The Hunger Games cake

The Hunger Games

Many people have a hunger for good books...and a hunger for good cake goes without saying!  My son is an avid book reader and The Hunger Games series is high on his list of favorites at the moment.  I must admit, I haven't had a chance to read the series yet, and had to rely on my son's input on relevant symbolism that might be interesting to include on the cake.  He was a great help!   I felt huge relief, when one of the party-goers at my son's birthday ran over to the cake and exclaimed excitedly "Look! There are the backpacks at the Cornucopia!"   (I was a bit concerned they looked like double-handled coffee mugs).    For those of you hunger games fans, I hope you recognize my version of weaponry, the cornucopia, "nightlock berries", a loaf of french bread...and...the Mocking Jay!

Yo Gabba Gabba Cake!

 A Piece of Cake!

For my own little guy, who, while playing quietly, will often very randomly - with overflowing enthusiasm - yell "Yo Gabba Gabba!!!"  Knowing how much he loves this kids' TV show, and how adorable he sounds saying it...deciding what to make this year, for his 2nd birthday, truly was a piece of cake!

These cute little guys are hand sculpted from fondant, as is the number "2".  Both tiers of cake are chocolate.

And for those of you who aren't familiar with the Yo Gabba Gabba show...here are some of the characters sitting on what is left of the bottom tier of the cake, with a Yo Gabba Gabba book in the background...

Fondant characters with Yo Gabba Gabba book in background

Purple Flower Cake

Pretty in Purple

A simple, elegant cake for a lady who loves the colour purple!

Dreaming Baby Cake

Baby Dreaming of Ultimate Frisbee

I was honoured to make a 1st birthday cake for very special little girl.  Zoe's Granny had asked that the cake have a baby playing ultimate frisbee on it!   Challenging indeed!   This was a tough one in terms of how to go about that, without making a giant disproportioned (or worse; scary-looking) baby on the cake!  And because this was for such a special little girl, I wanted to be sure all elements of the cake looked just right.  That's where the idea of a baby dreaming of playing Ultimate Frisbee came in!   Here is sweet Zoe, dreaming peacefully in the grass, of becoming Ultimate Frisbee Champion!

Happy 1st Birthday, Zoe!

 

Cake for Two!

Happy Birthday To Us!

Note:   I completely forgot to take proper photos of this cake...so excuse the grainy photos taken from my Blackberry!!  And thank you to my friend's husband for getting a photo of us together!

 My friend and I were both born on Dec. 26 - Boxing Day!  I thought it would be fun to do some kind of joint cake that presents well as one, but could be separated to enjoy celebrations at two different locations!   And thus was born a 2-tiered cake, decorated in halves!  I had grand plans for this cake...however, I hadn't fully appreciated just how busy Christmas Day would be, and by 12:30am (now technically Boxing Day) when the cake needed all the finishing touches...I conceded that this cake may just not be all I had dreamed up!!

In any case, it had sweet decorations and was essentially my vision, sans fancy details.  I took the entire cake over to my friends house for her to see it all together, and then took my half (the "To Us" side) home with me eat with my family!

What you SHOULD have seen on the cake, was a fondant woman sitting on each side (my friend and I), all dressed up, with shopping bags and purses etc. piled on top...maybe next year!!

Happy Birthday to us!!

My friend and I with "our" cake.

Back of cake

As you can see below...I had started the fondant version of my friend and I for each side of the cake...however, by Boxing Day, these fondant beauties still had no clothes (or hair for that matter!) and no little shopping bags or purses had been made to be placed beside them.  At this point I decided to abandon the grander picture, and just go with a sweet, simple cake!

Unfinished cake (with fondant figures that never made it on to the cake).

Holiday Cake Pops

Festive Treats

At Christmas time, I often struggle to find the right gift for those who I feel deserve a special little 'thank you' (i.e. hair stylist, esthetician, my kids' teachers, etc...)  This year I decided to make some festive cake pops, dressed up in large brandy glasses with a big bow.   It is easy to come up with your own unique designs for your pops, and definitely ads a personal touch to your 'thank you'!  Plus they are delicious and are always happily accepted!  

Sea Shells by the Sea Cake

Sea Shells

"I have the world's largest collection of seashells.  I keep it on all the beaches of the world...perhaps you've seen it." - Steven Wright

White fondant sea shells and starfish, with golden 'sand' and white chocolate coral.  I feel calm when I see this cake.  Requested for the husband of a lovely couple, who live by the sea...