Spiral Cake Platter
Matthew A. Yanchuk

I have an enduring, intimate relationship with my cake platter. Born and raised in South Alabama, I have cake baking in my DNA. Important childhood memories are underscored by some of the great cakes of the world: Red Velvet Cake, Coconut Cake, Sweet Potato Cake, and, of course, Pound Cake.

When I embark on a new baking adventure, the first move is to bring the cake stand from the shelf to the kitchen counter. It remains there for the next few hours – inspiring confidence and challenging me to take risks with a new cake creation. When the task is completed, it bravely displays the cake, no matter how beautiful or unseemly.

Who can explain when or why ordinary objects take root and begin branching into our lives? For me, the simple cake stand is a gentle reminder of Southern traditions and recipes yet unexplored.

The new artfulhome.com website.

These days, I am acting like a proud parent. The Guild has just launched a brand new look and feel to our website, artfulhome.com. This newly designed site has been six months in planning and development (not quite as long as a pregnancy, but almost!), and we are ever so proud of it.

I hope you will take some time to explore our new creation. Here are some of things you will find:

· A fresh, dynamic look that’s intuitive and easy to navigate
· Smarter search functions to help you find what you want more quickly
· Larger preview photos and additional views of artists’ work
· “New Art Alerts” that notify you of the latest arrivals in your favorite categories

These features, and so much more, will hopefully make the artfulhome.com website more enjoyable to visit and view the artwork that interests and inspires you. And please, tell me what you think! We continue to improve because of your thoughtful comments and suggestions.