I went from being kinda quiet, not having too much on, to having orders coming in till the 9th of August!
I am very happy. People seem to love my cakes which makes me feel great.
I have a couple of biggies coming up. One is a communion cake and the other a baptism cake. This will take my work to a whole other level. Thus far, I have basically stuck to what I do best. And that is buttercream.
Why does buttercream have such a bad rep in Oz I wonder. Most of the cake decorators I speak to cringe in horror at the mere mention of buttercream. Well I for one LOVE my buttercream. There is much more to it than #16 star piping for novelty tins. I prefer to smooth my buttercream and give it a more elegant look. It's a bit more labour intense to get the final result smooth, but it's also lots of fun. There is NOTHING you can't achieve with a boiling hot cup of water, a cranked spatula and lots of paper towels.
Me personally, I fear fondant. I find it laborious, time consuming and a general pain in the arse to work with. Yes, the end results are fabulous and for a special occasion cake you really cant go past it. But OMG. To roll it out, get it level, transfer it onto the cake, try and avoid air bubbles, cracking, stretching, ripping... need I go on????????
Actually, the best medium for cake decorating I have found is chocolate. it's expensive, but minimal fuss for maximum impact. Once you learn the tricks of the trade, the world is your oyster. SO GET ON THE WAGON!!!
Well I'm off to do some actual work for a change!
Happy caking!!
ps one day I will learn how to post bloody pictures on here!!! HELP ME SOMEONE!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Debbie Brown Workshop at Sweet By Nature
This past Fridany 11th July, I was fortunate enough to secure a place in one of Debbie Browns workshops in Melbourne. This was arranged by the marvellous Julia Duncan, a member of the Northern Cake Decorating Association ( I think that's the proper name, please don't quote me on on it!!!).
IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
For a novice like myself, this is something close to having tea with the queen, or a singing lesson from Beyonce, Mariah, Madonna (insert name of fav. singer).
So I rocked up to class all excited but slightly nervous. I still feel like the new kid on the block in all matters cake decorating. And mind you, I am the first to arrive. NOICE!!! So like a new kid at a new school, I sit there and wait while girls pour up the stairs and register.
OMG I am squirming by this stage. I had so proudly prepared my basket the night before, packing my tools (in my free with purchase bright blue lunch box courtesy of Super Food Ideas) and I see assorted types of tool boxes on wheels being dragged up the stairs. And to top it off, I had forgotten my tea towels!!!
I did get to meet Effie and Rouvlee from the cakes & more forum. They are lovely and oh so talented.
Debbie Brown herself is just a lovely lovely person. So talented and giving of her time and knowledge. I learnt more in this workshop than I have on my own in months. She makes it all seem so easy.
The actual cake it self..... well the end result was great. My ark was slightly askew all day and I'm not all that sure that Noah and his ark of animals would have survived the flood had I built the original one!!
Unfortunately, the top half toppled over in the car on the way home. I managed to salvage it and take some photos for posterity. The final nail in the coffin came when my darling daughter Ava climbed on top of the dining table and acutally ripped the entire ark off the board in her quest for cake. The poor elephants never stood a chance, never mind the carnage with the piggies. They were gobbled up in one mouthful. At least I know I will always have one adoring fan of my cakes!!!
All in all, money well spent. I cannot wait to try some of her cakes. She has really inspired me. Thanks so much Debbie Brown. You are a legend!!!
On a shopping note (and please DON'T tell my husband) I bought 2 books at the workshop which she autographed.
But on a more exciting note, the Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre had their yearly stock take sale on the 4th July. OMG it was nuts. Those toy sales are NOTHING compared to the amount of crazed cake decorators out for some savings!!! It was lots of fun and I could have just bought one (well maybe two) of everything they had! But I didnt. I was very strong and even resisted the overwhelming temptation to buy a $30 impression mat.
Go me!!
Happy caking everyone.
IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
For a novice like myself, this is something close to having tea with the queen, or a singing lesson from Beyonce, Mariah, Madonna (insert name of fav. singer).
So I rocked up to class all excited but slightly nervous. I still feel like the new kid on the block in all matters cake decorating. And mind you, I am the first to arrive. NOICE!!! So like a new kid at a new school, I sit there and wait while girls pour up the stairs and register.
OMG I am squirming by this stage. I had so proudly prepared my basket the night before, packing my tools (in my free with purchase bright blue lunch box courtesy of Super Food Ideas) and I see assorted types of tool boxes on wheels being dragged up the stairs. And to top it off, I had forgotten my tea towels!!!
I did get to meet Effie and Rouvlee from the cakes & more forum. They are lovely and oh so talented.
Debbie Brown herself is just a lovely lovely person. So talented and giving of her time and knowledge. I learnt more in this workshop than I have on my own in months. She makes it all seem so easy.
The actual cake it self..... well the end result was great. My ark was slightly askew all day and I'm not all that sure that Noah and his ark of animals would have survived the flood had I built the original one!!
Unfortunately, the top half toppled over in the car on the way home. I managed to salvage it and take some photos for posterity. The final nail in the coffin came when my darling daughter Ava climbed on top of the dining table and acutally ripped the entire ark off the board in her quest for cake. The poor elephants never stood a chance, never mind the carnage with the piggies. They were gobbled up in one mouthful. At least I know I will always have one adoring fan of my cakes!!!
All in all, money well spent. I cannot wait to try some of her cakes. She has really inspired me. Thanks so much Debbie Brown. You are a legend!!!
On a shopping note (and please DON'T tell my husband) I bought 2 books at the workshop which she autographed.
But on a more exciting note, the Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre had their yearly stock take sale on the 4th July. OMG it was nuts. Those toy sales are NOTHING compared to the amount of crazed cake decorators out for some savings!!! It was lots of fun and I could have just bought one (well maybe two) of everything they had! But I didnt. I was very strong and even resisted the overwhelming temptation to buy a $30 impression mat.
Go me!!
Happy caking everyone.
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