Jeannette's Custom Cakes

Very slowly, I’m starting to notice my transition from graphic designer to a cake artist. Don’t get me wrong, the basis behind them is very similar, and I really believe that I wouldn’t be learning so fast if it wasn’t for my background in design. I think this week was my turning point.

I had a client ask for a 50th birthday cake for her mother. According to the daughter, the mother loves bling, leopard print, louis vuitton, martinis and purple. The cake artist in me immediately started sketching. Now when I was in college I hated initial sketches, and I mean hated. I didn’t get the point. It took 8 years for me to FINALLY get it. On the computer its a simple command + z and you can continue. This is not the case for me anymore. Although I do think it very often. Which I believe will always stay with me, as many other designers do. “Oh I wish I could command +z that”. For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, it means undo. This doesn’t work with cake. The second you put black icing on a white cake, its there, no matter how hard you try to get rid of it, it stays. Same thing with carving cake. You can’t just “put it back” it’s done.

I found myself saying to my husband yesterday, “I feel like my job is one giant puzzle”. The more I think about it, the more it’s true. I see this final vision in my head pretty much after my initial consultation with my client, then it’s my job to have the final product look as much like it as I can…out of cake! It’s not an easy task, but I love it! It’s a challenge. This cake was nothing short of that.

I stood and stared at this 14″ square cake board for a good hour, just trying to decide where I wanted to put everything. Where as if I was still at my old job, or working on design at my laptop, I would have made 5 different versions of it and picked the one that I liked the best. Not here, what I decided was staying. Peeling fondant, icing and cake off a board is messy!

So I decided to make all the little pieces first (and the shoe took a week) while I was thinking. The bow, the tag, the purse accessories etc. Once that was done, I still hadn’t decided. This was by far my most ambitious cake to date. There was no turning back, I just had to start. Time was wasting.

So here is the end result. I really wish everyone could have seen it, it was awesome! I loved it, and felt proud.

The Louis Vuitton pattern on the bag is all hand painted, and it’s all edible.

A close up of some of the detail.

I’m in love with the gift tags lately. They add such a nice touch.

That bag is my pride and joy, and probably the closest I’ll ever get to a real one!

So now, I am a cake artist, not just a designer. I can’t see me being one without the other. These are all new experiences for me, I’m learning as I go and I’m so happy that everyone is following along with me!

Be sure to check out the gallery for the rest of the cakes from the weekend, including an 80’s cake, an anniversary cake, and a whole bunch of girls birthday cakes.

Have a great week everyone. Thanks again for all the support! Spread the word!!

This cake was for a friend of my step mother’s daughter. The wedding is a destination wedding, so the shower incorporated all things destination, including the cake. When the order came in, I tried to find online the molds I would need to make the shells and starfish that I wanted to put on it (because everyone knows that it’s hard to find things in the Sault). After looking for them and seeing the crazy prices that the stores wanted for them, I decided to make a go at them myself. I’m really glad that I made that decision. Not only did I get to create it myself, but I got it looking exactly how I was picturing it. That’s way better than just using a mold that anyone can do. I was very happy with the result. It was marble cake with vanilla buttercream. My most popular flavour.

I got a call from the bride to be the next day telling me how much she loved it, and appreciated all the hard work that went into it. Not to mention how good it tasted. That right there is why I love my job.

This weekend’s cakes are going to be killer! Stay tuned!! Have a great week everyone.

Wow, what a week. I had half as many cakes as I did the week before, and it felt like more. I guess that’s what being sick will do to you. I’m happy that I’m finally on the mend, but I had to push through this week, that’s for sure.

My sister Mandy reminded me at Christmas about my neice Kaleigh’s birthday. Kaleigh swapped ideas back and forth on what she wanted until this week. The decision was a Hannah Montana cake, last year it was Littlest Pet Shop. So naturally the first thought that popped into my head was how I had to top last years cake. Not just top it, but blow it out of the water. I take pride in what I do, and being able to share that with my family is something that I love.

So we’re all on the same page, here is last years cake.

At the time, I was SO proud of this cake. It was unlike anything that I had ever done, and I was so happy that I had successfully stacked the cakes (lets remember that I am completely self taught). After looking at this this morning, I had to laugh. Who knew that in one year, my skills could have developed so far without me even really noticing it.

So I started from scratch, I took out my sketch pad, googled, and went to work. Here is the initial design.

That’s the “final” sketch, I had about 4 others that just didn’t cut it. It took a lot of thought to make sure that my only neice got something amazing that she would love. After this, it was time to get started…

All of the little pieces that were going to go on had to be made first, they need time to dry before being placed on the cake.

The marble cakes became stacked and crumbcoated in chocolate buttercream.

Then covered in fondant.

Next, droopy icing…mmmm

Stacked.

Then all the little pieces plus some other details. I loved this cake. It was a proud moment for me.

To say she loved it would be an understatement. She must have thanked me 5 times, not to mention all the hugs and kisses I got. Here she is blowing out the candles (pardon the picture).

This last one she did all by herself, no prompting…I love this kid. I’d say I was successful in achieving my goal! Happy Birthday Kaleigh, I love you kid!

I’ve had a few requests for Valentine’s Day cookies. Here are few samples that Jes & Curt O’Neil were more than happy to take off my hands.

Here is what the cookies look like before they are decorated:

And after:

So for any orders for Valentine’s Day, I’m offering a dozen of these cookies (medium and small) for $25. The orders need to be placed before Febuary 11th. These ones are my favourite. Enjoy!