Toomer's Corner Cake (Auburn)

A friend of mine proposed to his girl under the Toomer's Corner tree. He asked me to replicate the tree for his groom's cake. This may have been the first time (aside from the peacock feathers) that I was stumped as to how I would pull it off. I was worried about it...I must be honest. I tried to do some research but I couldn't find anything about how to make a 3D tree for a cake. There is very little info on the matter. I took what I had and ran with it. So I'm going to spill the beans as to how this tree was created. Firstly, I'm not too crazy about inedible attachments, etc. for my cakes. But when it comes to the structure and stability of a cake, you have to use the necessary hardware to make it happen. You don't just stack a wedding cake with out cake boards...you follow?? So, with that in mind, I began with wire. I used wire gauges of all different sizes. I began first with a thick dowel and rice crispy treats. I created the tree trunk out of that and then began wrapping it with wire. I let things progress organically and when I finally became comfortable with the shape, etc., I wrapped all the wire with floral tape. (This took about 15 years.) After that, I tempered some chocolate and began painting and swirling chocolate all over the tree. It added a lot of much needed stability to it. I did attempt to make and use modeling chocolate but preferred the look of tempered chocolate instead. So that's that! Although I'm not an AU fan (it about killed me to make this cake), it might be one of my favorites :) A lot of work and love went into this one.

Peacock Wedding Cake

I was asked to make a Peacock Wedding Cake. It is all the rage these days. I was stumped, however, when it came to making those pesky feathers. I decided the best way was to not replicate them, per se, but to go for an art deco look. After much, much effort working with different colors, shapes, paints, etc. I finally found what I was looking for. I'm very lucky to have a sister and a friend that I could put to work in helping me make over 100 of those feathers! (Featured in these pictures is my lovely, dear husband who had just come in from tinkering on a little project of his own. He makes me nervous.)

Yo Gabba Gabba

I'm thinking the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba are certainly on crack. My daughter used to watch and love the show. I often wondered what the repercussions would be. I dare say though, it might be my nightmare as a mom, but as a cake artist, it's a dream come true. I'm still holding out to make a giant version with all of the characters. Making Brobee was a good start, though.