Sunday Sweets: Hope Springs Eternal
April 11, 2010 Many of you know Cakegirls from the show Amazing Wedding Cakes, or from Food Network cake challenges. Sisters Brenda and Mary and their staff have a reputation for fantastic, modern cake art, like this:
Many of you also know that on the morning of March 29th, the Cakegirls bakery tragically burned to the ground. Fortunately no one was hurt, but they did lose everything - and their staff is jobless until they can rebuild.
I have no doubt that Cakegirls will be back, bigger and better than ever, before too long. In the meantime, though, since their website gallery is currently down, here are a few of their lovelies I had on file:
I think this is my favorite; the yellow with the stripes is so cheerful, don't you think?But wait, I have more!
Read on a for a sweet story.
This next cake is by Jane, of Cakes Come True and Truffles, Too in Cincinnati. Jane has no idea I'm writing this today, or even that I write a blog (much less this one! [evil snicker]), but I recently had an encounter with her I'd like to share.
Since this was in another state, I scrambled to find a local baker. I found Jane's website, and John called her. Miraculously, she agreed to make and deliver three cakes with less than 24 hours notice. Amazing, right?
Ah, but there's more...
About a week later, John and I got a card from Jane. In it, she told us she was so touched by Jacob's story that she'd decided to take all of the money we paid her and donate it- in his memory - to The Cure Starts Now, an organization working to cure pediatric brain cancer.
Now, if you're like me, then sometimes you get convinced that pretty much everyone on the planet sucks. (Or at the very least, everyone on the internet. Heh.) Some days you think everyone is just too self-absorbed to care. But sometimes, on those days, someone like Jane will come along, and give you a little hope. She didn't know us, or Jacob, and she had a regular 9-5 job in addition to her bakery business, but she still went above and beyond for us and for Jacob's family. So Jane, you rock. Thank you.
Well, that's my sweet story. Stay tuned for our regularly scheduled sarcasm.
- Similar Sweets: Cute-Tastic!
Reader Comments (84)
I wanna throw my vote in for a paypal account or some other easy way to donate to the cake girls. We can't rebuild the whole bakery, but I'd love to be apart of helping them out in some small way. You know you have hundreds of generous people here... please give us a way of giving directly to the cake girls. When they are back up and running again I trust that they will pay it forward for someone else, too.
That is just awesome!! Thank you for posting something so nice on a Sunday. I'm very sorry for Cakegirls. Their cakes are wicked awesome!!!
Jen, this isn't right.
I'm a truck driver. I'm a Namvet. I'm a cynical and sarcastic guy. I should NOT be getting dust or something in my eyes when I read about Jacob being promoted. Or Jane's kindheartedness.
It just isn't right!
Sweet post. Hooray for Jane and Cakes Come True! Hope all turns out well for the CakeGirls. Love their green cake with the little white flowers.
-Holly
Oh wow, so sweet! Definitely has me crying. I agree with feeling like everyone sucks. Its nice to be reassured every now and then that there is faith in humanity.
T-shirt has been bought. If there is anything else we can do ... you know your "wreckies" will be first in line!
aw, you guys are so awesome. :) Hugs to Jen John and Jane!!
@ Anonymous 6:50
...who said:
"I'm a truck driver. I'm a Namvet. I'm a cynical and sarcastic guy. I should NOT be getting dust or something in my eyes when I read about Jacob being promoted..."
Aw, that's okay, tough guy! All that "dust" (or something) won't hurt your *eyes* that much, and only means that your heart is functioning just fine...
[Shhhhh...you sound like a nice guy--but don't worry, we here won't let it get around.]
=^~.-^=
Thank you so much for this post! I do find myself depressed at the negativity of people, so it's inspiring to read about such unbidden, and unexpected, kindness.
The firsts one is definitely my favorite.
That is an increadbly sweet story. My heart goes out to little Jacobs family. I also know how it is to lose someone you love to a brain tumor.
Thank you for this very touching Sunday Sweets post! Although both events are sad, it is always uplifting to see strangers come together and help others in times of tragedy.
@ Naomi - I have hope that there is a greater percentage of the human race that is good and selfless than any of us thinks. ☺
@ Post Pals – we have something similar in Hawaii! It is called Keiki Cards (http://sites.google.com/site/ucipublichealth/keiki). The woman and volunteers who run it are incredible.
Wow just when you think most people are just plain rude someone does something super nice and restores my faith in humanity. Great cakes and great story!
Awesome story. Jane has a great heart.
Sending you some sunshine to award your entertaining blog with: The Sunshine Award :-) http://fabricofliving.blogspot.com/2010/04/sharing-sunshine_12.html
I heard about the cakegirls bakery via twitter with charm city cakes. its so sad to see a beautiful bakery with such talented people working in it burn to the ground! I hope they have a speedy rebuild so they can get back to wedding cake takeover! (if i lived in chicago i would go help re build!) I am ordering a shirt as soon as i am done typing this post!! And Jan is an angel! how sweet of her to do that! Jen you always know how to make people's days!
Reading all the lovely comments here has lightened my heart somewhat from the many crass and thoughtless comments written on the Chicago news blog that reported the fire.
I love the ocean blue cake--gorgeous work. Hope they are back in business soon.
And reading about Jan and her generosity (and yours as well! awesome) to the Taylors has really restored my faith in humanity. There ARE people who care about others out there.
So, you started quite an amazing chain of events, Ms. Cake Wreck.
Nicely done. I love Sunday Sweets. Whatever it is you call this new profession of yours (HappyMaker?), you were born to do it.
This is both heartbreaking and touching. Nice to know there are still some good people in the world.
The poor Cakegirls! Not to mention the homes above the shop and the poor cat.
Sweet sweets and a great story of the goodness of people out there ( and you guys too )...love that !!!
Incredible post! You all keep up the good works, plural!
Hi this is Jane Cervantes, creator of the cakes for Jacob Taylor. Thank you to everyone for your support and all of your nice comments. I just followed my heart.
Come on, kind souls out there. Let's donate money to the Cake Girls rebuilding fund. I'm donating $100.00. We all love sweets and I know I would be devastated if my bakery burned down. Jen, please tell us where to send the money.
Thanks. God Bless you all.
Jane Cervantes
Cakes Come True and Truffles Too
cakelady24@fuse.net
/lurk
I love this blog and I love how you always give credit where it is due. I also appreciate that, though, your site focuses on the mishaps of a plethora of bakers, it is not in a demonizing manner. Both, stories tugged at me and HARD. So, I would also like to know how I can get money to the Cakegirls directly instead of via T-shirt. I may not have money--yet (student about to start a new job in a couple weeks), but I do know several that can and would help them (as well as, the Cure Starts Now) financially now.
Anyway, it's always nice to see people using the influence that they have to help others. Thanks.
lurk
Jacob's mom is on my fave message board, and it's been quite a journey with Jacob and their family. So happy (but not surprised) to see how Jacob touched so many of us, and how it brought out the best. :) Thanks for posting this.
Jane is amazing! Thank you for the inspiration (and a few tears).
Thank you for posting your sweet story, and I'm so sorry to learn of Jacob's passing. Thank you for providing awareness of so many good causes. I've linked back to your story on my blog.
http://wantapeanut.blogspot.com
aw! great. i hate to read these things when i have my period.
gonna have to re do my make up now before i go out.
God bless you all, thanks for the sweetness.
What a tragedy. I bought a shirt, Jen. I wish Cakegirls all the best in rebuilding.
I am sitting here at my desk with tears running down my face. My daughter, Jackie, died 25 years ago from a rare brain tumor when she was 2, so this really got to me. I am really touched.
suwilliams
Umm...Hmmm... the chocolate looks very smooth? Rich and creamy?... At least it's not a huge pile of cake.....
Sue Miller, Portland, OR.
(Mom of three teenagers and two college grads...)
Umm...Hmmm... the chocolate looks very smooth? Rich and creamy?... At least it's not a huge pile of cake.....
Sue Miller, Portland, OR.
(Mom of three teenagers and two college grads...)
Nicely done Jane! Good for you. :)
Sadly, I was all set to buy a t-shirt to support Cakegirls, but they want $10 for shipping! Eep! I'd rather send them a $20 to help out.
Test
I've been following many of these stories because my 8-year-old son, Oliver was also diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) a rare aggressive form of brain cancer. Only 150 - 200 children are diagnosed each year and we are given 9 - 12 months to live. It is located in the brainstem which is responsible for all of the vital functioning of the human body. Because of it's location and the fact that the cells are all throughout the brain, it is impossible to surgically remove. It's been a heart wrenching few months and I have come to know of so many others who are in the same situation as we are or who are somewhere else on the path of this destructive monster. Thank you for posting this and getting the word out about it. Something definitely needs to be done for research so that others may not have to go through this horrific experience! Thanks for sharing!!
Stacy Palmer
(www.oliverpalmer.blogspot.com)