Three-tier Wedding Cake: Arum Lilies - August 2008

First of all, i cannot thank you enough for all your support and confidence you have showered on me as a blogger. The comments overwhelms me !

This three-tier wedding cake was made for an young and beautiful Botswana bride, who is getting married on the next weekend. She loves arum lilies and leaves on the cakes.

Of all sugarcraft work, i love making wedding cakes the most, where the bride or the bridegroom will suggest you the flowers they want and how many layers of cakes they desire for their wedding. And the conversation will also include the theme and the ambience and the colours et al. It challenges your mind to do in accordance with the promise you make and then wait to see the reaction. It helps one to improve further and the journey continues...

Often, fruit cake will be the choice and you sit down to do some calculation on size/height aspect, then bake them and mature them with brandy over time, then cover with marzipan, followed by wrapping them with fondant icing and start doing the decoration, as wanted. I love to go through the process.

I hope you all like this cake.While making this cake, there were some requests and as you see, i have posted them separately.

Birthday Cakes:Purse & Train - August 2008

While making the wedding cakes, one request came from a doctor for a surpise gift for her doctor wife and my friend Christine and I thought about a red-suede leather purse. So, she baked the chocolate cake and we sat down yesterday at 12:00 in the afternoon to make the cake. Amidst laughter and ladies gossip, we managed to give the finishing touches at 4:30 for the party at 8 in the evening.

I hope you like the purse with bold and red theme.

The train cake was made in two hours on friday for the kid and i had received the request in the morning, whilst at work.The train-set are toys, which got from a friend. Did not have time to make sugarcraft train but will attempt it in future with time on my side. I hope i have not done it badly.

Blogger friends give me strength to carry on in my journey and here a few among others who feel that i can make the journey to perfection ! I sincerely feel honoured and humbled. I will surley pass them on, as it should be, in my later posts.

Ivy of http://kopiaste.blogspot.com/ had passed this gesture a while ago.

Kitchen Flavours of http://kitchenflavours.blogspot.com/ had passed this 'Wylde Woman

Award' award

and then further 'Best Blog Darts Thinkers & Beautiful Site Award'.

Indranee of http://spicesandcurries.blogspot.com/ had passed me this magic lamp and earlier frienship awards.

Thank you !

Sugarcraft : Celebrating one year of journey on Blogspot

It was on 14 August 2007 when something stirred my hubby to urge me to post my first cake on the blog world. I was not very keen to tread out in the unknown world but gave in to his encouragement and published my first post of wedding aniversary and birthday cakes that i had made for my friends in March 2007. I had received two comments from unknown bloggers but it changed my world from then on...and i began feeling comfortable in the blogging world. As i look back on the journey that i have taken so far and pause, i feel the road less travelled is worth taking further and remember the words of Robert Frost

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before sleep

And miles to go before i sleep !

As i read again several comments and the words of encouragement that have come from you all, i feel so happy..the journey is difficult but you led me the hand, cajoled me, coaxed and helped me to rise again and again...a beginner's journey is not easy, especially with studies, full-time job and family but i will not give up, i promise you all !

When i take account of what i have done....17 birthday cakes, 7 wedding anniversary cakes, 8 wedding cakes, 1 each of engagement cake,celebration cake and wedding reception cake, i ask myself.. could i have done better ? maybe by next year !

In this journey there have been sad times, interesting times and amusing times.

A sad occassion

One of my blogger friend wrote to tell me that i have been accused of copying a blogger's title in a certain forum. When i read, instead of being angry, i felt sad that without verifying the facts, can i be accused and my worth or creativity be questioned. When i told my hubby, he had simply stated to leave it and remember the Indian national emblem engraving "satyamev jayate"or 'truth alone triumphs'. However, he indicated that his hypothesis has failed again that all good creative persons will always have good hearts.

Well, as i look back , i feel my pride is still intact and you all have appreciated my uniqueness. I had created the blog way back but had uploaded my first post in August 2007.

An interesting occassion

When i wrote an e-mail to a sugarcrfter of 20 years to critique my work, she told me that your second cake of the four layer cake is not straight and now i have a spirit-level, which i use and it was a tip for a lifetime ! I have purchased tools from USA, UK, South Africa and have some indigenous tools , which my hubby made for me to make my work easy.

An amusing thought

Whenever i make wedding cakes, i always seek input from my hubby and it helps to make work easier. One of the remarks he makes is never to make butterflies and gives an strange connotation that butterflies remind him of people, who are selfish and self-indulgent and who do not come to a flower because it is beautiful but because it can feed on it. The flower may think that the conjugation will remain forever but when the butterfly has fed itself, it will fly away to seek another, and it will find excuses to break that trust and faith. Well i dont agree with his analogy and will make butterflies.

Reflections

All the cakes that i made so far were made in accordance with what the clients wanted. Never had really the chance to practice or experiment on what i feel i should make...maybe will get chance in ensuing year. The journey to perfection is long but i will keep on moving, with your support, with you judging me when i go wrong or lifting me up when i require you all. Thank you ...I feel so happy that i have over 7500 profile views till now. Thank you for your time that you give to me !

Birthday Cakes: Bratz & Hulk Cakes - August 2008

While busy in the decoration of the wedding cakes ( will soon post ..) , i was requested to make two birthday cakes for the kids as impromptu as possible...my friend Christine helped me in baking of the cakes and then quickly i sat in the late evening to make the cakes. I used the flood icing technique for the Bratz girls and made the Hulk standing among the rocks...did not get enough time to do it patiently and imperfections are quiet evident.

Birthday Cake: Ballerina Cake - August 2008

This fondant birthday cake was made together with my friend Christine for her daughter's birthday that was celebrated today. The two-layer chocolate and vanilla marble cakes were covered with fondant and the ballerina shoes were laid on top of the table-cloth. This involved a total no. of eight hours and we started the work on late saturday evening.

The cake decoration came out well but unfortunately, the fondant ballerina girl which i made could not be painted very well with silver and it left a very smudged look..can anybody help me on how to paint fondant with silver ? I have had no problems with gold earlier !

Surely, the path of sugarcraft is interesting and you face unknown challenges but i will keep on trying !

I wish you all a very HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY ! It's a lifetime treasure.

Birthday Cake: Doll - July 2008

Again on Sunday, late in the evening, i sat to make a birthday cake for my friend's daughter, who was turning two years old on Monday. The party theme was white and pink colours and this is what i came up with. I did not do more floral natural decorations and bought a doll from a supermarket and covered it fondant floral dress with a pink hat and an array of flowers and butterflies around her. The two-layer cakes were of strawberry flavour. In last four days, i made three different cakes of different themes and sizes and feel that the journey of sugarcraft is quite interesting and challenging but its worth the travel !

Birthday Cake: Shirt - July 2008

These last few days have been quite challenging, interesting and busy with new creations to indulge in and make them for occassions such as as weddings, birthdays et al.

This fondant chocolate cake was made together with my friend Christine in five hours during late evening of Saturday, as the cake had to go on Sunday to Gaborone for birthday celebrations. It was quite interesting to work on the tie, the stitchings and the contours of the shirt.

Will post further creations in coming days !

Four-Tier Wedding Cake: Falling Drape with Roses - July 2008

This four layer wedding cake was made for a bakery manager of a famous supermarket. The wedding theme included the roses near the falling drape using just two colours to match the settings. The rich fruit cakes were made and matured with brandy over a period of four weeks. He is getting married today and may God bless the bridegroom and the bride. Our wishes are with them.

Two of my blogger friends have shared their affection by way of awards, which i will write about in my next post. Thank you !

Two -Tier Wedding Cake: Gold Flowers - July 2008

This cake was made for a young Batswana bride, who wanted golden flowers such as roses, lilies and ivy creeepers on a two-tier cake for their wedding, which will take place next week. Well, most of my last week day evenings were spent on covering the fruit cakes with marzipan and fondant, after they had been brushed regularly with brandy to let them mature over time. This weekend, I sat down to make the roses, lilies and ivy creepers and then individually paint them with gold. Amidst that, I gave myself a pause to make the spiderman cake..had to make child happy and smiling, isn't it! May the would be bride and bridegroom be blessed with love always !

Birthday Cake: Spiderman Cake - July 2008

While still adding final touches to the wedding cake, i was requested to make a small spiderman cake for a three-year old boy on saturday, when i returned home from office and had just settled down. I made this cake in three hours and you will realise there are imperfections and i was racing against time. Next one will be a better one, i promise !

Birthday Cake:Chess - July 2008

My son's birthday falls on 6th July and i made this cake for him. He is very fond of chess, often busy with Harry Potter chess pieces and his school seed postion and i decided to give him a surprise...it took me three late evenings to make the madeira cake with fondant kings and queens and knights and bishops and...and...phew ! altogether 32 pieces and the board. I chose the theme of tricolours : white, black and blue to represent the colours of Botswana. The party was celebrated on the lawns of new Adansonia Hotel amidst our friends, his friends from his school and our friend circle and the day ended with chess cake being shared among us all after he blew the candle and the kings and knights and bishops becoming part of the edible history !

The coming weeks have interesting themes and I will try to share with you all as they come along.

Basket of Flowers: Birthday Cake For A Blogger Friend: June 2008

Hi I am back from India and what a nice way to start again !

Cynthia http://www.tasteslikehome.org/ is celebrating her birthday today i.e. 27 June 2008 and i thought....let me be part of her celebrations ! I know her as an "embodiment of positive energy, a beautiful pure mind who shall never fail you" and who inspite of her busy schedule, always has time to pass by the blogs of her friends.

Cynthia, as promised, here i am, to present you with this basket of flowers laid on a table. Let me celebrate your birthday with a wish 'may you live to be a hundred and may the last voice you hear be of your love'

The basket has roses and liles and few blossom flowers on a bed of rich moist chocolate cake and placed on a fondant table cloth of a table of madeira cake. I hope it brings you another feather of joy in the celebration of life !

I would also like to pass this small gift to you. The picture has flowers from my garden, crystal and stones from my living room with words of worth to live by. You may choose, when ever, to pass it on to someone, who you feel, is adding to the body of knowledge of the blogging world.I had a surprise while in India, when my hubby designed a logo with a theme for my blog and e-mailed it to me in India. Three rings to represent the cakes and colours to represent where i come from with a sweet signature 'edible creativity'. I managed to upload it on my blog but could not get enough time to reply to each one of you. So now, here i am, ready to do some more expriments in sugarcraft, to learn more before the second year final MBA examinations in October.

I would also like you all to visit the blog of a very wonderful sugarpaste artist from Cape Town. Her blog site is http://sugarflorals.blogspot.com/ Her works are amazing and she inspires me a lot with her work. Incidentally when i wrote to her about my admiration for her, she humbly said that its me that inspired her to upload the blog. It makes me feel so happy to be part of happiness and joy and share and discover friends all over the world.

A few thoughtful words:

'Believe not only in yourself, but believe in your friends as well for it is in the eyes of your friends that you discover yourself.'

'True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.'

Chrysthamum Wedding Anniversary Cake: May 2008

Dear inspirations, that's what i call you all my blogger friends ! The MBA examinations took me off the blog for a while but as you know, there is an ad which comes on the NDTV (oh ! yes, we are able to watch it here, too, in Botswana) which says 'the end of knowlege is love and the end of education is character' so while my passion for sugracraft is still a journey to perfection, when ever priority for education comes on front, i just snugly tuck my hobby for a while and try to concentrate on studies, as i have no control over the age which is passing by !

With examinations over, i made this cake quickly in two days for a friend's wedding anniversary. With winter setting in and chrysthamum and roses in bloom, i chose this theme for them. It was liked by them and i hope you all will also give me a slight pat for trying ! Well, there still much room for perfection and i will keep on practicing !

When i opened my blog, I was and still am overwhlemed with love and affection that you bestow upon me. Thank you so much for thinking of me this way !

Cham http://spice-club.blogspot.com

Homecooked http://homecooked.wordpress.com

Susan http://foodblogga.blogspot.com

Roopa http://www.rvkitchentreats.blogspot.com

feel that my blog is 'yummy'. Hey girls, i bow down like the gilrls do in school.Thank you !

I am sharing this with Mansi Desai http://funnfud.blogspot.com, whose signature is 'discover the cook within you' and i would also like to wish her belated birthday! Sorry, dear, missed it but will be there, next time !

I also share this with Margaret http://kitchen-delights.blogspot.com, whose posts are indeed as said !

I will also share this with Panettona http://painetchocolat.wordpress.com/, whose posts are an excellent visual appeal !

I will further share this with Aparna http://mydiversekitchen.blogspot.com/, whose diverse kitchen is worth the read and the quality of the posts is very commendable !

Anitha of http://cakesbyanitha.blogspot.com/ shared this 'Arte y Pico' award with me. Her sincerity and honesty reflects in her works. Not a word of self-praise and she continues to carve out themes diligently.

I will pass this work of art to Asha http://foodieshope.blogspot.com/, whose blog is work of art, where she is candid, sweet, makes you feel comfortable while reading her posts & her posts always has elements to learn from. Asha, thanks for accepting me in your fraternity and often leaving words of encouragement for me.

I will pass this to Lori Lynn http://tastewiththeeyes.blogspot.com/ whose blog is in her words 'the cooking, photographing, posting and sharing my adventures with food...and reading and enjoying and celebrating your blogs and your successes in the kitchen and beyond" how true lori ! Your posts has value and food for thoughts, always !

I will pass this award to Cynthia http://www.tasteslikehome.org/, whose zeal for perfection amazes me. Over the one year, interaction with her on the blogger wolrd has made me wiser, humbler and an learner, not yet a guru ! Cynthia, you deserve my awe !

I will also pass this award to Rosie http://rosiebakesapeaceofcake.blogspot.com/, a truly inspirational blogger. I know you have been handed this twice so no more words required from me but i still feel you deserve many more !

I will also pass this award to dawn http://fizaa.blogspot.com/, where insights into human relatiosnhips are words of art. Her thought provoking words make you pause for a while. She speaks of maintaining friendship so beautifully and talks of love and its betrayal so eloquently. Dawn, may your book released pass through several hands but the thoughts of it remain with hands they pass through !

Margaret http://kitchen-delights.blogspot.com/
MrsB http://ickystickypudding.blogspot.com/

feel i make their days. I am indeed happy to know that i have that positivity in me. Thank you, dear !

There are are other precious bloggers, who make my day everyday. With you all, i share this award !

One of you is caked crusader http://thecakedcrusader.blogspot.com from UK, whose passion for baking amazes me.
The other one is Priya http://prsrblog.blogspot.com/, whose posts on relationships, friendship, trust, faith, oppurtinism, betrayal of love and other human emotions is worth reading. I share this award with you.
I also look forward to posts from Gloria from Chile http://canelakitchen.blogspot.com/, whose enthusiasm for a wide variety of food amazes me. Gloria, i share this with you.
I also read Anna Haight http://mtkilimonjaro.blogspot.com/, whose signature of 'trying out something new is fun' makes wonderful reading. Anna, you make my day !
I also read Ivy'spost, an interesting blog http://kopiaste.blogspot.com/ with lots of things from Greece. She calls it ' kopiaste, which in hindi means namaste ! Ivy, you , too make my day, eh!
Susan http://foodblogga.blogspot.com/ you make my day, too, with your posts that are filled with much needed information that really helps !
Pooja http://creativepooja.blogspot.com/ you make my day with your posts and innovative competitions that challenges the creative mind !
Roopa http://www.rvkitchentreats.blogspot.com/ you posts are worth reading everyday and you too make my day. I know there are other who also think of you in this way. So i am right too, isnt it !
Anitha http://cakesbyanitha.blogspot.com/ It was good that i met you. I always pick up some form of inspiration from your themes ! You too, make my day !

I will continue with my token of appreciation and recognition of other friends in my next post. I am off to India for few weeks for a break with my sony lipstick mp3 player, with loads and loads of songs !

Celebration Cake: India Association Family Fun Day : May 2008

India Association celebrated 10th May as Family Fun Day at the Club and I made this cake to raise some funds for the association. Before the American Auction could start, we discovered that it was the birthday of one of our esteeemed member's wife and it was decided not to auction the cake but celebrate her birthday on the ground with this cake.

This cake was made in less than two days, as i am occupied with studies for the MBA mid-session examinations, which starts from this week. I have given YUMMY BLOG AWARD by two of my lovely blogger friends Homecooked & Cham and will display it in my next blog.

I thank all my blogger friends for visiting and encouraguing me so often ! I will be off the the blog until my examinations are over.

Heart of Roses Wedding Anniversary Cake:For A Blogger Friend: April 2008

In one post, Gloria http://www.canelakitchen.blogspot.com/ mentioned 25 April 2008 as her wedding anniversary date. So, here's to you, Gloria ...a beautiful mind.., wishes for a very happy wedding anniversary ! May you both always keep shining in glory ! The butter cake was made by my friend, who bakes wonderful cakes and decorated by me.

Wishes to you at Santiago, Chile from me from Botswana, Africa !

I dedicate this simple, plain yet a beautiful heart cake to you !