Awesome Whimsical Album and Music Offers

Three neon-bright layers of cake, tilted at a jaunty angle and adorned with edible chocolate candles; a Jackson Pollock–inspired cheesecake spattered with chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter icing; and a swarm of plump bees perched atop a rainbow of candy-colored cupcakes—these are only a few examples of the unfettered creativity at work at the Riviera Bakehouse. There, mother-daughter bakers Kaye and Liv Hansen turn out some of the most charming, refreshingly eccentric cakes ever to grace a birthday or wedding celebration.

Kaye and Liv believe that a cake should taste as good as it looks, so they skip esoteric (and inedible) decorations in favor of simple buttercream, flavored whipped cream, and tinted candymaker’s chocolate, covering their luscious cakes with amusing designs and gorgeous color that are easy to make and delicious to eat. The cakes themselves are no less enticing, pairing old-fashioned favorites like Banana Cake and Spice Cake with sumptuous fillings such as French Custard and Chocolate Mousse. Simple step-by-step lessons, illustrated with photographs, explain how to re-create Liv’s charming chocolate designs, from the bright polka dots that shine against dark chocolate glaze to the shimmering stars that adorn the enchanting “Starry Night.” Templates for the delightful designs allow you to adapt these techniques to create your own unique decorations.

With time-tested tips and complete information on everything from mixing colors to adjusting pan sizes, the Hansens explain all you need to know to get started. Whether you’re dreaming of an elegant Chocolate Apricot Pecan Torte or a three-tiered butter cake filled with spiked mocha cream and embellished with fantastical spring flowers, The Whimsical Bakehouse is the ultimate guide to creating delicious, showstopping confections that are completely original..
Price: $16.33 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The mania for miniature sweets is gaining momentum–maybe due to happy memories of the magical tea parties of our childhood, or the intimacy of having our own tiny treat in a supersized world, with no need to share!

The mother-daughter team at the Riviera Bakehouse in Westchester, New York, and authors of The Whimsical Bakehouse and Christmas Cookies from the Whimsical Bakehouse now present an abundance of fabulous new recipes for little decorated cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, and more–all in fresh flavor combinations, like caramel cake with dulce de leche buttercream or spicy chocolate cake with cinnamon-chocolate whipped cream. This comprehensive introduction to baking in miniature also provides tips on glazing, icing, and making chocolate decorations and offers details on the equipment you need to get started (including a cake pan chart, so that you can use those mini rose pans, heart pans, and other fun shapes to bake unique creations).

The authors are famous for their over-the-top decorations, and they’ll take you step-by-step through the process of creating cakes piped and appliquéd with bumblebees (white chocolate wings and nonpareil stripes make them irresistible!), blooming roses (or, if you prefer, delicate hydrangeas with lifelike shaded petals), wild meringues (dressed with tiger stripes, zebra stripes, or leopard spots), and spiky dragons (right down to the serpentine tail). The recipes in Little Cakes from the Whimsical Bakehouse are categorized into three levels: one star for easy, two for intermediate, and three for challenging. So whether you want to start with a charming, super-easy star-shaped mini strawberry shortcake or strive for A Day at the Beach pail-shaped cake, complete with cookie-crumb sand, chocolate shovel, and edible seashells, you’ll find a cool confection that fits your skills. If you’re not ready for complicated decorating, this book also provides easy presentation ideas to make simple cakes look grander, ensuring the perfect finish to any occasion.

Little cakes are as fun to make as they are delicious to eat! After all, who’d turn down a bit–and a bite–of joy in their lives?.
Price: $14.17 [Notify me when price goes down.]

In the tradition of the Bungalow series, here is a marvelous celebration of the twentieth century's most delightful and whimsical architectural style

Storybook Style, the rambunctious evocation of medieval Europe in American housing, was born in the early 1920s and almost forgotten by the late 1930s. It took its inspiration from the Hollywood sets that enthralled Americans of the period and that still appeal to our jaded modern eye. Half timbered and turreted, pinnacled and portcullised, these houses owed their fanciful bravura to architects and builders with theatrical flair, fine craftsmanship, and humor. In Storybook Style, architectural information enhances the stunning color pictures by Bungalow and Painted Ladies photographer Doug Keister to impart a wealth of information and enjoyment.

Photography by Douglas Keister..
Price: $20.03 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Come holiday time, there’s no better way to celebrate than by baking up some special cookies. In Christmas Cookies from the Whimsical Bakehouse, mother-daughter bakers Kaye and Liv Hansen share their most enchanting cookies, from simple to showstoppingly beautiful. These irresistibly pretty cookies are perfect for snacking and gifting, decorating the tree, and, of course, leaving for Santa.

And they are definitely not your grandmother’s cookies! With both classic and creative flavor combinations and adorable designs, the Hansens’ cookies have been pleasing loyal customers at their cozy upstate New York bakery for years. Now they bring their customers’ favorite recipes home to you. Kaye handles the baking, imbuing the cookies with the traditional flavors of Christmas, like cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla, but also more modern touches like coconut, chocolate, and pistachio. Her daughter, Liv, provides the artistic flair, using innovative techniques and plenty of colored (yes, colored!) chocolate to yield truly special cookie creations that look as good as they taste.

All of the Hansens’ best cookie creations are here, from simple roll-and-slice cookies to bars and cutouts, including Coconut Dreams, Chocolate Pecan Rounds, and Creamy Christmas Butter Cookies, as well as step-by-step instructions for making truly impressive decorations. Imagine a dazzling 3-D Christmas cookie tree decked with silver dragées, or a breathtaking gingerbread house. From chewy Apricot-Chocolate Triangles to tangy Lemon Drop Cookies, Christmas Cookies from the Whimsical Bakehouse is a fanciful, fabulous take on everyone’s favorite holiday treat..
Price: $7.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $18.78 [Notify me when price goes down.]

In Ladybug Baby Bug, authors Janice and Mark Perkins bring the colorful and adorable title character to life for young children, parents and caregivers.

In Ladybug Baby Bug, the authors offer readers a charming peek into the life of the Ladybug family, including Momma, Da-Da, Sissy, Na-Na, Pa-Pa, and Brother Bug. Young children will be drawn into the account of Ladybug Baby Bug's day as she interacts with her family members and some special friends in her life. The book is filled with colorful illustrations and portrays the gentleness and love that families provide. Follow the main character as she eats her favorite breakfast, French toast, with Momma, and then gets a bottle from Da-Da. She plays with her sister, rocks with her Na-Na before she enjoys her nap, and then goes for a walk with her grandfather. After seeing her friends Butterfly Baby Fly and Bumble Bee Baby Bee on her walk, she returns home to color with her big brother. Ladybug Baby Bug then ends her day with loving thoughts of her family.

Ladybug Baby Bug is a wonderful bedtime story for young children and provides early readers an opportunity to read on their own and gain confidence in their emerging abilities. The easy-to-read story shows the importance of having a strong relationship with all members of the family and will encourage your children to seek familt unity and love. Janice and Mark Perkins hope that Ladybug Baby Bug will leave children and their caregivers with a positive, happy message at the end of the day..
Price: $10.50 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Anyone who has so much as made a batch of cookies knows that this is where it all begins. Butter lends flavor and richness, sugar adds sweetness and melting textures, flour provides substance, and eggs bring it all together Afterwards, the baker can allow flavor to take over: chocolate, citrus, fruit, nuts, cheese, and spices complete the dessert-making roster.

Chapter by chapter, pastry chef extraordinaire Gale Gand and her husband, star chef Rick Tramonto -- with writer Julia Moskin -- explain each basic ingredient and each flavor's personality and follow up with some fabulous recipes. The unique result is a festive and fun cookbook that reads more like a dessert menu than a catalog of techniques. And what a menu! Here are over 175 fanciful, delicious treats, including signature desserts like Not-Your-Usual Lemon Meringue Pie and Root Beer-Vanilla Parfait, classics such as Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake and Brooklyn Blackout Cake, and soon-to-be favorites like Ras! pberry-Stuffed French Toast and Banana Strudel with Ginger-Molasses Ice Cream. There is a chapter on light-hearted holiday creations, including Halloween Boo!scotti and Pumpkin Pie to Be Thankful For, and a chapter full of drink recipes -- perfect accompaniments to these desserts and great on their own. In Butter Sugar Flour Eggs, all the ingredients are present for creating the most scrumptious, mouthwatering delights you have ever tasted. Or baked!.
Price: $10.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Providing a complete review of cottonwood, the most commonly used form of bark, this guide addresses the unique challenges and benefits of carving tree bark and offers information on what to expect from this atypical wood source, including the best places to find it. An important section on troubleshooting teaches carvers what to do when they encounter rot or insect damage in their bark. One complete project, the Whimsical House, is outlined from start to finish. Close-up photography and instructional captions are included for added guidance. A full-color photography review offers a glimpse at the range of projects possible for this unusual material..
Price: $28.07 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Sew your way through the year with these happy, colorful seasonal designs!

Bonus CD contains 42 seasonal designs for your home embroidery machine!

Award-winning designer Ursula Michael brings her popular and heart-warming designs to machine embroidery. Now, you can fill your home with her colorful, fun and imaginative designs in projects created for every season! In this new book, Ursula gives you:

• 38 delightful projects perfect for gift-giving as well as home decor
• a bonus CD with 42 charming original designs for machine embroidery
• friendly instruction, complete materials and tools lists, spectacular color combination ideas and full-color photos for each project.

Whimsical Machine Embroidery will show you how to use your sewing skills to create fun and festive handmade accessories for every season. See how easy it is to embroider a spooky witch's hat banner, ghostly treat bags, chilly penguin ornaments, snuggly snowmen (and snowbabies!), gingerbread boy and girl towels and much more. Sew your way through the year with these happy, colorful seasonal designs. Start stitching today!.
Price: $18.39 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $5.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]