"Flea by the Sea" update:

Ok, so we already decided that we couldn't afford to continue selling our cupcakes down in Coney, but today we decided to take a ride down and see what vendors came back after the price increase. It was dead! I could not believe how empty it was. There were so many empty spots that several vendors that paid for the smaller spaces were able to spread out and take up two spaces. In total I think there were about 25 vendors!

To make matters worse, I was told by 2 vendors that last weekend the staff members passed out flyers with new lower prices for the month of August. When they showed up today to pay for the month they were told that those prices are not being honored and it's an additional $300+. Needless to say I don't think those vendors will be back either.

They are making a HUGE mistake. They may not be making much money on this, but think about it... if they manage to rent out both tents on both sides at a lower price, isn't that better than having only 20-something vendors total? It's simple logic.

So anyway, it was good for about a month. We did great while we were there, but now it's time to move on.

I think we will be participating in the 3rd Ave. fair on Oct. 4th. I'm really looking forward to that one!

The rest of the weekend (July 18th&19th)

Canadian dude enjoying a chocolate Guinness cupcake!

Totally awesome little dude enjoying a chocolate cupcake!

Ok, so this past weekend was pretty much a failboat! I sold enough cupcakes to cover the cost of the booth rental as well as the ingredients, but made next to nothing for profits. And for this weekend I baked sooooo much more than usual because I'm so used to selling out by Saturday and not having the energy to re-bake for Sunday. I just can't believe how dead it was.

The worst part of it all is that it really starts to pick up at around 6pm and by 6:30 they're telling you to start packing up. I didn't go home with much, but going home with anything is a little disapointing.

So as it stands right now, we will not be at the FTBS anymore. It's just too expensive and the price just keeps going up. If it goes down again, then we'll see.

July 17th at "Flea by the Sea"

So this was the first Friday where we sold next to nothing! Today was totally not worth it. We didn't even cover the cost of the booth rental, let along the ingredients. I hope tomorrow we at least break even.

Not only that... but now Thor Equities has decided to not just raise the price for the vendors... not even double it.... but it's now double PLUS $75! And it doesn't even include parking!!!!

When this "Flea" opened... we paid $50 for a full weekend. Then for July they doubled it to $100 for the weekend. Now this!?! NO WAY! I'm done.

I'm glad I already decided that this would be my last weekend. I had a great time doing it, don't get me wrong. I LOVE to see peoples faces as they bite into the cupcakes and it shows they really enjoy it.

Today a small group passed by and 2 of the guys got the beer cupcake. The first one who ate it, seriously, I thought he was gonna pass out! He couldn't stop saying how good it was and that it was the best cupcake he ever had. Weather or not it really was, who knows. Maybe he was just being nice. Either way, I loved hanging out with them while they ate the cupcakes and just chatted about beer, cupcakes, photography, tattoos and whatever else.

I love seeing reactions like that and that's what I will miss the most. I really loved meeting people and chatting and sharing my cupcake obsession with the world.

To the other vendors I have met, because all the vendors down there are really awesome, I will miss you all! I'll be sure to pass by and say hi!

Update for this weekend!

So.. for starters... I decided to go with the majority vote and raise the price of all my cupcakes to $3 (since I voted in my own poll to only raise the red velvet).

Also, I baked more cupcakes today than I ever have in my life! I couldn't decide on weather to make the chocolate beer cupcakes or the peanut butter and jelly cupcakes again... so instead I made both! Well, the chocolate beer cake and the white cake... jelly's won't be filled until I'm there.

So, the cake options are:
Golden
White
Chocolate
Chocolate beer
Red Velvet
Banana nut

Frostings options will be:
Vanilla buttercream
Chocolate buttercream
Peanut butter
Cream cheese

I will also have triple chocolate brownies!

Come down and check it out!

July 17th, 18th and 19th!

Ok, so I'm going back to Coney Island to sell some cupcakes! Some small changes may have to be made though.

As much as I LOVE doing this... I have not been making any money off it. I charge way too little for my cupcakes and at the end of the weekend I usually only break even. And that's not even factoring in the HOURS it takes me to bake over 200 cupcakes and whip up all the different frostings. So, as much as I don't want to, I may have to raise the price a little and cut back on other things that don't sell as much... like the chocolate chip cookies. Last week I spent over 12 hours just baking over a 2 day period, not to mention all the time in Coney Island selling them.

Now... I really don't want to raise the price of all my cupcakes, so I'm thinking about just raising the price of the red velvet. They take 3 times as long to prepare and the frosting is made with cream cheese. It's probably the most expensive cupcake I bake.

Last weekend in Coney I was able to sell out of my peanut butter and jelly cupcakes at $3 each. They're expensive, but they still don't even cost as much as the red velvets do to make. So I think from now on I will have to sell the red velvet as a "specialty" cupcake to try to compensate.

I really hope that everyone realizes that when you come down to Coney Island to buy my cupcakes they are never more than 12 hours old and all the frostings stay on ice in a cooler. It really can't get any fresher unless you eat it hot out of the oven!

4th of July!

Us!The "info" corner with the fake cupcakes I made out of plaster and Spackle!The PB&J cupcakes!Festive cuppies!"Independence Balls"

Had a GREAT time! Thank you so much to those of you who came down to show your support! Friday, July 3rd, we sold so much that I had to come home and bake a few more batches of cupcakes, a double batch of brownies and whip up more frostings! Saturday, we sold out of everything but the brownies (Guess I only needed a single batch).

Due to the increase in booth rental prices, I am not sure if we will be able to do this again. I was so happy to see how many people came back looking for us and how many people were told about us by other people.

4th of July weekend!

I am so excited! Tomorrow starts our weekend of selling cupcakes! I have been in the kitchen for just about 2 days straight, but it's worth it.

Cupcake choices:
Golden
Chocolate
Red Velvet
White

Frosting choices:
Vanilla buttercream
Chocolate buttercream
Cream cheese
Peanut Butter buttercream

*option of a grape jelly injection for a PB&J cupcake!

Other choices:
Brownies.. OMG these are to die for! Super thick, super fudgy... with chocolate chips!
Chocolate chip cookies... VERY soft!
Red Velvet cake ball truffles... Limited amount, and they go fast!

Come down to the Flea by the Sea and check us out!

Day 2 of the "Flea By The Sea"

Thank you so much to those of you who were able to make it down to Coney Island!

The "Flea by the Sea" was HUGE success! Had a great day on Saturday! Completely sold out of brownies and cupcakes and sold most of the cookies. Our biggest seller... red velvet with cream cheese frosting! We had one staff member come back about 5 times for more!

We also had an order of 21. The woman wanted 15 golden with chocolate frosting and 5 red velvet with cream cheese frosting for her daughters birthday party. Then her daughter wanted a chocolate to eat on the way home! Mike had to run to Dunkin Donuts for a box big enough and that wouldn't squish the frosting. I hope they survived the trip!

I really can't believe how many cupcakes we went through in the 2 days! It makes me happy when people can really enjoy what I love to do. One girl came back twice and said she can really taste the love that goes into the baking. I hope it's just a matter of time until I can open up my own shop.

Flea By The Sea update....

So, we went back today to get a permit for this coming weekend... we were smart this time and made sure it would be valid for the full 14 days. I can't wait. I really hope it doesn't get rained out again.

This weekend we will have cookies and brownies again, all individually wrapped for convenience.

We will also have golden cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes.

Our frosting varieties will be vanilla buttercream, chocolate buttercream and cream cheese.

I wanted to make some cake balls, but we agreed to hold out until the 4th of July... so make sure to come on down!

Come Check Us Out!! This weekend!!!

Ok.. so I'm back to my old self again! I hate being sick, so glad it passed. Went to the doc and got a clean bill of health.

"Flea By The Sea", here we come!!!!! This means that over the next 2 days I will be baking my buns off! Pardon the bad pun. We will have a booth right off Stillwell Ave. on Saturday, June 20th. Gates open at 12 noon!

Anyway, tomorrow I will be baking a double batch of chocolate chip cookies as well as a double batch of fudge brownies. If I have time left over I will also start baking some cupcakes.

On the menu for this Saturday, June 20th:

Custom Cupcakes!!! Who doesn't love a good cupcake?!?!

Cupcake flavors:

Golden

Chocolate
Red Velvet

Frosting flavors:
Vanilla Buttercream
Chocolate Buttercream
Creamcheese

Pick your cake, then pick your frosting!

Chocolate Chip Cookies!!! Moist and chewy!

I <3> I may even top them with some fudge!!!! Chocolate overload!!!

*Also going on in Coney Island this Saturday:
Mermaid Parade, The Cyclone, Wonder Wheel, and other rides are open AND the Circus will be there! Come on down and enjoy Brooklyn! Rain or shine!

That's about it for this weekend. We will also be there for July 4th and our menu will include much more, like "Liberty Ball" cake pops and possibly Margarita cupcakes with a twist of lime! So come on down and enjoy a cupcake with your fireworks!