Christmas and Wedding TV

As I mentioned in a blog earlier I was very lucky to be involved in a show for Wedding TV, where a couple get a special wedding cake made by a cake decorator - I was delighted to be the chosen cake decorator to Beth and Stuart who were married on 28th December 2010 at Rownhams House in Southampton. It was a crazy Christmas for me as I was in full cake production in the run up to Christmas and in the few days after Christmas trying to get it made in time. It was a very exciting day and although I can't say anything yet (or show the cake) - watch this space for the full story once the show has been aired (Spring 2011).

It was a great day and a big thank you to Roger and Penny from Rownhams House, the crew from Wedding TV, Michael Palmer - the photographer, Vanilla Catering and of course Beth and Stuart.

A request for a NYC Cake for a 40th Birthday

I received an email from Melanie from Bellissimo Wedding and Event Planners to make a very special cake for her close friend from New York, she wanted something stylish for her 40th Birthday party that would match the colours of the amazing marquee they had booked for the party - which were black, silver and white.

I created a two tier stacked chocolate cake covered in chocolate swiss meringue butter cream and layered with chocolate swiss meringue buttercream and chocolate fudge, then covered with sugarpaste and shimmered. I painted stars all over the cake in edible silver paint and created a New York skyline using black petal paste.

I created the glittered Statue of Liberty by making a run-out in grey icing and covered in edible silver glitter, once one side was dry I turned it over and covered the back in the same way so that it would look the same on both sides. This was placed very carefully into the top of the cake to finish the New York theme. I added a black sign with 'Happy 40th Birthday' and finish off the cake with black ribbon.

As you can see from the images she was really surprised and delighted with the cake - it was a fantastic challenge and I was pleased with the end result.

A special Cake for Bang & Olufsen Party in Westbourne

I had a email from Tony at Beales Gourmet Catering in December with an ususal request to make a themed cake for a 85th Anniversary party at the Bang & Olufsen shop in Westbourne - originally the idea was to make a television but after discussions it was decided that I would replicate the B&O logo in cake.

I created a mix of lemon, vanilla and chocolate cakes and shaped them to look like the logo, each cake was filled with swiss meringue buttercream and coated with sugarpaste. To make the letters I cut out grey sugarpaste (very carefully!) and painted in edible silver paint.

Even though the snow was just setting it, I managed to get the cake to the party which I hear was a great success.

It's been a busy time!

I can't believe my last entry was November 2010 - it's been such a busy time I haven't had time to catch breath so part of my New Years resolution was to make sure I update my blog and here I am.

There is so much to talk about so over the next few entries you will see all that I have been up to from November 2010 to now. Here goes....

A Surprise call from Wedding TV

During the summer I booked to attend a wedding fair at The Italian Villa in Compton Acres. The event was organised by Melanie Kiani from Bellissimo Wedding and Event Planners who was approached by Wedding TV to become a presenter on a show filmed during the summer. During this time I also attend a WIBN meeting where we talked about my cakes and my company. To my surprise, Melanie put my name forward for another show with Wedding TV called The Great Cake Bake, where 3 cake decorators are invited to meet with a Bride and Groom to discuss how they would make a 'dream' wedding cake for them. The couple then choose which cake decorator they would like to make their cake.

When I received the call from Wedding TV to see if I would like to be part of the show I was amazed and delighted, even though I am very new on the scene it was a fantastic opportunity. First of all I had a interview with the Richard, the cameraman who instantly put me at ease, we talked about my background and training and what kind of cake I might think about making for the Bride and Groom.

The theme for the wedding is Winter Wonderland. For the consultation I took along some cake dummies, sources of inspiration as well as some carefully made samples for the Bride and Groom to taste. The wedding is being held at Rownhams House in Southampton and even though I was incredibly nervous Roger and his wife Penny made us feel so welcome and they were so very helpful that I soon calmed down and enjoyed the day. The Bride and Groom were everything I could have hoped for - friendly, kind and full of fun. With lots of questions, cake and giggling - I almost forgot the camera was there!

My husband and I left Rownhams House and headed back to Poole with the promise of a call around 8.30pm to be told whether I was the lucky cake decorator, so when I received a call from the Bride at 6pm I was very surprised - her voice cut out slightly with the phone signal but I managed to hear 'to do our cake' and hoped that the words before that were 'we would like you..' I was absolutely amazed to be the cake decorator the Bride and Groom chose as the other cake decorators were very experienced and I never thought that I would get the opportunity. Needless to say I was (and am) delighted to be making the cake - the wedding is on 28th December so I am now working on designs and planning for the big day! The show will be out early next year - watch this space!

Special Cupcakes for a Birthday Girl

Last week I received an emergency cupcake order from a Mum at school who had seen some of my creations coming in for my daughters and wanted to order something similar for her daughter's birthday. Her daughter was very keen on the hand dusted butterflies I had created previously but as these are very time consuming I didn't think I would have enough time.

I baked vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and piped the buttercream to look like an open flower and made lilac butterflies with petal paste which I had painted and shimmered. I also made some little plunger blossoms and added them around the sides of the flower buttercream. The effect was finished with abundant sprinkles and glitter. It was wonderful to see her face when I arrived at school and to hear her say 'Mummy, look it's butterflies!'

Needless to say I loved my job that day!

Happy 1st Birthday Absolutely W.I. Ferndown

I was asked to decorate a fabulous fruit cake for the Absolutely W.I. in Ferndown for their 1st birthday party. Their leader Jacqueline entrusted me with a very special fruit cake she had baked for me to mazipan, cover with sugarpaste and decorate with moth orchids to match their logo.

It was a lovely challenge and I was so pleased when they were delighted with the result. I was unable to attend the party as I had an emergency cupcake order to fulfill but apparently the cake was well received by all!