Sunday 24 June 2007

Third time in as many months!





Well for the third time in as many months- I am lucky enough to have my clients featured in the Sunday Mail- as the feature wedding couple.
The couple- Jade and Troy- were married yesterday- and celebrated their union with a wicked chocolate creation! As I was setting up the cake yesterday- the groom was at the venue- having just finished a round of golf with his Groomsmen- and let me in on the secret! He was also so excited that the cake looked "exactly like the picture"! Of course- I told him! He was remarkably casual for a man due to be married in a mere couple of hours! So when I opened the paper today- there they were in all their wedding glory- with a little picture of the cake I made for them!!



This week I have once again been blessed with a truly diverse range of cakes!
I even created a "Salvador Dali's Melting Clock" cupcake design for one couple.
The main clock itself was a delicate sugar piece- that I had my mum transport on her lap to the venue- so it arrived safely!
Mini melting clocks were also scattered throughout the design- that had 5 different flavours- including a Gluten and Lactose free Dark chocolate almond and raspberry cupcakes- which if I do say so myself- were divine!




Then there was a fabulous Tiffany themed 21st which had tiffany blue cupcakes- and cute white sugar hearts! The room looked so gorgeous- everything in a "tiffany" theme.




Once again this weekend meant a trip up to Maleny for my fantastic husband to deliver a cake for me! Whilst I was meeting with clients and setting up the other cakes for the weekend!
These last two pictures are included because I love the photos! I am constantly surprising myself at my photographic artistry!!
Each week I am torn between my favourite cake- but this week I can't choose- I love them all!

Thursday 21 June 2007

Simply Stunning



With almost another week gone by- I must post about a couple of designs from last weekend.
The "ribbons and roses" design was chosen by a lovely lady- who was hosting a wedding at her private home. This cake oozes everything that is traditional in wedding cake design. The classic white and Ivory colour scheme coupled with sugar roses and ribbons- simply stunning!


Then there was also another repeated design- with this Black and white double barrel design. I first made this design over a year ago. The original cake featured piping that mimicked the embroidery on the brides wedding gown- and when she stood beside the cake- it looked fabulous!
This time- there was no embroidery to copy- but the design remained basically the same- embellished with Swarovski crystals- this cake really shines!
When I delivered the cake to the venue- the Bride had the theming just perfect! Everything was black and white- and the cake design fit in superbly!

Sunday 10 June 2007

Long Live the Queen!

Well Thank goodness for a Long Weekend!
This weekend is very popular for weddings-so I had many weddings this weekend- all today(Sunday) bar one!
Everyone seems to be taking full advantage of the national long weekend. It has been a beautiful day here in Brisbane- so hopefully everyone enjoyed their glorious wedding day!
It has been hard to pick a favourite from this weeks designs- one that really jumps put is a reverse "Dotty Kate" design- which had dark chocolate chards with white chocolate polka dots. It was fun and a true chocolate lovers masterpiece rolled into one. If you are prone to falling into a chocolate coma- well this cake is for you. Each tier features either a rich Jaffa mud cake- or a divine white chocolate and raspberry mud cake- then the entire cake is smothered in a velvety dark chocolate ganache- topped off with the dotty chocolate chards, and white chocolate shavings!!!!
The Chards with the dots were originally made in white chocolate with dark chocolate dots for my sister Kate's birthday- a couple of years back! So I was only too happy to reverse the design for a wedding cake!






Reverse "Dotty Kate"

Then there was a contemporary style design that had the couples monogram embellished on the front wall of the top tier in tiny(2mm) silver cachous. Whilst getting each individual silver ball into the cake in the correct pattern was no easy feat- the result was rather impressive.
With a copy of the couples "CJ" monogram beside me on the laptop- I sat very patiently applying each little ball to the cake with royal icing. I am sure I ended up vacuuming up more balls than what ended up on the cake!!!




"Edible Bling"

Although I have made the last cake design a couple of time now- this is the first time I have made it with a touch of pink.
I love the digital camera era- it means I can take a dozen or two pictures of a cake- and end up with at least one great one! I feel that I am getting better as a photographer- so I thought I would throw in ths last pic- as my favourite photo of the week!
This cake had a marble mud cake base- and white raspberry mud cake top tier- all smothered in a creamy ganache before being finished with a white rolled fondant. Tiny piped icing dots in white and pinks drop down in peaks from the top of each tier.

Tuesday 5 June 2007

Weddings Parties- Anything!



This past week bought me much diversity in my cake making!
From Classical wedding cake designs through to corporate and Birthday cakes- made for an artistically challenging week!
I traveled to Sydney with the "chainsaw" cake- to celebrate my Uncles 40th Birthday! After much security checking, and curious onlookers, I made the trip safely to Sydney with the cake!
It is great to be able to create cakes which are so much fun- and really get guests talking!
The cake is entirely edible- including the saw part- and when I went through airport security the guards there were very curious as to how it was all constructed- so in true form- I held up the waiting passengers at Brisbane Airport whilst I tried to explain-quickly- how I managed to make the whole cake from sugar- to curious people who had never decorated a cake before! It really wasn't an easy feat!
I then again spent much time with fellow party goers- explaining the ins and outs of cake decorating! At least I love to talk!
The cake was a surprise for my Uncle- he knew I would bring a cake- but he certainly didn't expect a chainsaw to arrive from Brisvegas! His job is what prompted the unusual design- which he seemed to really love!
I enjoy seeing peoples reactions and cutting the cake just as much as I do enjoy the finished product. It isn't often that I actually get to see one of my designs being cut- or get to talk with guests, and hear their thoughts first hand. Suffice to say the cake ( white Chocolate and Raspberry mud cake inside) was gobbled up as fast as I could cut it!


This week brings a lot of weddings for the long weekend! until then.... Have a great time!

Friday 1 June 2007

Reflections



I don't know what bought me to this thought- but in average my cake would be eaten by around 600 people each week!! I can't believe it- from doing a job that I really enjoy- I manage to put a little bit of sugar into more than 600 mouths each week- its just amazing!
Having a consistently fantastic product being eaten by this many individuals each week is by far the best form of Marketing anyone could have. I have been looking into advertising lately, and have discovered that you don't always get what you pay for.
I pride myself on being able to give my clients a fantastic quality product at a reasonable price, and therefore I rely on a lot of word of mouth advertising.
So with over 600 hungry people experiencing a Cake That! cake each week- this has got to be the best form of advertising yet!

Letichia and Jim 14th April 2007

All the unexpected and wonderful thank yous and photos from my past clients that I really treasure- make my job that extra bit wonderful! The clients above also thanked me for referring me to their florist- who did a marvelous job on the wedding flowers.
Without fantastic clients who choose gorgeous cakes-I wouldn't be able to do what I love!

Photos taken by Helen McConnell Photography