When a Book Chooses You— The Beginning of My Vintage Cake Project

Vintage Cakes by Julie Richardson is the inspiration for The Vintage Cake Project.

A Bookstore, A Moment, A Spark

Call me crazy, but this idea for a Vintage Cake Project started in a quaint bookstore in McGregor, Iowa, on a beautiful Fall day date with my husband. Maybe it’s getting out of my routine, or maybe it’s indulgence in good food and craft beer that gets my creativity flowing. Equally likely, it was the playful and whimsical atmosphere of a shop filled with books, color, and a trillion ideas of other creatives that inspired me.

I thrive on a slow stroll through a bookstore, taking it all in. Anywhere else, so much stuff would throw me into a decision paralysis spiral at best (somewhere like Walmart) and a panic attack at worst (Seattle’s Pike Place Market—so cool, but overstimulating). In a bookstore, I’m captivated and calm. That said, I do have overstimulation issues, so I can and will sweep through the aisles and around the tables and leave empty-handed in the end—unless something chooses me.

When a Book Chooses You

I was upstairs, making a final round of the loft and about to descend the stairs, and there she was! This beautifully simple and humble book that was quiet, yet screamed out. My husband didn’t hear her, but he knew we were leaving there with a treasure as soon as I scooped her up.

The most perfect pale pink party princess was staring at me from her immortalized paper throne. Immediately, visions of antique linens, pearls, and elegant crinoline-lined party dresses danced in my head. My mind went to the 1950s movies, like White Christmas, High Society, and Rear Window that I would watch with my mom. Oh, to be as elegant as Rosemary Clooney, Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn! As a child, these old movies provided me a fantasy world where beauty and grace held the stage.

Fifty-Two Cakes and a Year of Possibility

With my baking history, it was a no-brainer that I needed this treasure trove of vintage cake recipes. Aligned with my quest for creativity (certainly not my health goals), as I was holding it in my hands, a sort of magic suffused my imagination. As often occurs, my data-driven nature must keep itself relevant, so I did what any normal creative would do and counted the recipes, of course. Coincidentally, there are 52 recipes, which means one for each week of the year. That’s a lot of sugar, but in the spirit of community, I’ll be happy to share.

The idea that really took flight—what if I brought life to each of these recipes and wrote about it? Truly, I’d have been satisfied just to have taken this book home to perch in my kitchen as a reminder of the elegance of a bygone era. But the connection I felt with the cover and as I flipped through the pages, told me there was heart and soul awaiting release.

More Than Just Cake

Whatever the universe was telling me at that moment, it made sense. Is it the author’s energy that is calling for elevation? Yes, for sure. Is it also my own vision for transcendence? I think so.

I know it sounds witchy, but as I said, I was spellbound when my eyes met that cover. I feel like there is a message in these vintage cake recipes. My goal is to examine the background for each recipe, as noted by the author, and explore what comes up for me that either brings forth a reminiscence from the past or shines a light on a lesson.

What This Project Is—and Isn’t

In consuming these pages, I’ve found they are more than just recipes for cake, and I’m sure the author felt as such, too, in putting together this collection of history.

The author of Vintage Cakes, Julie Richardson, is a professional baker, so I in no way equate myself to her level of expertise. That’s not what this project is about, however. I will do my best to follow the recipes exactly as written, because obviously I want to find some favorites. That said, my main objective is to see where the experience takes me. I’m looking forward to finding some interesting insights, sharing joy with those around me, and mindfully indulging my sweet tooth in some good old-fashioned confections.