Sentimental Celebrations

Raspberry Jam Cake

2010-11-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

The recipe for this cake is in the book "Cakewalk" by Robbin Gourley. It was published by Doubleday in 1994 ISBN 0-385-47174-2 This cookbook contains many delicious recipes for cakes like Hummingbird Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Coconut Layer Cake, and Sweet Potato Cake to name a few. According to the author, her grandmother made this cake in 1912.

Happy Halloween

2010-11-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

My little toy poddle, Midnight, posed in his Halloween costume. I enjoy seeing all the young children in their costumes. I had fun trick-or-treating with my children when they were young. I believe that Spiderman was their all-time favorite for the Halloween Parade at school.

Paula Deen's Halloween Dish

2010-10-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

You can find the recipe for this cheese ball on The Food Network's website www.foodnetwork.com. I watched Paula Deen make this on her TV show about 4 years ago. It is so cute!

Halloween Cookies

2010-10-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

These beautiful cookies were made by Jinnee Parr and her daughter Emily. They live near Amarillo, Texas.

A Beautiful Poem for Animal Lovers

2010-08-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

I was just going through some papers and found this poem. It was posted on a blog. Someone had recently lost their dog. The author is unknown....the words are beautiful. I can't read it without tears.

If it should be...

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail it's last has waved,
from pain and suffering I haven been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Now I am giving my little toy poodle, Midnight, an extra big hug!

The Heritage House, Little River, CA

2010-08-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Heritage House is located in Little River, a couple of miles from the beautiful town of Mendocino, California. My late husband and I spent and couple of days here on our honeymoon in 1981. Reservations were hard to come by. The movie Same Time Next Year was filmed here a year earlier in 1980. I believe our cottage was named "Meadowwood" which was next to the "Same Time Next Year" cottage. These cottage were located at the bottom end of the property at the edge of the cliff. The view was breathtaking. I remember seeing a really cool lighthouse off in the distance. Men had to wear a jacket to dinner in the formal dining room. I remember a very romantic fireplace in the bar area. I haven't been back since and become very nostalgic when I watch the movie.

The Apple Pan

2010-08-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

My family had a Sunday morning routine when I was young. We attended church in Santa Monica then drove down Ocean Avenue to the Santa Monica Pier. Back then you could drive your car down to the end of the pier and turn around. Then it was lunch at places like Callahan's, Pickle Bill's, NuWay Chili Dogs or The Apple Pan. I loved the Apple Pan. It is located on Pico right across the street from the Westside Pavillion Shopping Center. Back in the 1950s there was a child's amusement park across the street that had a little roller coaster and Ferris wheel.
The Apple Pan hasn't changed much since it opened in the late 1940s. They have the best Hickory Burgers in town. It is best to arrive when they open so you can get a seat at the horseshoe shaped counter right away.

more artwork...

2010-08-20T08:38:00.001-07:00

Colin is starting to design custom vinyl products for cars. These are 2 simple designs. He has done some really interesting graphics. I'll post more samples down the line. visit his website at www.colinsedodesign.com

My Son's Artwork

2010-08-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

My oldest son, Colin, is almost 27. He has a double BFA in Fine Art (Drawing & Painting and Illustration). He has been drawing since he was 3 years old. The turtle is airbrushed on a large piece of metal. The charcoal drawing of James Dean has a mate. "Rebel Without a Clue", which has Jay Leno's picture. Jay Leno has the original drawing. The motorcycle drawing is quite large.

A client took a photo of her husband's three motorcycles and Colin drew them. The detail is amazing.

Christmas in August!

2010-08-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

A small sampling of cookies for the YUM Food and Fun for Kids Christmas Magazine 2010.

Mark Tanner took some AMAZING photographs (I took these snapshots before the shoot began). My friend's 3 granddaughters were the models. I finally met little Luc, Jacqueline's son. He is the sweetest little baby! Jinnee Parr and her daughter, Emily Fager, contributed some beautiful hand-painted cookies (see gingerbread house). My house looks like the inside of a bakery right now. We have lots of cookies, cakes, cupcakes, candies, etc. EVERYWHERE! My boys are loving it!!!

Preparing for photoshoot

2010-08-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

I'm preparing for a photoshoot for YUM Food & Fun for KIDS! I'll be working with Jacqueline deMontravel next week. Jinnee Parr and her daughter, Emily, are baking the most beautiful Christmas cookies. They are hand painted. I'll be busy baking some other things this weekend.

The first step is finding all the Christmas serving pieces appropriate for this story. This is when I realize I have way too much stuff! More on the progress soon...

Cake Ring on eBay

2010-08-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

I'm finally selling some things on eBay. This is the cast iron cake ring featured in the vintage birthday party called "Get What You Wish For" featured in the July 2009 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. I just listed the cake ring last night under the user ID sentimentalcelebrations2008. These cake rings are so hard to find.

Rosette Napkin Directions

2010-07-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

After rolling the napkin tuck the end piece into the fold and flip over. This is the bottom side of the napkin.

After rolling the napkin into one long piece, roll the napkin to the end of the fabric.

After folding the napking in half, start rolling the napkin to the top of the triangle to form one long roll.

Fold the napkin in half to form a triangle.

Start with a soft damask napkin fresh from the dryer.

Cosette Rosette Napkin

2010-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

This napkin fold was named after my Fairy Goddaughter, Cosette. She was the adorable fairy girl photographed in the "Enchanted" fairy party (Romantic Homes Magazine, July 2008 issue). The damask needs to be soft and not ironed. Directions to follow....

Graduation Day 2010

2010-07-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Since my last post our family celebrated two birthdays (mine and Devin's 18th) and Devin's graduation from high school. It seems like just days ago that he modeled for two parties in Taking Tea With Alice. He was a few months shy of his 4th birthday at the time. Devin was born on our wedding anniversary. What are the odds of that? (Taking Tea With Alice photos by Kathryn Russell Photography)

More Alice in Wonderland cookies...

2010-06-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Disney Cheshire Cat was purchased at Disneyland. The pink and yellow flowers, edible eyes, and cookie cutters were purchased from ABC Cake Decorating in Orange, CA. The leaf gum paste cutters are available at Michael's craft stores. I promised these pictures for Morgan. I hope she likes them!

"Talking Flower" Cupcakes

2010-06-10T08:39:00.001-07:00

These little Alice in Wonderland "Talking Flower" cupcakes are two-bite mini cupcakes. I piped three rows of petals with a 103 cake decorating tip. The edible eyes are available at cake decorating stores. The Disney White Rabbit was purchased at Disneyland. I will post an adorable "Wonderland Leaf" cookie next time.

Fairy Favorable Food

2010-06-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

This fairy tea was prepared for a 5 year old. The Fiesta bread-and-butter plate was more durable than depression glass, which is what I usually like to use with my vintage linens. The food was quite small and easy to prepare. The tiny rose scones were baked in a Nordic Ware petit fours pan from Williams-Sonoma. The butterfly finger sandwich were filled with strawberry cream cheese. I used gum paste cutters (leaves and flowers) from Michael's to make the linzer cookies and fruit. I piped tiny flowers on two-bite muffins from the Albertson's bakery. I was lucky to find a tiny 3-tier bon bon server with leaf trays.

Sophie's Party

2010-06-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Last year I had some fun with my little boudoir doll after the vintage party photoshoot "Get What You Wish For." Sophie has had tea in a rose garden as well. I'll be sharing pictures of her now and then. Her name is "Sophie, The Etiquette Princess."(TM) She usually has a crown on her head, a tiny royal septre by her side, and a napkin in her lap! We borrowed Sophie's party hat from Diane White, at Whimzy. (Jamestown Village, Tustin)

The Wedding Pantry

2010-05-30T10:17:00.001-07:00

I found a new shop in Tustin. The Wedding Pantry is located on Main Street (next to Rutabegorz) near the intersection of El Camino Real. I love the ring bearer's pillow and boutonniere pictured above. Check out their website for a list of classes and more photos of the shop.

www.theweddingpantry.com

Vintage Linens

2010-05-28T12:24:00.001-07:00

I have a nice collection of vintage linens from the 1940s and 1950s. I prefer the floral patterns. Some people collect the fruit designs. Pink and green depression glass coordinate well with most of the tablecloths. They look pretty on tables set in the garden. Do you recognize the one used for the "Personalized Tea" Mother's Day story in the May issue of Romantic Homes Magazine?

Tea Party in the Garden

2010-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

I enjoying collecting vintage photographs. These girls are gazing at a beautifully set table. It's almost time for a tea party with their dolls.

1920s Wedding Photo

2010-05-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

I purchased this 1920s sepia photograph on eBay several years ago. The original is quite large. French designer Albert Nippon styled dresses like this in the late 1970s. Her bouquet is simply amazing!

2010-05-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

I took this picture during the photoshoot for Taking Tea with Alice. I like the little fairy sitting on the edge of the punch bowl. Can you see the pretty floral ice ring inside? The Victorian cake basket is filled with Flight of Fancy Fairy Cakes.

Cast Iron Cakes Rings circa 1925

2010-05-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

This is my official "Sentimental Celebrations" photograph. I use it on my business card. The cake rings were used for birthdays and celebrations in the 1920s. They were made by the LVL Candlestick Company and came in assorted colors. This orange cake ring was used in the May 2009 issue of Romantic Homes (May Day! May Day! story). A pink ring was used in the vintage birthday party story "Get What You Wish For" July 2009.

This cake was simple to make. I frosted an angelfood cake with lemon icing and made royal icing Daffodils for the top.

My Favorite Vase

2010-05-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

I purchased this vase on January 1, 2000 to celebrate the Turn-of-the-Century. I love to hunt for treasures in antique shops at the Historic Orange Circle in Southern California. This metalwork and blown glass vase dates to the 1910s. I would love to know the history of this vase! Where was it originally purchased? Were there many previous owners? I'll keep it safe for now and pass it on someday.

Computers drive me crazy!

2010-05-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Computers drive me crazy... I don't know why I have all the gaps in the spacing. The text was not entered that way. Please be patient with me!!

Taking Tea with Alice (2nd. Edition)

2010-05-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Diane Sedo. I am the co-author of Taking Tea with Alice: Looking-Glass Tea Parties and Fanciful Victorian Teas. Two years ago I attended the Vintage Vavoom book launch at the McCharles House in Tustin. I gave Jacqueline deMontravel, the author of Vintage Vavoom and Editor of Romantic Homes Magazine, a copy of my book and showed her some pictures of a fairy party I had prepared. The rest is history! The fairy party appeared in the July 2008 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine was featured in their next book The Vintage Table.

Jacqueline did a photoshoot at my house December 2008 for the December 2009 issue. (It was so hard to wait a whole year!) Four weeks later we were shooting a May Day story. Jacqueline told me I was an official Contributor to Romantic Homes Magazine beginning with the April 2009 issue. I was so thrilled!!! You may recognize some of the stories I have produced:

"Enchanted" July 2008; "May Day", "May Day" May 2008; "Get What You Wish For" July 2009; "Brownie Uniform" November 2009; "The Best of Christmas Past" December 2009;

"In the Name of Love" February 2010 (I was one of The Romantics in this issue as well);

"Personalized Tea" May 2010; "How Sweet" July 2010; "Isn't It Romantic" August 2010;

and an Easter story not yet published.