Cake Love 2012

I've been waiting for this event to come for a whole year!  This is the second year of The Vancouver Cake Society held the "Cake Love" conference.  You probably read my previous post in regards to this fabulous event back in July and FINALLY, it's here!!  And out of the days that I got a soft tissue infections, this was the week that I had to endure.  *SIGH*  The rain and the pain did not dampen my spirit and I decided to make the most of it.  

The first workshop I took was with James Rosselle.  What a delight to finally met him in person.  I have admire his works as he was not one, not two, BUT THREE times Food Network Challenge champions.  He is very down to earth and we had such a great time in his class, the Ba Da Bling! Mini Wedding cake.  He was very patience with us, who kept on dropping those super pretty dragees (DRA-jays).  Nevertheless, we ended up with a cake that it very, very pretty and glamourous!  Thank you, James, for sharing your knowledge with us! 

My finished cake and with James Rosselle

Ba Da Bling! Mini Wedding Cake with James Rosselle

My next class, it's the class that I've waiting for, for years!  I've been a BIG HUGE fan of Jacqueline Butler's work.  I was dying to learn from her.  I took her online class with Craftsy.com, learning to make hydrengeas and filler flowers.  I love how she is very precise and methodical and the result is just breathtaking!  Thank you, Jacqueline, for being so patience with me and sharing your tremendous knowledge in making your signature open peony.  Thank you!


The very awesome Jacqueline Butler

 

My peony from Jacqueline Butler's Petalsweet Open Peony class

All of us were so grateful for Norm and Zane for spending an hour (and more) of their time by giving us a free demo.  Norm and Zane have a valuable bag of tricks that they shared with us.  I had a whole day class that day and exhausted, but I am SO glad that I went and met with two of my cake heroes!  Thank you, Norm and Zane!

With one of my cake heroes, Norm R. Davis

with the wonderful Zane Beg

I had a lot of fun when I took Ruth Rickey's "Blings, Bows, and Fantasy Flowers."  Ruth has a lot of fantastic and neat tricks up her sleeves that have added a whole new level of knowledge for me.  Ruth is very kind and generous and I loved every single minute we're at her class!  Thank you, Ruth!

(will add picture from Ruth's class later) 

with the awesome and fun Ruth Rickey

This is my display cake.  I wished I have done a bit more "wow" to it.. The cake was done in less than 4 hours altogether.  I had 4 months to do it, but between kids, work, and cake order, and myself being the biggest procrastinator, I left it to the last minute.  Lessons learnt.  Nevertheless, Norm was giving me a very kind criticism, and I know he is being kind to me.  He said that my work is very clean, and "clean" is awesome!  The only thing he would add is a few flowers by the bear.  Thank you, Norm......

My display cake at Cake Love 2012's display room

BIG kudos to all the ladies and gents at Vancouver Cake Society for bringing this awesome event to Vancouver!  I had the most fun weekend, I was exhausted, but absolutely inspired: new sets of skills acquired, new bonds of friends formed.

Looking forward to Cake Love 2014!



September Round Up

It's been a whirlwind of a month!  It feels that the month of September breezed right through me as I was kept busy with me going back to work, more cakes to make, and of course, James's 2nd birthday.  I still can't believe that my little one is TWO!  This month we also had a lot of birthday milestones celebration from our clients: RJ who turned ONE, Maddy whose Mom and Dad are a good family friends of ours, and one of the wonderful ladies, a woman of God, who we knew from church.
Happy Birthday to RJ, Maddy, and Tante Ance... and also my baby James! 

Mickey Mouse/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse-themed cakes.  When I was designing this cake, I was steering away from the recycled ideas of putting Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as the main focus of the cake.  I decided to take the element that was in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, that is the Mouskedoer with the clockworks.  I chose the bright colors for the cakes and also the clockwork,  Boy did I ever had so much fun in making them!  Then handmolded Mickey, Pluto, and the letters were added at the end.

For Maddy's birthday cake, I worked with her Mom of knowing what she likes.  I decided to make a bedroom scene for her and added her favorite things like the guitar that she received from her Dad.  I kept the color in the blue tones, and I thought blue ombre tones will be so pretty with the ruffles!

Tante ('Auntie') Ance's cake was inspired by the Kumon website.  I made some Kumon books, and handpainted the cake and added some numbers and letters in between.

Max of "Max and Ruby" for my darling James was unfortunately made at the last minute... I made the figurine is less than 20 minutes.. new record for me!  I was happy that the birthday boy was able to recognize his favorite character!  *PHEWWW* 

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

All week long I have been waiting impatiently to make my Angry Birds Space cake my a dear friend's son who turned 3.  Funny how she and I met.  We met through an ad about Panini stickers exchange on Craigslist.  She and I have lots in commons, including the two boys and of course, "Take on Me" by A-ha.  It was meant to be :)
It was such a privilege to be able to make the cake for her son.  I collaborate with my son, Robert, in making this cake.  He got very excited and he told me to make the rocketship for the King Pig.  And thank goodness for the Michaels store that stocks clear plastic ornaments before Christmas! 
I am very happy to report that it was a delicious success and the birthday boy loved the cake!

Happy Birthday Owen!

   

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Well, I wished everything is easy like Sunday Morning... But, with us, is nothing but.  Last week was my official first day back to work after 2 year of parental leave, first day of school for my oldest son, without me.  It was bittersweet for me to go back to work and leave my boys at home with their Dad.  In the other hand, I was happy to see my old co-workers and be back in the work force.  Life hasn't been all cherries and ice cream for us, but I am keeping the Faith, knowing that He is in control and He has a beautiful plan for us.
On the positive sides, I met my old friends and meeting new ones, being a part of a birthday party and sharing my passion with them, and last but not least, those who tirelessly support and encourage me every step of the way, in life and in my cake adventures.  I thank God for each one of you (and you know who you are).
I am sharing a few pictures from the fun workshops, the cake decorating party, and my recent cakes.  Enjoy!

  

August and Everything After

I can't believe is August, and soon enough, it's back to school time.  It's crazy how time flies.  My oldest is going to Kindergarten next year in September, and in about a month, my youngest will be two years old.  

This week's cake was a lot of fun to make!  The wonderful lady who ordered the cake for him told me that Mervin (the birthday boy) is a very hands-on kind of person, he can do anything, from fixing computer to cutting up chicken.  Making the details of the cake was tons of fun!  The chicken was my favorite!  And I am happy to report that Mervin loved the cake and the details!  

Happy Birthday, Mervin!

01100011 01100001 01101011 01100101

I hope I did it right, it should spelled "cake" in binary codes!  I had the privilege to make a cake for Olivia's husband.  I met Olivia when we were both in one of my close friend's wedding party.  Olivia asked me if I can make another Android-themed cake (see the other Android cake here)
Olivia's husband created this android 2D  images to represent their family.  It's just the most adorable thing, specially the baby Android with the pink binkie.  Ah, I should ask them to make one for me with a cake on hand.. haha..
After a few exchanges of emails, Olivia came up with a genius idea of binary codes that said "I love you" for the side of the cake.  I am no genius in math and numbers, and she gave me a little lesson in binary codes... I am a geek at heart, so this is so much fun for me!  The binary codes on the side should say "I LOVE U."  Attaching the numbers were not as easy as it looks, I had to make sure that they're straight and aligned, in one single motion, hold your breath, attach, and exhale (even as I type this, I was holding my breath).  

01001000011000010111000001110000011110010010000001000010011010010111001001110100011010000110010001100001011110010010110000100000010000110110100001110010011010010111001100100001
(Happy Birthday, Chris!)

C'est La Vie, C'est Si Bon

I can't believe how time flies.. Our darling niece is celebrating her 2nd birthday!  It seems that not too long ago, she gave us a little surprise to all of us by showing up early to this world.  But praise the Lord, she has grown to be a healthy, brilliant, and adorable little girl!  She charms all of us with her infectious smiles, quirks, and laughs every time we see her.  

The bear was again inspired by Paige Fong, a brilliant cake artist.  I simply can't get enough of these bears!  I was thinking of Paris when I decorated the cake.  Pink and black is just one fabulous combination.  Then, to perfect it, I picked up a gorgeous paper at Zing Paperie & Design during my afternoon out with my son, Robert.  Oh, the chandelier is just so perfect for this cake!  Tres chic!

Happy Birthday Alyshia!