Balinese Box of Orchids

I love working on cakes! And this one just made me smile. This cake was made for my Mom as a birthday surprise. Orchids are her favorite and she spent many years in Indonesia, so I thought I would tuck gumpaste orchids and leaves in a unique Bali-style box on a bamboo base. 

The box itself has "hand-carved" floral details on all sides, and the lid bares a traditional design of a Bird of Paradise bird. The bamboo base was done on a whim, but I love the rustic feel it brings to the more elegant box and orchids. I love how the greens compliment the dark wood of the box and the base.

There was actually cake inside this box: chocolate cake filled with hazelnut buttercream. 

I love little details like the metal accents on this box. I inset little floral medallions on each side and and placed a small handle on the lid. It did not pivot when lifted like some hoped...I am not that crazy! Set into the carved top was a little metal-looking plate that read "Worth far more than Rubies-Prov. 31". This Biblical passage describes how the Godly character of a women is worth so much more than any treasure or beauty. Mom, you have a beautiful heart! Happy Birthday!

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The Birthday Artist...

I have a faithful blog follower, Carmen, who turned 11 this week! Her mom called me and said that Carmen really wanted to place an order for a brithday cake. She decided on an "artist" cake with a palate and paintbrush and wanted neon paint colors. Also, she really wanted to help decorate! Of course I always like my clients to be involved in their cake designs but I rarly have this much involvment. And as a surprise to Carmen I am posting her creation on my blog...thanks for being a faithful blog reader, Carmen!

We covered the cake with a drop cloth covered in paint. I made a little easel with a canvas that Carmen painted.

On top we placed the palate with paints and a gumpaste paintbrush. Carmen thought it was real, but, no, it is edible...



My budding artist, Carmen painting her canvas...Happy 11th Birthday, Carmen!!

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Tea Party!

This unique cake was made as a gift for a very special person who loves Polish pottery. Dessert plates, serving dishes, teapots...and bubble mugs. So round, to fit perfectly warm and snug in your hand. The hand painted designs range from very traditional stamped patterns to this type of free painted floral design.  This pattern happens to be her very favorite design.

A "lace" table cloth was pressed into the fondant base to add an elegant touch to this mini-cake. The floating tea bag has a tag that reads "Sugar & Spice", which my clients promptly picked up to see, forgetting that it was made of gumpaste!

The Tea Party cake is joined by another Polish poppy bubble mug and a traditional design teapot. I also had a silver tea spoon that sat right in front of the bubble mug but it did not make it into the pictures.

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