Ecclectic! Just the way I like it :)

I can tell you right now that I am sitting here- slapping myself silly for letting myself get so behind on the blogging. I have made some pretty wicked cakes this year - if I do say so myself- and the only benefit of the stories behind these being unpublished until now is in that I get to reflect on the wonderful choices my clients have made!

This weekend in April was definitely a great one for cake variety.

The first cake I'll introduce you to is a cool one indeed- A London Bus cake!

The Bride and Groom had a close affiliation with London, so having a Double Decker Bus cake, complete with the couples favourite West End Musical posters, bus route and Just Married signs- certainly sealed the personalisation on this Wedding Cake.   

I also couldn't have the cartoon couple standing simply on top, so my artistic license took over and I had the couple proudly waving on top instead. 

 

I travelled allot that weekend with deliveries, so after the bus drop off at Walkabout Creek - I headed to North Lakes Golf Club to set up this pretty cupcake tower.

With a Pink and Green Theme- it was just lovely!

I vividly remember the table center pieces - as they had beautiful Vases with a Lace/Ribbon and Diamante Buckle wrapped around, which looked really elegant with the floral arrangements.

The Next cake is one which may be familiar to those of you who subscribe to my Facebook page. It is a variation of the profile picture cake- a design I absolutely adore :)

The lace overlay coupled with the large sugar blooms is a stunning classic design with an elegant vintage twist.

Having the lace detailing in white on the soft ivory icing is a beautiful compliment to the final design.  

 

 I delivered this lace beauty to an equally elegant reception in Sunnybank.

It was back across town to the Pavilion at Albion to deliver this next Wedding cake.

A three tier Gluten Free Traditional Design, complete with Deep red and Ivory roses and Sugar Draping.

I always find it really hard to photograph the deep red roses. I am no where near qualified enough to capture the real life colours with my limited camera skills LOL- anyway I hope you can imagine the true deep colour that the sugar roses were.

The last but by no means the least of feature cakes for this weeks blog is a cheeky variation of my Chocolate Mountain design.

This cake was commissioned by Mel and Dan- Chocolate Freaks ;-P

Mel and Dan came to me through my cousin- who was Mel's Bridesmaid. The brief for the cake was Chocolate- Chocolate, and a bit more Chocolate (no wonder Mel and My cousin Jess are friends LOL!)! The cakes design was also top secret to everyone bar the couple (and me) right up until the wedding day!

Choosing such a novel design- Mel and Dan wanted their guests to be awestruck by their choices on the wedding day, rather than sharing every detail before hand.

The Design was finished in Chocolate scrolls, with White Chocolate tipped scrolls atop of this Chocolate "Mountain"!

Not only were the cartoon bridal couple sitting right in amongst the chocolate- the Bride also requested that her caricature be just about to sneak a piece of cake, while the groom had face full of cake covered in choccie remnants heheheheh! 

 

To top the toppers off- I had the broom looking all coy twiddling his thumbs "Who Me?" hahahha! Loved it to bits!

So from my end it has been worth the wait writing this blog and getting to relive the joyous designs that I made that week.

Now I had better head back to making the stunner I have on order this week- Hadn't I?

Thanks for reading

SJ

Celebratory March

The First weekend in March was a very special one - not because I had some stunning cakes to create- but it was my Wedding anniversary too!

I sent cakes all over that weekend.

The first to leave was a Two tier cake headed up to Mt Mee. 

 

This cake had Sugar Grape and vine detail- with the addition of a Willow Tree 'Promise' topper once at the venue.

The weather in the week leading up to the weekend was pretty dismal- allot of rain about (once again) and getting sugar to dry was in the capable hands of my trusty Dry Air Con :)

I also sent another cake up to Glengariff that weekend.

This one was a Palette royal icing finish cake- with sugar roses and leaves covering the top and circling the base of the top tier. 

The roses were eventually finished with lightly dusted lilac centres.  

My Biased love of all things monochromatic meant that I forgot to get a good picture of the cake actually finished- whoops! But the very light dusting was pretty indeed!

Sometimes (well actually allot) I worry whether a cake design will work or not. When designing cakes I can visualise what I want them to look like- and then when it comes to the crunch of actually putting them together- often doubt likes to creep in- making me second guess my original idea.

This next cake gave me that exact pitted feeling. I had done this same design in all White before- and whilst I could visualise how striking having bold colour would be- I was dancing around like a scaredy cat when it came time to "actually" dust up the flowers LOL!

So I took a deep breath- and went for it!

And it turned out WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this so very much that I think I may even like it "more" than the all white version :-O

I think that the colour actually made the "playfulness" of the rolled roses stand out- whilst still being stylish and elegant!

Yep I L.O.V.E it!

It seems that touches of colour were definitely on the agenda that weekend.

This classy two tier cake with to tier 1/2 turned too had its roses dusted a pinky purple colour. 

I had a Chocolate Creation for an engagement that weekend too.

Strangely enough the first time I ever recreated this cake design  was in march a few years back- and once again it pops up in the same month.

This cake is a double stacked cake inside- with fresh white flowers spilling over the top.  

On the Sunday morning I headed over to the Landing to set up a pretty Rose Sparkle cupcake tower.

I also bumped into Linda from the Party Girls- who had chair sashes the EXACT same colour as the cake ribbon! What a match!

 The final cake for Sunday was for Baby Tommy's Christening.

A cute Single tier White chocolate Bailey's cake complete with a Bunny figurine and name blocks- adorable!

This was a freestyle design- which is great to be able to do- but so nerve wracking too! Suffice to say it was very well received :)

 This past month has been a beautiful blur of fantastic cakes! I cannot wait to share more with you......... but for those of you too impatient to wait- please feel free to check out my Facebook page and Twitter!

Have a fantastic Week ahead.. I once again have some uber cool cakes to create thanks to my awesome clients ordering them :)

Thanks for reading

SJ

A cool Surprise

 

The 4th Weekend in October bought me yet again an eclectic mix of cake designs- as well as cakes traveling all over SEQ.

It certainly was (as always) a mixed bunch this particular week. I often get asked by potential clients questions like:

"what is the craziest cake you have ever done?"

or

"What is your favourite cake"

or my all time favourite

"Did you make your own cake??- and would you choose the same again?"

The last question is the easiest to answer- Yes I made my own cake- and given my much further and greater experience since then- I would definitely have something much grander- however the cake I made was a very classic style (albeit pink) ;)

I have so many Favourites- being blessed with awesome clients who choose cakes that really ignite your creativity and design skills- choosing a dead set all time favourite is very hard.

And for Crazy- each to there own I say. 

Having a novelty wedding cake is something very personal- and so often I have clients who choose these designs and it is "so" them. It makes the reception that bit more special- and all of the guests can relate to why it was chosen. I admire clients who go out of the norm and choose a really unique design that reflects themselves.

This week in October I had allot of cakes that had very personal touches- and for that every week I am grateful!

The first to leave the "cake room" was a three tier with Brush embroidered mid tier cake.

Classic and elegant. This cake headed north to Scarborough, where it was later topped with fresh flowers from the couples florist. 

The next cake to go on it merry way was a three tier cake with a hand painted monogram plaque.

This cake was taken over to Stradbroke Island by the Brides Family.

I don't often get to make Birthday cakes- this Single tier cake was for a past bride. She loves pink and Pearls- so this sharply iced extended height pink cake- with strung pearls wrapped around the base- a variegated pink "30" and a white open blossom- complete with a disco pink centre! 

Clean and simple = classy with a touch of fun!

The next cake went to Brett's Wharf.

A variation of the "Heidi's Dream" cake on my website- the flower centers were made yellow to match in with the Bright yellow Black and white theme.

This room had a gorgeous set up- including stunning table centerpieces by Karen @ Bliss Floral.

  

I love the natural feel of this next cake. A twist on the "normal" cherry blossom effect- incorporating white flowers and some forest green leaves. 

With the Ivory iced cake- the green and chocolate brown really came together to  give a warm earthy feel.

The next design is a version of the "All Class" cake on my site.

I first made this cake a few years back and it has been super popular ever since.

Just like its name- it is just simply classy.

Smooth finished icing- and a simple double flat bow around the base of each tier.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs- there was no Sunday rest for me during wedding season.

I headed to The beautiful Topairies at Beaumont House to set up this three tier cake- complete with a cartoon family on top!

 I am a huge fan of the Navy and Ivory together.

It seems that lately there has been allot of family cake love. To be honest I swear my friend sand family are sick of my cake- we see it- smell it , and eat it ALL the time. So when my Cousin's birthday came around I thought- lets do something a bit different.

So Whilst doing my household shop in Woolies- I had a brainwave- about cool cake for my cousin! And before you go thinking I went down the "Betty Crocker" path- think again

What is more iconic in your childhood birthday memories than your actual birthday cake???????

 

If my sister had her way her answer would be Fairy Bread- and although I can see a cool layer "cake" with thin bread layered with 100's and 1000's- it wasn't to be.

Instead I created a giant Chocolate Crackle!

A double batch of chocolate crackle recipe- straight from the rice bubbles/copha pack- set into an 8" round tin- then turned out and iced in ganache and finished with chocolate chards and scrolls- to form the facade.

Whilst it was mega tasty- it was bloody hard to cut- I seemed to have compacted it too much in the tin that you kind of needed a circular saw to cut it- but it tasted amazing!

And BTW Chocolate crackles are gluten free- yeah!

So that was the 4th weekend in October- where is the year going??

I will have a small Xmas selection available for order soon- with Christmas cakes and Christmas themed treats for you to share with your friends and family. Details to come.

Don't forget you can see my latest cakes and what I get up to during the week on my Facebook page

Thanks for reading

SJ

Its up to you.............

New York...................... New York!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Yep I am a bit looney- but every time I see this cake I can't stop singing the song. One lucky lady was surprised with this awesome NY themed 40th Birthday cake! What a fabulous husband to organise - in my opinion- a pretty damn fabulous cake to celebrate your birthday. I was even contemplating dedicating an entire post to this cake. 

I get super excited when I am allowed a bit of creative license to come up with a final fun cake design. So with the NY theme I made little "icon's" for the top of each cupcake- I made a collective Icon top tier- with Silhouettes of the Sky Scrapers (inspired by a Pink Cake box design)- and a personalised topper draped in teh Statue of Liberty get up- holding a Big Brown Bag and a piece of Birthday cake- complete with an itti bitti birthday candle- modelled by my sister Kate! 

  

To say this cake took allot of time was an understatement- BUT - It was well worth the effort!

To decide a Favourite between the Red Apples- or the I (heart) NY buttons....... or the American Flags- made by layering heaps of super thin icing sheets would be just too hard. The gorgeous little Taxi's were modelled by my sister Alex- a collective family effort indeed!

  

The Cake was a success! So a Huge Happy 40th Birthday to Jacki!

Ok- the rest of the week I had some more awesome cakes- can you believe it- I have had such a brilliant run of amazing designs chosen by my clients that I pinch myself everyday- I am so grateful.

I had a return client this week- getting a Christening cake for her baby boy. I made her and her Husbands wedding cake a couple of years ago- and now they were celebrating a Christening.

A delicate single tier cake- with tiny blue tri dot detail over the entire tier- finished with a blue bear topper. Gorgeous!
 

I Loved the bear- he was super cute- his little rug underneath was simply made with my new smocking rolling pin- so effective indeed.
 

It wasn't all novelty cakes this week.

I had cakes all over SEQ. My fantastic Mum took this first wedding cake out to Glengariff- Fresh flowers by Karen from Bliss Floral

 

A smaller variation of my "chocolate twigs" design- stunning Honeymoon roses too!

While Mum was delivering to Dayboro- Stev headed into The Landing to Deliver this next cake. A soft and fresh two tier design with Pale pink roses.

Simple and pretty indeed.
  

I sent a cake out to Spicers Hiddenvale too! A lovely couple came and collected their cake- My Damask Blue design- which was altered to incorporate their Arum Lily wedding flowers- and also featured a piped monogram for the top tier.
 

I have a cake in my studio- that has been getting allot of attention of late- a wrapped design with a (what was one) black bow. So with the inclusion of the Bride and Grooms pet dogs- This cake looked magic at their Black and white wedding!  

Chocolate Chards and Fresh berries just scream- EAT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I delivered this cake to the reception- with added berries to ensure every guest got some of these sweet new season Strawberries!

Having a traditional cake was never the intention of this couple- they wanted something that you wanted to devour!

I even gave a Cherry Ripe tier a go for this couple- Fine chopped Glace Cherries inside of a dark chocolate coconut mud cake- YUM!

My anxiety levels were skyrocketed when the Groom called me at 6.30pm the night of the wedding to ask "Where is the cake????" I had delivered the cake close to 7 hours earlier and the venue "forgot" to put it in the room- in fact the Chef who accepted delivery- and assured me that the coordinator would place the cake on the table within the hour of receipt (as the room was not ready for me to personally place it) didn't even pass the message on that he had received the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To say I felt MAD is an understatement. Not only did I call the day prior to arrange mutually suitable delivery time- In my opinion the coordinator should have noticed that the cake was not there- and IF she couldn't find it at the venue- should have called me- but instead the Groom walked into his own reception and had to call me himself.

I only hope that this confusion did not mar the couples wedding night.

I feel blessed to have had such beautiful designs to create... this one small issue was a tiny bump in a terrific ride!

This weekend is the Debbie Borwn Workshops! I am lookinng forward to meeting a heap of fellow Brisbane cake enthusiasts- and of couse gaining some more brilliant knowledge form Debbie herself!

Thanks for reading

SJ

Double up.............

March was such a big month this year- delivering some awesome cakes for awesome couples.

Now it should come as no surprise that there are some venues that suppliers just love to deal with. If the staff are friendly and the access is easy- your day runs smooth and is a pleasant overall experience. On this second weekend in March I had the pleasure of not only delivering to some of my most favourite venues- but also being there multiple times.

On top of delivering to some of my fave venues-Then I get doubly excited when I find out that my couples are also using some of my other favourite vendors too!  Even though I work alone- it makes it feel like you are in a little team again ;)

Anyway enough of my rambling- here are some the cakes from the weekend 12th- 14th March 2010!!

The first cake of the week was for The Stamford Plaza- a Friday wedding in the River room.

When I arrived Styled Events were putting the room decorations together- a beautiful lit backdrop- just gorgeous! This cake had been arranged over email- and when I arrived the bride's Aunt was there ready to start arranging the flowers for the cake.

Unfortunately I haven't seen the cake finished with the flowers... but from the blooms she had there ready to go I am certain it looked beautiful. It wasn't until I posted the cake on my Facebook page that the Gorgeous Anne Campbell (celebrant) and Talented Toni Snell (photographer) let me know that they too were vendors for Fiona and Jason's wedding!

Saturday was possibly one of the best delivery runs I have had.

To begin with I went over to Indooroopilly Golf Course- where I had not one- but two cakes to deliver.

The first was a soft and romantic butter cream iced cake- with fresh roses to decorate.

In the next room I delivered this Three tier cake - complete with intertwining Peacock feather pattern- in the middle tier.

This design was the background of the wedding invitations- so pretty!

After the double drop off to Indooroopilly- it was over to the Marriott- where I delivered Andrea and Eamon's cake.

A variation of my Bridal Rose design- complete with their wedding monogram on the top tier.

I have since received a beautiful Thank you from Andrea and Eamon- here they are cutting their cake!

 

Thank you both for the wonderful pictures and your kind words.

OK- then after the Marriott I was over to The Landing- at Dockside- for another Double Triple serving of wedding cakes.

Well only two on the Saturday- and then I returned on the Sunday to deliver the third- but how freaky is that- out of all the Bridal couples and all of the venues- to have Three weddings at the same venue on the same weekend was just glorious!

The First cake was a Decadent chocolate creation- in the Harbour room. Pretty clusters of Fresh White Tulips on one side of the cake.

The Chocolate Chards were drizzled with milk chocolate- and then chocolate shavings filled in the channels and top!

Then right next door in the River room was A 6 tier Frangipani cupcake tower- once again- ordered soley over email. The Bride and her Mother have been so kind as to also forward me a Thank you and some stunning pictures from the wedding day!
 

Here is a closer shot of the cartoon couple- how did I go fro the couples likeness????

 

Far better looking in real life! Congratulations Bec and Lee!

After The two at Dockside- it was over to The River Room at Southbank- so three river rooms in three days at three different venues!LOL!

Anyway- I was trying to beat the Weather- it was a super windy day and I was sure it was going to bucket down... but I was lucky and had no rain each time I stopped to deliver a cake!

At the River Room I had Jasmine and Herman's wedding cake. A classic three tier design with clusters of fresh flowers over the tiers.

Simple and elegant.

 

With Cream ribbon wrapped around a white cake- and fresh cream/white blooms- this deign looked fresh and pretty indeed!

With Saturday wrapped up- I had only Sunday to go!

I was back at The Landing again in the Sunday to Deliver and set up Sam and Paul's black and white creation.

A variation on my Invitation print design- this cake had a hand painted base tier and then the top two tiers were left simply decorated with ribbon around the base.

Glenda Pradella supplied the beautiful white roses and feather topper for the cake.
 

Why is this image Black and white you ask????? 

Well in the rear right hand corner of the picture was a blue dustpan- and given my photoshop skills are limited to basically watermarking the image- this was the best I could do to not make a feature of my not so great photography.

While I LOVE the flowers on top- I also really liked the cake with no flowers on top- just for some thing different- what do you think?

The Final cake for the week was delivered to Eve's on The River.

The Windy weather had seemed to put people off dining at this usually popular Sunday lunch restaurant- so when we arrived around 2pm- the restaurant was empty- and the wedding set up was in full swing.

The Bride had chosen to supply her own flowers for the cake- something which I encourage so that the flowers all match in with the bridal bouquets and table decorations.

Unfortunately though- the flowers were supplied with raw ends- meaning that they were Not individually wired and taped- so that I could arrange them as per the original design. It is a Health and Safety requirement that all flowers provided are individually wired and taped- or made into pre clustered taped posies- purely for Hygiene reasosn- so that no sap etc.. or poisons from the flowers can contaminate the cake.

I worked with what I had- arranging the blooms so that they merely rested on the cake and were not puncturing the cake, minimising the risk of potential contamination.

 

The cake design was unlike what the couples design should have been had the blooms been prepared- and plentiful enough to complete the original design.

Having correctly prepared blooms means that fresh flowers can become a stunning feature on your cake, and create an endless colourful combination for designs. When blooms are incorrectly prepared I feel such disappointment and being unable to fulfill the design and in turn create the desired magnificent effect. The Majority of florist are right on the mark- supplying me with sensational fresh flowers to arrange onto the cake- but every once in a while I am handed incorrectly prepared blooms, and instead of  simply leaving the flowers I try and arrange them as best as I can in the given situation.

My Brides who have fresh flower cakes will attest that this is something I go through with each and everyone to ensure the design is as magical as their wedding day!

A great week overall- visiting some of my favourite venues and working with some of the best vendors in the business!

Thanks for reading

SJ