A Few Petalsweet Favorites from 2010

I have been busy working on some exciting plans for 2011, and during the process, it has been a lot of fun looking back at photos and designs from this past year! I was definitely inspired by many different colors, flowers and textures in 2010...but all the while working hard to maintain the clean lines and simple style of Petalsweet.

I was also thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to work with so many creative, thoughtful, talented and wonderful students, and have loved sharing photos of their beautiful work. Many thanks to all of you for choosing to study sugar flowers with me!

Here are a few of my favorites from 2010...enjoy!

Photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

Wishing you my very best for a safe, happy and sweet New Year! Thanks so much for stopping by...and for making this such a fun and fabulous year!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

A Few Petalsweet Favorites from 2010

Happy Holidays from Petalsweet

My best wishes to you and your family for a safe, happy and very sweet Holiday Season!



Thank you for visiting here and sharing your lovely messages...I so appreciate your time and thoughtfulness!

xo Jacqueline and Petalsweet

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Happy Holidays from Petalsweet

Practicing More Sugar Peonies

OK...it's true...I just can't get enough of making sugar peonies. I am completely obsessed with photos of these gorgeous flowers, and find myself repeatedly drawn to any magazine or book featuring them. Along with the photo obsession comes this never ending infatuation with recreating any and all peonies in sugar! And it's not just me...the peony is one of the most requested sugar flowers for lessons and classes!

So...I've been busy. Practicing and practicing some more. It goes something like this:

1. Study photos of peonies
2. Swoon (a lot!)
3. Figure out how the flower is constructed
4. Cut petals (lots of them!)
5. Shape them to resemble petals in previously mentioned photos
6. Let dry (impatiently)
7. Tape all the petals together to form a (hopefully) beautiful peony
8. Dust and color to make it pretty
9. Repeat

Here is a peony with an open center I made just a few days ago. I'm using some of the tips and techniques I learned in a class taught by the always fabulous Ron Ben Israel. If you haven't had a chance to take a class with him...I'd highly recommend it. Not only for the learning factor...but for the fun factor too! He is truly an amazing artist and inspiration!

A close-up photo of the over-sized peony:



Mixed with hydrangea, filler flowers, freesia buds and leaves:



And the completed cake design...just a simple and single tier, but made fabulous with the addition of a handful of flowers:



Thanks for stopping by!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Practicing More Sugar Peonies

Giving Thanks...

Greetings!

We are celebrating Thanksgiving in the States today...and I wanted to express how truly thankful and very grateful I am for all of your support and good wishes - they mean the world to me. I love what I do, and it's a blessing to be able to share it with you. My heartfelt thanks for the time you take to visit here and read my blog posts, and your incredible encouragement and kind words - thank you!



My best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season!

Jacqueline xo

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Giving Thanks...

Sugar Ranunculus Flowers by Petalsweet

Just when I think I have arranged enough colorful sugar flowers against a dark chocolate background, a new idea pops into my head, and I just have to make it happen!

One of my new favorite sugar flowers is the ranunculus. I used quite a few of them in a large bouquet and topper this past summer, and have had many requests from students wanting to learn how to make them! They are not difficult to create, but just a bit time consuming with all of their many rows of petals. The ranunculus flower is so unique, though...delicate and pretty, but very modern and sophisticated at the same time.

I just love using them mixed with other flowers:



And the complete design:



Thanks so much for stopping by!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Sugar Ranunculus Flowers by Petalsweet

A Sugar Garden Rose Birthday Wish

Just a quick little post today...I am wondering if a cute mini cake decorated with a large sugar garden rose will make up for missing a birthday? I'm hoping so...and sending all my best wishes along with it too!



Thanks for stopping by!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

A Sugar Garden Rose Birthday Wish

Sugar Peonies on Pale Yellow

I definitely find myself drawn to colors that go well with green. And I'm pretty sure green is my new favorite color! When I was growing up, I loved everything blue...and couldn't get enough of it. Now when I see ANY other color, I wonder how it might blend with different shades of green...it must have something to do with my love for anything floral!

Here is a three tier design in a pretty, pale yellow. And as usual, decorated with sugar flowers including a grand peony on the top tier, and a small peony bud on the lower tier. Both are surrounded by little white filler flowers, tiny yellow buds, leaves, and a sprinkling of green hydrangea to make it look fresh!

The arrangement on the top tier:



And the finished design:



Thank you for stopping by!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Sugar Peonies on Pale Yellow