Thursday, July 30, 2009

Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss article from USAToday.com

Thought this was a really interesting article in USA Today about the Show, Cake Boss on TLC. Buddy Valestro is the "boss" and they air on Monday evenings at 10pm on TLC (in my area). On the side (to the left) is a smaller article about Charm City Cakes.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-07-28-cake-boss_N.htm

Amazing what they are able to charge for these works of art! You'll notice the minimum charge for Duff's cakes is $1000.00 and the minimum for a cake from Carlo's Bakery is $11 - $15 PER SERVING!!!! WOWZA! Imagine... you want a cake to feed 25 people for a Birthday Party. You order it from Carlo's Bakery in NJ. You are charged at least $275.00!!! If you get a cake that looks like the cakes I do with the detail, you are looking at $375.00. Wrap your head around that one for a minute!! HOLY COW!

So... when the bakery tells you a cake to feed 50 people is going to run you in the vicinity of two hundred with the detail you want, you can do a happy dance at the huge bargain you are getting! And make sure you laugh at those people that ordered a similar cake and paid 5-6 times as much! And you had no idea you were a bargain shopper! ha ha

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Super Huge Display Cake



This is a work in progress as I need to make many more roses for around the top of the bottom tier. But, it is coming along. This is the cake that will sit in the front window of the bakery.

It's 6 tiers tall and at least 3 feet. When it was up on the counter, I had to stand on a chair and get on my tip toes to reach the top of the cake so I could set the gum paste roses.

The power went out on me while I was up on the chair (due to a Thunderstorm) and I couldn't see ANYTHING! I had just placed some gum paste roses with royal icing and one of the roses was slipping. I was laughing and yelling for a flash light so my rose wouldn't crash down and shatter! ha ha Of course the power came right back on as soon as they had a flash light in hand. God does have a sense of humor!


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Damask Gift Box Birthday Cake

I am sooo excited that Tyler asked me to make a cake for you. Of course he said to keep it simple and this is what "simple" looks like to me! I am thrilled with all the new stuff I got to learn on your behalf and don't worry, you can have copies of all these pictures! BUT I want a photo of the two of us with your cake!

Happy Birthday my friend! I love you!




Saturday, July 25, 2009

Classic Pooh Baby Shower Cake



Made this cake for a friend of mine. The nursery is Classic Pooh. The instructions were that the cake had to have some blue in it and it had to have a Classic Pooh Theme. Other than that... no rules.

Double Chocolate cake, Chocolate Cheesecake Ganache filling, old fashioned white icing, home made marshmallow fondant. Decorations are royal icing and sugar paste. Everything is sculpted and piped by hand.


Click on the photos for a larger view.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Preparing for a Wedding Cake


These creations are for an August wedding cake. It will have yellow roses, daisies, and blue butterflies. I did some prep work today since all this gum paste has to get good and dry. Also got to use the air brush again which I absolutely LOVE! I gotta get me one of these things!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hard Rock Guitar Cake


Made this cake for the customer that is purchasing the snail cake and who got the zebra print jacket cake. They have LOTS of Birthday's in their family and get all their cakes from The Town Crier.

This is all buttercream on pound cake. Started as a 1/2 sheet cake and was carved.

Beehive Cake


Made this for display in the bakery. Isn't it cute!!! My first time using an airbrush and I'm in love!!! Wow did it make things sooo much easier!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Snail Cake



Made this cake for The Town Crier Bakery today. It's the first time I've ever done a carved cake that is virtually fondant free. This is all buttercream except for the little googly eyes. The client wanted a "Whimsical Snail".

Friday, July 10, 2009

Happy 1st Birthday Ethan. Giraffe Birthday Cake.


Bottom tier is pound cake, top tier is chocolate crazy cake, giraffe is a smash cake for the Birthday Boy.

As requested, the cake is iced in buttercream with fondant accents. It turned out really cute. I'm thrilled that I was able to incorporate the smash cake into the overall design of the cake.

Happy 1st Birthday Ethan!!! Hey Mom... can we have a picture of Ethan with his cake for the blog???

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Sweet 16... Zebra Stripe Cake


Here's the cake I did this morning for The Town Crier. There will be a 16 in the same cherry color on the top of the cake that was still drying when I left so it isn't on the top but you get the idea.

3 layers. I WISH I could be at this party when they eat the top tier. Black buttercream... Oh, the photo opportunity you'd have to be there with a camera taking photos of people with big toothy smiles after eating that! Greenish Black Teeth!!! What I wouldn't give to see it! For my friends, family, and fellow blog followers, make a mental note NEVER to get a whole cake iced in black buttercream! Unless of course you are serving toothbrushes and toothpaste with the cake!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Sweet 16 Cake


I did this cake back in June for the Town Crier. It was the first cake I did for them. I was sooo nervous on my way to work to do this cake that I had to take a deep breath and pray! God provided this job, He knows my skills, He gave me my abilities, and He would give me the creativity, attention to detail, and skill to get the job done. I felt so much better after having a little quiet time with God.

It took me longer to do that I thought it might but it was my first hexagonal cake, the biggest cake I'd done to date, and the hardest color to achieve!

Roseann and Kerry were thrilled with the result and so was the Birthday Girl. Hooray!

Zebra print jacket on a dress dummy (mannequin).



How cool is this? A zebra print jacket with red fringe hanging on a tailors dress dummy. This cake includes 4 pound cakes stacked on top of each other, with buttercream between the layers. It was carved, iced, covered in fondant, and then dressed to impress. I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

This cake was done for a customer of The Town Crier Bakery. My boss said they were THRILLED! YIPPIE!!!



Oh... let me not forget to give credit to my husband, Matt for designing and building the frame for this cake. There is NO WAY it would have been possible without his handiwork! Thanks Baby!