First DVD goes on sale!!!

The Launch of my first DVD "A Guide to Sugarcraft Modelling : Teddy Bear and Cuddly Rabbit" happens tomorrow at the Exmouth BSG Sugarcraft Exhibition.

It's the first in a series that will be released over the next 12 months. I'm so excited but full of trepidation, hoping that it's well received.

THE WRITE UP:

“Elaine Thomas, aka Mystical Mischief to the online community, debuts her first ‘How to’ DVD, “A guide to sugarcraft modelling: Teddy Bear and Cuddly Rabbit”.

In this 2 disc DVD Elaine starts by taking you through basic modelling materials, tools and techniques that beginners will find invaluable. Next she shows us how to model a teddy bear, then completes the project by including a refreshing design idea to compliment the model.

In disc 2 Elaine guides us through a cuddly rabbit being made then gives us another classic cake design idea to include the cute topper.

But that’s not all! Bonus material has been thrown in to include, ‘Basic shapes’, ‘Colouring paste’, making ‘Buttons’ and ‘Photographing your cake’.

So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sugarcrafter you’ll want to know, just how to model the mischievous way!”

"An interview with...........Kathryn Kelly"

MM: What names do you go by?
KK: Kathryn Kelly (chalet fan on the BSG forum)

MM: And your business name?
KK: Kathryn’s Cakes. I work from home around a 3 year old.

MM: What’s your location?
KK: Worcester

MM: Where did we first meet?
KK: I knew your work from the NEC – Cake 2008 my Novelty Cake was next to yours. We first met in person on our Demonstrator Training Seminar. I was really excited that you were going to be there – I remember telling you and you responding ‘no pressure then’. You then had to wait till last to demonstrate, by which time you were bright red and shaking like a leaf. I, on the other hand, was as calm as can be
MM: hmmmmm, thanks for reminding me Kathryn..........lol

MM: What areas of sugarcraft interests you the most, do you specialise in any?
KK: I like modelling and making ‘things’; shoes, animals, people. I also like airbrushing (though I’m not that good yet!) and painting on cakes and I’ve a passion for cake jewellery.

MM: Where can we see examples of your work?
KK:www.kathryns-cakes.co.uk, FB at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryns-Cakes/106747242683985?ref=ts

MM: How long have you been involved with sugarcraft and what got you started?
KK:When we moved to Worcester in 1996 I was looking for a hobby. I tried flower arranging then the next year thought I’d do pottery but it was full so I did cake decorating instead. The rest, as they say, is history

MM: Where did you learn?
KK: I had a few lessons with a local tutor and demonstrator, Janet Melillo, and I’ve been on a few workshops but mainly I’m self taught. I’ve loads of books and I’ll just have a go – if it doesn’t work, try again.

MM: Is there anyone that has been your inspiration?
KK: Well, I admire your work tremendously; it was very exciting at last year’s NEC to get a Gold in the same class as you. I’m a big fan of Jen Hook for her design and creativity, Rhianydd Easton’s modelling, Liz Finch’s style, the list goes on.
MM: That was a great exhibition, and I loved Rhianydd work at Squires this year.

MM: Where do you feel your love of the craft will lead you, have you any aspirations?
KK: I love demonstrating and talking about sugar; my son goes to school in September 2011 which should free up a bit of time enabling me to branch out, hopefully into workshops. I would like to be published at some point but I’m not sure I’m creative enough
MM: I’m sure you are, why not get in touch with the magazines and see if they’d welcome some of your design ideas for cakes?

MM: What’s your favourite and least favourite part of sugarcraft, do you have any pet hates?
KK: The best? Finished cakes, ready to go, happy customers, great feedback. The worst? The clearing up!

MM: So what competitions have you ever entered your work into, & how did you get on?
KK: Where do I start? Various awards culminating in Gold and Trophy and Silver at Cake International 2008, Gold and Trophy at Trowbridge 2009, Gold and Trophy and Silver at Cheltenham and Gloucester 2009, Gold (3rd, you were 2nd) and Merit at Cake International 2009. Coo, sounds good when it’s listed like that.

MM: Have you a signature cake/style and were do you get your design ideas from?
KK: I think the two most recognisable things I’ve done are ‘Horsy’ and the funky floral wedding cake. Horsy is based on one of DS’s toys and funky floral came from a birthday card so I’m inspired by lots of things, more than I could ever make into cakes unless I stopped sleeping.

MM: Have you any tips or advice that you think may come in handy to anyone who’s just starting to explore sugarcraft?
KK: See as many demonstrations as you can, even if you think it’s not your thing. Think carefully about what you buy and practise, practise, practise getting a good covering on your cake

MM: Do you have any stories about sugarcraft that have stuck with you?
KK: One of the first cakes I made was for my BIL. He was joining the Navy so I made Popeye from one of Debbie Brown’s books. Being new, I didn’t put a long enough piece of spaghetti through the head and neck into the body and consequently, the head fell off. I tried to sugarglue it back on a couple of times but no luck. So in desperation, and knowing it wouldn’t be eaten as it wasn’t going to be out of my sight, I superglued the head on.
MM: Superglue!! And did that work????????????? hahahahahahaha

Carnival Float

Think I may have gotten a we bit carried away with this one! I really enjoyed making it and although it's not as my origainal design (of which was a complete float) I think I actually like this better. The cake was ordered by the manager of 'The Swan Hotel' for one of her chef's who had worked for them for 20 years. They wanted to celebrate this with a cake but wanted it to reflect her interests of cycling to work everyday and her heavy involvement in the Carnivals.

If you've ever been to see one of the Carnivals in Somerset, you'll know the floats are HUGE!! and they have so many light bulbs that the heat just radiates off them, which is handy as they are held in November so you're nice and toasty as you watch them go by.

Sea shells

Thought this turned out to be a pretty cake, Thanks to Karen @ FPC for the shell mould (yes I know, I cheated!!lol) but knew I wouldn't have a lot of time to spend on it so had to make the cake extremely simple. I marbled the paste for the shells then airbrushed them, airbrushed the cake then used buttercream coloured with sugarflair dark brown and melon for the "wet sand" and 50:50 biscuit & brown sugar for the dry sand. Then scratched the inscription into the sand and put a stick next to it (just incase it wasn't obvious what I did ???)

She seemed pleased, she's taken it to Cornwall now. It should've been tomorrows order but their travel plans changed (yesturday) and she needed the cake by 6pm today.

"An Interview with.........Sarah Plumridge"

"An interview with............Sarah Plumridge"

MM: What names do you go by?
SP: Sarah Plumridge aka Twinplums on the BSG forum

MM: And your business name?
SP: I don’t have a business as just do it as a hobby

MM: What’s your location?
SP: Carterton, OXON UK

MM: Where did you first find me?
SP: I found you on the bsg forum after viewing the gold winning creation from the NEC in Nov 09. After viewing the cake, I clicked on the link for her website where I found the list of workshops that she runs. After a big nudge, my husband purchased me the workshops as a christmas present.

MM: What areas of sugarcraft interests you the most, do you specialise in any?
SP: I prefer doing novelty cakes at the moment. Whilst I love watching flowers being made, I just do not have the time to create such fabulous flowers as I would like to.

MM: Where can we see examples of your work?SP: I have a blog where I post all of my work http://twinplums-cakesbysarah.blogspot.com/

MM: How long have you been involved with sugarcraft and what got you started?
SP: I started with sugarcraft after being increasing frustrated in trying to get somebody to make a birthday cake for my twin boys. As their birthday is 3rd Jan, each year I struggled to find somebody to do it for me. Jan 09 I decided to decorate one myself. I got a plain iced cake from ASDA and decorated for the boys 10 pin bowling party and it was very successful. As I had got a kenwood chef for Christmas, I decided that I wouldn’t buy a ready made cake again and started to bake my own cakes in Feb 09.

MM: Where do you learn?
SP: I have been to a few classes at a shop in Swindon as a few in my home town. A attend a local sugarcraft club where they have monthly demos to watch and of course the workshops that my husband got me for Christmas. I also pick up a lot of tips from the BSG forum.

MM: Is there anyone that has been your inspiration?
SP: Too many people to mention but I found them all on the BSG forum.

MM: Where do you feel your love of the craft will lead you, have you any aspirations?
SP: I would love to make a business out of cakes but I think that the profit margin is too little for the work involved. When I retire and receive my pension, perhaps it will be more feasible as a top up rather than a full on wage for me. If time permits, I would love to enter NEC 2010, but it may have to wait until 2011

MM: What’s your favourite and least favourite part of sugarcraft, do you have any pet hates?
SP: What’s your favourite and least favourite part of sugarcraft, do you have any pet hates?: My favourite part is putting the finishing touches to a cake and my least favourite is tidying up the kitchen after.

MM: Have you ever entered your work into any competitions, & if so how did you get on?
SP: I entered into the Cheltenham & Gloucester exhibition in Oct 09. The category was mini cakes so I decided to make a tea tray with a cup of tea, coffee, sugar bowl & milk jug. I got a bronze which I was quite chuffed with at a first attempt but more importantly picked up some valuable feedback from the judges. The worst criticism was that the marzipan & icing were too thick so you would get very little cake per bite.

MM: Have you a signature cake/style and were do you get your design ideas from?
SP: I do not have a signature style and I get all of my inspiration from the web.

MM: Have you ever experience different cake cultures outside of the UK?
SP: I took a fruit cake to Gran Canaria for my dad’s 70th birthday. The staff in the hotel were amazed at the sugarpaste as they had never seen it before. In fact the chef came out to try a piece of cake and to look at the cake covering. They were very impressed with my cake but felt the the heat of the canaries would make working with suarpaste a nightmare.

MM: Have you any tips or advice that you think may come in handy to anyone who’s just starting to explore sugarcraft?
SP: Register at the BSG forum as it is a wealth of inspiration and helpful tips.

MM: Do you have any stories about sugarcraft that have stuck with you that you’d like to share? SP: The biggest stressful cake that I have done so far was a replica side drum from the queens regiment. If I did it today, I would still find it tricky but do things differently as I had only been sugarcrafting for 6 months when I was asked to do it. The lady had been let down by somebody else so I was her last resort. I gave it my best shot and was really pleased with it – other than spelling her husbands name wrong on the cake board. Even more stressful than making the cake was delivering it. It was very close to divorce as my husband seemed to find every pothole on the 19 mile journey. On arrival, the model fell over and his arms dropped off. With a quick repair in the lady’s kitchen using cocktails sticks, he was ready for the party.

August East Midlands workshop subject confirmed!

After much interest in the Ragdolls being made available to do in a workshop I've decided to give them a go for the August East Midlands Workshop. Anyone interested in this workshop should get in touch ASAP as there are only 6 places for this one.

Price £50, secure your place with a deposit of £25 leaving £25 to pay on the day. Everthing's included except your lunch. So come play, talk and enjoy, sugar for a whole day with me :o)