My SIL has decided to have a party for my MIL Sat night. So, I'll be baking tonight & decorating tomorrow. I want something not too time consuming. Had I had a little more notice it would have helped. I was just thinking simple & elegant but decent enough to use for my portfolio if I wanted. I do think I want "something" on it though. Not just a ribbon border.

Sometimes simple is more difficult

Maybe a nice basketweave with violets and daisies?

I agree a simple floral would be great. What flowers do you have on hand? Or make b'cream roses and place right on cake.
Can make a simple 'violet' Roland style with 5 teardrop dots w/yellow dot center. Fill in w/lots of leaves if you like.
Remember the rule of odd # flowers.....3 is find w/a few - I'd say 5 - 'violets' and leaves. If you are not skilled in b'weave just leave it smooth iced w/a nice border.
OR use fondant circles - in 'girlie' colors - here's a few ideas:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1350876
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1329834
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1289892
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1182176

Can you believe I never finished Wilton course 2 (morning sickness was FIERCE) & never been asked to do basketweave. Maybe this would be a good time to try it. I do however suck at buttercream & RI flowers. I may pop out my new 5 petal rose cutters & try some fondant roses, but have no clue on placement

If you want to practice it first, try it on a piece of waxed paper. Once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. and I think you'll pick it up very quickly. I do my violets in fondant. If you have the cutters for violets and daisies, they will be very quick and easy. Or any flower you want to put on it. Buttercream or fondant roses would be gorgeous. Please show us what you make and holler if you try it and need some help.

As kakeladi posted, circles and geometrics are always fun.

As kakeladi posted, circles and geometrics are always fun.

Here's a thank you cake I did in a hurry. Very little, easy decorations, but I really think it turned out sweet looking.
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1411592

I started looking for pics of a more modern basket weave and came across this. I think it's beautiful & pretty sure it was a rose tip. But it doesn't look like it started on the top w/ a continuous piping down the sides. How do you think the top was done? If I'm not mistaken it's a Martha Stewart cake. I don't know if I would add flowers or not. Would it look ok w/ some fondant roses? If so, layout suggestions?

Can you post a link for us? I'm anxious to see this basketweave myself.

Crap, I thought I did. My computer locked up & shut down. I'll search for it & come back. It's not a basketweave, but a ribbon look all around the cake. MS does have a BW on her site that says the decorator used a leaf tip & I think the wicker look is pretty too. Off to look for that pic.

http://realnobodyslikeus.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d65de53ef010534c94a44970b-320wi