My first fondant figures

Last year, my good friend Gina asked me to do a baptismal cake for her sister.

Gina & I

Though I made a couple of cupcakes with the same theme for an office mate, I haven't made a cake with a baby topper yet.
I was thrilled to do something for the first time.

Got the idea from a photo I found in Flickr........a baby and a teddy bear.

I guess in my excitement, I molded the bear slightly bigger than the baby.=)
Uhmm.....we have life size cuddly teddy bears for kids, don't we?

Nevertheless, I deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. **wink** ( Love your own, Dianne )

Come November, Gina asked me once more to make the cake for the baptismal of my goddaughter.

Hagi Neona

Is'nt she cute?=)
Her sister Hana is just as adorable.

Hanabene Gray

So I'm cool with the baby figure, I've made it before.
But I wanted to place a little fondant figure to resemble Hana too.
Another first for me.....again.

Here's the final outcome.

It came out nice but I could have done better. ( That's me being too hard on myself. )
Oh well, there's always a first time for everything.
Every cake is a lesson.

**Gina never knew....but i bet she does....now.=)

Enjoy.

Narnia : the Trees, the Snow and the Lamp post.

I have'nt really watched the movie Narnia.
Uhmm........maybe I did.
Once.  Or twice.

The thing is, I never really watched it from the beginning till the end.
I remember catching it when it was about to start then I got busy with mundane chores.
Then there was this one time but it was halfway thru the movie and never got to understand.

So when I was commissioned to do a Narnia theme cake, I was quite hesitant.
Of course I searched the net for similar theme cakes and found quite a few.

Good thing, I was saved from the task of conceptualizing as the design idea was provided.
Trees, snow, and a lamp post.
How easy could that be?=)   Wrong.

Hey, I'm a novice baker.

Research # 1     : the Tree.
                             Thank God for Google.  Found Judy's Cakes blog.  Head on over to her blog and you'll be amazed at the many tutorial on trees she has.  You'll definitely find one that fits your need.=)  Awesome!  Tree # 2 and Tree # 10 works for me.  Thank you Judy.

Research # 2     : the Lamp post.
                             I did'nt find any tutorial.  All I have is the picture the client sent me.

My husband, Ian, offered ( after much prodding from me...haha ) to make the lamp post.

Research # 3     : Snow effect.
                             The easiest part.  Supposed to be.
                             CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR.  ( How could I not have thought about it at the start? )
                             Go easy on me, I'm just a greenhorn lacking the experience professional bakers have.
                             But the idea struck me......after a day of thinking.=)
                      
I love how it turned out.
A simple lamp post but a great marker between an ordinary world to a world more enchanting.
Had I not been pressed for time, I could have tried my hand at making the little girl - Lucy.

I'm happy I was able to deliver.
And I was most glad that they LOVE it.



Enjoy.

How to make the White Angry Bird

1st post for the year.
Last post for the Angry bird tutorial.
We are done with the yellow angry bird, red angry bird, and of course the pigs.

Been busy with orders I have neglected posting.=(
Good thing I did'nt make a resolution to post more often.
But I have to.....gets the stress off me.

Let's get started.

Fondant colors needed :

Make an egg shape of your white fondant

Make the "feather" crown by rolling black fondant to a tear drop shape and flatten a bit.

Indent 3 lines.

Make the beak.

Make two small circle out of your yellow fondant and attach to the cheek together with the beak.

The eyes are just white fondant circles on top of the black ones.  Just make sure that the white circle is placed slightly above the black.

Then glue in place.

Prepare long eyelashes.=)

Attach on each eye.

 Prepare the eyeballs and place in the middle of each eye.

Poke a small hole on center top of its head and place the "feather" we made earlier.

Done!

Easy peasy.=)

Enjoy!

Hello 2012!

What better way to end the year than to take some time out from the busyness of life and join a retreat.
A couple's retreat with the theme...

Time to dissociate from the world.
Time to explore my mind, body, and spirit.
Time to just simply enjoy each other in such beautiful surrounding.

The Lord impressed on my heart the many BLESSINGS we've received as a couple this year.

Family

Our first house

Though I was'nt able to carry my baby to full term, my faith in the Lord has never been stronger.
I know He has our best interest at heart and will grant us our hearts desire in HIS PERFECT TIME.
Besides........good things come to those who wait right? =)

Supportive friends who made moving on a breeze.

Treasured friends

Friends at work

and friends for keeps.

More than these, WAKING UP each and every day is a blessing in itself.
Each day an opportunity for me to KNOW CHRIST and MAKE HIM KNOWN.

Although there's so much trivial nonsense that the world would come to an end in 2012 based on the Mayan calendar, it would'nt hurt to still make a few resolutions.

After all if the world did end, it would be such a shame I was'nt able to do anything worthwhile.=)

It's that time of the year when everyone's planning on how to improve themselves for the next year.
And yes, I'm all for that.

So for 2012, I want to....

EXERCISE.  The only exercise I do is when I'm at work at Asian Hospital and have to climb a flight of stairs from the ground floor to the 7th.
Other than that, my mouth does all the exercising.=)
Which leads me to the next resolution.

EAT HEALTHY.  I love eating.  Who does'nt?
New year is the most celebrated holiday all over the world....everybody's pigging out.
I don't want to be left out!=)
Oh well, food and I have an unhealthy relationship.
This has to stop.
No more snacking on junk! ( Either I cut down if not totally give up. )
More fish and veggies for me and hubby.

DISCOVER MYSELF.
I'm hoping to do something different or do things differently.
I will do things I've always wanted to do no matter how silly or insignificant to others it may seem.

ENJOY 2012 and whatever comes with it.
I will make a difference.
There is always more that can be done to make something a little bit better.
I can probably start by deciding to commit to random act of kindness everyday.
I believe it will not only change my own life but that of others too.=)

And when things get tough, I will not give in.
Maybe laugh through pain and smile when sad.

And bake a lot...

A hobby that turned to a business idea.

Thats pretty much it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!!!

I wish everyone every blessing that the universe can pour out.

Goodbye 2011.
WELCOME 2012!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.
I like....no, I love Christmas!

I love the cool breeze of December.
I love the festive lights of every building and house.
I love the joyous feeling it brings - puts a smile on every person I meet.

There's so much to love about the season and here are a few....

FAMILY....a Christmas that is ours.=)

Thank God for SKYPE....a call that completes it all.

FAMILY GATHERINGS......As a child, I look forward to Christmas Eve.  It has always been a tradition in my Mom's side of the family ( from her siblings and partners, my cousins, down to trusted helpers ) to gather for Noche Buena.  There'll be endless catching up, family presentations, gift giving, and just simply enjoying each others company.  But now that we have grown up...some moved to another country, some started their own family - myself included, Christmas gatherings came to an end. =(

 Nonetheless, I started building a new tradition.

 I get to spend Christmas Eve with my family.....

and Christmas day with Ian's....

And I find myself looking forward to it every year.=)

COOKING.....Do you ever feel that there are just too many things you want to do during this season?  Planning the perfect menu is one thing.  December is the only month I do a lot of cooking....and now, even baking. *wink*  ( Orders just kept coming....it sure is a busy month for me. )

Simplicity would be my theme.

Simplicity would be my theme.

After all, sharing HEARTY LAUGHS is more meaningful - whatever food is on the table.=)

Now who would forget GIFT GIVING?

Sure, a lot of us love receiving presents.

I do....so bring it on!=)

But I love giving more.  I get a kick out of thinking about what to give and scouring the mall for gifts to give.
We can never compare the smile on our loved one's face with the value of our gift.

Blessing others by sharing the blessings we received for the year truly warms my heart.
With the recent tragic event that struck our brethren in CDO, let's reach out.
I know times are hard but let's go beyond family and spread the holiday cheer.

In the end, we will feel most blessed.

And no matter how hectic our Christmas gets, let's be reminded of the true meaning of it all.

JESUS CHRIST!

The greatest gift we have ever received.=)

Happy Holidays everyone.

Enjoy!