Chic 1st Communion Cake

Spring is the time for the special occasion of first communions.  For this little girl, I decided to make a tall and elegant cake with a chic flower and sugarpaste rosary.

The cake was alternating layers of strawberry vanilla and chocolate sour cream cake.  The photos aren't very clear as I didn't have my regular camera, so these are from my iPhone.  Can you seem the matching pattern of the cakeboard and top of the cake?  Just a new thing that I've been playing around with.

And one last photo of the cake instagram-ized.

Coffee Mug & Magazine Cake for my Alumni University

I have so many great memories from my University days at Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario.  I graduated about ... gulp... 15 years ago with a Business Degree.

I was honoured when they asked to interview me for their Alumni magazine.  I, of course, had to make them something sweet and special.  I made a magazine & coffee cup cake with a selection of cupcakes with assorted cake designs.

The article was a 5-page feature called: Starting from scratch:  Juanita Koo leaves the corporate world behind to fill her life with sweet things.   It was very weird to see myself in print.  Here is the Instagram-ized photo of one of the pages of the article (Page 16-20 if you want to read).

Here's another photo of the cakes - I had so much fun making them and everyone at the magazine was amazing to work with.   I'm so thankful!

Guest Post: Cakelava from Hawaii

Today is the last installment of our bi-weekly Guest Post: 5 Pics Series. We feature multi-talented cake designers from all over the world that I have met online and admire.

This week, we feature Cakelava from Oahu, Hawaii who I was lucky enough to meet last year.  Cake designer Rick Reichart has a unique, artful and detailed style with an amazing way with colors.  Whether it is an elegant wedding cake, funky birthday cake, cute girly cake or detailed sculpted cake - he really can do anything with cake!

Rick is an internationally recognized cake artist with 20 years experience, his cakes regularly appear in magazines, teaches sold-out classes internationally and has competed on the Food Network Cake Challenge.  He and his lovely wife Sasha, who handles customer and media relations for cakelava, have a book scheduled for Summer 2013 published by Clarkson Potter.  I am super excited for them: Rick has designed all the cakes and recipes and Sasha is writing the text.  They have been working so hard and Sasha keeps us posted on the progress via Facebook.  Have a look at some of Rick's amazing creations.

#1 - White and Gold Elegance

#2 - Striking and Unique

 #3 - The coolest Peacock-themed wedding cake I've ever seen!!!

 #4 - Italy-inspired loveliness

 #5 - Amazing 3D and Color!

You can follow Rick & Sasha here:

• website and blog
• Facebook and Twitter

4th Birthday Cake: Stegosaurus Cake

Every year, I look forward to celebrating my wonderful nephew's birthday.  I adore creating a cake for him and watching his reaction when he sees the cake.  On his 1st birthday, I made a Heffalump cake, his 2nd birthday was a Tractor and last year it was a Crane.

This year, Maseo is crazy about Dinosaurs, especially the Stegosaurus.

 

The cake was his favorite: strawberry vanilla cake.  And he just loved picking out each of the sugarpaste plates before we served the cake.  I'm excited to see what he is interested in next year so I can make it come to life in cake!

Easter Cake Goodness!

Wishing everyone a happy and sweet Easter weekend!  Last Easter, I made some Easter Chicks.... well, they are so cute, so I had to make them again.

The cake is banana sour cream cake with chocolate swiss meringue buttercream

A view from the top, I added a little checkerboard print to the top of the cake to match the cakeboard.

My 9 month old daughter (and her ever-growing hair) viewing the cake from a distance... I can't have her too close to the cakes anymore, she's got quick hands!  Have a fabulous Easter Weekend!

Guest Post: A Cake to Remember from Richmond, VA.

Today's post is part of our bi-weekly Guest Post: 5 Pics Series. We feature multi-talented cake designers from all over the world that I have met online.

Today we feature the very talented Kara Buntin who has a background in Studio Art and a certificate in Pastry Arts.  In her 16 years of making cakes, she has won numerous industry awards, regularly appears in print publications, taught decorating techniques on TV, published a book and lots more.  She also regularly writes a very helpful, honest and wonderful blog for decorators, brides and businesses.  Here's some of her wonderful creations:

#1 - Tall and oh so gorgeous

#2 - Pretty and perfect

 #3 -3D Cuteness

 #4 - Beautiful!

#5 - 3D Fun

You can follow Kara at:

• Website and Blog
• Twitter and Facebook
• Pinterest and Etsy