... and so it begins

It's been awhile in between posts.  It's not that I haven't done much cakes or cookies, but just that in between baking and decorating, there's family. 

There's also the few weeks that I hem hawed around, trying to decide about having my blog re-designed.  Well, I finally took the plunge.  Here is the new blog, designed and installed by Smitten Blog Designs.

And here are shots of what I had been up to the past few months.


{ Cookie favours in jars for Crystal's wedding }

 

{ Icy snowflake cookies for Mater Health Services' Sub-Zero conference }

{ Angus' birthday cookies }

 

{ Spencer's mad scientist birthday cake }

 



{ Alexa's birthday cookies - a bit of home, fashion and art in a jar }



{ White and gold cookies and cupcakes for a golden wedding anniversary } 

 



 

 

{ Monkey face christening cookies, based on the baby's toy monkey }

 

{ Mariette's bridal shower cookies }

{ Alyssa's ballerina and ruffles birthday cake, cookies, and a special tutu cookie just for her }

   

Baby elephant birthday

For Willow, the baby of a really lovely client.  Designs based on the baby elephant printables by Style Me Gorgeous.

 

-  Chocolate Mudcake  -

 

-  Vanilla Bean and Raspberry Cupcakes  -

-  Coconut Ice on sticks  -

 

"Thank you Jen again for your amazing work!!!  We loved all of your cakes and how cute are your coconut ice pops!"

 

-  My N, Brisbane 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A wedding, a wedding!

Scenes from Restaurant Two:



 

{ Table centrepieces }

 

And this, my (not so) little baby, decorated with fresh flowers:

 

 

 

The centrepieces and cake flowers are from Sara Meredith Designer Florist.

 

Photographs were taken by Waikay Lau Photography - aka: my cake delivery driver - delivery assitant - photographer - hubby.

 

 

"Jen, cake looked amazing. I was so happy with it, Thank you."

-  Kelly M, UK

Chloe's Toadstool Birthday

A lovely little toadstool house and matchin cupcakes for Chloe's birthday party.

 

 

 

I received this text from Chloe's aunt the evening after the party....



"Thank you very much jen, the cake is divine and is tasty!  All the kids loved them especially Chloe!"

..... and the next day....

"We had the mudcake this morning... omg!!!  Loved it!!!  Definitely going to place an order for my own kids now!"

-  My N, Brisbane

Reflection

I can't believe the holidays are almost over and that it's been more than a month since I last posted.  My family took off to Rainbow Beach, enjoyed the time away so much, and decided to spend a few days on the Sunshine Coast as well.  Then there's all the other bits and bobs in between, like cooking the family's Christmas feast, catch-ups with friends, and a mad scramble to put together my daughter's 12th birthday party (more on that soon!).  

It might be a tad late, but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, spent with those you love.  I hope you all ended the year with gratitude for all the people who brought you joy and gave meaning to everything you do.  I hope you ended the year on a sweet note, just like I did with these cakes. 

 

- Chocolate Mudcake with peony, for a Polkadot Event Christmas party -

 

 

 

- Rebecca's ivory wedding cake, inspired by the invitation design -

A message from Rebecca after the wedding:  "Thank you for the beautiful cake!  It looked amazing and tasted even better.  Was a beautiful wedding."

May this year bring lots of lovely and sweet moments your way!

Under the Sea Birthday Cake

For a little girl who celebrated her birthday last weekend with an Under the Sea - Mermaid party.

 

 

(The design is a simplified version of Debbie Brown's Under the Sea cake)

 

"Just wanted to say thanks for the cake on Saturday... My daughter loved it and I got lots of 'wow's' at the party from the parents.. One of my friends even said 'it's rare you get a cake that looks good and tastes good at the same time'. So thanks, it was delicious."

 

-  Nikki H

 

 

 

 

 

Balloon Birthday Cake

 

Sometimes, simple works best, just like this birthday cake and cookies for Daniel and Lili.

 

 

 

Racing Car cake

I'm not crazy about character cakes.  I think it is more fun and imaginative to take elements from a character and interpret it in another way.  This cake was created for a little boy who is a huge fan of Lightning McQueen.  Instead of modelling the cars from "The Cars", I made 'grown-up' race cars with the cartoon eyes and mouth of the movie characters.    

 

 Plus matching cupcakes.

This is the lovely message I received from the little boy's mum:

Thank you so much for my sons wonderful birthday cake. It completed his special day of turning 4. He was in absolute awe when he saw the racing cars around the base of the cake, he thought it was magical. It was a beautifully decorated cake, I couldn't have asked for anything more. The individual cupcakes were also a huge hit, each with their own individual race car on top. Once cut the cake was quickly devoured, it was rich, moisture and delicious. Everybody was raving about it, who could blame them, it exceeded my expectations. We'll only ever order our cakes from you because of the quality of ingredients used along with your exception talent.
 
Thank you for your care and attention to detail. I'll look forward to your next creation.
 
Regards,
Narelle

Love Affair

 

I have a love affair with cake stands.  Milk glass, pressed glass, porcelain, vintage - I love them all.  They are my reason for going to vintage and op-shops.

 

  And this is why:

 

 

{A flapper-inspired birthday cake, displayed on an absolutely beautiful, vintage pressed glass stand}

 

Compliments the cake wonderfully, doesn't it?

 

 

{Embossed cupcakes, cupcakes with art deco flower, and quilted cupcakes to match}

The cake and cupcakes were all for a 21st birthday party in Kingscliff.

The cake was lovely, thank you for your top work.

 

-   William N



Matching Pairs

It's lovely when clients come back to me and tell me they have a new addition to the family.  This naming day cake was for Lincoln,

and this, made a couple of years ago, was for his big sister, Violet.

Princess castle cake

Charlize's princess castle cake for her 4th birthday.  Her love for pink shines through this cake.

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}

Captain Underpants

Unlike his sister, Jordy prefers to celebrate his birthdays with small parties.  With five days to spare, these are what he asked for:

( 1 )

Faster than a speeding waistband ...

... More powerful than boxer shorts ...

... and able to leap tall buildings without getting a wedgie.

a Captain Underpants birthday cake - double chocolate with meringue buttercream.  I used a recipe from one of my many cookbooks, one I haven't tried before.  The cake came out really moist and chocolate-y, and the buttercream was a dream.

We figured since he only asked eight kids to his party, we could afford to exert a bit more effort and put together a (very!) simple dessert table.  We were not able to create backdrops and fancy props, but just the same, Jordy loved it all and cackled with glee over the lollies and sweets.

-  Super Power Juice -

- Dandelions of Doom (Oreo pops) -

- Underpanty Power (underpants sugar cookies) -

- Choco Potties (chocolate pots with white chocolate pearls) -

- Ms Ribble's Hair Balls (meringue that I wish we stuck onto a styrofoam head) -

- Booger Bombs (green choc beans from Sharnel Dollar) -

- Potty Pellets (coca-cola jelly beans from Sharnel Dollar) -

  

( 2 )

Water pistols.

The kids received small water pistols in their party bags.  Unfortunately, but much to Jordy's delight, half the guests decided to give him huge water guns that shoot multiple streams of water out in one go.  No one ventured out to the front yard to take photos.

( 3 )

Glow sticks and sparklers.

Happy birthday, Blubby!

(According to Jordy, his middle name is Blubby.  I have no idea where it came from.) 

 

November 12, 2011