'08 Ends... the Gallery Kicks into High Gear!

Wow, where does the time go? I seriously cannot believe that yet aNOTHer year has slipped away. I guess it's true that time waits for no one. Sometimes I think I need about six more of me, just to get everything done! Gabe (yes, THAT Gabe) begs to differ with my conclusion, however, and has no trouble stating his opinion, in his outdoor voice nonetheless, that one of me is plenty for him and this world to handle. Ok, for him, maybe, but the whole world? I'm not buying it... and I'm going to find a compliment in there somewhere... :)

I continue to meet some really great people during the course of promoting the Gallery and networking, people that hopefully I will get to know better and maybe even work with at some point. When you get a chance, stop in to see Donna at The Sugar Lane. Her website is full of wonderful information- and do not leave without seeing her pics! She is a self-taught decorator (like me) and she does fabulous work. I had a blast browsing her site.

Our first print ad started in the City Paper last week- and I forgot! lol I know, right? I have been so swamped that I completely forgot that the Gallery ad went live. But I'm still very excited about it. Even though I haven't actually seen it... remember the good ol' days when a publication that ran your ad would send you a complimentary copy so you could see the ad? Nowadays, you're pointed to the nearest newsstand. lol I guess I should track down an issue to make sure it's there, and of course to ad it to our media kit. One more thing to ad to the to-do list. I'll do better at keeping up with the next ad launch... when I recall what that is... :)

Another thing to mention: we've made it super easy to reserve an Exhibit (booth), entry and display space, etc. You can do it online now- just visit our Eventbrite page for details, and use PayPal or Google checkout. E-A-S-Y! The actual paperwork will still need to be submitted, but that's not a problem- drop it in the mail, or email it if you have a scanner (sorry, I don't fax anymore). We still accept checks in the mail, if you prefer- that's perfectly fine and your choice. Around here, we just like providing options.

Enjoy extra rich and insanely decadent dessert tonite... it IS New Year's Eve, you know...

What a Week!

I guess I should say TWO weeks- they have been crazy! But I'm sure most everyone can say the same thing. Even though I'm not a huge holiday person, I have to adapt because the rest of the world is (family included), and I'm on the rest of the world's schedule. :) Throw in a birthday exactly one week before Christmas, and a couple of what seemed like never-ending baking sessions (cupcakes AND cookies), and you have the makings for, well, a crazy two weeks! I do, however, hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas, and that all will have a safe but bangin' New Year!

The Sugar Is Art Gallery is moving along, though, and I'm getting more excited with every day that passes! We've done soooo much research and made soooo many contacts that I feel like I know everything there is to know about sugar art and cupcakes and chocolates (I know I don't, it just feels like I do! lol). I'm so happy to share all of that with anyone and everyone interested in receiving it, and soon- SOON- I will. As we're moving toward the 2009 show, only a couple of short months away, we're also working on the 2010 event. This one, as it stands now, will be a two-day Gallery, and if we keep receiving demonstrators and professionals to conduct classes, we'll have to go to three days. Since our goal is to showcase the industry, we'll make room for everyone who wishes to participate, as we want the biggest, most informative event we can create. Now, to find the perfect place for a multi-day sweetstravaganza... sorry, I couldn't resist. :)

I've found lots more cool sites and blogs to share- I'll give you a few (minus descriptions but with links and my total adoration) here: Bakerella, Bake or Break, Masala Chocolates, and Food Infinity.

I'll get more to you soon... but for now, I have an enormous mailing list to tame. Gallery tickets are discounted through the end of the year, so take advantage of the savings and get yours now!

Finally for now, Gabe's Gurl is working on some fun food events that anyone even remotely interested in culinary finds and gourmet treats will really enjoy- the foodie inside will rejoice! They will make wonderful date nights, girls nights out, and fabulous gifts for the person in your life who has everything. Those details will be coming your way shortly...

Enjoy dessert tonite!

Cool Sites: Craftlister and Eventlister

Visit the "sister" sites for the most comprehensive listing of fairs, festivals, and exhibitor opportunities anywhere!

The Gallery Goods

Visit Cafepress and Printfection to get your own and support the Gallery!

I would be completely out of order if I didn't share our wonderful merchandise here! Todd, the graphic designer I raved about earlier, created some fabulous logos for us to work with- just wait until you see the other event we're creating (think FOOD)! In the meantime, we absolutely appreciate your support of our endeavors.

I can't believe it's already Friday! This has been one hectic week, and a crazy one if you include the total snow-out we received Thursday evening that has all melted today (just enough to cancel school, of course!). I have been on the phone the majority of it. As much as I loathe the phone, my personal misery will sooo pay off for you, Gallery attendees, in a huge way. I am so committed to seeing this event have a beautiful and successful launch, that I will work tirelessly to reach sweet victory. Just for the record, the 2009 Gallery is a "soft" economy-friendly launch. The BIG cookie- a multi-day sugar extravaganza- is slated for 2010! Yes, it IS aleady in the works already, and some big names will be on board. No, you'll have to wait for the details. lol Let's get through this one first. :)

Someone asked during a recent conversation why we're doing this event. After thinking for a moment, I responded that I love food- not the gorge-yourself-until-you're-sick-and-567-pounds kind of love. I love the ART of food. I love combining raw ingredients, like sugar, butter, eggs, and flour, and seeing them transform into a luscious thick batter, then into a moist delicious hunk of cake just waiting for its crowning icing glory. My passion for food is way more passionate than I can explain to you here. I know, I know- unless you are a foodie, you totally wouldn't understand. I am particularly fond of the amazing things that can be done with cake, chocolate, plain old sugar, and other creative sweet mediums. I loved the reaction of a customer picking up a sculpted cake order ("Oh my goodness- that's CAKE?!"), or a bride seeing her wedding cake for the first time displayed at the reception ("It's just beautiful, better than I imagined- THANK YOU!"), even a stuffed-to-the-brim-and-loosening-his-belt customer pulling me to his table to say "Hey, could you teach my wife to cook like this? But don't tell her I sent you!". Those moments made it all worth it.

My goal is to share my passion for food and enhance other people's dining and food experiences by encouraging the utmost appreciation for cuisine. I want people to indulge every sense and be exposed to the vast options available to them, and the talented chefs and artisans who can provide it for them. Everyone has to eat, right? May as well do it in the most amazing, delicious, festive, and glamourous fashion possible!

You know, I would feed anyone and everyone for absolutely free if God would bless me with the means to do so... but we all know that, with Him, all things are possible, so you just never know how this company will grow...

Enjoy dessert tonite!

Updates, Progress, and Reminders!

The past week has been so hectic, so crazy, and so productive! We have been meeting people, developing sites, creating ads, and networking, all in an effort to produce an amazing event and introduce our brand. I am bursting at the seams to share the latest exciting news, but I've been sworn- SWORN- to secrecy for the time being, just so details can be perfected and finalized. I WILL say, though, that I have come in contact with some pretty amazing people in developing this event, and sugar artists LOVE their craft and are willing to shout it from the rooftops when given the chance! Equally as fabulous, the foodie community rocks! :)

As always, I run across TONS of unique information on the web during my many quests for the latest, greatest, and funnest (lol) food, chef, mag, and site. Believe me when I tell you that I spend a lot of time online. A bunch. When you think about it, the Internet is the most vast (visit the entire world on your laptop), convenient (open ALL the time), all-purpose (find anything about anything), resource there is. I love, love, LOVE email, and my interest in food runs deep- I want to see it, experience it, hear about it, create it, and share it with the world. I want to bring the best of the best that I can find to one place and share it with anyone and everyone who is interested. I want to educate and excite others about food, desserts, and chocolates, just to let them know there is so much more out there, and, well, since you have to eat anyway, might as well make it the best it can be!

Here are a few interesting sites and articles I've run across, mixed in with a few of my favs... Foodbuzz, 44 Surprising Things You Can Eat, Chocolate Showpiece, Local Wine Events, and Pastry Profiles.

I'll also take a quick moment to remind you that (1) for the rest of December, Gallery tickets are HALF PRICE when you purchase two. We all know the economy is a mess right now, but we still have to live, eat, have fun, and maintain in order to weather the financial crisis. Life is what you make it, and instead of freaking out and being depressed about what I don't have, I choose to have fun with what I DO have- and can create! AND, (2) to be included in our first round of promo, you'll need to secure your Exhibit space (booth) and reserve your demo space NOW. I know, finances again- we'll work that out once you contact us. (3) If you are a business owner, now is NOT the time to stop promoting your company, products, and/or services. You need to find creative avenues to get in front of your consumer- and what better way to do that than a super affordable space that you can use as you desire at a custom event created just for you and the people near and far who love what you do (customers-to-be)!

Merchandise and more is the perfect way to show your support! Enjoy dessert tonite!

Creating Special Events

I have always been a planner by nature. No matter what the situation, I remember as early as junior high looking ahead to possible outcomes and weighing out scenarios. If I have to make a post office run, I'm thinking about the other things I can accomplish on that trip. No, not just the average errand-running plan- most everyone does that. I have to save maximum time and energy, and I need to know what I'm planning to do well in advance of doing it, and what else I can do at the same time to get more done. lol I organize my runs by taking into consideration the time of day for traffic and parking issues, the side of the street in relation to the direction I am travelling and whether I have to deal with oncoming traffic, etc. I know, it sounds silly and extreme. I am a multi-tasking nightmare- but it totally works!

Creating an event such as the Sugar Is Art Gallery- or any event even remotely similiar- is a lot of work. It is totally detail driven and time consuming. It's a good thing that I'm driven by passion and a love for the game! I totally take on a challenge with gusto, and am ready to surprise even myself at what can be accomplished. I spend a LOT of time researching, planning, designing, developing, thinking, contacting, negotiating, networking- did I mention researching? And negotiating? I work all hours of the day and night, as it's easier to do my internet scouring at night when I don't have to answer the phone and the family is tucked in and, if I'm lucky, actually sleeping. And did I mention how much I dislike phones? We have a love/hate relationship- I swear, sometimes I'm ready to toss my Dash off a bridge. :) Anyone who knows me knows to send an email if they really want to reach me, because there is a 4% chance that I will answer the phone. lol

Creating an event is hard work, we've established. Now create mutiple similar but different events, going at the same time, and you have Gabe's Gurl Event Productions. But we love what we do, and we do it well. We look forward to taking Nashville by storm, and really doing amazing events to for our guests and clients. We have a website in development, and a few fun promos to announce shortly with local businesses to allow us all super-affordable advertising and professional relationship building for our businesses.

If you haven't checked out the cool Gallery merchandise, go here and here to see it now.
So much more to come...

Eat Dessert Tonite!

Fighting Hunger & Celebrating Sugar Art...

I hope everyone had a really wonderful Turkey Day. There was a time in my life when holidays didn't mean anything to me. Not only did I not recognize holidays, I flat out didn't like them. They still are not of any earth-shattering importance in my life, but I do try to be more selfless and considerate of family needs and excitement and actually acknowledge them. Somewhat. A little. In my own way. More than I did the past 10ish years. It's a start, right? :) But no matter how much I didn't get into holidays, I always had a desire to feed people, regardless of whether or not it was a holiday or an any day. I strongly believe delicious, freshly prepared food is a human RIGHT and not a privilege, and I am now determined to do whatever I can to ensure that everyone has food to eat whenever they are hungry.

Because of my belief, the decision to support our local food charities was a no-brainer. Nashville has a wealth of amazing food options, and doesn't get the credit it deserves or earned- Gabe's Gurl Event Productions is working that end of this equation! My hope- and goal- is that we can come together as an industry to help replenish the depleted food supplies that are in high demand right now.

I know that times are tough right now, and we all have had to make some changes, cutbacks, and sacrifices to weather our troubled economy. While I feel certain that our economy will soon rebound, the emotional, physical, and mental effects of hunger, and in its more serious form, starvation, are lasting. We cannot ignore the plight of those whose times may be a little harder than ours, and I just ask that we do what we can to fight it.

Because of such tough times, donations to Second Harvest are down dramatically. We are getting some things set up that will make donating easier. In addition, we will be doing an onsite food drive where Gallery guests can bring items to donate at the door. It doesn't have to be much- just do what you can.

Have dessert tonight!

What's In A Logo? Merchandise!

What is an event without branding? Exactly! I am very proud of the Gallery logo- it pretty much is the vision that came to mind immediately after the name and concept did. This logo was created exclusively for the event by Silverface Designs (thanx, Todd!). Todd is very talented, PATIENT, and easy to work with. In fact, he is working on the logo for another of our events as I type, and it's almost complete. I hope that he will stick around for a while, as he has been a huge help to GGEP. If you need some design work done, Todd at Silverface Designs is your guy- contact him at Silverface@hotmail.com, and tell him Melissa sent you. I can't wait to announce the next event- total foodie bliss!

A logo needs to speak volumes about what's to come. It should make a statement upon first glance, and encourage viewers (all potential guests) to seek more information. It should grab the attention of your target audience, and reflect the tone and the purpose of the event.

Once a great logo is achieved, that logo needs to be EVERYwhere! With the Sugar Is Art Gallery debuting in 2009, it is important that people get to know the logo. Brand recognition is everything- but we'll talk more about that later.

We have some fabulous branded items available- Todd did a really great job! Check out tshirts and bags here, and more tees and totes and household items here. There are several designs to see that are not shown here, so go check them out!

We hope you enjoy- and you'll show your support for the Sugar Is Art Gallery and proclaim your love of sugar art by sporting these cool designs! And, they make great gifts for the sugar enthusiast in your world... they'll thank you. :)

Eat cake tonite!

General Info About the SIA Gallery

It's a cold and rainy Monday in Nashville- I happen to like rainy days, so I'm using today to get some things done for the event before everyone takes off for the rest of the week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

I'll take this time to offer a bit of information about the Gallery, as far as rules, entry guidelines, etc, are concerned. The main point to stress here is creativity- don't limit yourself to anything, and push yourself to so something fabulous! I'm sure all your work is fabulous, so let's go for more "unique" and "over-the-top", things that will leave people talking!

1. With the exception of bases/stands/support, the piece that you enter must be 100% edible and created with sugar. This includes the "glue", as so many have asked!

2. Your piece does not have to use homemade components if you are entering a display category. You can use store-bought donuts, hard candies, chocolates, etc.

3. Your piece DOES have to be homemade if you are entering the display AND tasting category. It needs to be 100% made by your hands, without exception.

4. We've kind of already covered what "sugar" means, but just as a reminder, any sweet, edible medium goes. Think fudge, cookie, chocolate, blown/pulled sugar, melted chocolate, solid chocolate, chocolate chips and wafers, cake, buttercream, fondant, caramel, toffee, marzipan, puddings, meringue- that should be plenty to get that creativity flowing! :) If you're not certain still, feel free to ask!

5. This part is pretty important as well- Description. A complete description is to be included with each piece you submit. NO NAME OR IDENTIFYING INFORMATION can be included on this description- only the TITLE of the piece, medium(s) used, technique employed, estimate of hours it took you to complete, and your inspiration. Be detailed and descriptive- our attendees want to understand your creativity. Each description should be typed on a standard 8.5 X 11 solid color sheet of card stock in an easily legible font large enough to be read without being picked up.

You can submit a business card-sized name plaque (or actual business card) that can be attached AFTER judging.

6. Fashions category include wearable art, like clothing, jewelry, belts, shoes, handbags, etc. This will be BIG fun, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Birthdays on a Personal Level...

I celebrated my birthday this past Friday (Nov 21) at my parent's home about 6hrs from Nashville. I come from a teeny tiny town, and don't get home often, so I was pretty pleased that it worked out that I was able to spend time with my family there. The best part about birthdays? I'm torn between gifts and the cake... The older you get, the fewer gifts you receive, so for the foodie in me (and YOU), I guess we'll focus on the CAKE!

Being from a small town, we didn't (and they still don't) have many options for food and sweets, especially anything "gourmet". I don't care too much for grocery store cakes, so imagine my excitement to learn that Angie's, the bakery from my childhood, is still open after all these years- and her cakes are as fabulous as ever! That is one of my favorite cakes, and this small-town, country baker could rival ANY of the top bakers across the country. Her cakes and cookies are THAT good. They definitely take me back some years...

The cake itself was simple- a quarter white sheet cake (this is the ONLY time a quarter sheet cake is acceptable! lol), iced pure snow white with a big swirly shell border, huge fluffy fall colored roses, and "Happy Birthday Melissa" perfectly scripted in orange icing across the top. Mix that with being in the presence of my family, the light coat of snow that fell while we were there, the beautiful gold earrings and necklace from my man, gorgeous bouquet of fall flowers, and I was GOOD! Talk about a fabulous blast from the past!

Sorry, Angie's doesn't have a website that I know of (maybe becuz everyone in the area knows her and everyone else!), so you'll have to take my word for it. Once I get the pic of the cake from my sister, I'll share it.

2009 Sugar Is Art Gallery

This is the first ever Sugar Is Art Gallery, going down March 8, 2009. We are very excited about this event, as it promotes my undying love for sugar arts and gourmet sweets. I designed cakes for many moons for various events and occasions, and though I chose to stop doing cakes professionally, I never lost that passion to see and experience them. This event is my way of getting my beloved beautiful, delicious edible works of sweet art in front of the world, so that people can appreciate the tremendous amount of work and skill that goes into to creating them and they can experience them in person. Seeing them on tv is awesome- it creates that curiosity and awe; but nothing- NOTHING- beats the up close and personal moment of feasting on the edible art with your eyes while savoring the scents of luscious buttercream icing, fresh chocolate truffles, and rich vanilla as it totally surrounds you and elevates your culinary senses to an entirely different level...

Tickets for this event are on sale now, and you can get 'early bird' pricing if you get yours now. If you're a sugar enthusiast or professional, you'll really love the opportunity to participate and show your stuff!

I don't know what it is about sugar art, cakes, chocolates, etc, that draws me in. I can't resist seeing beautifully done sweets, and I always want to experience more. I want to know what its made of, how long it took, how much of a challenge it proved, the inspiration behind the design... it's especially odd that I don't have a huge sweet tooth, either, especially in comparision to the total level of adoration. :) Don't get me wrong, I love dessert, and have it as often as I can- and the more unique and untraditional the better!

The SIAG will have a major charitable aspect, and I hope that everyone who attends will participate in our efforts. Every guest is asked to bring two (2) non-perishable food items to donate at the door. The food we collect will be donated to assist Nashville's fight against hunger. With food being so near and dear to us, I think it only appropriate that we do our part to ensure that a good meal is not a privilege, but a right to every person on this planet. We also are thinking up ways to be a little more creative in the charitable food donations department- any ideas?

Though I have no interest in cake designing anymore, I still remain active in the kitchen. Once I get this part of the company set up and self-sufficient, I may have a gourmet baked line coming. More on that later.... :)

Welcome to Event Productions with Gabe's Gurl

Welcome, and thanx for stopping in. You have happened upon my tiny piece of the world that I am happy to share with anyone willing to read.

I'm Melissa, and I am the founder and president of Gabe's Gurl Event Productions, a fresh new event production company based in Nashville TN that specializes in consumer events, trade shows, and excursions in the food and beverage industry. We also offer complete event design services for social and corporate clients.

What does that mean, you ask? Well, I am a total foodie, and have been for many, many years. Because I have hands-on experience in the food and event biz developed over the past ten years (as caterer, baker, cake designer, cook, restaurant owner, and event planner, both as employee and boss), I know the ins and outs of what works and what doesn't. I also know that consumers know more, want more, expect more, and are willing to pay for more when it comes to gourmet treats and quality eats. Enter Gabe's Gurl Event Productions.

The goal of Gabe's Gurl Event Productions is to showcase and promote the "finer things" in the food industry and culinary world- talented chef creations, amazing sugar artists and chocolatiers, local wineries, unique trends, and other worthwhile culinary treats and finds- and connect them with sources of these beautiful food finds. We do this by way of themed consumer tasting events and food, dessert, and beverage shows and excursions to promote product and brand awareness, and create custom marketing promotions for restaurants, cafes, bakeries, grocers, etc, who wish to host a fun event to bring in new customers, thank current customers, or launch a new product or service- in other words, GET ATTENTION! We work for the business in that we provide them with qualified clients and customers, and we satisfy the client/customer by giving them the high-end, trendy, gourmet food products in an amazing, over-the-top delivery that they crave.

If you are a foodie, you will love it here! I'll be sharing lots of useful finds and resources for us to talk about, and you'll be in the know on all the upcoming food events coming to Nashville and everywhere. Oh, no- we're not limited to doing events here in Nashville. We believe EVERYone, EVERYWHERE, has the right to eat beautiful food, so we are available to provide our services to clients nationwide, even globally! Hiring Gabe's Gurl to develop a custom food event, trade show, or culinary fest for you will be the single best investment your company has ever made, guaranteed.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my little blog. I hope you enjoy your time here. :)