Crumbs Couture's Harpreet Baura at the Cake and Bake Show

Hello Lovelies

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Crumbs Couture will be teaching 5 classes at the September Cake and Bake Show at Earl's Court (13-15 September 2013).

This is the third show that I am teaching at, with each of our previous classes selling out well before the event.

The Cake and Bake show brings together celebrity bakers, professional bakers, baking & decorating suppliers as well as novices, making it the perfect mix for a fab day out.

As part of our involvement in the show we are giving away 2 tickets at random. All you need to do is RT & follow on twitter (https://twitter.com/cupcakes_london) or share our post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/crumbscouturecupcakes) and you will be entered into the draw.

We will be picking a winner on the 23rd August, leaving you plenty of time to plan your trip to London.

Good luck!

Harpreet x

For more information on the show click here: http://thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk/london/star-speakers/harpreet-baura/

The Designer Wedding Show: My top Picks!

Now that Valentines Day Mayhem has subsided, I can tell you about the wonderful Designer Wedding Show, which I attended last Sunday.

This show, which takes place in Battersea Park, has always been one of my favourite wedding shows as I feel that it has a gentle, calm and refined atmosphere. It is extremely different to some of the mainstream wedding shows, some of which feel a little like hypermarkets when compared to this event.

There was a huge range of wedding exhibitors and sadly I did not get a chance to speak to them all. Here are my top picks:

1. Bridal Couture: Sassi Holford

credit: Segerius Bruce

Sassi Holford's designs combine the traditional with the edgy and are the perfect choice for today's chic bride.  The fabrics were divine, and I was impressed by the numerous options for a bride who wanted a range of colours, such as champagne/gold. http://www.sassiholford.com/

2. Wedding Jewellery: Hermione Harbutt

My inner magpie, coupled with my love for intricate handiwork drew me to the stand of Hermione Harbutt. Her designs are timeless, meaning that they are wonderful pieces to hold on to for generations. Two things are apparent when you look at her products. Firstly it is immediately clear how much effort and passion has gone into the production of each item. Secondly, the materials used are of the utmost quality, meaning that they will last! Hermione has recently launched The Diamond Service, which can be explored here: http://www.hermioneharbutt.co.uk/

3. Bridesmaid's Services: Maids to Measure

What is not to love about the wonderful bridesmaid service from Maids to Measure? For starters, Sinclair, who is one half of the pair behind this brand, is an ex-lawyer like yours truly. Their dresses combine great quality with affordable pricing. Best of all, the design process can be done entirely by the bride and her bridesmaids, meaning that you can create bespoke dresses for your exact requirements! Cue happy bridesmaids and happy bride! Find them at http://www.maidstomeasure.com/

4. Event Planners: By Appointment Only Design

If asked to name one stand at the show that had an immediate WOW factor, it would have to be the stunning display of By Appointment Only Design. Their stand featured the most gorgeous blooms in various pastel hues. My favourite aspect was the floral table runner, which was pretty enough to make me want to get married all over again!! Their beautiful work can be seen at http://www.byappointmentonlydesign.com/

5. Wedding Stationery: Intricate Create 

"Intricate Creations" was born when a wonderful couple decided to fill a gap in the market, one which became apparent when they were planning their own wedding! Their designs are the perfect fusion of East and West,  and their finishing is just exquisite. I have always been a fan of their huge range of colours and styles. Just when I think they have nailed it, they show me one of their latest products which surpasses my already high opinion of their work. Their laser-cut wooden table plan that was on display at the show just blew my mind! Check them out at http://www.intricatecreations.co.uk/

6. Venue: The May Fair

If I had to sum up this venue in 3 words, I would say Glamorous, Luxurious and Unique. I had my pre-wedding party in the Crystal Room of this gorgeous hotel and I would recommend it to anyone. Look out for the awesome Baccarat chandelier in the middle of this grand space. I have previously blogged about a spa break my husband and I enjoyed at the hotel last year: 

http://crumbscouturecupcakes.blogspot.com/2011/06/pamper-your-mind-body-and-soul-at-may.html

7. Marquee: The Raj Tent Club

I met the team from Raj Tent Club back in 2010 at a wedding show I was exhibiting at, and instantly fell in love with their colourful and decorative marquees. When I got married later on that year, I was lucky enough to have one of their marquees in the back garden of my parents house, which was a great place for us to relax, eat, drink and perform some of the wedding traditions that were done at home during my 6-event wedding extravaganza! It was also where I attempted to sit still for 3 hours getting my henna done! They provided us with a range of traditional furniture which all complemented the marquee beautifully. I loved that marquee so much! Here is a pic of the pavilion marquee we had as well as some pictures of me in the marquee on the morning of my Sikh wedding day!! 

                                  

Right, enough reminiscing!! In summary, it was a pleasure to meet so many fabulous wedding suppliers as well as to watch the floaty romantic gowns that graced the catwalk shows. I am already excited about next year's show!

Harpreet

"Crumbs! Couture" and The Cake & Bake Show

Hello Cake Fans, 

I am chuffed to tell you that Crumbs has been asked to team up with the Cake and Bake Show, which takes place in September this year at Earls Court!  http://thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk/

I will be attending as a star speaker (click here for details). During the show I will be demonstrating various cupcake baking recipes as well as decoration techniques.

I am really excited about this event as it is the first live event that is dedicated to baking and cake decoration. There has been a massive surge in the popularity of "caking and baking" as a hobby, thanks to shows such as The Great British Bake Off. This event is the perfect opportunity for all you budding bakers to come and meet your favourite professionals face-to-face!!

It should be a fantastic event for all of the family to enjoy. I can't wait!

Spreading love and Sprinkles,

Harpreet

There is only one Wedding List.

Hi Crumbs! Fans,

I hope you have all had a fab festive period.

Many people get engaged at this time of year, and although it may not be your first concern, the place where you register your wedding list is a very important decision for most couples. There are many options out there, such as registering for people to contribute towards your honeymoon, registering for contributions towards a large item such as a flatscreen TV or a car.

More couples than ever are choosing to live together for a significant time before they tie the knot, meaning that they may well have a fully-stocked home when it comes to gadgets, homewares and decorations. So how do you help out your guests with the dilemma of what to give you if you feel uncomfortable receiving cash?

When I got married, I was keen to register at a store, however as is common with Indian Brides, my parents would be giving me everything I needed for my "new life"; therefore 6 months before our wedding, my mother had already bought me a trio of suitcases which she filled with 3 bed linen sets and 36 towels in 8 sizes (do not ask) as well as boxes full of crockery sets, pans, utensils, appliances and tableware. My husband and I did not need a thing for our new flat..... So we decided to treat ourselves and register at Harrods (http://www.harrods.com/).

Harrods Weddings and Occasions Services have a fantastic option for the couples who would like to register somewhere but would also like flexibility in what they buy. You can go in store and wander around the beautiful crockery, crystal, silver and decorative living departments, drawing up a list of items for your guests to peruse which will be typed up and can be e-mailed to any guests who request it. When a guest purchases items for you, rather than having the item sent out to you or held for you in a depot, the value of the item actually goes on to an account which is set up in the couple's name. If you wish, when an item is bought for you by a guest, it can be re-added to the list for someone else to contribute to.

Once your event has passed and your list is closed, you will receive a summary of all purchases as well as a store card, credited with the monetary value of all of the gifts and contributions from all of your guests. This can be spent on any items in any department in store. As many of Harrods' wares go on sale in January and July, often waiting to purchase something that was on your original list can mean that you can get it for half price a few months later, leaving you with more money to spend in the Shoe Boudoir! (My husband does not need to know about that last bit).

If you are worried about making your guests spend heaps if you register at Harrods, fear not! The Cookshop has a huge variety of cookery gadgets from £15 upwards, and we had lots of cookery books on there too which started at £8.99. The store really does have many items in everyone's budget, so there is no need to fret.

The timing of this post could not be better! Not only does Harrods have a sale on at the moment, but they have an extra 10% off everything in store tomorrow for cardholders. Last time I checked we still had enough on our card for the shiny Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer.... On sale and an EXTRA 10% off?! Who could resist?

Happy shopping, Brides!

The Cupcaker x

Win your Wedding Cupcake tower!

 At Crumbs! Couture we have been SO blessed with orders/ features and  publicity in 2011. This is why we would like to do something special for our brides in order to say "Thanks!".

As you know we are partial to a competition and our last competition ended during the Glastonbury Festival which we were lucky enough to provide cupcakes for. Last week we put our thinking caps on and decided that our next competition should be for a lucky couple who are planning their wedding. The winner will have an entire cupcake tower provided for their wedding for free.

This is what we "propose":

We want to hear all about how you proposed to your significant other. You can either reply to this post, e-mail us on hello@cupcakeslondon.com, Tweet us or give us your story on our Facebook Wall (links to Twitter and FB pages are here www.cupcakeslondon.com) . Once we have chosen our top 5 stories, we will ask our fans to vote for the couple who should get their wedding cupcakes for FREE! The only condition is that your wedding must be taking place in the UK!

As many of you will know, I got married in August 2010 and I LOVE all things wedding related so am really looking forward to reading your stories. To start you off I will tell you how my husband proposed to me in Feb 2010. We had been together nearly 4 years and I am awfully hard to surprise. I knew that a proposal was on the cards and I was being really annoying; each time my other half said we were going out I would say "make sure you have the ring in your pocket!". Valentines Day was looming and so my mind was in overdrive, so my other half knew that surprising me was key! 2 days before valentines day, I returned home from a day of baking to find the house dark and the alarm disabled. I walked in to find a trail of candles, rose petals, gifts and cute messages leading me up to my bedroom which faces over the garden. The final message told me to look out of the window, where I saw the words "Marry me" written in fairy lights and my sweetheart on one knee.... The rest is history!!

Good Luck!!

The Cupcaker x

Back to Life... Back to Reality!

Hello Crumbs! Couture Fans!!!

I thought I would write a little post to say hello to you all after a prolonged absence for just over a week.

Some of you may know that my Dad had a stroke last Tuesday lunchtime, an event which has put my world into a bit of a spin since then. It was so out of the blue, he has never had a history of stroke. The 19th of April is actually the anniversary of my first date with my husband, and so the day started off with us planning a meal that evening, discussing the hotel bookings for our upcoming 10-day trip to France which was due to start on Good Friday, as well as being deep in admin and baking for our campaign Cupcakes for Japan.

I had been in the kitchen in Chingford preparing for a Cupcakes for Japan sale that was scheduled for Weds 20th April at Morgan Stanley. In just a split second everything changed. My dad was with me having a lunch break when his stroke occurred, and each day since I have thanked God that I was there as I was able to spot that something was wrong and rush him to hospital. The initial behaviour differences were so subtle that a stranger would not have realised that there was anything wrong with him, however with a stroke, time is so crucial in saving that person.

Thanks to my love of TV I had often seen the "Act FAST" advert on the telly and ran through the test with my dad, as I was unsure if the episode was a low blood sugar issue or if he was having a stroke. The test can be seen here: http://www.stroke.org.uk/information/about_stroke/recognising_symptoms/index.html

I called an ambulance as my instincts told me that something was definitely wrong, and that it was more than a low-sugar issue. The paramedics arrived in 5 minutes but those 5 minutes felt like a lonely eternity as I was so scared for my dad, who was slurring his words by now, and acting very confused and unsteady. I was adamant not to cry or get too het up as this would only worry my Dad more. The paramedics confirmed my suspicions that he was having a stroke and we took him to Queens Hospital in Romford that has a Specialist Stroke Unit. The journey from Chingford to Romford, despite actually only being about 10 mins as we went with sirens and flashing lights, felt about an hour long!!

Once we reached the hospital they rushed my dad off to the "Resus" area and I was told to wait in the family waiting room until called for. At this point I called my mum who was at work in her sugery in Willesden (she is a GP) and broke the news to her, telling her that Dad had had a mild stroke. I then called my husband who was at work, and told him to leave immediately, get to my mum and to drive her to Romford as there was just no way that she would be able to make that 2 hour journey alone after having heard the news.

When I was allowed to see my Dad, the doctors were doing various test on him, and they told me that his stroke had progressed to being "moderately serious". He couldnt move his left side, couldnt feel anyone touching his left side and his speech was almost unintelligible. The trauma team could see that I was on the verge of cracking and was really upset, yet I told them I didnt want my dad to see me crying. I was asked to give various consents about "clot-busting" drugs that needed to be administered which had some unmentionable side effects, however they were hopeful that these drugs would help my dad.

The feeling of loneliness that I experienced while alone in a hospital in Romford while my loved ones were stuck on the North Circular is something that I never want to go through again! At this point I was sat wondering if my Dad would need a carer for the rest of his life, whether his grandkids would ever see him how he used to be or if they would only know him as a person whose speech could not be understood and couldnt walk.

My Dad's stroke occurred at 3.45 pm and he was admitted to hospital at 4.30pm. Finally, at 8pm, my husband and mum reached the hospital, and that is when I broke down. I think the feeling of relief that I had my husband there, as well as my mum with her knowledge of medicine made me feel like I didnt have to hold it back any more.

My dad was moved to a Hyper Acute Stroke Unit, where he was to be monitored for the next few days. We left him at 9pm, we all felt totally numb, and I went back to the kitchen to lock up after my speedy exit with my dad in the ambulance. My husband and I stayed with my mum that night, knowing that she must not be alone, and that it should be me that calls my brother in Hong Kong to let him know the bad news.

We slept as much as we could through tears and fear. The next morning I was relieved to hear that the amazing Natalie from Sweet Things was taking control of the Cupcakes for Japan sale at MS so that was one less thing for me to fret about. We drove back to Romford, not sure of what state we would find my dad in, and we were so delighted to see that he was actually sitting up in his chair drinking tea and having toast for breakfast. The consultants told us that he had made a great recovery overnight and that he had responded very well to the clot-busting injection. His speech was still not back to 100%, and he was having trouble eating, but fundamentally he was alright, he had regained feeling to his left side and could walk, go to the bathroom unaided and could dress himself.

The best news of all came on Thursday, just 48 hours after my Dad's stroke, when we were told that we could take him home! The doctors felt that he had recovered physically to the extent that he no longer needed to be in hospital, and that the rest of his recovery involved rest, which was best at home. Since then he has gone from strength to strength physically and has even reached the point of boredom as he is not allowed to drive for 6 weeks.

My husband and I cancelled our holiday which has resulted in a remarkably empty diary for me!! This has meant that I can spend time at home with my parents, and we have played lots of games of cards and watched many episodes of Only Fools sand Horses! Now that things are returning to normal a little I am back on blog duties and have even contacted The Stroke Association to discuss our next fundraising campaign!!

I urge you all to click the link above to learn more about the signs of a stroke, it may help you to save one of your loved ones.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Cupcaker x

The Cupcaker has been featured in Legalweek

Hi Cupcake Lovers

We have been absolutely frantic this week, however we managed to have a break with a cup of tea in order to read the Cupcaker's story in Legalweek!

It was great to actually see the story in print; it made us very proud!!

Have a read:

http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/analysis/2028179/crumble-beginnings-corporate-lawyer-quit-city-cupcakes

The Cupcaker x

Crumble beginnings - the corporate lawyer who quit the City to make cupcakes

Author: Harpreet Baura

22 Feb 2011 | 07:41 | 

After two years at a City law firm, Harpreet Baura traded corporate law for chocolate icing. Here, she describes her journey from lawyer to cupcaker

Prior to March 2009, I could be found behind a desk at one of London's premier law firms. But baking had always been one of my passions, and it was at this point that I decided to leave the City behind and pursue my dream of establishing a cupcake company.

It was time to say goodbye to soft offers, mergers and corporate law and hello to soft sponge, margarine and cocoa powder. No longer strutting down the corridors in a suit and stilettos, I can now be found wearing an apron, usually with a smear or two of icing sugar on my face. Meetings are now called tastings and conference calls still remain, but what could possibly be more fun than discussing wedding cupcake towers with a bride and groom-to-be?

I read economics at University College of London, after which I did the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. I then joined Linklaters as a trainee in March 2007. Upon qualifying, I decided to set up a web-based cupcake company called Crumbs! Couture Cupcakes. Since I started the company, we have been lucky enough to provide cupcakes for a high-profile celebrity wedding and be featured in numerous glossy magazines.

I am from a family of professionals, so there was never a consideration of not going to university and entering a professional career path. I left school wanting to go into investment banking. During my summer vacation while reading economics, I did an eight-week internship at HSBC Investment and decided banking wasn't the right fit for me. I then considered a career in law, applied to law school and secured a place. It was not until I left law school that I obtained a training contract at Linklaters. They reimbursed my law school fees and allowed me to start my training contract six months later.

Leaving law

During my second seat at Linklaters, my personal life took a tumble and I found myself in quite a severe depression. By no means am I saying that life as a lawyer led to my clinical depression, but it certainly wasn't the environment in which to recover. During my final seat I made the decision to take a break from law in order to get my health back on track.

I had interviewed at some firms, hoping to return to the law after six months, and was offered a role as an associate at a US firm, which was due to start six months after leaving Linklaters. In the interim, I decided to set up the cupcake company as I had always loved baking - but I had every intention of returning to law after a little break. What happened next was totally beyond my predictions.

Setting up shop

Upon finding a property, I then had to turn it into a kitchen fit to produce the prettiest cupcakes in London. The fact that we were in a recession at the time actually helped, as the economic climate meant that I received much more competitive quotes for the work to get the premises ready. The friends and contacts I had made at Linklaters helped me to build up business, as their orders and reviews were invaluable for Crumbs! in its early stages. My first retailing took place from a stall at Brick Lane's Sunday Upmarket, where I sold cupcakes one weekend a month. Even from these humble beginnings, Crumbs! secured a following on Twitter and Facebook.

Among the highlights since setting up the company are being featured in Vogue as well as being asked to provide cupcakes to be taken to India for Katy Perry and Russell Brand's wedding. It is also so satisfying when we provide cupcakes for charity events, with the proceeds from sales going to the help the cause. We have done charity cupcakes for Help a London Child, Cancer Research UK and

The Prince's Trust.

I faced a lot of criticism when I left what was seen as a prestigious job in order to spend my days in the kitchen. Many people couldn't get their head around what I was doing. I had people speculating behind my back about the possibility that I had been sacked or that I couldn't get a job after qualifying. It was all fairly ignorant but, given that I hadn't ever advertised the fact that I had been depressed, many people didn't understand why I had left.

I often deliver cupcakes in the City to offices and banks, and it does make me very nostalgic. I do miss the buzz of life in the financial world, but then I remind myself of how much I prefer the actual work I do now to the work of a lawyer, and I am placated.

Lessons from the City

Running my own business has meant that I have had to learn a huge amount very quickly. My legal background has helped me in terms of copyright with my website as well as being able to stand my ground when suppliers have breached contracts. I was lucky enough to have some money saved while I was working at Linklaters and so this meant that I didn't have to take out any loans when starting up Crumbs!

My job can still be very stressful and it still involves long hours. There are huge nerves and a lot of stress involved in doing exhibitions such as the National Wedding Show. And we have also had to work through the night preparing cupcakes for photoshoots. There are often weekends at the peak of the wedding season where we have to prepare and set up about 800 cupcakes in one weekend. Law does teach you how to deal with stressful deadlines and pressure, which prepares you well for the discipline required to run your own business.

The joy of cupcakes

Being able to wake up and spend the day doing something so creative is perfect for me. I have always been an artistic person and I think I prefer the fact that a day's work can now be shown with something tangible.

I got married in 2010 and it was a bit of an extravaganza, as many Indian weddings can be. We had three months to plan a wedding that incorporated six events and, had I still been a lawyer, this would have been extremely tough. As a result of running my own business, I was able to juggle my day so that I could visit potential venues and go for dress fittings, and we managed to pull the wedding off in time. Before you ask, the answer is yes, I did make my own wedding cupcake tower.

The cake industry is very dynamic; it's great fun to be constantly developing new products or seeing what the new trends are. We have recently launched a product called The Cake Pop, and last year's big trend, the Whoopie Pie, is still going strong.

Advice to others

The best advice I can offer is to be realistic about how long it will take for your new venture to be profitable and make sure you have a large cash buffer to keep you afloat until you are well in the black. If your new venture will mean that you will spend a lot more time alone, think through whether you will be able to cope with that.

Life is too short to not follow your dreams, but be sure that your dream is sustainable when you introduce it to your real life.

About the Cupcaker!

About the Cupcaker:

Prior to March 2009, the Cupcaker could be found behind a desk in one of London’s premier Law firms. Baking had always been one of her passions, and it was at this point that the Cupcaker decided to leave the city behind and instead pursue her dream of establishing a cupcake company! 

It was time to say “goodbye!” to soft offers, mergers and corporate law and “hello!” to soft sponge, margarine and cocoa powder! No longer strutting down the corridors in a suit and stilettos, she can now be found wearing an apron, usually with a smear or two of icing sugar on her face. 

Meetings are now called “tastings”; conference calls still remain, but what could possibly be more fun than discussing wedding cupcake towers with brides and grooms?! If you would like to learn more about the Cupcaker’s story, e-mail her on hello@cupcakeslondon.com


Crumbs! Couture Cupcakes: The Cupcaker