Cake Lady Jill

Cake Lady Jill Custom Wedding Cakes and Ballantyne Hotel .... a marriage made in heaven!

2012-01-20T16:25:00.000-08:00

I am so proud to announce that Cake Lady Jill will be doing the cakes for the stunning weddings at the Balantyne Hotel. What a wonderful professional, energitic staff they have working here. A special thanks to Kelly Randazzo for welcoming me so graciously. I am so excited make some memorable classic cakes for these couple. Happy family,new shop, grwing business. What more could a girl ask for? Nothing........Well maybe a small little White Mercedes. Brides Please Check out pictures of this amazing hotel and wedding packages at www.theballantynehotel.com

Great Pictures of Dessert Buffet From Bridal Showcase Networking Event

2012-01-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Critsey Rowe for sharing these pics with me! The Doughnuts and Milk where a big hit! But I loved the Mini Banana Pudding shots. Simple but yum-rific. Thanks To Gail with Cheesecakes Ect. for helping me keep all the glass ware together. I think this was my best spred yet. Excited to try more funky treats.

I won!!!!! First Place is Willy Wonka's Choc. Factory. Ballantyne Hotel Gingerbread house contest to benefit Levine Children's Hospital. It is a free event stop by for holiday cocktail and a cruise of Gingerbread Lane 2011

2011-12-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

Love this darn cake! Pipping is an exact match to the lace on the gown LOVE IT!

2011-12-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Shultzs shared the feature on "Every Last Detail" Also thought you might enjoy a few other great pic from Cheyenne and husband Geoff . A very talented couple don't ya think?

2011-12-13T18:23:00.000-08:00

My glowing win from the ugly sweater Party.Just For fun. Thought you might giggle Merry Christmas.

2011-12-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

thanks to Kristin Vining Photography for sharing this great cake pic with me. This wedding is features in Smitten Magazine. beautiful event By Dina Blazek Events.

2011-11-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

I could not wait to share this with you all!

2011-11-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while you get a larger than life bride. This is a fun day for me the bigger, more elaborate the better. I was so excited to see this cake done Jasmina this was a fun weekend for me thanks a million.

Fall is here and weddings cakes are flowing I love these cuties. enjoy!

2011-09-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

A few new cakes for you!

2011-08-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

Pro Basketball Players Mercedes Benz Grooms cake

2011-08-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

Just a ton of summer fun!

2011-07-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

It is 100 degrees today in Charlotte, could it be hotter? I think not. Enjoy a few of the latest and greatest.....Hey and By the way, I received my first comment on a blog in three years... Take five and share your thought, I am interested. Stay cool.

Why Kristin Vining Photography should shoot every wedding in Charlotte..........

2011-06-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

See More really is More!!!! I truly did need a break from "simple and elegant "Special thanks to the beautiful super classy Mallory Minichbauer (Bride) and Weddings and the City (Planner of all that is good Tiffany Ratliff) This was a very tough month. 16 weddings, one 11 year old birthday . My birthday (I am 100 years old now for sure) and a 12 year wedding anniversary celebration. I know am blessed with a wonderful family and friends that I would not trade for gold......... Thank god for June! Bring on the pool... is it to late to do a few sit ups???

May Cakes!!! Loving the the Black ans White cake that I did for the Mint. Wanna hear something funny? Guess which one was the most time consuming?? Snoppy! Darn grooms cakes.....

2011-05-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

Back to work and happy to post some cakes from the weekend that show just a little bit of diversity (after all no two girls are a like!!) Hope you enjoy! Also I big thank you to Steve From Split Second Sound for giving me a jump start in the pits of the Omni Hotel so that I could Deliver the $1000.00 cake to The Mint Museum of Art. Steve you are a life saver! That cake went of without a hitch and I really thought I was going to barf.... so much for calm and cool!

2011-04-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

ok ok ok I will go back to work! Fun with Purple Cakes in Spring First One Providence Country Club, and second Can you Guess??? the New Mint Museum of Art.

2011-04-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

Who is ready for Spring Wedding Cakes!!!!!!!

2011-03-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

Thank god! The trees are blooming and after about 10,000 wedding cake consults I am ready to bake the darn cake already. I always get antsy this time of year. Heres a few from the winter to tide you over till next week.

One of my All Time Favorites!!! Small simple timeless. A big hug to Amy Martin Photography for the hook up with her beautiful work, A lovely talented lady!

2011-02-01T04:51:00.000-08:00

See I can so match your dress on a wedding cake!!! Cool huh??? Thanks you super cool LA girl Ebony Williams for this great picture

2011-02-01T04:46:00.000-08:00

Way to sleepy to write will just post the latest and greatest wedding and grooms cakes from the last three weeks, I thought that this was supposed to be the slow time of year??

2011-01-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

Style Me Pretty Features Krystin Troyer's Westin Wedding Cake

2011-01-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

I have been lucky to be featured on this amazing wedding blog http://www.stylemepretty.com/ four times in 2010. Cant wait to see what happens in 2011.

Thanks to Kristin Vining Photography, Tiffany WATC, Carolyn Shepard, Alyse Woodard, Dina Blazek Events and Jennifer Wouters (Soiree Charlotte) For keeping me on my toes and creatively alive in 2010. You all made being perpetually sticky and extremely tired alot of fun. I looked forward to seeing you all every weekend...... Let me see if I can dig up a few cake pics for the new year.

The Knot Best of 2011!

2010-12-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

Feeling like I won an Oscar and a Peoples Choice Award all in won! Thanks you to all of my kind past clients, makes me feel as if all those sleepless weekends are really worth it1

Southpark Magazine Cover Shot!!

2010-11-29T17:52:00.001-08:00

This was just what I needed to get me in to the holiday cake making season! Many thanks and warm wishes to Celeste Smith, and Photographer Wendy Yang. If you have Five minutes between shopping and baking, check out the article at http://www.southparkmagazine.com/ Happy holidays to all! Season with Love! Cake Lady Jill

Random cool cakes!

2010-11-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

It's the holidays and Thanksgiving is really my favorite holiday. Lots of pie, football, and hanging with friends. Christmas not so much. So expensive, so much pressure, so busy, and with two small kids..... it's just a bit much. So I will get creative and focus on the gingerbread competition at Ballantyne Hotel with hopes that it will get me over the hump into 2011. This is a pretty cool event that donates money to The Levine Childrens Hospital. Which when my daughter was three we lived at for three days, waiting patiently for my daughter to turn the corner from a terrible stomach virus. I remember how weak Elisabeth was, sleeping on the floor, and seeing all those little pale kids with no hair and 30 stitches down there chest. All I could feel was relief...because I knew what E had was a walk in the park, compared to what these children where going through. This has been a very frustrating year with lots of ups and downs. I know I am blessed, I know am loved, I sure is hell hope I am lucky in 2011. Enjoy a few pics from 2010 god bless.

The Cakes of October!

2010-11-23T05:27:00.000-08:00

Custom Fall Leaf Wedding Cake. Check out the cool Bird Topper made from gum paste.

2010-11-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

Love this Bird topper! Cake was at Ballantyne Country Club.

2010-11-23T05:10:00.000-08:00

A lovely girl named Krystin Troyer had a huge wedding reception at the Westin. What a lovely girl! Perfect wedding ...Beautiful Five tier cake, Custom colored Gum paste flowers. What a good time I had working with you Krystin!

Wedding cake at the Mint Museum, really dont you love this picture from Indigo Photography!

2010-11-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

2010-11-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

OH... Alright I am updating this thing, Have made some of the most BEAUTIFUL wedding cakes this year! I really want to take this time to tell all brides..... take a chance! The cake can be AMAZING, FUN, FOCAL POINT. Or you get a a cake, big deal. Be brave, be beautiful, be you.

2010-08-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

oh my gosh super cute!

2010-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

a few from the weekend!

2010-07-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

Style me pretty cake

2010-07-21T06:19:00.001-07:00

Love Firethorne Country Club Weddings

2010-07-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Love the brides, love Barabra Director of events over there. Love working with Magnolia Events, she did a great job.

The cakes of the HOT summer!

2010-07-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

Delivering wedding cakes is hard enough, but it's been 101-105, it's been tough but here are a few from this past weekend.

Wicked cool grooms cake and Morrow wedding Cake

2010-05-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

I have really come along way in a year, cakes are better, I am doing them faster, and I am feeling like a million bucks!

2010-05-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

Is may over yet??

2010-05-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

The Savvy Bride

2010-05-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

My spot is ready for viewing on The Savvy Bride! This interactive web site is the brain child of Tobi Colbert(Carolina Bride mag) Matt Francis (Dreamlight Films) and Cortenay Matters (Carolina Wedding Design) If you are a bride or groom, I highly recommend taking the time to look at all the area vendors. It is a great way to look at personality and portfolio before you schedule appts. here is the link www.thesavvybride.com Click on Charlotte and Florist and cakes.

2010-04-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to see the cakes put together after all these months of planning! I have said this before, but really I am blessed to work for such a diverese group of ladies. I enjoy getting to know them all and certinely feel my life is all the more rich for having meet them. I have met doctors, TV camera operations, teachers, cops. I can't wait to see who shows up next to my door. I am looking forward to showing all the good stuff to coming up this summer. Here are a few of the newest. Enjoy!

2010-04-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Spring had sprung here in Charlotte, I for one am grateful. Wedding season is in full bloom and I am enjoying every minute! Keep checking in for the latest and greatest pictures.

2010-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

Bridal Shower Cake Southern Style! Yes It is red velvet!

2010-03-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Audrey's Frog!

2010-02-21T07:28:00.000-08:00

How blessed am I in 2010!!!!

2010-01-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Attention brides here are the date available in 2010! I feel blessed to even have to post this.I count my lucky stars daily.

March - 6th, 20th
April- 24th
May- 8th, 22nd
June -BOOKED
July- 24th
August- 14th, 21st, 28th
September- 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
October -2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

Kristin Vining Photography(no one makes my cakes look better than this women)

2010-01-20T12:34:00.001-08:00

Lindsey Regan Cover of Carolina Bride!

2010-01-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

Lindsey Regan is a girl who has style, class, and a flair that I have rarley seen in such a young lady. Please if you have not checked out the latest issue of Carolina Bride, Do it. The photos by Kristin Vining are truly amazing. Lindsey did not have a huge budget, however she was savvy enough to hire a great planner (Tiffany with Weddings and the City) I am so happy to have played a small role in Lindsey's wedding. The wedding and reception where at the Mint Museum Uptown. The coolest thing was the huge white helium ballons that where tied to the decor around the room. I wanted to live at Linsey's reception thats how beautiful and relaxed it was.

I can't believe I forgot to post this amazing picture!

2009-12-29T13:21:00.001-08:00

I am hungry....Sushi anyone?

2009-12-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Here Comes 2010!

2009-12-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Newly Engaged brides! I am so excited to meet you all and to become a part of your special day. The following are a heads up to 2010 dates already booked up. Please call me if you need a referral (always happy to spread the cake love here in Charlotte.)

April 2010 , BOOKED
May 2010,1st booked, 15th booked
June 2010, BOOKED
July 2010, 3rd booked 17th booked

2009-12-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Love this!!

2009-12-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Just a few really classey cakes for December. Then I must bake 8000 cookies, I hate making cookies. Sometimes.. Simple just rocks, y-no?

2009-12-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

Just because It's Christmas doesn't mean I'm slacking. Won Ballantyne Hotel's Gingerbread house contest.....again yay! Named it Elisabeth's Castle for my nine year old.

The Brides Vote!

2009-11-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

Cake Lady Jill "Best of The Knot" 2009 .Thanks lovely brides. This one means something because you voted for it!

Don't forget to come and check out Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Hotel. This is a free event and starts December 1st. Wish me luck for another win this year.

2009-11-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

The wedding season it winding down!

2009-11-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

The wedding season is winding down and I have to say it has been a year of lessons for me. I have the honor of working with some of Charlotte's finest wedding planners(Weddings and the City, Jennifer Wouter Soiree Charlotte, and the lovely Alyse Woodard) These ladies have brought me some of my favorite brides ever, and I have learned a ton just watching them do there thing. I have enjoyed the challenge of designing cakes for there events, and it has been a much needed break from dot cakes!
I have to say I have also been super impressed with Carolyn Shepard's creativity and how she always manages to push the envelop with color. Always a lady under pressure. I am lucky to call her my friend.
I have also learned a thing or two from Taylor from The Place for Flowers. He and his staff make my day and prove you don't have to spend a million to look like a million.
I think my biggest lesson this year is that you can't do everything perfect, Kids, dinner, run a business, and be a perfect wife. I have had to settle for pretty darn good most of time and for someone as high strung as I am that has been a bitter pill to swallow.
I can't end this entry without thanking my wonderful brides, and let them know that each one has made an impact on me, I really do enjoy getting to know who they are and meeting there families.
On a lighter note. Grooms cakes are hard (they take forever to make) Charlotte Traffic is definitely getting worse( sorry I was little late Jenn) and boy am I sick of spice cake(even though I will never be sick of Cream Cheese filling). God bless
p.s. I few cutie cake to end the year.

2009-10-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

2009-10-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Oh, neglected blog, I do love you, however I have had no sleep in the month of October! I am sure you understand. Dry those tears and let me share some pics and some comments about these fall events. The first two are at the Palmer Building, great venue. You can pretty much do anything with this place. Total blank canvas. I do favor the chocolate mad hatter square cake, never been done before.. very cool.

The square buttercream cake is my first try at making gum paste flowers, can I tell you the truth, whats the big whoop. It takes some time, but hey I can make them, watch "Days of Our Lives" and make dinner all at the same time. Really very simple.

Jennifer Wouters (Soiree Charlotte), was the planner for this cake. She is calm, cool, creative, and just a great lady. Hope she keeps me busy this spring.

I am late for a nap, and a snuggle with my very supportive family, but I have a few more cakes that I just love, and would like to share. These are a few examples of what a open minded , creative couples I have had the honor of working for this fall cake season. Congrats to all and thank you for allowing me to play a small role in your wedding.

2009-09-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

Lindsey Wedels Tiffany Blue wedding at Firethorne Country Club 8/29 Thank God the weather was awesome!

Check out the beautiful flowers, (The Place for Flowers)

2009-08-23T02:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday Cake people! So excited to post these pictures of a few out the the ordinary cakes I had to wake -up early. I hope these new pictures inspire you all to take a chance and pic something a little different for your wedding or next event.

2009-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Cake lovers, This is one of my all time favorite bridal shower cake ideas, Think of all the ways I could this Purse.

2009-08-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Jennifer passed her CPA exam, and being the fab girl she is threw a party, this is what we came up with!

2009-08-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Great bride, beautiful day, and my first event at the White water center. Want to see the cake?

Julia and Julia The Movie

2009-08-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

Just saw Julia and Julia the movie, by far my new favorite. At Johnson & Wales I assisted my teacher in making Julia Child's 80th B-day cake. I had a terrible hang over that day, but remember how nervous my teacher was, the cake was awesome.
When I bought Julia's baking book I made every single recipe out of the darn thing. Most of them twice, the bread section is off the hook.
But my favorite memory is being a little kid and watching her first PBS cooking series on Sat. afternoons, tearing upstairs to my own little kitchen and making a Box of Brownie mix..talking to the wall pretending to be just like her. I was 10 I never even new that baking was what I wanted to do.
I think the movie reminded me of why I stay up all night to get the cake just right. My hands are always Pink, or Black from all the food coloring. I miss sometimes two meals just to get to the event on time. How lucky am I to have a job that brings joy and countless calories to the masses. I know it is a job that I love because the minutes and the hours just slip away. It's a good life.

2009-07-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Cake Lady Jill

Custom designed wedding and special event cakes!