Monday 29 June 2009

A new (old) look!

Hello everyone! I'm guest blogging for you this week while Helen is away on holiday to Caithness - don't panic though, she will be back making caketops for all your summer weddings soon!

To kick things off, I thought I’d give you a taster of the look of the main caketops website redesign that should hopefully be unveiled in the not too distant future. Helen will get a surprise when she gets home from her holiday and checks her blog – will she recognise it?! The inspiration for the redesign has come from a bit of old fabric that once belonged to Helen’s Granny (that's her in the photo!). I've teamed it up with a lace edging to give a ‘vintage tablecloth and runner’ look.

Helen's Granny!I’m planning to improve the navigation of the website and expand the photo gallery so that you can see different views the caketops – Helen puts lots of detail into the caketops and I want to add close-up shots and back views so that you can appreciate all the little details from all angles!

Also I’d really like to make the ordering process as easy for both you and Helen as easy as possible. This is something that Helen and I have discussed numerous times and we’re still pondering the best way to accomplish this... If you have any suggestions or ideas about the website or the blog please do let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,
Lisa

N.B. Well, I only had a 50/50 chance of being right so, naturally, I got it wrong and posted a photo of Helen's other Granny. To make amends here is a photo of Granny L looking very stylish in a fantastic frock.

Granny L - original possessor of the fabric!

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Love to dance!

Hello, welcome and GOOD LUCK to our latest genuine follower Jenny! I say 'good luck' not because she needs it in becoming a follower, but because she is in fact getting married on Saturday!! How do I know this? Well, I could have read it in her blog, but no! In fact I have insider knowledge as I was lucky enough to make Jenny and her soon to be hubby a cake top! Hooray! They love to dance, and so there they are, dancing the night away and with a big shiny trophy too! They even made the front page of 'Dance News'!

Jenny had the great suggestion of having the groom with a rose clenched between his teeth, which I thought a genius idea! Now I would like every single groom I make, for evermore, to have a rose in his mouth.... however I shall resist, be professional, and only do it when asked....


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Let's wish Jenny and James the very best of luck and hope that Saturday is super douper!!
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Jenny is just one of the brides I've been making cake tops for since the last blog. I've had some interesting requests keeping me on my toes! There were lots of dogs, but even more cats, a couple of chickens, two police officers, a couple of rugby balls, one football... whew...
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Also this week I have been slack again with the emails, appologies. However this time it was all down to a computer meltdown which meant I couldn't get on the web. I didn't realise how much I used it until I couldn't get on it! Arrrgghhh!!! However, thanks to my technical support team in the shape of my Uncle RTL, normal service has been resumed. I'm still catching up on the emails tho, so if you are waiting for a reply don't worry I will get there. If it's urgent please do give me a call.
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Wednesday 3 June 2009

Good catch!

Oh it's been a busy old week here in caketopland! It must be June. So far, sunny weather for all to enjoy. Oh I remember the days when it was snow all over the country and no one could get to work and, oh! watch out for that snowball... ooops too late.... and now it's sun everywhere. Don't forget the sunscreen, and that nice straw cowboy hat I saw you wearing... and picnics.... and if you happen to have a secret swimming spot, (some folks do, you know) keep it secret, keep it safe!!!
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I wonder if there are fish in it? If there are I know a young fellow from caketopland who'd want to know the secret. Mind you, he's got a fish on the line already, well done that man!

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I must appologise as I have been very bad at keeping on top of the emails just lately. There's just not enough hours in even the longest of June days. I promise to do better. Just in case you have an urgent query you can always give me a bell. Leave a message if I don't get to the phone in time- sometimes I'm gluing, doing the post, having lunch or, well, answering emails.....
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There is a FAQ page on the website which the webmaster edited using her great talents of attention to detail, excellent vocab and translation from the 'Helen', to make the complexities of personalised cake top ordering infinitely easier to understand. That may help. Sometimes it's hard to know where to start eh? It also explains the basics like, how big are they? What are they made of? How do I pay?
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The webmaster is working on the new caketops site, so let us know if you have any feedback on the FAQ page or any other part of the site that we could improve on.
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I do hope you're having a lovely sunny June day today!
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P.S.
Would you believe I can almost call myself a 'runner' ? Thanks to Coach Jenny over at Invergarry Lodge I have earned myself a place in history and a lovely shiny medal for my trouble, running 10K in the glorious time of 66 minutes. If it hadn't been so hot that day it probably would have taken us half the time.... not. Anyway, my first race and in the beautiful surroundings of sunny Skye. Hooray!
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