The Sound of 19

My nephew Josh turned 19! It's a surefire reminder of how old I am with the only consolation that my brother (his father) is even older! (oops sorry, brother) You see, it doesn't seem so long ago that I was somewhat living the carefree days of being a student and enjoying a social life revolving around music. Has it really been 19 years?

Where I used to hang out with friends who formed bands and played at gigs, I'm now making a cake in the shape of a guitar, for a 19-year-old. Thank you Josh for reminding me of my youth, it was a good time indeed.

Josh has made a conscious choice to pursue music and thanks to his supportive parents, he is bucking the usual academic trend to create a future hopefully based on passion. And he will be the better for it.

Happy Birthday Josh

This little blue ukelele (Harvest) is actually a replica of something he has in his impressive collection of guitars. I figured it's easier to make this than Taylor, Fender or Gibson.

Back to the cake, it's 2 different sized round cakes combined with a long rectangular strip cake for the fretboard. It's actually really fun to make and covering it in fondant really brought the instrument to life. My little boy actually wanted to pick it up and pluck the strings!

The trick was crafting the tuning pegs and strings. The tuning machine heads and pegs are all moulded from fondant. I made them stiff enough so I could actually string it like a real guitar to the bridge with fishing line. For someone who doesn't play the guitar, I sure know the anatomy of one.

Some people have lives, some people have music. Josh I wish you have a fulfilling life of music.


Music is perpetual, and only the hearing is intermittent.
- Henry David Thoreau 

What a Character!

I had the pleasure of baking two orders that involved some interesting and well-loved children's characters. For the birthday recipients, the cakes not only made their day, but it was central to the celebration and really goes to show how it's not a party unless you have cake!

When I think of pirates, it used to be 'Pirates of the Caribbean' with Johnny Depp in all his uncanny ways. Now that I have kids, it's Disney Junior's 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates'! Oh how things have changed. But Jake and his mateys are definitely more inspirational when it comes to making confectionery.

I was delighted to bake for Riven again. His mummy had contacted me exactly a year ago for his birthday. Another year older now, his love for Mickey Mouse has moved on to a more swashbuckling variety - Pirates!

Riven got a box of cherubic-looking pirate cupcakes for school and a small cake with all the emblems that would make a pirate proud. The pirate fondant toppers were easy enough to make, you just need round cutters and edible ink pen. Cut a nice round disc for the face, a semi circle for the head scarf, some little round cutouts for the polka dots (I used a the opening of a large piping tip) and draw in the face with edible ink!

Happy B'Arr-Day Riven

Eye patches rock

Riven's Treasure Chest

My next recipient is a little older, but age doesn't have to define you, especially not when it comes to the sort of cake you can ask for on your birthday. The birthday girl's friends were throwing her a tea party, and not just any tea party, but the sort that Alice would enjoy in Wonderland.

Since it was just cupcakes, I figured to make a few key characters and feature some famous quotes from the fantasy claptrap. So you got to have the White Rabbit, Alice herself falling down a rabbit hole no less, the mad hat and crazy clock. I particularly enjoyed pulling out quotes from the story that have become so famous that it's part of popular culture - "Eat me!"

Alice in Cupcake-land

Time for cupcakes

Happy Birthday Cindy

Wonderful Tea Party

I just realised a common thread in these character cupcakes - Johnny Depp movies!


“You would have to be half mad to dream me up.” 
- Lewis Carrol