A Little Prince

This little prince is my project of the day. He'll stand in front of his castle next weekend for a 1st Birthday Cake.

Another Bee Hive Cake

Made this cake for a customer at The Town Crier Bakery. Her name is "Bee". So it's most definitely an appropriate Birthday Cake. This is pound cake with buttercream icing. It is covered with fondant and airbrushed. The daisies and bees are all hand made using gum paste. The only non-edible element is the wire used to "fly" the bees around the cake.

Jim & Kristin's Wedding Cake

I have to say that the Krout Wedding was the most beautiful wedding ceremony I've ever seen. The father of the bride officiated and he did a wonderful job. The brother and sister sang and it was amazing. Everyone looked stunning. And I could just go on and on... JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!

And now... my first wedding cake! White Almond Sour Cream Cake with Fudge Filling and buttercream icing. The detail on the sides of the cake is called "brush embroidery". All the decorations are edible.

Congratulations Kristin & Jim!!!

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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???

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!

Simplified Grill Cake for Father's Day

Someone ordered a grill cake for Father's Day but didn't want all the extra details. So here's just the grill. Turned out really good. The more you do something... the more you learn!

A happy, girly, and bright Birthday Cake.

This is a simpler 1/2 sheet cake for display at the bakery. daisies, butterflies, and stripes. All very BRIGHT!

Happy 5th Birthday Princess Roslyn

Made this for a friend's daughter. She's turning 5 and loves the whole princess thing. 6" cake with 37 cupcakes.

Welcome Baby... Baby Shower Cake

This is my 2nd display cake for The Town Crier in Peddler's Village. Two tiers with fondant and royal icing accents.

A Dream Come True!

I'm so excited I'm not sure how to begin this post! So... bear with me! Most of you know I've been wanting to take my hobby to the next level. Unfortunately converting my passion to a home based business is very complex, involves daily paperwork, follow ups, and lots of stuff that isn't any fun!

So... I've been casually looking for a cake shop that would hire me to work with them while at the same time keeping my flexibility and availability to my children. God knew exactly what I needed and I could have never even asked Him to give me the situation He has delivered. It's amazing how He knows what we need better than we do and how he can orchestrate things to work out better than we could have ever dreamed possible! So this post is about a new partnership. It's a match made in Heaven! LITERALLY!

On Saturday I received an official offer from Kerry & Roseann Burns at The Town Crier Bakery in Peddler's Village. My role will be to help with the more detailed cakes that involve fondant, gum paste, and some of the more time consuming techniques. In other words... the stuff I'm good at that you can see on my blog!

I'll work with them on a part time basis and pick up extra hours as cake projects dictate. My boys will get to hang with one of my dearest friends and her children whom they absolutely LOVE while I'm at work.
What does this mean for my friends and family who want to get cakes from me? You still can! In fact, I'll now be better equipped to make the cake of your dreams as I've been given access to a bakery full of supplies and knowledge!

If your cake project is too big for my kitchen, your friend wants a cake (and I don't know them), you need more than I can do, you want a cake tasting, or anything else that's out of the norm of a simple cake, I can STILL decorate your cake.

The difference is, you'll put your order through the Town Crier, tell them that Stacey Hill referred you and I will get a finders fee for sending them your business and I'll get to decorate your cake. The benefit to you is that I won't have to turn anyone down, you can get more flavors, sizes, and tastings! And a very competitive price! You'll want to speak with Roseann Burns. You'll like her, I promise!

Thanks for all your prayers and support. Stay tuned for more cake photos as I'll keep on updating!

Oh! And don't forget to visit the bakery!
Town Crier Bakery, LLC
29 Peddlers Lane
Lahaska, PA 18931
215-794-9910 Fax 215-794-991

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's 61st Birthday is tomorrow and she loves pound cake with buttercream icing. It's her all time favorite. I recently found an incredible pound cake recipe that is beyond melt in your mouth good!!! I gave her a taste last week and she decided there was no other cake she'd rather have to celebrate her 61st!

She told me just cake with icing smeared on it would be good. BUT you know me! Even though I started icing this cake at 10:30pm tonight, I had to make it pretty! So... it's a little nicer than just pound cake with icing.

Here's a link to the recipe if you are so inclined to try making it. I made it for company this past weekend with a homemade blueberry topping and garnished with whipped cream. That's MY favorite way to eat it! http://www.recipezaar.com/The-Most-Ultimate-Buttery-Cream-Cheese-Pound-Cake-78552



Gotta love a simple round tip when you want a quick freehand design. Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Congratulations Graduates!!!

During the 2009 school year I've been working as an After School Program Supervisor at a local Private Christian School. Tomorrow the 6th grade graduates and after the ceremony, there will be a celebration for the class, their families, and the staff. I wanted to do something special for them as many of them know I am a cake nut and have been begging me all year to make them a special treat.

This is a double chocolate cake with buttercream icing. The graduate is hand sculpted from sugar clay. The little graduation caps are also edible sugar clay.



Congratulations 6th Grade!!!!!

Welcome Baby Kipp! Little Lion Baby Shower.

This was my first cake/cupcake combination. The top cake is a 6" double chocolate cake with whipped chocolate frosting. The cupcakes are double chocolate with vanilla icing on some and whipped chocolate on others. The display and cakes are all made to match the shower invitation.

Congratulations Rod & Amy! Can't wait to meet baby Kipp!

Graduation from Apollo Career Center. Congratulations Toby!!!

Made this cake for my cousin's graduation from culinary tech school. It was transported 567 miles from our home all the way to Ohio. It was well worth it though. I'm thrilled with how it turned out and I loved making this for Toby.

Yellow cake with bettercream icing. All the decorations were pre-made. The counter and stove are rice krispy treats covered with fondant.

Happy 10th Anniversary Calvary Chapel Central Bucks!

In honor of the 10th Anniversary of our church, Calvary Chapel of Central Bucks. You can learn more about Calvary Chapel by visiting their website at http://www.calvarycentralbucks.org. We are thrilled to be a part of this church family.

The Cake is made up of 3 tiers (10", 8", & 6"). Each tier consists of a double chocolate bottom layer, a mocha toffee filling, and then a layer of vanilla. The layers are iced in buttercream and covered with home made marshmallow fondant.