Hug me!

I found this on the kidlet's door!

xxx

Vintage wedding cake

This is a cake I made for a friend (remember the hen party in Bath?).

She wanted a vintage feel, with tones of champagne to match her dress.

She had a brooch to add as well, and a buckle made by her Aunties. It didn't quite match the cake, so I covered it in lace and added some beads and sequins.

Of course we had to add some painted features, we kept the colour palette to peach to match the flowers but I used cream and brown for the leaves as I though green would be too much.

My friend looked absolutely beautiful on the day and was very pleased with the cake. the weather was amazing, it was a perfect day!

xxx

Cupcake painting class

Last Friday I taught my first ever cupcake painting class.

I based the class on the designs below.

I am always nervous when teaching a brand new class, wondering if my timings will be OK, if I've found the right level for my students, hoping I don't appear too crazy!

       Fortunately they were all very happy with their results, (they were all brilliant) and keen to get home and carry on painting.

They were all really lovely ladies and it was a pleasure to spend the day with them.

I will be arranging some more dates for the cupcake class. If you would like to receive the information sign up to my mailing list here.

xxx 

I recently made some cookies and cupcake toppers for a giveaway winner. She wanted to give them to a friend who was turning fifty and who loves flowers and butterflies.

xxx

Chuppi giveaway

Congratulations to Soap0151 who has won their very own Chuppi! If you email me I will get it sent out to you.

nevie-pie@hotmail.co.uk

xxx

The Cake and Bake Show

I am very excited to let you know that I shall be demonstrating my fondant painting techniques at The Cake and Bake Show.

It is going to be a really fabulous show with a new modern fun approach to caking and baking!

If you are coming to the show you will be able to pre-book a place at my demonstration. More details to come.

I hope to see you there!

xx

London Aquarium

I took loads of pictures, but most of them were out of focus! Thank goodness for digital photography or I would have been really annoyed! 

Warning!!!! The last photo is the underside of a ray and totally freaked us out!

xxx

Argghh! I'm coming to get you!!!!!

Random photographs

On our way into London, I gave smallest kidlet my camera. There is a group of photographers who take random photos, they don't look at the screen or through a view finder (I can't remember what they are called). I encouraged my little one to feel the force and snap away, it made for a very enjoyable and whine-free journey. Although I was showing a lot of trust by giving up my precious camera in to such small, fumbling fingers!

Don't forget to enter the Chuppi giveaway here.

Painted penguins

We were lucky to be given some tickets for the London Aquarium recently. I have more pictures, but I love how these snaps of the penguin pool have come out. Apart from cropping and adding a little brightness, I haven't photoshopped these in any way. They look like paintings don't they?

xxx

A day in London

We spent a lovely day in London recently, for oldest kidlet's birthday. We pottered around China Town finding some lovely looking food and then walked round the corner to M&M world. Of course most of the pictures I took were sweets and cake! Although I'm not sure if I fancy the mushroom cookies!

Mimosa blossom tutorial

Or how to paint on cakes!

As I was painting the mimosa cake, I thought it would make a good tutorial, as it is a really easy design to recreate. It is really just blobs and lines (but done in a sensitive, artistic fashion!). So even the most nervous of beginners can have a go.

Good luck!

I use Proarte series 101 brushes. I use mostly a size 8, but here it is a size 4. Don't buy expensive sable brushes as they don't last very long, it's not worth it.

Prepare your fondant using corn flour, no Trex or shortening and leave it to dry over night.

I mix my colours in an artists palette with boiled water.

I have used Sugarflair paste colours, here it's egg yellow. Paint splodges for the mimosa blossom. You don't want perfectly round circles, so make sure they are all slightly different shapes, blobby is good.

When you paint the blossom blobs keep them uneven, so a few in a line at the top then maybe two on one side and one on the opposite side, or a bunch of three together.

Add a little dab of tangerine/orange to give the blossoms some shadow. Don't worry if it bleeds a little, this adds to effect. But if you find the colours actually running, your brush is too wet. Dab off a little moisture on some kitchen roll before you put the brush on the fondant, you may also find it helpful to use alcohol instead of water as it will dry quicker.

I am using a size 0 brush here with dark brown to add some stalks. Try and keep the brush stokes as light as possible, you don't want heavy marks with no movement in. Don't worry if there are breaks in the stems as this adds to the lightness.

Make sure that all your stems are different heights and angles, but don't inadvertently create a repeating pattern, ie; one tall, one short, one bending right, one bending left. Have two tall stems next to a short stem and then a couple of medium ones etc.

The same principle applies to the bottom of the design. Note the different angles and how some blossom reach the end of  the stem while others stop further up. All these little elements add up to create a more realistic looking design.

If I am painting a small cake I sometimes prop it up so I can get a better angle, sometimes I grip  the wrist of my painting hand with the other hand to keep it stable.

It's very easy to rectify a mark you are not happy with, or any mistakes. Just brush the area with clean water, making sure not to press too hard or to scrap into the fondant. Wipe it carefully away with some clean kitchen roll, leave it to dry and repaint.

I hope this all makes sense. Happy painting and remember...enjoy it!

xxx