Happy 19th Birthday Cake

My sister was turning 19. Time for a fun cake. I sketched it out, and made it happen. I was working on this cake, when my boyfriend Alex came over, and said "wow!" -- I asked if he had been skeptical when I showed him the sketch, and he admitted maybe a little, but proceeded to gush about how impressed he was...that made me very happy!

The best part, was my sister walked out of her room when we arrived in a black and white striped shirt--totally not planned, the cake was a surprise! Right then, I knew the cake was perfect for her.

Happy 19th Birthday Cake!

(January 2008)

Fondant Virgin

Fondant. I thought that's what "fancy" decorators used. Well, they do, but I had no idea how much harder working with buttercream was... Real cake mastery lies in perfecting the peskiness of soft icing...I found out though, I like working with fondant. It's finicky and doesn't taste great, but I had fun with my first-ever experience. And making the ribbon out of gumpaste was a good trick to learn. I was happy with this cake, and it was the first time I got real ooos and ahhhhs out of family and friends. Maybe I was catching on!?

If you don't exercise your creative muscle you lose it... just like real muscle. I know I work in Marketing and Public Relations, and have for years, and that sounds creative... but it's an oddly limiting kind of creative. My new hobby is about color and concept and making something come to life that you sketch on paper. It's kind of fun...

(cake circa November 2007)

Happy First Fondant Cake.

Boo! The Second Cake

This was my first attempt at basket weave and at modeling anything-- the witch, kitty cat, etc are made of marzipan (almond paste/candy, popular in Europe). Also the first time I realized that my new hobby was 1) kind of stressful 2) kind of messy 3) kind of expensive 4) kind of rewarding -- it's always fun to feel like you've accomplished something, especially something new. I hadn't taken up a new hobby in a long time. This is when I realized it was good that I was actually DOING something for myself, and not just TALKING about doing it.

I also gave up on Cell Phone Pictures after this cake.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(cake circa October 2007)

Happy Cake!

Everyone else is doing it-- I've taken up cake decorating and I'm growing very fond of the hobby. I wish I had more time and didn't feel like I was always cramming it in... but until I get good enough to make it a full time job, I needed a place to chronicle my path to master of sugar art. I like to be creative. I like to eat. It's creative food! What could be better? Welcome to the land of happy cakery!

This was my very first cake-- yikes, but a
HAPPY CAKE!
(cake circa September 2007)