First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage! Isnandrsquo;t that how the grade school playground rhyme goes? Although the core of the clients at Sugar Pear Design are wedding related, it is an honor to play a small role in announcing the birth or adoption of a newborn.

One such announcement is recognized in the current Graphic Design USA issue (July/August 2010). My daughterandrsquo;s birth announcement is letterpressed using 100% cotton paper stock. The front of the announcement features Alexisandrsquo;s very own footprints, which, along with her name, are blind impressed (an impression without ink). Inside I have her birth statics and a black and white photograph of her. And although Iandrsquo;m not a pinky-baby-pastelly kind of girl, I did have her announcement printed with a very pretty bright pink. Itandrsquo;s very fitting, since Alexis brightens my day, every day.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Like I mentioned, Sugar Pear Design does primarily focus on all things wedding. Here are two examples of stationery suites that have also been recognized for their design.

2010 AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION ADDY AWARD

I started working with Kirsten and Al about a year prior to their wedding. Save-the-dates were a must for this weekend long wedding being planned for Door County in northern Wisconsin.

Using the natural surroundings of Gordon Lodge in Baileys Harbor as inspiration, the invitation featured a blind impressed White Pine tree. The tree icon was then carried throughout their ceremony programs and menus. A pocket invitation was a perfect vehicle for holding all of the essential information for their guests.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Using the same calligraphy style throughout the whole suite, each guestandrsquo;s place card was actually a river rock with his or her name on it. Table number were made out of a river rock, sticks and a calligraphy sign. Again, tying into the natural surroundings.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

2009 AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION ADDY AWARD

Although Margo and Steve were planning a December wedding, it wasnandrsquo;t going to be anything but cold. Knowing that the invitation is the first indication to guests what type of event they were being invited to, Margo wanted the feel to be elegant and warm. A simple, no fuss Swarovski crystal was applied to each of the stationery pieces giving them a sense of charm. Instead of naming her dinner tables the typical 1, 2, 3; names like first loveandrdquo; and hugs and kissesandrdquo; were used andndash; a wonderful way to add a personal touch.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Stationery photography provided by Krakora Studios.

Specializing in the design of bespoke invitations, announcements and social stationery, Sugar Pear Design offers the perfect complement to your event, reflecting you unique personality and style. Stationery that delievers a true reflection of you. BEAUTIFUL. ELEGANT. UNDERSTATED.

I have been very fortunate to find an international organization of confectionary artist to share that passion. A group call the International Cake Exploration Societe' (ICES). This group has enable me to obtain scholarships to further my education into techniques that I can use to master my craft and meet people who share the same love of the art. I have been fortunate enough to take classes from such world reknown cake artists as Geraldine Randlesome and Collette Peters.

If you are looking for a confectionary artist for your wedding, you need to find someone who has the "passion" for their work, not someone who is just pushing the work through like an "assembly line" and doing dozens of cakes at a time. Look for someone who will have the time to listen to what you want, make some suggestions and help you plan that special cake. After all, this is your wedding day and everything should be special to your day, not a cookie cutter of someone else's.

This spring I was fortunate enough to do the wedding cake of the granddaughter of the aunt who inspired me so many years ago. In my aunt's honor I placed a small pink rose on the wedding cake because I felt that her hands had helped me get to where I am today.

As a wedding floral designer, I work with exotic flowers from all over the world throughout the year, but I'm still thrilled when the wild violets bloom in my garden each Spring. I have patches of almost every color ... violet, deep blue, spotted, and white.

I love to gather small bouquets to fill little vases in my home, and each May Day, I hang a paper cone filled with violets framed with wild ginger leaves, on my mom's front door.

Wild violets are abundant, but the season is short, usually mid April through mid May. One of my favotite projects is to weave fresh violets into a lovely braided garland, to accent a birthday or Mother's Day cake. A few years ago, Martha Stewart published a recipe for sugared flowers ... pansies, Johnny - jump - ups, nasturtium blossoms, unsprayed rose petals, and, of course, violets, can be candied. I decided this would be the perfect complement to the violet garland, and have been making them ever since.

Last week,early on a gorgeous but very chilly morning, Heather Krakora, who is just an amazing photographer, met me at Hoyt Park. We found a rustic stone table in the woods, and staged an imaginary occasion inspired by the season ... perhaps a small backyard wedding? Heather captured these wonderful images.

Chris Olson, owner of Chris' Confections, provided the exquisite (and delicious) cake, covered in dotted fondant and layered with blueberry and lemon fillings.

We only needed a few scattered sugared violets and sweet Melissa leaves on top, and the fresh violet garland circling the base, to create this presentation

To complete the picture, I designed an early Spring wedding bouquet in shades of blue, lavender, violet and white, using locally grown tulips, ranunculus, muscari, forget - me - nots, heleborus, tiny roses and lambs ears. I finished this bouquet with deep blue - violet hand dyed silk ribbon, for a romantic yet modern touch.

...

To Make Sugared Violets:

- Gather fresh wood violets (not african violets!), gently spray them clean, and set them out in a vase of water overnight, to dry.

Other edible flowers include pansies, Johnny - jump - ups, nasturtium blossoms, chamomile, rose petals and stock blossoms, as well as mint, lemon balm (sweet Melissa) and sage leaves ... pesticide free, of course!

- Hold the flower by the stem, near the blossom (or, cut the stem off and hold the blossom with tweezers).

- Using pasteurized liquid egg whites or reconstituted powdered egg whites or merangue powder, and a tiny brush, gently paint all surfaces of the blossom (front and back) with a thin coating of egg white.

- Sprinkle superfine sugar all over the flower, covering every bit ... if the sugar does not stick in any spot, recoat with egg white and sugar. Any area not covered will turn brown. A light coating of sugar will allow the flower's color to show, while a thicker coating will produce a more sugary appearance. You can see both effects on our cake.

- Place the blossom on a tray covered with waxed paper or parchment. If you left the stem on, pinch it off as you lay the blossom on the paper.

- Allow to dry for twelve to twenty - four hours.

- Store in an air tight tin for up to one month.

To Make a Braided Violet Garland:

- Pick fresh violets with the longest stems you can find.

- Give the stem ends a fresh cut, and keep the flowers in a glass of water while you make the garland. Try to work in a cool or shady place, to help keep the flowers from wilting while you braid them. You can mist the braid with water every now and then.

- Beginning with three violets,start to braid the stems together.

-Add another violet each time you bring a side stem over the center stem. You will be braiding two or three stems at a time.

- Soon, the braid will start to hold together. By adding new violets in, you will always have some long stems to braid as previously added stems become too short.

- You can add extra violets into any bare spots.

- Make the braid long enough to go around a cake pan the same size as your cake.

- When the braid is long enough, secure the end stems with a small rubber band.

- Mist the braid with water ... violets can absorb water through the petals.

- Lay the braid in a circle, on a damp piece of paper towel, on a plate. Put the plate in a sealed plastic bag, and place it in the refrigerator for an hour, or overnight.

- Once placed around a cake, the braid will stsy fresh for two or three hours in cooler temperatures. Outdoors, on a warm day, place the braid around the cake immediately before serving ... it's just for the presentation!

The reception was held at Nakoma Country Club and each room was carefully designed by Andrea of Fleurishes and Katherine. The first room was where guests could linger by the fire. The cake make by Chris's Confections was banked by bookcases filled with candles and small silver deer with tulip bouquets. When we walked into the main room, it was as if we walked into a winter wonderland. Each table was lite by a blue light from above. The edges of the room were scattered by beautifully lit pine trees. It was an exquisite and unique affair. We (Krakora Studios) felt truly honored to be able to document such loveliness.

On an exciting note a big congratulations goes out to a bunch of our members! Wisconsin Bride magazineandrsquo;s Best of 2009 awarded nine of our members the Best of in their category and many of our members were finalists.

Best of Winners

Top of the Tiara andndash; The Wedding Guy

Best Cake andndash; Chrisandrsquo;s Confections

Best DJ andndash; Juke Box Bandstand

Best Florist andndash; Beauty Blossoms

Best Planner andndash; Beyond Elegant Events

Best Rental and Decor andndash; A to Z Event Essentials

Best Spa andndash; Rejuvenation Spa

Best Videographer andndash; One Fine Day Productions

Category Finalists

Top of the Tiara andndash; Beyond Elegant Events

Best Calligraphy andndash; Beyond Elegant Events

Best Ceremony Music andndash; Juke Box Bandstand

Best Favors andndash; Beyond Elegant Events

Best Invitations andndash; Sugar Pear Design

Best Planner andndash; The Wedding Guy