Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Tribute to Mary



This past Sunday was a special day for me and for our family. My great aunt celebrated her 85th birthday, and I created the cupcake birthday tower for the family celebration.





Since close to 100 guests were expected to attend, I thought a tower of cupcakes would be best for the event - they are self serve, portable, and the display always looks good even though some have been taken away!


100 cupcakes were made, 1/2 midnight chocolate cake 1/2 vanilla orchid cake both finished with a vanilla buttercream. On 1/2 I hand piped buttercream roses and leaves, the other 1/2 was garnished with a sugar plaque adorned with a golden 85.

The top tier was lemon scented cake and raspberry buttercream, finished in ivory fondant. It was adorned with an arrangement of gumpaste flowers, jewelry from Bride2Bead and a gumpaste vintage photo frame with edible photo of my great aunt Mary.

A beautiful and sweet tribute to a wonderful woman.

Happy Birthday Auntie Bombi - with many more to come!

Busy weekend!

It was a Deer Creek weekend! 3 weddings and 1 surprise Groom's/rehearsal cake took place the weekend of October 5th/6th.
At least they were all local, in fact all 3 weddings took place at the same venue! Good planning!
The Friday wedding featured a dramatic cake of chocolate and green. 2 tiers were midnight chocolate cake, the 3rd was banana - all layered with Chai caramel buttercream. Finished in dark chocolate fondant with green Swiss dots and fresh orchids. Stunning combination.


The same day was the rehearsal dinner for Rebecca & Brian - she wanted to surprise him with a replica of his favourite Nascar driver's car - Dale Earnhardt. Entirely cake and hand carved.




The Saturday was a double - Rebecca & Brian's wedding day featuring a theme of Tahitian Pearls and Sandra & Piero's orange themed wedding.

Sandra & Piero wanted a wedding completely revolving around orange - both in colours and flavours! Their cake reflected just that. All tiers were vanilla orchid cake splashed with Grand Marnier sugar syrup and layered with fresh orange curd filling and vanilla buttercream. Based on a Wendy Kromer design, the cake was finished in a smooth buttercream and decorated with white chocolate curls and candied orange zest. The top tier featured a pair of handmade white chocolate sugared oranges and white chocolate leaves.


Rebecca & Brian opted for a fondant finished cake featuring tiny piped pearl dots, sugar pearls, fresh orchids and blown sugar bubbles - all in Tahitian pearl colours. Inside did not disappoint with the base tier being lemon scented cake with lemon buttercream and fresh raspberries, the middle tier vanilla orchid cake with Tahitian vanilla buttercream and the top tier of banana buttermilk cake with hot buttered rum buttercream.


Congratulations to all of you!





Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Back from Tulsa Oklahoma!

This post will be brief as I am still recovering from the 20 hour drive back from Oklahoma, as well as the 5 day trip, the competition, the friends - everything!

This was my first time EVER at the OSSAS competition in Tulsa, and it will NOT be my last! I had such an amazing time, and seeing so much talent in one area is overwhelming and a bit intimidating!


The OSSAS competition is divided into 2 sections: one being the Sugar Art Show the other the Wedding Cake Competition. Being it was my first time ever, I decided to enter a few pieces in the Sugar Art Show as the Wedding Cake Competition is VERY TOUGH! This is THE cake competition in the USA (kinda like the Olympics!)

Here are my 2 entries: both are entirely edible (minus the cake form). My cookies were hand cut using a template I created and then piped freehand with royal icing. They were then hand painted to achieve the vintage illustration effect.

My special occasion cake entitled: Timbits & 24's - A Canadian Anniversary received 2nd place in the Masters division (the highest division).


My vintage Alice in Wonderland cookies received 1st place in the Masters division!



I was SHOCKED that I received anything at all, but a 1st and 2nd place BLEW ME AWAY! As a friend from Kansas stated - "if you place here, you've done GOOD!"

Thanks to everyone for their support, and thanks to all my cake friends across the US and Canada!