Of Chuggingtons and PS2..

I received this request from Eli but I didn't know that she was trying to make me up my game.  Her request; 3 Chuggingtons characters, one Dora doll and one PS2 controller.  They were planned for her son and hubby's birthday as a cake topper, about 2 inches in size.  Her son is mad about Chuggingtons, her hubby - naturally adores his Sony games and the Dora is for her niece.  Eli's planning and organisation I must salute!  She researched and printed the picture.  I never have such an easy assignment! 

Due to recent wet seasons, I warned her about the sugar paste not able to dry perfectly.  I had a hard time trying to get the sugar paste to behave.  The humidity was killing all my efforts.  I had to begin all over again many times as the sugar paste tends to soften and becomes sticky.  Oh!  Rain rain just go away larrrr!   The greatest challenge of this project ironically was not the difficulty level of the characters but the inclement weather!

Me vs. Rain.    Me - indefinite loser. 

Sigh.  Rather than work against it, I had to work on my sugar paste as soon as the face of good weather presented itself.    That opened up a few hours.  Maybe 2 or 3 hours a day since the sky was practically weeping the entire day and even if it cleared, the air was masked with great dampness.  Rain and humid - arch enemy of sugar paste.  oh!  I know *whine..*  *whine...*  you heard that too many times from me! 

Finally, after many hours and many days of working on them, here they are.  They are not perfectly dried yet, you can see still some shine on them.   Of the 5 characters, the PS2 proved to be the most difficult one.  I had to make sure the buttons and the controller are placed correctly.  It was so tiny.  My clumsy fingers finally shaped them - after 4 attempts and with due approval from my 6 yo son (also an ardent Sony gamer) I decided that should do it!

But glad to report, Eli is happy with them.  They will go with her 'balik kampung' where the burpday celebration was held.

I heard the birthday boys gobbled the sugar paste.  

Uh.  Good thing I hope.

Happy Birthday Missy Xiao Hui!!

You can never find a more soft spoken, generous and kind lady as my friend, Lea.   I take this opportunity to congratulate her on the safe delivery of her second boy recently!   She will have her hands full with two boys now, they will tax her good patience many times over but I know Lea, when the tough gets going, the going gets tough!  All the best dear Lea for she has take up the calling to be a SHAM (stay at home mom) to care and provide the best care to her two boys.  I envy her so.

Now let's talk about cake which this blog is all about.   The cake featured here is for Lea's sister whose birthday was celebrated in August.  Lea ordered this cake and have it carted 5 hours to her hometown in Johor.  That's speak volumes, the love and care Lea has for her family.

At first, Lea planned something naughty.  Like a boob cake with lace and frills.  Then she decided that it would not be suitable afterall.  Finally, she settled on sweet and nice.  As usual, she gave me a free rein to do whatever I want.  Am really grateful for the trust she's shown to me.   I am able to let my creative juice flow.

It was not hard, I made plenty of sugar paste flowers with my flower cutters using sweet pastel colours.  I propped them on toothpicks.   The cake is yellow butter cake with lemon curd cream. 

Here is the result.  Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Birthday Susanna!

I have been wanting to make a Barbie doll cake for Susanna even before she was born.   I have been harbouring such dream for so long.  I thought every little girl must have a doll cake at least once in her life.  I never had one.  So I can justify my insistence on making one for my daughter so that I can live the experience of having a Barbie doll cake through her.   Ever heard of cases where the parent didn't ever get a chance to learn Japanese but get to enforce the privilege upon their kid thereby?  I have heard of it.  A lot.  All the time.  So there.

This was 3 hours of work.   Susanna picked the colour for the dress.  She wants yellow like Belle's dress of Beauty and the Beast movie.  She always knows what she wants.  Bless her. 

The dress should be all flouncy, floaty and big!

I rolled out white fondant and embossed it with patterns so that it looked like lace.

I piped icing in swirls to give movement to the dress.

Silver dragees on the dress and bustier to lend opulence and grandiose!

Close up.

Even closer up.

Even closer closer up.   In case you miss it. 



Happy to report that not only Susanna loved it, everyone loved it.   I live to make another one I hope!!

Happy Valentine

What better way to express your love to your beloved without all the expenses wasted on exhorbitant flowers and fancy dining than a batch of cupcakes specially crafted and lovingly, so well thought of and visually stimulating as well, serves to convey that message of love and at the same time your tummy gets filled?

Nuff said and here, I present to you... Valentine Cupcake Package!   The inexpensive, thoughtful gift.  

Here's Yaso shouting her love to her beloved Ganesh!  One Lucky guy.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Hello there!
I was busy busy busy during last year continuing this CNY!

Loads of orders and some special projects.

Here before I scoot off again, I leave you with one of the special project, CNY Cuppies Package.

Dav ordered this and wondered if I can do chinese greetings in sugar paste.  I called around to a few of my favorite bakery shops to find it.  Unfortunately, I cannot find the chinese word cutter for GONG XI FA CAI, I had to settle for 'FOOK' character which means prosperity.  Yes...you will be judged (a little..) for not learning your chinese, you would be judged more severely if you fail to realise chinese are utmostly obsess with prosperity and wealth.   During these 15 days of chinese new year, if you are any wiser, you should soak up all the auspicious sayings pertaining to wealth and prosperity, you will find people will be very happy...probably from thinking how much good fortunes your good wishes is heaping upon them!

Being a non-chinese schooled person, the joke is on me.  When I was cutting this 'FOOK' suddenly it hit me that I do not know this word.  Should I put it face up?  Face down?  or  sideway?   I called my Dad.  He texted me the chinese word as reference.   Thank goodness for Dad!

and I believe I should turn the 'FOOK' upside down?