The mini collection

When Craftsy first asked me to guest blog, I was super excited!  Then I found out I would be making a birthday cake for myself.....still excited.....and totally stumped!  It's like asking a hair stylist to cut their own hair (which I know some of them do).  But I have never made a birthday cake for myself.  I am always the one to make the cake for my friends and family.

Over the past few years, my friends have taken turns trying to make me the most ridiculous birthday cake possible.  This is one that my friend Heidi made for me a couple years ago.....

Tiniest birthday cake ever!  I put it next to an 8 inch round so you can see just how little it is.

So what to make??  Well there are no rules here (at least I don't think) so I have decided to go in a different direction.  As a blogger myself (www.thefashioncaker.com), when I get inspired by a runway show or magazine shoot, I come up with an idea and make a cake that reflects the inspiration.  Now I am not a fashion designer (maybe one day;), but I have always dreamed of making a collection.  So that is exactly what I am going to do.....only in sugar!  Hey, it's my birthday cake, right?  If I am going to spend my birthday making a cake, I am going to make something I love!...not something that say's "Happy Birthday Joshua"!

I decided to start with one of my favorite things in the fashion world.....windows!  I love seeing windows dressed for the season.  Alexander McQueen, of course, is one of my favorites.  I'm a bit obsessed!  Here are a few....

Beautiful and haunting at the same time.  I am going to start by making the forms for the clothes.  I want them to look as realistic as possible so I need a little help from a well known model.....

Barbie!!!

I am going to use the dolls as dress forms and gumpaste as my fabric....

Yes I had to tear some of them up.  Sorry Barbie:(

Now that the clothes are started and drying, let's work on the cake.  I am going to cover a 1/4 sheet cake (6 inches tall) with a dark grey fondant and then do some texture work.

I started by using a few small sizes of round cutter, embossing multiple times....

I even used the top of a #5 tip for smaller detail.

So I ended up with this.  I know it looks busy but this is only the first layer for the background.

Now for the top tier I hand cut with bone pattern.....

It's like crocodile skin magnified!

Here is the base cake with a small separator.....

Looking good! 

With the clothes off the forms, I am going to add some embellishments.



I made this rose mold from lace (a technique you can find in my Craftsy class Fashion Inspired Fondant).  It makes the perfect top to this dress!

And of course we need some sparkle pants.  A little piping gel and sprinkles mixed with edible glitter should do the trick.

I stood the looks up against the cake to find the right placement and then secured them using white chocolate.

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How about that croc skin cape?!!  It's my favorite.

Oh, BTW, chopped coconut totally looks like fur.....I mean faux fur...I'm an animal lover!



Here they are all ready for finishing touches.  It's got that hauntingly beautiful look I was going for.

I added a couple extra details like the bottom to this dress. I rolled the gumpaste through the pasta machine to the last number, so it was as thin as possible.

....a little chaos to this dress

 I also roughed up the edges with some black and gold paint for a dramatic effect.

 We are looking good!

Now I need a logo.  I figure (in honor of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week) I should create a logo for my line.  I am going to use the two J's in my name (Joshua John) to draft an insignia by hand.

I started with the size square I needed out of paper and marked the centers....

Then I created the frame and back to back J's using circle cutters....

And then I cut it out of gumpaste and allowed it to dry for a couple hours....



Now I secured the logo with white chocolate and added gold details.

And I think we are all set!! 

Here is the finished cake.  Drumroll please......



Happy Birthday to me:)  Seriously this was one of the coolest projects I have ever done.  Thanks to Craftsy for letting me be a part of their blog! Bye.



Rami Al Ali

This picture says it all!!  The detail and craftsmanship of this man's work is incredible!

Recently I was asked by CakeCentral to create a cake for their fashion issue (volume 4, issue9) inspired by the work of Rami Al Ali.  Now I have to admit, I didn't know much about this designer, but I did my homework!  This Syrian born artist didn't get his start in fashion....that's the most intriguing part.  Let's see what Wiki says....

Due to the lack of opportunities in his small town for career growth and industry exposure, Al Ali moved to Damascus and joined the College of Fine Arts in 1991 to study Visual Communications. This led to his experimentation with creative pursuits, excelling in subjects such as interior and graphic design. In 1995 Al Ali’s decision to design and produce a fashion show for his final graduation presentation astounded his professors who were impressed at his portrayal of fine arts through fashion despite his deviation from the assignment.


Here are some of my favorites...

This is everything!!

 Everything!!!

 And everything....

Okay so I love his work!

This is a short from his Autumn/Winter collection for 2012/13....

Here is the dress I was assigned....

What's the plan?  Well I love the dress and the possibilities are endless....ombre, structure, draping, beading, geometric patterns!!!  There is so much.  I don't want to go to literal with my interpretation though.  I need to pull one dramatic concept from the piece and then try to tie in elements of my work and other works in the collection.  This is cake after all....and I want it to look like a cake...not a garment.

I didn't start with a sketch.  I just let my hands and brain figure it out.

I began by adding some texture to my fondant with a gumpaste tool...

 

 

 

I just run my tool back and forth over the surface of the fondant....careful not to push too hard!  You don't what to cut through....just leave the pattern.

I decided to create the ombre pattern on the skirt of the dress....but in a different way.  I will invert the pattern and use some piping to enhance the look.

 

 

Starting with the darkest color at the bottom, I cut some black ovals.

I used the reverse side of the cutter to add an imprint and then cut them in half.

It's important when you are doing this sort of hand work to use a straight edge to line everything up and make sure it is even.

I placed them one by one with piping gel.

 

 

Now I did the same thing with a lighter color.  Instead of cutting them in half, I cut them on a curve using the same cutter so they will match up evenly.....

 

 

 

Here's the idea...

 

Looking cool:)))

 

 

Now I add some graduated pearls over the pattern for drama....

 

 

 

then a black band and some bling...

 

 

...and this little flower:)





Now the inside of the flower was made with gumpaste balls rolled in sanding sugar mixed with sparkle....

 

 

I also created with base tier with oval cut outs to resemble a bracelet.

 

 

 

Okay here she is.....

 

The cake is fine....but not for me.  I need a wow factor!!  It need color!!

I looked through his collections and found my inspiration in these two looks....

I love that color.  So with a little food coloring and experimenting, I had the look I wanted...

Here she is again;)....

 

Ta da!!  NOW I love her!  Here are some other shots....

Sweet!  Don't forget guys, I am coming to Dallas in October, Canada in November, and Philly in December!!  Click the links below for more information!



 

 

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Bye!!