Sunday Sweets: Casual Elegance
I kind of love the new vintage-style everything these days. From retro packaging to sweet fifties dresses to this rockin' orange rotary phone, I am eating the nostalgia-laced goodness UP.
It's no surprise that vintage-style wedding cakes are in vogue as well, but I thought it'd be more fun (not to mention colorful) to look at non-wedding vintage Sweets. Like this:
By Nikki at Tikkido
I can't tell you exactly what makes each Sweet "vintage" in my mind, but in this case I think it's that awesome ric-rac trim and soft red and teal color scheme. Can't you just picture it on a soda shop counter? One with sparkly vinyl bar stools and table-top juke boxes?
Or how about these hand-painted birds n' berries?
This reminds me of some paintings we had in my house when I was growing up. They were all wanna-be Bob Ross types, with lots of trees (happy ones, of course) and misty mountains and stuff. The difference, of course, is that I actually want this cake in my house.
What is it about pale pinks and sea foam greens that makes me think of Victorian parlors and delicate china teacups?
No, wait, don't tell me; I don't want to spoil the magic.
(Can you believe those roses are NOT porcelain? So perfect!)
Now this one reminds me of the embroidered napkins my grandmother kept for special occasions:
Sub'd by Erika S. By Sweet Treats Cakes and Cupcakes; Photo by Jennifer Sando.
How appropriate that the technique used to make the flowers is called "brush embroidery!"
Also, this cake is further evidence that everything gets 67% more awesome when draped with tiny flag bunting. (TINY FLAG BUNTING!!)
Another retro goody making a comeback in craft circles is bakers' twine. They make it now in all different colors, and it's the epitome of eye candy. So how perfect that this baker made an edible version!
Submitted by Stephanie H. and made by Sweetapolita
I like how the twine is paired with more modern flowers and cake shapes, too - it's a perfect mix of old and new!
My first apartment had an avocado-green fridge, and I wondered then (as I still do today) how ANYONE ever thought that was a good color choice. I still consider it an unforgivable insult to home appliances everywhere, but I'll admit this cake is going a long way towards redeeming the color:
By bubolinkata, a Bulgarian hobby baker
See that bud in the middle? The one that's a bright pop of hot pink? That one's my favorite. It looks so amazing with the green! And while that lace trim is inedible, the bottom tier is completely hand-painted! Incredible!
Here are some more hand-painted birds, only this time in a style that reminds me of old Golden Books than Bob Ross:
By Renay Z.
And how nice of the baker to use my favorite colors, too. :)
In fact, here's another beauty demonstrating the superiority of the orange & blue color combination:
By EmmmyLizzzy
Look at that lace and swirl pattern! It's breath-taking! Mom's doilies had NOTHING on this. (Also, my mother still uses doilies, and for no discernible reason. The last time John and I visited, we were plucking them off every horizontal surface in the house. Is there such a thing as a doily intervention? If so, and you know my mom, WE NEED TO TALK.)
I love art, and I'm always drawn to the simple, graphic shapes of vintage children's book art. I think that's why I'm digging this cake so much:
Submitted by Tracy J. and made by Blue Cupcake by Julie
It's like a page from a kids' book, come to life! (And I am seriously loving the way the text is arranged. What a fun way to use standard letter stencils!)
I'm not sure this post has had enough ruffles in it yet. Here, lemme fix that real quick:
I'm in love. With a cake. Throw a few orange flowers on it, Deborah, and I may propose.
And finally, the ultimate vintage-styled beauty for Disney lovers and buttercream purists alike:
By Chocmocakes
It's the Golden Afternoon of Sweets!!
Isn't it nice to be reminded you don't always need gumpaste or fondant to make gorgeous flowers? And lest you think the baker plucked that frame off her wall; she made the frame from gumpaste, and the Alice art is an edible image. LOVE.
Happy Sunday!
*****
P.S. Vintage style kitchen scales are all the rage in my crafty decor groups, and look at this sweet red one!
Marliz 11lb Analog Kitchen Scale
So cuuuuuute! And it's a real scale - not one of the faux "decor-only" ones, which is extra sweet.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
