Pink Peony

Pink Peony

This is a sample cake made for Colette's Catering showroom. This is one version or variety of the peony and pink seems to be the most requested color. I love to make these big bold flowers and are stunning on cakes if you want to make a statement.



Pink Peony close up

 This is why I chose this to demo at the Orange County Fair last year. It can be made with limited decorating tools and larger flowers are easier to learn than the small detailed ones I really enjoy to make..

Orange County Fair 2011

July will be here in no time which means it is time for the Orange County Fair from July 11th - Aug 14th. It is in Costa Mesa, California

Wondering why I am writing about the fair? It has a fantastic Culinary department with competitions in sugar art. I am doing my share to promote it, so those in the area hopefully will participate and help make sugar art a bigger part of the fair. It is great fun. They not only have contests and display but have demo's.

There was a wonderful display of featured sugar artists where they designed a rather large display to show what we can create in food and sugar. There was a butter sculpture, an entire section of different items made entirely of bread. Several cakes, cookies, sugar flowers were displayed along with fruit carving and  much more.  Last year they had ice sculptures and the line to view it was never short.

So, please pass the word to those you know to come visit even if you aren't entering any of the competition's. 

Bridal Shows

Sugar flowers seem to be somewhat new to Southern California or the type of custom sugar flowers I create. I have attended several bridal shows to introduce sugar flowers for wedding cakes. I was amazed at how many brides have never seen them before.



Sugar flowers displayed at a Bridal show



There benfefit to having them as opposed to fresh flowers are they can be kept indefenitely to remember your very, very special day. And also make a wonderful keepsake you can display.

Sugar flowers aren't only for wedding cakes remember. They add that extra WOW factor to any cake... 

Gumpaste Flower Classes

Hello to everyone,

Very good news!! I have been looking for a while for a place to start teaching gumpaste flower classes and by chance last week ran into someone who I worked with when I was interning at a cake shop a few years ago. We started talking about what each of us have been doing these past years and when I mentioned I wanted to teach gumpaste flowers she told me she has a kitchen that I could use.

I will be putting together a couple of classes to teach about the 2nd week of January. I will post the details later this week. If you know anyone interested please have them contact me. It is in Hungtington Beach, CA.

I love to make these amazing flowers and to share what I know with others. 

Blue Orchids

When you think of orchids you don't necessarily think blue.. but, I had an order for rather large orchids with a deep but subtle blue color. I was very concerned something might go wrong which I don't normally worry about. So, I made extra flowers just in case and what do you know? I didn't need them.

I began to dust the practice petals I usually have with the different shades of blues. I combined blues, added white to soften the deep blues and finally found the color I wanted. I should write down the colors I use like I say every time I make a flower but I think it is nice to always have them a bit different.

After much stress and time finding the color I finally started applying it to the orchids.. I started with a very pale dusting, then after I completed one entire flower I did like how it came out. I had several to color and decided to make them all different shades of the blue to give some contrast. All in all I was very pleased and happy to say so was the caterer. I had also made several loose petals to lay around the tiers of the cake like they had fallen off the orchids.



Orchids in shades of blue

 The one disappointing part is I only took a couple of pictures of the flowers before I delivered them.  I think I shall contact the caterer and see if she took any photos.