Computer Woes

My laptop decided that it was going to poop out on me... so I'm currently unable to update on - Ben Howard, new art projects, Strawberry Lime Champagne cupcakes and a mass of other (semi) fun news.... luckily my new one should be here on or before the 14th... THE 14TH!?!

i had a momentary freak out... but I'm sort of excited to see what 20 days of no bright glowing box in the evenings will do for my productivity (and my sleep).

Check in with everyone when I'm back up and running :)

Its a juggling act..

Figuratively speaking of course :)

Today's post will be something a little more general... a broad catch up to all of the things that I've got going on. After all, this blog was originally going to be a melting pot of all of the different things I make/experience and I feel as though recently the major focus has been on my (cup)cakes/budding business; leaving the other areas of my life feeling ignored when in fact, there are many things to celebrate or at the very least acknowledge. I'm all about lists so lets do it!

1. I received my business license in the mail a couple weeks ago. I know that I posted a picture after I first formed my LLC but I was really excited about getting my actual business license. Now I just need to tackle the paperwork for my Cottage Food Permit - its quite the process but there's no turning back now!

2. I started an Etsy account. Although I've yet to add anything to my shop, this has finally made the list of things that I'm putting effort into. I feel a wave of inspiration coming and I've found myself wanting to make more wax art but I really need to get rid of some of the stuff I had to make room for new inventory. When I get things posted I'll be sure to link you in!

3. I have started the process to become a volunteer with children at YWCA downtown. Its a non-profit that helps women and children with all kinds of services. Can you say craft and story time?! I honestly can't think of a better way to spend an evening or weekend afternoon! SO STOKED!

4. I went to an awesome show over the last weekend. (I'll add a couple pictures when I get the chance) Alt-J put on a nice performance and the only thing that could have gone better was my little incident. I ended up taking a bump to the head but all's well that ends well.

5. Speaking of shows that I'm going to - BEN HOWARD - I cannot even begin to express my excitement for this show! He's, hands down, one of my favorite musicians and I've passed up a couple opportunities to see him perform... not this one though! - oh and there will be an entire post dedicated to this show!!

6. I'm taking my first solo vacation! I took a couple days off work before memorial day weekend and booked a flight to Arizona! I'm going to visit my grandpa for a few days and he's going to show me around the woodshop. Again, I cant even begin to express my excitement for this

7. Backtrack to the art thing - I started looking into art walks to get involved with again. This should be fun, especially if the aforementioned wave of inspiration puts out anything worthwhile.

8. I'm making a turtle cake for my sister's birthday - this is an idea I've yet to hash out completely. In fact, I'm taking a trip to the art store today to get some inspiration for this.... wish me luck!

9. I'm taking a truffle making class! - this could be dangerous

10. I have 3 different 5k races coming up that I'm finally (kinda) training for - more on this later :P

11. Somehow I'm almost staying up to date on my blogging!!!

Tinkerbell Doll Cake

That's right ladies and gentlemen.... I have ventured into real cake making (not just the mini kind!) Last month my coworker asked if I'd be interested in making one of those cute doll cakes for her daughter's birthday. I had never made a "professional" cake before and certainly never ventured into any form of cake making that would require carving but I'm always up for a challenge. The actual construction really wasn't that hard.. it was just messy and time consuming (Aren't most of the best things?) The cake itself was a fun flavor and although I was a little nervous about serving honey vanilla lavender cake to a six year old, I think this will be a hit! So without further ado....

Sweets by Shauna

And so it was born.

I have some veryVERYvery EXCITING news!!!!

Today I officially got the ball rolling to make my own cupcake business! That's right ladies and gents, I have officially applied for an LLC and have started the process of getting the permits to sell baked goods out of my house!!!!! HOW FREAKING COOL!!!!!! (I think the last two batches I made for friends are technically black market cupcakes...you know me, always livin' on the edge).

but anyway I just felt the need to share it with everyone!!!!

LOOOK!!!!

Irish Car Bomb Cupcake

 This cupcake.... oh my goodness..... THIS CUPCAKE!!!!! Although the Bailey's and Coffee Cupcake still holds my #1 spot... This baby came in a close second! (if only I did a baileys/vanilla filling... filling really was the tie breaker)

This masterpiece (is that too much? taste it and get back to me) was created to celebrate st. patrick's day. Can you say Irish Car Bomb cupcake? Say it again. its that good!

I made a guiness chocolate cake. perfectly flavored baileys and crown (since it was my only whiskey on hand) buttercream frosting and topped it all off with some caramel sauce and some crushed chocolate covered pretzels. HOLY SMOKES!! This cupcake was to die for!

Blue Raspberry cupcakes

 

Somehow this month I've found myself in the kitchen about once a week whipping up a new batch of cupcakes. Needless to say there will be a couple more cupcake posts this month.This was an "easy" batch. I was hired by my co-worker to do a remake of the raspberry lime cupcakes for her son's 7th birthday. Since pink seemed like a poor color selection, I decided to make them "blue raspberry"... tell me, is there any difference in flavor between blue raspberry and regular raspberry? is one more tart? Meh, the world may never know.... 

These cupcakes also acted as a taste test for her sister who is having an event later this month. The biggest challenge of this batch was the fact it was small... she only needed one dozen and frankly... I'm used to making about 4 at a time.... I'm a little rusty with a "normal" quantity. (what do you mean I cant just use a whole bag of powdered sugar?!) Regardless, they did eventually turn out and I ended up winning my co-worker's sister over as well.. Mission accomplished.

New art series

Back in August of 2011 I drew the picture you see to the left. It was just a doodle to accompany a playlist I had made for a friend but I think it sparked an infatuation with this girl. I had gone through a period in life where I was interested in drawing people or faces but like most things that drifted from my focus and I found myself wrapped in the ease of abstract doodling.

Well... I guess it's time to revisit an old passion.

I'm in a sort of rough spot in life right now and I'm looking for as many things as possible to fill the gaps... and considering how much beautiful art has been produced from humanity's lows... who knows, maybe I'll do something great with this series.

I spent the majority of this last weekend curled up on a bed, listening to documentaries and catching up on Shameless while I worked out a couple sketches... I've got about 5 planned out in my head at the moment and will be picking up a new sketch pad on lunch today. 8 1/2" x 11" just isn't cutting it right now.

I think the plan with this series is to get these figures drawn up and project them onto much larger plywood panels...

I'd like to look into spray painting techniques for the backgrounds so that I can paint the designs over something massively colorful. Obviously I don't have the details of step two worked out yet... figured get the actual drawing portion done before worrying about an overhead projector and materials... but this is something I'm excited about.. something that hopefully will help me work through everything and move on to bigger and better things. Make it happen Capt'n.