So... we are officially OPEN!!!

What an exciting few weeks it has been too. We have had some lovely, lovely customers - some returning 3 times in our first week! ...Can't ask for more than that :)

Before I start to get over excited about our first 3 weeks of trading I must first of all say a huge, massive thank you to all of my AMAZING friends and family. I would not have been able to do this without your help and I cannot begin to express my appreciation.... Dad, Kat, James, Lucie, Emily, Miss Haley, Louise, Dave, Matt and Lucy, The lovely Minster staff, Richard and the guys upstairs, Thom, and last but not least my truly amazing boyfriend - I could not have asked for any more from any one of you.







Right enough of the mushy stuff, lets get down to business... our pretty shop.....

                               

Our launch day was on Saturday 14th July and was a huge success. We got some fantastic feedback from customers about the shop and everyone said how nice the cakes tasted too. Phew! After a long and very busy day, we threw a little bit of a party for everyone that had been involved... ate posh finger sandwiches (thanks to my future step-mum!), drank champagne and ate CAKE! Even though I was nearly fast asleep after a couple of glasses of the fizzy stuff, it was the best celebration ever!





The very first batch of cupcakes turned out a treat too...

More blogging soon... oh but I promised a picture of my feature light... LOVE IT!

GOOD NIGHT ALL :)

Hello from an excited Crumbs Cupcakery HQ!

So... A few weeks have passed since we announced that we were opening a shop in York. Well, we finally got the keys last Monday and have been frantically painting, sawing and drilling away all this week so that we can open as quickly as possible so that we don't miss any of our lovely British Summertime! (saying that is has rained loads here today... Boo).

There have been a few obstacles so far, wonky walls being number 1, as apparently it makes fitting a kitchen and laying a floor rather tricky! It's a good job Jack, my extremely lovely and helpful boyfriend (with scary devil eyes in this picture!), loves a challenge...

Our lovely electrician, Thom Wiseman from Powerwatt Ltd in York has been fantastic, and fitted lots of new pendants for our pretty lamp shades, and is also making our feature light which I am soooo excited about seeing finished! Pictures will most certainly follow...

Day off for me tomorrow as I have to drive to London to the National Cupcake Championships which I can't wait for. It is an honour to be selected for a second year running, and even if we don't win anything, it'll be great to have a finalist certificate to hang in the shop :) It won't however, be a day off for Jack (poor boy!), my Dad and Step-Mum to-be... as they are carrying on with the shop fit. I am so lucky to have such lovely friends and family that are willing to help with only tea and cakes for payment! 

Right, signing off for the night from a lovely (rainy) York.... Xxx

Exciting Times....

Well, I cannot believe that it is almost a year since my last blog post... and the last time I wrote was when I attended the National Cupcake Championships in 2011! MUST make time to blog more in the future! :o Funnily enough, I have just had news that we have been shortlisted for the 2012 Championships... super excited to say the least! Our "Love is in the Air" Cupcake has been selected for the themed Cupcake category. Two years in a row - what an honour!

***** NEWS FLASH!*****

We are extremely proud to announce that we are going to be opening our very own Cupcakery in the beautiful City of York. Our pretty little bakery is situated right behind the York Minster, and we will be serving tea, coffee, milkshakes and of course Cupcakes and other treats!

We will keep you updated with further news and exciting happenings in the coming weeks!

  

National Cupcake Championships 2011

Monday 15th August 2011 - National Cupcake Championship FINALS day!!

After a weekend with my best friends in Weston-super-Mare I had to prepare myself on Sunday evening for a nerve-wracking, yet very exciting Monday morning.....

A short taxi ride from South London to the ICA near Trafalgar Square where I registered my 12 identical 'All American' Cupcakes and set up my display with an example of my packaging. I had been chosen for the 'Best Presented' category and 'Best Tasting Cupcake'. Next, a cup of tea and sit down whilst all of the finalists started to arrive....

Around 10am we were taken to a kind of lecture theatre, where we were given demonstrations and talks from sponsors of the event. We then had a talk from David Muniz and David Lesniak - the founders of Outsider Tart - a London based bakery. They were so amazing and inspiring, honest and helpful. Everything they said had gone through my head, and to hear someone in the industry coming across the same challenges that I have was so encouraging. I can't wait to buy their book 'Baked in America' - their whoopie pies were so yummy! (yes we got samples!!!)

We were then directed upstairs to where all of the finalists Cupcakes had been judged by Eric Lanlard, Peggy Porschen, Lily Vanilli and other famous bakers and patissiere's. I felt proud to be a part of an event with such amazing and talented people.

The awards were announced, and even though I didn't win, I was still so honoured to have been chosen as a finalist. I hope the judges enjoyed my Cupcake, and hopefully next year I will be lucky enough to be selected again. Fingers crossed for 2012.....

Holmfirth Farmers Market

We had another good day at the market today, thanks for coming if you popped by! We did a couple of special flavours today... first of all an earl grey tea flavoured cupcake which was very popular. I wasn't sure how it would go down to be honest because it's a bit 'different', but everyone loved it! They had a very delicate earl grey flavour in the sponge and also in the frosting which was yummy. We also made some Red Velvet Whoopie Pies which were soooo good!

A whoopie pie is a cross between a soft biscuit, cake or a pie. Two of these cake/biscuits are sandwiched together with a marshmallow fluff frosting, which is so sweet, but sooo delicious. According to food historians, Amish women would bake these delights and put them in farmers' lunchboxes. When the farmers found these treats, they would shout 'whoopie!'. Cool eh!

The Holmfrith Farmers Markets come around so quickly every month, and it's really nice to feel like part of a little community down there every 3rd Sunday. All of the other stall holders are so friendly, Kate from the Parsnipship, Andrew and his mum from Coddy's farm, the mushroom people, the old bridge bakery and the lovely couple that make beautiful wooden stools to name but a few. I would definitely reccommend it if you like fresh, local produce - made by local people, for local people. Hopefully see you there next month where we will be doing special cupcakes for Fathers Day! (And some more whoopie pies!)

Bye for now! xx

Our NEW Website..... (aaaaaaah!!!!)

So today is the day..... the website is officially HERE!!!!

Please feel free to have a look by clicking on the link below and let us know your thoughts;

http://www.crumbscupcakery.co.uk/

We are so thrilled with the way it has turned out, and would like to say a huge, massive thank you to Gav for all of his hard work, dedication and for putting up with my many demands. He has done such a good job and we cannot thank him enough for all of his help.

Too excited to type any more!!

ooooops... time flies!

Hello all!

Firstly, may I apologise for my lack of entries on here... we have been very busy bees these last few months!

Lots of lovely customers old and new, have been ordering cupcakes for christenings, birthdays and we have even been to London and Bournemouth for two beautiful weddings. Lots has been going on... Comic Relief, a Harry Potter party, cakes for Vivienne Westwood and a Royal Wedding! Here are just a few snippets...



People sometimes ask if we have a shop and the answer is unfortunately not. However, we regularly attend the Holmfirth Farmers Market which takes place every 3rd Sunday of the month - and see this as a base for our customers to find us on a regular basis. We are always situated in the lower maret hall, just behind the lovely Cody's Farm. Alternatively, we take orders over the telephone, via email and can also deliver. No orders are too big or too small so please do get in touch if you would like to enquire, get a quote or order. Further on in the year we are also atending Yorkshire Day at Oakwell Hall on July 31st, and will again be attending the Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival in September, which last year was a huge success! So all in all, we have an exciting few months ahead... keep your eyes peeled!

We are thrilled that you are all enjoying our cakes as much are we are enjoying baking them, and we hope to gain loyal customers who will return time after time.


Danielle xx

ps...... I promise to try and get blogging more in between baking and sleeping!