Sorry I've been so slow about updating this blog. I realized it's been a while. The cake orders are getting more regular now that winter is almost over. There was one week in February where all my orders were cancelled because I was sick. I only get sick about once a year and it happened this time on a week where there were 6 orders for one of my regular clients. When she heard I was sick she gracefully let me back out. I was really disappointed to let that business go, but I realize my health is more important and I really needed to rest anyway. So since then I've been able to try some new decorating techniques that I've wanted to try for a long time. Among the new things I've learned is making chocolate cigarellos, like the ones in the picture. That was my Mom's birthday cake. The cigarellos are just hollow little tubes of chocolate and they complemented the chocolate whipped frosting and strawberries so well. It was basically a chocolate strawberry shortcake. I've started making a list of new things I want to try. There's about a dozen new things I've been wanting to learn such as painting with pearl dust on fondant and carving a purse cake. Hopefully this year will allow me to be creative and learn some new things.

A week off

This is my first week I've had no cakes to do since four months ago. I love keeping busy with cakes but I think it's about time I did some laundry instead of mixed frosting. So thanks for the continued referrals! This wedding cake was the largest one yet - it served about 200 people. The flowers are made of fondant - the ribbon is black satin. No more weddings on the books for a while, but there are several baby showers coming up in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Wedding cake marathon

Well the busiest cake-making week of my year is almost over. There was one wedding cake on Tuesday, the one pictured here, and the last one gets delivered this afternoon. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage two weddings in one week, but thankfully they were spaced out just enough so the preparation time didn't overlap. It's been a fun week. I hope to do more wedding cakes as word gets around. I'm starting my prices at about 30% below market value because I'm still relatively new at this. I've learned a lot with each new project. Thanks for the referrals, I look forward to serving you more in 2009!

Going to the chapel

Gonna get married? Apparently there is a surge of winter weddings. I've done one real wedding cake before. That was fun. So I've been waiting to be asked to do more since August. Well when it rains it pours. I've been planning for a couple months for a large wedding cake for January 3rd. But this last week I got a request from a desperate bride whose cake lady had cancelled - three weeks before her wedding! So since it was a small wedding cake I agreed to help them out. It's going to be on the Tuesday before I have to do the big cake. So I've got my work cut out for me the week after Christmas. Oh - does anyone know what a paisley is? I didn't before this week. The bride wants a cake covered in paisleys - which, as I understand, are little bent teardrop shapes with dots around them. Should be interesting.

Taking care of business

This month I've been busy every Thursday afternoon finishing up my official cake education. This last class is the Wilton fondant and gumpaste course. I thought that after learning gumpaste flowers I'd use them a lot on my cakes, but after tasting gumpaste, I think I've changed my mind. Although gumpaste is foodsafe, it's actually not meant to be eaten. Which is the most nonsensical thing I can think of to put on a cake. I know there are great cake artists out there who spend hours making gumpaste flowers, but I think you might as well use real flowers if you can't eat them. My favorite thing I've learned in this course is the calla lilies. They are actually made out of fondant which is meant to be eaten, so I can justify that. But the lilies look so realistic, is amazing.
Oh and here's an announcement: if you like handmade crafts and free cake please consider coming to our craft fair at the Brooks Avenue Church of Christ on December the 6th from 10am - 12pm. It's in Raleigh near NC State campus. There'll be many booths with familiar vendors and well as handmade crafts and light refreshments. Hope to see many familiar faces there!