Sweet Empire

07/04/2019

Hi guys 👋🏻
It's me, Catherine.

I want to share a long personal journey from my heart with you.

So, 2 years ago I found myself in an emergency in hospital, with no feeling at all in my leg, a body that wobbled like one of the Thunderbird puppets and to take a step was not too different to those drunken steps when your foot can't quite find the floor 🤣 and total bladder loss. All jokes aside it was extremely serious stuff which turned out to be a very severely damaged spinal cord due to bulging discs. It was so bad that I was bed ridden in hospital until major back surgery a few days later. I woke from surgery to no feeling at all down my leg, no movement no matter what,to be told I may never walk again.
It was bloody terrifying!

2 years later and I am walking, some days with a stick, some days with crutches if I over do it but slowly....and I mean slowly but surely on my way. I will never be the same B.U.T, this incredible journey has taught me to let go of all the s**t that doesn't matter, not be such a perfectionist and find happiness in all the little nothings. This sounds nuts, but I am actually so grateful this happened to me. I am SO much happier.

It was, it turns out, probably all those days upon days without rest or sleep sometimes at the kitchen bench creating delicious pretty treats that actually pushed my back to the degree that it did. No regrets though. None at all. Because something else happened ... It opened my eyes to a new possibility of how the hell I was going to reinvent myself, now that I can't do any of the roles I have had in my life before (30 odd years in architecture and deisgn industry). So, my sweeties, things will be making a slight change here soon, but it will remain creative and colourful - promise.
And I want you to stay with me along this new journey.

Hand on my heart, I have made some of life's most wonderful friendships right here.
My girl
(Who recently took this pic of me at my 50th)
.net.au and so many more that I can't tag.

So stick around for more my sweeties. 💕 Catherine.

28/07/2018

Pink Ombre Wedding 💕

Cake by Sweet Empire.
Custom timber topper by Glistening Occasions, flowers by Blush Floral Design and photography by Lee Bird Photography.

18/03/2018

Hand painted watercolour Roses for the perfect wedding cookie favours.
📸 by Lee Bird Photography

22/12/2017

Delicious Lemon Zest, Lemon Curd & Swiss Meringue Buttercream to set this adorable couple off into newly wedded bliss.

Custom cake topper by Glistening Occasions
Stunning Venue Coombe Yarra Valley

06/05/2017

A gorgeous blog post by Polka Dot Bride about that EPIC cake I created for the beautiful Anna Campbell wedding. It's funny how sooo much more time goes into a cake to make it look like an old fashioned cake like Nanna used to make. This was Anna's request. A simple country cake. I made couverture chocolate cake with Swiss meringue buttercream and layered it to look like whipped cream with blackberry jam between the layers, then drizzled with my signature salted caramel sauce.
Just stacking and assembling this cake took almost 5 hours, one layer at a time, in and out of the fridge to set before the next went on. A true labour of love and to date my most special of them all. Kyrie from Glistening Occasions worked her creative genius to design the timber cake topper with Anna & Murray's initials "floating" to match the wedding invitation. Photography by Brown Paper Parcel Photography

***Polka Dot Weddings*** "Looking back on our rustic mill wedding, the incredible cake was one of my favourite details from the day! Catherine from Sweet Empire and I were plotting and planning for months about what would be the perfect cake, and it was so amazing working with her and seeing it all come together!"

With images by Brown Paper Parcel Photography, catch up with Anna Campbell as she chats to us about her beautifully delicious cake http://polkadb.com/2p47PGq

02/01/2017

Delicious mini buttercream sugar cookie favours I created for the absolutely gorgeous wedding of Anna Campbell one year ago today. These tiny stamped cookies were filled with fun summer flavoured butter creams, like passion fruit, raspberry and watermelon. photography.

03/09/2016

Our very delicious dessert table set up for Ben & Jen's wedding at Baxter Barn. Pic by APL PHOTOGRAPHY

31/07/2016

Sweet Empire had the absolute pleasure recently to create the wedding of Ben & Jen as they joined their beautiful little family together. This photo melts my heart of the brides older children, the grooms toddler and their tiny little "joint venture" all walking down the isle together to become one happy family. So much thanks to Amy and the incredible crew at Baxter Barn - Weddings & Events for the most perfect venue with abundant amazing food to help the party kick on. I look forward to sharing more of these fab pics by APL PHOTOGRAPHY with you over the coming weeks. Mornington Peninsula Weddings

04/04/2016

Our amazing cake for the wedding of
Anna Campbell herself. Couverture chocolate naked cake filled with blueberries and oozing Swiss Meringue Buttercream then drizzled with our signature salted caramel sauce. Pic by Brown Paper Parcel Photography, flowers by Flowers in a Vase, video by C2 Films, dresses by Campbell, Cake topper by Glistening Occasions _ featured in of Hello May and the following blogs have loads of amazing inspiration from this gorgeous wedding... Green Wedding Shoes, One Fab Day, White Magazine and Anna Campbell

15/03/2016

My deliciously light (and did I say delicious?) Nutella Mousse pots with Hazelnut soil and edible marble tombstones enjoyed in abundance at Aiden's Halloween Spooktacular for Styled By Belle and photographed by Lee Bird Photography

14/03/2016

“Better late than never! This week I'll be sharing the super stylishly spooky Aiden's Halloween Spooktacular with you that I was delighted as always to…”

24/01/2016

The dream team were so thrilled to learn that Zoe's Carousel Pony Party was voted
BEST CHILDRENS PARTY 2015 by Babyology. We were honoured to work so closely again with these awesome creators. Event styled by Styled By Belle, photography and film by Lee Bird Photography, birthday cake by Studio Cake, all desserts and sweets on sticks by Sweet Empire, Macarons & mini chocs by Macarahrah, my little pony piped cookies by Dessert Menu, Please and cake pop sticks, cupcake sticks & large pony cuts outs by Glistening Occasions
I will be sharing pics all week from this stunning party along with a super easy kids dessert idea for you to try with your little ones so keep an eye out.