Friday

Lampwork Bead Cake Testers

Beads by Lampwork Artist Leese

I am going to introduce you to one of my beautiful daughters.  Yup, I'm actually putting a photo of one of my kids on my blog.  Don't stalk her.  I will hunt you down.

This is the same daughter who made some signs at Christmas and decided to sew a little elf for the little girl she was a nanny for while at college.  She has a kiln and makes pottery.  She is a graphic designer who works in advertising and on a variety of web sites.

She is someone who I refer to as artistic. 

But don't let that sweet face fool you, she's the same young woman who rolls her eyes at me if I ask for computer help, and she seldom reads my blog.  But she likes to bake.

Professional Eye Roller
Today she made cupcakes.  Lemon filled.  Cream cheese frosting.

A few years ago, Beth being a starving college girl, had to come up with a way to put gas in her car and gifts under the tree.

So she made this glass beaded beauty.......

And started selling them.

It's a jeweled cake tester, you know... something you poke into cakes instead of tooth picks to see if a cake is done.  But these aren't tacky little trinkets, they are true works of art made with top quality goods - Czech glass beads, Tibetan silver spacers and you can't buy the stainless steel at the craft store.  One of a kind gifts.

Cake Testers made with Fire Agates & Glass Beads
Beth found a lampwork bead artist on the East Coast who makes the most beautiful beads.  Lampwork beads are made by using long thin glass rods put into a flame then the glass melts as you spin it.  (That's the simplified version of how it's done).

There is a real art to it - just like glass blowing - and each bead is unique and original.

The artists name is Leese and her beads are stunning.......


In all colors and shapes.  Blues, reds, metallics, pinks, golds... each bead prettier than the one before.

Beth takes whatever beads suit her mood and turns them into her own works of art as a functional one of a kind kitchen gadget.  I keep mine in the knife block where it's handy.  She used it on those cupcakes today to make sure they were done.

Cake Tester By One 30 One Design using Glass By Leese Beads
When Beth first found Leese I was addicted.  I checked every day to see what new beads she had.  Jewelry crafters use Leese's beads for their custom jewelry.
 
Beth also has other lampwork artists that she gets some beads from.  Those beads are pretty too, but nothing matches the ones that Leese creates.  (Of course I think all the cake testers turn out pretty no matter whose beads she uses).  Beth also uses faceted agates on some of her cake testers, those are really popular.

Variety of Cake Testers
Beth can use any kind of bead really.  She has made some custom ones out of grandmothers sentimental baubles; she made a set of 8 for some airline stewardesses with travel charms; one lady orders them and tucks them in home made aprons and baking gift baskets for bridal gifts.


I like to give them as baby shower gifts for all the birthday cakes that new mom is sure to be making.  And I always know it's a gift the recipient won't receive from anyone else.

Beth also goes through a few pink ones in October......


If you want to see more of Leese's beads you can go here, here or here.  Tell her Beth's mom formally known as her stalker, sent you. 

All Glass Beads
Beth and One 30 One Designs, have a blog page {here} that she uses as a store front, and an Etsy Shop as well.  Keep a cake tester in mind next time you are stumped what to give your BFF for her birthday.  They look cute with one of those fancy bakery cupcakes.

And the lemon cupcakes?  Lemon poppyseed, with lemon curd filling and lemon cream cheese frosting...... one of them is calling my name.




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48 comments :

  1. Artistic talents obviously run in your family. You must be very proud of your beautiful and talented daughter. I love that she made cake testers that are so pretty. I have 2 but they are the boring plain variety. These are stunning. I just might bake more if I had something like that. What a wonderful glimpse into your very private life.

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  2. What a lovely lady! And she makes beautiful pieces! And those bead are amazing! Thanks so much for sharing...and those cupcakes look so good!

    Holly

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  3. Gorgeous, your daughter and her art work! I love the cake testers. The "Mom" cake tester is my favorite!
    Karen

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  4. Back when I dabbled more in jewelry I always wanted to learn how to lampwork my own beads just like those!! So gorgeous and your lovely daughter makes really stunning cake testers with those beads. And she bakes too?! I may need to send one or two of my girls for some training time at Bliss Ranch!

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  5. I love my cake tester, and so does my Mother and Mother-in-law:)

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  6. WOW! What a unique and beautiful thing to create. Stunning. I will definitely keep these in mind :)

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  7. Stunning cake testers ! A truly unique gift.
    Would love the recipe for the Lemon cupcakes / filling / frosting.
    They sound amazing !! ;)
    Rose

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  8. Wow! They are really stunning! And what a great gift idea. I knew the artistic gene would have to run deep in your family, Bliss. ;)
    Beautiful work, Beth!
    <3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!

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  9. oh it so figures you have a super creative daughter who happens to be super cute! Apple don't fall to far , does it? I will certainly check out her site to see her stuff.

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  10. Beautiful daughter, beautiful beads, and beautiful cake testers!

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  11. Oh my goodness, she is just as talented as her mom! I love these cake testers... I favorited her shop and I will be sure to think of them when I need a gift. Great idea and they are absolutely beautiful!
    Susan

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  12. These are stunning and so unique! I got myself a cobalt blue one!

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  13. Your beautiful daughter creates pieces of art that are just as beautiful! What are you two waiting for? Get that shop/studio open already!!

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  14. I LOVE these, Bliss! These are going on my "go to gift list"... thanks for sharing! I know you are soooo proud of her. :)
    xo heidi

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  15. My girls are entering the eye roll Olympics - maybe the three of them will take bronze, silver and gold medals home which they can then turn into cake testers!

    And I'm craving cupcakes - I may have to stalk you as payback!
    Kelly

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  16. I'm stepping up as a spokesperson for her incredible creations!! They are gorgeous and perfectly well made. Everyone needs at least one ~ I promise!

    Glad you put the word out and it's a reminder for me to order another.

    xo
    Pat

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  17. How beautiful! And I mean that for both Beth and for her amazing and unique creations! I will absolutely be ordering some in the future. If only I knew someone who is getting married or having kids.

    :) Linda

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  18. Beth is so lovely and talented, Bliss! The spring green Fire Agate tester is heading my way! The beads she uses from leese are really gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  19. Beautiful and very unique! Creativity runs in the family:) The beads are a lovely color. Thank you for sharing!

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  20. Wow, those beads are stunning! Your daughter's work is just beautiful. I had never heard of cake testers...what a great idea.

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  21. Like mother, like daughter! She's beautiful and these cake testers are incredible!

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  22. Your daughter is beautiful! I once had a cake tester (not pretty like those) and I lost it! See? It really needed those pretty beads so I could find it! It fell between my stove and the counter top into a dark oblivion! Guess I'll be able to find it again after we move the stove out (for whatever reason). LOL! Her cake testers are too pretty to store in a drawer somewhere. I see she has talent like her momma!

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  23. What a beauty! Wow, i am so impressed. These babies are absolutely gorgeous.

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  24. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Gorgeous work, yummy cupcakes, and she's a beauty! Great gift idea too!

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  25. Anonymous1/12/2013

    These are honestly some of the most creative and beautiful things I have seen lately! I am putting this on my Mother's Day wish list. AKA a serious hint to my husband ;)

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  26. She's beautiful! I've never in my life seen a cake tester like this before, but it would make a beautiful gift for my MIL, who loves to bake. Keeping this in mind for next Christmas!

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  27. Thanks for stopping by my blog and letting me know about this blog post. I was thrilled to have received a beautiful cake tester from one of my blog friends, but now I am thrilled to know about the lovely young woman who designed my cake tester. Everyone who see my cake tester loves it, and it works really well, too.

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  28. These are so pretty! What a great idea for a gift...I actually use a cake tester when I bake cakes (shhhh....don't tell anyone I actually cook quite a bit. I'm trying to pretend I'm all "Sex and the City" and whatnot.).

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  29. What a beautiful, beautiful idea! Next time I need a gift....I am totally ordering one! And don't even get me started on those beads!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  30. Bliss you have a beautiful and very talented daughter!

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  31. Um absolutely beautiful. And I'll try to keep my stalking to a minimum. :)
    I'm thinking you should do a giveaway of one of these! :)

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  32. Beautiful daughter and lovely creations! And fine...I won't stalk her because I certainly don't want you hunting me down. :)

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  33. Gosh...you make some pretty good looking talented kids!! I'm impressed! OK...TESTIMONIAL...I HAVE one of these cake testers and my cakes are BETTER than anyone else's...so you need one of these!! Mine is blue and I just LOVE it! I keep it hanging on my wire memo board so I can see it all the time! Way to go Beth!!

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  34. WOW! The creative apple did not fall far from the tree here. Those are just gorgeous. She is so much more resourceful than I was in college to make ends meet. I took two waitress jobs, made minimal cash, and the only creative talents I was able to use was my fantastic art of conversation and flattery to make that tip meter go up. Definitely getting some of these. I can think of several people for whom this will be a wonderful gift. Thanks for sharing!

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  35. What a very cool and unique idea! They'd make awesome gifts. And your girlie is beautiful. I like her hair. And I wonder where she gets her creativity.... ;)

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  36. What do you know, I have a professional eye roller too, but no cake tester beaders! What a cutie and a true talent, like her mother, of course!
    Liz

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  37. I try REALLY hard not to bake...I'm no good at it. But I know LOTS of people who do...great gift idea!! Thanks for sharing your daughter's creativity with us!! Too cool :)

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  38. God those look good! Love lemon. Those cake testers really are cool, I'll have to look up the etsy shop. She's a beauty!

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  39. Bliss, these cake testers are incredible and a great gift for the woman (or man) who has everything. The cupcakes are winners too, but I'm really attracted to that bling of the beautiful beads.

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  40. Wow these are gorgeous! I don't bake but maybe I can find other uses for them :) I'm hoping she finds the time to make jewelry!

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  41. gorgemegus my own word for beauty..and your daughter is Goremegus...and has a talent for making gorgemegus...pretty....love the details and the knowing how to put it all together...I have a sister in law...who does bead work...totally different but she too some day I must do a blog story of her work...if you look at Nancy Cain Beads you will find her( she is a master beader and has been in mags
    Thanks for sharing such beauty

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  42. Umm...you are just now showing me this?? Do you not recall that your future daughter-in-law is a cupcake queen? What a great Christmas gift this would have been. Ok..I'll guess I will have to keep it in mind for her 22nd birthday this summer. I can definitely tell the difference in the quality of the beads. They are beautiful - and so is your daughter!

    Were you always late to class? ;)

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  43. "Don't stalk her. I will hunt you down." ROTF! Classic Bliss. Those cake testers are beautiful!!!!! Definitely something I think my newly wedded and admitted foodie daughter needs! Off to the Etsy store to check it out. Oh - and BTW... Your daughter - as beautiful as her heart and her mother is. :)

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  44. She's beautiful. You should have shown her lovely photo a long time ago. I'm showing a photo of my daughter on my blog in a few weeks in honor of her birthday, but she's been on there before.

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  45. I remember seeing those cake testers before Bliss!!! ( did you post about them once? ) They are beyond beautiful and the perfect gift.
    Your daughter is just gorgeous! And I so get not posting photos of our kids - I just posted one of mine last week - but felt very uncomfortable doing it!
    XOX

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  46. Oh my gosh...she's gorgeous!! And those cupcakes!! She should be a contributor on your blog and post cupcakes regularly!! Oh yeah...or on mine. Yes...on mine :)

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  47. Your daughter is beautiful and these cake testers are the coolest things ever!

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