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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ramblings of a cake artist/stylist

I love compliments... I live on them! Somehow we get different ones from super like, lovely, wow, fabulous to overwhelming ones like we made their day, fit for the queen, it's a must have. Seriously this keeps us going, we are everyday challenged to improve our craft, make everything better, lovelier.

I just don't have the heart to say we have lovely cakes nor pretty styling unless clients or you guys say it first. How can it be perfect in my own eyes when not one soul would say so? Seriously! It's not perfect but we try hard to keep it close.



We get inspirations from everything, from everyday objects, places and even from designers in this industry as well. There are just so many things which can inspire a design. Endless. As they say, your imagination is the limit.


And when you get inspired, use it as a benchmark, do something better, something with extra oomph! It's just a big No no for me to copy and do something worst. Boo! I know you might be thinking of freedom with the budget. Again, how can you design in a budget? That is definitely hard, but of course, be creative. There are materials out there you can mismatch with high end ones. It will look nice, believe me. =) I've done it a lot of times, and seldom it is noticed, but when it does, it's just appreciation nothing negative.

You would be surprised not everything we do have overflowing budgets... It's almost suicidal at times but I refuse to succumb to mediocrity just because the budget says so. It is always within bounds and reason. Always!

Whenever someone compares our prices with others, I feel offended. You know you can't compare two jeans just because they are jeans. We are not even talking of cost of materials, but the effort and creativity we put in our projects. Everyone can bake or do flowers, but surely we have different styles, techniques. =) Definitely finished products are different too.

I believe these are art pieces... Not necessarily appreciated by everyone but I'm cool with a select few. =)

June!!! Here we come!


kit m.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Woodsy chic wedding:: Kathreen and Eddie

I am speechless beyond words...Tired yet satisfied... Elated! From the hangover of me and my university friends weekend escape, yesterday's baptism and today's lovely wedding. I can't say how blessed we are to have clients who let us do what we want, contributing inputs on how else can we beautify the event. Yay!

Today, is Kathreen and Eddie's wedding. Having been moved thrice? Migod! The wait was worth it. =)








The cake was intricately done by Ace. Very fitting for the couple. Delicate scrolls, lace work.. I can go on praising my husband, yay! He patiently did every detail of this cake. Elegant. Classy. Grand. Here goes the L word again... Lovely!




I love doing tablescapes. This has to be one of my two favorite arrangements in a wedding. I love putting details to complete the look, the feel. We had big crooked logs, my vases, my lamps and my new birdcages.












I personally like my stages to be clean. Fancy yet restrained. Over the top but classy. My new red cloth makes a perfect backdrop for the couples tablescape. I insisted on having the red chandelier. Very chic!










So this months events are done. June is another story. Uh oh! =)

Cake and styling- Ava's cakes contact us at 09175928955 or 63 77 7714622
Coordinated by Julius Aquino ( he is just so ever patient and meticulous as well)
Lights by Solid Machine 0920 7385284
Catering by Yapaz

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Paper rosettes:: Rein's baptism

This weekend has to be the busiest we've ever had. My friends from the university came to visit for two days... We have a chic baptismal today, and tomorrow, a wedding. So you can just imagine the stress and craziness we had prior to the weekend. Inventories, cake making and production work oh my gaaaa!

The material we wanted to highlight for Rein's baptism is paper rosettes.




It looks so pretty but very very time consuming. Oh well as Ace always say, the more effort you put in, the prettier it is. The buttons in the middle are cute too, I should have close-upped it?! Huh!








We attached rosettes and buttons to our DIY table lamps. =)




The stage... Half done. Lookie... The red chandelier!

I'll be updating the album in our Facebook page... Watch out for it folks.

Alright, time to tour my friends. =)
- kit m.

Location:Kalipi Center, Batac Ilocos Norte

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tuscan wedding::Charmain & Leo

How time flies fast! We're halfway done with May events. The challenge for today is Charmain and Leo's Tuscan wedding.







Violet and green hued flora and foliage were used.



The cake bore their logo. Very personalized. You can see that from the menu cards, to everywhere it could be done without being tacky.




They used wines, grapes and crystal for pegs. Very Tuscan! How I wish it was held in a beautiful vineyard.







Very dramatic! And romantic!














Congratulations Charmain and Leo! Ohhh I forgot, C... You were so lovely!=) Leo is one very lucky man! =)

Location:NSCC, Ilocos Sur

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Cupcake & Pompoms::Maureen Zophiel's 1st

Nothing excites me as much as a little girls party. I'm afraid though to have one of my own for I might go gaga and break the bank. Boo!

So whenever we get to do a little girls party, I go crazy... Almost owning it. Yay!







My rye artificial grass just arrived in time for the party.

















Happy birthday little one!

So far the party was great except for the catering issue meltdown.

The caterer from Sarrat as usual didn't disappoint to live to its reputation. Again, they came in super late, just an hour lead time, they were still setting up when the guests were already there. They used torn and dirty linens. Mix match linens veering away from the color palette. Oh and aside from having rude wait staff, they were preparing tacos with their bare hands. Yuck! You wouldn't want to get food poisoned, I'm sure!

I'm kinda sensitive on what group/caterer we work with for even if we put so many nice stuff to make nice parties, the integrity of everything also falls on their equipment, linens and all. So far, in my opinion, (I know you guys have your favorites too, this is just again in my opinion) as per experience, I can always depend on La Preciosa.

Till next party folks!

- kit m.

Location:Laoag City

Friday, May 18, 2012

Polka dot launch

I take pride for working time and again for Visionaire, Inc. It is the company behind Red dot, home of Plains and Prints, Gingersnaps, Havaianas and other lovely brands, brainchild of uber fashionista Mary Ann Cua Macaraeg.

So today, we were tasked to style the venue, of course, of the launching of Polka dot- their new line and their website www.shopreddot.ph

The perks of working for them, we get to take a peek of their lovely collection. Believe me, they are so lovely, so sinful! Husbands, boyfriend, financiers, you just have to ready your pockets.




As usual, I'm doing the centerpieces. I used succulents and hydrangeas in raffia ribboned tin cans. I love the contrast of something so dainty and that of a by product.





The boys doing a fast makeover on the fence.





Naked lightbulbs. Brilliant idea. That and Red dot.





The line art was done by McShine Customs. Very artistic!


Poka Dot's lovely muses. Ericke, Lovely and Ivon. I guess I'm old, Lovely was one of our enrollees in K+ for the UPCAT review years back.










The tent at night.

Sigh! All in a days work. Tomorrows party is another story. =)


- kit m.

Location:Red dot, Laoag City

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Moroccan cake::Details

How I wish that when we set our sights in doing a cake, it's just a matter of waking up in the morning, going to the cake room and with a little magic, the cake is done. Don't we all wish our work is just that easy?

The Moroccan cake is one of the most tedious cake projects we've ever done. So many colors, so many details.


It has a lot of layering, symmetrical lacework, tiny details that completes the look. It's crazy! The cake is huge, we need to cover a lot of areas. And mind you, we get into arguments on what color comes next, what is best to complement it, without empowering the other layers. It just have to come out perfect!







Sorry for blowing my own horn, but can I say lovely details again? Everything painstakingly done.




As I saw the guests reaction, in awe, i felt like I popped a fast action pain reliever. Goodbye sore-ness! My friend, Janice, said she had goosebumps. Oh my... I didn't know it could elicit such response. When the bride and groom saw it... They were satisfied. You know, we get paid to do these things but the monetary aspect is nothing compared to the satisfaction we get from the couple or the guests. It's incomparable.

Again, whenever we make cakes and it does get a positive response, the next time we do another one... We get challenged, on how to outdo the previous we did. It's hard, mentally draining. But of course, I am so conceited, that we take the challenge head on! Bring it on! The only limit is our imagination.

kit m.

Location:Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Honoring Lola Doc and Mama




Four generations. I owe who I am from these two courageous, and industrious women who raised me.

My Lola Doc would time and again tell her story on how she grew up. Orphaned at a young age. How she went to school with just one pair of shoes during her elementary years and another for her high school years. How she got married at an early age, how she raised five children. How she continued pursuing her dreams. How she did sacrifices. She is kind, she is self less, she is brave, she is humble, she is inspiring, she is all that and more. I could go on and on.




She may not be as strong as before, her wit and intelligence still is as sharp. She is our defender, our number one fan, the Lola of my life.




My mama. I'd say braveness, compassion, selflessness, courageousness runs in the blood line. She raised me alone. She was mama and papa in one. I was not born with a silver spoon, but mama did a good job in providing for my needs. It melts my heart every time I think of the sacrifices she has done to raise me comfortably.




Now that I am a mother myself, I can only wish half of what they are. Big shoes to fill, but again, it must be in the bloodline, I can't stop trying.

So you see, my career is not just as an event stylist nor a cake artist, I am foremost a mommy to Ava. The love I see in Ava's eyes is nothing compared to what else has the world to offer. And as I try to be the best mom I can, I'm glad that I still have my Lola Doc and Mama to teach me the ropes, and fill the gaps that I certainly oversee.

For me, bearing a child does not define you as a mother. How we rear and raise a child, how we continue to support and love a child is. Most tiring, yet the most fulfilling. Nothing compares. Nothing.

Happy mother's day folks!


kit m.