Theme: Objects

When caking a real object, there are three options: make the cake the object itself, plaster a 2D image onto the cake or create a small 3D replica that sits on top. Flashbacks to Yr 12 art class!

Couples caked

I had a lot of fun with these! Cakes for couples whose birthdays fall close to each other. All’s fair in love and war so they were split right down the middle. Hope they shared it evenly!

Wedding with a Moroccan twist

While I’ve still got weddings on my mind, this was my very first wedding cake and such a captivating Moroccan theme to work with. The setting was bright splashes of colour against a backdrop of nature which was just so calming and serene. It was my absolute honour to contribute the cake and also be there for their special day. The bride knew exactly what design she wanted - I love the deep red roses and green leaves against the pure white fondant. Flowers are such a good way to add a different texture to the cake, just like the wedding cake I posted earlier this week, whether they be faux flowers or real (as opposed to fondant).

I have to admit I had my entire family in a production line helping out with the pearl-making here, all individually hand-rolled and painted. Love the subtle shine the ribbons add to the edge of each layer, I think it sealed each layer off well.

Love match

She chose yellow, he chose blue. A match made in heaven, love is always their theme, and was especially evident at their engagement party!

I’m a big fan of combining two different cake shapes… wouldn’t mind exploring this further with different designs…especially with three or more layers. Oooh now I’m feeling adventurous... where's my trusty rolling pin...

Theme: Sports

A world away from pink, it’s not always about the pretty cakes. The ‘boy’ ones are also fun, I have to admit. It's educational for me to work with subjects I don't normally pay much attention to. A couple of times I was forced onto Google to look up the logo, colours and even what shape the ball is. Thank goodness for Google!

Dora on a cake!

Don't know if I accidentally took some happy pills but decorating a bright pink cake for a gorgeous little girl was a lot of fun. Pink never fails!
My first time having a character to work with (which, come to think of it, could have been me as a kid with that short black bob and lil round face) and it was a challenge to make her resemble the real character. I always welcome new cake challenges and this one was particularly satisfying when it turned out like I'd hoped!

Tip: much easier to paint the black hair on than try to knead black dye into fondant.

When she saw the cake, I heard it made the birthday girl stop crying... can't beat that for perks of the job!

(PS. Sorry about the grainy-ness of the picture. Someone played with my camera at the wedding and I don't know what setting has been changed. Hey, lucky I didn't try to start Love and Camera.)

Theme: Flowers

Flowers have always signified something special about the person they are given to – that they’re admired, special, loved… Flowers themselves are an indulgence – they don’t serve any purpose besides looking pretty (well, OK some do provide honey for bees). Maybe that’s why they are given when nothing else will do, no other practical gift will say exactly what flowers will. Whether hand-picked from a garden or in this modern world ordered online through a florist who delivers it at the lucky girl’s doorstep (ah, technology), flowers are always welcome!

More wedding traditions

A tradition in part of the US called a 'cake pull' sees charms hidden in a wedding cake with satin ribbons attached, which female wedding guests all pull together. Each one says something about their future, eg. marriage, children, wealth or travel. (The poor thimble once again predicts a future alone.)
This is another tradition that would provide a bit of fun at a wedding, bridal shower, hens night or kitchen tea. What warm-blooded female doesn't harbour some sort of curiosity about what their future holds? This gives them a little glimpse, if only for a fleeting moment soon to be forgotten after the wedding is over... unless it comes true of course!

Love weddings!

I was privileged to witness a beautiful wedding yesterday and even more privileged to have had the chance to create their wedding cake. To have been planning, mulling over, strategising, preparing for and visualising this design for the last few months, and more intensely the last few weeks, it was really cool to finally see how it fit into the whole theme and setting of the wedding on the big day (which was a lovely blend of lilac and silver). Thanks for this honour!

How wedding cakes were born

With wedding cakes on my mind (and my kitchen counter) this weekend, I thought I would do a little sniffing around (ie. Googling around) as to how wedding cakes originated. With so many traditions flying out the window these days (some brides don’t even wear white anymore…!) a cake is still central and essential to any wedding.

So how did they come about? Wedding cakes actually symbolised fertility and used to be broken over the bride’s head by the groom (those Ancient Romans had some strange ideas but keep in mind their cakes more closely resembled bread, biscuits or scones... still!).
It was also a sign of good things to pile as many cakes as high as possible (which were brought by each guest) and have the bride and groom kiss over the top – as long as they didn’t knock them over (those Ancient Romans must also have had good balance).
The crumbs of cake that subsequently fell onto the floor were also a sign of fertility and upcoming nuptials for guests who could manage to grab a few to eat. I have to say our throwing-the-bouquet tradition today is much more hygienic but probably equally as dangerous!

I have all the respect in the world for traditions that have been handed down and followed for centuries, but I love living in this day and age where wedding cakes are the grand elaborate things they are and can take any shape, size or form that reflect the couple and theme of the wedding. I enjoy witnessing how brides decide on what cake suits them perfectly - which design would be the ONE cake that would say it all for them. What a delectable challenge!
The cakes we have today are a product of French influence who took what the Romans had and prettied them up – no surprises there! Gateau, anyone?

Theme: Children's

While we're on the subject of kids' cakes, these are a few more designs inspired by little ones, although two of them were given to adults WITH kids instead.

A cake fit for a baby

When you can’t be there in person, be there in cake! I wasn’t able to make the 100-day birthday of my friend’s cute little boy but I was able to send this cake in my place.
All those years playing with play-doh paid off in making these booties out of fondant!

Theme: Presents

Cakes masquerading as presents… there’s something cute about it that really tickles my fancy. Maybe coz they're not supposed to be presents.. yet they are.. but inside they're cake.. and you can't untie the bow.. you cut it up instead.. it just boggles the mind.

Thought I would take a little time out of the wedding cake I'm decorating to share a few random thoughts. Back to it now.

Cakes for the caker

If only I could rope my sister into this cake decorating madness with me – these creations of hers are two of my favourites! And they happened to be for my birthday :0) Being on the receiving end makes me want to keep being on the giving end.

More interesting cake traditions

In the olden days, little treasures would be hidden in cakes and signified something for those who found them: a coin meant wealth, a ring meant an upcoming wedding and a thimble (unfortunately) meant they would never get married. If it were me I’d leave the thimble out… what a way to ruin a perfectly nice cake-eating moment!

Theme: Names and numbers

Traditionally, cakes carried the name or initial of the birthday person, as sung for centuries by kids in the rhyme:

Pat a cake, Pat a cake, baker's man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Pat it and prick it and mark it with a 'B'
And put it in the oven for Baby and me

One of those things you think 'that's how it's always been' but all those hundreds of years ago, it was the thing to do and then became a tradition... If anyone can find out who started it, you get a cupcake!

Wonder when we started putting people's ages on the cake too, or is that just me...

My first double layer

This cake was designed by a graphic designer friend of mine. I think the fact I’d taken up cake decorating was just more fodder for her active creative mind (and anyone who knows her knows how active her lil mind is!). I actually remember her drawing this while sitting opposite me at my desk at work, obviously concentrating hard on what we were supposed to be doing. This was her favourite one so I turned it into an edible present for her big day, with a few embellishments :0)

Theme: Heartshapes

Coming up to the three year mark since I first discovered cake decorating, I’ve amassed quite a number of cakes, mostly small (easier and fun to do), and mostly given to friends as presents. Here is a selection, designed with heartshapes in mind.

Gather the masses

There’s something about cakes that brings people together. Apart from having to physically be in the same room to share in it, it provides a focal point to an event, adding a certain special touch - perhaps some validation of the specialness of the occasion, if nothing more.

Being able to give a cake to someone, especially one that you’ve put your time, effort and imagination into, was a joy that I never realised the volume of before taking up this hobby. That, I think, was the high that kept me coming back for more (or maybe I'm just addicted to cake? hehe). I believe it’s a way of showing affection, designating someone as special, letting them know it's their day… and that’s what I love about it.

Being invited to contribute a cake to someone's big day is something else altogether, be it a birthday, engagement, wedding, or even an engagement-turned-wedding! That brings with it an immense feeling of privilege and honour, and is always always rewarding.

I encourage anyone to give it a go if you’re even half thinking about it. No time cake decorating is time wasted!

The more fluff the better!

Not long after that first cake came this one for my gal pal's birthday… fun and funky just like her. I love adding different textures to the cake (eg the blue fluff) and dimensions (with the fondant and wire hearts shooting out of the cake). And I love colour.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I thought it would be appropriate to make my first post on Valentine’s Day itself, a day that has more people declaring their love for their significant other than any other day of the year (hopefully). Love and cake should both be involved in a big way today.
So here’s to you… Happy Valentine’s Day!

The cake that started it all

Those first steps happened by accident. Our usual cake decorator wasn’t available when we needed a cake for my sister’s graduation, so she handed me her rolling pin, a cake tin and a book and said “You do it!”. The rest was history. So was my very first cake as it was a mini disaster but this was my second attempt… and I was hooked. (I couldn’t look when we had to cut it up).

Nothing like necessity to get you going… and an overwhelming all-consuming addiction to keep you there! (addiction to decorating, that is)

Love at first roll

I wish I could tell of some earth-shattering moment that marked my first steps into the world of cake decorating… but I can’t. (Maybe I might have started this blog sooner!) Instead, it was a very ordinary day, and I was the unsuspecting victim. But had I known what I was in for, I would have gladly been a victim earlier. My life has never been the same since… and neither has my kitchen!

How to place an order

If you have a special occasion coming up and would like to place an order, or if you just have an insatiable craving for a cake, please drop me a line at loveandcakeshop@gmail.com. We can have a chat about any ideas you have... I'd love to help you bring your cake dreams to life! (Metro Sydney region only)

Also, $5 from every cake will be donated to WSPA - the World Society for the Protection of Animals http://www.wspa.org.au/. The fight against animal cruelty is such an important cause and one that I wholeheartedly support. WSPA is one organisation that does great things when it comes to saving animals who can't save themselves. Thank you, WSPA!