The long road to inspiration...

I'm often asked where I get the ideas for my cakes. And sometimes I can give you a very specific answer. Like, the client was very clear, they told me what to do, I followed instructions, and there you have it. Other times, the route to inspiration is anything but direct.

This past spring one of my display cakes was being transported to a show, when the box that held it was picked up by a very disagreeable gust of wind, carried several feet, and thrown to the ground, where it was smashed into an unrecognizable mess. This was a very stressful moment for the caterer that was transporting my displays. (No worries, I didn't yell at him.)

The display cake before the wind took it on a wild ride.

It is moments like these that have a way of forcing your hand. There were no plans for an additional display cake. Over the past 2 months, I'd made six! As far as I was concerned, I was all set. But... ummm... yea, things happen. The smashed cake was the biggest display cake I had. It showed a variety of techniques and well... I figured if I had to remake it, I might as well take it a step further. The whole idea of a display cake is to show potential clients what is possible. For me, it's not about creating a cake that I can copy in the future. I just want them to see what their options are. And with very little time until the next show, I was a little stressed.

And I was quickly reminded that I often do my best work when I'm under the gun. I don't know why. It makes no rational sense... And yet, I was so pleased with the resulting cake, that I was happy the original cake was smashed. In fact, I decided that I no longer liked the original cake. Go figure!

Isn't it pretty!?! I really love it. It's so very romantic and soft looking.

A little later... I had the opportunity to make a baby shower cake for a client's daughter to match the theme of the baby's bedroom.

Isn't it cute!

Fast Forward to this fall... The same client saw that pretty display cake that I had to make under the gun this past spring. Seeing how they love all things super girlie and feminine and of course PINK, she wanted that cake used as the inspiration for the Christening Cake.

So, I was able to adjust the design down a bit to make the perfect Christening Cake for Janel's precious baby girl. I added a little more pink into the mix than the original cake had and we removed a few of the more mature elements. And Voila!




Isn't it interesting how cakes are born? Inspiration comes from all around, and you never know what will inspire you to create something new. Sometimes, even a disaster can result in something amazing.

Happy Baking, Caking, and Decorating!

A Romantic Wedding Cake that makes me want to get married all over again!

When putting together designs to show potential brides, the sky is truly the limit. There are an untold number of techniques that convey many different feelings. For this cake, I wanted to show possibilities! Most brides have a vision in their minds of what they want their wedding to be like and even what they want their cake to be like. But if asking for the details... well... it's more like a "dream". There is a feel associated with it. But trying to figure out the physical, tangible, individual designs to match that "feeling and emotion" they have been dreaming about since childhood, is a little more tricky.




So for those that have the super romantic, Cinderella-ish, Elegant and soft dream... this one is for you. Each tier shows a different technique and yet the whole cake is tied together into a cohesive design. I have to say it is my favorite wedding cake to date and it really makes me want to re-live my cake cutting ceremony so I can have photos in my pretty wedding dress cutting this cake! Oh yea... my colors were white and pale pink.

This particular cake will feed 170 guests and is priced at $1,600.00.

Check out this wonderful photograph by our friend Stephen Brown of Looking Glass Photography. Thank You Steve!

Valentine Themed Romantic Wedding Cake

With all the upcoming shows, I have to increase my inventory of display cakes. Where I'll keep them all until the first show is a mystery yet to be solved... but at least the work is being accomplished!


The damask print on the middle tier was done using a stencil and royal icing. It's a tricky process when stenciling a dark color on white, but the result is well worth the frustration. I LOVE IT!


The pleated effect is accomplished by cutting 1" strips of fondant and overlapping them around the cake. I pre-covered the top of the cake so that my pleats would meet up with the edge. This way I didn't have to worry about setting the above tier on a bunch of pleats.

The roses were made of fondant. I don't know why it worked so well, usually I have to use gum paste but this time didn't feel like trying to achieve the same red color a 2nd time around. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. I will say that there was some Tylose added to the fondant which may have firmed it up enough to compensate.


This cake is a Romantic theme since a couple of the shows are right around Valentine's Day. After the Shows, I'll remove the hearts on the top and replace them with a monogram cake topper or something of the sort. The dummies will then be on display at Crystal Rose Catering.

Romantic Rose Cupcake Tree

This is for a bridal shower. It goes with the cupcakes in the previous post. Just love how romantic the whole thing turned out. My instructions were to make this cupcake tree similar to the princess cupcake tree in my portfolio only with different shades of pink roses and white accents. And to make it feminine and romantic.

Congratulations to the Bride to be!