tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10513068971932318512024-03-14T01:56:50.394+10:00The Cake GirlThe One & Only Cake Girl living in Australia!Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-12583071364925297482015-02-16T17:26:00.005+10:002015-02-16T17:26:51.379+10:00Time Management For people who know me in the cake industry, it takes a while before my temper flares up when it comes to caking but sometimes I need to rant too.<div>
When it comes to cakes, if something isn't going right and you've been organised ahead of schedule then you have time to step back and gain another perspective. If you leave things to the last minute, then there really is no fall back and you know it has to be done so just finish it to the best of your ability.<br /><div>
It's been a while since I've had the time to sit and have a chat and as someone just commented on my lack of time management - which I believe to be quite extraordinary, I thought I should take an hour out of my day to write another addition to my blog and vent.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time management is a huuuuge part of hospitality. Food needs to be made, kept hot, kept cool, fresh and delivered to the client or we could make someone sick, late, disappointed etc.</div>
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You want a well-done steak in five? Have you ever cooked a 1" thick steak before? Do you know how long it takes? Well, if you haven't I suggest trying it...if you have, then you know that this is impossible.</div>
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And it's the same with baking.</div>
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Now, over the years, yes, I have had to deal with a few clients who haven't been too nice or haven't been happy with what I have created for them. Luckily, these are few and far between and hopefully, if you're reading this you've been one of the happier ones...the organised ones.</div>
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Firstly, lets discuss the ones who come to me with the most insane suggestions. eg. I need a custom made cake for this afternoon...really? and how exactly do you expect me to create time? I'm a cake decorator - not a magician. </div>
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Okay so you need it for next week? Pretty much the same deal. Should I stop all other agreements with clients who were organised and start your order? Would you like it if you were organised and I stopped doing what I need for your cake to look after another client? No, I don't think so...Yes - it is just cake and yes, all up it may take me a few hours, to a day to put together but cakes need time.</div>
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You need preparation for supplies, ingredients and time for baking. You need to be organised in extra's like the finish - is it store bought fondant or does it need to be made like buttercream? Then, the cake needs a day to 'settle' especially if it's a tiered structure as settling can be the difference between the cake staying beautiful and upright or cracking and sagging under weight. Lastly, you need to have at the ready any items (whether store bought or made) required to decorate the cake eg. sugar flowers, fresh flowers (florists need time too), novelty caricatures etc. Again - more time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I normally ask that you book your cake in as early as possible. It's first in, best dressed and if you've left it to the last minute, there's only so many hours in the day for me to get what's needed finished.</div>
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Over the last 16 years, I have had last minute requests which have been do-able. Especially when working in a bakery, the managers' don't like to say no to customers (which I understand) so I've learnt a couple of tricks to ensure the cake still gets made to a certain degree of excellence.</div>
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However, this is also a situation where you have team members or other staff who can help out. I do need to sleep believe it or not, so someone else may take on the baking or the making of the ganache etc. </div>
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In owning my own business, this isn't possible. Many of us cakers require help and we take it where we can get it. Sometime to the point of passing business on to another friend who doesn't have as many orders. We try and do what we can and our network is successful. If another cake has recommended me then I hate telling the client to move on...I will do what I can. (Here is where I say thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to all my wonderful cake peeps - you know who you are!)</div>
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It still requires time management and for clients to be on the ball when it's a last minute cake order. When we say we need something done from a client, we mean it! It's not a flimsy request, there's usually a reason behind it. In this case - we need to ensure you're coming to pick-up your cake...saying yes without payment may mean we get burnt. Over years, I have learnt if the deposit isn't paid, the cake doesn't get made.</div>
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If I ask for a deposit to be paid by a particular date, then that's what I need to get started on your cake. By some strange coincidence you haven't been able to get your a into g then let me know. Strangely enough, telepathy does not come under my list of caking skills. Although I sometimes wish it did.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I haven't received that payment and I have a few months, then I may find your quote in among all the others I send out and realise I haven't heard from you and send you a reminder. And yes, I may sound big-headed but when we answer roughly 20 email enquiries a day, no - you are not at the forefront of my mind.</div>
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A last minute request? - the payment needs to be made immediately. I have made it as easy as possible with Direct Debit, Eftpos and Credit facilities (more bills for me) for the client to undertake this small request.</div>
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SOOOO is it too much to ask that if you have changed your mind to let me know? Yes, I don't start a cake without a deposit but isn't it polite to use one of the many contactable details (with technology being what it is, I am available by phone, SMS, email, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn etc....) and just say: "I'm sorry, I won't be going ahead." before the deadline of payment? or "I'm sorry, I can't pay you by Sunday night but I can call you Monday morning and pay then"?</div>
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What on earth has happened to society that with all the ways we can remain in touch, this has become so hard to do? </div>
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I can't not deliver a cake - either on time or on the day requested and expect my client to be happy. Yet other businesses/people seem to get away with just that. We continuously receive phone calls of "my cake decorator can't make my cake"; "my cake decorator is sick'; "my cake decorator can't do it"...WTH?</div>
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In all the time I have been in business, I have yet to not be able to get a cake to a client (touch wood). I have been laid up in hospital and my caking friends have rallied 'round to help out. I have badly injured my hands and cakers have been there to do what was needed. That's why we do it. Without friends in our industry, we couldn't make it on our own. We already do long days of baking, decorating, accounts and answering emails without the needed stress of how little we earn. Most of the time, we don't charge for the time spent on a cake. We don't see family or get together with friends - and you can forget public holidays or weekends because that's usually our busiest time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm usually answering emails late at night as that's the only time I have left. Then people wonder why cakes cost so much? Although I haven't charged for the extra hour or two I decided your cake needed that extra special touch. Yes, time is of the essence - so any time to talk to clients is great. </div>
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They seem to think so. I get SMS's at 6am and at 10pm so I'm supposed to be contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But then - hold on, I also get told I'm rude for sending an email after 11pm at night! You can't win.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So if this is the case, don't you wonder how a particular 'cake decorator' (or so they think they are) can possibly pull out at the last second? Did you pay a deposit? Are they a legitimate business or a 'friend' making the cake for you? Or were they going to give you a cake wreck because they haven't had years of experience or the tools needed to make the cake you wanted to begin with?</div>
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Well, I'm telling you, if they're a reputable business, they will make your cake no matter what - and it will taste awesome and it will look fantastic. If they have an inch of ethics in their bones, your cake will be there even if they have to deliver it. If you paid your deposit and booked it in, then there is absolutely no reason unless they are on their death bed that that cake did not make it to you (even then, you may still get your cake!).</div>
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Seeing this is the case...please be polite to your professional business cake decorator. You may think they're time management skills are up the wazoo but if they have said yes, then they will kill themselves to get that order to you. And if you can't go through with the order then let them know - IMMEDIATELY!</div>
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Thanks for your time and apologies for the rant. I'm off to eat cake.</div>
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Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-33676366127545527692013-09-16T20:27:00.000+10:002013-09-17T11:38:52.089+10:00Inspiration Can Come In Many Forms <span style="color: red;">WARNING: <i>This blog contains photos of cakes Not Made by the Cake Girl! Where possible I have given reference to the decorator involved.</i></span><br>
I was reading a post on Facebook the other day and it was from a fellow cake decorator asking "You Know you're a Cake Decorator when..." and I found myself agreeing with the response by so many followers...unfortunately when I tried to go back and find the story to post the link, I couldn't find it.<br>
It's a huge world out there but with tools like Facebook and google at your fingertips, there is no limit.<br>
There are many cake decorators out there...so many wonderful creations being made every minute...and they just keep on coming!<br>
The amount of brilliant cakers' I am linked to on social networking is amazing. Watching what they do every week keeps me making cakes. We could never have dreamed of doing this years ago. The fact that they are welcoming and happy to share what they do each week is even more amazing when you think that in so many areas, hospitality closes it's doors to the 'competition' in case ideas are stolen.<br>
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There are people like Karen Portaleo (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/karen.portaleo?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/karen.portaleo?fref=ts</a>) - a genius by any other name! Seeing her cakes makes me smile in awe and hope that one day I can be as good as her. Craftsmanship that belongs with the classic artists like Rembrandt and Michelangelo yet households around the world don't recognise her name unless they are interested in cakes.<br>
Her talents are extraordinary and could rival any sculpture out there when you realise that her art is edible!<br>
The Mermaid on the left is just one of her many cake creations and as you can see, she is breathtaking!<br>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3V7UMLilh0/UjbG1zepq5I/AAAAAAAAB-8/P5j5Gxd8iyg/s1600/Mad+Hatters+tea+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3V7UMLilh0/UjbG1zepq5I/AAAAAAAAB-8/P5j5Gxd8iyg/s320/Mad+Hatters+tea+Party.jpg" width="213"></a> What about Mikes' Amazing Cakes (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MikesAmazingCakes">https://www.facebook.com/MikesAmazingCakes</a>)...phew! There are no words to describe the cakes I have seen by him. Details of extraordinary ability like the Alice In Wonderland inspired cake on the right.<br>
The icing is perfect and the figurines faultless! I could sit and look at every minuscule millimeter and don't think I would find anything out of place.<br>
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Debbie Brown cakes, Rosebud Cakes, Davids Cakes, Michelle SugarArt, Cakes by Molly, Richards' Cakes and the list goes on and on and on....<br>
All around the world, they gather in their studios and work their butts off (excuse the Aussie colloquialism) and show us the extraordinary world of cake decorating.<br>
Traveling to the UK and Italy last May was unbelievable and made me realise I need to take time out every once in a while just to meet some of these fantastic inspirations in the flesh. With a group of established Brisbane/Toowoomba cakers like Cakes by Simone, Celebrity Cakes, Contemporary Cakes, Your Cake Kitchen and Merivale Cakes with students who were undertaking classes in cake decorating we set off to explore and meet some of our idols. This is our photo below on the last day with two of the leading ladies of the British Sugarcraft Guild.<br>
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With two days to spend in London, four of us took in as many sights as we could. This included the newly opened Choccywoccydoodah (knew we couldn't make it to Brighton in time)! So I was ecstatic we could go there! Upstairs we settled in to a warm cup of hot chocolate and polished off the dessert plates between us.<br>
four of us set off towards Birmingham and our major stop - the British Sugar Guilds Cake Convention via Wales. I must say that the late sunset really threw off my body clock!<br>
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In amongst many little pit stops we got to try places like a small tea room near Covent Garden and see the sweets and goodies at Fortnum & Mason.<br>
But it was time to leave for Telford so we gathered into our hired car.<br>
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First stop - Eric Lanlards' boutique in Battersea: "the cake boy"! ...and for those of you who think I used the female version of the name - Not at all! I came up with my business name when I saw a car with the licence plate: CKE 80Y in Sydney approximately 14 years ago. I was watching Lifestyle food channel and saw Eric Lanlards show for the first time about two years ago when I heard of his nickname!<br>
But anyway, his quaint patisserie had the most extraordinary desserts! We all dug in and swapped and shared...that seemed to be the best way for all of us to try everything we could without having too much! Pity he wasn't in but apparently was in London filming a special that day :(<br>
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With quite a bit of sightseeing thrown in - including Bath and Cardiff (me - huge Doctor Who/Torchwood fan!) we arrived exhausted in Birmingham! <br>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5c7Xnei3Jvg/UjbTIc81IrI/AAAAAAAAB_0/7zPpm7JXK5Q/s1600/316.+AD+do+I+look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5c7Xnei3Jvg/UjbTIc81IrI/AAAAAAAAB_0/7zPpm7JXK5Q/s320/316.+AD+do+I+look.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="216"></a>The next day saw us thrown into tutorials with a class group mixed from all around the world. We learnt flooded royal icing and brushwork embroidery with Elaine MacGregor. This was followed by sugar flowers with Alan Dunn. Phenomenal man! He just seems to speak to his flower creations and they grow before your very eyes! A small tweak here and another there, the finished sprays were beautiful.<br>
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Lots of chatting and exchanging of details, opening up our network of cake decorators. Even down to our famous USA/Canadian counterparts: Mary-Sue, Barb, Mary-Jo & Barry.<br>
On the weekend, we all had the British Sugarcraft Guild Convention with loads of small demonstrations booked in by people like Debbie Brown, Karen Davies, Francis McNaughton & Dawn Butler<br>
Then there were the people who I have only heard of like Tomby Peck, Marion Frost or had books on my shelves from Lindy Smith, Stephen Benison, Peggy Porschen & Mitch Turner.<br>
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As you can well imagine, the days were full of learning, fun and continuous talk of who we had met and what we had learnt.<br>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nHMABPJjlHE/UjbbbbJD9VI/AAAAAAAACAY/e_mcElWVBbY/s1600/Richards+Cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nHMABPJjlHE/UjbbbbJD9VI/AAAAAAAACAY/e_mcElWVBbY/s200/Richards+Cakes.jpg" width="200"></a> The last few days Lesley from Celebrity Cakes and myself left the group to drive up towards Scotland. We stopped off at Richards' Cakes and Slattery's in Manchester and then David's Cakes near Liverpool.<br>
So much enthusiasm and willingness to show and share their knowledge and passion.<br>
We're very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and liaise with people like this and it's what make my life all the more interesting.<br>
I've said it before and I'll say it again. cake decorating can be a stimulating rewarding career if you put the time and effort in!<br>
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<br>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-27519113370382204642013-02-05T22:01:00.002+10:002013-02-05T22:11:13.111+10:00Cake School Is IN! With a few classes under my belt, I thought I should at least do a blog - as promised to my students - about the time spent teaching and some of the wonderful people I've met through this experience.<br />
Lets start with a lovely girl - Suzy - who has a real passion for making cakes. Obsessed with cake shows on television and wanting to learn more, her Mum booked in a beginners' class for her <br />
We completed her 'Fathers' Day" dedicated cake by the time her Mum arrived and she was so proud of her work! And who wouldn't be when she had never made an iced figurine prior to this.<br />
During a six hour day, she managed to try her hand at piping, using cutters and making a figurine! Wow!<br />
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With this hand-bag class held at "Your Cake Kitchen" in Ormiston, the kids took over the experience. The students were allowed to make their bags in the colours they wanted using the bag I had created to inspire them. Each one reflects their own personality.<br />
I like to encourage the students to open themselves to their creative side. If I tell them exactly the colours and style of what they need to make, it may not be what they wanted to make.<br />
Along with the bag was the shoes...now of course, ladies love high heels but the boys in the class were obviuosly not interested. <br />
So the boys had a little extra attention and made sneakers to match their gym bags. Very bright and funky.<br />
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Over the Xmas period, Jenny held another class for me to teach. This time a Christmas theme was the order of the day and you can't get more festive then "The 12 days of Christmas". I had focused on the items in the poem and researched on google the cakes other poeple had made. Sketching out some ideas, I used these to create my inital cupcakes for the class and had them copy mine from start to finish. We started with the hardest ones that required setting time and moved on to easier ones.<br />
At the end of the day, everyone has 12 cupcakes to take home and share with their loved ones.<br />
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A follow-on to this class, one of the ladies who had completed "The 12 days of Christmas" course - Trish - booked herself in for a basics personal class.<br />
Wanting to be able to make home-made cupcakes was Trish's main objective for her family on special occasions so we covered the basics in fondant and buttercream.<br />
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Signed on to work for a large Supermarket chain in their bakery section, Colleen needed an express class in piping. She was really good at following my instruction and by the end of the day Colleen was more than capable of taking on piping in a hospitality environment.</div>
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Coming from overseas to study in Australia is not an easy prospect and many of our apprentices need to find jobs here whilst studying in their field too. Going to TAFE & learning to become a pastry chef is not an easy prospect and the classes don't cover most of cake decorating.<br />
Linh works in her boyfriends' bread bakery and was hoping to expand his business to include her specialty cakes...Great thinking! Check out her fabulous cake!<br />
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So if you're interested in a cake decorating class - just give me a call or shoot me an email and we can discuss your experience and what you would like to accomplish with your cake decorating! It's one on one so no hassles competing with other students.<br />
Happy Baking.<br />
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<br />Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-65955434348093827282012-02-13T17:44:00.000+10:002012-02-13T17:44:37.839+10:00TRADEMARK IT! Identity Theft by any other Name<em></em><br />
<strong> THE 1st and ONLY CAKE GIRL</strong><br />
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<em> This is a warning to anyone out there who thinks that QLD Government covers you when you start a business and try to do everything by their rules...you get screwed! It's called Identity Theft and there's nothing you can do about it once it's happened.</em><br />
<em> Unfortunately, this Blog won't be about my cakes but the business of Names. A very steep learning curve.</em><br />
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So three weeks ago, I got up on a Monday morning and jumped on to answer client emails which is all I seem to do in my spare time. One of the few answered that morning was from a fellow called Gabriel who had asked me via email to join his free promotional wedding page "TopWeddingsAustralia". I had spent over an hour the previous week answering his "interview" via email and attached several of my cake photos to be included in the site.<br />
He seemed decent and polite enough in our written discussions and when I recieved the email stating that his website was functioning and the link, I was so excited I immediately jumped onto it.<br />
You can imagine how dissapointed and betrayed I felt when I saw a website for a lady calling herself "cake girl" who wasn't me.<br />
Boy - it was like a kick in the gut. <br />
I went straight to her site from the tab and looked at her website: so close in name to my own.<br />
Then I flicked back and forth in tabs to Gabriels' and couldn't spot my own...WTF?<br />
So I immediately picked up the phone and spoke to the Department of Fair Trading. According to the person on the phone, there wasn't much I could do.<br />
He checked ABN's for her and trading names: Nothing.<br />
There was every chance that she wasn't working from a legal kitchen.and had started the business without the required licences. If this was the case I was to write a letter to the Registrar of Business Names explaining the situation and basically telling on her.<br />
I didn't want to do this.<br />
He told me not to worry - if she tried to use the business name it would come up as "too close" in the files and not allow her to have it.<br />
The trouble was she already had taken up a web address that was extremely close. Using a prefix of 'the' as any librarian will tell you doesn't mean that the name is filed under T.<br />
This woman had used the same name as me without the prefix and as far as I was concerned she was trading under my name already!<br />
I thought about what the guy had said and pressed the "contact me" tab on her site. The only way to reach her was thorugh an email so I made an enquiry asking her to please call me in regards to her trading name. I wanted to know why? Why had she started using my business name? Yes, her website explained this was her nicckname but so what? It didn't mean she had the right to hurt my business!<br />
I jumped on Facebook and asked my Fans and Friends for help. Anoher cake decorator - Sarah Jane from Cake That was a plethora of knowledge. Armed with more information I rang IP Australia (Intellectual Property) - by this time office hours were closed...they run on Sydney time...stupid me!<br />
Sitting on the computer I tried to get as many details as I could but the IP site was so confusing using terminology I'd never heard of. <br />
A night of restless sleep followed as I hadn't done any work. I couldn't help feeling that the universe was going against me and that there was nothing I could do.<br />
The next morning 8am rolled around slowly. I finally managed to get through to someone at IP who basically told me what I had already gathered. I could apply for a trademark as a word, a typeface or a logo and each one cost over a $100. <br />
And this wasn't a certainty! I would then have to wait 3-4 months until they let me know whether the application had passed! Once they let me know if it was a positive return I would need to pay for an Australian or an International trademark on top of the money already spent.<br />
Now I understand...it's another way for more money to be dished out to government. What a rort!<br />
Fine -caught between a rock and a hard place I had no choice. I placed my applcation and wished for the best...not that it's ever helped in the past but what could it hurt?<br />
My head was spinning. I was over tired, feeling ill and sick of it all. Is it really all worth it? All those years of trying to get something together. Something I wanted to do, Something I thought I could be good at - out the door!<br />
Then I sent the lady another email...please respond! I was going out of my mind!<br />
I sent emails to trademark lawyers but had no response. <br />
I sent an email to the website creators and lastly an email to Gabriel. Explaining my dismay at having discovered this lady through his website with the same business name, in the same city, I thought he would realise what had happened and remove the website link and replace it with mine.<br />
But no.<br />
Not only did he not do this but he repsonded to my email with the nerve to say "We'll I have checked your Business names and your's is The Cake Girl, and the one in the site is Cake Girl, some sort of similarity but two completely different businesses. As for the website, your's is http://www.thecakegirl.com.au/ , and the one on the site is http://www.cakegirl.com.au/ , and if I am not mistaken these are two complete different websites." WHAT??? Completely different businesses?? How so? With a prefix of 'the'? We both make cakes. We're both in Brisbane. We're both called the cake girl!<br />
I'll tell you the difference!<br />
I have an ABN and a registered business name.<br />
I have been trading using this name for 4 years!<br />
I have worked, done the hard yards and advertised for clients - to which I now have a business which is reasonably successful.<br />
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...looking up every possible link from google to my name, I found her phone number back on the original promotional website. Upon calling, I was directed to message bank and I left the same massge as I had via email: Could she please call me in regards to the business name?<br />
It was approximately 5-10 minutes later that my phone rang. <br />
Following my explanation, she stated that "she never meant to hurt anybody" and that "it was an honest mistake" but it didn't feel like she wanted to do anything to change the situation.<br />
How depressing.<br />
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By the end of the week the website was still up and running and one of the lawyers I had spoken to had responded with a phone call informing me that after my call, the lady had applied for an ABN using her name - not the cake girl.<br />
Honest my foot!<br />
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So with all the stress, I am now in the process of employing a lawyer to follow this through.<br />
With the verict being - trademark! Do it before you end up in the same situation as me. It's extra money but it's the only avenue we can take to make sure someone else doesn't come by and use all the work you've done to jump the queue.<br />
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Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-8033788771456527262012-01-29T23:17:00.001+10:002012-01-29T23:35:48.639+10:00With the Rain, Comes the FrogsHappy New Year to you all - 2012 and the Year of the Dragon! <br />
It's been way too long and I've finally put my feet up; it's Sunday with no cakes due until tomorrow and a busy year ahead.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A lot has happened since the last time I blogged. Business has boomed, we've moved houses (not far, only to Cannon Hill) and cake classes have recommenced.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I thought I would use this Blog as a kind of tutorial as many of my students have requested I show them how I cut a 3D Novelty cake to shape.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Most of you will have watched cake shows on television to some extent and have your favourites. Personally, I love seeing how other cake decorarators work but I'm let down by the amount of 'rice treats' or wood/piping in their work. I think as cake professionals, we should be dealing more with food products to construct or cake rather than plastic, steel or foam.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Therefore the following "Frog" cake is 99% cake with 2 skewers inserted to provide structural elements to the head.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R3jgHrL7gzA/TyU9vF6koiI/AAAAAAAAAUY/n00sf4CJjWo/s1600/Picture+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R3jgHrL7gzA/TyU9vF6koiI/AAAAAAAAAUY/n00sf4CJjWo/s200/Picture+005.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 1. Start with a 10" square cake. Usually most shapes can be cut from a square. This would be the smallest I would start with as ultimately, you still have a cake big enough to make an impression and yet small enough for details.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMCoJTrcI0k/TyU9x3MsGMI/AAAAAAAAAUg/jj0OWUH9zlk/s1600/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMCoJTrcI0k/TyU9x3MsGMI/AAAAAAAAAUg/jj0OWUH9zlk/s200/Picture+007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 2. Always have a refernce on hand - photos of the frog's left, right and top views are always good. As you turn your cake you can make sure the Frog looks correct from all angles.<br />
Cutting the cake in half on an angle gives your frog a larger front and a smaller bottom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XPTOaxIJXw/TyU90mIjDsI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4A3f9Z4-d4Y/s1600/Picture+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XPTOaxIJXw/TyU90mIjDsI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4A3f9Z4-d4Y/s200/Picture+008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 3. Cut the slope down the back of the Frog: this will give you the first few 'extra' pieces' you can work with for other parts of the frog.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx_I7VyVsrU/TyU921dLoaI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Sqy39beSo2k/s1600/Picture+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx_I7VyVsrU/TyU921dLoaI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Sqy39beSo2k/s200/Picture+009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 4. Cut in the back bottom section to have a flat point for the frog's bottom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ky1_38oOK3c/TyU96CgSUII/AAAAAAAAAU4/6_Yi7bwJGvc/s1600/Picture+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ky1_38oOK3c/TyU96CgSUII/AAAAAAAAAU4/6_Yi7bwJGvc/s200/Picture+010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 5, With the 'extra pieces' slice them in quarters - using two to achieve the shape of the back legs. Make them look as similar in size and shape as possible.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzjOgJc8xB4/TyU9_0oSjRI/AAAAAAAAAVA/_4HOH4TZm7o/s1600/Picture+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NzjOgJc8xB4/TyU9_0oSjRI/AAAAAAAAAVA/_4HOH4TZm7o/s200/Picture+014.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 6. With the other 2 pieces left over, cut the top half of the back legs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXS2SUneEeg/TyU-DSUOuuI/AAAAAAAAAVI/lqvyt93hzXI/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXS2SUneEeg/TyU-DSUOuuI/AAAAAAAAAVI/lqvyt93hzXI/s200/Picture+015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 7. Cut into the front body of the frog. If you cut too far the head may fall from the weight so always cut in smaller pieces. You can keep cutting but you cannot add cake back to the structure if you remove it's strength.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkMNbhw3LAI/TyU-FbfMhXI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/hx2LZGZuLRQ/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vkMNbhw3LAI/TyU-FbfMhXI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/hx2LZGZuLRQ/s200/Picture+016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>8. Pull the parts apart and keep them in such a manner so you can easily remember where they all fit - just like a jigsaw puzzle!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fgb-UrAMu0/TyU-ItIvfEI/AAAAAAAAAVY/KvGzCYchR5M/s1600/Picture+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fgb-UrAMu0/TyU-ItIvfEI/AAAAAAAAAVY/KvGzCYchR5M/s200/Picture+017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 9. Using ganache, start "glueing" your pieces together. You want to make sure the cake is all one solid piece before covering in fondant. The thicker your fondant, the harder it will dry so make sure you have fondant that won't remain too soft and will set.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztpWCFDCQBg/TyU-LGtAzlI/AAAAAAAAAVg/Rsvaq2-jI2A/s1600/Picture+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztpWCFDCQBg/TyU-LGtAzlI/AAAAAAAAAVg/Rsvaq2-jI2A/s200/Picture+018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 10. The whole frog need to be completely covered and tacky all over for the fondant to stick to the cake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHVaEryNBpE/TyU-NPF92HI/AAAAAAAAAVo/XEckxvxgMw4/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eHVaEryNBpE/TyU-NPF92HI/AAAAAAAAAVo/XEckxvxgMw4/s200/Picture+019.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 11. Roll your icing out and using a rolling pin unroll slowly over the frog using you hands to smooth the fondant out as it adhere's to the cake. Cut off any exces left on the board. Using your hands make sure all the fondant is as smooth as possible and firmly attached.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C63o1nilEdE/TyU-P7yVhhI/AAAAAAAAAVw/hyy0nkLnSjQ/s1600/Picture+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C63o1nilEdE/TyU-P7yVhhI/AAAAAAAAAVw/hyy0nkLnSjQ/s200/Picture+020.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 12. Roll out a piece of icing into a thin rope and then indent in the centre and approximately 1" from each end. Fold in half and add a c entre piece to make each of the Frogs feet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AzHQT9Jdg3Q/TyU-Sf6qV7I/AAAAAAAAAV4/KS2vvCoVYCU/s1600/Picture+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AzHQT9Jdg3Q/TyU-Sf6qV7I/AAAAAAAAAV4/KS2vvCoVYCU/s200/Picture+021.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 14, Attach to the two hind legs first and then add the two front feet as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTo-V1_npy8/TyU-VAi4ZqI/AAAAAAAAAWA/EniZqnMa39Q/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTo-V1_npy8/TyU-VAi4ZqI/AAAAAAAAAWA/EniZqnMa39Q/s200/Picture+022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 15. Using your fingers, indent the line for the mouth of the frog with the two dimples on either side for the mouth to curve into a smile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC5TNrrG0qo/TyU-dMBegvI/AAAAAAAAAWY/91qU7O_y5aM/s1600/Picture+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC5TNrrG0qo/TyU-dMBegvI/AAAAAAAAAWY/91qU7O_y5aM/s200/Picture+027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 16. Roll out two black modelling paste balls and attach with some water for the eye balls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Znxit-ziH04/TyU-krYFp4I/AAAAAAAAAWo/3QB-7KcbBOk/s1600/Picture+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Znxit-ziH04/TyU-krYFp4I/AAAAAAAAAWo/3QB-7KcbBOk/s200/Picture+029.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDESBGWrQbA/TyU-gD-JCGI/AAAAAAAAAWg/OJBUmonQh_8/s1600/Picture+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> 17. Cut out 2 circles the size of the width of the eye ball and cut in half, Attach to the frogs eye's with a touch of water to give the effect of eyelids.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83692pbX3NA/TyU-oERGgWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/3TC1bFswRUM/s1600/Picture+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83692pbX3NA/TyU-oERGgWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/3TC1bFswRUM/s200/Picture+032.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXDGQP4_pzQ/TyU-p3khYRI/AAAAAAAAAXA/tPr_rSusjOk/s1600/Picture+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXDGQP4_pzQ/TyU-p3khYRI/AAAAAAAAAXA/tPr_rSusjOk/s200/Picture+033.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 18. Cuttin two more strips per eye, attach and fold over the eye to create folds of skin and cut away any excess with a scalpel.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">19. Using an airbrushed start colouring your frog. Lighter colours first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w80kwIb2YTg/TyU-sPf1CoI/AAAAAAAAAXI/kLddEAxIiuc/s1600/Picture+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w80kwIb2YTg/TyU-sPf1CoI/AAAAAAAAAXI/kLddEAxIiuc/s200/Picture+034.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 20. Add darker colours and keep layering to achieve a more realistic colour hue. Darker shading around joints and to accent parts like eyes, feet etc.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Es8cVgjUIs/TyU-to5ixzI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/hxplYMH6Ct8/s1600/Picture+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Es8cVgjUIs/TyU-to5ixzI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/hxplYMH6Ct8/s200/Picture+035.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 21. With a paint brush colour in the eyelids and the mouth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKm22dT0qX0/TyU-vlJrleI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ijXVw3Phv8c/s1600/Picture+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKm22dT0qX0/TyU-vlJrleI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ijXVw3Phv8c/s200/Picture+036.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 22. Using a piece of wire attach the tongue to the inside of the mouth and allow to dry.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKXNPpGQYus/TyU-x_lpmmI/AAAAAAAAAXg/sI4_2mj24WI/s1600/Picture+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKXNPpGQYus/TyU-x_lpmmI/AAAAAAAAAXg/sI4_2mj24WI/s200/Picture+037.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 23. Paint the tongue red and the details on the blowfly. Add other small element - some leaves the birthday message...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHCbReaQYhQ/TyU-z_vke5I/AAAAAAAAAXo/w8NV_tPAv2o/s1600/Picture+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHCbReaQYhQ/TyU-z_vke5I/AAAAAAAAAXo/w8NV_tPAv2o/s400/Picture+041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VOILA! Here is your finished Frog masterpiece!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you enjoyed and have fun making your own amphibian!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-54318725215488358322011-09-05T12:25:00.000+10:002011-09-05T12:25:43.290+10:00When it Rains, It poursWith every day, Brisbane becomes more and more like Melbourne - six seasons in one day. But it's not just the weather, all the cake seasons are becoming more and more mixed up as well.<br />
It used to be that you would have specific months where there would be an onslaught of birthday cakes and of course your wedding weekends... the weeks and weeks of never-ending matrimonies. Maybe it's just me and as I get older I start to generalise the specifics and it's more a 'feeling' than an actual occurence.<br />
Who knows?<br />
As I look over my up coming orders, I realise that each week is a mix of occasions:<br />
Traditional birthday cakes of cream, nuts and chocolate have now gone out the door...This particular cake was a gluten/nut/dairy free cake for my client to take to her daughters' playgroup centre. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VP-lXLCYwyo/TmM-FZf1luI/AAAAAAAAATQ/tcBZclK-Whg/s320/Smackin%2527+Strawberries.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /> </div> And for the Foodies Network lovers who will purchase anything that is shown on their latest program - <br />
It doesn't matter that in Brisbane the humidity will play havoc with your cake. Toffee will melt, sugar will disintegrate and chocolate soft. Food is food and we have to keep up with the trends. <br />
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Then the fancy all out iced cakes make a show. Whether it's a masquerade ball with people dressing up in their finest gear,<br />
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or a cheeky play at your loved ones' favourite things. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNXOO0ZDhKM/TmNAb24Rh8I/AAAAAAAAATc/qAn--9Y-aXI/s1600/Rosy+the+Cow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNXOO0ZDhKM/TmNAb24Rh8I/AAAAAAAAATc/qAn--9Y-aXI/s320/Rosy+the+Cow+2.jpg" width="239px" xaa="true" /></a></div> That is a cow poking it's head out of the rose bush! And at the back of the cake there was a swinging tail.<br />
Childrens' novelty cakes for the ultimate little gamer<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym4SnzeG-4E/TmNA2oPlw8I/AAAAAAAAATg/tO9kf1aCXtk/s1600/PS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym4SnzeG-4E/TmNA2oPlw8I/AAAAAAAAATg/tO9kf1aCXtk/s320/PS3.jpg" width="240px" xaa="true" /></a></div> <br />
to the 'wicked' little theatre lover in all of us.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"> For the young boy wanting to get out</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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and the music lover.<br />
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And then there's the lover's all 'round:<br />
the purple themed nuptials<br />
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some roses of red:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwOr_NXK11g/TmNCMueHwRI/AAAAAAAAAT0/58gS4piTITo/s1600/Sangue+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwOr_NXK11g/TmNCMueHwRI/AAAAAAAAAT0/58gS4piTITo/s320/Sangue+3.jpg" width="239px" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
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to the purist:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxV1bfE-F60/TmNCdzZUnBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/nricj1UhE1s/s1600/Powerhouse+Amore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxV1bfE-F60/TmNCdzZUnBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/nricj1UhE1s/s320/Powerhouse+Amore.jpg" width="239px" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
Of course the best designs are the ones where the client lets me do what I want. <br />
This last cake was a special delivery all the way down to Sydney. A close friend of mine was getting married and any excuse to get away - even if it was for more work. I'm sure Ede's and Rachaels' lovely day was an exquisite memory for all of the attendees. <br />
With a beautiful view of Sydney Harbour from the "Sergeants Mess" at Chowder Bay - the music in the background supplied by a passing P&O Cruise ship playing YMCA. Lol<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBHYUaUwRxE/TmNQy1jh5NI/AAAAAAAAAUE/-gJjVQuHFak/s1600/30.+lots+more+of+this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBHYUaUwRxE/TmNQy1jh5NI/AAAAAAAAAUE/-gJjVQuHFak/s320/30.+lots+more+of+this.jpg" width="240px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The couple said their vows and we were ushered inside to a superb menu for gastronomy lovers everywhere. Service was not to be out-done by the food. Generous pourings of wine to make sure no-one's glass was ever empty and laughter all around. We all caught up and when the groom got up to say his speech there wasn't many a dry eye left in the crowd.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjPZ61UyRg0/TmNRJfT3SvI/AAAAAAAAAUI/9-9DBs987-E/s1600/54.+the+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjPZ61UyRg0/TmNRJfT3SvI/AAAAAAAAAUI/9-9DBs987-E/s320/54.+the+cake.jpg" width="240px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Being of Asian descent - my friends translated their names to English and used this as the theme for the union: "Plum Country". The invitation was a folded square of plum/eggplant and black colour with pointilist plum images on the front. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> What an inspiration! My only criteria was that they wanted individual cakes per guest...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I created small cubes of chocolate cake with chinese plum wine and a layer of plum jam. Each cube was then iced either in white or a matching colour from the invitation. Then small plum tree blossoms were appliqued to the sides and finished with a piped border. All the cakes were boxed in clear acetate and then finished with another bowed ribbon.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmWvAVn_YGY/TmNReKgR-wI/AAAAAAAAAUM/YrVVJ1ZFJbs/s1600/Plum+Country+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmWvAVn_YGY/TmNReKgR-wI/AAAAAAAAAUM/YrVVJ1ZFJbs/s320/Plum+Country+4.jpg" width="240px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> The stand was purchased especially with black perspex tiers to accent the cakes. On top of the mignon's was a larger version cutting cake to be shared with family at their convenience. A spray of plum blossoms decorating the top.<br />
I was extremely happy with the finished product and Ede and Rachael were too. I'm glad they made me a part of this moment in their lives and will never forget it.Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-43159863345311835022011-08-22T20:37:00.000+10:002011-08-22T20:37:21.035+10:00Corporate ContingentEvery now and again, there is a gathering of executives in offices who decide they should celebrate a special occasion with cake. <br />
This is their story...<br />
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The first cake I ever laid hands on: I worked at a wonderful Patisserie called <a href="http://www.mezzapica.com.au/">Mezzapica</a> in Leichhardt, Sydney where I realised I had a passion for cake decorating. My mother almost died from fright. She knew I loved eating but actually feeding other people? Who would have thought?<br />
I was working in the kitchen of the restaurant when the pastry chefs who worked in the Bakery let it be know that an order had been taken for Arnotts to celebrate their 130th Anniversary. They had, up until this time, re-created images on cake with a process called KopyKake art. Using a projector, they would throw the image onto the surface of the cake and pipe a chocolate outline which would then be filled with colour from either an airbrush or with coloured piping jelly.<br />
Never, had they encountered a difficult image such as the Arnotts' logo. I, however, knew I could draw/paint it but could I do this on a cake? I asked them what they used for colour and I was shown the edible airbrush colours. I thought I would give it a shot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hb2ep5EWGKU/TlIoQNfPg4I/AAAAAAAAATM/iSuyrygzjn0/s1600/Arnotts+130th.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hb2ep5EWGKU/TlIoQNfPg4I/AAAAAAAAATM/iSuyrygzjn0/s320/Arnotts+130th.gif" width="320px" /></a></div>Arnotts rang after the event congratulating the staff on a job well done - exceeding expectations. Personally, I was stoked - and a monster was born!<br />
Each weekend after working in the kitchen or in spare time, I would throw myself into the ordered cakes with images....the Spice Girls were the bane of my existence...but that's another blog.<br />
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Anyway, over the following years I completed the following cakes:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-trbpdWZxBRA/TlImrT-88TI/AAAAAAAAASg/5jtknLossZc/s1600/Novel+Innovations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-trbpdWZxBRA/TlImrT-88TI/AAAAAAAAASg/5jtknLossZc/s1600/Novel+Innovations.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When MP3 players were only new!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzfE4w0cj44/TlImvSKKT3I/AAAAAAAAASk/z_Xarph3XEc/s1600/Jucy+Rentals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzfE4w0cj44/TlImvSKKT3I/AAAAAAAAASk/z_Xarph3XEc/s320/Jucy+Rentals.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div> The new company of rental vans making their way through Brizzy - great branding!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PhUTmbaKJns/TlImy-Jc55I/AAAAAAAAASo/uvvl78LU62I/s1600/Endeavour+Graduates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PhUTmbaKJns/TlImy-Jc55I/AAAAAAAAASo/uvvl78LU62I/s320/Endeavour+Graduates.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>One of my best clients...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4OGn0SfvM6s/TlIm2fpZpmI/AAAAAAAAASs/uh7d7qSAr34/s1600/HMAS+Leeuwin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4OGn0SfvM6s/TlIm2fpZpmI/AAAAAAAAASs/uh7d7qSAr34/s320/HMAS+Leeuwin.jpg" width="202px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> This one brought tears to my eyes and I loved appliqueing the logo<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5d4xllv2GY/TlIm6vSEQ6I/AAAAAAAAASw/c8KKGQ1QJ0k/s1600/Water+Police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182px" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5d4xllv2GY/TlIm6vSEQ6I/AAAAAAAAASw/c8KKGQ1QJ0k/s320/Water+Police.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More work than it looks! Especially hand-painting all those logo's.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bSmg6M3GC0/TlIm8vhz6CI/AAAAAAAAAS0/x0CKdqLtihE/s1600/Albie%2527s+Number.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bSmg6M3GC0/TlIm8vhz6CI/AAAAAAAAAS0/x0CKdqLtihE/s320/Albie%2527s+Number.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you guys get the chance to drop into <a href="http://www.albertosshot.com.au/">Alberto</a>'s down at West End - it's a must! Great, friendly service and fantastic food and coffee to die for. And Alberto is an entertaining hoot! </div><br />
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I thought this cake for Press Club looked fantastic - I don't think the camera does it justice.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Urban Circus is another fantastic client of mine - great bunch of guys and girls who have had more than a few of my cake creations over the last couple of years.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another return client of mine whose hubby was opening his own dental practice in Mount Gravatt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsjycd6mK94/TlInRnPi10I/AAAAAAAAATE/PympifzOlEQ/s1600/Em%2527s+Festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsjycd6mK94/TlInRnPi10I/AAAAAAAAATE/PympifzOlEQ/s320/Em%2527s+Festival.jpg" width="163px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And last but definitely not least - the exhibition cake which tells the life story of the artist <a href="http://www.emilyfongstudio.com/">Emily Fong</a>. From her Asian heritage with red and gold at the base, inspired painting from her Boondall Wetlands, Sirromet Winery, sketches from her travels abroad and the wall which inspired her invitations to her masterful exhibition. Emily sits on top of the world with her canvas for her next great showcase.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's all folks for now but I'll be back soon with more from the world of <a href="http://www.thecakegirl.com.au/">the cake girl</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">xx</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-48582027680058540352011-08-21T15:58:00.000+10:002011-08-21T15:58:30.689+10:00Queen For a DayIt's not very often that I can say I took a day off to work...Huh? That's right. I was asked back at the beginning of the year if I would be interested in doing a small video clip for Queen. No - not Queen the rock band or Queens of the Stone Age. <br />
Queen is a Brisbane family owned company who have supplied home cake decorators for years. You know, when you're making a cake at home and you pop into the supermarket to pick up supplies? Well, most of the time you end up buying something from Queen - they have those great food colours, essences and flavours. They also have Royal icing and icing tubes for decorating. As these are new to their business they like to help their customers out by having a video they can click onto on the internet to show them how it's done.<br />
Well, I have to say - I had a ball. <a href="http://www.livewireproductions.com.au/">Livewire</a> productions filmed the clip and they were great. I arrived early and had my make-up and hair done and some short instruction as to how to talk and move on camera - it's harder than it looks! Nigella eat your heart out! They were easy to talk to and I felt comfortable at all times - even hours later they still managed to make me laugh when I was tired. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E99lNbJPfqo/TlCbF_0SOMI/AAAAAAAAASY/PhvMuyNH5Bs/s1600/Queen+Me.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E99lNbJPfqo/TlCbF_0SOMI/AAAAAAAAASY/PhvMuyNH5Bs/s320/Queen+Me.jpeg" width="213px" /></a></div>I've even had customers asking me if it was really me! So if you're at home and have a minute to throw together a cake for a special occasion - check it out!<br />
<a href="http://www.queen.com.au/products/list.php?categoryid=4">http://www.queen.com.au/products/list.php?categoryid=4</a> and you won't be dissapointed.<br />
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Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-23657740783619375432011-08-06T16:32:00.000+10:002011-08-06T16:32:52.218+10:00Everyone Wants to be a MasterChef!Yes - you heard me correctly! With all the foodies out there wanting to try their hand at cake decorating and some of my clients requesting to be taught, I too have now fallen into the trap of teaching.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nfp70HUkOkE/TeBaqKyVcFI/AAAAAAAAAPc/GqHNKytyjHQ/s1600/Apron+Strings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nfp70HUkOkE/TeBaqKyVcFI/AAAAAAAAAPc/GqHNKytyjHQ/s200/Apron+Strings.jpg" t8="true" width="149px" /></a></div>Why? I hear you ask. Well, it's simple - the cake decorating industry has always been governed by little old ladies working from home with lots of time on their hands. I realise this sounds like a generalisation and you can probably pick one or two family members who are not old and who would love to show off their cake talents. However, it's only recently that the younger generation are wanting to put in the hard yards. <br />
Everyone thinks they can just pick up a recipe, bake off a cake and voila! instant success. It does come easy to some but others have to work hard at it. And anyone who has tried to make a cake will know that the time and expertise required is a lot more than your average baker.<br />
Don't get me wrong - I love the fact that they have tried...sometimes it's the act of attempting something that makes you realise why there are people who do this for a living. Everyday becomes an instruction into a new way of creating.<br />
So here comes 'the cake girl'- into the fray I go! I will only be teaching at the most 2 students at a time. This will make it personal and I can devote my attention to the person more so than a class of 5 or more.<br />
Classes will involve students in beginners' tutorials through to making your own wedding cake for advanced pupils. Party cake decorating also available.<br />
Anyone who is interested need just go to my website and I can email them a copy of my PDF pamphlet with more details or see <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/80494797/Cake%20Decorating%20Classes%20Pamphlet"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cake Decorating Classes Pamphlet</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Alternatively, if there is another aspect of cake decorating you would like to learn eg. biscuit decorating, gingerbread houses then just let me know! We can discuss what you already know how to do so we can add to your extensive foray into the art of baking and decorating!</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aB7zwSgZhrM/Tjzf6QW46EI/AAAAAAAAASQ/rGrolWG8x4I/s1600/The+finale+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aB7zwSgZhrM/Tjzf6QW46EI/AAAAAAAAASQ/rGrolWG8x4I/s320/The+finale+2.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-54131297165548505812011-08-06T16:26:00.001+10:002011-08-06T16:47:45.228+10:00Failure NotificationWhat with this fantastic weather we have been having of late - and yes, most of you think it's too cold but for cakes..............puuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrfect! It's been a fabulous and busy couple of months and I've only just had the chance to sit back on a Saturday afternoon whilst waiting on clients to pop in.<br />
The sun is shining and warming through the venetian slats in my office. I could almost have an afternoon siesta but no time like the present to organise myself and at least let everyone know that yes, beneath all the cakes, orders and icing - i am still alive and not a complete failure to the human population who manage to write their blogs weekly or god-forbid even daily.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iyQNzxPEjB8/Tjy99dIojdI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pDnxULEwRP8/s1600/Boys+Affair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iyQNzxPEjB8/Tjy99dIojdI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pDnxULEwRP8/s200/Boys+Affair.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></div> Where to start? May as well throw myself into the deep end and just keep going.<br />
This lovely creation on the left was an addition to a family and having made his older sister's first birthday cake, Mum thought it only fitting Jack's was made in a similar style but for a boy instead.<br />
I was extremely happy with the outcome of the teddy bears and thought they added character to a simple design.<br />
The stripes on the board were an addition from Jack's pin-strip outfit for the special day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBK9uKMUk9A/Tjy-EXg0RTI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/t4RccUmz3bg/s1600/Campervan+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBK9uKMUk9A/Tjy-EXg0RTI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/t4RccUmz3bg/s400/Campervan+Time.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Above was Mum & Dad's Anniversary cake...no - not mine but a customers'. The lady requested a campervan as they love to take off and have some 'alone' time now that the kids are old enough. Puppy can't miss out so he was made to be included too. Good to see the romance is still alive.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7s8WXL4blU/Tjy9n2gMNzI/AAAAAAAAAQs/JVnjktSqxCw/s1600/All+or+Nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7s8WXL4blU/Tjy9n2gMNzI/AAAAAAAAAQs/JVnjktSqxCw/s200/All+or+Nothing.jpg" t$="true" width="150px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This cake has been extremely popular of late with cocktail style weddings. The guests can help themselves and there's something for everyone - from chocolate dipped strawberries and custard filled profiteroles through to jam bulls' eye biscuits and vanilla butter cream patty cakes. MMMMMmmmmmm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Sometimes a gesture of a wedding cake is enough to tantalise the taste buds. Below, was a small wedding cake for a couple who had already married overseas and their parents were holding a small celebration in honour of the union.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-talBn9ec7bQ/TjzPUh9tgeI/AAAAAAAAARE/aaL-uB1L6As/s1600/Croc+Attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-talBn9ec7bQ/TjzPUh9tgeI/AAAAAAAAARE/aaL-uB1L6As/s320/Croc+Attack.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a>With most animal novelty cakes, happy and fun is usually the way to go. However this is not always the case. A happy crocodile still looks mean and although you should never smile at one, I just can't seem to help myself. This was originally a "Cake Star" design which the client emailed me and I reproduced it to the best of my extent.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPMiG1s7YA0/TjzPmgUHQeI/AAAAAAAAARM/Zv8CjIJCRWY/s1600/Ducky+Cool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPMiG1s7YA0/TjzPmgUHQeI/AAAAAAAAARM/Zv8CjIJCRWY/s200/Ducky+Cool.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My next door neighbour's little girl has a complete fascination with ducks. In the late afternoon, you can hear her calling out to them for feeding time. I thought this an apt design as she even has one called "Elvis". Being a huge Elvis fan - I almost included his coif but then thought he may look too masculine. So Rayban's eat your heart out!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNhNSvCNkwM/TjzRKIkRP-I/AAAAAAAAARY/y28GCWo-wow/s1600/Fancy+Flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNhNSvCNkwM/TjzRKIkRP-I/AAAAAAAAARY/y28GCWo-wow/s320/Fancy+Flash.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a>Elegant and sophisticated - sometimes a small touch of bling is enough to sparkle up a cake. The best thing is the topper is a keepsake for the birthday girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nYzcxYaYKFU/TjzR47rggdI/AAAAAAAAARc/ov7WAfRPv8s/s1600/Fender+Base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nYzcxYaYKFU/TjzR47rggdI/AAAAAAAAARc/ov7WAfRPv8s/s200/Fender+Base.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a>Who isn't a fan of the Fender base guitar when they look awesome in red? Mind you, the bigger the cake needs to be - the bigger the board - and that's the biggest board I can get commercially. Maybe I'll need to start cutting up my own Masonite? But where does it end? The boxes will then need to be made bigger and the customers will need to show up in small trucks - just to take their cakes home!! Lol.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-IiCBHCVZc/TjzPga_zr9I/AAAAAAAAARI/97hGJU6bQtk/s1600/Double+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-IiCBHCVZc/TjzPga_zr9I/AAAAAAAAARI/97hGJU6bQtk/s200/Double+time.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a>Classically traditional bible cakes have been made since I started into this industry. But at least they can have a modern twist with brighter colours.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y62HPYigfTA/TjzSP9oGD2I/AAAAAAAAARg/i_0RJoI0G80/s1600/Fruity+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y62HPYigfTA/TjzSP9oGD2I/AAAAAAAAARg/i_0RJoI0G80/s200/Fruity+time.jpg" t$="true" width="149px" /></a>I thought this cake was a bit of a catch-22 when I was first given the order. For a kid who loves to eat his fruit, this cake had a lot of sugar! Maybe a way around it would have been to use real fruit with faces appliqued onto the front?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;">The concept was novel though and it was fun to try to recreate the fruits with their texture to imitate real life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucGVgJ82HdY/TjzVGaXCgJI/AAAAAAAAARk/CnUfDLCfWFk/s1600/Grail+of+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucGVgJ82HdY/TjzVGaXCgJI/AAAAAAAAARk/CnUfDLCfWFk/s200/Grail+of+Love.jpg" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"> I love hearing the back stories on some of these cakes. You have everything from clients who call and want traditional standard cake designs to parents in another State who want to remind their children that they are still special. </div><div style="text-align: right;">Grant was one lucky guy who's mum rang from Melbourne to organise his chocoholic surprise at his work! I delivered during a meeting no less so now the whole company knows it was his birthday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lWK01y3VtuA/TjzVMaqYGsI/AAAAAAAAARo/wDDwHwdzrGg/s1600/Grants+chocoholic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lWK01y3VtuA/TjzVMaqYGsI/AAAAAAAAARo/wDDwHwdzrGg/s320/Grants+chocoholic.jpg" t$="true" width="239px" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vwnPCp3jg3o/TjzWAGR9F2I/AAAAAAAAAR4/FOZkp5smwKA/s1600/Grant+Brooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vwnPCp3jg3o/TjzWAGR9F2I/AAAAAAAAAR4/FOZkp5smwKA/s320/Grant+Brooks.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdquHu48AH0/TjzVWrZ4aAI/AAAAAAAAARs/TR4FF1xRC-E/s1600/Hawaiian+luau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdquHu48AH0/TjzVWrZ4aAI/AAAAAAAAARs/TR4FF1xRC-E/s200/Hawaiian+luau.jpg" t$="true" width="149px" /></a></div> Hawaiian luau. Apart from the palm trees which were so hard to find at the last minute - this cake has all sugar items. The small intricate Hawaiian dancers were all made of sugar and placed into position around the cake to create a full effect.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61AZMEX_ovs/TjzVc1w0UdI/AAAAAAAAARw/MLVOOzKYb-o/s1600/Hippie+Van+Kombo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-61AZMEX_ovs/TjzVc1w0UdI/AAAAAAAAARw/MLVOOzKYb-o/s320/Hippie+Van+Kombo.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div> For some special children, parents go all out. Daddy proudly did right by his daughter with this fantastic work of art. With a 70's hippy theme there was one very happy little girl! The marble effect on the kombi van with the "Peace & Love" signs and extras made this cake a visual stunner from all sides.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBIQffBRqiw/TjzVk7ug2YI/AAAAAAAAAR0/hUBOhSLxeb4/s1600/Into+the+Tigers%2527+Den.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBIQffBRqiw/TjzVk7ug2YI/AAAAAAAAAR0/hUBOhSLxeb4/s320/Into+the+Tigers%2527+Den.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div> Tiger Island - Dreamworld. It's been ages since I've been there and I used to be a complete adrenalin ride junkie. Even down to the Wonderland pass when I lived in Sydney during late high school days. When i delivered this cake it was great to have a behind the scene's look at the park after closing. <br />
The couple had chosen Tiger Island and I was sooo jealous. I love cat's of any size and could just imagine having them with me on my special day. <br />
had a ball. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rF5a82KLGU/TjzaOK8Vv1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/tyGhTfKrhsM/s1600/Medieval+Dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rF5a82KLGU/TjzaOK8Vv1I/AAAAAAAAAR8/tyGhTfKrhsM/s320/Medieval+Dragons.jpg" t$="true" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Medieval Dragons have always been a huge part of me. When this gorgeous couple came and told me of their idea to incorporate them into their wedding cake, I was stoked at trying my hand at making them. It was the first time I have ever used edible casting gel and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making the first two took a bit of time but then it was smooth sailing. The concept of the border was taken from one of their favourite illustrated books. Using a Celtic style border painted gold and the green ivy to represent growth and union. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On my Facebook page they posted a photo of the finished cake. One of their close friends and gusts at the wedding uses "World of Warcraft" style figurines and personalises them. She created the Bride & Groom with their own Dragon as a small token on top of the cake. What a lovely idea and you can't top that for a memory of a lifetime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hd30awx-Uy0/TjzaYCyz-VI/AAAAAAAAASA/95OcT16IrH8/s1600/Music+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hd30awx-Uy0/TjzaYCyz-VI/AAAAAAAAASA/95OcT16IrH8/s200/Music+Box.jpg" t$="true" width="150px" /></a></div> For most women, dancing stops when you get older - for some it just keeps on going! What with the Dance flick craze that mostly everyone seems to be following today - who wants to be a star/dancer/model etc...it's harder to escape than ever before.<br />
Parody shows take the mickey out of the dance movies and yet we can't keep falling back onto old classics. Some which are currently being remade (like "Footloose") should be left as reminders that cheesy is great once - not twice!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcpvbJKYZC0/TjzabmsMjZI/AAAAAAAAASE/ZDCyxsqhYHg/s1600/My+Little+Pony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcpvbJKYZC0/TjzabmsMjZI/AAAAAAAAASE/ZDCyxsqhYHg/s200/My+Little+Pony.jpg" t$="true" width="150px" /></a></div> "My Little Pony". Never a big toy for me personally but cute never-the-less. They appear so easy to make yet the shape is hard to re-create in icing. You live and learn, I guess. <br />
The final cake design was pretty and likable for a little girl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV5Znl0XwcY/TjzajkOsS2I/AAAAAAAAASM/KCdaTmmYp2U/s1600/Nutella+Snack+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV5Znl0XwcY/TjzajkOsS2I/AAAAAAAAASM/KCdaTmmYp2U/s200/Nutella+Snack+back.jpg" t$="true" width="150px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihBdssHWCg0/TjzahvOAyEI/AAAAAAAAASI/j-xHhr-x82w/s1600/Nutella+Snack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihBdssHWCg0/TjzahvOAyEI/AAAAAAAAASI/j-xHhr-x82w/s200/Nutella+Snack.jpg" t$="true" width="190px" /></a> Yum - who else eats Nutella by the spoonful straight out of the jar????</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> One of my worst habits that my Mother is still disappointed about. My niece's and nephews seem to take after me though as they do it too. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> So who better to reproduce the jar they love soo much than me? I loved making this cake and the birthday girl is also having her wedding cake made by me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> How sweet!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That's the end for today my deviant fiends. Hope you like the onslaught of photos and stories and I will(fingers crossed - hope to die) try to not fail in posting again tomorrow.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That way we can all catch up on some well earned rest!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Sleep well.</div><div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-74589764340623838402011-05-28T11:45:00.000+10:002011-05-28T11:45:31.235+10:00It's a Piece of Cake!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cz4DUhncsRY/TeBC6xR8yQI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/PxXrmfeYag8/s1600/Stunning+Orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cz4DUhncsRY/TeBC6xR8yQI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/PxXrmfeYag8/s400/Stunning+Orange.jpg" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div> No seriously, I mean it - making cakes just seems to come naturally to me. Mum says I have more patience with my cake detailing than I have had in my whole life! I think it just comes from loving what you do. I can sit and make cakes, watch other people making cakes and search the internet for cake inspirations to the 'enth degree. I eat, sleep and dream cakes...how sad is my life?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT2x9kwqayQ/TeBCTPjEbII/AAAAAAAAAPM/idbuFF-6EDk/s1600/Japanese+Tribute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT2x9kwqayQ/TeBCTPjEbII/AAAAAAAAAPM/idbuFF-6EDk/s320/Japanese+Tribute.jpg" t8="true" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The following was an inspiration from the Japan earthquake/tsunami disaster. My sister and her family live in Tokyo and talking to her on the phone during the whole event had me constantly worrying and feeling for the Japanese people. Their culture is one of peace and haapiness. Everything they do is done to perfection...even their faulty crockery is made specifically to be faulty! I loved my brief stay in Japan last year and if I had the chance I would fly back in a second. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrfNuZbIKDQ/TeBGn5xkN2I/AAAAAAAAAPY/fwWVGHcUBMw/s1600/Hawaiian+luau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrfNuZbIKDQ/TeBGn5xkN2I/AAAAAAAAAPY/fwWVGHcUBMw/s320/Hawaiian+luau.jpg" t8="true" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I get to the point where sometimes it feels like everything I do is cake and my friends complain they never see me or I don't socialise enough. Funny thing is, that when I do it's usually because of cake! A friend orders a cake and I'm there... at the party...why? because of the cake.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Funny enough - I swear I do think of my friends and catch up on reading what they're up to in their lives (admittedly it's usually on Facebook) and interject with funny/witty comments when I can - funny and witty to me that is. I live vicariously through their holidays and happy moments and wish them all the best in their lives and hope that we can find the time to sit down and have a laugh. But ultimately I'm back to my cakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZKId2zyftQ/TeBDHCXKoGI/AAAAAAAAAPU/7jo8v-Cs_Ng/s1600/Muddled+Wombat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZKId2zyftQ/TeBDHCXKoGI/AAAAAAAAAPU/7jo8v-Cs_Ng/s320/Muddled+Wombat.jpg" t8="true" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Another pastry chef told me the other day that my talent was wasted on cakes. I have to say I disagree. I love the fact that my cakes are made and destroyed. They are loved by my clients and hopefully I play a small but significant part in their memories of happy times with friends and family. Then in the years to come if I did my job right, they will be sitting at a table looking over photographs or reminiscing and remembering the time when they had that amazing cake...'you remember the one with the great sculpture' or 'never had another that tasted so moist and beautiful'. That's what makes cake decorating a fantastic job. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Watching what people are doing in cake decorating around the world lends great inspiration to future cake designs. The "Great Cake-Off" showed on Foxtel recently made me think of making cakes that move/rotate, light up and explode. It's such a pity that in Australia we have laws to prevent us from using fireworks and explosives. But hey, there are many other ways to achieve similar results. Start small and move to the bigger and better eventually!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Sorry the below clip is side on- I have yet to discover particular aspects of my camera or how to turn the clip once made...I will get there though!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dypv2UlFdXfcU_UMoKejVx0V_DE-Sxw_aKaAB8JW_f9EeiM9cJr_91T0jmAiFamj1VWvNYfHwhrB4xfZvCZEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-86450688084690200452011-02-14T15:30:00.003+10:002011-02-14T15:44:04.097+10:00With a kiss & a hug on St.Valentines' Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Having made deliveries all around Brisbane of late: sometimes all in the one day - it's good to see the city getting back to normal and underway again. With the floods making such an impact on business' everywhere and the price of flour and sugar rising with the waters, we're finally starting to see things level out. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Between cakes for functions on the north side and then dropping and setting cakes up down the coast, I've felt like a veritable yo-yo.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Found the above photo on the Internet whilst perousing through photos of flood affected areas... says it all really.</em></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-iBaLXWTJc/TViRTJ2sy7I/AAAAAAAAANk/-jN8zbEi_v8/s1600/Princess+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-iBaLXWTJc/TViRTJ2sy7I/AAAAAAAAANk/-jN8zbEi_v8/s320/Princess+Party.jpg" width="241" /></a></div> Parties did still take place. I think a lot of Brisbane saw the chance to lift their spirits with family get-togethers and festive occasions. Just a way to forget their circumstances I suppose.<br />
There were a couple of cancellations and I hope that those families were able to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.<br />
It was great to see the way Brisbane supported it's fellow countrymen in this time of need. <br />
I made a trip down to West End to see if they could use a hand down there and took 2 cakes with me which were devoured within moments.<br />
But the thing that struck me the most was that whilst working and cleaning, people talked with each other and smiled and swapped stories.<br />
It's moments like these that I'm glad we moved to Brisbane.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dzXi-bqWHk/TViSAcd7CiI/AAAAAAAAANo/qDCrYCW6VOQ/s1600/Barbie%2527s+on+holiday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dzXi-bqWHk/TViSAcd7CiI/AAAAAAAAANo/qDCrYCW6VOQ/s320/Barbie%2527s+on+holiday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The Barbie convertible on the right was a surprise birthday cake for a lady from a friend who wanted to remain incognito... I delivered the cake to the lady's office in town where it received many a grin from colleagues. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIuN-HtgI8M/TVivnxH3ApI/AAAAAAAAAOE/8fc0YvU-MIk/s1600/Tinkerbells+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIuN-HtgI8M/TVivnxH3ApI/AAAAAAAAAOE/8fc0YvU-MIk/s320/Tinkerbells+Garden.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MxcXdNAXVMk/TVivxPgAp-I/AAAAAAAAAOM/CmRAyHE0fhQ/s1600/Shortcakes+Sweet+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MxcXdNAXVMk/TVivxPgAp-I/AAAAAAAAAOM/CmRAyHE0fhQ/s320/Shortcakes+Sweet+home.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mDbB6DVZdQ/TVivG6AeRKI/AAAAAAAAANs/PuOvB848Vtc/s1600/A+Fresh+Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mDbB6DVZdQ/TVivG6AeRKI/AAAAAAAAANs/PuOvB848Vtc/s320/A+Fresh+Start.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> These two little girl cakes were a pleasure to make with Strawberry Shortcake making a comeback and Tinkerbell being the belle of the ball.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This was definitely a first - I've done divorce cakes in the past but never something so risque!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> There's always a new theme for a cake. I even dream about them!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdmDW2QdRDA/TVivsHzh09I/AAAAAAAAAOI/u1wi1eLCbh4/s1600/Gucci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdmDW2QdRDA/TVivsHzh09I/AAAAAAAAAOI/u1wi1eLCbh4/s200/Gucci.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgQKnEQtcC0/TVivKqcPLMI/AAAAAAAAANw/TqDU_CrP7VI/s1600/Belgian+Breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgQKnEQtcC0/TVivKqcPLMI/AAAAAAAAANw/TqDU_CrP7VI/s320/Belgian+Breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> All the details on this cake were hand-painted to recognise the voyage of a lifetime the clients' father had taken to start his new life here in Australia so long ago. The client found passport and birthda certificate photos alonmg with newspaper clippings of the boat he travelled on for me to use as reference for this cake.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IH-fFDx7T3M/TVivVRm_BkI/AAAAAAAAAN4/-pSgxsn48A8/s1600/High+in+the+Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IH-fFDx7T3M/TVivVRm_BkI/AAAAAAAAAN4/-pSgxsn48A8/s200/High+in+the+Sky.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvbH93snlyQ/TVivacbTY7I/AAAAAAAAAN8/W6rYYvp4Fl0/s1600/Tip+Top+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvbH93snlyQ/TVivacbTY7I/AAAAAAAAAN8/W6rYYvp4Fl0/s200/Tip+Top+One.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-okRT3qTl2Ww/TVivQ2SfxOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/eYDttmvpmQ4/s1600/Batmobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-okRT3qTl2Ww/TVivQ2SfxOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/eYDttmvpmQ4/s200/Batmobile.jpg" width="200" /></a> Childrens' cakes always keep me going - what with new themes and old ones which have both parents and children in awe of the cake.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Then there's moments like this 'bread tag' cake...WTF? I say in jest!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I was completely thrown with this concept. A lovely girl turning 21 with a collectible hobby for bread tags...yes, I repeat again bread tags. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> She collected them from bread bought for home originally but has since expanded her reportoire to now include bread tags from elsewhere.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FbU3VJTBV8/TViviwAuEtI/AAAAAAAAAOA/i9dWi_bJEQQ/s1600/Modernal+Paternal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FbU3VJTBV8/TViviwAuEtI/AAAAAAAAAOA/i9dWi_bJEQQ/s320/Modernal+Paternal.jpg" width="239" /></a> Keeping it simple is always a plus. Repeat customers of mine Carly and Michael were celebrating their daughters Christening. Using wire swirls with iced baubles on the end modernised the theme for this cake and made it stand out more than usual while still incorporating the invitations filigree work.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Last of all I would love to say a HUUUGGEEE <em>thank-you</em> to all my clients who find the time after their big event to write back to me regarding their cake. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Whether it's a quick line to say 'thank-you' or a lovely sentiment with photo included, it is always appreciated. It means that I'm doing something right and that I'm making their day that extra-little bit special.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1F88H1nR68/TVi79NqxwAI/AAAAAAAAAOc/gJNb8DtORK0/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Jorgenson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="303" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1F88H1nR68/TVi79NqxwAI/AAAAAAAAAOc/gJNb8DtORK0/s320/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Jorgenson.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfEj0za0UQ/TVi6EVMoKqI/AAAAAAAAAOU/lt_PBOvnXO8/s1600/Web+photo+Mahoney+Wedding.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfEj0za0UQ/TVi6EVMoKqI/AAAAAAAAAOU/lt_PBOvnXO8/s200/Web+photo+Mahoney+Wedding.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuF2JBzcVwY/TVi8Hzokv6I/AAAAAAAAAOg/pDEiKb2kshE/s1600/Web+photo+-+Paige%2527s+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuF2JBzcVwY/TVi8Hzokv6I/AAAAAAAAAOg/pDEiKb2kshE/s200/Web+photo+-+Paige%2527s+birthday.jpg" width="173" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWCRbfnMgNw/TVi8XfdlNjI/AAAAAAAAAOw/C8WO8TAy0-E/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWCRbfnMgNw/TVi8XfdlNjI/AAAAAAAAAOw/C8WO8TAy0-E/s320/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Davis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msH_VlGJAFg/TVi8fRVm2jI/AAAAAAAAAO4/elRRpJ5hsFA/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+McGovern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-msH_VlGJAFg/TVi8fRVm2jI/AAAAAAAAAO4/elRRpJ5hsFA/s320/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+McGovern.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czK7hKaFrP8/TVi8jg9PVTI/AAAAAAAAAO8/_GYKv3cyfNA/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Pearce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czK7hKaFrP8/TVi8jg9PVTI/AAAAAAAAAO8/_GYKv3cyfNA/s320/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Pearce.jpg" width="214" /></a> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zkN1BYQfVk/TVi8MnTLvoI/AAAAAAAAAOk/MyYvmYhN-ro/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Webster+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zkN1BYQfVk/TVi8MnTLvoI/AAAAAAAAAOk/MyYvmYhN-ro/s200/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Webster+Brown.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng8YBBOGr8o/TVi8nFyJmVI/AAAAAAAAAPA/jg9hRBD_E9s/s1600/Web+photo+-+Haydn%2527s+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng8YBBOGr8o/TVi8nFyJmVI/AAAAAAAAAPA/jg9hRBD_E9s/s320/Web+photo+-+Haydn%2527s+birthday.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9MZeiwxP2k/TVi8pqE8R2I/AAAAAAAAAPE/d1exXFjelSc/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9MZeiwxP2k/TVi8pqE8R2I/AAAAAAAAAPE/d1exXFjelSc/s200/Web+Photo+-+Wedding.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IjBihIzcR4/TVi8th7MQSI/AAAAAAAAAPI/_Io6L6ePbzg/s1600/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Efthivolou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IjBihIzcR4/TVi8th7MQSI/AAAAAAAAAPI/_Io6L6ePbzg/s320/Web+Photo+-+Wedding+Efthivolou.jpg" width="213" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-44291162501052291732011-01-02T18:33:00.000+10:002011-01-02T18:33:25.112+10:00Hi ho, hi ho - it's into the New Year we go!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_EsbG8i9I/AAAAAAAAANQ/eRm36V3SxAo/s1600/Xmas+Greetings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_EsbG8i9I/AAAAAAAAANQ/eRm36V3SxAo/s320/Xmas+Greetings.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hope you all had a wonderful start to 2011 with family and friends. It was a quiet one for us on the home front - struggling to keep our eyes open for the New Year fireworks. Whatever happened to partying all night long?</div> Mind you, it was probably because I had been up since 4am finishing off last orders for 2010. Xmas week flew by and cakes went out as quickly as the orders kept coming in.<br />
The thing is that most people don't think further ahead - the amount of clients calling for last minute orders because they hadn't considered that most cake deocrators would close for a Xnas break is amazing. Or that most of my suppliers close down for this period too so orders need to be well planned out and placed ahead of the normal time consideration.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_Eq5aEXTI/AAAAAAAAANM/3TV3LORn9bg/s1600/Xmas+GingerBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_Eq5aEXTI/AAAAAAAAANM/3TV3LORn9bg/s200/Xmas+GingerBread.jpg" width="200" /></a> Between the gingerbread orders, fruit cakes and then the additional ordinary birthday orders, there was little time for sleeping. I'm sure I heard Santa's sleigh pass by in the middle of the night!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DgYeInhI/AAAAAAAAAMo/6fLqm2U4V5M/s1600/Is+there+Anybody+out+there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DgYeInhI/AAAAAAAAAMo/6fLqm2U4V5M/s320/Is+there+Anybody+out+there.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CdqSi0XI/AAAAAAAAAMM/X_jzj1MdXRg/s1600/Baby+Mickey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CdqSi0XI/AAAAAAAAAMM/X_jzj1MdXRg/s200/Baby+Mickey.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_D2i7JNJI/AAAAAAAAAM0/nGdEC_-69d0/s1600/Mermaids+Arena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_D2i7JNJI/AAAAAAAAAM0/nGdEC_-69d0/s200/Mermaids+Arena.jpg" width="149" /></a> With birthday cakes for those families who need to extend party invitations to the next level - celebrating not one, not two but three events at this time of year...and we thought the rest of us had lots to do!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Kids cakes, teenagers' and parents. Even my partners' family has three late birthdays just prior to the Xmas festivities.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DuonxyHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/LEX3ibcdMRc/s1600/Masquerade+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DuonxyHI/AAAAAAAAAMs/LEX3ibcdMRc/s200/Masquerade+Art.jpg" width="149" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With Summer bringing on the butterfly cakes - birthdays and Christenings for the little girls....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_D3ziYXQI/AAAAAAAAAM4/NrgMP3GUCyk/s1600/Mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_D3ziYXQI/AAAAAAAAAM4/NrgMP3GUCyk/s320/Mine.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CoO_AB0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/VySUJz3djgs/s1600/Blessed+Be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CoO_AB0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/VySUJz3djgs/s200/Blessed+Be.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DCW7GFJI/AAAAAAAAAMc/EWqiSlxZqS4/s1600/Dawn+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DCW7GFJI/AAAAAAAAAMc/EWqiSlxZqS4/s320/Dawn+Butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_C0k2EFsI/AAAAAAAAAMY/l6Dy5U3_-Vs/s1600/Butterfly+Occasion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_C0k2EFsI/AAAAAAAAAMY/l6Dy5U3_-Vs/s320/Butterfly+Occasion.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_EiKNK4aI/AAAAAAAAANE/5PXICCrSrSk/s1600/Twenty+for+Tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_EiKNK4aI/AAAAAAAAANE/5PXICCrSrSk/s320/Twenty+for+Tea.jpg" width="320" /></a>teacups for high tea celebrating a young lady's kitchen tea...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">and white chocolate slats for the weddings are always fashionable. They provide a happy compromise for the couple who believe the cake is less edible if it is covered in fondant.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> A Brazilian lady who works at Mundo (Bardon: <a href="http://www.mundochurrasco.com.au/">http://www.mundochurrasco.com.au/</a>) - a wonderful churrasco style restaurant ordered the one below on the right and the reports from guests on how wonderful the cake tasted and looked were fabulous.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DUVY6KVI/AAAAAAAAAMk/8IW5vnrT-IY/s1600/French+Whizz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_DUVY6KVI/AAAAAAAAAMk/8IW5vnrT-IY/s320/French+Whizz.jpg" width="219" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CuY-wNRI/AAAAAAAAAMU/08sxzHarfZ4/s1600/Brazilian+Affair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_CuY-wNRI/AAAAAAAAAMU/08sxzHarfZ4/s320/Brazilian+Affair.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Then on the other side of town - the Manager of Chumley Warner's in Birkdale (<a href="http://www.chumleywarners.com.au/">http://www.chumleywarners.com.au/</a>) came to see me with his fiance to order this lovely black and white creation. He was nice enough to take time out the day after the wedding to ring and let me know what a big hit the cake was. I always appreciate feedback.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_ERvIP6cI/AAAAAAAAAM8/sGQNxfIP0u4/s1600/Stately+Greek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_ERvIP6cI/AAAAAAAAAM8/sGQNxfIP0u4/s320/Stately+Greek.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> For my landlady - she ordered this cake to celebrate her mother's 80th birthday. A lady who seems to have done just about everything!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_Egj8lV5I/AAAAAAAAANA/gFvZBqtutgY/s1600/Twilight+Rises+Again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TR_Egj8lV5I/AAAAAAAAANA/gFvZBqtutgY/s200/Twilight+Rises+Again.jpg" width="149" /></a></div> Having seen the last Twilight movie and anxiously awaiting the last: reportedly not coming out until next November!) a client requested this cake for her friend who is also a bit of a 'twi-hard' like me!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Then last but not least...was the above cake. A take on a Julie Whitehead design. Unfortunately, she was not available to make the cake for Boxing Day and so I took on the job. The cake was delivered to Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast. With all the rain that came down during the drive, it was a cake to be prayed over to make sure it got there all in one piece...A single drop of rain on the hand-painted flowers would have streaked the cake design. The room looked extremely impressive with the cake to match.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So let's hope the New Year continues along this vein and we all remain healthy and happy. Think of all the towns that have been flooded out and keep our general safety and good luck with us.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Speak soon.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">A.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-22168018659285348712010-12-06T19:12:00.000+10:002010-12-06T19:12:32.665+10:00It's begininng to feel a lot like Christmas!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Less than 1 month to go until Xmas people! I can't believe time flies so quickly when you are having fun. The orders just keep coming in and I have cakes booked in until November next year and enquiries for 2012!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Before you know it, we'll be drinking and partying with the best of them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygzCZCeWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/DZom_iWuB8k/s1600/Fancy+Dora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygzCZCeWI/AAAAAAAAAL8/DZom_iWuB8k/s200/Fancy+Dora.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygJ4mcKtI/AAAAAAAAALs/N5GS7DKDxng/s1600/Omnitrix+Watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygJ4mcKtI/AAAAAAAAALs/N5GS7DKDxng/s200/Omnitrix+Watch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Kids cakes have really taken off and more than ever with parents buying cakes for their kids using their favourite toys or tv shows as inspiration.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Ben 10 for the boys and Dora the Explorer for the girls! And yet, within minutes of presenting these cakes, they are demolished beyond recognition by the birthday child and guests.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It's why I love doing what I do. The look on the kids faces and the following phone call thanking me for a job well done by the parents makes it all worth while.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyfrtCRABI/AAAAAAAAALc/0wt3i8NwD3w/s1600/to+the+dump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyfrtCRABI/AAAAAAAAALc/0wt3i8NwD3w/s200/to+the+dump.jpg" width="200" /></a>But don't get me wrong - it's not just the kids that enjoy the custom made cakes. Now they are for every age group from the littlies through to the adults.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyge4naf0I/AAAAAAAAAL0/SlfjnCwnwuI/s1600/Harry+Potter+and+the+book+of+Griffindor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyge4naf0I/AAAAAAAAAL0/SlfjnCwnwuI/s320/Harry+Potter+and+the+book+of+Griffindor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> With the latest addition to the Harry potter movie season - "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (which I went to see with my niece last week), there's been an influx of movie related cake themes.<br />
Many of which will be part of costume parties with guests of all ages.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygRo_qLdI/AAAAAAAAALw/VKs177G20lk/s1600/Manolo+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPygRo_qLdI/AAAAAAAAALw/VKs177G20lk/s200/Manolo+box.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf0uVjyAI/AAAAAAAAALg/u3k8MbEnPkk/s1600/suave+outing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf0uVjyAI/AAAAAAAAALg/u3k8MbEnPkk/s320/suave+outing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Sex in the City" was the main attraction for this cake above on the right with shoe fetishists' throughout the world rejoicing. With less intricate designs of similar themes for the cakes on the left.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Or for the boys - UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champonships) has seen the latest boom. Bye, bye world wrestling :(</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The cake below made for 200 guests contained a UFC octagonal ring and 2 fighters (one made to look like the birthday boy) with a bikini clad girl. Seats, supporters logo's and clothing gear all represented.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyfn1hCtoI/AAAAAAAAALY/bVjmxv725Bw/s1600/UFC+Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyfn1hCtoI/AAAAAAAAALY/bVjmxv725Bw/s320/UFC+Live.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf7KXptgI/AAAAAAAAALk/JJ4T7A2Tt2I/s1600/Sail+all+over+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf7KXptgI/AAAAAAAAALk/JJ4T7A2Tt2I/s200/Sail+all+over+the+world.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And for something a little bit different - one for the escapist in all of us. A sailing boat off to see the world.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> With this next cake, there was a funny story behind the laptop cake including a work colleague who remains single searching the web for the woman of his dreams! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Someone was trying to give the poor guy a hint!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyhEzVlKaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/iorWxtDzcbo/s1600/Computer+Hacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyhEzVlKaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/iorWxtDzcbo/s320/Computer+Hacker.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And last of all the novelty cake for the wedding couple. A small token wedding cake made more for the groom than the bride... a true football fanatic!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I hope she's still grinning like this after a few years!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf-UEnIPI/AAAAAAAAALo/gc220iT8e0s/s1600/Romance+on+the+field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyf-UEnIPI/AAAAAAAAALo/gc220iT8e0s/s320/Romance+on+the+field.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-37006985530562397532010-12-04T17:07:00.065+10:002010-12-06T19:17:40.346+10:00Back to School<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyS5XtdufI/AAAAAAAAAKM/DZWBsFcemHg/s1600/Vintage+cake+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyS5XtdufI/AAAAAAAAAKM/DZWBsFcemHg/s320/Vintage+cake+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Yes, yes, I know most of you out there are thinking...what? It's Christmas holiday time not January - back to school. Sorry to confuse but I actually meant that some of us cake decorators got together during last weekend in Toowoomba to hold a workshop class.<br />
Mary Reid of "Merivale Cakes & Crafts<span style="color: black;">" (</span><span style="color: black;"><u><a href="http://www.merivalecakesandcrafts.com.au/">http://www.merivalecakesandcrafts.com.au/</a></u>) organised for</span> us to come out to Toowoomba for a visit and we were graced by the presence of John Quai Hoi - "My Cake Delights" <span style="color: black;">(</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://mycakedelights.com.au)%20preston/">http://mycakedelights.com.au) </a><span style="color: black;">,</span> Melbourne. It was an honour to have Mr. Quai Hoi show us how to create extra large flowers on wedding cakes for which he is known, world-wide.</span><span style="color: black;">Preston</span><br />
It wasn't all business of course and we had an absolute ball, socialising, hanging out and talking shop.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPndYZ59GXI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ogKW5zWnIoE/s1600/John+Quai+Hoi+workshop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPndYZ59GXI/AAAAAAAAAJw/ogKW5zWnIoE/s320/John+Quai+Hoi+workshop.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Within the group there were over 12 ladies within the industry both from Brisbane and Toowoomba businesses'. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPnfjDd2FkI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/n1r2W_Si_nw/s1600/Ying+%2526+Yang+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPnfjDd2FkI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/n1r2W_Si_nw/s320/Ying+%2526+Yang+love.jpg" width="239" /></a> I think the class was fun and considering how much of what I have created over the years has been sel-taught through trial and error, it was great to see new methods and see the creationary process through a new perspective.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> To make it in time many of us were running around trying to make sure cake orders were finished and delivered on time.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPngvFyk2nI/AAAAAAAAAKA/QhdGrNRQbeY/s1600/Final+Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPngvFyk2nI/AAAAAAAAAKA/QhdGrNRQbeY/s200/Final+Ace.jpg" width="149" /></a> Clean, simple cake designs with large embellishment - flowers, diamates or ribbon are really coming into their own at the moment. Some of the cakes even have absolutely no other colour on them except for a single flower to enliven the room. Interesting to see after making so many with all sorts of piping and appliqued work.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyXDTVGzsI/AAAAAAAAALQ/YUsgU9Ybo-c/s1600/Strictly+Ballroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyXDTVGzsI/AAAAAAAAALQ/YUsgU9Ybo-c/s200/Strictly+Ballroom.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyWkoFXqnI/AAAAAAAAALE/A70mrsyCGBg/s1600/Live+big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyWkoFXqnI/AAAAAAAAALE/A70mrsyCGBg/s200/Live+big.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUZhkd2rI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Br90rGoj5oY/s1600/Calla+Contemporary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUZhkd2rI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Br90rGoj5oY/s200/Calla+Contemporary.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyU4TBVX-I/AAAAAAAAAKo/3T6oCIKh_a8/s1600/Fancy+Fling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyU4TBVX-I/AAAAAAAAAKo/3T6oCIKh_a8/s320/Fancy+Fling.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyWdjk7ZEI/AAAAAAAAALA/KrPZrS7Usb0/s1600/Laced+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyWdjk7ZEI/AAAAAAAAALA/KrPZrS7Usb0/s320/Laced+up.jpg" width="240" /></a>The cake to the left was a strange but beautiful design picked out by a young bride from a wedding cake magazine. It was definitely different. Covered in beatiful lace and gathered around each tier with a diamante strand, ribbon and buckle. I felt like a dressmaker putting it together!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The end result was definitely worth the time as once I place it onto the table at the venue - it looked fantastic! The mirrored table added to the effect making the cake seem extremely tall. It's good to see a venue that thinks about where the cake is going!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUd42p9ZI/AAAAAAAAAKY/uUZXQmO5Y7o/s1600/Castle+of+the+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUd42p9ZI/AAAAAAAAAKY/uUZXQmO5Y7o/s200/Castle+of+the+year.jpg" width="150" /></a>Between these and the novelty cake work which is always so diverse, the job is keeping me busy. I have clients who ring up asking for cakes or cake ideas they have seen on Foxtel television shows such as "Ace of Cakes" or "The Cake Boss". This following cake spurred on the idea of having a cake when you find out a family member is going to have a new baby.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPngWP5brEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/G3zi1V6kh58/s1600/New+Baby+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPngWP5brEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/G3zi1V6kh58/s320/New+Baby+joy.jpg" width="320" /></a> You've got to love television and technology for moments like these.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> "MasterChef" brought on a whole new load of 'requests'. Suddenly everyone wanted croquembouche (chantilly filled profiteroles coated in toffee). The trouble with that is, I live in Brisbane...not necessarily the most humid free environment around. It's supposed to be like the tropics here! And let me tell you, toffee does not react well with humidity!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> So here's my version of the same cake - coated in chocolate this time so the client can either store it in a coolroom or an air-conditioned room until time for their event! Chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate filigree on top are always winners'.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUniOL-EI/AAAAAAAAAKg/v7hQy-ozjW8/s1600/Croquembouche+Fantasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TPyUniOL-EI/AAAAAAAAAKg/v7hQy-ozjW8/s320/Croquembouche+Fantasy.jpg" width="145" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-63208555343344341722010-11-10T09:23:00.000+10:002010-11-10T09:23:04.658+10:00A Royal Charity Event My cousin invited me to a very special event back in August - it was an 'eye tea' hosted by herself and her mother-in-law to help purchase medical equipment for children who are blind or severely vision impaired. It was to say the least - 'an eye opening experience' - no pun intended.<br />
Although there was a small fee to help raise money and raffles, the ladies put on such an amazing aray of goodies throughout their tea areas and served us professionally.<br />
With savoury and sweets, I wanted to contribute a little more to the event and made a cake to be raffled off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnWx2b1RLI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2jRBc42X51I/s1600/Tea+Party+Charity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnWx2b1RLI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2jRBc42X51I/s640/Tea+Party+Charity.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The above cake was all completely edible - from the cup, saucer, spoon, fork and cake slice to the teapot. <br />
In the end, I recieved a note from the ladies holding the event and was haapily surprised to learn we had helped to raise almost $10,000 for Blind and Vision impaired children.<br />
If anyone else out there would like to sponsor an 'eye tea' in Brisbane, please call: Melissa Fanshawe 0439 820 495.<br />
Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-43419730500092904652010-11-10T08:56:00.001+10:002010-11-10T09:05:37.968+10:00Of Ghosts & ghouls - things that go bump in the night!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Halloween is not necessarily as big here as it is in the States - but the phenomenon is growing! As much as consumerism and marketing can push it, I have loved dressing up since I was little and had always loved the scarier things in life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnP0j__g5I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/PVm5WDaf1w4/s1600/Boiling+Cauldron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnP0j__g5I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/PVm5WDaf1w4/s320/Boiling+Cauldron.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQCePZRnI/AAAAAAAAAJY/9jGlPTbTM_0/s1600/Ain%2527t+Casper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQCePZRnI/AAAAAAAAAJY/9jGlPTbTM_0/s320/Ain%2527t+Casper.jpg" width="239" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnP6AZrQdI/AAAAAAAAAJU/b6FFHwz__x8/s1600/Witches+Cauldron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnP6AZrQdI/AAAAAAAAAJU/b6FFHwz__x8/s320/Witches+Cauldron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I wish I had the time during the season to put on a mega party for dress-up lovers' like myself. Unfortunately with the cakes taking up the time and loving the smiles on the clients faces when they pick up their cakes - it pretty much declares the time a non-event.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQFEkeAxI/AAAAAAAAAJc/j9All3AYqGE/s1600/Halloween+Scare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQFEkeAxI/AAAAAAAAAJc/j9All3AYqGE/s320/Halloween+Scare.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQIwa3JEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/K30690d0LF0/s1600/Scary+cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQIwa3JEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/K30690d0LF0/s320/Scary+cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQWJIZCuI/AAAAAAAAAJo/KB34sTIrUKs/s1600/Mean+Lean+Cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQWJIZCuI/AAAAAAAAAJo/KB34sTIrUKs/s320/Mean+Lean+Cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQK4AKrhI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1Hly7VCHRWY/s1600/Scary+Hairy+Patties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNnQK4AKrhI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1Hly7VCHRWY/s320/Scary+Hairy+Patties.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> However, I love it when the kids come trick or treating and I feel like the witch in the gingerbread house handing out bags of goodies...<br />
Coming from a family of four girls - me being the last try for the boy! - my father and I bonded over late night movies of Frankenstein, Dracula and the Mummy. Classics which I will always watch with fondness. Anything ghoulish or macabre has intrigued me and they don't scare me at all. The thrill of making a cake for others having a "scary" night is fantastic.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> HAPPY HALLOWEEN!</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-67167954733726283742010-11-03T17:29:00.001+10:002010-11-03T17:38:01.015+10:00Cake Trends You know - it's different for every person. Whether you like black in comparison to white, contemporary in relation to traditional, tall to short or elaborate versus simplicity. But when you take orders for cakes on a daily basis you start to notice small comparisons. <br />
A couple will all call for a super hero cake or a Batman cake... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFL0RkwFI/AAAAAAAAAIA/PqoFqST3OLw/s1600/Batman's+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFL0RkwFI/AAAAAAAAAIA/PqoFqST3OLw/s320/Batman's+City.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFfjrMLAI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/mrQbLJtA6GE/s1600/Calling+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFfjrMLAI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/mrQbLJtA6GE/s320/Calling+Batman.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEHWpdMZII/AAAAAAAAAJA/UJzBzCetRjg/s1600/Super+hero+Trio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEHWpdMZII/AAAAAAAAAJA/UJzBzCetRjg/s640/Super+hero+Trio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Cars or vehicles for the fellas? Dad, son or best mate?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEILEeOQmI/AAAAAAAAAJE/oBXojp6ThV4/s1600/The+Finer+things+in+Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEILEeOQmI/AAAAAAAAAJE/oBXojp6ThV4/s200/The+Finer+things+in+Life.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEIO8HWctI/AAAAAAAAAJI/5ZD8syArA-M/s1600/Lamborghini+Lust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEIO8HWctI/AAAAAAAAAJI/5ZD8syArA-M/s200/Lamborghini+Lust.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEISOo3gZI/AAAAAAAAAJM/WtfT6FLuwGA/s1600/A+buggy+a+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEISOo3gZI/AAAAAAAAAJM/WtfT6FLuwGA/s320/A+buggy+a+day.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> More than once on a particular weekend will you recieve an order comparitive to another either in style, colour or filling. Maybe one weekend is full of pink flower orders, on another there will be an influx of difficult cakes with lots of filigree work or simple iced cakes with iced flowers. It's like all the brides for that weekend had a secret meeting and decided to choose cakes with similar designs. Why is it so?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGNwD3_8I/AAAAAAAAAIw/nXKzrjMqdVA/s1600/Flower+fanfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGNwD3_8I/AAAAAAAAAIw/nXKzrjMqdVA/s320/Flower+fanfare.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGb2uiK6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/vZPivSxiXWc/s1600/Graceful+Swirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGb2uiK6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/vZPivSxiXWc/s320/Graceful+Swirl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFE4q-h-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/S1TrBJyDSTE/s1600/Animal+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFE4q-h-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/S1TrBJyDSTE/s320/Animal+fun.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then again, there are times when I recieve an order which I have never made and probably will never again - they're the one-off's...originals...the strange requests for people who like the strange, macabre and just plain crazy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGUCVZwnI/AAAAAAAAAI0/YukvNWK4mfw/s1600/French+Connection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGUCVZwnI/AAAAAAAAAI0/YukvNWK4mfw/s320/French+Connection.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFxfP4NwI/AAAAAAAAAIc/k6Vc-LcSTtg/s1600/Companion+Cube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFxfP4NwI/AAAAAAAAAIc/k6Vc-LcSTtg/s200/Companion+Cube.jpg" width="149" /></a> From the Eiffel Tower, to a 'Companion Cube' for a computer geek or as per below: the weekend bird watcher!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Like I always say - it's the creativity of this job that makes it so interesting. It's never the same - constantly changing. </div> <br />
Some of them require research - I jump on the 'net and find photos of related items. For the Eiffel tower, I printed photos of the front, side and top views. <br />
For the 'Companion Cube', I looked into the game. I wanted to write "the cake is fake" on the board because I thought the idea of placing a placebo cake with real recipe into a game was brilliant. The client didn't think so. When my partner brought it up with her son upon pick-up, the birthday boy exclaimed that it would have been 'the ultimate!'<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFRflYSmI/AAAAAAAAAIE/UHureVmf4X8/s1600/Birds+Watching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFRflYSmI/AAAAAAAAAIE/UHureVmf4X8/s320/Birds+Watching.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sometimes a little background makes the cake far more interesting!<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFrVE8w_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/FexvSoLuCnw/s1600/Contemporary+Blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEFrVE8w_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/FexvSoLuCnw/s640/Contemporary+Blues.jpg" width="572" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGK_QC96I/AAAAAAAAAIs/9Ei_80qftzo/s1600/Flashy+Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNEGK_QC96I/AAAAAAAAAIs/9Ei_80qftzo/s200/Flashy+Ace.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Little Difference is A Good Thing...</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It's being allowed to give the cake an extra touch that really makes my day. Not necessarily from the clients who want you to do everything for free but from the ones who are happy to pay, give you inspiration and then let you play a little. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The couple from the cake above sent me a copy of their wedding invitation rather than just an email. It was exquisite. They had thought of the presentation of the invitation down to the beautiful beading hanging from the centre of the embossed card. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I couldn't help myself. When they told me what they wanted with the mad hatter design and the floral filigree, they told me I could have card'blanche to do what I wanted further that this.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It was in the following weeks, I found myself down at my bead supplier sourcing the same coloured beads and crystals from their invitation. It was like I was possessed. I sat in the evening threading the beads as per their design and attaching them to the wires exploding from their cake. I was so happy with the final result.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-26839897223169037652010-11-03T15:20:00.001+10:002010-11-03T15:27:58.018+10:00Promises, Promises<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDlHtj-IZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/3CVNvTx-cws/s1600/Pinocchio's+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDlHtj-IZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/3CVNvTx-cws/s320/Pinocchio's+Box.jpg" width="240" /></a>Well - I did promise that I would be right back to continue and here I am! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I remember when I was little girl that my eldest sister had a favourite toy - a pinocchio doll made of wood. A lovely piece of workmanship with a rubber nose. That nose had been eaten continously and used as a teething toy for years and I think she still has it!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> When the client came to me to make pinocchio for a Christening cake I thought it an awesome idea. I had heaps of fun and each moment made me feel like I had reverted to my childhood.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDlFCTSNNI/AAAAAAAAAHM/U8Ig3Y_4Qig/s1600/Princess+Gathering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDlFCTSNNI/AAAAAAAAAHM/U8Ig3Y_4Qig/s320/Princess+Gathering.jpg" width="240" /></a> Another thing I loved to do in my spare time as a kid was to draw. I would draw pretty ladies in large ball gown dresses - obviously created from watching Disney movies on Sunday afternoons. Daddy's little girl loved to think that when I grew up I would be rushed off my feet by my knight in shining armour... it's still like that for many little girls.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The cake on the left is testimonial for another one in many. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDn1f68xnI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Ab3ARPwFwUM/s1600/Minnie's+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDn1f68xnI/AAAAAAAAAHk/Ab3ARPwFwUM/s320/Minnie's+Party.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDn4X6JIBI/AAAAAAAAAHo/1eP_TWWiYDM/s1600/Minnie+Cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDn4X6JIBI/AAAAAAAAAHo/1eP_TWWiYDM/s200/Minnie+Cupcakes.jpg" width="200" /></a> For one of my regular clients - her little girl was having a Minnie party. <br />
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She gave me strict instructions that Minnie was to be dresses in her original red dress with polka dots and yellow heels. <br />
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Apart from the main cake she was also having a family party on a following day so the above cupcakes were made to match the theme. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnwsCxafI/AAAAAAAAAHg/KrdAxtfKJ14/s1600/Natural+Provider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnwsCxafI/AAAAAAAAAHg/KrdAxtfKJ14/s400/Natural+Provider.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> There was a lady who I used to deal with at a function centre which closed down. When it came to her wedding, she contacted me knowing that I could make her an egg free cake for her wedding. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Having always organised other people's it was lovely to liase with her on her own. She's a wonderful, vibrant person and the wedding certainly reflected the same vitality. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Upon delivering the cake, I quickly stopped in with the florist and wished her and her partner to be all the best. It didn't surprise me that the room she was staying in was a replica of a pyramid with all the accoutrements to match. So with a modern take on a classic design, burnt orange bridesmaid dresses and flowers...the cake was the complete opposite!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDndg3XPTI/AAAAAAAAAHU/jNyGQOhbB68/s1600/Parisian+Seduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDndg3XPTI/AAAAAAAAAHU/jNyGQOhbB68/s320/Parisian+Seduction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> For some couples when it comes to their wedding cake, a simple affair is often the best. The cake to the right reflects the colours and design of the wedding. A touch of black to make it contemporary but with the draping and flowers of the past.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnoygrbEI/AAAAAAAAAHc/NvS43tabTD4/s1600/Occasionally+Creative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnoygrbEI/AAAAAAAAAHc/NvS43tabTD4/s320/Occasionally+Creative.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Upon cencelling their wedding date, a couple who had paid a large sum of their deposit requested the money be used for another occasion. Not a problem! I used the amount they had originally deposited to create this gorgeous cake to the left for a family memebers' 21st instead. It was much appreciated.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnhyQey2I/AAAAAAAAAHY/UEZprnald88/s1600/One+ring+to+Bind+them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDnhyQey2I/AAAAAAAAAHY/UEZprnald88/s320/One+ring+to+Bind+them.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Lord of the Rings fans will be happy to know that the Elvish writing on this cake reproduction is not as easy as it looks! My calligraphy work as a child certainly helped!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoCZ3qAPI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yBbH9Cjdypg/s1600/Lace+of+Wonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoCZ3qAPI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yBbH9Cjdypg/s320/Lace+of+Wonder.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Another wedding cake delivered to Manly in Brisbane was the photo taken to the left. A stately tall cake with topper provided by the client reproduced with a spray of iced hand-made flowers.<br />
It was originally meant to be wedgewood blue in colour, however the bride rang the week of the wedding to ask me to change it to chocolate brown as there had been issues with decorating the venue as originally planned.<br />
I think the cake still looked stunning in chocolate and more delicious as the colour blue is seen to be inedible by many people. <br />
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From childrens' parties to adult birthdays' cakes can be made to suit the individual. <br />
A child's favourite toy to the addictive cup of coffee for a cafe manager - you're only limited by your imagination!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoHY5w4RI/AAAAAAAAAHw/HDe5nSI9B2Y/s1600/Kinda+clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoHY5w4RI/AAAAAAAAAHw/HDe5nSI9B2Y/s320/Kinda+clown.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoQl5KihI/AAAAAAAAAH0/q5uDUWrSwz8/s1600/I+like+it+decaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDoQl5KihI/AAAAAAAAAH0/q5uDUWrSwz8/s320/I+like+it+decaf.jpg" width="239" /></a> <br />
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</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-22057119343277945442010-11-03T14:25:00.001+10:002010-11-03T14:28:15.632+10:00I've been a Bad, Bad Girl You know what they say - good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere! So what's the deal because I've been nowhere but work and home. Oh - apart from family weddings'!<br />
As per usual I apologise for not having a chance to get on. I'm sure the Tax Department will be happy to hear that I'm spending my time on this rather than at the accountants making sure my Bas is up to date. Oh well - them's the breaks!<br />
It's been a hectic couple of months with the wedding season now over with and the last stragglers coming through, I wonder what the silly season will bring?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDTvCLfGrI/AAAAAAAAAF4/HxTE2cHzUg0/s1600/Under+the+Cherry+Blossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDTvCLfGrI/AAAAAAAAAF4/HxTE2cHzUg0/s320/Under+the+Cherry+Blossoms.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> "Under the Cherry Blossoms" - The cake on the left was an interesting change to the usual wedding cake with both the bride and groom being avid badminton players. They wanted to incoprorate this onto their cake with the two hand-made figurines sporting sneakers, rackets and bag...pretty good promotion for the companies making the equipment!<br />
Cherry blossoms accent the rest of the cake from front to back.<br />
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Toy Story 3 has come out to raving reviews and the children have been wanting a theme cake. There's been toy boxes and beds, tiered stacks and exploding Dino's! I've had fun making the characters out of molding paste and watching the kids faces when they come to pick up their cakes is even better. Mind you - I think I would cry when I see them tear into it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDXP6OVNEI/AAAAAAAAAGY/61UDdaZ5JtU/s1600/Toys+Story's+Dino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDXP6OVNEI/AAAAAAAAAGY/61UDdaZ5JtU/s320/Toys+Story's+Dino.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDVLcFcX3I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/t9P94gzER_U/s1600/Sunday+roast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDVLcFcX3I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/t9P94gzER_U/s320/Sunday+roast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> "Sunday Roast" was a strange cake to make. I kept expecting the smell of fried chicken, potatoes and peas to issue forth and yet the sweetness of the icing and te chocolate cake beneath assaulted the senses instead. <br />
It was enough to do your head in.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> These small cakes were for a wedding where the groom had lent his artistic creativity to the event. His design of their initials withing a heart linked by a graphic element was a nice change to a traditional wedding cake. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Each cake had a white fondant heart placed on top with the logo reproduced by hand-painting with edible food colours on top.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The couple had a variety of guests including family memebers from overseas so although they kept the wedding small, the flashiness was outdone with their inventiveness. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Once stacked at the venue, I had created a larger cake topper in the same vein as the smaller cakes but with a little bling on the side.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDT8OFvoWI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wkOtIEybbNc/s1600/the+Road+to+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDT8OFvoWI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wkOtIEybbNc/s320/the+Road+to+Love.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> With hearts coming back into vogue, this twist on a classic cake looked absolutely fabulous. The edible silver cashous encrusted around the base of each tier added luster. <br />
When I dropped the cake off at the venue I was happy to see how well the cake fit in with all the decorations - it was pretty in pink!<br />
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On a sad but happy note - it's nice to see that sometimes when weddings don't work out there can still be a funny side.<br />
I made my first 'divorce' cake ever. There have been many noted on the interent and emailed to me by friends who thought the idea a hilarious one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdKb9FnwI/AAAAAAAAAGc/UdzFXRnEoXI/s1600/The+Princess+&+the+squashed+toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdKb9FnwI/AAAAAAAAAGc/UdzFXRnEoXI/s320/The+Princess+&+the+squashed+toad.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdUuhoC9I/AAAAAAAAAGg/cMP-nNAtGBE/s1600/Sexy+Temptress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdUuhoC9I/AAAAAAAAAGg/cMP-nNAtGBE/s200/Sexy+Temptress.jpg" width="150" /></a> With large flowers being all the rage - the "Sexy Temptress" to the right was a beautiful, stunning cake to create. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The cake was then transported to Stradbroke Island for the wedding and I think my grey hair grew by 90% that day. The weather did not bode well and with all the rain, the humidity was really putting a damper on things.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Thank god it got there in one piece and the weather cleared for the wedding the following day. I breathed a sigh of relief when the Bride's mother contacted me thanking me for a job well done.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdfgzjndI/AAAAAAAAAGo/mmPjftPLT2Y/s1600/Rhino+Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdfgzjndI/AAAAAAAAAGo/mmPjftPLT2Y/s320/Rhino+Ace.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> A great order for a family just returned from an African safari were the two seperate cakes to the left and below.<br />
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The rhino was recreated for the boy in the family and the giraffe for his sister. Apparently, they had enjoyed the safari so much that mum thought it was a great idea to have their favourit animals on the trip made from cake for their birthday party.<br />
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I couldn't make the giraffe's neck as long as I wanted to but who know's? - maybe we'll be able to get our hands on 'rice-crispy rolls' like on 'Ace of Cakes' soon enough! Australia will catch up quicker that we think.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Rabbitoh's" everywhere rejoice! A young fan who works down at my local fruit shop had this ordered for her birthday. She recalled it immediately whn I dropped in to buy some vegies the other day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I couldn't believe she was still eating it although the party had been more than a month prior!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> She said she had stored it in the fridge and the cake still tasted great. I must say I was skeptical. But she seemed happy and healthy so who am I to judge?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDeFqtBqoI/AAAAAAAAAHE/hMDS243Uz9Y/s1600/Pearl+Diving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDeFqtBqoI/AAAAAAAAAHE/hMDS243Uz9Y/s200/Pearl+Diving.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdtNF_XFI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KjGkRlzTBKE/s1600/Priska's+Temptation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDdtNF_XFI/AAAAAAAAAG0/KjGkRlzTBKE/s200/Priska's+Temptation.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDd6O1Qv1I/AAAAAAAAAG8/lEpICmQ7vZ0/s1600/Pooches+Purple+Passion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDd6O1Qv1I/AAAAAAAAAG8/lEpICmQ7vZ0/s200/Pooches+Purple+Passion.jpg" width="150" /></a> Weddings are so diverse and each couple has a specific idea in mind when it comes to their special day. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> These cakes will give you an idea of the wide variety available and why when it comes to designing a cake for your day you can have something that has been made just for you. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDeKDAercI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9-IJ02tG_3A/s1600/Patriotic+Endeavour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TNDeKDAercI/AAAAAAAAAHI/9-IJ02tG_3A/s200/Patriotic+Endeavour.jpg" width="150" /></a> Some cake decorators like to work only with chocolate, others' only in traditional classic styles. I like to make something for everyone. It makes my job so much more creative when I can put together a cake which is as diverse as the client themselves.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-23175761160785401832010-08-02T14:41:00.000+10:002010-08-02T14:41:31.236+10:00Still Alive and Kicking<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> My clients certainly bring out the best in me. This cake was made for a lady who loooves the Tasmanian Devil. She has everything from license plates and kitchen ware to collectibles so when it came time to decide what she wanted for a cake - there could be nothing else. Sure, I vamped him up a little and personified him to be more like her eg. the jewellery, the long nails and the wine glass but who doesn't want to see their favourite character made like them? It's the best time to make a cake when you're pretty much allowed to do whatever you want along the theme.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I love it when I can still bring a tear to the eye - a happy one that is!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TDKHV0OGmiI/AAAAAAAAAEY/_3BSOHdNTcY/s1600/Tazzie+Devil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TDKHV0OGmiI/AAAAAAAAAEY/_3BSOHdNTcY/s320/Tazzie+Devil.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This following car cake was a child's favourite toy brought to life. I was hoping he wouldn't notice that it was gone from his collection in the week after the order was confirmed and I needed the toy to give me the three dimensionality to make the cake correct. Because of this cake I have another lady who has brought me her childs' favourite toy to copy. So life goes on!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">With Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton hitting DVD's, a lot of fans have commented on creating theme birthday cakes around the dark movie concept. Of course Johnny Depp was involved with Burton's wife - Helena Bonham Carter and with both of them being favourites of myself who could possibly turn down this project? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZGsX6UnGI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Yp_2BHCI7pc/s1600/Alice+in+Wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZGsX6UnGI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Yp_2BHCI7pc/s320/Alice+in+Wonderland.jpg" /></a> I had to include the Mad Hatters' hat with the cheshire cat, one of the cakes from the tea party, the teapot Alice hides in - with Alice climbing up in her curtain frock, and the mushroom with Absolom smoking his pipe. For the evil character I used one of the red queens' playing cards hiding around the back of the cake. I wanted to make the Rabbit too but time was against me so I placed his fob watch on the board instead. Sometimes I need to know when to stop!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZHCWVWyvI/AAAAAAAAAFI/geFr51Ifjak/s1600/Alice+in+Wonderland+-+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZHCWVWyvI/AAAAAAAAAFI/geFr51Ifjak/s320/Alice+in+Wonderland+-+back.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Funnily enough my neighbour across the road was given my number by a friend of hers. She was having a arty for her partner and wanted to incorporate the football team he loves - so Brisbane Bronco's also get a mention in this post with this football cake. His name was signed on the top as if he was the star of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFY7w21LtII/AAAAAAAAAEw/M118VdeCTqw/s1600/Bronco+Fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFY7w21LtII/AAAAAAAAAEw/M118VdeCTqw/s320/Bronco+Fan.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">My uncle and his grandson also had their birthday party together this last month. So I tried to incorporate the two ideas together. My Uncle Giuseppe is a formworker by trade and so I used some images of a layout as the base on a wooden floor with two stacked bricks as the actual cake - made of 'Brick cake" too. Then scribbled Isaac's name across them as if he'd been playing near his Uncle causing mischief. I also used cake to create the beer as it was time to relax and not work!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFY8YzBPaEI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GMxeg41Fu4o/s1600/Brick+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFY8YzBPaEI/AAAAAAAAAE4/GMxeg41Fu4o/s320/Brick+cake.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZIT31edLI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/RijzNzv53NQ/s1600/Pirates+treasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/TFZIT31edLI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/RijzNzv53NQ/s320/Pirates+treasure.jpg" /></a>Another customer asked me to create a pirates treasure chest for her little boy. Having only ever made a simple one before I thought that it was time to go to town on the decorations. I added the pirates map, his birthday note as well as lolly jewels and iced jewels to create an over the top effect. She was very happy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">With Debbie Brown in town giving lessons, I had to book myself in. I have all her books and fell in love with her work from many years ago. She's so fast and such a great teacher, the smile on my face says it all. I chose her Ganesh figurine class for two reasons: the first being that it was the most difficult and I love a challenge. The second, for time - it was on a Monday which is my quietest day. Also, I'm glad to see many more cakes made with a distinctly Indian flavour in the design. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Many years ago, I had created a dummy cake for the shop I decorated for which i absolutely loved. Unfortunately, orange was definitely not a colour most brides would choose and the design disappeared. I must have been ahead of my time!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Ganesh figurine has inspired me to make more cakes with interesting themes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well that's all I have time for - but I'll be intouch as soon as I can. A.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-31701327213643578982010-05-21T15:36:00.001+10:002010-05-21T16:04:33.138+10:00Delectable Dedication<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YVDMimcpI/AAAAAAAAAD4/wUxdF_4XczM/s1600/Flavourful+Favours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YVDMimcpI/AAAAAAAAAD4/wUxdF_4XczM/s400/Flavourful+Favours.jpg" width="227" /></a></div> Five minutes to sit and down and give you all a quick update on 'the cake girl' world... between emails and quote requests I feel like I spend too much time on the computer of late. For a piece of technology which was created to apparently keep us all in touch and keep us up to date, the PC can feel like a cage at times - keeping us all apart -locked away in our towers and behind schedules with the amount of glitches.<br />
For the past few weeks, creating cakes has certainly taken a turn. I keep trying to find time to design more cakes but only seem to manage a quick sketch here and there. My mind plagues me with more and I dream of working in the kitchen continuously - or should I say I have nightmares? It never stops and I wake up feeling as if the cakes should already be made considering I was just there!<br />
Chocolate goodies and sweets to tantalise the senses - just like "Chocolat" the movie...cones of wafer with a chocolate coating within then kirsch cherry swirl decorated with fresh strawberries and chocolate filigree. Accompanied by cones filled with gianduia cream and a candied heart make a great wedding cake with all the trimmings and best of all - your guests can help themselves!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YPP8_8LII/AAAAAAAAADg/jLHKTJ_FCwk/s1600/1+baby+cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YPP8_8LII/AAAAAAAAADg/jLHKTJ_FCwk/s200/1+baby+cupcake.jpg" width="150" /></a>One cupcake standing alone rather than a multitude - these cakes have become very popular of late...I wonder if the trend will stop? I've made them for young and old, male or female and everyone seems to love them. They're a classic! There are shops and on-line places selling moulds to make these at home now - but I still enjoy making my novelty cakes from scratch. This way I can make them large or small according to the amount of guests you need to feed without constricting the serve.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YRlqRuEeI/AAAAAAAAADo/sqZlQlL7H_I/s1600/Tinkerbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YRlqRuEeI/AAAAAAAAADo/sqZlQlL7H_I/s320/Tinkerbell.jpg" width="240" /></a>For little girls, Tinkerbell is fashionable. Although her story has been around since days of Peter Pan, having her own movie I suppose has helped. The little girl whom I made this particular cake for, apparently pulled Tinkerbell straight off the cake after her exclamation of delight. It always makes this job the best in the world when stories like this come back to me. I think I enjoyed making it as much as they enjoyed eating it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YaFPjF1sI/AAAAAAAAAEI/LlRijAg5VPM/s1600/Winner+takes+all+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YaFPjF1sI/AAAAAAAAAEI/LlRijAg5VPM/s320/Winner+takes+all+detail.jpg" /></a>A close-up detail of a cake for a surprise party at the races was a hit. The horses race each other around the cake on all sides with no end in sight. The horses were hand-painted with piped detail on the jockeys to add extra dimension. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YbEZXLulI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/VXKBw2Ye4vg/s1600/Winner+takes+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YbEZXLulI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/VXKBw2Ye4vg/s200/Winner+takes+all.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YSiL6PyVI/AAAAAAAAADw/BgC_IhHFNT4/s1600/Barbie%27s+Changing+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YSiL6PyVI/AAAAAAAAADw/BgC_IhHFNT4/s320/Barbie%27s+Changing+Room.jpg" /></a> For a slight variation on the usual Dolly Varden cake, I attached a cake to look like a stepped floor in Barbie's bedroom. All dressed up after the ball, she had her change clothes in hand and make-up, hand-bags, mirror etc strewn across the floor - just like any young girls' bedroom before Mum's come in to clean. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YWCstlmWI/AAAAAAAAAEA/8zUNBYBgaP8/s1600/Down+the+Rabbit+Hole+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YWCstlmWI/AAAAAAAAAEA/8zUNBYBgaP8/s320/Down+the+Rabbit+Hole+2.jpg" width="240" /></a>Down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland! With Tim Burtons' latest edition, Alice had been insppiring to say the least. This cake was a recent creation and I've posted it today to dedicate it to two of my favourite clients and family who unfortunately had a dearly loved member pass away recently. I barely knew her but of the little I spoke to her - she was a wonderful lady, taken away far too soon. I hope the rabbit hole shows her wonders she had never seen and treats her well. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And on that sad note - I bid you all farewell for another time.</div><img height="96" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S_YbEZXLulI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/VXKBw2Ye4vg/s200/Winner+takes+all.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 382px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 990px; visibility: hidden;" width="72" />Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-77326524413509805302010-05-10T07:48:00.001+10:002010-11-03T15:08:00.592+10:00Crazy Cake WeekHello All! The last few weeks have passed and the time has presented itself for me to post another item. You all have to find some time to check the following blog out: <a href="http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/">http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/</a> I can spend hours looking at the photos on his site and feeling sick that there are people out there destroying the name of "cake decorator". <br />
Mind you - over the years I have seen many cakes: both by clients who have brought me their bought disasters to fix and by pastry chefs who didn't have the time or the inclination to do things right - yes...you know who you are!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-cpmbeH0WI/AAAAAAAAACo/TgOXfNhS3Bk/s1600/The+Corpse+Bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-cpmbeH0WI/AAAAAAAAACo/TgOXfNhS3Bk/s320/The+Corpse+Bride.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div> My latest edition to the cake world of note was a copy from an American bakery called: <a href="http://www.pinkcakebox.com/">http://www.pinkcakebox.com/</a> - I had clients contact me to see if I could reproduce their cake design. Strangely enough it wasn't because they were Tim Burton fans or had even seen the movie "The Corpse Bride" but more because they liked the design of the cake! They told me it was down to this cake or an "Aliens" cake! Personally, I looove Burtons' work and cherish the thought that people out there are getting married to his work!<br />
At the moment I'm designing a Jack Skeleton birthday cake from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"...this is what makes my job all the more worthwhile! <br />
Even though not all cakes are this creative - there are others like this chocolate design which are pretty and have people complimenting the work when they pop by to collect their own cake orders.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-cqgATA1rI/AAAAAAAAACw/f3Pdy6CLaAM/s1600/Warm+Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-cqgATA1rI/AAAAAAAAACw/f3Pdy6CLaAM/s320/Warm+Chocolate.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>The client who collected this cake had the most extraordinary reaction ever - she screamed at the top of her lungs and I was sure she saw something she detested. However it was the complete opposite - she explained how she had been worried about the cake design and this cake was perfect - everything she had wanted. This makes my day when I get feedback immediately from the customer as well as emails or cards thanking me for a job well done. <br />
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For the following cake, the customer contacted me on-line expressing her wishes to give her husband a cake relating to his love for his favourite team. She sent me the link to their website and I found the squad logo. I was impressed with the colours and the way the cake worked out as I originally wanted to applique all the items on the cake - sometimes it's good to have artistic skills and to revert to the original way I was taught to decorate a cake. Using my creativity rather than cutting and pasting or what a lot of bakeries do now with rice paper and edible inks. Personally the flavour of rice paper is equal to the 'bread' handed out during church - it sticks to the roof of your mouth and tastes gross!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-csVfaCHtI/AAAAAAAAAC4/1Bzz-6QKqkA/s1600/Sandgate+Hawks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S-csVfaCHtI/AAAAAAAAAC4/1Bzz-6QKqkA/s320/Sandgate+Hawks.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div> I believe the human race relies too much on quick easy fixes rather than cultivating the original methods which were used for years before technology took over.<br />
We've given up teaching our apprentices and work staff to use more than 100% of their imaginations and skills - to strive to be better rather than relying on computers or bought supplies to do the work. The younger generation gets lazier and has more attitude towards us than I ever remember having when I first started in the hospitality industry. <br />
But then do you really care about my opinions of the 'WHY' generation?<br />
I'll be off and post some more asap. Have a fantastic week!Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-68800903636185379772010-04-28T18:29:00.004+10:002010-04-28T19:19:31.743+10:00In a Galaxy Far, Far Away... It feels like ages since the last time I posted but when busy - the orders come first! No rest for the wicked as they say.<br />
The last few weeks have been filled with wedding, christening and birthday creations and with the weather holding out in Brisbane - I've been fortunate enough to have the cakes made and ready to go on time.<br />
As some of you know, when the rain comes down so does ths icing on the cake - so many of these were last minute creations so the weather had little chance to play havoc with my work.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fwkgiMwtI/AAAAAAAAACg/uwH_fWINVHY/s1600/Black+Lace+Wonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fwkgiMwtI/AAAAAAAAACg/uwH_fWINVHY/s320/Black+Lace+Wonder.jpg" tt="true" width="238" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With a small wedding cake - the details need to be perfect. The flowers supplied by Jill Pettit of "Lilly Pilly's" (<a href="http://www.lillypillys.net.au/">http://www.lillypillys.net.au/</a>) provided a complete finish. Prompt delivery with a smile was also a plus.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9f6SYwxc7I/AAAAAAAAACk/voH4ofTr2mU/s1600/Button+Bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9f6SYwxc7I/AAAAAAAAACk/voH4ofTr2mU/s1600/Button+Bear.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>For another special moment - check out this Christening cake: <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fvAPozmCI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ir4sSS2bufY/s1600/Jack's%20car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fvAPozmCI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ir4sSS2bufY/s320/Jack's%20car.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a>The Holden racing car was picked up by a happy customer who believed it would have been too hard to apply the wording to the vehicle. As usual it's the challenge that excites me in what I do!</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fvxBuPwMI/AAAAAAAAACc/2RWDTD94Hp0/s1600/Casino+Royale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S9fvxBuPwMI/AAAAAAAAACc/2RWDTD94Hp0/s320/Casino+Royale.jpg" tt="true" width="239" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> They say I shouldn't condone gambling but why not when the cake is great fun to make? I almost wanted an "Ace of Cakes" moment with the roulette table up top...if I had time to make it spin - that would have been the 'piece de resistance'. </div></div> I promise to post more as soon as I can stop the cake decorating for a minute. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1051306897193231851.post-56477846516749205832010-04-06T17:46:00.000+10:002010-04-06T17:46:02.428+10:00An Egg-cellent Easter<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another Easter has come and gone...it feels quicker every year. This year was filled with Wedding cakes and Chocolate wonders. Even R2D2 made an appearance! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S7rl5soucnI/AAAAAAAAABg/90Sbqw9xrWU/s1600/In+a+galaxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S7rl5soucnI/AAAAAAAAABg/90Sbqw9xrWU/s320/In+a+galaxy.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"> With the economic crisis slowly disappearing, customers are merging out of the woodwork and buying up for their special occasions. But the money situation has definitely made them more discerning. No longer will they just dish out money for their local bakery or chain store if they can get personal service and value from elsewhere.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S7rmiNUTFJI/AAAAAAAAABo/AfOMFgkHOzA/s1600/Ted+-+elicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_picOHEpphBY/S7rmiNUTFJI/AAAAAAAAABo/AfOMFgkHOzA/s320/Ted+-+elicious.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"> Please forgive any blunders made on this blog - I'm still getting a feel for it and how it all works.</span>Antonella Goes Huntinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657823302395581484noreply@blogger.com0