Stella McCartney:))

So a couple of months ago, I was asked to a part of Cake Central's Fashion Issue.  WoHooooo!  I was so excited.  The idea was that the girls from CC would pick runway looks to inspire a cake.  The cake did not need to represent the look exactly.....just used for interpretation....you know to get the "creative wheels" turning.

Although my fingers were crossed for an Alexander McQueen number, I received this look from Stella McCartney.....

It's pretty bangin'.  The dress is super modern and young.  Here is the look on the beautiful Brooklyn Decker.....

Okay, I love it.  But I (of course) decided to run with it and put my own spin on the look.  Everyone in fashion is looking for the next thing....something fashion forward.  Well, guess what, I am going fashion backward! 

I am super into texture on fondant cakes.  Flat fondant cakes can be so lame.  So I started to think...."where could this look have come from".......maybe I can take it back to centuries ago...(in my imaginary world) and create a look that inspired this one.  A look fit for a queen!

I immediately gravitate toward the blues and yellows and the diamond pattern.

I've decided to use the diamond impression mat and go a little further with the detail.
I cover the cakes in fondant one at a time (so they don't set while working on the others) and detail them before the fondant has time to dry.  And yes I am using dummy cakes.....I have to...it's for a photo shoot!!

After I cover the tier, I quickly use the impression mat and fondant smoother to get my guide.  I like using the mats.....but only faintly....so I can go back and detail them.

Now I deepen the lines with my metal scraper (PME).

And then make a second line beside each one.....

Then I take my gum paste star tool and make an impression in each intersection of the design....





And now for the magic!  I know it's hard to see the real detail....but keep in mind that we are going to color this print....then the design will pop.



Using the gum paste tool, I add "stress" marks to make the fondant more fabric like.....

Once all the cakes are detailed, I stack them.  





The paper piece you see is a template for where I want my ruffles to go.  If this were a real cake, i would mark the template and start adding the ruffles.  But since it's a dummy, I will cut this fondant away.....

Okay now we are ready to add the ruffles.

Using gum paste and a cell pin, I roll long strips and thin one edge to achieve the ruffled look....



Then I roll the strips into different shapes using a little piping gel on the thickest side....

So I have to continue this throughout the entire negative space.....Yes...it took a long time. But the result is well worth the work!.....





Here it is half way done.  The brooch is also hand shaped. They are easy to make using a set of oval cutters and a gum paste tool.  This is also something I teach in my Craftsy class Modern Piping. www.craftsy.com/modernpiping  :)))

Now all the ruffles are done!!  This could be the finished piece!....but I want to add color.  I started with white because....well I hadn't decided on color yet.

So normally I would roll out a piece of fondant and add texture and then use this piece to test out my colors.  But since I am taking the photos myself, I am using the back side of the cake!  Ghetto?...no...I call it resourceful;) 

I am not digging the blue so we are gonna go with yellow for the cake with blue accents.....

Now I mix up the color I like a little darker than I want.  It a technique I call "color washing".  It's hard to capture with a camera but I can explain!

I take a small paintbrush (only covering a small area at a time, not to let the color dry) and I paint the yellow into the texture (the cracks) of my design.

Then with a damp craft sponge, I rub the color around and take most of it off.  This way, the color stays in the texture but only stains the outside flat fondant....



Here is what it looks like up close!  It gives a vintage feel.

Here she is!!!  I'm loving the color.  Now for more detail! We need something inside the diamonds to relate to the original pattern on the dress.....

Here is a lace mold I make with Silicone Plastique....it's a product from www.makeyourownmolds.com . It's a great tool to make custom molds.   So I place small pieces of blue fondant into the mold, unmold them, stretch slightly to make them more oval in shape, and adhere them to the spaces with a little piping gel.

Now for the cross sections, I place these 4MM pre-made sugar pearls and paint them gold....



Almost done!!!  All we need is some depth.  I mix a little pearl dust with blue gel color and vodka to paint the alternating diamond pieces and the centers of the brooches....

and the gold....

And now for the grand reveal!!! Drum roll please.....

Yay!!!

Here she is a little more food styled!!

That's all for now.  Thanks to cake central (http://cakecentralmagazine.com/ ) and Stella McCartney (www.stellamccartney.com) for your beautiful inspiration!!!



Cake Spade;)

Every year when my sister's birthday comes around, there is only one store I go to for a gift....

Oh yes....my sister's favorite....Kate Spade!  I fell in love with this store the first time I walked in.  The store itself is a color haven for any type of designer.  Oh and she captured my heart with this piece.....

Yes Ma'am!! 

Soooooo....I my very first Fashion Caker post will be designed around the beautiful style and grace of Mrs. Kate Spade!

The problem is that I want to do everything!!!  But I decided to self edit and found this dress as my perfect inspiration.....

Something about the colorful and beautiful chaos of this pattern draws me in.

The way I design is much like that of Kate.....or any other fashion designer....I start with inspiration and a sketch....

 Now this is just a start.....I always end up changing something.  That's the beauty of design:)  Especially, if you are not filling an order.  In that case, I would encourage you to stick to your original plan....you know, so you don't get punched by a bride!

So here is what you will need for this project....

1.  Three cakes (real or dummies)...round, 8", 6",and 4"
2. Fondant (I used a creamy color....about 5 pounds)
3. Black gumpaste (for detail work, could be fondant with a little Tylose)
4. Gel colors (including white)
5. Paint Brushes (various sizes)
6. Piping bag with #1 tip
7. Royal Icing (less than 1/2 cup)
8. Ribbon cutter
9. 10 inch round cake display board
10. Ribbon to cover the edge of the display board
11. Scissors
12. Gumpaste quilting tool

Okay the first thing is to cover your cakes in fondant.  Side note....as I progress through these blog posts, I will be going back and showing you how to do some basic things like fondant work...so no worries.

The bottom and top tiers are the one that will receive the print so let's do those two first.

Now we have to mix up colors for the print....

This is red and blue with a touch of white to lighten....

And as you paint the design, use vodka to thin the food coloring gel a bit, to paint with ease.

There are no stencils or cutouts for this so it will have to be freehand.  I am going to start with the purple flowers first....

 I make the outline in a medium purple and then fill it in...

Next, I add the pink center....

And some darker spots in purple...

So it should look like this, give or take a few flowers....

Now that we have our framework, let's paint the orange and pink motifs next...

I do this the same way....outline and then fill in.  BTW, it doesn't have to be perfect....that's why I chose this print...use your own imagination:)

Now we can add the black leaves and plants......I just doodled!!

Perf....

Do the same to the top tier and we are good to go....

These could be cakes on their own...

 Look at that little nugget...

Okay now let's stack them....

We are going to leave the middle tier simple.  One thing I love about Kate's style is that her pieces are simple and chic...not fussy....and timeless....

The cakes need boarders.

Let's line each with a thin black gumpaste ribbon to make the colors pop!

So I'm just rolling out  a long strip and using my ribbon cutter to make consistent lines.  Then I stick them to the cake with a little piping gel (or water).

Okay....design change....see...I told you! 

Here is the original...

 This is too busy for Kate, and the spade is way to big!

I am gonna move the bow to the middle tier and make a smaller spade.

Here's how to make a bow....

First you want to roll out a thin piece of gumpaste (about 6 to 7 inches long)

Then cut a strip about 5 to 6 inches long (you can use the ribbon cutter here too), and chop off the ends....

Add a little piping gel to the center....

Starting at one end, fold the two corners in towards the bow....

And then pull them back towards you....

Smush it into the piping gel and do the other side...

Squeeze the middle and add a center strap....

Then I like to pull the top pieces together a little, especially since this will sit on the middle tier.

Now for the tails, you want to make another strip and cut it diagonally...

Then we place a little piping gel where the bow is going to sit....

Then add the tails....

Now add the bow...

Yay!  We could just leave it like this....

But we need an ode to Kate!...and a little piping....

So using a cutter (your choice) I made this little guy and gave him some detail with the quilting tool.....

Now let's paint him gold....

I also piped a small bead boarder in white....

Looking great!  Here is where the spade comes in....I cut a tiny one to fit in my little gold coin...you can use a cutter for this if you like...

Okay we need a little more gold...

I mix up some Gold Highlighter with vodka to paint the pearl boarder...

And I think that should do it!!!  Let's see!

I think Kate would be proud!!

That's all for now.

Thanks to Kate Spade for all of your beautiful designs!