Invisible Friends, have I got a treat for you this Saturday!

Our new creative woman of the Pond, Sasha of Saucy’s Sprinkles, is an absolute hoot.  Not only does she whip up glorious creations like cupcakes and mac and cheese, but she makes all sorts of glorious bracelets and charm-happy creations.  Plus, she offers tutorials so you can have your own fun!

Let’s learn more about her, shall we?

A little bird told me that you like Dr. Pepper and puppies.  Is that true?

Dr. Pepper and puppies?  Is there nothing better in life?  A bagful of pups and a Pepper in my paws would be positively perfect!

How did you get started blogging?  How did you come up with your name/ theme?

I started blogging three years ago.  I was on the Internet, googling away.  I was looking for information on a new scent I’d caught a whiff of and stumbled upon Amy Powers’ blog at Inspire Company.  I was sucked in most immediately!

I hardly knew what a blog was at the time, but a day or two later, I was jumping in stilettos first.  I really didn’t give it much thought except that I figured it would be a fun way to online journal my little escapades… my crafting and baking, mostly.

If I’d put more thought into it, I surely would have picked a better name.  I just thought, blah, blah, blah… blog, blog, blog: bloggedy blog blog.  Oh, it was silly of me and Blogger generated the world’s worst URL for my blog ever!  So you see, I really had no idea whatsoever about what I was doing.

At first, I really had no theme or direction.  I still am not sure if I do.  My blog is a moving record of my life and adventures.  The cupcake thing has followed me for years, and doughnuts too.  I am addicted to pastry of any sort.  My cupcake movie reviews are one of my favorite things to do.

Tell me about your cast of characters.

That little group of people in my sidebar are my life.  My husband, Veto and the kids, my parents and my brothers and extended family are the world to me.  Everyone’s nickname really suits them, except maybe poor Veto.

It’s sort of a satirical name because he rarely “vetoes” any of my ideas… but when he does, watch out!  He really means it.  Otherwise, he pretty much lets me indulge my heart’s desire, be it wall color, vacation destinations, all the important stuff!  But when Veto says “veto”, then step off!  He means it.

Why cupcakes as opposed to say, cookies… or pie?

Pie is lovely, you know everyone loves pie *winks* but a cupcake is the perfect dessert for me!  One single serving of cake, one perfectly decorated festive cupcake is just divine!  I generally lurrve cake more than Marie Antoinette–you have no idea.  Plus, the cake to frosting ratio on a cupcake is favorable to me.  Last word: sprinkles!

What creative hobbies do you have?  What are some of your daily creative activities?

Too many!  Although I am not teaching art right now, I paint, draw and do several types of printmaking, including waterless lithography.  I dabble in photography and lately I’ve been trying my hand as a photographer/stylist doing fashion photo shoots with my daughter Loopy.  I’m trying to master the complexities of Photo Shop.

I have a wonderful (but very messy right now) craft room devoted to scrapbooking, making jewelry and hatpins.  Of course, all of my cooking and baking keeps me on my toes!  Coming up with new cupcake flavors is very creatively challenging!  My craft room also houses my teddy bear collection.  Their beady eyes stare me down whilst I putter.  I absolutely and positively try to do at least one creative thing each and every day.

What does being creative mean to you? And as a woman and a mom, how do you think creativity is important?

I think that especially in these economic times, a creative mind helps us make ends meet and live a more beautiful life.  Gifts made by hand are the most precious gifts to give and receive.  I hope that I have instilled this in my children.  I think one of the best gifts that my husband ever got was when our son sang his favorite song to him on Christmas morning with his guitar.  These are the moments in life that art and creative thinking have made so special for us.

To be truly creative, one examines a challenge from every angle and then solves the problem in the best way possible.  If more people understood that an arts education allows students to learn this skill, there would be increased funding for music, art, drama and creative writing programs in our schools.

If you could go anywhere with anyone, where would you go and what would you do?

Really and truly, I would go anywhere with my husband.  I would get in a car and drive to the skeeziest little town and find a Waffle House, which he refuses to take me to, so I have never been to one.

Otherwise… in a dream world I suppose everyone who knows me assumes I would have lunch in New York City with Martha Stewart but I think the conversation might be a little drab.  So let’s say Loopy (her daughter) and I get invited to share a Dr. Pepper with the Jonas Brothers!  That would make her happy, so I would be happy.

Favorite meal?

I could never pick one, but I can guarantee that it would include red meat.

(Stops drooling at thought of red meat).  Favorite movie?

I could never just pick one!  Veto and I lurrve movies… we see them all.  I simply adore a good caper movie like Ocean’s Eleven…

I’m throwing a fabulous dinner party in your honor and you can invite five people, living or dead.  Who would you invite?

James Taylor, Martha Stewart, Jackie Kennedy, Marie Antoinette and Katherine of Aragon.  She might be a little stuffy, but I am just dying to see what she looked like.

Who inspires you?

My father, first and foremost – to be 80 years old and still traveling the world teaching art and printmaking!  His passion for art and creativity keeps him young.  If I had to choose a famous person it would be Martha Stewart because she isn’t afraid to try anything and she is extremely resilient.

Where did you get your love of cooking and baking?

From The Fan (her mother)!  My grandmother said to her once, “You can be a really good cook if you put your mind to it.”  That comment has been laughed about for years because my mother is a very good cook!  I sort of know what Granny meant, as in:  you tried something really difficult and it worked out, you must be a really good cook.  I don’t think she was talking about the everyday cooking. The Fan and I are always up for trying something new, and of course Granny could cook anything she set her mind on.

Favorite singer?

While I enjoy the Jonas Brothers immensely and Loopy adores them, my very own favorite singer is James Taylor.  I have seen Sweet Baby James in concert twice and last July I sat in the front row and when the show was over, I brazenly approached the stage and gave him a box of my cupcakes.  Security did not stop me because they saw I was brandishing baked goods.  It was a sublime moment when he accepted the cupcakes and offered me his autograph.  Sigh.  What a dream come true… thanks to cupcakes!  (They were red velvet with cream cheese frosting, by the way).

What  projects you are working on now?

I’m in the middle of so many things.  My dollhouse is a work in progress and may or may not be completed in this lifetime.  I am behind in my scrapbooking and have a thousand polymer cupcakes (give or take) to turn into charm bracelets.  I am also planning some sort of cupcake baking/decorating class in my hometown.  There is lots of interest!

Tell me about your love and talent of photography.

My father made his living as a photographer when I was very young.  I worked as a wedding photographer when I was younger.  It was before digital cameras and very stressful.  I love looking at the world through the camera lens because it forces you to notice details that are often overlooked by others.  When I am surfing the blogs, the best ones have photos that make you want to take a closer look.  My father always tells me that good art makes people look closer.

Photographing my daughter is a special project for the two of us.  It has allowed me not only to build my digital photography and editing skills, but it has given her much more poise and confidence.  Since she struggles with Asperger’s Syndrome (a social disorder) and a mild disability (cerebral palsy) it is especially important to help her build her confidence.  Our photo shoots have allowed her to do that and at this age it has been a wonderful excuse for her to experiment with wardrobe, hairstyles and makeup!

What’s something you want your readers to know about you?

Not very many people know that I have several serious health problems, including severe rheumatoid arthritis.  I really try not to blog about it or talk about it outside of immediate family because I am trying to stay positive in spite of it.  I keep the blog very positive because of this.  If I am having a bad day, I have actually been known to scroll through my own archives.  It cheers me up because I realize that I have so much to be thankful for.

What message do you hope your blog gives to readers?

My blog is worry-free, stress free and calorie free!  I hope that my blog inspires my readers to try something new every day and to do things with their children.   Look how much fun I had with my Daddy while growing up!  If I’d never hung out in his studio, I wouldn’t know what to do with a camera or a paint brush today!  Teach your children to be as fearless as you are.  If the cake falls, the cake falls.  Eat it anyway, just because you made it.

What’s your favorite type of pie?

Pear, hands down. Pear.  Mmmmm.

For more on Saucy, visit her blog!

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a week’s worth of whimsical fun coming up, including new recipes, new stories and oodles of delights!  Stay tuned!