|
NOW YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HAT AND EAT IT TOO
What started out as an idea has become a real sweet spot for headwear. Cake baker Diane Eenigenburg opened a new bakery and restaurant called La Petite Sweet in downtown Westmont, Illinois. It turns out that the TLD Design Center & Gallery was having a Hat Fashion Show at the wine shop nearby – at deVine Wine. The owner of the shop, Denise Walsh asked Diane (the baker) if she would make a cake in the shape of a hat in honor of the fashion show.
The results were spectacular – Diane picked a hat made by Jenny Gerst of Formé Millinery (a student of TLD Design and first time participant) called Beaded Delight. Diane then created a cake that mimicked the felt hat. The cake was covered in airbrushed fondant, the beading was done with crystal sugar, jimmies and dragees that were glued on individually. Then the cake was hand painted with edible paint to match the hat. The flowers were made out of fondant and affixed to the cake. Diane hand decorated the hat band to match the photos of the original hat.
If you see the photo you can see the hat cake was beautifully done and was a real hatter’s delight. Diane was also asked to make an Indiana Jones Western hat cake as well for a gentleman’s retirement party. There is also a bolo tie on the side of the cake – hooray for cake hats.
Diane Eenigenburg of La Petite Sweet has made a lot of custom cakes, replicating bridal gowns, race cars, sandals, and a myriad of other items. Since this is a new business they want to get the word out about these cakes. Contact Diane at www.lapetitesweet.com or (630) 719-1111.
Jenny Gerst of Formé Millinery studied millinery design at the TLD Design Center & Gallery with Eia and other teachers and has started her own millinery business. Her hats are one-of-a-kind for men, women and children. “Hats are my passion, “said Gerst, who also makes custom hats from unusual or rare fabrics. “I love searching for antique beads from Germany or finding vintage braid that doesn't exist anymore.”
Gerst also has a way of discovering how people actually feel about her hats. “One thing I love to do is wear a new hat I just created out in public. The gasps, the looks, the comments are all reactions I get. That’s how I know I am in the right business. Making hats is my life and I love it! Contact Jenny at Formé Millinery at: www.formeonlineshop.com
 |
|
Jenny Gerst of Formé Millinery |
TLD Design Center & Gallery is currently has a call for entries for their annual hat exhibit, Hats 2009, scheduled for October 12th. The entry deadline is August (info available at www.tlddesigns.com). The Hat exhibit coincides with their fall Millinery Art Education Week with various hat making techniques featuring instructors Jan Wutkowski, Tammy L Deck and Eia.
“Our Fall Millinery Art Education week, from October 9th to15th, will have one and two day workshops including block carving, hand made felts and felt shaping techniques (more information forthcoming)
Tammy L Deck
TLD Design Center & Gallery
tammy@tlddesigns.com or www.tlddesigns.com | 
