21st Cake......and Fish Cake!

21st  CAKE

Hi everyone

It seems the challenge really is on!

Further to my last post; re the numbers 2 and 1 for a joint 21st birthday party; I've been reliably informed that the other half of the party is having a cake made; a superhero cake no less!  I'm really  happy though as this gives me fairly free artistic license with Adam's 21st birthday cake!

I have an amazing cake in mind but can't share the details yet as it's to be a surprise, let's just say it won't be ordinary and if I can pull it off it should be fab!  I am a little nervous as I have never attempted a project this big or this fiddly before so I have tentatively made a start by baking a couple of experimental sponges which I can hopefully 'carve' into my shapes.  Going to need some time, patience and a steady hand for this one!  I'm afraid that's all I can say about it for now, I just hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew but anyone who knows me will know that's not a new phenomena!

Here's hoping it works as there is a big celebration planned and my cake will have to sit alongside that of the professional bakers!

Watch this space cake lovers :)

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FISH CAKE!

Meanwhile.....I've been asked to make a 50th celebration cake for Laura's uncle. (Adam's girlfriend). My brief is to make a cake with a mirror carp as the centrepiece!

After spending some time studying the mirror carp and the varying stages; young mirror carp have a more even line of shimmery golden scales along the centre and a fairly flat belly whilst more mature carp have a fatter bulging belly and fewer scattered scales (yes, I can hear the jokes flying in on that one already!) I made a start with the modelling of a fish which I have to say looked sadly lacking!  Fresh this morning I got up and made another fish in a fraction of the time which looks a lot better.  Since then I've become rather carried away with the ornate surroundings I think this cake should benefit from and have made several little fishing related items and background pieces to make this cake look unique.  I've still got a few idea's brewing for it yet but, as I want it to be a surprise, I'll post pictures later. 

The notice was quite short (I was asked last Saturday to produce it for this Sunday!) but all in all I'm pleased with the way things are coming together.

Baking day Wednesday and final building of the whole structure Friday Night/Saturday morning!

Again........watch this space cake lovers :)

All for now.

Bev

First success!

Henry/Hetty Cake-A great success!

I'm so pleased that my gorgeous grandson loved his cake!  He was very excited and we soon had to wish him a Happy Birthday, a few hours early, and cut the cake...well, he is only 3 (almost!) after all and could hardly contain himself with his favourite characters right there in front of him made of cake!

He was mainly interested in the icing which there was plenty of!

He was playing after eating his cake but suddenly ran over to me and whispered in my ear: "I love my cake".  What more could I want; having lived up to his expectations and seeing the delight on his face were truly rewarding.

Next project will be two cakes in the shape of a 2 and a 1; a request from my youngest son and a friend who are jointly celebrating their 21st birthdays in February; a bit more nerve wracking as these cakes will be presented at their joint birthday party for a large party of family and friends.  The request is that the '2' will be rocky road and the '1' will be chocolate layer sponge.  Need to get my thinking cap on for the presentation of these cakes!

More soon.

Bev

Henry/Hetty cake for my grandson Jack

First challenge:

'Henry/Hetty' Dual cake for Jack, age 3 (tomorrow!)

Half 'Henry', half 'Hetty'

Well, it's been a challenge as I don't have any decorating kit for cakes yet....I've really taken the plunge 'blind' on this one!  I've muddled through though with a pastry brush, sharp knife and pieces of string (to measure things-a good tip I picked up from an experienced cake decorator!).

The pictures below show the stages of creating this Henry/Hetty cake-I hope my grandson is pleased with it!

Stage one: baking the madeira sponges:

Stage two: sandwiching together and adding the buttercream crumb:

stage 3: adding the second buttercream layer (foundation for sugarpaste):

stage 4: various stages of icing:

Red for Henry

Pink for Hetty

Black top with edging

Handle and lead winder

Eyes and lashes for Hetty

Eyes for Henry

Hose and mouth

Hose and mouth

Lead and plug

Side view

Switches

Naming!

Adding the number (age)     

Now complete with wheels and candles!

Bev's Cake Creations!

Hello everyone.

Some of you will know me from my other blog page: http://bevpryor.blogspot.com which is my page recording my artwork; all amateur but I have had some fun creating pictures and there are quite a few hanging in people's homes which feels good.

Well, it's been a while and with all life's changes I haven't had much time to pursue my painting hobby, particularly as my 'studio' (aka shed!) is outdoors!

I love to set myself new challenges and this year I decided, after scouring the net and many shops prior to Christmas to find the perfect dress, that this would be 'sewing year!' but, although I still want to make some time for this, my latest 'up and coming hobby' I am rather excited about is my newly found passion for cake baking; with my little grandson asking me to create him a special 'two in one' cake, I've decided to resume my passion for creating novelty cakes!

When my sons were quite young I loved to bake novelty cakes (I'll try to dig out photo's and post some on here later).  Naturally, as they have grown, although I have continued to bake cakes, they haven't been so novelty based but I have decided to start again!  My youngest son's partner has said she wants me to bake their wedding cake, it may be a few years off, so I thought I best get some practice in!

Watch out for my first creation......(fingers crossed it works out!).  It's all, like all my stuff, self taught and amateur, but it's the fun of it and learning as I go that I love.  There are lots of webpages with tutorials and hints and tips so I hope to tag some of the links I find useful on here later.

One thing is for sure, with all this snow about, I'll have plenty of time to decorate the cake now waiting in my kitchen!  Let's hope I can transform it into the vision I have of the finished item!

Bev