Kuali's Cake Decorating Challenge

I think my SIL's friend tweeted about this last week (or was it last 2 weeks ago?), telling me that Kuali is having a cake decorating competition and that she would cheer for me if i was to enter. Haha. I can't imagine the pressure having to work in the limited amount of time. I'd totally faint! I have been very busy these few weeks, i haven't even had the chance to write an update on this, or even find out what are the prizes they are giving away.

From what i know, there will be 2 categories: Open and Beginners (the deadline was actually yesterday). Today, i read from Kuali website that the Finals will be held in Tropicana Mall, PJ on Saturday, 26th May where the finalists from each category will be given a mystery box of items to be used in their decoration. I'm marking my calendar in case i could swing by to catch a sight since it's not too far away. Care to join?

Ruffled up

Yes, I ruflled up some cakes for my friend's parents anniversary and her SIL's birthday yesterday. Like, literally - but in a good way ;) I wanted to bring something different and fresh to the table this time. No flowers, i thought. So i googled for ideas and decided to try making these pretty ruffle cakes. It looks very vintage and elegant! (I just love it when they tell me to do whatever design i like and let me experience new stuff! <3 and="" buttercream="" chose="" colours.="" do="" don="" go="" in="" it="" just="" me="" p="" pink="" ruffles="" she="" somehow="" t="" the="" think="" to="" together="" told="" you="">

WIP.
Almost done.. see that cup at the back? He had witnessed some really ugly ruffles in the beginning (it's what i used for practice). They were ruffles, alright. Like really ruffled up! So ugly, I was so panic at the time, but then i realised i should have taken some photos of it just for laughs!

I learned to make the ruffles via youtube, by the way(click here for the video). It's not very complicated once you get the hang of it, all you need is some courage, calm nerves and lots of buttercream! There are so many ways you could dress up the top but since i didn't want to do any flowers, i stuck to the pleats. But you can actually add on rosettes, or pipe a large rose in the centre or whatever. I wasn't courageous enough since i had to make the other cake quite at the last minute and was too worried i would screw up and won't make it in time for the pick up. I'm happy (more like relieved actually) with how it turned out in the end because i really didn't have a backup plan. Hubby was very confident i could pull it off! I shouldn't listen to him so much, just to be safe next time.. -__-"

Pink ruffles close up

I can't get enough of it..

Aerial view

Ok, i'm done now :D

Trading men with little birds

You know a person is skeptical of your work when he or she insisted on pictures or a sample before ordering. Well, i don't blame them. I want my cake to turn out beautifully for my functions too! I would also be nervous to find out that it would be something that was never been done before. But most of my customers are my close friends/relatives who trusts me so, i'm very grateful.

Back to the story, my aunt wanted cuppies for the grandson's aqiqah ceremony. She had at first asked for the Mr. Men & Little Miss cupcakes (50 pieces) after viewing my blog. And i know that that would require A LOT of time and a whole lot of work. I almost cried blood making that the last time! But it was for a specific MMLM themed party. And not to say that my aunt would not pay for all the pain, but i was thinking of how to break it gently to her that i did not have the time, if she could be nice enough to let me change the theme since she said she just wanted something "pretty" for the kids. Cantik was her exact word. Pressure was already mounting right after hearing that.

In the end i finally gathered enough courage to nicely ask if i could change it to something else. I was anxious for her reply, knowing that she lacks in the confidence area. But when she said ok and included the word "sayang" in her reply i went right ahead with the prep! No looking back! Haha. She asked if it was my first set of angry birds during delivery and when i replied yes, she said, "Nasib baik jadi!"

Now, the reason why i had to make the change is, MMLM each has unique hair, different limbs, accessories etc. So it involves lots and lots and lots of colours, cutting and shaping and what not. Unless of course, only a few characters were selected for the MMLM. The angry birds on the other hand is simpler because one, they have lesser character (although, i avoid the green pigs to steer away from any issues.. heheh), and two, i could use the same body parts for the different characters - so less moulding process and less colours involved too. So dear aunt, if you're reading this i hope you understand and happy for the not-so-happy birds. If it helps, they cost lesser too ;) But thank you  for the opportunity and most of all, for the vote of confidence! Hehehe.

Apparently the blue birds are not so popular. The red ones were almost gone by the time i wanted to take a picture at the cupcake stand.

I am currently waiting for some pictures from the host. Was rushing out after i was done with them.

What do you do when you only have about 20 minutes to decorate 25 cupcakes, pack and hit the road?

Splash some colours into the buttercream, fold as fast as u possibly can, run to the cabinet and try to look for something that could save you from the stress of getting multiple bbms and calls asking where you are when your hands are busy holding the piping bag (in this case shiny, colourful Italian dragees saved me), throw those on the iced cupcakes, shake them a little just to make sure they don't fall off easily and personalise it to make the niece feel a little extra special. 

Then run upstairs, take a shower, put on clothes, shove some clothes and necessities into the bag and hit the highway! Oh yes, don't forget to reply the bbm. And answer the phone calls. And call out to the brother to reverse the car behind yours. The cupcakes too! It's good to have a reliable brother to help clean up that fortunate day! (Thank you G!) Happy belated Birthday, dear niece. I hope you enjoy the plain but right from the heart cupcakes! xoxo

p/s: mum asked why i didn't make the angry birds for the niece too? In 20 minutes???! I'd like to see her make them in 20 minutes!  

Big Blue Bow

After a long hiatus, my oven is back at work last month. I was all nervous to bake again for afraid that i might have lost umm, whatever i have learnt in classes before and was praying hard that the oven and mixer still work. (Thank God they did!)

It was for another engagement hantaran - a six inch round cake with a Big Blue Bow. The theme colour and design was chosen by the eldest sister who was also the one who did all the pretty hantaran stuff. Congratulations to the lovebirds. I was told that the Groom's dad was a big fan!

Chelsea! Chelsea!

A birthday cake for a Chelsea fan. It's one with a simple design - the only kind i can come up with these days.. A Liverpool fan uncle actually offered me more money to destroy the cake that day! Hahaha! The top tier was made later when the mom decided on a bigger number of guests for the son's 12th birthday party.

I usually prefer at least 3 inches from each tier (though the rule is actually just 2 inches) but i couldn't have gone for a smaller one because then the ed image wouldn't fit, and no bigger cake for the bottom as the cake was already cooling on the rack when i receive the phone call to add on.

Happy Birthday, Arif!

What's with 8th January?

This is a non-current post. By 8th January, i meant the 8th day of 2011. Yes, it has been that long! (same goes with the last post, and i still have some stuff laying on the shelf!).

So back to 8th January 2010, I received FOUR orders for that particular date and i felt bad that i had to say NO to the rest but 1. First off, it's due to time constraints. I know, i know.. tell me what's new, right? I was going to go on a break from baking until i get things settled down a bit with my other business but i had to oblige for one particular order when it was for a close cousin's engagement.

But to be fair, and before you accuse me of any favouritism or nepotism, he had asked FIRST. So there. I could have made it for at least another order but the thing is, i also had to go for a short trip to Kuching on 8th Jan too hence, it was the only one commissioned being accepted. A thousand apologies. Turning down orders isn't the best feeling in the world. I think one person was even kind of pissed with me too! ;'(

I was told to make a small hantaran cake since it will be transported via air all the way to Kelantan. White was the chosen colour, the rest was up to me.

I had to opt for a store-bought sugar flowers despite having attended a class for this particular reason because some scum decided to smash my car window for the new year's eve celebration and left me crippled with no car for some time to do the necessary shopping and prepping and that had successfully killed my spirit to produce my own peonies. Thank goodness the cousin and mum of the groom-to-be were okay with that.

Congratulations to Hisham & Sabrina!

I had to flatten the petals to fit into the box for transport (top pix). 

cornelli lace that i wanted to do for my wedding cake in the Wilton class.  Also did some crimping on this one too.

Wedding bells

Here's an old (and i mean old) wedding-themed cake i had made for the graduation of my Wilton Class in 2010. I wanted to make a brush embroidery cake (inspired by Toba Garret) and finish it off with a cornelli lace on the base but as usual, time in class was never enough! Can you guess which one's mine?? :D

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I thought i was playing it safe with a 2-tier cake - the lesser the tiers, the lesser the decoration and more time at hands, right? Wrong. It seems that the tiers weren't the only thing that sets me back from time... i guess the techniques i chose was a bit too ambitious... or i might just as well admit that i'm just too slow at making intricate works (but didn't they say good works need longer time??? :p). I only managed a brush embroidery for only 1 flower, ONE!! I had no time for the cornelli lace at all and i forgot to bring my ribbon for the border on top of that too! Great! :"( 

Wilton roses made from scratch.
I have always loved pastels....

Ah well, that didn't stop me from graduating.. so what? Hehehe. Here's a snapshot with my fellow course mates and our sweet instructor, Lay.

The end of 2010

I've had 2 batches made before the year end. First of, was my cousin's son 1st birthday. She had asked for a Barney cake like the one i did for a customer-friend in the previous post (i was secretly hoping so much that she would decide to make a sesame street theme).

And another 50 swirl cuppies for a wedding to be given to those who have helped in making the wedding happen. I've had a crazy November and this was done in early December. I have just started another business, so i was struggling, juggling time between baking and learning my way in this new business and fell sick in between, not knowing if i could survive both. It was going to be my last bake for a while.. or so i thought...... And unfortunately enough for me, the pictures were taken along with my stolen notebook :(

Here's one i got from the mum's fb page for the Barney cake:

Happy ONE year, little Ezran! :)