Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, My Sweet Customer Carmen

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Here's a sweet snapshot that has a lot of personal meaning for me. It's a photo of me (with the glasses) and my longtime customer Carmen. Carmen was one of my first customers when I opened my webstore in 2007. In the time we have "known" each other, she has gotten engaged...then gotten married...then had a baby...then started her own business! And I finally got to meet her in person this weekend, at the Schoolhouse Craft Conference. It was a sweet reminder of how far we've come, and where we're going. Sweet!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, CakeSpy Book Signed for Duncan Hines

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Here's a sweet shot of a very special book I signed: for the crew of Duncan Hines! I sent it as a thank you to them for sending me to LA for the Emmy Awards! Oh, and about that book--you can buy it on CakeSpy Shop or on my upcoming Tour De Sweet Book Tour!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Editing Memories

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Here's a sweet shot I took when finishing up edits on my book (which is now AVAILABLE online and at the CakeSpy Shop)...it's amazing to think that it's gone from red pen detail-checking to an upcoming Tour De Sweet Book Tour!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Whisk Bike Rack, Saint Cupcake, Portland OR

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

This bike rack, outside of the new location of Saint Cupcake in Portland, OR (a stop on CakeSpy's Tour De Sweet Book Tour, btw) is pretty much topping the list of things that are Great in my mind right now.

Cake Byte: BYOC Bring Your Own Cake Party at CakeSpy Shop Today

CakeSpy, several birthdays ago.Guess what? On August 1 CakeSpy.com turned 4, and yesterday I turned 30 and I want you to help me celebrate my birthday month.

Since I just turned 30, I definitely want at least 30 cakes in my life this week. So, from 12-4pm today, Saturday the 27th of August (the day after my actual birthday) I am having an open house party at my Seattle art gallery, CakeSpy Shop, which is located at 415 East Pine Street, Seattle WA.

The only catch is that since it's MY birthday, I demand that you bring ME cake. It can be a slice or a cupcake or (if you're so moved) a 7-layer cake, but it's BYOC (bring your own cake!). Presents not necessary, though I am not lying, if you brought me one I wouldn't refuse it.

I'll make sure to have milk, forks, plates, and napkins.

Open House: 12-4 pm

Location: CakeSpy Shop, 415 East Pine Street, Capitol Hill, Seattle.

Or buy stuff online at cakespyshop.com

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Gingerbread Factory, Leavenworth, WA

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

FACT: this is a real place, in Leavenworth, Washington. It wasn't open on the day I visited, but I was just happy knowing it was a real place. And, I want to live there. Find them online here.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Visit from Anna of Cookie Madness

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

This shot is a special moment from CakeSpy Shop -- Anna of Cookie Madness stopped by! I've been following her amazing site for years, so this was a very wonderful moment for me. OMG!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Tele-Graham Crackers for Book Expo

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Oh, hey! Did you know I have a book coming out soon? It's totally true. It's called CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life. And I even get to go on a book tour! But before that, it was shown at this big expo called Book Expo of America, and I sent along some sweet treats for buyers, editors, and publishers to eat! How could you not love a tele-graham cracker? The recipe is in the book, btw.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, E is for Eat from Lapham's Quarterly

Image: Lapham's Quarterly FOOD editionCakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

This was a sweet find in the current (food-themed!) issue of Lapham's Quarterly. If you haven't already, go buy it! It's full of fascinating foodie lore and stories.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Bagel and Whoopie Pie Get Married

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Recently I was commissioned to create an image of a bagel and a whoopie pie getting married (it's true) for a couple, who then used it on various gift items for guests of their wedding. Looks like one lucky guest gets to lounge after the festivities in a very fashionable hoodie!

Seeking Sweetness: Holiday Card Sneak Peek #4

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Here's a sweet sneak peek at one of the upcoming 2011 Holiday Card designs in the CakeSpy line! They will be available online in a week or two; in the meantime, I'll post a different sneak peek every few days.

Seeking Sweetness: Holiday Card Sneak Peek #1

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Here's a sweet sneak peek at one of the upcoming 2011 Holiday Card designs in the CakeSpy line! They will be available online in a week or two; in the meantime, I'll post a different sneak peek every few days.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, CakeSpy Illustration in Taste of Home Magazine

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Check out this sweet illustration I did of a happy jar of peanut butter for Taste of Home--it's featured in their current print issue! Go buy it.

Seeking Sweetness: Ice Cream Social Cake from Bredenbeck's, Philadelphia

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

This is a sweet cake by Bredenbeck's in Philadelphia--what a sweet ice cream themed treat! Don't you just want to live in this cake?

Oh, and PS, did I mention Bredenbeck's will be a stop on my book tour?

Seeking Sweetness: Impromptu Jumbo Ice Cream Photo Shoot

Photos: Surber DesignsOne of the best parts about owning a store is having totally sweet, unexpected connections with customers.

And recently, I had a really special one. It involved two cute girls who came into my store. They were visiting from out of town, and had made CakeSpy Shop a destination. Naturally, I already liked them. 

They were very taken by the store's decor, especially my jumbo ice cream cones. And this led to a conversation about ice cream, and I advised them that they should visit Bluebird Ice Cream, where I recently completed a mural. And I'm not sure how it exactly happened, but we all decided that they should take the ice cream cones with them. The only stipulations? "Be sure to bring them back, and promise that you'll send me the pictures," I said.

Would they ever come back? I trusted they would.

And they did, and they bought stuff (I told you I liked them!), and they sent me the pictures of their great ice cream adventure. Here they are. Credit goes to Bethany Surber (Surber Designs) for the great photos, and to Kristen for being the cutest ice cream cone model ever.Twirling with an ice cream cone is a delight!Hello, Bluebird Ice Cream!Hello, CakeSpy Mural!Hello, rest of mural!Thank you Bethany and Kristen for making my day a little sweeter!

Seeking Sweetness: Cake it Happen

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile!

This is a little love-note I left to a flowery shrub in Portland. Yes, it's true. I really did that. Hope it made someone's day sweeter to find it!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Chocolate Cheesesteak

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile!

Now, you've probably heard of chocolate cheesecake. But chocolate cheeseSTEAK? Not til now, at least for me! This was spied at Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market (also where I got to taste the Pumpple, btw).

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, CakeSpy Manuscript

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile!

This is from a couple of months ago, but I thought it might be sweet to see a "behind the scenes" look at the process behind creating my soon-to-be-released book. Here is the final manuscript being put in the envelope after I finished the final edits! You can pre-order the awesome final product here.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Hello Flour

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile!

Uh oh, looks like Cookie is confused about its new friend's name! Either way, I think they'll have a grand morning together.

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, Periodic Table of Desserts Poster

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile!

This was a sweet find at the San Francisco Street Bakery in Olympia, WA: a PERIODIC TABLE OF DESSERTS! Sadly it seems to be out of print when I try to find it online, but you can enjoy it virtually, above.