Kallie Jo's Treasure Box Tea

My beautiful daughter turned 16 last summer, so I presented her with a special Treasure Box Tea.  I invited her friends and their mothers, her female relatives, some teachers and closest adult friends.  I asked them to please choose a trinket for Kallie to be placed in her treasure box along with writing a letter to her admonishing Kallie to walk with Jesus and be a woman after God's own heart.  I then put the letters together in a book and had it published by Mypublisher.com.  We added pictures of the ladies along with their letters, and the book will be a treasure Kallie will have all her life.  We had a garden tea party in our own back yard.  The ladies gave my daughter their trinkets and described what the meaning behind them were.  Kallie and I were deeply touched by the outpouring of love.  The cake matched the invitations.  I had Pen and Paper Flowers (a website I found online through thetomkatstudio.com blogspot) make the invitations.  It was a beautiful summer day.

Glam to the Max Cookies

My husband and daughter helped me make these cookies to be served at my grandmother Maxine's memorial service.  Since she was always so glamorous, I thought these cookies were a fun reminder of her.

Grandma Maxine's Memorial Cake

My darling Grandma Max.  I just called her Max; she was my step-grandmother, married to my wonderful grandfather for 22 years.  She went to heaven in January 2011.  Her memorial service was on her would-be 83rd birthday.  I wanted to make a special cake for the occasion with some things that represented this fabulous lady (with the emphasis on lady).  She loved flowers, so gum paste flowers were in order for her cake.  She loved, memorized and studied the Bible, so this was made out of rice treats covered in fondant.  The musical ribbon says "You are the sunshine of my life," which was the song my grandfather, affectionately called Papa, sang to her.  She was all about glam, so I HAD to have her signature coral lipstick and nail polish on the cake as well as a pearl necklace and non-edible diamond ring.  Max touched my life for eternity.  You see, she was the one, along with Papa, who introduced me to Jesus.  And I live for Him all the days of my life.  Please, Jesus, give them kisses and hugs from me today.  I miss them so much.

Double Dipped Strawberry Tree

I took a chocolate class from my cake teacher Amy Malone last Saturday, and all of the students and I made this tree together.  It takes about 80 strawberries to make.  My teacher gave it to me (since I'm her favorite student; oh, and I was her assistant as well), so I gave it to my friend Chris for her birthday, which is today.  Happy Birthday, Chris!

Bride and Groom Cookies

I had one night to make these cookies before the wedding on 10-10-10 because I was out of town the week before and got back less than 24 hours from the wedding.  The cookies were still a little wet when I brought them to the reception, but everyone loved them and gobbled them up.  These were my favorite cookies to make.

Black & White 50th Cake

I did this cake for two dear friends of mine last August who share the exact same birthday and year (yet they're not twins).  They even share the same initial, which made it even easier for me with their monogram. 

Mama's 89th Birthday Cake

My grandmother, whom I affectionately call Mama, turned 89 last summer.  I was a new caker and trying my hand at fondant.  I made the gumpaste flowers ahead of time in San Diego and carefully transported them to WI where the party was being held.  This is one of my favorite cakes, even as a beginner using gumpaste and fondant.  My sisters and I had a blast making her party very special.