!!

If I am going throw a party, it has to have a color theme!!! I went grey, blue and white for my son's baptism (I know NOT original- but classic and pearlescent). It may be neurotic to have your sprinkles match your plates, which match ribbon, which match your banners, but it wouldn't be interesting without some neuroses.

Everyone got to take their favorite picture of Jack home

They taste good too!

oh yes, the rock candy matches too!

Printed signs on labels and they pretty much went everywhere!
I have to give Props to my girl, Nicole she helped design the signs!!

-Enjoy- Meggers

Arrested Development Art

2012-03-07T09:15:00.000-05:00

I think everyone knows my love of the three season show, Arrested Development. A show cut too early and thus forced into a cult classic series!!! My husband and I have almost burned out the DVDs by watching it too much. We can pretty much take any life situation and add a quote from Arrested (scary I know!).

So how do you make a cancelled TV show current? WELL - You needle point your favorite quotes and sell it on Etsy. Fun with Needles sells the below wall art on Etsy and they will do custom orders! So find your favorite quote or inside joke and have it needle pointed!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FunWithNeedles

For those of you who dont know the show! Shame on You! Buy all 3 seasons on Amazon and if you don't like it after you have watched all 3 seasons I will buy it from you so have lost no money! Boom, that just happened!

-Meg

Fondant! You are no longer so powerful over me!

2012-03-06T09:21:00.001-05:00

Fondant was an intimidating creature! I was so scared of it but I finally got a little courage and gift certificate to Michael's from a wonderful Uncle and decided to try it!! My first try was a little bit of a failure but then the magic of youtube came to me!! I always forget you can learn almost anything on youtube! So I watched a baker who owned her own shop and its all about patience and alot of smoothing around the edges! The real trick is to roll the fondant out much larger than the cake it needs to cover!!

I bought these edible wafer flowers on Etsy! You would be surprised how much edible art you can buy on Etsy!! I am sure you can see a theme to my posts and that Etsy is my go to source!! When in doubt, Etsy!

A Cake for my son's Baptism

A close up of the beautiful flowers

Hope you enjoy!- Meg

Skateboard Artwork Online Auction

2012-03-05T11:01:00.002-05:00

Hello Everybody! I painted a skateboard for a donation to save and complete the Saratoga Springs Skatepark, please go on over to the online auction and bid on it or any of the other decks, very affordable art for a wonderful cause! On Deck Auction You can also view the work in person until the end of March at the Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring Steet, Saratoga Springs, NY
I appreciate the support! <3 Anna

The Underwater Nursery

2012-03-02T11:38:00.001-05:00

My lil man's nursery is an underwater theme. I find water very calming and beautiful; filled with wonderful creatures and friends... as you can see I like to have imaginary friends even in my adult life. Pretty much anything you can slap a smiley face on I will buy, befriend or try and make at home!!!

All of these friends are vinyl decals and come right off the wall for when we want a new room theme.... hopefully robots! I found some great fun robot decals so we can live on another planet! Etsy is a great place to shop decals and many people will customize to what you want!

Custom Decals ordered from Etsy

Decals are so much easier than stenciling!!!

PS- Decals are addictive!- Meg

Happiness Every Month

2012-03-01T12:01:00.002-05:00

I have heard of receiving different flowers each month for the full year...or a new wine each month.. but octopus!! I love the idea!! This shop on etsy will send you a new octopus each month- how delightful!!

Cute Smiling Octopus Friends!

PS! the plural of octopus is OCTOPI!!!!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83589389/baby-octopus-of-the-month-club-6-month?ref=sr_gallery_27&sref=&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=baby+octopus&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

The Bump Out Success

2012-02-29T12:24:00.001-05:00

Hello All! Speaking of Spring, My paint color choices for the wall have really brightened my Bump Out! I am VERY cautious with my paint colors and usually stick to blues and grays everywhere but alas I wanted a nice warm cherry blossom color! So here is the stencil, here are the new sconces and please notice all the new outlets and light switches!!!! The stencil was a labor of love. It took awhile and it needed to be quiet, no baby interruptions, but it finally got done! I am exhausted just thinking about it but I really do love it everytime I walk by it. It puts a smile on my face! Please enjoy some pics!

NEW BLINDS!! REALLY CLEAN UP MY OLD WINDOWS!

ARTIST OF MY WALL ART IS NONE OTHER THAN ANNA BANANA~!!!

PS- if you noticed I picked a different wall to do the stencil because oh my goodness the other wall was sooo slanted I did not know how to start the stencil without it looking like the house was going to sink into the ground!!!- Meg

Planning for Spring Gardening

2012-02-27T16:58:00.002-05:00

Little Man helping me start impatiens for the front of the house
it's a very shady section

The weather has absolutely been so inspiring... my gardening bug is twitching. It was further fueled by my Mom's gift of a flower gardening book for my birthday. It shows how to plan out your beds, talks about different kinds of gardens, and really makes you dream of the secret garden in your backyard.

Last Year's Tulips outside

I know from experience that this does not happen easily. The hardest part is weeding! Keeping up on weeding with a child under 3, not the easiest task. I don't like to use weed killer or anything of that nature. So, last year I basically gave up after a wonderful bright display of tulips came up, I just watched as the weeds took over. Ignoring it almost all together.

But, it didn't make me as happy as I thought it would, the not weeding. This year I plan to get back on my diligent weeding path. I'm a little worried about my tulips because they are already totally coming out of the ground, and it being February, I just hope they make it. My husband plans on doing a little vegetable gardening (which most likely means I will be doing some vegetable gardening). I plan on sticking to my flowers. Maybe trying to change up the layout in the backyard, but mostly concentrating on starting a cutting garden which will make me pretty happy(beyond the weeds). We are attempting to start some impatiens from seed for the front of the house, they really did well in the shade.

A few of last year's tulips
so bright and beautiful proving these colors exist in nature!

<3 Anna

Tag You're It: Tangerine Tango

2012-02-21T10:29:00.001-05:00

Egon Schiele, Kneeling Girl in an Orange-Red Dress , 1910

It's been awhile since we had a great game of tag around here. So, yesterday I informed Megan that I was tagging myself to find four inspirations for Pantone's Color of the Year, tangerine tango. According to Pantone, "Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward."

John Singer Sargent, The Sulphur Match, 1882

Well, I feel invigorated don't you? I thought I'd provide you all with artists that inspire me that have used their very own versions of Tangerine Tango in their works, some from over 100 years ago, their work still looks innovative and daring. I hope you enjoy my tangerine tango inspiration from Schiele, Sargent, Bacon, Basquiat, and Twombly, some with a little pop and some with a lot! (I choose five instead of four because that's how I roll)

Francis Bacon, Portrait of Lucian Freud, 1965

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump, 1982

Cy Twombly, Ferragosto V, 1961

Let's Have a Picnik

2012-02-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite sites is closing down ironically on my birthday, April 19! Until then you are allowed to use its fun premium features which is sooo exciting! These are some old examples of how I used the site! Enjoy, have some fun, make some art!
http://www.picnik.com/app#/home

Suspense!

2012-02-17T08:49:00.002-05:00

I know I have alot of crafts pending right now and I wish I had more to blog! But I want to give you the full experience when I am done. Here is a sneak peak of my crafts for the upcoming Baptism for my little guy (don't you love nonpariells?)and a close up of some jerry-rigging we needed to do to make a sconce work in a old weird house that is wired like crazy!!!

Contemporary Art in an Unlikely Venue

2012-02-14T13:25:00.003-05:00

Jeff Koons

I just got back from a six day stint at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center. The baby had breathing problems steaming from the RSV virus. All that is far to medical for me and it was a terribly scary experience, but when he started feeling better it became easier for me to appreciate my surroundings.

For the first five days I enjoyed taking a look at all of the dolls that were on display in the Judy R. Rosenberg doll collection that were displayed in a long hallway on my way to get something to eat each day. Clearly you would need a lot of space to collect all those dolls, and I don't have any collections to speak of. But I am always comforted to see my Grandmother's little figurines on display.

Judy R. Rosenburg Doll Collection

When we were finally transferred from the floor of the PICU to the Pediatric Floor, I began to notice a spectacular collection of prints on display in the hallways. One kept catching my eye and as I got closer to the tag, I read that it was a Jeff Koons print hanging near it was a Murakami print! How exciting for me. I tried to cruise around and look at the other images without appearing to be a wackadoodle parent. There was a vast collection, and it was all very happy and wonderful. What a wonderful environment for the children and a seriously fun contemporary art collection. Here is a link to more info on the hospital's collection via the NYTimes
<3Anna