Media Room
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Life & Style Weekly Gemstone Confections celebrates the arrival of Trista and Ryan Sutter's daughter Blakesley! - May 18, 2009 View PDF of the Article A fan of ABC’s The Bacherlorette, we were happy to share in their excitement. Gemstone Confections sent Trista a petite Luscious Lemon GemCake tucked inside the light pink shimmering GemBox and personalized it with the Austrian Crystal Teddy Bear brooch. A keepsake Trista displays in Blakesley's room. |
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Paula Deen's Holiday Baking Paula Deen Recommends GemCakes™ - Holiday Baking Issue 2008 View PDF of the Article Gem Cakes Tucked inside a beautiful keepsake satin box is a surprise for the lucky recipient. Austrian crystal brooches pinned to the top of the gift box make a stunning presentation for the delicious cakes; $26 and up, 309-693-3891 or gemstoneconfections.com |
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Inside Weddings Featured in "Summer 2008 issue of Inside Weddings" View PDF of the Article What A Gem Pairing miniature bundt cakes with beautiful gem-topped boxes is Gemstone Confections' answer to tasteful wedding favors and thank-you gifts. Made-to-order GemCakes are baked in small batches from scratch, then shipped in your choice of nine beaded-satin gift boxes. You can add a sparkling detachable brooch to the box as an extra gift, or include a hand-beaded GemCard for an additional personal touch. With four luscious flavors in four sizes to choose from, do your guests and bridal party a favor and let them eat cake. $25-75; 309.693.3891 or gemstoneconfections.com. |
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Instore Featured in "May 2008 issue of Instore View PDF of the Article Cake Eater Gemstone Confections' four cake flavors (cinnamon and spice, chocolate, chocolate berry and lemon) taste as luxurious as your jewelry looks. Each cake is packaged in gemstone color packaging such as peridot green and sapphire blue. Included in the price of the small ($49), medium ($59) and large ($72) cakes is the choice of size and flavor of GemCake, your choice of GemBox color and an enclosure card. (Austrian crystal GemBox "brooches", pictured here, are extra). For more information, call (309) 693-3891. |
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MidWest Living Cake That Keeps On Giving - July/August 2007 Edition of MidWest Living Magazine View PDF of the Article Cake That Keeps On Giving Once you've eaten them, most cakes are simply a delicious memory. But Mary Markovich's GemCakes go a step further. Customers make several choices to personalize the cakes, starting with size (6, 8, or 10 inches) and the flavor (cinnamon spice, lemon, chocolate, or chocolate with berries). Each moist cake comes wrapped inside a keepsake satin hand-beaded hatbox, tied with a silky bow. Choose from seven box colors, with more hues added for the holidays. For an extra touch, ask Mary to place one of 30 brooches, such as the dragonfly (above), on top. The diamond ring brooch makes a nifty bridal shower gift. Cakes ordered without brooches arrive with a faux gem on the top. Prices start at $48 for a 6-inch cake. To order: Gemstone Confections, 8207 North Hale Avenue, Peoria, Illinois (309/693-3891; www.gemstoneconfectons.com). |
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Neiman Marcus Now Offering GemCakes Gemstone Confections™, has caught the attention of high-end fashion retailer Neiman Marcus. They are now offering Cinnamon and Spice and Chocolate GemCakes™ for sale on their online retail site. Below are the product descriptions currently offered online at Neiman Marcus. GemCakes offered in "Neiman Marcus Holiday Gourmet Catalog 2007" Cinnamon and Spice GemCake • Cake, choose small or medium. • Cinnamon spice with dried cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and pecans with a spritz of brandy. • Small, 3 3/4"H x 6" diameter. 32 ounces; approximately 6 servings. • Medium, 3 1/2"H x 8" diameter. 48 ounces; approximately 10 servings. • Two-month shelf life refrigerated; three- to six-month shelf life frozen. • Keepsake box (see clockwise below): choose ruby red with heart brooch, blue/white with snowflake brooch, red/green with Christmas tree brooch (shown), peridot/white with floral brooch, blue/ white with menorah brooch, coral/white with dragonfly brooch, or pink/dark pink with butterfly brooch. All, hand-beaded satin with Austrian crystal brooch. • Made in USA. Chocolate GemCake • Cake, choose small or medium. • Chocolate with dried cherries, blueberries, and cranberries with a spritz of brandy. • Small, 3 3/4"H x 6" diameter. 32 ounces; approximately six servings. • Medium, 3 1/2"H x 8" diameter. 48 ounces; approximately 10 servings. • One-month shelf life refrigerated; three-month shelf life frozen. • Keepsake box (see clockwise below): choose ruby red with heart brooch, blue/white with snowflake brooch, red/green with Christmas tree brooch (shown), peridot/white with floral brooch, blue/white with menorah brooch, coral/white with dragonfly brooch, or pink/dark pink with butterfly brooch. • All, hand-beaded satin with Austrian crystal brooch. • Made in USA. |
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The Horchow Collection Now Offering GemCakes Gemstone ConfectionsTM, has caught the attention of luxury mail-order catalog company The Horchow Collection. Chocolate GemCake Our rich chocolate gem cakeTM pleases the eye as it does the palate. Available in small or medium sizes. Chocolate cake is made with dried cherries, blueberries, and cranberries with a spritz of brandy. One-month shelf life refrigerated; three-month shelf life frozen. Made in the USA. • Small cake, 6" diameter x 3.75"T, 32 ounces; approximately six servings. • Medium cake, 8" diameter x 3.5"T, 48 ounces; approximately 10 servings. Hand-beaded satin keepsake gift box with Austrian crystal brooch is available in your choice of 7 designs: ruby red with heart brooch, blue/white with snowflake brooch, red/green with Christmas tree brooch, peridot/white with floral brooch, blue/white with menorah brooch, coral/white with dragonfly brooch, or pink/dark pink with butterfly brooch. Cinnamon and Spice GemCake Our scrumptious Cinnamon Spice Gem Cake pleases the eye as it does the palate. Available in small or medium sizes. Cinnamon spice cake is made with dried cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and pecans with a spritz of brandy. Two-month shelf life refrigerated; three- to six-month shelf life frozen. Keepsake box (see clockwise below): choose ruby red with heart brooch, blue/white with snowflake brooch, red/green with Christmas tree brooch (shown), peridot/white with floral brooch, blue/white with menorah brooch, coral/white with dragonfly brooch, or pink/dark pink with butterfly brooch. All, hand-beaded satin with Austrian crystal brooch. Made in the USA. • Small cake, 6" diameter x 3.75"T, 32 ounces; approximately six servings. • Medium cake, 8" diameter x 3.5"T, 48 ounces; approximately 10 servings. |
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A Letter To Gemstone Confections May 3, 2007 Dear Mary, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you how well received our “mini” engagements cakes have been. Your beautifully presented and tasty chocolate gem cakes paired with a split of champagne and crystal flutes have been the talk of the town for each engagement couple who purchases their special rings at Bremer Jewelry. Thank you so much for creating such a fabulous product that ties in so beautifully with the love and romance of people starting their life together. Maybe the catch phrase “Where Central Illinois Gets Engaged” should add the line “And shares the best cake ever”! It is such a pleasure doing business with such a special lady. We truly appreciate the great service and products you provide. Sincerely, Ronda L. Daily, President/CEO Bremer Jewelry www.bremerjewelry.com |
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Gemstone Featured on Atlanta Radio Show Robyn Spizman, author, TV & radio personality has featured Gemstone Confections gift cakes twice on her monthly radio segment on Atlanta Star 94 and on her November 2006 “Been There Bought It” TV segment on Channel 11 NBC WXIA in Atlanta. Robyn Freedman Spizman is a nationally recognized television and radio personality, consumer advocate and prolific author. As one of the country's leading gift-giving and how-to experts, Robyn has appeared weekly on the Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA-TV for more than two decades with her "Been There Bought That" Super Shopper and Super Mom Segments. A popular radio personality, she is also heard monthly on the Cindy & Ray Show on Star 94, the top-40 #1 station, and online daily with The Giftionary ® show focusing on gift-giving advice for all occasions based on her book by the same name. www.robynspizman.com |
| PJ Star Article Boutique Bakery Gets National Exposure Tuesday, August 22, 2006 By Anita Szoke of the Journal Star PEORIA - Mary Markovich seems to have found her niche in the gourmet food industry. Her new "boutique bakery" business, Gemstone Confections, has caught the eye of high-end fashion retailer Neiman Marcus, which likes her product so much it will be featured on the Neiman Marcus Web site later this fall and on the retailer's luxury mail-order catalog business, The Horchow Collection, Web site as well. The Peoria business is on the verge of gaining some highly coveted national exposure. "It's very exciting," Markovich said. "When a top retailer in the United States tells you they want your product, that's pretty exciting." So why is Neiman Marcus knocking on Markovich's door? It's all about having a quality product and, of course, the presentation is crucial, she said. The gourmet "GemCakes" Markovich bakes are packaged in satin hand-beaded keepsake gift boxes that are adorned with a gemstone or in one of several styles of Austrian crystal brooches a customer selects from her Web site, www.gemstoneconfections.com. She adds a hand-glittered enclosure card to complete the presentation. "I knew the packaging was vital; I wanted to do something over-the-top, something special, that made people feel special when they received it," Markovich said. "I knew in the gourmet food business I had to really stand out with extra packaging, because there is a lot of competition, a lot of choices out there." Markovich opened her business in March. With her three children grown, Markovich thought she could turn her love of baking into a business and sought input of her design from friends who work in the premium gift market in New York City and Chicago. "They said, you got something here ... people are always looking for something new and different," she said. "That gave me the confidence to move forward." Markovich sent some samples inside the GemBox to Neiman Marcus, which was impressed with the presentation that pays attention to every detail, including the tissue. "It's a shimmering tissue, not just regular tissue," she said. "The detail and the response from customers are very important to Neiman Marcus. It felt good for them to say that I am in their niche." Markovich's GemCakes are unfrosted bundt-style cakes loaded with what she calls "little gems of summer" - cherries, blueberries and cranberries. The cakes are available in two flavors, cinnamon spice with pecans or chocolate. A spritzing of fine brandy helps keep the cake moist and increase its shelf life, she said. She said her customers are able to customize the packaging with the various crystal brooches, which include different themes, from a puppy dog brooch to a person with a new dog to a big diamond ring brooch for bridal showers. The cakes can be delivered anywhere nationwide. Markovich does her baking in her three ovens at her business at 8207 N. Hale Ave. and with the help of two friends when she needs it. Gemstone Confections is mainly a Web-based and phone-based business, selling over the Web or by phone at 693-3891. Although Markovich does not promote her business as a retail store - she is often busy either baking or doing the handbeading on the gift boxes - local customers still can come by and pick up orders, she said. "My business is all about fun," Markovich said. "It's about getting a great cake in a beautiful presentation." Anita Szoke can be reached at 686-3248 or aszoke@pjstar.com |
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