A Madhatter's Teaparty

"There is a place.  Like no place on Earth.  A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger!  Some say to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter.  Which luckily, I am."

-  The Madhatter, from Alice in Wonderland

I think sometimes, there is a madness to cake decorating.  One would have to be, to spend over six hours on a single cake (that's how long it took to make the roses, bake and assemble this cake).  Luckily, I love what I do.  

{single tier madhatter, chocolate mud}

{vanilla bean cupcakes with top hats and tea cups}

{vanilla bean sugar cookies}

Emma's Garden Tea Party

Pink, yellow and purple flowers on vanilla bean cupcakes for Emma's 7th birthday.  Plus that bit of red because I love red and could not help myself.  Pretty and girly, perfect for every little girl. 

"... Emma couldn't believe that you could eat the cupcakes because she thought they were perfect!  Everyone was amazed they were divine!  Big thank you..."

-  Nat H, Brisbane

Garden Tea Party

These cupcakes, to me, are one of life's little surprises. 

When I started working on these birthday cupcakes, I wasn't sure how all the bright-coloured flowers will work out against three different backgrounds, and how everything will fit in together.  So I just put my head down, went for it with the aim of using up all the flowers I had made, then stepped back and smiled in glee.       

I love the riot of colour on these cakes and the happy thoughts they bring.  I love the randomness of the flowers.  Most of all, I love how something so unexpected can turn out to be something truly wonderful.

A square madhatter for Ashley's birthday

My children have fallen into the habit of telling me what sort of cake they'd like for their birthday a year in advance.  I made this square madhatter cake at a class with Jackie Thompson a week before my daughter, Ashley's, birthday.  So this is what she got instead of the chocolate meringue stack she requested.

I still made the chocolate meringue for her later on, layers of gooey chocolate meringue and creme patissier (mm-mmm...), when she invited a few close friends over for a slumber party. 

That stack of chocolate-goodness made up for a sleepless night ;-p 

 

Alice in Wonderland birthday cupcakes

These Alice in Wonderland cupcakes were specially made for Olivia's madhatter birthday party.  The cupcake designs were based on Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland.  The gate I made was inspired by the gate (to wonderland) in the movie, lined by fantasy flowers.  Instead of scrolls and flounces on top of the gate, I piped 'Olivia'.  I love the way these turned out - colourful and vibrant - pure magic.

"Thank you so much for your efforts.  The cakes tasted as fabulous as they looked and Olivia was thrilled.  I have passed your details on to a number of the parents who were at the party.  Thank you for all your efforts."

-  K Hopgood, Brisbane