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

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

Guest Post: Blue Cupcake from LA

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 creative and talented Julie from Blue Cupcake.  She was born in Montreal, Canada and resides in Los Angeles, California.  Her mom taught her all about baking (from scratch, NEVER from a mix!) at a very young age.

Julie was first introduced to cake decorating when she was trying to find a local bakery to make custom cupcakes for her son's birthday.  It was impossible to find locally (in 2008) so she gave it a try and Blue Cupcake was born.  She updates her blog regularly with her wonderful creations, I think you'll agree that she is a true artist and has a unique style for her sweet creations.

#1 - Gorgeous Dessert Table

 #2 - So Pretty

 #3 - Circus Fun

 #4 - Gorgeous Tower

 #5 - Sweet Mermaids

 You can follow Julie and see her wonderful creations at:

• Blue Cupcake website and blog
• Twitter and Facebook

Guest Post: Peggy Does Cake

Today's post is part of our bi-weekly Guest Post: 5 Pics Series.  We feature talented cake designers from all over the world that I have met online through blogs, twitter and this one is from Facebook.

Peggy Lee of Peggy Does Cake is from Brandon, MS.  In the spring of 2010, she attempted her first cake after watching a cake decorating show on TV.  She is completely self-taught using the internet, library, and Facebook community resources to learn about cake decorating.  She also spent several months trying out, testing and tweaking dozens upon dozens of recipes and techniques.

Today, nearly 2 years later, she's having a blast baking for family and friends as a hobbyist, with the dream of some day opening her own shop.  She has built up quite a fan base on her Facebook Page and also posts helpful tutorials on her blog.  Here is a sampling of some of her cakes:

#1 - Up!  How cute is this?

 #2 - Another cutie!

#3 - Wonderfully Topsy Turvy

#4 - Sweet and Girly

 #5 - Colorful and Fun!

To follow Peggy, you can find her on her blog or Facebook Page.

Guest Post: Beth from Whimsical Wedding Cakes

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 and also in person.

I met Beth Appleton last year at the cakelava class at Icing Inspirations in Kitchener.  Beth found her passion for cake design while planning her own wedding in 2002.  She found it difficult to find a designer with her sense of "whimsy" so she designed her own whimsical cake.

Since then, Beth taught herself the basics and took some classes with some amazing cake designers.  Beth is regularly featured online and in magazines like Wedding Bells, won the Cake Star challenge at Bonnie Gordon's Cake Show 2011 and was featured on the Canadian cake competition TV show Cake Walk.  I think you'll agree that her designs are just amazing!

1) So elegant and perfect

 2) Simple, clean and wintery

 3) Winning cake at The Cake Show 2011

 4) So Cute!

5) Whimsy and Happy!

Beth is located in Milton, Ontario and you can find her:

• Website at: whimsicalweddingcakes.com
• On Facebook

Guest Post: Coco Cake Cupcakes from Vancouver

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 Lyndsay from Coco Cake Cupcakes and Custom Cake in Vancouver, BC. Lyndsay is self taught and has been making cakes for three years. Her design style is clean, creative, unique and has a vintage/modern vibe to it. She loves to make kid's birthday party cakes especially the animal face cake.

She is pretty famous with the online community from her Very Hungry Caterpillar cupcake cake.  Beside caking, she also finds time to blog about ice cream and food

#1 - The Famous Hungry Caterpillar Cupcake Cake

#2 - Cute Animal Cakes

#3 - Angry Birds

#4 - Elmo

#5 - Cute duo of cakes

You can follow Lyndsay here:

• Website at: cococake.com/
• Blog at: cococakecupcakes.blogspot.com
• Facebook and Twitter
• Lots of cake photos  on Flikr

Guest Post: Caroline's Cake Company from UK

It's back, 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's Guest Post comes from Caroline Smith, owner and cake designer at Caroline's Cake Company based in Birmingham, UK.  Caroline started the business in August 2008 following 3 years of classes at the Birmingham College of Food and countless cake orders for family and friends.  Since then, the business has grown and developed beyond her wildest dreams.  She loves spending her time meeting amazing clients and creating delightful cakes for their weddings and celebrations.  Have a look at some of her wonderful creations:

#1 - Delicate and Sweet

#2 - Tea Anyone?

#3 - 3D Fun

#4 - Fun cakes for kids

 #5 - Always Creating - Stunning creation based off a company's logo, check out her blog post on this.

Caroline is also regular blogger of her wonderfully creative and clean creations, you can follow her at:

• Blog:  carolinescakecompany.blogspot.com/
• Website at carolinescakecompany.co.uk
• Facebook at facebook.com/CarolinesCakeCo
• Twitter at twitter.com/CarolinesCakeCo

Guest Post: Faithy Bakes from Singapore

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's guest post comes from Faithy Bakes in Singapore.  She started baking in 2008 when she renovated her kitchen and her husband bought her an oven, as they didn't have one before.   Faithy then began her first blog: diary of Faithy, the amateur baker.  Then she started cake decorating in 2009 when she made her daughter's birthday cake.  I remember watching her portfolio of cakes grow and leaving her a comment that she really should drop the word "amateur" :-)

You can follow her wonderful cakes, cupcakes, cookies and macaroons at her new blog Faithy Bakes.  Here is a selection of some of her cakes.

#1 - Everything handmade, handpainted and edible

 #2 - More 3D Cake Fun

#3 - Defying Gravity

 #4 - So Cute

 #5 - For the Jewelry Lover

To follow Faithy and her wonderful creations:

• Blog at faithybakes.blogspot.com/
• Facebook page at facebook.com/FaithyBakes

Guest Post: Rafael Logrono Cake Design from Philadelphia

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's guest post comes from a young cake designer, Rafael Logrono, from Azucar, a custom cake shop located in Philadelphia, PA. Rafael has had cake decorating in his blood ever since he was born when his mother began selling cakes.  Several years ago, Rafael starting designing his own cakes and his 8th grade teacher placed an order back in November 2008.  Yes, if you add that up - he is a very talented 18 year old!

Since then, his cake portfolio has really expanded, he's been featured in Cake Central magazine, competed in many cake competitions, won several awards and will be teaching several classes in 2012.  Here is a sampling of some of his work:

 #1 - Stunning Beauty!

#2 - So  Creative, so Elegant

#3 - Something Funky

#4 - Tall and Striking

#5 - Very Chic!

To see more of Rafael's wonderful cake designs:

• Website at: www.rafaellogrono.com/
• Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RafaelLogronoCakeDesign
• Blog at: http://rafaelscakes.blogspot.com/
• Twitter at: twitter.com/RafaelLogrono

And if you are in Canada or US, don't forget to enter our contest giveaway to win the new Cake Boss Book.  Contest ends tonight at midnight.

Guest Post: Too Nice to Slice from Kitchener, Ontario

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 and admired.

This week's guest post come from award winning cake artist and designer, Chrissie Boon, from Too Nice to Slice in Kitchener, Ontario.  Chrissie’s love for sugar art has been a long time coming.  Starting in her mom’s kitchen with her little toy oven, to eventually running her own Christmas cookie business.  Today, in addition to creating amazing cakes, she runs a cake supply store: Icing Inspirations and host an annual cake competition.

Now if you didn't think that was enough, she also has a newly renovated classroom and runs regular classes bringing in cake designers from all over the place.  I attended one of these amazing classes back in March.  Now here's some of Chrissie's wonderful creations:

#1 - Tall and Elegant

 #2 - Wonderful and whimsical

 #3 - Unique and completely out-of-the-box for cake

#4 - A one-of-a-kind Spider-lizard

#5 - Chrissie setting a new trend in Cake Art

To see more of Chrissie's creations or visit her online store at:

• Websites at www.toonicetoslice.ca and www.icinginspirations.ca 
• Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/TooNiceToSlice and http://www.facebook.com/IcingInspirations 
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/toonicetoslice
• Email: chrissie [at] toonicetoslice.ca