Apollo butterflies appear in two forms on this tree trunk cake. Both as caterpillar and butterfly, this species loves basking in the sun. Heartsease cuddle closed to the trunk for shelter.
An obsessive shopper was being given a birthday party. A buttercream-frosted, tall cake is pipped with her favorite high-end store where she frequented. The bag is topped with gum paste decorations in many forms: gift package, handles, tissue paper, Roses, Sweet Peas, Daisies, and Baby’s Breath.
A number 17 or 18, PME circle tip, may be used to pipe around in circles, from bottom to top, this outside surface of stacked rope borders. First though a band of gum paste and rings is placed and brush with gold highlighter mixed with a drop of vegetable oil.
A lesbian couple were celebrating 30 years of being together. The pearl is the symbol for a 30th anniversary and the Oyster just seemed appropriate too. The wavy border effect was piped with tip number 127. Flat pieces of royal icing branches were set together at different angles for the coral bunch. And a Hibiscus flower adds tropical beauty.
One of the Wathne sisters has a nickname, “Bugs,” short for Berge. So many of her birthday cakes have creatures crawling over them like ladybugs and butterflies. Different shades of chocolate icing were place in a pastry bag and piped vertically up the cake to appear “woody.”
Gum Paste Sweet violets, Field Lilies, Dutch Iris, Anemone, Alstroemeria, Violas, Cattail, Ivy and piped lilacs love the freedom of sitting in a casually piped “twist of twigs” basketweave pattern.
Gum paste “Malachite” tiles enhance this canister cake reminiscent of something you might find in a Casbah in Northern Africa. This unique wedding cake design was for a couple who wished to be reminded of their Moroccan roots. Sugar Tulips, Alstroemeria, Daffodils, and a Tiger Lily burst forth!
One of my signature cake designs is a “turf cake”. Just frost an oddly shape rectangular chocolate cake with beveled edges, and then using a grass/hair tip, pipe green buttercream on top leaving some of the chocolate showing through like dirt. Then top it off with whatever nature has to offer, in this case a Robin’s nest, Sulphur butterfly, Violets, Daisies and Bleeding Heart. And a tiny red Ladybug grabs focus as they are so apt to do. It is a Mother’s Day cake idea for sure!
Sugar catkins dot a chocolate frosted “sticky” looking basket cake. Tulips in three stages of opening offer the variety one is looking for in any floral arrangement.
Blythe was presented with this basket cake for her Sweet Sixteen. Gum paste Violets, Field Lilies and Ivy dominate the arrangement with piped Lilacs and Lily of the Valley used to join the flowers to the cake.
A christening cake incorporates a royal icing floodwork name and filigree along with Roses and one Cymbidium Orchid in gum paste.
A simple spray of Lily of the Valley piped on floral wire atop this christening cake gives meaning to the phrase, “Less is more.”
A gum paste fan with a real ribbon running through it holds this delicate creation together. Roses, Forget-me-nots and Freesia fill out the bouquet. Royal icing stringwork is piped over tiny gum paste blossoms on the edge for a fun, see-through “caterpillar” effect.
What can be said? Two parents just love their daughter turning sixteen.
This Bas Mitzvah cake design was to reflect the space that was rented for the art nouveau celebration. Giant Poppies, Roses, Daisies, Pansies, and Calla Lilies mimic the amazingly artful wood carvings in the room’s ceiling.
The versatility of gum paste is evident with this first birthday cake strewn with rattle, safety pins, baby shoes and sugar flowers including a Cattleya Orchid.