{our amazing menu}
So, I've shared my thoughts on stamp placement and dream team meetings, today I must mention Happy Menocal. An AMAZING artist who wowed us every step of the way. I had the timely good fortune of seeing her work at Coco + Kelley and knew she would be perfect for our event. A few quick emails later, she signed on and my lovefest began.
Menus. We wanted unique, hand-crafted menus. Happy's are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Lesa was obsessed {obsessed!} with a signature herald and I with clean design. Together, those elements meant our menu would be a star. Our meal featured a Chef's Tasting menu, so we wanted simple clues of the meal to come and left the entire design up to Happy. The final result was absolute perfection. For me, they made the table. We gifted copies to the Executive Chef, Pastry Chef and Lacroix Manager and a framed copy will soon hang in my kitchen. Original menu art...wheeeeee!!
But, any great party needs more than just menus and much later into our design plans, we discovered we needed Happy again.
One detail we thought of late in the game and then couldn't settle, was that of a welcome board. Our party was held in a private room positioned at the end of a hall. We wanted a clue to our guests that they had arrived. Six-days out, I found a chalkboard artist that looked ideal. I LOVED his work. Unfortunately for us, he was booked solid and remained true to his standing clients {not even tempted by cash!}. So, back to the drawing board.
{image via customchalk.com}
One night, late in the hour, I had a thought - why not ask Happy to create another piece. But what? Lesa and I had gone 'round and 'round talking through every combination of sentiments and words {twins, Cheers!, To Us...}, but nothing stuck.
Then, in a moment of clarity, I had it. Our cake! Why not ask Happy to paint our cake. It was perfect. The cake we requested of Chef Ortega was GORGEOUS and it captured so many things about the night ~ pink, celebratory, feminine, fun... But, would she do it, was there time, and could we afford her??
Yes, yes and yes! Lay your eyes on this beauty.
Upon sharing an early draft, Happy noted a brilliant idea to exacto-knife the cake and surface mount it on complementing paper {we ultimately decided on plum ~ how appropos!}, thus allowing the artistry of the ruffled icing to shine. That detail, along with the little penciled white sparks, had me soooo in love.
We received the cake portrait mere hours before the event and headed straight to Old Man Ramsey for framing {it would eventually sit in an easel at the restaurant}. Now, those who know us, know Hayes has antique hoarding tendancies and has amassed more antique frames than any art lover could possible use. Well, get out the feather duster, our cake needs a frame! Lesa and he selected a gorgeous, unique design that showcased the cake beautifully. I loved it. This picture really doesn't do it justice.
With Shakespeare expressions, an ease of manner and more artistic talent then should ever be allowed, Happy paints pet portraits, custom heraldry, people, things, places, and I'm sure anything you could dream up. Consider her the next time you need a gift or a menu or a portrait. I just can't sing her praises enough. Thank you, Happy.
Thanks Dad! {you'll see more of Old Man Ramsey in our commissioned poppop portrait wall}
~ Happy Menocal ~
{menu and cake image by Happy Menocal}
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