Engage!10 Recap Part I – The Stationery and Sylvia!

What I love most about this industry are the people and dynamic nature of the business….we create new, beautiful and meaningful everyday (or at least strive to) and for this I feel grateful to even be a part.  Over the next week I will share my view of the life changing time I experienced at Engage 10 in Grand Cayman; from the striking style and paper goodness to the innovative people and ideas all captured through my eyes and pen.

With inspiring paper from Envelopments we created the main session stationery including these oversized placecards.  Jasmine Star grabbed this gorgeous shot complete with the clean morning sunlight trickling in.   I was completely overwhelmed as word got around that these lovelies were in fact individually hand painted.  Thank you everyone for your kind words and sincere appreciation for the hard work that went into crafting these pieces.

Coordinating agendas and stunning folders by my friends at Envelopments.  Folder shot by Donna!

Feeling a bit start struck in the room you can imagine my shock when Sylvia Weinstock headed over to chat and compliment the stationery.  This gal just about fell over, but not before I asked good friend Donna Von Bruening to capture the moment!  I was thrilled to have the chance to thank Sylvia for my treasured Renewal cake in person!

During hour 1 at Engage a little sketch of Envelopments Brocade pattern turned into a collage of ideas….

I think in images, color and often find my written notes evolving into sketches.  Since my first Engage experience I felt compelled to sketch and this time around my hand could not seem to keep up with my ideas.  The Engage Symposiums are all about people.  I felt this time, the room was taking a collective, much needed breath.  Conversation was electric, the energy was palpable and sincerity and kindness seemed to be the thread that brought us all together.  Egos were checked at the door and we got right down to living and learning in this live, raw and real moment that became for me the single-most energizing experience of my career to date.

After a few days to simmer and turn notes into actions these words stay at the top of my mind:

Value, Move, Define, Share, Listen, Curate

Check back tomorrow for more …sketches of Colin Cowie, Marcy Blum and more!

Renewal Inspirations – The Sylvia Weinstock sketch is in!

I’ve been awaiting the final sketch of my cake from Ms. Weinstock and her talented staff and yay it is here!  They even included my Clara French cakestand in the rendering.  The party is next Saturday and the final headcount is in.  The hubby and I are so excited to celebrate with all 95 of those (eek!) who couldn’t celebrate with us in Utah!

Renewal Inspirations – My Sylvia Weinstock Cake

3 weeks until #Renewalinzion and one month until #Renewalinpa.  Besides asking myself “what were you thinking” daily and calming the cake transport, delivery and setup fears, all plans are progressing well and things are lookin’ good!  Many have asked how the cake design is coming so read on as I dive a bit deeper into one of my favorite aspects of the planning to date.

Remember my two days in New York last month when I met with the lovely Sylvia Weinstock and had one of my artistic dreams come true?  At our meeting I received the green light from Ms. Weinstock to collaborate and combine her artistry with mine.  Dreamy.

A painting trek to Kolob Canyon while in Utah finalizing plans for the ceremony ended with a watercolor study of the red rock landscape.  Quite taken with the drippy, painted effect that water and time etched into the stone, I put brush to paper and soaked in the silent, restful surroundings.  Some time later I was left with an abstract study featuring washy stripes of color.  Only after packing up my gear and beginning my 1/2 mile descent back to the trailhead did I think about how insanely pretty this watercolor study could be for my Sylvia cake.  My apparent obsession with line quality and striated color did not stop there and fed into my peony painting technique as well.

So the designing began, based of course on a sketch.  I requested images of Ms. Weinstock’s iconic ruffled peony, the same which will adorn the top of the cake, to create a watercolor illustration to inspire the top tier painting.  How cool.

To put my own spin on the look I added peach tones, a bit more texture with brushstroke and greens.  A reproduction of my peony will be painted on the top tier of the cake.  The team of artists at Ms. Weinstock’s studio will literally use fondant icing as their canvas.  After seeing their painted magnolia’s on a sample cake in the studio I was hooked on this style.  I am curious how they will interpret the gradient quality of the watercolor with icing and such?

The finished peony.  I could never tire of flowers, looking at them, interpreting their beauty and thinking of new ways to bring them to life in my work.  Thanks Ms. Weinstock and team for collaborating and inspiring me to bring this bloom to life!

Renewal Inspirations: A Momental Girl meets Sylvia Weinstock

So, I have met Ms. Weinstock several times in the past and after a lot of prioritizing and planning knew I must have a Sylvia Weinstock cake for our renewal party in PA!  I spent the early part of this week in New York City and finally had my chance to sit in Ms. Weinstock’s studio and design my very own cake.

So to begin my story I must say how impressed I was when Ms. Weinstock picked up the phone to confirm my appointment.  How is it possible that a woman as busy as she still answers the phone?  The answer I think is passion.  Ms. Weinstock loves cake and creating art and it shows the minute you step inside her studio.

Top and bottom left photos from Netmartin Photography

The tasting begins with all the normal collection of info, names, headcount etc but then the fun begins.  2 artist palette shaped platters were presented; one with ice cream scoops of various fillings and the other with various rounds of cake samples.  Ms. Weinstock grabbed me a plate and fork and I was asked to try each and every flavor.  Needless to say I was in heaven, the flavors were rich and creamy, fresh and pure…How could I possibly choose?  Much to my relief Ms. Weinstock mentioned that each cake traditionally has 3 fillings so my final choices were strawberry, lemon and blood orange with vanilla cake.  Scrumptious!

Next we were on to discussing design and the first question was “so what do you want your cake to look like?”  Well, being an artist myself of course I had ideas and secretly sketches too, but I wanted to hear Ms. Weinstock’s take; to let her be the artist.  My ideas were primarily inspired by the invitations created for the party so I presented a copy explaining my color palette.  Much to my shock, Ms Weinstock took my invite and began showing it around to her staff, saying things like “this is completely hand done” and “how lovely” – oh what a dream!

One of my absolute favorite Sylvia cakes is the one above with hand painted blooms in black against a smooth white backdrop.  I was entirely curious if some of my artwork could be translated onto the cake but in Ms. Weinstock’s legendary style.  So she asked the question again,   “so what do you want your cake to look like” and I knew I must show her my sketch.   I certainly didn’t want to offend but Ms. Weinstock said “you are an aritst, you have a sketch? Show me the sketch!”  Love it.

So I envisioned a 2 tiered cake, with the top being taller and narrower than the bottom.  A smooth icing finish in a soft shades of peach was suggested by Ms. Weinstock.  I adore white peonies so one of these magical sugar sculptures will crown the top of this cake, slightly oversized for some drama.  The bottom tier will replicate my watercolor stripe technique like that used in this invitation design which also happens to mimic the Zion rock textures.  The top tier will feature a meshing of a new peony watercolor of mine (to be created) inspired by Ms. Weinstocks legendary peony look!, hand painted directly on the surface of the cake!

A huge thank you to Ms. Weinstock for meeting with me and listening to my crazy ideas!