Happy 2011!!!

Happy New Year to all of you out there!  I hope you all had a great 2010.  2010 was so good to me but I have a feeling (or was that a little punch or a kick? :) ) that 2011 will be even better. 

One thing that 2010 brought to me was the ability to pursue my dream of making cakes, a gift that was more than I could have asked for.  And it brought me all of you out there, my support network and the reason I can keep this blog going.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Here's a little cake I made a few months back that I thought was only appropriate to post here now and "toast" to an amazing new year.  Here's to a wonderful NEW year for all of you.

This was a "half-birthday" cake made for a special person who was celebrating her 20.5-birthday, just six more months until her 21st birthday bash!



Vanilla cake with chocolate fudge frosting.  Wording is hand-painted.  Everything is edible (except the cup).

 Cheers to 2011!

A long-overdue post: A Baby Gender Reveal Party

Nuh-uh!!! Has it really been over a month since I posted? Nuh-uh!!! Well then, I’ll just blame it on the fact that my goal was a “No-post November.” It was a success! Just kidding. I didn’t really mean to not post anything on here for an entire month but here’s a big thank you to those who are still reading and haven’t given up on me!  I have lots to share.


To (kinda, sorta) make up for it, here’s a big, exciting post…

So, I hear the big thing for Mommy and Daddies-to-be is to host a “gender reveal party” to let everyone know (at the same time) whether the little one is a boy or a girl. It’s such a fun, neat idea and is so much more creative than just a mass text message, multiple phone calls, or a big Facebook post…

I’ve heard of many different ways to “do” the gender reveal. Some expectant couples choose not to find out the gender themselves during the ultrasound and then send the results to the cake maker who in turn makes either a blue or pink cake batter or filling.  That way, the couple finds out along with everyone else.  I don't know if I could do it that way.  Some couples find out before everyone else, then order the cake, and then reveal it to all their friends and family members with the cake. Some even decide to make the cake a certain flavor based on the gender (e.g., chocolate=boy, strawberry=girl). Whatever method is chosen, the big thing for us bakers is to make sure that the revealing gender filling color/flavor is covered up with lots of frosting so no one finds out early!

The couple who had me make their gender reveal cakes wanted fall-themed cupcakes (this party was several weeks ago, when the trees here were gorgeous and before everyone went all Christmas-crazy) made of vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream. The kicker (besides the baby, ha ha ha)? They wanted only ONE of the 24 cupcakes filled with a pink or blue charm and a shot of colored icing! Only ONE person at the party would find the charm and then would have to yell out BOY or GIRL so everyone could celebrate. How fun!

Here’s a few photos of the cupcakes I made on display and some of the pretty party décor.

The little pumpkins and leaves were fondant and modeling chocolate.

Just some of the yummy food....

When the cupcakes were served, it was a frenzy to find out who had the charm....

The arrow points out who found the charm...

It's a BOY!!!

The proud parents-to-be were FINALLY able to show off the ultrasound photos...

So, who are these proud parents-to-be? 

Well, that'd be none other than the Cake Gal herself and her hubby!!!  :)  We feel so incredibly blessed and can't wait to meet our little guy. 

So, now that you all know that my mind has been a little distracted lately, please forgive me.  I have so many fun cake projects to share with all of you (and I'm still taking orders!  No maternity leave yet!)

Love, G

Cowboy Baby Shower Cake

My best friend is having a BABY!!!!  I am so incredibly thrilled and excited and I cannot wait for the little guy to make his arrival very, very soon.  This little baby is so loved by so many people and, of course, especially by his sweet parents.  The Mommy and Daddy-to-be have created the cutest nursery with a cowboy theme so... cake inspiration received!

I was so honored to make this cake for my friend's shower where she was truly "showered" with blessings.  I think this baby has every thing he could need, and now?  Now the waiting game is ON!  We can't wait to meet you, sweet Baby Boy!

An Amazing Day

A few weeks back, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with the Partners of the Americas, a wonderful organization that allows professionals from Latin America and the Carribean to partner with their counterparts in North America (and vice versa).  It creates an amazing opportunity for those involved to learn so much from each other.  I've hardly been able to wait to share these photos with you (thank you, David, for these beautiful memories).

These beautiful ladies visited us from Honduras.  Two of them are teachers and spent their time partnering and learning from teachers and schools here in the Atlanta area (and I had the lucky opportunity to share in a day of that too!).  The other beautiful woman (seated) is a baker/cake artist from Honduras!  Their ambassador tried and tried to get a bakery in Atlanta area to welcome them in for a day of learning but all of the bakeries turned them away; I know these bakeries are busy but, seriously, how rude!  All I can say is they missed out!  I'm so glad I got the honor of partnering with them that day.

I can't explain what it's like to meet someone from another part of the world who shares your passions and love of "caking" but who does it with so much less than what is available to us in the U.S.  Making custom cakes isn't cheap but do you know how expensive it is to buy some cake supplies in Honduras?  It's overwhelming to me and I learned so much from this sweet lady. 

We baked a "secret" family pound cake recipe together, did our best to communicate in our different languages, ate some yummy pizza, and then finished up by decorating (and eating!) the cake we made.  The best part of the day for me was showing Dulce, the baker, how to make fondant from scratch so she can make it in Honduras.  Fondant is expensive to buy in the U.S. but usually so cost prohibitive in Honduras to the point where most bakeries there don't offer it.  I always make my fondant from scratch because, to me, it tastes so much better than store-bought stuff and it cuts down hugely on the costs of my cakes.  Since this day, I was beyond excited to learn that she has been using my recipe and creating new things at her bakery in Honduras!  I couldn't find a better way than photos to express what happened that day so here's the day in photos....

A little inspiration from my kitchen

The two cake ladies

Measuring and mixing

Love the sound of this thing

Sharing my fondant recipe

Making the fondant

Is the cake ready yet?

Dying and kneading the fondant

I was in awe over Dulce's lightning fast crumb-coating speed.

Eyes watching closely as the fondant gets smoothed

Making the sugar roses

The final creation

Can we just eat it like this???

Cutting the cake, moments before enjoying it!

What an amazing day and an amazing opportunity. 

Mini Tote Bag Cake

What better way to celebrate being in the thick of a HOT, HOT summer than with a beachy tote bag cake? 

And, since we're in the (beautiful, peachy, amazing) South, it's monogrammed, y'all!

This cake is peanut butter pound cake with chocolate ganache.  Ummm... can you say peanut butter cup?  So stinkin' good.

Happy Summer to all of you.  I hope your Summer is filled with lots of fun (and beach trips with cute tote bags). 

Daisy Flower Pot Cake

Where to begin?  You know how sometimes you have a bad day at work?  And, sometimes, your co-workers do too and you can commiserate together?  Well, I had a bad day at work and I have no co-workers so please feel free to comment below if this has ever happened to any of you bakers out there....

I had my first ever cake disaster today.  I hope that I will never have to type the words "cake disaster" ever, ever again.  Ugh, what a BAD day. 

I've been working on this daisy flower pot cake for days...

                                                         (before the disaster)

perfecting the edible flowers, baking the cake and shaping it like a flower pot, crumbling oreos for the filling.... Sooooo, when I got it all put together late last night for delivery early this morning, I was quite happy to be done with it.  And when I woke up this morning and checked on it (cakes settle, you know), it was still looking good.  Actually, it looked good through photos and looked good when I put it in the car and.... looked good until I backed out of the parking space.  Ugh.  I was going like 5 MPH and the pot started to come apart!!!  I didn't even have a chance to hit a bump!!!!  So, I went back in and fixed it....

I had only about 6 miles to go for delivery so I was hopeful.  Then I made a VERY, VERY slow turn.... and this darn cake fell over... it fell over twice on my way to the delivery!!!  PANIC MODE.  I pulled over twice and fixed it best I could.  I had extra edible flowers, just in case.  It looked OK until I got it to the delivery spot and it just started tipping... just sort of...sagging....  I delivered it with near tears in my eyes.  I feel terrible still.  Thankfully, the person it was meant for was not there and I didn't have to take any payment for it... didn't want it!!!  So, K, I'm so very sorry.  Here's some pictures of what the cake for your girlfriend should have looked like and actually looked like this morning, before delivery.  Ugh.

Entirely edible fondant and modeling chocolate flower

I knew there was a reason I'd never seen a cake like this before... too much weight in the flowers + a cake shaped like a cone= no structural integrity.  Next time.... next time?  I will know better.  Now I must go try to get rid of this terrible headache. 

Please, bakers out there, share your disaster stories in the comments below.  I need some encouragement. 

*** Update:  Got a call from the person who ordered the cake... the cake was put in real flower pot for support.  Wish I'd thought of that but I guess panic does crazy things to my ability to use logic.  I'm so glad you liked it, K.  I hope she does too.  And, by the way, that is one of the sweetest ideas ever (no pun intended).

Dr. Seuss cakes

"We looked! Then we saw him

Step in on the mat!
We looked! And we saw him!
The Cat in the Hat!"

How cute is this baby shower theme?  Dr. Seuss!  I was so excited to make this cake and these cupcakes.  Dr. Seuss wrote some of the best books ever (I won't say best children's books because everyone can enjoy them) and I have a feeling this lucky baby is going to be read his amazing books over and over.   

Here's the baby shower cake table set up with the Green Eggs and Ham and Thing 1 and Thing 2 yellow cake cupcakes and the Cat in the Hat chocolate cake! 

Welcome Baby Carter!  There's a whole lot of wonderful people waiting to meet you! 
Oh, The Places You'll Go!

"Look at me!

Look at me!

Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how."
~Dr. Seuss

Ladybugs: Oh So Sweet Cake

I know I've said over and over that each time I make a cake, it becomes my new 'favorite' one.  But, um, I have a new favorite...

I got to make this cake for an ADORABLE little girl who was turning one!  I have to give her parents all the credit for picking out quite possibly the cutest party supplies ever.  They used these party supplies and, when they sent me the info, I could barely wait to get started on this cake.  So cute!

The cake itself was red velvet on the top tier and yellow on the bottom tier.  I had so much fun making the little ladybugs and their little 'trails' on the cake sides. 

And, of course, there's this pink ladybug on the top. 

I know, too, that I've said I love my 'job' and you might be sick of reading it but I really, really LOVE what I do.  I love that I get to see old friends I haven't seen in a long time (but we won't think about how long it's been, mmmmk?  I don't want to know that I've nearly doubled in age... ugh) and meet their beautiful families.  I feel so blessed.

Speaking of favorites, I now have a new favorite cake category: baby's first cakes. 

I just wish I'd taken a photo of the smash cake for this one.  I guess you'll just have to trust me that it was cute.

Happy Birthday Ella!

Airplane Cake

I'm so honored when I get any cake request.  I've always loved making cakes and I really feel so blessed to be doing this on a daily basis. 

So, when I get to make a child's first birthday cake?  What.an.honor. 

I got to make this cake for a baby boy's first birthday.  His parents are pilots (lucky kid! I think there might be lots of exciting travel in his future) so it was only appropriate that it include a plane...

And I was FINALLY able to do a technique that I've been waiting to do for so long.  I made sugar clouds! 

SO FUN. 

And, what first birthday party is complete without a smash cake?

Happy Birthday Connor!

LOST cake

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that ABC's much-loved series LOST has ended.  I think there was as much pomp and circumstance for this finale as there is for Super Bowl games.  Seriously, if you watched it, you know that even the commercials were LOST-themed.  Craziness. 

So, I was so very, very excited to get an order for a LOST finale party cake a few weeks ago.  I literally started coming up with ideas for this cake as soon as it was mentioned.  I quickly realized I was very much lost (ha ha) regarding LOST after not watching it for awhile.  But, hey, did you know that there is even a LOST-themed wikipedia?  AND IT WAS ON LOCK-DOWN from public editing so no one would spoil the show's ending.  Seriously.  I COULD NOT BELIEVE the amount of information on the internet published by the show's viewers!  And oh, the theories spinning around!  Geez. 

After a whole lot of planning and days of work (on the decorations. The cake itself was fresh!), here's the cake....

I tried to be as accurate as possible with the shape of the LOST island and the placement of all of the decorations according to where each incident happened/area was on the actual show. 

The cake order included three requests: the plane crash, the black smoke that kills people, and the recurring mysterious numbers from the show. Can you find them all?

I hid the numbers on the back of the DHARMA vans as "license plates."

The ruins of the four-toed statue and the tail-end crash site for the plane.

Everything was edible!

I had a whole lot of fun making this cake but was very glad to deliver it and get it out of my sight but only because, being a bit of a "cake perfectionist", I could have kept working on it for days and I would have still found things I wanted to fix. 

After years of digging in the dirt, traveling way too much, and always trying to make clients happy in an unhappy "business world" (more on that later, if you're interested), I LOVE what I get to do and feel so incredibly blessed.  I can't explain how good it feels to see someone smile when they see their cake.  Here's hoping I keep producing smiles. 

A Photo Contest?

So I'm entering one of my photos into a contest.  Yep, a contest.  With my crappy old digital camera.  But, hey, it's a fun way to promote other bloggers and really, truly great photographers out there.  Plus, I'm a HUGE fan of the guest judge this week.  Who is it?  Well, you'll just have to go to the blog to find out.  The theme this week is "I heart dessert" and I definitely, definitely do.  Check it out (http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/) !  So, what's the photo?....

My sugar coral (which so many have said looks like a wave/water splash and that makes me happy too) and fondant pearls from the Beach Anniversary Cake.  Happy Tuesday to all of you!

Easter Cake

When you think about Easter, what do you think of? 

I think about the greatest gift of all, Jesus.  I also think about Spring time... flowers, baby animals, bunnies (and, of course, the Easter bunny).  So, when I got an order for an Easter cake, I started thinking about all these things. 

Then, when I started working on the cake, the little fondant creations I was making started taking on a personality of their own. 

This little guy was busting out of his shell.

And this little guy already made it out into the world.

The "Easter bunny" and his buddies. Can you tell he has pink earlobes?

Oh, you wanted to see the entire cake too?  Well, here you go...

Happy Easter to my neighbors!  I hope you enjoy it. 

And a Happy Easter to all of you.