Cake Byte: CakeSpy at Crafty Wonderland, December 10 and 11 in Portland, OR

OMG, Portland. You thought it was awesome when I came for book tour, but I have news.

I'm coming back. And I'll have books and more to sell you.

That's right: I'll be back in the city of Roses on December 10+11 for Crafty Wonderland!

As they describe themselves,

TWO DAYS – TWICE THE FUN!
at the Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit - HALL C

OVER 250 VENDORS SELLING AMAZING HANDMADE GOODS!
FREE CRAFT ACTIVITIES AND MORE!
It's more important than ever to SHOP LOCAL + BUY HANDMADE!

All Ages * Free Admission
Goodie Bags for the first 150 shoppers EACH DAY! 

So, to review:

Dates: December 10 and 11 (saturday and sunday), 2011
Location: Convention Center, 777 NE MLK Jr. Boulevard, Hall C (there will be signs everywhere) - my booth is #173
Times: 11-6 both days.

For more info, visit craftywonderland.com!

Cake Byte: CakeSpy and Laura Bee Designs Featured at SPL on August 4

You already knew that Reading Is Totally Sweet. But next week it's going to be even sweeter: The Seattle Public Library's Central location has a very sweet artist reception planned with myself and Laura Bee Designs!

Here's the 411 from their newsletter:

Come meet Jessie Oleson of Cakespy and Laura Buzard of Laura Bee Designs. You'll see some great new items!

About Laura Bee: From hairpins to handbags, Laura Bee Designs will help you get a jump on your fall wardrobe with handmade accessories.

About CakeSpy: Dessert detective agency Cakespy features prints, note cards and many other sweet items. 

And though not officially part of the event, I would like to let you know that both Laura Bee and CakeSpy are united by both being official pug owning business owners.

Date: Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, 12 – 2 p.m.

Location: Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue (the reception is at the FriendShop, which is on the 5th Avenue entrance level)

For directions and more, visit the SPL site. 

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Art at Urban Craft Uprising

It's that time again. Time for you to come and hang out with me at Seattle Center and buy stuff from me.

That's right: next weekend, over a hundred indie artists of the highest caliber will be showcasing their wares at Seattle Center (including CakeSpy, This Charming Candy, Secret Stash Sea Salts, Mucho Design, and so many more!). Like, hello awesome! Bring cash, sweeties! Oh, and you can read an interview I did on the official Urban Craft Uprising blog here.

OH! AND! I will have a new product on hand: Baby Onesies! A preview of the three styles is at the top of this post. They will retail for $20 each.

Here are the details for the event:

What: Urban Craft Uprising

Date: July 9th and 10th 
Times: 11-5 both days at 
Location: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 305 Harrison Street Seattle, WA  98109 (entrance is on Mercer St. with a parking lot directly across the street)

For the full scoop, visit the official website at www.urbancraftuprising.com

Cake Byte: Artist Reception with Kelly Brownlee at CakeSpy Shop on July 14

What's totally sweet but a little saucy too?

The artwork of Kelly Brownlee, that's what! And (lucky you) this talented Seattle-based illustrator is going to be showing work at CakeSpy Shop in July!

Now...The art will be up all month but the reception (and your chance to meet the awesome artist!) is on the art walk eve of Thursday, July 14th, 2011!

Here's a description of the show, from the artist:

Summer brings sunny days and sweet nothings whispered on a porch as the sun fades after a long and lazy day. Kelly J. Brownlee's original all new works of art for "Sweet Nothings" are inspired by play on words and anthropormorphic sweet and savory treats, this time, with a summer theme sprinkled in! Cakewalks, chicken strips, and unicorns may never again look the same.

And here's the artist's bio: Kelly Brownlee is a local freelance illustrator who balances her time between her clients, making fanciful wearable items and showing her work at local and national venues. She is currently showing artwork in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Come to the artist reception at CakeSpy Shop on Thursday, July 14th from 6-8 p.m.; the artwork will be up from July 5th through the end of the month! To see more of Kelly's work, visit her website here.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this Weekend!

What's awesomer than hanging out in über-hip McCarren Park in Brooklyn on the weekend?

How 'bout hanging out in uber-awesome McCarren Park with a professional Cake Gumshoe?

CakeSpy will be taking part in the annual Renegade Craft Fair this coming weekend in Brooklyn (one full of sweet memories, where, among other things, I met the awesome Rachel of Cupcakes Take the Cake and Jennifer Pooley for the first time); I hope that I'll see some of your smiling faces! I won't have everything in my webstore (I had to ship it all, after all--that business is expensive, yo!) but I will have plenty of cards, prints, pins, bookmarks, and of course my new favorite product, CakeSpy undies. Here's the info about the show:

The Renegade Craft Fair is headed back to McCarren Park for our 7th Annual Brooklyn Fair on June 11 +12, 2011, from 11am – 7pm each day! Along with hundreds of today’s best makers of handmade goods, we’ll be hosting hands-on crafting workshops and planning a handful of summertime surprises! New York’s most exciting outdoor showcase of indie-craft is always free-to-attend! Food and beverages will also be available!

Here's the official site; you can find a vendor map and more info here.

Cake Byte: Sneak Peek of the Rampage Toys Art Show at CakeSpy Shop

So, if you're in Seattle, you're probably already planning on coming to CakeSpy Shop this thursday, May 12, for the Capitol Hill Art Walk featuring artwork by another awesome Seattle cupcake artist (no, I'm not the only one): Jon of Rampage Toys!

And we've been baking up some magic at the store--not only has Jon done a full installation of paintings, vinyl toys, and prints, but we've also done a few collaborative pieces, AND he did a wall painting as part of the installation!

Here's a peek at how it happened.

Hour 1: beginning with a pencil sketch, and starting to paint in the cupcakes.

Hour 2: Cupcakes become more realized.

Hour 3: Cupcakes get frosted!

Hour 4: Finishing touches!

...meanwhile, downstairs, I was busy at work on our large (24x30 inch) collaborative piece (see picture, top). It's kind of a cupcake meets Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters scene! Yes!

You can see this magic and more for yourself--there will be an artist reception at CakeSpy Shop, 415 E Pine, Seattle WA on Thursday, May 12 from 5-8 pm; the show will be up all May long. For more of Jon's work, click here.

Cake Byte: Sweet New Paintings by Nancy Bea Miller in Philadelphia

Nancy Bea Miller's paintings are totally sweet, but not to eat.

Rendered in oil, they're nonetheless fat free to feast your eyes upon, and she's got a great new collection going up at the Artist's House Gallery in Philadelphia (the city that is also the home of the Pumpple).

If you're in the area, you simply must go to the artist reception tomorrow, May 6, 2011; if not, I am happy to give you a preview of what's on show:

...a beautiful doughnut:

...some not-sweet but still delightfully carby pretzels;

...cupcakes...

....more cupcakes...

...and yet more cupcakes.

That's right. Best! Show! Ever! Here are the details for the artist reception(s):

Friday, May 6th, 5-8:30 p.m, and then again Sunday, May 8, 1-4 p.m. at Artist's House Gallery, 57 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia; online at artistshouse.com. The show will remain up until May 29. Visit the artist's blog here.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy and Rampage Toys Art Collaboration

Um, OMG. You know how that totally sweet art show with Rampage Toys is coming up at CakeSpy Shop?

Well, there are going to be some collaborative pieces done by Mr. Rampage (Jon) and Mlle. Spy (Jessie)--we are combining our cupcake awesomeness on two very special pieces, one of which is pictured at the top of this post! If you believe what Jon says, it says "Forbidden Love" below the image. 

Here's the 411 on the show:

This show will showcase paintings and toys from Seattle based character designer Jon Malmstedt - RAMPAGE TOYS!  Jon's work focuses on fun and colorful creatures that just so happen to be monsters.  Expect scenes of urban destruction a' la the classic films 'Godzilla' and 'Mothra', but with a bent in the direction of silly - instead of Godzilla think 'giant cupcake that has no arms.' The show will include paintings, custom vinyl toys, handcast resin figures and a couple collaborative pieces done with the Cakespy herself - something for anyone who loves monsters, cupcakes, monster cupcakes or all of the above! 

The reception will be on Thursday, May 12, 5-8 p.m. at CakeSpy Shop, 415 E. Pine St., Seattle WA 98122. Shop for Jon's work in advance here.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Coming to Portland for Crafty Wonderland on May 7th

Brace yourself, Portland--you're about to get a lot sweeter.

That's right: CakeSpy is coming to Portland, OR, to sell art at the incredibly awesome Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Spring Sale! And I'll be set up right next to my friends Sunday Drive Designs.

Come on by and enjoy all manner of DIY delights and pick up some sweet artwork! Here are the details:

Saturday, May 7th from 11am-6pm
 at the Oregon Convention Center - Hall D
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd in Portland 

*All Ages*
*Free Admission*
*Free Goodie Bags to the First 200 Shoppers*

For more information, directions, and other details, visit craftywonderland.com.

Cake Byte: Rampage Toys Art Show at CakeSpy Shop in May

Like, OMG. CakeSpy Shop is already sweet, but Capitol Hill's sweetest little spot is about to get a heaping dose of awesome overload.

That's right: Jon Malmstedt (you may know him as the evil genius behind Rampage Toys) is having an art show at the store in May!

Entitled 'Monsters, Cupcakes and Monster Cupcakes', here's the 411 from Jon:

This show will showcase paintings and toys from Seattle based character designer Jon Malmstedt - RAMPAGE TOYS!  Jon's work focuses on fun and colorful creatures that just so happen to be monsters.  Expect scenes of urban destruction a' la the classic films 'Godzilla' and 'Mothra', but with a bent in the direction of silly - instead of Godzilla think 'giant cupcake that has no arms.'  The show will include paintings, custom vinyl toys, handcast resin figures and a couple collaborative pieces done with the Cakespy herself - something for anyone who loves monsters, cupcakes, monster cupcakes or all of the above! 

Oh, and need we mention that actual, real, edible and delicious CUPCAKES will be in attendance?  YUMMY!!!

The reception will be on Thursday, May 12, 5-8 p.m. at CakeSpy Shop, 415 E. Pine St., Seattle WA 98122. Shop for Jon's work in advance here.