Monday 27 October 2008

Queensland-Beautiful one day......Hailing the next!!!!!!!!!

Well as the tittle says- Saturday began so beautiful- but when I went to deliver the mini cakes- I had to stop for nearly 20minutes worth of hail! Did I mention that my car had just been detailed????

Anyway- Cakes, Car and Cake decorator were all fine!
I will start with the mini cakes then!
These cute little cakes may look sweet- but to most decorators they are the devils work! As small as they may seem- it is really much harder to ice and way more time consuming than a regular cake. I always love the finished product- but getting there almost drives me mad!

Each little cake had a hand painted silver "N" and a purple "P" on top for Nicole and Peter!
With 60 of these little cakes filling this 5 tier stand- it did look great in the room!

This weekend gone- not only did I have Friday- Saturday and Sunday Weddings- I even have a wedding today- over on Stradbroke Island!
I have sent a cake to Stradbroke every week for the past month and a bit! Each time the cakes have been collected- but maybe I should get a boat- so I can take them over myself?? ;)


This cake had a carved top tier- so that it was on an angel ( the top tier was also Gluten free dark chocolate raspberry- YUM!!) with white chocolate chards around the edges of the tier.

My week started early with the next cake being collected on Thursday Afternoon.
This four tier cake was delicate and pretty. The draping that was on each tier was requested by the clients to not have "Structured" pleats. This was a hard ask- seeing as though I have now trained myself in the art of the perfectly pleated drape ( if I do say so myself).


With piping detail under each drape- and the centers of the ivory roses dusted a soft pink- this cake was romantic and elegant.

My other Friday wedding was at Snug Harbour. This three tier cake decorated with smooth and level white chocolate chards- and fresh flowers.

It was a Perfect day on Friday- the skies were so blue!

I had a wedding on Saturday in the Brisbane room of City Hall- for those of you who have seen it- this stately room has a "mint" green colour scheme inside.
The reception was a cocktail one- so cupcakes made for a perfect choice.


A tri colour icing scheme- Cream- Mint and Eucalyptus green butter cream iced into 3 different flavours- Rosewater- choc chip and Peppermint mud. I got to use my black cupcake papers too! Don't they look fabulous!


On Sunday I delivered Twins!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had two couples order the EXACT same design! Now I have had this happen before- but for some reason the cakes have always been for different days- but yesterday was different.


Even though the type of design means that they weren't "identical" twins- I still had to have my wits about me. Under each cake board was the brides maiden name- then when I boxed them I had one in a regular sized box - and the other in a larger box- ( with their corresponding delivery dockets) just to be sure.


The rose petals were also placed at different places over the cake.

I have a round South East Queensland trip again this Saturday- with deliveries as far as Marburg- then all the way up to Marcoola! Be sure to keep and eye out for me zipping about!



Saturday 25 October 2008

Pink Breakfast........


This Month is national Breast Cancer Awareness month. The National breast cancer foundations encourages people to hold "Pink" breakfasts to help raise money for this worthy cause.
Around 6 weeks ago- I was approached by Stacey Rodda form Artisan in Fortitude Valley- to donate some cupcakes for her Breakfast!'
I was delighted to be able to help out.
The theme was "Stylish Pink" and this is what I came up with!

Graduating form ice pink through to deep candy pink!

Simple and pretty!

I have heard some great feedback from the event- so I hope everyone enjoyed their cupcakes!
You can donate to the National Breast Cancer foundation through their website.

Thursday 23 October 2008

Weeks pass in the blink of an eye!


I can't believe that a week has almost past since I made these cakes!!!!! I really try to get this blog done at the end of each week- but with cakes on order 7 days a week- I am a little snowed under at the moment.
So as I sit here waiting for one of tomorrows clients to come and collect their fabulous 4 tier cake- I thought I had better write my blog!
Last week was Full on- With a capitol F! I had weddings on Friday Saturday and Sunday- with a collection on Thursday!

The first cake I finished for the week was this fabulous little design. This design is similar to one from a US website- and was sent to me by two different clients- who have both ordered a similar design. This is the first time I have made it- with the next one due in May next year!
Anyway- this cake was being sent over to Straddie for Ben and Beck wedding on Friday!
The Blue White and Black dot theme matched tier invitations perfectly!


The cake had a double barrel base- and single top tier- with a random pattern of Blue White and Black dots on the base tier!


Beck also asked me to put a hidden smiley face on one of the dots- just for a laugh! I hope they found it! :)

The Next cake was a very last minute request.
I have been booked out for October for more than 4 months- but when The coordinator from Customs house rang and ask could I help this Bride who had forgotten to order her cake- only 4 weeks out from her wedding- I did my best to make it possible!
"simple" was what I was told- however it may look Simple- but in fact it is very far from simple indeed!


This cake has 1.5x height extended tiers- with sugar magnolias and detail piping. As stunning as it is I certainly had to squeeze this cake in! Seeing as though I frequently deliver to Customs house I felt the late nights far outweighed my conscious should I have not been able to help!

One last cake for Friday- this stunning elegant three tier cake- with black velvet ribbons is one of those " If I had my wedding again" designs for me! The cake itself would be a plain white cake without the texture of the ribbon.


With the only specific instruction to have the big bow floating down the tiers- it was designers choice when it came to arranging the different sized ribbons.
The diamonte buckle was a last minute addition by me- as I felt it needed that little bit of sparkle to really embrace the elegance of the design.


With Friday over and done with- it was full steam ahead for Saturday!

I was lucky enough to deliver to "THE BEST" reception I have ever seen! I have delivered 100's cakes but I have never wanted to be invited to a reception as much as this fabulous one!
Held on a Private Property in the Dayboro Valley- this wedding was set in a gorgeous silk lined marquee- set for close to 300 guests! The view was amazing!


From a guess there was close to 800 candles- set in sheer tubes throughout the room- I can only imagine the beauty at night!



The cake was a latte coloured cake- with two tiers wrapped in the invitation lace- and the other tiers featuring drop Swarovski Crystals. A cartoon Bride and Groom stood atop of this 4 tier cake! Thank you Julie and Craig for choosing me to make your wedding cake - and letting me ogle the beauty of your reception! I hope you guys had a magnificent night!

I also delivered this three tier cake banded with Cornelli work out to Glengariff Estate- fresh flowers completed the design.


A classic look- with a modern edge- I loved this design too!

This cake scared the bejeezers out of me! Piping in black is the scariest thing to me! If you make a mistake in black-there is no turning back- that is it! So with Shaky hands- I piped this pattern over all of the tiers- successfully!!!!!!!!!


I ran into the Bride ( Rachel) after I had delivered the cake- looking gorgeous with her hair and make-up already done!

I missed a photo of one of my cakes this week because my husband got flustered by a rather rude venue. This venue( whose name I won't mention) is one of my regular venues- so I was more than Shocked to hear from my husband that his attire was questioned when delivering the cake. The standard Cake That! delivery uniform is Jeans and a "Cake That!" shirt. Apparently this is no longer suitable attire to deliver a cake in. Suffice to say- after being escorted through the delivery- a photo of the finished cake was sadly missed. I have emailed the Bride and groom- so fingers crossed- I can get a copy of their beautiful cake soon!

I had three cakes at Victiria Park this weekend past- so this next cake is Saturdays one! When I was delivering the cake I ran into some clients of mine- and my sincere apologies for not stopping to chat- as I was on a cake delivering mission!
This two tier cake was a chocolate lovers dream- all white chocolate with Dark chocolate piped hearts coming out from the top!

Not only did I deliver the cake- I also got to return the Sunnies that the brides mum left behind at her consultation many months ago!!


With Saturday done and gone..........Sunday came fast!
This classicially beautiful three tier cake was the final delivery for the week- back again to Victoria Park!


The sugar roses have Ivory centers to make them look more real- and to give them a bit of depth!

With all that over with for the week- I am almost finished this weeks cakes!
I had such a fabulous bunch of cakes last week- it really made me feel so satisfied with the job I did! From Classic through to modern- each cake was so different- so unique to each event!
Hopefully I can post again soon
SJ







Sunday 12 October 2008

Seeing Double!!!!!!!!!


This week I did 2 lots of two if the same cake!

The first was this fabulous chocolate tower design.


The first cake was a double stacked version- which had flowers placed on top later by the Bride's Florist.


The next cake is a triple stacked version of the same cake- but with fresh flowers to finish. A mixture of cream roses- Asiatic lilies and Magnolia leaves filled the top.

The next cupcake design was also ordered by 2 different couples this week- I only have this one picture- as the other is for a wedding this afternoon!Pretty Feminine and romantic- this pale pink and cream design is a very popular wedding cupcake choice.

The next design was matched to the brides Vintage theme! With a set of cartoon toppers- including the couples cute puppy to match!



The base tier featured brush embroidery- and both tiers had strung pearls and two toned ribbon around the base. Teardrop Swarovski Crystals hung over the top tier also.

The Oyster, Pale pink and Ivory theme was really well suited to this style.

The next cake is actually 4 cakes in total.


Two tiers of double stacked cakes- iced in a butter cream icing- with fresh orchids to decorate. This cake looked so fresh and stylish.

I also had some mini cakes this week. These cakes are really time consuming- which means many hours of monotonous icing to complete them. In the end through they do look fabulous.


These clients chose to serve one per couple as a take home- which meant that even though there was only 36 on this stand- it looked full and quite sizable.

I also had a trip to the Gold Coast Yesterday- to the Crowne Plaza. This cake was alternate milk and White chocolate chards- with white chocolate shavings and scrolls to fill inthe tiers.

The Bride also had fresh flowers placed in to finish.


Last but not lkeast is this Wild Christening cake I made for the Daughter of some past wedding clients!
This tow tier cake has White chocolate cards with chocolate daisies in them- and Vanilla iced biscuits exploding out the top!


Fabulous! Fun! Definitely brightens your day!

I have another 7 day week ahead- wth long distance deliveries across Friday Saturday and Sunday again! I also have some really great cakes to make too!
Better get going to my last delivery for the week- before I start all over again tomorrow!

Monday 6 October 2008

Heating up...................


What is going on- what happened to Spring?? We seemed to have jumped straight into summer- with the temperature sitting in the high 20's and early 30's it is definitely H O T .....HOT!
Luckily the really hot days were at the beginning of the week- leaving me much more bearable days at the end of the week.

This week bought me another fabulously diverse range of designs to conquer!
I had three cakes due for Friday- which meant I was on my toes from the get go!
The first cake for Friday was a totally Gluten free design.
Inside this three tiered cake was a gluten free chocolate and almond cake! A dense rich and super moist cake that was layered with velvety dark chocolate ganache- then iced in a thin layer of Rolled fondant icing.


A classic design on the outside- with draped icing- fine piping detail and sugar roses to finish!
Each layer was around 1.5x height of regular tiers.
Friday was a big day for me- not only did I go into the Royal Brisbane Childrens hospital and do some cupcake decorating- I also had a cake to deliver out to Dayboro.
It wasn't until I got all the way out there until I realised that I had left my camera at home :(
So This picture from my sugar encrusted mobile phone is the only one I have!


Each cupcake was iced in a butter cream icing- with a single chocolate filigree on top of each cake.

The next cake went all the way to Murgon! When I met the Bride (Emma) and found out where the reception was being held- I asked if she knew of a school friend of mine- who also grew up in the small town- not only did she know of her- My school friends mother was the celebrant at the wedding!


Emma had chosen a three tier version of a marbled iced design I had made previously.
I really liked this cake- the swirled chocolate and ivory fondant looked really inviting!

Saturday was another day of long drives and heat battles!
I headed out to Woody Point first thing in the morning to deliver this three tier butter iced design.


Fresh Green Singapore Orchids trailed over the cake. The room was beautifully decorated with hints of green throughout! Including green candles on cream candelabras- so very pretty indeed!
Then it was across to Wantima at Albany Creek! This cakes picture just doesn't do it justice.
So Elegant- three white iced tiers- with firm edges- and a double flat bow ( like a bow tie) on each tier.


The room had white chair covers with black bows- so it fitted just perfectly!

The heat really rules how I deliver cakes. Depending on where they are going- and what they are made of determines when I leave to deliver them!
The next cake was for the Regatta. This cake was a bare shell 5 minutes before I left to deliver it. The fresh berries were kept refrigerated right up until it was time to pack the cake into the car and go!
Laden with more than 3kgs of fresh berries ( Strawberries/raspberries and Blueberries) this cake smelt absolutely divine! Chocolate triangles were dotted throughout the top!
The air conditioning in the room was crisp when I arrived- it was so nice I wanted to stay all day!

The couple also had little bird toppers too- as they are both keen bird watchers and wanted to incorporate an element of "them" into their cake!

After this I headed to The Stamford- I was on a mission to deliver the cake ASAP as I had one more delivery to go! Having previously worked at the Stamford- can mean a long delivery- if I run into old friends- but this time I was like Stealth!

The Bride and groom had chosen the "mummy" cake- a cake which I first made for a bridal show at Bridal Couture ( at the Port office in from t of the Stamford). This cake was inspired by folds of fabric- and has been surprisingly popular! Often being likened to a rose!

I delivered the cake- said a quick hello to the new coordinator- Andy- and was off in record time!
I am there again this weekend- so hopefully I can make the cake my last delivery- so I have time for a chat!

Last but but not least was another cupcake tower- over at Snug Harbour!
I am lucky enough to often go to Snug Harbour- but this was my first time delivering a cake for the Garden Room! A fabulous split level room- that oozed warmth and intimacy!


These cupcakes had pink and silver heart decorations- and a cute personalised bridal couple!
This week is another long weekend of deliveries.


On another note- I only have 3 weekends of availability left until the end of the year- 6th 13th and the 20th December. So unfortunately if you are after a cake before these dates- I am fully booked.
I have been booked right through November for a while now- and am sorry to say that I cannot squeeze another cake in!
Please remember that I do take bookings 11 months out form your event date- so if you are wanting a cake- you have plenty of time to book the date and confirm the design later on!


With all of these cakes to do- I had better get back to it then.................. ;)

Saturday 4 October 2008

Cupcakes for Camp Quality.........

Back in July I received an email asking whether or not I would be interested in coming to do some cupcake making for Camp Quality- I was overseas at the time- but I jumped at the chance. I was excited to be able to share my passion with kids and parents who needed someone- or something to brighten their day! So- Yesterday Afternoon I was lucky enough to come and do some cupcake decorating at the Turner Ward of the Royal Brisbane Childrens Hospital.
Anna Wilson from the RBCH had organised for me to come in and decorate cakes with some of the parents of ill children- and of course with the children themselves. I knew that there was going to be around 10 people- so armed with more than 12 dozen uniced cupcakes ( you have to be prepared in case more turn up than expected;)) I headed to the Turner Ward to ice away!

Some cupcakes to brighten your day!

Saying I am an organised person who likes structure- is somewhat of an understatement. Whilst I am spontaneous in my private life- work is always a very structured thing for me. So I had in my head what I was going to do - and how the afternoon was going to pan out- but not more than 30 seconds later that was all upturned- cachous and sprinkles were flying all around the room- but the Kids- and parents were definitely enjoying themselves! With my plan out the window- it was down to freestyle cupcake decorating!

With plenty of decorations to choose from- the designs were endless!

Yesterday made me realise that being ill not only effects the patient and their parents- but their siblings too. I had a few siblings attend, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to make their brothers and sisters cakes- as well as cakes for all of the invaluable hospital staff along the way!
Entertainment and Fun must be a fabulous part of the healing process- what better way to feel a bit better than to put on a big smile- and gobble up a sugary cupcake??

Everyone having fun decorating cupcakes!!


A high fat diet is imperative for patients being treated with Chemotherapy- so a sneaky way to get the fat into their diet is definitely a cupcake laden with butter cream icing ;)

The Kids were so into the cupcake making- that there was one definite stand out- Terra! Terra is here from Cairns with her family- whilst her Brother is in hospital. Terra (left) with her brother Noel! Cupcake champions!


Terra's vivacious personality- and super fast cupcake icing skills almost put me to shame! Out of the 170 or so cupcakes I bought to the hospital- it would be fair to say that Terra decorated at least 40 of them! Her piping skills greatly improved over the course of the hour or so- and her creativity was amazing! Thought and passion were put into each and every cake she made!

Cupcakes by Noel!

Cupcakes by Terra!

The Girls from the Starlight foundation- another fabulous children charity- were using the room just before us- and managed to spare another few minutes to also have a go at making some cupcakes too!

Me with the fabulous Starlight foundation Girls! Thanks for making cupcakes with us!

My sister Kate volunteered to help me out- and thank god she did! Kate is fabulous with kids- and the fact that there was icing and decorations flying everywhere didn't phase her in the slightest! She has such a natural warmth and genuine enthusiasm about her- that she made everyone feel so fabulous about the cakes they were making!
In amongst the kids that were there- was also two sisters Rachael and Kaitlyn!

Cupcakes by Kaitlyn and Rachael! Awesome job!

These girls were all about stylish cupcakes! Some fabulous designs from both girls! Down from Gympie with their parents and their Brother- they had a haul of cupcakes to take home with them for sure!

Kaitlyn with her cupcake! fabulous!

After an hour or so of decorating cupcakes- it was time to pack up :((
We finished icing and packing up all of the decorated cakes- and shipped them around to the hospital to the various wards for everyone to share!

Making little tiny letters to put names onto the cupcakes! This is a slow process- and when you have eager decorators at your feet- you need to speed it up!
Then you can place them onto the cakes like this:



I had made a mini cupcake tower just before I left home ( that I was going to demonstrate how to make- before my plan went flying out the window)- we sent these cakes off to the nurses around the hospital! Little vanilla butter cakes with polka dot plastic icing!

A mini top tier in the shape of a cake slice - amazed the staff and parents- who all asked- is that real?? Can you eat this?? With confirmation that it too was cake- it was quickly whisked away to be cut up and eaten!

Tyler- the youngest participant for the day- even brightened up to decorate a cupcake for his Dad who was celebrating his birthday on Friday! Tyler was definitely interested in the Freddo frogs too!
Thank you to Camp Quality for inviting me to come and decorate cupcakes!
Thank you to Anna Wilson for arranging such a fabulous program for sick children and their families to enjoy!
And huge Thank you to my sister Kate- for not only coming with me to help out- but for showing me that things go just fine when you don't have a plan!
I had such a great afternoon- I can't wait until I get to do it again!


Exhausted Sisters- after an afternoon of fun!

If you would like to donate to any of the charities below- simply click on the link!
Camp Quality
Camp Quality is a non profit organisation that is committed to bringing hope and happiness to every child living with cancer, their families and communities through ongoing quality recreational, educational, hospital and financial support programs

Starlight Foundation
The Starlight Children's Foundation is part of the Australian Children's Charities Forum, a group of national children's charities dedicated to directly helping seriously ill, disabled or disadvantaged children.

Royal Brisbane Childrens Hospital
The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation (RCHF) is the fundraising arm of the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane - Queensland's leading paediatric critical care facility, which touches the lives of more than 100,000 sick kids every year.