Edgewater Sale, Round Two!

Edgewater was my first ever sale last year, so it was a real treat to come back a year later and see familiar faces and likewise to have people come up to me and say that they remembered me! There was a great turn out, and there was lots of interest in future orders which is really exciting!

Considering last year I had only five designs, and just Christmas ones, I felt really proud this year to set up my table with not only my designs from last year, but new Christmas designs along with my everyday cake pops, and my "gourmet boxes" in both mint and lemon flavours, plus my photo album showing all my designs that I've made over the past year. Seeing it all in front of me at once reminds of everything I've done over the past view months, and is only made all the sweeter by those smiling faces on kids (and even big adult kids I noticed too) when they see and taste the cake pops.

Thanks to all who came to my table and supported me!

Rock On......

I know, the cakes I usually make are often described as "cute" and "adorable," but I wouldn't use those words to describe this latest commission. These were a very special order designs for a friend's Birthday, and this friend's particular obsession is with the band KISS. I've know him my whole life, and I have young memories of seeing posters of these black and white scary-looking men on his wall. Little did I know that 20 years later I would be fashioning those images into cake and chocolate. So, as much I never thought it could happen, I made KISS look..... cute!? 

Never mind whether or not they were cute, I loved doing something different and a little more "hard core". And above all, I really enjoyed trying a new blending technique where I had to grade the chocolate on some of the pops from red to orange to yellow. It worked!! I'm glad with how they looked, and I've had reports from the family that the Birthday Boy was pleased as well!

Happy Rockin' Birthday Mike!

I learned who all the characters are in the band, from left to right we have a Demon, a Fox, a Star, a Cat, a Spaceman, and an Egyptian Cross. 

Showing the grading of the colours. Would have been easier with a larger work surface, but I'm still  thrilled with how it all came out.

St. George's Sale!!

Thanks to all who came out and chatted with and supported me at this year's St. George's Christmas Bazaar. What a feeling to hear comments like "I remember you from last year!" and "My girls loved getting your cake pops last Christmas!". That's why I do it. That's why I have all the late night and the urge to throw chocolate, to bring a smile to someone's face. 

I went with a few different sections for my table. I had a few of my gourmet Mint Chocolate boxes, some classic Christmas designs, some basic but fun designs and best of all I made some to support the Accessible Bathroom fund at our church. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart so I wanted to do something special. 

This sale marks the start of the holiday season, and two weeks until my second sale. I've got some orders for Christmas pops, and ideas brewing for the next sale.... busy times ahead!

Again, a big thank you to everyone who turned out today! Much appreciated.

And now to bed.....

 Work in progress. I'm finding that I run out of space quickly with bigger orders, something I will definitely have to address when I move into my NEW kitchen!!

 All set up!

My view of the operation. Right to left, Christmas, Plain, and Accessible Pops in the stand.

 A melange of the plain designs. 

 And my pièce de resistance, the Accessible Cake Pops in their stand with their stickers.

Montréal's First Ever Baking Show!

After my friend told me that Montréal was hosting their very first Baking Show, I made sure to be able to go. After enjoying Toronto's Show so much, getting good advice see different things and get great ideas. Montréal's show, though on a smaller scale, offered much of the same opportunities. There were vendors selling their wares, demonstrators showing off their techniques, and a few bakeries showing some of their own cakes. I took some time to talk to Hilary the owner of Délices Delary Delights Bakery in St. Laurent and she was very encouraging and supportive! Thanks to her I'll be testing out some cacao butter to mix into my chocolate for decorating.

On top of all the practical reasons I went to the show I also got to see lots of beautifully decorated cakes in their cake competition. I always love looking at professional looking cakes and thinking... I could do that!

 This lovely cake was made by an under 8 year-old!!

 A shoe made out of sugar!

 The Queen Bee.

 I LOVE Cameo, so I picked this one for the "over-all show winner" cake, the people's choice.

 This cake was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe.

 Of course, a Wellie made of cake!

 This made me think of little pumpkins.

 "The four seasons"

 I loved the "dirt" and the plants that were planted in this "dirt"!

 The lace drew me to this one. The decorator had put a piece of the lace that inspired the decoration.

 Time for tea!!

 An homage to Montréal including the metro system, part of the sky  line and of course traffic cones!!

 I loved the delicacy of this cake. I'm not into "heavy" looking cakes so I could really appreciate the lightness of this one.

 I can see a little boy being over the moon with this one, a real moment of childhood.

 The decorator said she was inspired by modern interior design, and that apparently this is where wedding cakes of 2013 are going.

 A lovely detail of one of the other wedding cakes. It made me think of the wedding ring design on quilts.

 This designer had taken aspects of the fabric from the wedding and made them edible.

This was a wedding cake.... a boy can dream!

Oh My Gourd!

The boyfriend and I were invited to a Hallowe'en party this year, so when asked what we were bringing what do you think I immediately thought of?? I didn't want to go down the "ghost and witch" route, and although "monsters" were tempting I went classic.... pumpkins. I kept it simple, no cartoon gourds just the real deal not even a carved face. I made truffle cakes instead of pops so I ended up making my very own pumpkin patch! I wonder if people will need to shift a gear with their pallet when they eat them. It's a sort of trick really because although they're pumpkins which evokes tastes of pumpkin pie, spices, whipping cream, etc., the cake inside is lemon (shockingly).

Happy Hallowe'en!!

Le Marché de Noel

It's coming up to that time of year again!! When school and church halls everywhere start turning themselves into Holiday Markets. Our church is no different. We are having our holiday themed sale in TWO weeks, November 3rd.

Check out the Church's website for details on how to find or contact us. Click HERE! (The "In Touch" tab has details of e sale about half way down the page.)

I will be there selling my cake pops of course, but I'll making extra special ones not just some Christmassy ones. This proceeds of this sale are going towards paying for the construction of an accessible bathroom in our church, which as you who know me well will know is very important to me! I will be making cake pops specifically for that cause on top of the seasonal ones.

Please come out and show your support not only for me but also for a wonderful cause!!

Hope to see you there!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD 2012.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH 9AM-2PM

Next sale will be at Edgewater School in Pincourt on November 17th. More details to follow!

Lemon Lego

From bright pink cake pops to another extreme today. I made a 7th birthday cake for Oscar, a little boy who was particularly enamoured with Ninja Lego sets... now my only hurtle to over come was how to incorporate that into fondant and icing! After a bit of Googleing, I came up with a plan and it involved fondant, gel colouring, and Google Images of Lego people. On top of the designs, the cake had to be 100% chocolate free (the birthday boy has no love for chocolate). Therefore, tangy lemon cake it is!!

I was pleased with how the Ninjas turned out and I was sure I had the Lego pieces right when after my boyfriend saw them, he wanted to both play with them and eat them!

Hopefully Oscar will be as pleased with the cake as I was!!