Peapod Celebration!

What a joy it is to celebrate every new little one that comes our way. After trying my hand at the sleeping baby cake a couple times, my imagination went wild with ideas of how to take it to the next step. As my good friend Cheryl's baby shower was approaching, the Peapod theme seemed like a sweet way to celebrate this little boy who has yet to be seen by all of us. For two weeks as we planned this, everytime I closed my eyes I was constructing it. When I finally began decorating it, it was complete in less than 2 hours. This was so much fun because each "pea" is a ball shaped cake of a different flavor, so guests could choose between carrot, chocolate, and red velvet cake. Mmm-mmm-good!

Baby Cakes!

Babies are so special. A family's first baby is extra special. It is the beginning of a brand new era in the lives of the parents. This particular baby cake is for one of those extra special baby celebrations. We celebrated the upcoming arrival of baby Stella Rayne, my brother Cory and his wife Lori's first baby girl. This baby holds a special spot in many people's hearts, along with Cory & Lori's. On the maternal side, this is the first grandchild for Lori's Mom & Dad and the first niece for Lori's brothers. On the paternal side, this baby will share the name Stella Bainbridge with her much loved and missed great-grandmother Stella 'Nana' Bainbridge. She also is the namesake for Lori's great-grandmother, Stella.

God has blessed me with so many hand picked nieces, nephews and loved ones. Stella Rayne will be my first niece by family relation. God bless Cory and Lori with this new baby girl. I envision her to be a beautiful curly headed brunette full of life and love...

Fondant, Oh the Possibilities!

Fondant isn't something I have spent much time with.  It certainly breaks the mold with regard to texture and taste of traditional buttercream frosting.  It brings me back to the days of playing with playdough and using the molding presses.  I have to admit, after seeing the possibilities of such a moldable cake covering, I am hooked!  There truly is no other way to create an impeccably smooth surface as well as emboss, mold and layer designs quite like you can with fondant.

For those who just cannot bear the thought of cake without the smooth buttercream frosting on it, you can still satisfy your palate with a fondant covered cake.  Between the cake and the fondant, an ample amount of buttercream frosting is applied to anchor the fondant to the cake.