The Groomsman's Knife

Jensen, Bob, Jared

Previously I wrote about Gen and Jared's wedding.  So here's the prequel.  About 6 weeks before the wedding Bob and I were  in bed, and I got a text.  It was Gen and Jared asking if Bob could make knives for his groomsman gifts.  The New York show was 4 weeks away.  Bob was really pushing to get ready for New York.  As I have done often, I read the text to Bob who was snuggled in under the blankets.
"Did you hear me?"  I asked.
"Yes, I'll figure it out in the morning" he said muffled by the quilt.
OK
I turned off the light and pulled up the covers.  Just like an episode
of Desi and Lucy--Bob turned on his light a second after I had shut mine.  He sat up.  Reached for his robe, and put on his slippers.  Buddy got up, rather excited about all this unexpected late night commotion.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm going out to the shop to see if I have enough materials to make 8 knives."  he bellowed, as he often bellows.  Buddy followed him into the shop.
Within minutes he was back.
"Text them back: black textured carbon fiber handle, model 7,  with a sterling dragon on the handle, in a wood box with my logo engraved. " 

Before we left for NYC the knives were finished in pieces.  I was given the job of cutting out the carbon fiber handles on the diamond ring saw.  I love this saw.  I also loved having a small part in them.  Bob ground all the blades before we left for NY.

Each Knife had the Groomsman's initials on the blade.

2 Rakishly Handsome Superstars!

Table Place Cards and "The Knife"

Jensen happily posing with a Terzuola!

At dinner Jared went from Groomsman to Groomsman delivering the knives.  Jensen was at our table.  Before he received his, another Groomsman came to the table to show him his knife.  Jensen oohed and aahed, and when the man walked away Jensen hung his head: "I wish I got a knife" he murmured into his plate.  Moments later Jared came to our table and gave Jensen his knife.  The expression on his face and Bob's face watching Jensen get his gift made my evening.  Bob rarely gets to see someone get a knife he has made as a gift.  As the evening went on-Bob, Jensen and the other crew guests at our table had some pretty colorful conversation.  Bob was so pleased that the guys were so pleased.  

Bob and I have been so impressed by Gen & Jared's stellar behavior as actors in real life.  Believe me, I have seen plenty of actors behaving badly.  These 3 young adults are what the movie biz  calls: "Number 1 on the call sheet."  Meaning, they are the stars of the TV shows they are on.    Now Jensen was added to our pedestal with Gen and Jared.  The time was brief that night at dinner.  We felt proud to know these people and call them our friends. These 3 restore old folks faith in the human race.   Bob felt honored to make the knives for this occasion. Bob made a 9th knife: "just in case." Well, as you can imagine the first ones came out perfect.  I bet you will see him carrying #9!

Below is the reason for all this.  "G & J" we ♡♡♡ you.

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.

xo

Suz

Oh Harpy!! The Birds Of Prey

Who knew that just outside of Boise Idaho we would find a treasure: "The World Center For Birds Of Prey?"  I had seen the sign for it on our way to Sun Valley.  It looked like my kind of place.  As luck would have it we took the "short way" from Sun Valley to the Boise Airport.  We had a couple of hours to burn and Bob was happy to indulge my  bird obsession.  So after driving through dense fog, listening to the "anything Bob" radio station.  We wound our way behind the Boise Airport to Flying Hawk Lane.  The home of the Peregrine Fund.

 

  

  

I had been reading parts of "Wesley the Owl" given to me by my friend and colleague Barabara Slobodian  out loud to Bob. We had enjoyed Stacey's account of living with a baby barn owl.  Learning more factoids that were explained by a scientist, as well as an animal lover.  The first thing we came upon was a wall of owls.  How apropos!! 

Birds of prey include: Eagles, Vultures, Falcons, Kites, Owls, Osprey, Hawks, Buzzards and Kestrels.  They are "raptors" that kill with their powerful talons.  Some of the largest birds, and a few of my favorites.  I have loved vultures since they were portrayed in cartoons from my childhood.  Turkey vultures having a redish pink bald head and a seemingly fur trimmed collar on their coat of feathers.  And my all time favorite the Harpy Eagle.  Who when threatened raise their large feathers on top of their head. To me looks comical, not ominous.

  

Above a Turkey Vulture.

Outside there was Bateleur Eagle, and I had never one seen live.  I spoke to the him...as I always do to birds and he came closer, turning his head and giving me the "single eye."  When I raised my camera to take his picture he opened his massive wings as if to say: "look at these."  Indeed, I was impressed.  His red markings and blue eyes were dwarfed when he spread his wings. 

Below the handsome Bateleur Eagle. 

  

Above is a Harpy who was startled by a screaming kid outside her cage.  One of the volunteers, Julie gave us a brief personal tour.  I fantasized about missing our plane and staying with my newfound feathered friends.  Every hour they bring out a live bird.  For me, it doesn't get better than that.  The "bird of the hour" was a Peregrine Falcon.  He was shy, and not really used to being handled.  New to the Center the falconer said: "he needs more socialization."  I don't think the bird agreed.  

Look at that face!  Stunning, handsome, noble, and those eyes!  I could have looked at him for hours.  In the picture here you can see he liked looking at me too.  Different reasons no doubt.   I stuck my head in the "Children's Room" just long enough to try on the bird eyes, beak, and feather headband.  What a look eh?  Bob thoroughly enjoyed our feathered friends.  He proudly donned a hat with a harpy on it from the gift shop. 

For more information on The Peregrine Fund: http://www.peregrinefund.org.  

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.

xo

Suz

Our Own Private Idaho

 

This weekend Bob and I went to a wedding of someone who has been very special in my life.  She is almost a second daughter.  I worked with her on my first pilot, and for 4 seasons of a TV show about a "girl and her horse."  When we met on that show this beautiful young lady and I would develop a deep lifelong bond.  Only for her would I have gotten out of bed after being sick (still sick) with bronchitis all week.  I was too sick to shop for my perfect ensemble. For me...that's sick!   So I packed all my meds, inhaler, and some recycled wedding clothes at 10pm the night before we left.  I really had no business getting on a plane.  "I'm going even if it kills me." I had told the doctor the day before.  When Bob and I got married, this young woman had come all the way to Rome.  So what was Sun Valley in February, with bronchitis compared to that?

 ,

Bob and I flew to Boise.  We could have flown to Sun Valley, but we were told weather canceled 50% of flights.  It was my first trip to Idaho, except for the movie. :-)  The rental car office had all of one employee in Boise Idaho.  She told us to "take the long way" as it had snowed and she wasn't sure about the roads.  We got into our Chevy Equinox (what kind of name is that for a car?) and headed to the only mall in Boise, Idaho.  We had to buy Bob a tie.  My dear husband didn't own one, which he proudly told to every Dillards employee who would listen.  I had to get pantyhose.  I had a pleasant surprise of running into a full sized, fully dressed skeleton in the makeup department.  

Our 4 hour trip began from Boise to Sun Valley.  It was gray and brown, and dismal.  In the distance we could see white peaks.  I learned they had lots of cattle farms.  Some not up to Temple Grandin's standard of care, or mine.  There was a wind advisory...and we saw many a "wind break" of trees.  It was desolate in parts.  I am always thankful when I drive through rough country that I was born in the time of history where I can drive or fly.  I had visions of wagons stuck in the mud, and long skirts, and cold cold nights.  The last 75 miles was like driving through molasses.  25 miles an hour on a 2 lane road.  I was texting my friend Claudia who was waiting for us there, and staying in the same hotel.   We got to Hailey.  Claudia was a welcome face to see after so many years.  The last time I had seen her was at her wedding in Vegas at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. 

So here we were, together again.  No Elvis this time to walk the bride down the isle.  No "Love Me Tender" sung by an Elvis Impersonator. When Claudia got married we were being picked up by a limo from the Wedding Chapel.  We stood in the busy drive of the Vegas hotel.  Claudia pointed to the white stretch limo....we all hopped into the limo.  Then someone realized it was the WRONG limo (they kinda look alike) and we all had to get out and into a different white limo!!! This one was a bit smaller and we were told by our driver that there were too many of us.  Oh Boy.  As you can tell by the photos above...we worked it out and we got to the chapel.

This Idaho wedding was a complete winter motif.  From the "save the date" postcard of a couple sledding down a snowy mountain, to the letter press invitations, ski lift tickets were our place cards, and table assignments named after Sun Valley ski runs.  Yes, at the lodge there was a moose head over the fireplace.  We were asked to sit in a heated clear enclosure that faced the snowy landscape.  The groomsmen filed in, and the groom followed and turned to see where his bride was.

As Gen came around the corner I was watching Jared's face.  He had tears in his eyes.  When their eyes met they both began to cry.  At that moment it was clear what all the songs are written about.  There wasn't a person in the room who couldn't feel their love for each other.  I cried through the entire ceremony.  I cried on and off all evening.  Because I was so happy for Gen. She didn't "settle", she picked.  There's a big difference.  I am so glad to be included and to witness their marriage.  Jared is an amazing man, and they are so good together. 

The evening flew by.  Below are photos of dancing.  The band even played a Black Eyed Peas song that Bob and I danced to: "I got a feeling."  Bob and Claudia danced.  One of the last songs the band played was Amy Winehouse's "I don't want to go to rehab!" Pretty funny, and we had a blast. Bob made sure he told everyone he'd never wear his polkadot silk tie again. Don't ask me what Bob is doing in the picture dancing with Claudia.  He's having a great time! As you can see in the last photo, it was time for me to go home and to sleep. 

 

 

  

 

Our time was too short together.  I wanted to talk to everyone more.  I am told they are coming through town this spring.  I can't wait.  Jared had to go back to finish shooting the rest of his TV show. Claudia was working on a commercial on Monday.  Our "own private Idaho" came to a bittersweet close.

Gen, Clauds, Jared, Bob:   LULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           (love you long time is what we always text to eachother)

xo

Suz

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.

Next blog will be about the Groomsman Knives.

Good Hair: Don't say the "N" word.

My Father at 19, with hair.

At about eight years old I heard the word... "Nappy".  Irma said: "you got the nappiest hair for a white girl.  I think some of my people musta mix up with the massa."  From that day on- my quest began.
I was looking for that long and silky straight hair.  Peggy Lipton had the straight blonde shoulder length hair.  The kind that has a wide brush stroke of highlight.  I wanted long, straight and shiny hair.  Run your fingers through it, turn my head and it swirls through the air. I wanted to be the Breck Girl, Lady Clairol, and Lady Godiva.

It started long before I would be sent home from school for wearing corn rows.  Long before cream rinse had been invented.  My mother pasted my short curls to my head.  There are a few baby pictures of my curls.  But for as long as I can remember she was trying to "relax" it.   She gave up and pulled it as tight as she could into a pony tail.

I hated having my hair washed.  Afterword, the painful comb out using a tiny toothed black comb. This certainly is a form of torture that is under used. I'd beg my Mom at breakfast to leave the rubber band in and I'd smooth down the fuzz around my face. One day I took matters into my own hands.  I took the kitchen shears and cut off my pony tail at the rubber band.  Yes, the green or red rubber band that came wrapped around the newspaper every morning.  I was sent to my room "until it grows back."  That seemed like it might be an eternity even if it only lasted for one night.  But I was liberated!!!

When my Mom would do the comb out, I would hear the same litany.  "You got your hair from your Father's side of the family.  You were a bald baby cause it was hard for this kinky coarse hair to poke through your scalp.  Get over your tender scalp.  Some day you will be grown up and have your own hair dresser to manage this."  "Comb your hair!" She'd say when she picked my up from school.  Was she crazy?  The last thing I wanted to do was run a comb through this dry kinked up blonde mess.  She spoke to me as if I had a deformity of some kind.

Mom and Dad back in the Day!

As I got older I tried ironing it with a clothes irons, on the ironing board.  I had Irma bring me a jar of "relaxer"(sodium hydroxide).  Put that stuff on, and burned the living daylights out of my scalp.  I spent most of high school and college with a pony tail on top of my head, and a large empty frozen orange juice can  with my hair wrapped around it.  I left it in until the last second before I met my public. My father would say: "How many stations you get on that thing?"  :-)

 

1982 a "good hair" day

Occasionally I had my Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin natural woman moments.  But they always felt bad.  I'd catch myself with some strange shaped shredded wheat looking stuff on my head. Recently I let it be curly for a few weeks.  I'd get that glimpse in the mirror and gasp.  It's not my best look.

Turns out Irma was a little bit right.  A genealogy search found me to be about 1.5% black.  And not from my Father's side.  I guess I knew it all a long.  Don't be fooled by the blonde hair and blue eyes.  My black friends called me "the dropper."  That cracks me up.

My Aunt with her French Bob 1920ish

Bob always says: "I never had good hair."  He's talking about himself.  In the days of having hair, it was brown and curly...not much different than my father's look at that age.  Things really haven't changed over the years.  Look at the models in today's magazines, they all have straight long shiny hair.  The same stuff I coveted in my youth, 30's, 40's, and now in my 50's.  I have a flat iron today...that does the trick.  Don't think I haven't thought of getting a weave.  But my budget won't allow me to buy that kind of ticket that needs maintenance and upkeep.  I like water far too much to get a weave.  Living in the dry Southwest has helped greatly.

When my daughter was about 3, my Mother took ownership of her hair: "thank God she has hair like me."  And breathed a sigh of relief.  Below is a silhouette my mom had made of me at 12.  She asked the artist to "smooth out' my hair. 

I saw Chris Rock's "Good Hair" special and it brought it all home again.  I recommend this HBO special to all with nappy hair like mine.

So I wonder: will today be a "good hair" day?  We'll see.

Thanks for reading.  I'm amazed that you do.

xo

Suz

PS. Those who read this post know "N" is for "Nappy."

Home Sweet Home

 

our kitchen table: a sight for sore eyes.

When we left the show hotel Sunday afternoon for Newark...IT started.  Our cab driver missed the exit for the airport, and got turned around on side streets.  His GPS screen dark as we meandered our way to American Airlines.  I saw the weather report for Chicago, our connecting city.  Not promising.  We boarded, they closed the doors and we "pushed" from our gate about 5 feet and stopped.  Our pilot came on and said we'd be sitting as Chicago had low cloud cover.  It took almost 2 hours to take off.

What do you do when this happens?  Nothing.  Years ago I went on a winter trip with some friends from Chicago to Michigan.  While at an Indiana rest stop gassing up, my friend locked his keys in the car.  We went into the restaurant and called a surly lock smith who wasn't too happy about meeting us, but agreed to come.  I saw a pinball machine and looked for change in my purse.  I was merrily flipping away when the "key locker" friend exclaimed: "what are you doing?!!"
"Playing pinball."  I stated calmly.
My friend was so upset at himself.  These things happen.  I handed him a quarter and said: "you play."
He was bewildered by my lack of suffering.  I was impressed by his need to suffer.  We both had a good laugh.  The lock smith hadn't shown up so I walked into the restaurant and asked the staff if anyone had a "slim jim."  No one did, but a cook from behind the counter that looked a bit rough around the edges said he had a coat hanger.  The man skillfully, in the freezing temperatures glided the hanger in and popped the lock.  10 bucks tip, thank you's,  and we were out of there.  The lock smith had over an hour to arrive and didn't.
So sitting on the tarmac I got to know the two women in my row.  One was a foreign exchange student from Portugal.  The other, a young mother on a business trip.  We had a blast.  The young mother asked what I had been playing (Wurdle) on my iPhone.  I handed it to her as I have to many an innocent who soon would be addicted.  She was up to 2400 in 15 minutes.  Hooked, and said she would be visiting an ATT store in Chicago ASAP.  I nodded knowing she meant it. We played a few games of "Set."  My time flew as we eventually flew.

As we got closer to Chicago I could see nothing but white.  I was resolved at this point to having a sleep over in my home town.  The Hilton O'Hare gave us a discount.  We had a lovely dinner, a movie in our room.  We made the most of it.  It was the same as being stuck in Indiana and playing pinball.  It just cost more quarters.  A toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and razor...$7.  What a deal.  No shower, no clean clothes, lots of rescheduling, and we boarded a 10:30 flight the next morning...at 11:30.  The snow was still falling, heavy clouds prevented any last views of Chicago from the plane.  Thank goodness JP our friend and animal sitter was able to stay.  xo to you JP!

A few last photos of NY knife show.  I got my meteorite hookup.  Above is a photo of Bob and the Meteorite man: Charles.  The Papa Smurf look is compliments of Niel from True North Knives.  He's a proud Canadian and gave Bob the Olympic hat.  When Bob saw the picture of himself he said: "oh God."

 

Above Steve D'lack in the middle presenting the Buster Warenski award to Koji Hara and a Swedish knifemaker, Anders Hedlund.  In the back to the left is my new friend Scott who showed me some of his Torelli Pens, watches, and flashlights!  He happened to be at our table when Rick and Lindsey came by.  Scott and Rick bonded over an LED flashlight that is called something very Star Trekish...right Lindsey? :-)

 

Above are two other "knife wives":  Joyce Minnick (R) from Indiana who works with her husband and does all the decorative engraving, and inlays on their knives.  She is a fabulous bronze sculptor.  I got to see her newest American Indian piece in the clay stage.  On the left is Nicole Reverdy from Paris.  She too is a bronze sculptor married to knife maker.  She is a "glassaholic" like me...always wearing kicky spectacles...a woman after my heart.  

We have a new table location.  We moved into the honored spot Frank Centofanti had for as long as I have been coming to this show.  I would have given almost anything to have Frank back with us.  I really miss him.  He constantly teased Bob and made me laugh.  On Friday I went to the hotel gift shop and bought a pack of green Extra gum in his honor.  But it just wasn't the same without Frank. :-(

The lovely Lydia delivered the "knife wife" illustration.  Now I can get t-shirts, etc. made.  She got to meet some of you. I loved seeing all the people I know from the USN forum.  Barbara and Scott Slobodian were there after a long absence from our show lives.  I met new people too, and I'd like to name some.  But if I forgot a name, I'd feel terrible. SO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!   Time runs so fast at these shows.  Until the next one, and we meet again...

I am home sweet home: Buddy at my feet, Columbus the cat head butting the laptop, two other cats watching my every move, and Bob is out in the shop grinding something...I can hear it. 

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do!

xo

Suz

New York New York

 

Drew Barrymore's Grandma

We were up at 4:30 AM to fly from Albuquerque to Chicago.  Two and a half hours in a commuter sized jet would have been unbearable.  But Bob and I were so tired...we slept the entire way.  I woke up and looked out the window on a ground covered in white.  My phone dinged to tell me I had a text message.  Our connecting flight had been switched to another gate.  At O'hare...that can be quite a hike.  When I exited the ramp, I couldn't find Bob.  So I walked at quite a clip to make the next flight at the new gate.  I was in the next terminal and looked up at one of the screens to double check the gate.  It had been changed to another terminal. All the while calling Bob on his phone to ask him what his 10-20 was...no answer.   So I high tailed it to the next terminal and saw passengers boarding.  I rummaged through my purse and carry on bag.  No boarding pass.  But the woman at the gate said she'd get me another one.  I continued looking and found it as she printed out the new one.  Of course.

I was one of the last passengers to board.  I came to the seats on the boarding pass, both empty.  Where was Bob?  I put my bag in the overhead compartment.  Sat down and buckled up and tried Bob's phone again.  A young man came and sat in the empty seat.  He told me I was sitting in his seat.  I said I had misplaced my husband, which made him smile.  Then I looked at my boarding pass again because I knew something wasn't right here.  I had the last flight's pass and was in the wrong seat.  I apologized and gathered my things to go to the correct seat.  The young man said he hoped I found my husband.  I walked to the back of the plane and there was Bob standing at the right seats.
"Why were you sitting with that strange man?" he asked.
"I really don't know. I had the wrong boarding pass.  Never mind...where were you? I've been trying to call you?"  I said with fully ruffled feathers at that point.

We took off and flew over the North Shore where I had grown up and lived most of my life.  The lake was glistening and blue.  I could see every skyscraper.  I even saw the Evanston Lighthouse.  Seeing the Lake and familiar landmarks calmed me.  I always feel a sadness when I leave Chicago.  It will always be my home, no matter where I live.

We arrived on schedule a LaGuardia.  The sky was grey and soupy looking.  No line at the cab stand....we were on our way to midtown in minutes.  No traffic, no crowds, it was amazing.  The hotel lobby was filled with "fashion week" guests and "knifemaker guests."  Glaring dichotomies...at best.  So many knife folks and we were happy to meet and greet.  Up in our room the phone rang, friends knocked on our door, and so it begins.  The next 3 days will be a whirlwind.

Tonight we went with Scott and Barbara Slobodian and Niel to Gallaghers Steak House.  The painting above hangs by the coat check.  Framed photos floor to ceiling of celebrity.  I love to see the vintage ones.  Red and white gingham table cloths await platters of meat.

 

When you come in the front door there is the "room of beef!"  It looks like library shelves from a distance.  I shared my prime rib with Barbara...and here's what 1/2 and order looks like.

  

A mural on the wall of sports famoso.

Bob and Niel after a martini and glass of wine.  We had a great evening.

More tomorrow!

----------------------------------------❊❊❊

FRIDAY: Day 1 of knife show

Today the show opened at noon for VIP's and dealers, and at one for everyone else.  As usual there was a swarm at the table to see Bob's knives.  I had posted photos of the new "Athena"  on the USN forum.  I got to meet so many people who I have only known on the internet, and visit with others I have known for years.  

Above is the "Athena" as a frame lock.  

Lydia  who is the young woman that drew the "knife wife" graphic came to the show, and I got to see the original drawing for the first time.  Which I am taking home for t-shirts and other graphic goodies.  I introduced her to as many people as I could.  I am so proud to have her art on my blog.  Thanks Lydia.  She's in her last semester at SVA,  and has an incredible future ahead of her as a professional artist.  I asked her to please scan some of her work so I can share it on the blog.  I can't wait! 

I took her to the Stage Deli and we got pastrami sandwiches for all.  I got one sandwich for Bob and I to share and one for Lydia.  When the man at the deli handed her the bag she thought he'd put too many sandwiches in...cause it weighed a lot.  So I've had my pastrami fix, and sent her home with he other half.  I had a great time hanging out with her.   

After the show we went to Yoshihiro Shapiro's house for dinner.  He is the luckiest dog in Manhattan.  

His owner's Rick and Lindsey made a fabulous dinner for us.  Rick stopped at the Italian deli and we had crostini with arugala, prosciutto, parmesan and pistachios .   Then steamed fresh clams.  Followed by whole lobsters!  For us land locked New Mexicans...it was quite a treat.  And of course, I was cracking my lobster claw open and it exploded all over me.  I needed a bib!  Delicious home cooking New England style.

Pre cooking, Linds felt props were needed for my pictures.  As Rick lifted the live lobsters to put them in the pot Linds put her hand over her eyes: "I can't look!"   It was an Annie Hall moment for sure.

Yummy!

Our very tired hosts: Lindsey and Rick.  

We had a fabulous time.  XOXO

We were promised a visit on Sunday by Yoshi at the show.  I hope he can make it.  Everyone will love him.

More tomorrow!

xo  Thanks for reading!

Suz 

 

My Little Cupcake

Last year I had the pleasure of baking cupcakes with a good friend I met in the movie biz.  We worked together on Crash, the TV show.  He had told me he wanted to learn how to bake.  So we set up a time to do so which happened to be around Valentines Day. I gots to give you some background of how I met JP. He wears many movie hats: actor, stunt man, set dec.  I hope to see him more on screen in the future.

I worked with his older brother Keith on "Wildfire." I had met Keith on "Trade" a movie with Kevin Klein.  Keith was the voice of reason on the set.  He's an AD (assistant director) and AD's can be pretty gruff, and full of themselves.  But he had an old world southern politeness and I liked him immediately.  When we worked on several seasons of "Wildfire."  Occasionally we had time to talk and he would say:
"You should met my brother, you would love him." "You would get along great with my sister."  When I went to work on "Crash" both JP and Keith were working on it.  And Keith was right. I did love his brother instantly (I'm not alone, everyone loves JP).  We spent a long 5 months working on season one.  Both of them would say: "You should meet my sister, you two would get along."

Well, sister Rebekah came to New Mexico to do a public art project.  We met on Facebook first and discovered a mutual love for Lee Bontecou.  Rebekah's work reminds me of Bontecou. We had the pleasure of having all 3 for brunch one Sunday when Rebekah was here.  Each is so different from the other being fabulous in their own way.  Rebekah made the cupcake "blok" in the photo.  JP had given me a few of her "bloks" and "Cupcake" inspired our cupcake baking.  She also has a shop on Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/shop/rpotterstudio.  Check it out!

So the rest of this blog will be filled with photos of our baking day.  I taught him to make 7 minute cooked frosting and butter cream that we used to frost chocolate brownie cupcakes and coconut cupcakes.  Both recipes can be found in Martha Stewart's Cupcake Book.  JP strapped on an apron and we went to work.  Only a real man could rock a calico apron with such flair. 

 

  

  

  

 

Happy Valentine's Day to all.  Eat something sweet!

Thanks for reading.  I am still amazed that you do.

xo
Suz