This is what happens when three local women decide to get together one rainy afternoon for Red Velvet cake and cookbooks in the cutest little art studio in Capitol Hill.

Way back when I started blogging on The Cookbook Chronicles, mostly about developing recipes for The Newlywed Kitchen, a local photographer named Jackie Baisa wrote me the sweetest email. She said she enjoyed reading about recipes I was working on, and might I be interested in hiring a photographer for the cookbook?

At the time, Sasquatch Books was already in talks with another local photographer, Kathryn Barnard, who ended up doing a wonderful job. But Jackie and I started chatting casually anyway, due to our mutual love for good food, and photography. We both knew Jessie Oleson, she of Cakespy fame, and roped her in on the conversation when we were discussing Red Velvet cake recipes. I offered to make Jessie my Red Velvet cake recipe from the cookbook, and volunteered to have it go up against the legendary Red Velvet from local southern restaurant, Kingfish. Jessie came up with the idea of hosting a Red Velvet cake eating/cookbook signing party at her new Cakespy art studio, and that’s how we all ended up raiding her Capitol Hill spot this past weekend.

I made one triple-layer Red Velvet cake, and sixteen cupcakes. (Some were “Blue Velvet” since I ran low on red food coloring, much to the amusement of many a Dennis Hopper fan.) I signed a lot of cookbooks. We sold a lot of them too! Good thing my husband and our friend Atta were around. They ran over to Elliot Bay bookstore, bought every copy the bookstore had, and brought them back to the book signing so people wouldn’t have to run over to Elliot Bay in the rain. Bless them!

It was so lovely to meet all these people who read this little blog. Everyone stood around happily eating cupcakes, chatting, and buying up the cool trinkets you can find at Jessie’s store. (I am especially in love with her Cakespy greeting cards, and these little earrings made from vintage buttons.)

It is hard to pick a best moment of that afternoon. I had so much fun. I got the very best compliment from a man who reads my blog, who said he and his four sisters have a Bake-Off every Sunday. Apparently he’s been kicking a** after using some of my cake recipes. Hearing that made my day.

It was so nice to see all of you who braved the rainy weather to come out and say hello!

this is Jessie’s husband, Danny, digging into the Kingfish Red Velvet

The two awesomely talented women who made this event a reality: Jackie Baisa (left) and Jessie Oleson (right)

I brought my puppy Kimchee and she stayed outside greeting customers. I just adore this photo of my little girl!

If you would like to win a copy of The Newlywed Kitchen, Jackie has a signed copy up for a giveaway on her blog. Head on over here to check it out. (All images in this post were taken by Jackie. Sorry for the photo overload. I had trouble choosing favorites!)

Next week, I have a couple private cookbook events going on, but my next public event will be at the Woodmark hotel in Kirkland this Thursday. Hope to see some of you there!

Words @ The Woodmark:
The Newlywed Kitchen: Delicious Meals for Couples Cooking Together
Who
The Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa, the only hotel on the shores of Lake Washington, and Lorna Yee, food writer, key ingredient columnist for Seattle Magazine, and author of The Newlywed Kitchen: Delicious Meals for Couples Cooking Together.

What
Words @ The Woodmark, a complimentary author series featuring a discussion, book signing and Q&A with the author. Wine/beer available at a no host bar.

When
Thursday, June 17, 2010
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
*Complimentary event – RSVP required.

Where
The Woodmark Hotel
1200 Carillon Point
Kirkland, WA 98033

RSVP
FREE and open to hotel guests and the general public. Space is extremely limited.
RSVP required. Contact Deb Seier at 425.739.6300 or debra.seier@thewoodmark.com.