July 31, 2013

As a small business owner I know how hard it is to get the word out about your business – as a mum with three kids and a business to run I also know how hard it is to keep on top of sourcing everything you could need for your upcoming party.  Enter Tanya from Life’s Little Celebrations!

Tanya’s business blossomed much like mine did when she started blogging in 2011.  Having had her first daughter and keen to celebrate with style she started her blog as a way to share all the wonderful things she found in the childrens’ party world.   Tanya soon realised that there was no once place that you could source all of these amazing businesses and started up her Life’s Little Celebrations Party Directory.

Her wonderful new website that she has just launched is an incredible source when you are planning your next party.  She connects mums to unique and stylish party vendors around Australia and it particularly focuses on small business which provide items and services you often cannot find in the larger stores or businesses.

You can find everything from online party boutiques, makers or handmade decor, cake and dessert makers, suppliers of party printables, party hire and entertainment, photographers, event stylists and more – I am in there and I know I certainly check in often when looking for a particular item that I just can’t remember where I originally saw it!

Tanya’s blog which is on the same site aims to provide ideas and products which you can use for different party themes and then the directory helps you find the businesses to put it all together!  The perfect combination

To visit Tanya’s website Life’s Little Celebrations click here!  You can also see that Tanya has also joined Sweet Style as one of our blog sponsors so whenever you are visiting here you can link through to her site from the logo on the side bar!  Happy party planning!

July 29, 2013

Claire from Queen Baker in Melbourne is joining us today to tell us a little more about her growing business.  Her work is just gorgeous and not only does she create beautiful custom cakes for your events but she runs great courses to teach you about the art of cake decorating.  Here is what she told me about life as a baker.

How long ago did you find your passion for creating beautiful cakes?
I have been baking for as long as i can remember, i was quite young but my passion for designing and creating designer cakes started about 6 years ago

How long have you had your business?
I started Queen Baker 4 years ago

What is the most popular flavour of cake from your customers?
Our most popular flavour would have to be our Red Velvet Cake, all made from scratch and super moist and full of flavour.

To see more of Claire’s great work visit her website here or her facebook page here

July 25, 2013

Today I am so very pleased to be sharing with you an event I put together for a lovely client back in April of this year.

My gorgeous client Lorriane contacted me in January this year to talk to me about creating a beautiful and pretty first birthday party for her precious and long awaited first daughter Mariette.   Lorraine was very clear on the fact that she wanted a stunning dessert table that included lots of cakes but she didn’t want a set theme, more of a really pretty girly party that was fit for a princess.  The colour palette chosen was soft pinks and blues with a hint of gold which always look so elegant together.

This party was a big event for her large family and friends that was to be a true celebration of Mariette’s first year.  The event was to be held indoors in a large function room to cater for the 100 guests which ranged from young babies and children to adults and grandparents.

I set up a number of different areas so that the kids had a space for themselves with entertainment as well as an area for them to sit and eat when the food was served.   The beautiful dessert table was set up in the adults area for them to enjoy – it included 9 stunning cakes all made by Jacki from Blissfully Sweet as well as mini desserts.  The lovely macarons were made by Jho from Its a Cake thing and the Cake Pops are by Marina from M’s Cake Pop

A Welcome table was created that also held some lollies and bags of fairy floss as favours for the kids to take home.   The beautiful big balloons throughout the room were created by Shannon from Born to Party – Shannon used pretty balloon frills by Blush Loves Mint which made the room look stunning.

Lorraine was also keen to have some family shots taken prior to the party starting to I asked Dragana from One Love Photography to take all the photos on the day seeing as I as rather busy.

There really are so many special and lovely details to this party so I will let the images show you how it all came together. Supplier links are listed below.

Invitation designed by Pretty & Print

The beautiful backdrop was created using a combination of a printed floral design by Pretty and Print as well as stunning big paper flowers by Ah-Tissue

The welcome table which also had all the party favours – individual bags of fairy floss plus lollies for the kids to take home

The gorgeous kids tables, chairs and mini ruffled tablecloths by Little Wishes Parties

The Drinks Station – Pink Lemonade, Blue Lemonade plus water

The Birthday Girl – Mariette

Styling, Event co-ordination  – Leanne Ambrogio for Sweet Style
Photography – One Love Photography
Cakes & desserts – Blissfully Sweet Cakes
Cake Pops – M’s Cake Pop Shop
Macarons – Its a Cake thing by Jhoanee
Stationery and Paperie – Pretty & Print
Balloonery –  Born to Party (frills made by Blush Loves Mint)
Kids Tables, Chairs & Cloths – Little Wishes Parties
Flowers around backdrop – Ah-Tissue
Flowers on all tables – Chanele Rose Flowers & Styling
Cake Stands, Props, partyware, drinks dispensers – Sweet Style

July 24, 2013

Gillian from Crumbs of Comfort is back today with her monthly gluten free baking instalment.

She has been working so hard on creating the perfect Cheesecake that tastes just amazing and is also perfect for those who are intolerant to gluten.  I know you are going to go crazy for this one so here is her great recipe.

 Gluten Free Cheesecake Recipe

Base
125g melted butter
40g Gluten free SR flour
40g gluten free plain flour
40 g almond meal
100g brown sugar
85g desiccated coconut
40gcocoa, sifted

3 teaspoon gelatine
125ml water
250g cream cheese
165g sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Zest of one lemon
300ml thickened cream
100g Cherries pitted

Preheat oven at 160*c fan forced
Sift flours and cocoa together. Mix through almond meal, sugar an coconut. Add butter; mix until combined. Press biscuit mixture evenly over base of a 20cm springform tin lined with baking paper.  place in oven bake for 20 minutes.  The base will look soft but will set as it cools.  Leave to cool completely before adding cheese mixture.

Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatine over the water in a small heatproof jug; stand jug in small saucepan of simmering water. Stir until gelatine dissolves; cool 5 minutes.  Alternatively you can dissolve it in the microwave in 30sec spurts

Beat cream cheese, sugar, zest and juice in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; transfer to a large bowl.

Whip cream until soft peaks form, fold into cheese mixture; fold in gelatine mixture. Add cherries.

Pour cheese mixture onto crust and chill overnight or until set.

Remove cheesecake from fridge before serving to allow crust to relax.

Notes
Cherries can be fresh or tinned

Gillian Brown is the owner of Crumbs of Comfort Cake Design in Brisbane, Australia.  Gillian has spent many years working hard developing allergen aware baked goods after she was diagnosed with celiac disease and her daughter was diagnosed with anaphylaxis to peanuts.  Please visit Gillian’s facebook page to learn more about her wonderful business.

July 22, 2013

Good Morning Everyone – I am back in the swing of things after our lovely holiday in Fiji and today I am sharing with you some beautiful cakes by Cake This in Cairns.  Juanita Barter is the person behind these gorgeous cakes and she when I asked her about her business this is what she said:

“From a young age, baking has always been a passion which I guess was spurred on by my mum who could bake like a trouper and was once a cake decorator herself. But while growing up cake decorating wasn’t something I took much interest in until we moved to Cairns 3 years ago. In between job applications, I started baking for family and friends to keep sane and that’s when my journey into the wonderful world of cake began.”

JuanitaI started her business in September 2011  and says that the most popular flavour to date has been and continues to be chocolate mud cake.

To see more of Juanita’s lovely work and follow along with her business please visit her facebook page here or her website here.