Fondant cakes are all the rage these days. If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at it, you’re in luck! I’ll be teaching two classes at the upcoming Kansas City Cakefest on March 3-4.
The first is a beginners fondant class and cake structure. Learn how to assemble cake layers into a two tiered cake which we’ll cover with fondant and then decorate. Learn different techniques to create beautiful fondant cakes in this three hour class.You’ll even learn how to successfully deliver your tiered cakes. This class will be scheduled for Friday, March 2nd.
The second class I’ll be teaching will be a designer handbag class. Learn how to make the latest style couture handbags all out of sugar! This class is scheduled for Monday, March 5th.
Don’t miss the second annual Kansas City Cakefest, hosted by Mike Elder of Black Sheep Custom Cakes, taking place this March 3-4 in Kansas City, Missouri. Best of all, admission is FREE! Interested in learning the tricks of the trade? Sign up for one of the many cake classes taught by some of the most talented cake artists in the country. With a live cake challenge scheduled for each day, you’ll be able to see the action live and in person!
There will be live demonstrations throughout each day, a live band, cupcake slinging and all kinds of events. Enter your cake to put on display, or visit the many vendors that will be showcasing their products at the event. Last year, almost two thousand people attended and even more are expected to attend this year. This year, Cakefest has moved to an even larger venue and will be held at the new Kansas City Convention Center.
Best of all, all monies collected at the KC Cakefest will be donated to The Whole Person, an organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities. If you’d like more information about the KC Cakefest, visit their website at:
For those of you who don’t speak Italian, Io Amo means ‘I love’ and Un Amore means ‘A Love’. Un Amore is also the name of a little gem of a business that I recently discovered. I have been drooling over these beautiful and very masterful creations for some time. I couldn’t resist showcasing these pieces of ‘working art’.
Meet Nicole (Nick) Dinardo, Artist Extraordinaire
Nick Dinardo can turn your ordinary KitchenAid mixer into a unique work of art. From retro-chic to custom labeling, Nick’s work boldly stands out.
I was so excited when KitchenAid began to manufacture their stand mixers in a variety of colors. Their extensive color palate was so new and fresh. They were most welcomed by those of us who work with these appliances day in and day out and for those home cooks who love nothing more than a splash of color where it is least expected. What could make it even better? Well, once you see Nick’s handiwork, you’ll see what I am going on and on about. It’s best to just show you rather than try to explain as my meager description simply cannot do her work any justice. Here are but a few samples of an amazing combination of original colors and designs that come together beautifully.
If you thought THAT was impressive, check out Nick’s other items. These include beautiful aprons, handbags, handmade invitations and custom painted guitars and cases! To order your custom made, one of a kind mixer (that will surely make you feel like the King or Queen of your culinary domain), visit Un Amore’s website. If you are a Facebook diehard like me, you’ll find Un Amore here.
Those of you in my debt who want to repay me with a really, really nice gift now know what to get and where to get it!
This past weekend I had the privilege of making a fabulous showpiece of a cake for a client’s birthday celebration. The order was booked through a coordinator, so I never had a chance to meet her. Her husband ordered the cake and it was supposed to be a big surprise for his wife. She had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that she liked shoes and purses and she was partial to the flavor Mango.
The cake was 4.5 ft. tall and sat atop a rotating cake base. Everything on the cake was made of sugar with the exception of the champagne glass at the top.
The shoes and purses are actual replicas of real shoes that I found at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue’s websites.
Dolce & Gabanna handbag and David Yurman Jewelry .
Michael Kors bag and sunglasses (to the left).
Chanel purse.
The venue was beautifully decorated, thanks to the very skilled team at En Masse Flowers. The paillettes that adorned the custom made table linens inspired the design on the middle tier of the cake. Catering by celebrity Chef Byran Voltaggio of Volt.
I was very pleased with the end result and thrilled to know that the recipient of this cake was not only surprised, but extremely happy with it as well. It’s not often that we are given free reign to create something this large. It was definitely challenging. I consider it an honor to play a small part in helping to celebrate my client’s special moments. In my line of work, it’s the ultimate payoff!
Clara’s Designer Cakes is now offering a full range of cake decorating classes for all levels. Learn how to make a wedding cake from start to finish, or a 3D specialty cake. Not sure how to build that internal structure for your Eiffel Tower cake? I’ll show you how! Are you a budding professional looking to learn the tricks of the trade? Or perhaps a beginner wanting to learn the basics of fondant? From beginners to advanced, there is something for everyone. Private classes are also available upon request.
For additional information, please email me at clara@clarasdesignercakes.com.
My friend Sherry recently celebrated her *cough.50th.cough* birthday. Her husband Gary asked me to make the cake for her big celebration party. Interestingly enough, Sherry and I share the same last name. We are both married to ‘Gold’ men, although they are not related. Sherry is also a cake designer. Needless to say, I had to make her something special!
My friend Sherry is a major Parrot Head. She has a beautiful Margaritaville themed bar in her home. It’s a sight to see, too. The only thing missing is Jimmy Buffet. She is also a Twilight fan, and an admirer of all beautiful things, like Robert Pattinson. Did I just say that? Anyone that knows me knows I’m a fan. What does this have to do with anything? It has everything to do with designing a cake that represents one of my closest friends. With her husband’s encouragement and blessing, I added a few ‘special’ touches to the cake.
The figure on the top of the cake is supposed to be Sherry, but in real life, Sherry is far slimmer and a great deal prettier. I asked her not to hold it against when I surprised her with the cake. I’ve never sculpted a large figure like that. I was worried. I couldn’t possibly do her justice. I don’t think I did, but given that she loves me, she was very forgiving and appreciative! The figure is made of cake and lots of chocolate, all covered in fondant. The bottom tier of the cake was adorned with various things, from a drunken parrot with a bottle of tequila and a margarita glass, to a saucy photo of Rob Pattinson in his underwear – all made of sugar and entirely edible. The margarita glasses were real, filled with fondant and the rims adorned with sugar.
While the cake may have drawn attention, the highlight of the evening was the birthday girl. The party was amazing. No luxury or expense was spared. Guests were treated to a casino, lobster clam bake, live band, beautiful tented seating and more love than Cupid can muster on any given day. At one point, a conga line started in front of the band and ended up with the participants jumping in the pool. What an amazing party! You could feel the magic in the air as family and friends came together to dance, sing and celebrate my friend. It was perfect, just like her.
In case you are wondering what a ‘Rob Manip’ is, well, it’s a photograph of Rob Pattinson attached to someone else’s body. If you have a sense of humor, I recommend visiting RobNipulations, creators of the photo used on the cake.
(Left to right) The cake, Me and Sherry.
I wanted to give Sherry something tangible that would remain long after the cake had been eaten. I bought her the new Eclipse Edward (life-size) cut out. You know, for those long nights when she’s working and wants some company. Or motivation. Whatever. It works. I know because I bought one for myself. I also made her an edible mini version of the same and placed it on her cake (see pic above).
I know more cake decorators than I ever imagined I’d ever meet in a lifetime. I’ve seen many cakes…the good, the bad and the very ugly. There are some VERY talented people out there making cakes that are more works of art than they are desserts. There are a few that stand in a class all their own. One such cake designer is Debbie Goard, owner of Debbie Does Cakes, based in San Francisco.
The first time I saw one of Debbie’s cakes, I was mesmerized. I honestly couldn’t believe it was a cake. I’d never seen anything so detailed before. I remember rushing to show it to my husband and he was just as awed as I was. To date, her sculpted cakes top my ‘best of’ list. This is first of Debbie’s cakes that caught my attention:
My mouth dropped open when I first saw this Buzz Lightyear cake. It’s extraordinary!
When I thought about writing this post, I intended to showcase the work of some of my favorite cake designers, however, as I looked through Debbie’s work, I couldn’t limit myself to only a few of her cakes! I decided that in order to do her work justice, it would best to dedicate an entire post to show you exactly what makes her cakes stand out from all the rest. Rather than go into exactly why I am such a fan, I would prefer to just show you, as they obviously speak for themselves.
This Golden Dragon was designed as a cake topper. The detail is amazing!
‘Beautiful cake this is.’ Nuff said.
Admit it, you want some! Spam never looked so good.
I can almost smell this steak. This t-bone looks so appetizing.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw this cake. Love the expression on this guy’s face. I’m thinking those are beignets on the plate. They look mouth watering and remind me of my many visits to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.
I’d love to own the real designer bag this cake was modeled after. Might be hard to tell the difference between the two.
How cute is this?? I’ve seen plenty of car cakes. I’m partial to pink and I like this particular car. so it’s a win-win for me. From a VW Bug to a DeLorean, Debbie’s done them all. Cakes, that is.
There are plenty of real dogs out there that wish they looked as good as this one. Incredible, isn’t it?
If gore is your thing, Debbie literally takes the cake. This is as good as it gets! I wouldn’t even attempt this, but it’s a cakewalk for Debbie Goard.
I’m not sure what this is, but it’s pure gore and I love it! And yes, it’s cake!
I wrote an entire post about scary head cakes but only one of them was scary for the right reasons (see for yourself and you’ll understand why). Needless to say, this cake is in a different category. It’s so real looking!
I’ve saved the best for last. Meet Chucky. This late 80′s iconic film character from the the movie ‘Child’s Play’ always scared the $@#%*&! out of me for good reason. He was supposed to be a little kid’s doll, but it turns out Chucky had a dark side! Doesn’t it look like he’s going to just leap up and stab you?
To see more of Debbie’s incredible work, visit www.debbiedoescakes.net. She has a great blog, too. And if you are like me and just can’t get enough, check out her Flickr page. Not only is Debbie talented, but she is a striking beauty, too. I love her sense of humor, but best of all, I like that she is so very genuine. Oh, and she plays the base guitar. And collects really neat stuff. She is one really cool gal, if I do say so myself.
Please Note: Many thanks to Debbie for allowing me to use her photos for this blog. Please respect the work of the artists who put their heart and soul into their creations and don’t publish photos that don’t belong to you without the express permission of their owner first.
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Bridal season is in full swing and we are busier than ever this year. It was hard to go back to keeping such a hectic schedule after having some time off at the start of the new year. I became way too spoiled and thoroughly enjoyed playing my guitar at all hours of the day and night, spending time at home, and most of all, SLEEPING for more than five hours on any given night. Yes, it was fun while it lasted. I’m back in the thick of it now.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of making a wedding cake for one of my close friends. She had a very large scale wedding with hundreds of guests and a reception that was in full swing for a solid 8 hours (not including the ceremony and other formalities). Yes, it was quite the party! Here’s a photo of the cake:
This cake was made to celebrate a young lady’s Bat Mitzvah. I’ve made this same design in many different colors over the years, but I have to admit, this has to be my favorite combination.
This next cake was for a wedding at Newton White Mansion. The bands, lace appliques and bow are all hand painted and all edible. Yes, the broach is real!
Often times, brides want their wedding cakes to have the same or similar design as that of their wedding dress. One way to accomplish this is to order the same trim that is on the gown and use it as an accent. On this cake, the beaded trim adorns the bottom edge of each tier.
And last but not least…the creepy groom’s cake. Yes, folks. I have gone where I have never gone before. This cake borders on being ‘Cake Wrecks’ worthy. This was the groom’s cake for my friend’s wedding. The groom is an avid hunter and has several ‘deer head’ trophies. I literally slapped this together at 11pm the night before the wedding. I didn’t think I was actually going to be able to finish it and hoped they wouldn’t mind when they’d notice it missing. Alas, I am not a quitter and I decided to at least give it a try. I’ve never done anything like this before. I really was clueless. I went to work and hoped for the best. I couldn’t really look at it much when I was done. Something about those glass eyes looking right at me. I don’t think I’ll be making another one like this anytime soon, LOL. The groom loved it and was quite surprised. It still creeps me out when I look at it. This is probably the closest I’ve ever been to a deer’s head, real or otherwise.
On March 12, Apple began taking online orders at 8:30am for the new, much anticipated iPad. By 8:39, my husband and I had placed our orders and thus began the three week wait for the devices to arrive. Thankfully, Apple delivered as promised and one of the two arrived today (the 3G versions won’t be out for another few weeks). I’d like to thank my IT guy for putting up with me, well lots and lots of things, the iPad being just one of them.
What can I say? I like my toys, and the new iPad is no exception. The screen is large and much easier to see. The finish is standard Apple fare, sleek and smooth. It’s obviously heavier than my iPod Touch, but considerably light compared to a netbook or a laptop. I am in electronic heaven! I can’t wait for my 3G version to arrive. It will be fabulous to have online access everywhere without having to worry about using a MiFi or an aircard. I love the portability of it.
So here it is! Fresh out of the box and newly synched! My 3G arrives in the next few weeks, but my IT guy is allowing me to fondle his in the meantime.
I have been on somewhat of a hiatus since last December, enjoying a great many things other than just cakes. What does this cake designer do in her spare time? Well, lets see. For starters, shovel snow, and lots of it. After spending two weeks in LA filming two back to back episodes of Ultimate Cake Off in 70 degree weather, I returned home on December 21st to find this…
And that was just the FIRST snowfall. We had an even worse snow storm a week later. I have to admit that it was lovely to spend days on end warming up to the fireplace and do nothing more than spend idle time online while lounging in my pj’s. I have never been so appreciative of our snow thrower. It earned it’s keep and then some. After the second storm, you could no longer see the top of the yard stick in our front yard.
We were snowed in for over a week total, which gave me plenty of time to play my new Martin 00015-M Acoustic Guitar! I found out about this new model just prior to its formal introduction to the the Martin Guitar line. I placed my order for one when the very first ones were still being manufactured. It was a most exciting birthday present from my better half. What a pleasure it is to play this beautiful sounding instrument! It’s made of mahogany, a nice option available with this model. I really like the vintage butterbean knobs. I am enamored with it and just can’t keep my hands off of it. I love the smell of the wood and the smooth, matte finish of the body.
I’ve also been reading…ALOT, every chance I get in between all the other stuff I’ve been doing. My recent topic of interest? Dante, for one. Quite an undertaking, I might add, given the many interpretations of his life and works. Luckily, my Italian born and bred father, like every young Italian lad of his generation, studied Dante from the 6th grade on. He’s been my reference and study guide, and more often than not, the translator of certain 13th century Italian words no longer found in modern day Italian dictionaries. A daunting task, no doubt, but fascinating and quite challenging. What to do with all this poetic philosophy in my head? No clue, but I’m enjoying it. If you are curious about Dante, check out Columbia University’s Digital Dante website to help get you acquainted. Next on my list, Jean-Paul Sartre.
Dante and Beatrice, by Henry Holiday.
And for those moments when I need something a little on the ‘lighter side’, I’m reading ‘Water For Elephants’ by Sara Gruen, which is currently being cast for a movie. Curious as ever, I also got my hands on the script. Could it be that I heard Rob Pattinson was just cast as the lead? Of course, those of you who follow me on Twitter and Facebook know that I just can’t hide my lust admiration for a certain young brit ♥.
Oh my, Rob Pattinson. Where do I begin? Sharon Osbourne said it best during an interview on the Ellen Degeneres Show:
Nuff said about that. But in case you’ve been living in a cave for the past two years or have just returned from the Mir Space Station, here’s a visual to state my Sharon’s case:
And while we’re on this topic…if you’re a Twilight Fan and anxiously awaiting June 30, here’s a sneak preview of the new official Eclipse poster…
I can’t go and entire day without listening to music, whether I’m playing my guitar or listening to my itouch. My taste in music is very eclectic, from BB King to Beethoven. I’d love to hear what’s on your play list. Email me if you care to share. Here’s a little sampling of what I’m listening to at the moment, in case you’re interested (most can be found on YouTube):
Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked by Cage the Elephant Walk This World by Heather Nova Spem in Allium by Thomas Tallis The Ground Beneath Her Feet by U2 A Song For The Lovers (Live) by Richard Ashcroft Nothing On You by Bruno Mars Please Forgive Me by David Gray Intro by TheXX Feeling Good by Nina Simone Prelude in E-Minor (Opus 29 No.4) by Frederic Chopin Try by Nelly Furtado Back Of The Room by Charlie Mars Lullaby by The Cure House of Cards by Radiohead Meet Me by the Back Door by Charlie Mars Closer by Kings of Leon Ring My Bell by Anita Ward Love of My Life by Dave Matthews and Santana Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover) by Ray Lamontagne Sexy by Black Eyed Peas How You Like Me Now by The Heavy
And then there’s bridal season, which is in full swing starting this week. I am almost completely booked until the end of the year. It was nice to have a much needed break, but it’s time to get back to work and give those cake pans a good rattle.
Remember…don’t sweat the small stuff, live your life and most importantly, have fun!
