My Telford Pieces

Can't believe it's now a fortnight since the Exhibition and I'm only now getting round to Blogging my cakes.

First up is my Diamond Jubilee cake for the BSG Forum Users Table.  As I said last week, a great effort from a bunch of people, most of whom had never met.

The lettering was a Union Flag patterned paste which I will do a tutorial for, though it may not be any time soon!

The whole table looked fantastic and was a real mix of skills and work.

Next up my offering for the Table of Excellence.
This is a showcase for people who've been awarded a Gold in a BSG competition - I've got to be honest, I thought the letter had been sent to the wrong person when I opened it - and I wanted to do something that would reflect the three Gold awards I've had.  As one was a child's birthday cake, the second a pastillage card for a wedding and the third a wedding cake, it was quite a challenge.  As I'd entered the Wedding Cake Class at the Exhibition, I decided to combine the type of modelling found on a child's birthday cake with a pastillage card and try to create a birthday cake, 'before' and 'after' the dinosaur gets in on the act.

And finally my competition piece, a wedding cake adorned with patterned paste applique.  Instructions for the basic techniques can be found here.

BSG International Exhibition, Telford

Now where did the last week go?  One minute we're at Telford in the cold and the wet and the next it's hot, hot hot and the Exhibition's been and gone.

I didn't see much of the show as I was on the Demonstrator Training Stand most of the weekend but there was some fantastic work on show, including this Wild and Wacky Novelty Cake which won Gold and Trophy:

I also liked this cool rock star rhino which was awarded a Silver:

 Wirral BSG won Gold and Trophy with their take on Afternoon Tea:

 And I think the BSG Forum Members did a sterling job for a group of people who hardly knew each other and, in many cases, had never met:

I think special mention should go to all the children who entered the competition, including my son who was Highly Commended for his Fish in the Tots division:

 And finally, Best in Show was this beautiful Wedding Cake:

I wish I'd had more time to say 'hello' to my virtual friends, many of whom said afterwards that I was busy every time they walked by, and see a bit more of the show.  I hope you enjoyed this whistle stop tour, more photos are on facebook.

BSG International Exhibition

Not a lot to report this week.  I've been non-stop caking, preparing my pieces for the BSG International Exhibition at Telford next weekend.

Pleased to say that one piece is finished, one just(!) needs the piping and the third, well, I've cut the pastillage.  I'm hoping to be finished by this time tomorrow so watch this space, as they say!

More Chocolate!

I think I've got the bug!  I bought some more moulds and had another play.  It's very calming...

Anyway, a larger shoe:

A chocolate heart:

And some quick photos showing some of the steps:

I tempered some white chocolate and piped or drizzled it into the moulds 

Once that had set, I filled the moulds with tempered milk chocolate 

After a couple of minutes, I poured the chocolate out, leaving a shell.  This one has hardened as I photographed it later

I turned the moulds over and left the chocolate to set 

It's difficult to see but as the chocolate sets, it pulls away from the mould slightly

Once it was completely set, I gently twisted the mould (the small one cracked because I was impatient) and the moulded shapes dropped out.  Then I placed them on a heated baking tray for a couple of seconds, enough to melt the chocolate, and stuck the two halves together

Cake Craft and Decoration

Finally bought the May issue of CC&D today as my second article is on page 44.

"Come To The Party
Fancy dress is always popular for children’s parties and Kathryn Kelly has designed a fab two tiered birthday cake with lots of hand modelled children in fancy dress."

I'm in good company this month alongside Elaine Thomas's dragon in its lair as well as her talking about making the award winning flying dragon from Cake International 2011, Tracey Mann and Jane Barraclough.

Chocolate!

I had a great day on Saturday at the Bristol Sugar Madness Day.  Many thanks to Gill for organising, and for inviting me to demonstrate.  I hope everyone enjoyed my patterned paste techniques.

The other demonstrator was Mark Willis, 'Modelling Mark' to those of you who belong to the BSG and an amazingly talented chocolatier.  So after seeing his moulded chocolates demonstration, I thought I'd have a go.

I have a shoe mould for making sugar shoes, and following his instructions I placed some spots of oloured cocoa butter in the mould, tempered the choolate and poured it in.  Next time I'll take photos of the steps to show you.  After a couple of minutes, I poured the excess chocolate away and stepped away from the mould.

The result?  Well, I'm quite pleased with - and I know how I'll make it better next time!

Pinterest

I've been pinned - or rather the Patterned Paste tutorials have.

Hello and welcome to all those who are new to Kathryn's Cakes.  Why not have a browse round the website or join us on facebook?

Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf

DS and I made a cake for DH's birthday - one of our favourites, a Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf.

The recipe?

Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf

125g SR flour

30g poppy seeds

90g caster sugar

2 level tbsp honey

125g butter

2 medium eggs

Rind of 1 lemon

2 tbsp milk

Topping:

30g sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

Set the oven to Gas 4, 180degC

Place all the cake ingredients in a bowl and beat until the mixture is smooth.  Spoon it into a lined loaf tin (the recipe says 1lb, but I use a 2lb)

Bake for 30-40 minutes until the cake has risen and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.  Remove from the oven.

Immediately spread the sugar over the top of the loaf in an even layer and drizzle over the lemon juice.  Leave to cool completely in the tin.

Keeps for 2 days – if it lasts that long!

What inspires me?

People often ask where I get my inspiration.  And the answer?  Everywhere. Sometimes, I make a 'copy' of an object, the Clarice Cliff-style teapots are an example of that.

Sometimes, it's a technique from another medium, as with the millefiori or patterned paste techniques.

Often, I'm inspired by a pattern on a wallpaper, a greetings card or other everyday object. The monkeys came from my son's pyjamas!

And occasionally, the design develops itself, as with the funky floral wedding cake.

What's in my head at the minute?  Well, some patterned paste ideas for a Golden Jubilee cake for BSG International in May; a new teapot shape with a Clarice Cliff inspired design; a freezer (!); an Islamic-inspired pastillage scupture; and a modern wedding cake, also for BSG International.  Stay tuned to see the results.

BSG International - not long now

Two cake free, demonstration free weeks coming up before the Easter holiday.  Time to get on with my pieces for Telford I think.

I hope you've all booked your tickets, accommodation and transport.  I'll be on and around the Demonstrators' Stands for the two days so look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Time for Tea

I've had an idea for some Clarice Cliff inspired teapots for a while now; in fact, I made the prototype way back last summer - then did nothing with it.  The realisation that I had a demonstration booked with the title 'Modelling a Sugar Teapot' spurred me into action a couple of weeks ago with these results:

'House and Bridge'

'Summerhouse'

They're moulded round a 5" dummy to give you some idea of their size and I have to say the painting takes far longer than I anticipated.  I need to find a better way of protecting them as well; the PME Spray Varnish smudged some of the dark colours, particularly the black.

More samples can be found at Kathryns Cakes

The Spring Sparkle - and More Millefiori Ideas

Thanks to Chris for a great day at the Spring Sparkle yesterday.  I was on first so after giving my Millefiori/Patterned Paste Techniques Demonstration, I could sit back and enjoy Lou Wilson from The Cake Makery model a Doulton-style lady and Karen Caudwell from FPC Moulds show us how to get the most from your moulds.

A couple of new ideas from yesterday to share with you:-

Patterned Paste Buttons:  

  

And a baby in a striped babygro:   

Cake Jewellery Tutorials

Well, I can't believe it's two weeks since my last Blog post- where does the time go?

I'm busy with two new tutorials, this time focussing on Cake Jewellery, which I hope to have ready for the Spring Sparkle this coming Saturday.

The first, 'Garlands and Fountains', gives instructions to create a bejewelled wedding cake.

The second, 'Beaded Foliage', will show ideas for creating leaves, berries and foliage from wires and beads.

Both will be available 'free with purchase' and as people often ask 'what would you recommend buying?', I've put together two kits, one containing everything you need to make a fountain and garlands for a three tier wedding cake (priced at £20), the other a selection of goodies to get you started with 'Beaded Foliage' (priced at £12).  Both contain items to a higher value than the kit price.

One or other of the tutorials will also be included with any other purchase of beads and wires over £5 from the Online Shop or at a demonstration.

My next task will be to stock take and update the contents of the shop, so please email me before ordering so I can manually check if I have what you require.

I hope to meet more of you over the coming months.

Kathryn

Millefiori or Patterned Paste Ideas

Hopefully a few of you will have tried the techniques by now; please send me a link or post them on my FB page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryns-Cakes/106747242683985 so I can share your work.

Once I'd mastered the basic lettering, I began to wonder what else I could do with the techniques.  So here are a couple of ideas for you:-

Tri-colour stripe, cut with Orchard Products Lace Leaf Cutter

Checkerboard using the same cutter

And 'Cake' surrounded by fantasy flowers.  Can you spot the new technique in this one?

Hope you're feeling inspired!

Wedding Cakes - A Design Source

The latest issue popped through the door yesterday and once again I've a cake published.  Only a small picture this time, but hey, all publicity's good publicity!

I was a little disappointed with the issue of Cakes and Sugarcraft that accompanied it; normally there are at least two ideas that inspire me, but I don't think I'll be renewing my subscription this time!

Patterned Pastes

Some of you may have seen the patterned paste letters I made for cakes for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Expo and Cake at the NEC.  I promised to do a set of tutorials showing the basic techniques and here they are:

Stripes

Checkerboard

Swirls

And in case you've not yet seen the finished product...

I hope you have a go and please, feel free to share your finished pieces and the links to the tutorials.

Mini Cake Stands

How cute are these?  £1.50 each in the John Lewis Clearance and ideal for 'set dressing'.  Unfortunately, I think they've sold out online but there might be a few available in stores.

Cake Craft and Decoration

Not posted for months as I've been updating you all via Facebook.  However, my New Year's Resolution is at least one Blog entry a week.  So here's this week's:

My first article in Cake Craft and Decoration:  "Vintage Blue Wedding Cake
If you are new to cake decoration or are short of time, then this is the wedding cake for you. Made by Kathryn Kelly this simple stacked design is embellished with a cameo, a bride’s white glove and beautiful roses."

I can't tell you how excited I am!  I hope you like it as much as I like seeing it in print.