Leila's 1st Birthday

Childrens first birthdays are one of the big milestones parents love to celebrate.  Here are a few images of Leila's 1st Birthday, a celebration we were lucky to be apart of recently.

Cake and desserts by The Lemony Cupcake

Dessert table design and event styling by Sharnel Dollar Designs

Photography by KC Fotografie

Paperie by Loralee Lewis

Backdrop by Inviteme (to match existing paperie)

Dessert Table

Fragrant Vanilla Cupcakes

Simple, classic but breathtakingly beautiful.  Leila's birthday cake.

Crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Just the way a macaron should be.

White Chocolate Mousse Pots

Refreshments Stand

Strawberry Milks

Leila's 1st year in photos

Table settings

If you would like us to make your next event extra special, don't hesitate in contacting Sharnel here.

Life in a spin

The past two weeks have been far too busy for my liking and I'm looking forward to stepping on the merry-go-round for a week or so.
I'm totally in love with instagram at the moment so here is a look into the past two weeks of my life.

Vintage Circus Wedding Dessert Table

I am pleased to share with you the dessert table I designed recently, themed around the movie Water for Elephants.  The bride requested a vintage circus themed dessert table in rich reds, chocolate brown, ivory, bronze and gold detailing.

Desserts and cake by The Lemony Cupcake.  Table design and styling by Sharnel Dollar Designs.

We make a great team!

Wedding Cake by The Lemony Cupcake

Chocolate Macarons, Lemon Meringue Tarts, Raspberry Tarts, Caramel Popcorn, Petite Cupcakes

Chocolate Macarons

Petite Cupcakes

Details

Baileys Mud Truffle Cake Pops and Chocolate Tarts

Cranberry & Pistachio Slice and Choc Cherry Slice

Caramel Popcorn in handmade vintage style popcorn boxes

If you would like us to create your dream dessert table please contact Sharnel or Coby.  We would love to help you celebrate your special day with one of our delicious dessert tables.

Images by Sharnel Dollar

Vintage Circus backdrop

Creating interesting and theatrical backdrops isn't as hard and one would think.  I've just completed this backdrop in 40mins.  I still have to paint it, but the hard work is done.

This particular backdrop is for a vintage style circus wedding next weekend.  I'm going to paint the inside of the 'tent' black and I'm making carnival style lettering with fairy lights and paper mache block letters to sit in the middle of the table.

Materials needed:
MDF sheet (this one is 2m x 1m) approx 7mm thick
1.5m of Velvet (we used dance quality as it's a little more affordable than real velvet)
Tassel tie backs x 2
Heavy duty staple gun

Firstly I pleated the side panels and stapled to the top MDF board.  I folded the edges over the top and stapled to the back.  Do this on both sides.  Be sure to measure so the sides are even.  I've left some fabric at the bottom and will either arrange it messily on the table or cut off on site.  See what works on the day.

To complete the gathered billowy curtain at the top I centred the piece of fabric and stapled across the entire piece to the back of the board.  Next I measured the centre and started to gather, pleat and staple until I was happy with the way it looked.  I then played around with either end of that piece until I got the balloon effect and stapled in place.

Once you are happy with the way the curtain or tent is sitting you can then attach the tassels.  I'm really looking forward to sharing with you the finished table next weekend.  Coby from The Lemony Cupcake is in charge of all the delicious desserts and wedding cake!

My design process

I wanted to share with you the original sketch I did for the White & Pistachio Dessert Table.

image courtesy of Todd Hunter McGaw

As you can see the 'details' have changed a little but the main concept is there with wall panelling backdrop, the cake, meringue towers and tiered silver stands.

I always start with a sketch of my dessert tables and work from there gathering stands and vessels, selecting ribbon and right food labelling to match.

Thank you for all the kind words you have left Coby and I regarding this table here on my blog and on facebook.

White and Pistachio Wedding Dessert Table

A few weeks ago both Coby (from The Lemony Cupcake) and I had the pleasure in designing this wedding dessert table for a bridal showcase hosted by The Powder Room.  These beautiful images were taken by none other than Todd Hunter McGaw.

A little side note: I grew up in Samford, a lazy rural town north of Brisbane.  I went to school from pre-school to year 7 with Todd's younger brother Lachlan.  About a year ago Lachlan and I reconnected via facebook he told me about Todd's fab photography business with his lovely wife Alyda.  It was such a treat to see Todd again and reminisce about the good old days.  And can I tell you, they were the good old days.

Classic and timeless.  We selected a palette of crisp white with accents of pistachio and silver.  I had the backdrop custom made to look like wall panelling.

Breathtaking 4 tiered cake

Hydrangea, quilting, beading and cameo detail

Handmade chocolate hearts

Homemade pistachio nougat on our custom made white timber footed platters

Petite Lemon Meringue Tarts

White chocolate mousse with choc mint leaf accents



This photo was taken by me.  Mint white choc mousse cups, cookie cakes and cupcakes with hydrangea detail

White chocolate truffle balls

Meringue Tower detail

Meringue Tower with hydrangea ball decoration

Design and styling Sharnel Dollar Designs
Wedding cake and sweet treats The Lemony Cupcake
Photography Todd Hunter McGaw
Graphic design Style Me Gorgeous


If you would like us to design a breathtaking dessert table for your next event, please email me sharnel@sharneldollardesigns.com.au

Easter Lunch with friends

Hosting an Easter Lunch this coming weekend? Are you looking for inspiration that is stylish yet achievable? Do you love to entertain but wish you had more time to prepare a delicious meal?

Last Friday I hosted a very simple lunch for a group of four girlfriends. We all lead busy lives and only had a few hours to get together to celebrate our friendship.

Bunny Cake Stand from Pottery Barn. Sorry I think they have sold out!

Setting the theme for our lunch were these adorable salad plates from Pottery Barn.

These divine 'gull eggs' where presented in a tiny nest as favours for each guest.

In A Pickle is always the first place I visit when I'm hosting a lunch or dinner. For our girls lunch I served tomato and sweet corn tart with silverbeet and rissoni salad.

A glass of Verve always puts a smile on my face.

For dessert I served these decadent Pistachio Meringues with clotted cream from In A Pickle and this wicked Turkish Delight Cheesecake from Jocelyn's Provisions.

Are you planning on celebrating Easter with a beautiful lunch with family and friends?

Photography and styling by Sharnel Dollar