Working on my skills

I think I have been quite honest with myself about my skills as a decorator thus far. However, over the past few weeks I must say I have even surprised myself with the work I have produced.

In the past few weeks, I think I have graduated from a buttercream/novelty tin kinda decorator and am now in a higher league.

I made a communion cake for a friends daughter a few weeks ago. This was my biggest challenge yet. They wanted a 2 tiered fondant covered creation. With hand made rosary beads... and a plaque... with fresh flowers... oh my!

I think that watching sugarshacks Flawless Fondant dvd helped with my confidence. I also went on a mad hunt for a silicone fondant mat that she uses to roll her fondant. It's made by Ateco but unfortunately no one seems to import it into Australia. I managed to locate a Redwave mat made by the owners of Choice Cakes (I think) and they were lovely enough to sell me a large one.

It's not as flexible as the blue one that Sharon uses in her dvd but oh my lordy me, the fondant is so flawless and smooth that my communion cake ROCKED!!!!! I was so happy with it. It really looked professional and gorgeous I was so proud of my work.

When I dropped it off at the reception place, I got so many compliments from the staff and I have to say, I'm not one to toot my own horn but it was the prettiest cake there.

Unfortunately, this past weekend I made a baptism cake for my friends son. I was so NOT happy with it. I'm not sure why or what I didn't like, but I wanted to smash that bloody cake. They seemed really happy with it, but I left their house with a sinking feeling it was all for show. I had to model a plane for the top. Never made one of those before and maybe the proportions where off or maybe it was the fact that half an hour before I was due to deliver it, the name banner broke into 3 pieces, but I just wanted to cry and stamp my feet like a big ole baby.

Being the decorator I am, I had a mild panic attack, swore my head off and then proceeded to furnish another banner using white chocolate coloured blue and then did some white choc letters with some moulds I bought. OMG what a life saver chocolate is.

Speaking of chocolate, I ordered a girolle thingie from Jennys Creations ebay store. Well she ordered it in specially for me.. Thanks Jenny!!! Cant wait to use it. Now I just have to figure out a way to make a round block of chocolate I can insert into the wheely cutter thing. I'm sure I can work it out.

Well that's about it from me. Still trying to work out how to post pics. Maybe I should start by loading the damn things onto the computer from the camera!

Happy caking!!