Icing on the Cake: Cakespy Dishes Up Sweet Fashion Advice

Last week, we told you how we think you should decorate your apartment. Presumptuous? Perhaps. But really, having gone that far, we would be truly remiss if we told you to trick out your apartment and didn't tell you to pick up a little something for yourself. So why not check out some of the cutest new crop of cake and dessert-related jewelry around? And what perfect timing, with Valentine's Day just around the corner; pick out your favorites, or pick something for your sweetie! Here are our picks:

One of our go-to sources for all sorts of jewelry is Pancake Meow. Not only are the designs clever and adorable--they offer charms shaped in a variety of styles, from cupcakes to waffles complete with dollop of butter, to chocolate chip cookies--oh, and did we mention they're scented?! We are loving the brand-new strawberry crepes (photo left). Order early though; each piece is made to order. What can we say, good things come to those who wait. Most charms are in the range of $20 and up; available online at pancakemeow.com.

Bonus: Love smelling like your favorite baked good? Well, thanks to EB of SpiceDish, we now know that you can get Yummy Cupcake perfume for just $20 at Torrid stores. For locations, check out torrid.com.

Looking for a spot to shop for ice-cream scoop, cupcake and brass ring inspired jewelry all at once? Happily, you'll find your source at Pnut, a jewelry company which we first spied on All Things Cupcake. This is jewelry with some serious dark humor: ever so slightly gothy, but ultimately self-aware and a little cheeky, the pieces are beautifully crafted: think bleeding hearts meet sweet treats. It's all right up our alley; the hardest part is picking a favorite: we alternate between the double pop with "you" and "me" written on the popsicle sticks (shown at the top of this post; $85), the scoop ring ($95), the Sterling silver ice cream cone with gems ($200), or the intensely covetable 18k white gold cupcake with diamonds ($2275--hey, we can dream, right?). Available online at pnutjewelry.com

If you're among those who say that pie is the new cake, be sure to check out this adorable pendant by Kieutiepie. We love the handmade, charming feel of the felted necklace, which looks as cozy as a pie just out of the oven. And what a steal: this necklace is only $15. Act quickly though: while similar styles may pop up, this one is one of a kind! Available online at kieutiepie.etsy! 

Perhaps you find it impossible to commit to just one type of baked good? For the baker-of-all-trades, kitchen-gadgetry pendants by Brooklyn-based Ball+Chain are an ideal pick; we have been obsessed with them ever since Cake Gumshoe Allison came across them. The elegant and clever pendants are inspired by the (self-taught!) artist's own collection of vintage hand mixers and kitchen tools--how cool is that? But a word to the wise: if you see something you like, snap it up! While similar styles may crop up, each is an original, so there are no absolute guarantees! The silver "mixmaster" is $60; available online at ballandchain.etsy.com

Looking for something handcrafted, luminous and ever so slightly cheeky all at once? Check out Rockerjewelz, a Bay Area-based company (check out the sweet story of how the designer got started on her site, listed below!). The pieces are made from glass beads that catch light oh-so-prettily; earrings, pendants and bracelets are available in "flavors" like Lemon Tart, Key Lime, and Cherry on top (our favorite, because they reminds us of the cupcakes at another Bay Area treasure, Miette Patisserie!). Prices vary depending on intricacy; available online at rockerjewlz.etsy.com; see more at her blog or at rockerjewlz.com!

Finally, we know that you've heard of them and perhaps even seen their cute cupcake charms, but our attentions are currently focused the new candy designs by Juicy Couture--not only are the charms themselves adorable, with a Marie-Antoinette worthy color palette and cute candy and cakey shapes, but they're expertly packaged in a chocolate-type box. What's not to love? The Sweet Shoppe charm bracelet is $128 and available online at juicycouture.com.

Did we miss your favorite objects of sweet adornment? Let us know!

Cake Byte: Sweet News From Cakespy

Well, there are a few things that we're just dying to tell you, so before your regularly scheduled Thursday evening post, a few bits of sweetness:

First off, we've come across a few awesome Cake finds since the other day's Interior Design Post, and we just have to share them, the first of which is the Birthday Table by Jellio, which is an end table in the shape of a gigantic cupcake cup (photo left)! It ain't cheap, but it certainly is awesome; thank you CB for the awesome tip! $750 ea.; available at jellio.com

The second great find is the Cupcake Cap. We came across these on DailyCandy and were immediately charmed by these edible "caps" for your cupcakes, available in various cute shapes and decals for various occasions. Do you need these? No, but you want them. As a bonus, the employees are all super-nice and very helpful. Starting at $12 per dozen; available online at cupcakecaps.com.

Next in the sweet news: who does Cakespy love? Or should we say, who loves Cakespy? See what they had to say about us on Coterie, and see what Seattle PI writer Rebekah Denn thinks of us on her blog, Devouring sEATtle. And who could forget, we were mentioned as a favorite blog of 2007 by Bake+Destroy! and Mrs. Cakespy designed an awesome new logo for All Things Cupcake!

Finally, calling Chicagoland Cake Lovers!: Your life is about to get sweeter: Head Spy
Jessie just shipped her first batch of original mini paintings, buttons and more gift items to Renegade Handmade, an awesome store in Chicago which sells artwork and crafts by the likes of Bored, Inc., Qylaar, and Rosie Music. We're really excited to be associated with this great store! Renegade Handmade is located at 1924 W. Division St.; online at renegadehandmade.com.

That's the important cake news for today!

Home, Sweet Home (Literally): Interior Design by Cakespy

Deck the halls? That's so last year. In 2008, resolve to let more sweetness in your life by decking the walls--and fridge, and your whole house or apartment for that matter---out in dessert-related finery. Not only will these ideas make everyday life a whole lot sweeter, but they're also calorie-free for the (*cough* nevergonnalast) resolution dieters out there.

For your walls: These cupcake plaques by Serious Gnome will brighten up any wall in your house, sans doute. We want one for every room; not only are they gorgeous, but we're fascinated by the painstaking process involved in making them: each piece is designed, cast and hand-finished right in the Serious Gnome studios (rare these days!). Visit their website to learn more about the process and to browse their other (alas, non-cake related, but still cool) styles. $85 each; available online at seriousgnome.com

For your fridge: Cake and dessert related refrigerator magnets are like a preview of what's in the fridge! Our own Head Spy Jessie is the art director of this company (no, she doesn't get paid extra for putting them in here), so naturally there are a lot of cake related designs, including dessert-themed magnets by Julia Rothman, Stacey Asato and even Mrs. Cakespy herself. $11.50 for a set of 4 one-inch magnets, $6.50 for one "Big" magnet; various styles available online at ipopshop.com; cakes shown to the left currently only available by calling 800.638.9622.

For your bedroom: You'll be guaranteed sweet dreams if you rest your little head on one of these pillows: cookie pillows by Pancake Dinner are perfect for naps or as throw pillows ($20; available online at thepaperdoll.net); for bigger appetites or a longer sleep, artist Bethany Schlegel does cozy, fluffy screen printed ice cream ones ($34 ea.).

For the kitchen: While technically calorie-free in and of themselves, we will admit that these cupcake toppers by Bake+Destroy! are perhaps at their best when perched atop freshly baked little cupcakes. Call us diet-saboteurs if you will; call us enablers...both very true. But seriously, how could you resist these toppers, available in styles like Holy Elvis (left), Shark Attack, Gnomes and more? $6 ea., or $3 for a DIY kit.

We'd say that 2008 is going to be one sweet year.

For more information or to pass on more awesome ways to deck your home out in sweetness, please email us!

Size Wars: The Ding3000 Cake Pan

When a cake is cut, there is no denying that certain personality types come forward. There's the "oh I couldn't possibly take a whole piece" contingent, who will undoubtedly go back for four "half" pieces. Of course, then there's the "give me the biggest piece" contingent. Hard to wiggle your way in between all these sliver-slicers and heavy hitters.

That is, until now. Ding 3000, a German design group, has come up with a brilliant solution: a silicon baking form molded in such a way that it pre-divides the cake into irregular slices, varying in both height and width. The pan, which is about 30cm in diameter, looks like a funky, cubist type bundt pan, and yields a cool-looking, geometric type cake. Although we imagine it might be a nightmare to frost (although perhaps heaven to eat, with all the extra frosting falling into the nooks and crannies), it looks very neat when dressed with a simple powdered-sugar topping, and is sure to satisfy any appetite.

Cutting the cake will never be the same.

To order online, visit designista.se. Cakespy Note: We went ahead and calculated the Swedish Krona-to-US Dollars for you, and it comes to about $70 USD after shipping.

To see other designs by Ding3000, visit ding3000.com.

House of Sweetness: Modern Gingerbread Houses at Red Envelope

At Cakespy, we’re suckers for sweet things designed to look like other things. Chocolate confections designed to look like tree stumps? Gummi cheeseburgers? Ice cream cone truffles? We’re sold.

And now that it’s December, we’ve officially entered the season of the ultimate shape shifting dessert: the Gingerbread House. Of course, gingerbread houses are inherently cute, what with their gumdrops and snowy frosting details; however, we recently spied one that put us over the edge: the Modern Gingerbread House available on Red Envelope. Designed in a retro-futuristic style, it's the epitome of cuteness with a slanted roof, built-in garage and mini rock garden. And if all this hasn't charmed you, certainly the customizable entryway will; who could resist having a family name or a personalized message written out in sweet frosting? The house ($88 customized, $78 un-customized) is delivered fully assembled; while it is listed as edible, we don’t think it bodes well for the taste when they say it will last up to a year (although they do specify that it should be consumed within 30 days of unwrapping). But then again, when was the last time you heard someone say “wow, that gingerbread house was really delicious?”.

But we digress; delicious or not, we think the holidays just got sweeter.

Available online at red envelope

Up, Up and Away!: Upcakes by Dixie Picnic

What goes up, must come down. True, but not always pretty: ruined pancakes, botched face lifts and Britney Spears' careers come to mind.

However, at Cakespy we've spied something that's just as sweet on the flipside: Upcakes by Dixie Picnic, a Southern NJ-based bakery. What exactly is an Upcake? Well, according to their website, it was an invention prompted when a young family member would only eat the frosting off of cupcakes and then discard the rest; such a waste! The solution? Frosting the sides in addition to the top, duh. A win-win situation; no cake wasted, and no more poor cake-to-frosting ratio. As might be expected, they have become a bit of a legend in the area.

And now, with thanks to a custom-designed shipping box, they are able to ship these frosting-laden treats (in flavors like lemon buttercream, red velvet or pistachio in addition to the requisite chocolate and vanilla) anywhere in the inland US! Overnight shipping is the only option for most places, but within the Mid-Atlantic region and parts of the Northeast, they'll ship via ground.

We'd say that everything's coming up cake.

Dixie Picnic is located at 819 8th St., Ocean City, NJ; orders can be placed via telephone (609) 399-1999 or online at dixiepicnic.com.

Cakespy Note: It was rather difficult to resist the temptation to call this post "Up Yours, Cupcakes!", but as you can see we took the high road.

Out, Damned Speck!: Cupcake Pendants by Dottyspeck (Via Cakespy Seattle)

At Cakespy, we like to think that we wear our love for cakes like a badge on our sleeve.

However, now we want to wear it like a necklace around our neck, having spied this awesome necklace by Dottyspeck, the company run by Seattle-based metalsmith Kim Williamson. Williamson's work is cute but manages to run more toward sophisticated and slightly tongue in cheek than "cutesy". This pendant, which retails for $68, could just as easily dress up, adding a little bit of fun to a little black dress, as it could dress down, proclaiming your cupcake love in a hoodie and jeans.

Either way, it's going to make life a little sweeter.

Available at Fancy, Fancy 1914 2nd Ave., in Belltown, Seattle. For non-Seattleites, they'll do mail order too; contact them through fancyjewels.com.

Clean and Sweet: Cake-themed Japanese Washcloths and Towels at Fred Flare

You’ve done it again. The siren call of the bakery beckoned. Too many choices, so you bought one of everything: “It will last me all week!”. Two days later, the fridge is empty, your mouth ringed with chocolate. You feel...so...unclean.

Well, wash away your sins in the sweetest way possible: with cake-themed washcloths and towels from Fred Flare! We’re already huge fans of this great online retailer’s products and entire “Stay Cute” mantra, but they’ve put us in a frenzy with these bathroom accessories, which are imported from Japan and adorably packaged to look like cakes. Once unpackaged they resemble cakes no longer; but what a lovely presentation for a gift, no? The washcloths come in the form of the Cake Roll ($10 ea.) in chocolate, strawberry or green tea “flavors” or the Cake Wedge ($8 ea.), available in chocolate or vanilla. Or if you’re really dirty (or hungry, either way) you can invest in the Chocolate Cake Bath Towel ($35), which is deliciously shaped like a full-sized cake. And as an added bonus, the cute strawberries that top each product are actually magnets for your fridge!

They may not taste like cake, but they’re just as sweet.

Available online at fredflare.com.

Sincerely Felt: Felt Cupcakes by Cheryl Smith

Nothing is happier than a cupcake. Well, how about one that lasts forever and has no calories?

Impossible you say? Certainly not, if you buy felt cupcakes by Cheryl Smith, an Atlanta-based crafter who has been spreading cuteness in the world through her Etsy wares since 2005. The cupcakes are available in two sizes: regular ( 2 inches high by 2.25 inches wide; $12 each) and mini (2 inches high by 1.25 inches wide; $6 each), and are all hand-stitched, showing an amazing range of clever details which create different "flavors", like discs of felt gathered and twisted to resemble a piped frosting on the "spice" cupcake or seed beads delicately stitched on the "white frosted with sprinkles" cupcake. The result is an adorable gift item for any dessert-loving friend (or maybe just your dessert-loving self).

This is the kind of happiness you can have and hold for a long time.

Available online at cherylasmith.etsy.com.

Out, Damned Speck!: Cupcake Necklace by Dottyspeck

At Cakespy, we like to think that we wear our love for cakes like a badge on our sleeve.

However, now we want to wear it like a necklace around our neck, having spied this awesome necklace by Dottyspeck, the company run by Seattle-based metalsmith Kim Williamson. Williamson's work is cute but manages to run more toward sophisticated and slightly tongue in cheek than "cutesy". This pendant could just as easily dress up, adding a little bit of fun to a little black dress; or it could dress down, proclaiming your cupcake love in a hoodie and jeans.

Either way it will make life a little sweeter.

Available at Fancy,

Jewelry designed and handcrafted
by seattle based metalsmith
Kim Williamson

http://www.dottyspeck.com/