Pale and Interesting (and Edible too!)

If these irresistible sugar-spun, lace-piped, glacé-coated, buttercream-frosted architectural confections are not destined to museum display cabinets, this is only due to their ephemeral nature (content), however they complement the most tasteful wedding tables, although according to Mirabelle you shouldn't require a special occasion to justify one of those to yourself: succumbing to temptation is a good enough excuse!

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings:

1. Quilted Wedding Cakes - Hawaiian Quilt-Inspired Wedding Cake
2. Bridal Shower Desserts - Knot- inspired Miniature Cakes
3. Quilted Wedding Cakes - Fondant-Covered Square Cakes
4. Bridal Shower Desserts - Ice Cream Cups.

Cut & Paste with Hollie Chastain

Chattanooga collage artist Hollie Chastain gives vintage scraps of paper and old book covers a second life, whilst playing on their natural imperfections (scratches, marks, discolourations and even scribbles and doodles from the original owners!) to give her artwork depth, substance, uniqueness and a certain rawness too; in her own words, "The subject of the piece is often influenced by the materials as opposed to building around a sketch or idea".

Source: Respectively (1) 'After School' (giclée art print), (2) 'Gilbertville Public Library I' (giclée art print), (3) 'Adalyn's Party Trick 1' (art print), (4) 'That Thursday Evening' (art print) and (5) 'Community Chorus' (giclée art print), all the above prints are available for purchase from Hollie's Etsy shop. Find out more from Hollie's website and blog. Meanwhile her work is also featured on Poster Cabaret.

L'Heure du Thé à Paris

Eye candy on a plate, small and perfectly formed bite-sized pastries to delight the senses half-way through the afternoon, an accompaniment to tea-time as part and parcel of life's little pleasures and treasures, either solo or shared, and where calories are not given much more than a second glance and a sigh of enjoyment...

Source: Pict 1-12: All pastries featured on Marie Claire Maison (each with its own detailed recipe), as part of an article on party puddings:

1. Financiers au Thé Matcha by Anaïs Olmer, founder of Bogato      
2. Petits Choux à la Pistache by pastry chef Philippe Andrieu c/o Ladurée
3. Pandoro Gourmand by Laura Zavan, Italian cookery writer and food stylist      
4. Petits Pots de Crème à la Rose by pastry chef Philippe Andrieu c/o Ladurée     
5. Salade d'Oranges aux Epices by Gontran Cherrier
6. Pavlova aux Marrons, et Meringue Façon Mont-Blanc by Tartes Kluger
7. Fondants Pommes Caramel by Philippe Conticini c/o La Pâtisserie des Rêves
8. Cupcake à la Pistache by Cupcakes Berko
9. Cantine d'Hiver by Anaïs Olmer, founder of Bogato
10. Chocolat Chaud au Caramel by pastry chef Sébastien Gaudard
11. Affogato à la Crème, Sauce au Chocolat by frozen desserts chef Romuald Herbaux c/o Amorino
12. Cupcake à la Framboise et Cupcake à la Myrtille by Cupcakes Berko.