It's all about the pretty!

 I count myself so very lucky everyday.

I wake up and get to make beautiful pretty cakes fro people celebrating the happiest occasions in their lives :D

Let's be honest here- it has been a very long while since I have managed a blog post- my life is hectic- and creating these gorgeous cakes comes a long way before I get to chat about them. I do try to share as much as I can on my Face book page with you all- but the stories behind the cakes have somehow seemed to suffer of late.

I am excited when I look back and see some of the amazing cakes that I have been asked to make- it makes the whole "running behind" thing allot easier for sure!

There is no particular order to this collaboration of 2011 cakes.

Just a few of my faves- ones that I am particularly chuffed I was chosen to make.

First Cake off the rank is one I made for the gorgeous Vanessa and Ben. Like many of my clients- Vanessa and Ben came to me after finding out about me through Word of Mouth. No amount of Internet or magazine advertising can equate to this type of exposure.

Every time I send out a cake I think of it as my way of reaching over 200 people each time. Half of these people get to eat my cake- then they get to tell their friends about the fab cake they ate on the weekend- and then when it is time for a celebration- many remember "Cake That!" and contact me for a quote.

It is pretty simple stuff. Offer a wonderful product that speaks for itself and you will reap the rewards.  I am not totally discounting visual advertising- it certainly does help jog peoples memories- but I certainly value personal recommendations far higher.

So back to Vanessa and Ben's wedding- I was not the only awesome Wedding Peep to be utilised for this event! Vanessa is sometimes a Second shooter for Toni Snell (Uber Wedding Photog), Vanessa now has her own Photography business up and running too!

Vanessa and Ben had the vivacious Anne Campbell marry them and held their wedding out at Glengariff at Dayboro.

  

To fit in with their theme and also Vanessa's love of animal print- the cake was a Black and white Stunner- complete with personalised toppers- of course!

Three extended tiers of cake- one of which was Red Velvet- a lovely bold surprise :)

 For those of you that have met with me and have inquired about Black cakes- will know my spiel. Having Black icing will turn your guests mouths a blue black colour- so with this knowledge, and keen desire to have a knock out cake- Vanessa and Ben weighed up the pros and cons, in the end the black won out!

The next cake is one that was decorated to incorporate the heavy lace detail on the Bridal gown.

Cakes like this are not only pretty- but add an extra touch of sentiment to the design. 

 This cake was eventually finished with beautiful Antique roses (supplied by Jennine at Florabella)

Antique roses are very popular- especially with Vintage elegant themed weddings.

The next cake had a beautifully Dramatic venue styling- complete with black table cloths and chair covers and a whole lot of bling!

This Four tier Fresh flower stack design stood beautifully in the Southern Cross Ballroom at the Royal on the park.

I feel very honored when I get to make many cakes for the one family. The next cake is certainly no exception.

I have made cakes for many occasions for this family now, and each time is just as special as the last.

This wedding cake for Kristen and Dan was not only elegant and timeless- it has detail that was a direct replica of the fabric flowers on her gown.

The detail had a soft shimmer to it- just like the Organza in the dress.

The Subtle inclusion of Strung diamantes around the base of the tiers tied together the diamante detail in the centre of the flowers.

It was only the very next month- when once again I was commissioned to make another family cake!

This time it was a baby shower cake for the Bride who started this family with me :D
The lovely Rebecca was expecting her first baby- and as a surprise her mum organised a baby shower cake through me.

Sweet little design for a baby on the way

Next something for those a little Wild at Heart!

This 40th Leopard print handbag cake is puuuuuuuuuurfect for the big 40!

I have no shame in admitting I have a soft spot for Monochromatic cakes.

There's just something about all white/Ivory cakes that oozes romance and elegance.

Yet again I have used embroidery detail from the Bridal gown- to create a pattern on the base tier.

Sugar roses cover the top tier and a double sugar flat bow in the middle tier.

Although the next cake isn't exactly monochromatic- it is stunning.
The perfect fresh blooms were supplied by Karen at Bliss Floral, and by absolute sheer fluke! I managed to make the piped icing pearls in the exact same cornflour shade as the natural flowers! Pretty chuffed if I do say so myself!

The Delicate introduction of colour was simply stunning.

The next cake is becoming a welcome regular on my order list.

Three tiers extended height- with lace detail is a very graceful design that certainly will grab your guests attention.

This particular version had fresh blooms on top which gave it a lovely Spring Fresh feel!

Mini cakes are like individual little morsels of cake couture!

An extravagant choice, treating each guest to their own wedding cake.

Pale pink and Bling- with 1/2 the cakes quilted and the other half simply banded with ribbon.

I get excited by clients who like to take risks- who throw caution to the wind and choose a cake that is uniquely them!

This four tier cake was decorated with sugar replicas of the very felt flowers that the Bride had handmade for her wedding.

The bold colour palette of pink and purple tomes with a pop of lime green kept the cake playful and the atmosphere joyous.

Last but not least in this post all about the pretty is a stencil design- complete with a pearl sugar bow and cachous bling!

Being able to eat everything on the cake right down to the ribbon is something to consider when choosing your cake.

Imagine the oooh's and ahhh's that you will get when your guest realise that the bow is not satin but actually edible - made from sugar!

Well I could keep going sharing more and more pretties from the end of 2011- but you will probably nod off by the time I finish LOL

So I will leave it there.

I have so many exciting cakes form 2012 to share that I need to say farewell to 2011 and look forward to the now!

If you are looking for a cake for 2013- bookings are well and truly open for the 1st half of 2013, and I welcome enquiries for beyond then.

Keep smiling

Thanks for reading

SJ

BOO! I'm Back!!!!!!!!!

I should possibly be hanging my head in shame for letting my Blog go for sooooooooooo long without posting. I have been otherwise occupied- and time has literally slipped away- but never fear- I am back- I'm committed (and hoping this isn't going to come and bite me in the beehind when I get side tracked again lol) and I am excited to share some of the awesomeness that is my daily job with you all!

So it has been a while- last time I posted it was all about winter weddings- so not I will chat about What happened in August- and September- just to catch up.. the I will add a couple of more posts to round out 2011- before moving into a new set of posts for this Amazing year 2012.

Ok- Firstly- August is a Mammoth Family month. My Sisters and Nieces Birthdays all fall within the first two weeks- My Aunt's birthday as well as my Sister in Law's Wedding anniversary- so it was and always will be a very special month indeed.

This year My SIL made my Niece's Birthday cake- but I made a few Bikkies for the Bollywood Themed party. 

The middle biscuits were a citrus sable- but the outside ones were Lorraine McKay's moorish Peanut butter biscuits- seriously these biscuits are so good you CANNOT stop at one LOL!

My sister Kate had a brilliant idea for her birthday this year- she wanted a Smash cake- not your normal variation- she wanted a giant biscuit cube- filled with chocolates and lollies- that she could smash open........ her wish was my command! 

 

I'm sure the other visitors to Southbank wondered what on earth was going on!

 Kate - of course- waited until the "Happy Birthday" song was over before hitting the cake for six with the Cricket bat!

 First in Best Dressed with the loot!

You've got to eat your own name- right???

I was also given the task of creating a very special 18th Birthday cake for one of my friends and fellow wedding colleagues daughter's birthday.  

The stunning Erin shares my heart with her love of all things "Spotty Dotty"!

It was my absolute privilege to create this cake for Erin- Given a short brief- Erin's wonderful mother let me have creative license with this super fun cake!

And for those wondering what the animal is on the "8" it is Erin's cat.... Cat's aren't my forte- but I am working on them lol

I was given full control of another cake that month too!

A baby shower cake for one of my past clients :)

Holly's sisters organised the cake for her as a surprise- -so I got to make another cute design- entirely up to me!  

I used the colours from the invite to make this simple- yet pretty cupcake tower.

After the Birthday Cakes- came the Weddings- it was the beginning of "wedding Season" and I was once again knee deep in sugar :-P

This Black and white cupcake tower was set up in a Private home.

The whole house was even themed in with the colour scheme.

It's no wonder Vintage and classic are very in vogue! The styles make for visually delicious cakes indeed!

This first cake is an all white wonder- Hand made sugar roses - pearl lines and piped detail- simply pretty.

This stencil finish Mocha cake with Large sugar bloom is everything I love about these "vintage" cakes. It has such warm colour- oozes elegance- and is positively gorgeous- If i do say so myself!

 Another pretty Stencil cake in the palest of pinks- with soft gold accents.

I was honoured to be apart of the Sunday Mail- Riverlife- Win your wedding competition last year. The deserving couple chose this grand three tier Extended height Lace overlay design. 

Nat and Katrina Won their Dream wedding through a competition- where some of Brisbane's loveliest Special event suppliers banded together to create the Ultimate wedding reception for these humble flood victims. See the U on Sunday's Gallery here

Whats not to love about chocolate- and what's not to love about Berries- Put them together and they are certainly a power combination.

This fantastic White chocolate creation smelt so divine- and it's scrolls so tempting to just pick one off!

 Y.U.M- YUMMMMMM! That is all 

Class and elegance go hand in hand for timeless designs.

This next cake has clean lines and simplistic design.

 Fresh Lizzies and Roses covered the top tier- just beautiful!

Swiss dots look really lovely - and this cake was no exception.

Eventually topped with fresh bridal flowers- it was sure to be a stunner :)

So one last cake for this blog. I am no where near finished - but Typing and thinking for over 2 hrs is doing my mind in heheh

 

This four tier Chocolate cake is every bit the delicious picture it looks to be.

What better way to enter your reception than with the scent of white chocolate- mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

So thanks for reading- I will be back very soon with more:)- I promise!

I have such a collection of exciting cakes to share too!

Take it easy

SJ

June Wonders :)

 

How Fast has this year flown by??

I hope that you are all enjoying the Xmas season- I am :)

Even despite the rapid growth in numbers at the shops- I still find this time of the year to be such a fantastic time for celebrating!

Back when the weather was a tad cooler, and the sun reared it's head for a few less hours per day- I was blessed to make the following cakes for some magnificent clients!

I want to start though with a cake that was ordered by a Fantastic Husband for his Wife's 40th Birthday. This cake was a surprise for her- organised solely by her husband, and right up until I delivered it- she had no idea!

Whilst I was panicking driving down the almost 90deg slope road (OK this is an exaggeration but it was mighty steep) that was the last 100 odd meters of the journey- the cakes recipient sat unaware at home that a cake she had always wanted was about to arrive.

I arrived with the cake all boxed and ready to present at the front door- greeted by the super organised hubby- and was shown upstairs to where the birthday girl was getting the house ready for that nights celebrations (Yes she knew she was having a party- just not a cake :)- well a cool cake anyway ;-P)

So when I presented the cake to her- she was all smiles and thanks, along with total shock and surprise......... it wasn't until I got to the base of the driveway I could hear her squeals of excitement- somewhat similar to what my 5 year old niece emits when she gets what she wants! LOL! It was brilliant! Her joyous squeals really made my day! After a little giggle to myself- my day was complete! I loved how composed she was when I delivered the cake- only to break out once I was out the door!  

So why was the cake so exciting???- Firstly it was all in her favourite colours- and secondly I replicated one of her favorite shoes in sugar- especially at her Husband's request! I'd be blown away if my husband knew what my favourite shoe was.... but then again I'd rather he not take too much notice of the ever expanding collection hehehhehe!

The wicked cakes in June did not stop there!

I admire couples who take a chance when it comes to changing up from the "norm" and really putting their own touch to their wedding.

Annalise and Simon were EXACTLY this kind of couple.

They chose a very BOLD cake design that complimented everything about their wedding day.

Don't get me wrong- it was still elegant- but most of all it was was them!

The three tier Tilted Black and white cake- with Blood Red Roses was visually stunning and really drew you to it's vibrancy!

It was only last week that Annalise contacted me to let me know that she and Simon's wedding was being featured on Polka Dot Bride.

Check it out- simply Stunning- and the Bridesmaids- WOW!

All the sugar decorations on my cakes are handmade, so it was a change when the next Bride asked  to use some Heirloom roses for her cake.

Not a problem- I totally understand the sentimentality behind using sugar flowers that have been used for generations- as well as being originally crafted by a family member too.

 I added the flowers to a simply iced two tier Ivory classic style. Just delightful.

Sadly I don't always get to see cakes completed. Whilst I love to coordinate the cakes delivery with the fresh flowers (when they are supplied by the clients) it isn't always possible.

This three tier Twisted Square cake was eventually finished with complimenting fresh flowers.

In a whole other lifetime I use to work with Kirsten- at QANTAS........... yes oodles ago- back in the mid 90's - when we we cool, much younger- and frivolous in every way :-P

Luckily over the years we have kept in touch- and despite no longer living in the same city- the magic of the Internet and social networking means we can keep in touch regularly!

So to cut a long story short- it was my absolute pleasure to create Kirsten (and Shane's) Wedding cake!

Yet another Wedding that was all about them. Stylish and Elegant Mid winters wedding- held on Mid Winter's day- A day very special to the couple who met in Antarctica- Yes the icy land mass at the bottom of the world- where every image taken looks like it has just bee cropped from a National Geographic shoot!

Kirsten and Shane held their wedding at Maleny Manor- with Ms Toni Snell shooting the entire day!

You can see some of Kirsten and Shane's images on Toni's Blog

 Kirsten and Shane chose a Four tier Angled cake- in the Wedding colours of Black White and touches of pink.

Blousey blooms over the cake and a cut out of the emblem from the invitations tied the entire design together.

 Best Wishes to Kirsten and Shane- and Thank you for having me make your fantastic cake!

I have a handful of florists that I work with on a regular basis who ALWAYS exceed expectations and provide simply jaw dropping blooms.

One of which is Karen from Bliss Floral.

I am lucky to live a stones throw away from where she is at Stafford- so it is wonderful to have so many clients in common with her.

A few years back I made this very butter iced design- and Karen topped it with her gorgeous fresh flowers- fast forward a few years and it is still popular amongst clients!  

The champagne roses, White Lissies and Freesias are such a "fresh" combination.

The Next florist I had the privileged of working with was  Julie from Julie Vine Flowers.

This cake was mighty big! Three different sized chocolate "boxes" which mimicked the table centrepiece set out.

Overflowing with fresh Green and White blooms- it was bordering on beyond Magnificent!

My photo's simply don't do justice to how awesome this really came out. And the cakes size- it was large enough to serve more than 160 guests as dessert- and then some!

Not only do I need to thank Julie for helping me complete this cake- but also the Bride and Groom (Letitia and Joss) who had faith in the contemporary design.

Congratulations Guys!

With some couples- the cartoon toppers are quite popular.

I make each set to mimic the Bridal couple and their likeness.

 This three tier cake had an Army Groom and a petite Bride on top!

Too Cute!

The next cake was delivered to the venue where I myself was married over 7 years ago!

This two tier cake with a Purple and Silver theme- complete with sitting couple was sent off to Joseph Alexanders Restaurant at Milton.  Sadly the restaurant no longer exists ;(

A cute cake none the less- now we will both have to find new places to hold anniversary dinners.

The next cake for June was for a wedding at Victoria Park- in the new Garden Marquee.

  

Three tiers with Client Supplied toppers- and purple stripes to match in with the wedding colours :)

A big Butter Cream beauty at Hotel Urban was a stand out in the month of wicked cakes!

Now for all to remember this style of cake works only in Winter in highly Air conditioned venues. There is no way a soft iced cake with Fresh flower pillars would work in any other season in any other condition- here in QLD.

 

The Cream Brulee roses sat beautifully in between the swirled soft iced layers!

The last featured cake for the month was one which was delivered to Customs house.

The increasingly popular twisted style tiers- with Quilting and Sugar roses on top

Classic style with a touch of now :)

Well if you got through all this in one sitting well done- you deserve a chocolate biscuit (or 5- I know I do :) )

As we near the end of the year it is time for me to begin my extended annual leave. I'll still be answering emails- and phone calls- when possible. Bookings through email will still be taken, and quotes provided, but for the most will be taking a break getting back into full swing in March 2012.

A huge Thank you to all my couples and clients who have chosen me to make their cake this year. It was truly my pleasure.

To my 2012 Clients- I have some awesome cakes designs ready for your events- which I look forward to creating!

To everyone who takes time to follow me on my Blog and through Facebook- Thank you! I really appreciate your support and comments- keep them coming.

Have a brilliant Xmas and a Magnificent 2012!

Thanks for Reading

SJ

P.S.- I plan to continue blogging- fingers crossed I can get up to date sometime soon ( this single post was over 3 hours in the making)