Bloody Cheek!!!!!!

I was searching the interweb for some ideas for a cake enquiry I've had, when I came across a site that was using my photo! I have no problem whatsoever with someone copying any of my cakes - heck, that's how I get half of my ideas - but using my actual photo is another kettle of fish! I'm going to contact the person and tell them to remove it... I'm just waiting for some advice on how to word it.

On a brighter note, I've had 3 cake enquiries today :o)

Sugar Ice

I bought a rubber ice cube tray from Tesco for a quid.

I made up a small amount of the boiled sugar/glucose to see if I could make it in ice cube trays (in case there's a next time!) Because I was worried the rubber may possibly melt, I put it in a roasting tin and put a little cold water around it, too. I very, very lightly oiled the ice cube tray - I just dipped a small paint brush in some veg oil and then brushed the inside of each little section.

Fab result!!!!!!!! And they popped out so easily.

Steve's cake... finished!

I'm really rather pleased with it.

Last night, I made a whole load more of the 'ice' because I'd let the first lot boil for a minute or so too long and it had a very, very definite yellow tinge to it.... it looked like frozen wee! (sorry...tmi?)

Anyway, this lot is just right. I've smashed it up again (note to self... it was much easier second time around when I smashed it in the roasting tin, rather than just on the work surface!)

The overall effect is very good. If I'm being picky, then the bottle doesn't have quite enough shape; the bucket could have been a bit taller and carved more (I did carve it so that the bottom was a smaller diameter than the top, but you really don't get that effect very much); the bottle could have been at a slight angle, so it looks like it's leaning back a bit.

But that's only if I'm being picky. The overall effect is very pleasing.

I'll take pics once Steve's taken the boys swimming this afternoon.

Also, because we're supposed to be going to my Uncle Harold's birthday party tonight, (of course, that's just the rouse to get Steve to the hall for what is his surprise party) I thought it might look suspicious if I didn't make a cake - like I originally told Steve I was going to do. So I've just re-covered my old cake dummy! LOL!! Poor Uncle H. My sister said I should in fact give H a little cake, as he does enjoy a slice of an afternoon. I think I have one in the freezer which I'll take out shortly and just buttercream for him!

Done the tricky bit.

I've done the bottle bit of Steve's cake. It's ok. Nowhere near as good as the one I'm copying, but it's passable. You'll definitely get the gist.

However, I've already made a boo-boo. Although I've put a dowel through the middle of the bottle, I've put the bottle on a very small card (same diameter as the bottle). So that means that I've stupidly only made the dowel the same height as the bottle... it should have been much, much longer so that it can go into the cake to keep it stable and in place.

Now I'm not sure what to do. I can try and remove the card from the bottom of the bottle and try and remove the dowel. However, what I don't want to do is to crack the paste - or, more accurately, the glaze on the past. It has several coats of confectioner's varnish to give it a shine, like a glass bottle would have.

Hmmmm... I'll re-assess the situation in the morning and make a decision then.

Oh, one more thing. I smashed up the sugar/glucose that I boiled up earlier today. O.M.G. It shatters like glass and goes everywhere!!!!!!!!

One down, one to go!

I've finished the anniversary cake which is being picked up tomorrow afternoon. The brief was two hearts, joined and they also wanted a little green incorporated into it somewhere, because the family is Irish. I think it's turned out well. I'm going to photograph it properly later, then I'll put it on my other blog and also my proper website.

I now have to start Steve's cake.

I've begun by making the 'ice'. Good grief, that stuff gets HOT! I'm sure it would strip several layers of skin of you got it on you. Sugar boiling at 150c is serious stuff!!

Right. I think I'm going to clear down the kitchen, so it's nice and tidy to start on the cake. But before that - LUNCH! I'm starving.

Suzanne x

Cakes!

I've got a 50th wedding anniversary cake for Friday. Two hearts, joined. One heart has been baked and the other is in the oven, as I type!

I also have a birthday cake for Steve, this weekend. It's the big FOUR-OH. I'm doing this:

I saw this cake on the British Sugarcraft Guild forum. It was made by Kelly. She's been very kind with giving me help and tips on how to achieve it. Thank you, Kelly! For example, the 'ice' is made from liquid glucose and sugar. You use equal amounts, heat so the sugar disolves, and then boil until it reaches 150c (hard crack stage). I've actually bought edible gold leaf for the top of the bottle. It's not cheap! But, hey, he's worth it. I've only bought 2 sheets (at three quid each) and now I'm looking at the cake again, I'm not sure I've got enough. Hmmmm.... I'll re-assess once the cake is made and covered and if I don't have enough, I'll just use gold lustre instead.

That's it, for now.

Suzanne x

Hysterical!

Do you remember the 50th anniversary cake I did? The one that caused me to shed blood, sweat and tears? (well, ok, no blood was lost in the making, but sweat and tears aplenty!)

They emailed me today:

"this is a photo of the 0 of our cake incase you do not recognise it, 2nd time around!!!!"

and here's the picture they attached (click on it to enlarge!) :

I haven't laughed so much for ages!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

Well, Christmas is well and truly over now. We had a quiet new year's eve. Now it's back to work.

I've just covered 4 ice cream cones with really small circles of sugarpaste, to look like slates on turret tower roofs for the castle cake I've got later this week. I've made the towers - I made some pastillage and this is BY FAR the best medium I've used to make them. It's quick drying and strong enough that once it's dried I don't need an internal support (ie cardboard kitchen roll tube!) Tomorrow morning I'll bake the 8" square and 5" round cakes. I'll start to cover them tomorrow evening and then finish it off on Thursday, ready for delivery on Friday. There are at least 100 'tiles' on each tower roof!

I also need to make a Cinderella and Prince Charming for this cake. Hmmmm...... wish me luck. I don't know if there's time to make it - or even room for it on the cake board - but I bought some polystyrene ball things from Hobbycraft... they way they have grooves in them makes them perfect to cover and use as the base of Cinderella's pumpkin coach! :o)

Anyway, time to clear up the kitchen, me thinks!

Suzanne x