When two of my friends got engaged I was excited and happy for them.  They are such a cute couple and they love my son Charlie!  Then the brides  mom asked me to make them a surprise cake for the engagement party.  She gave me complete creative control, she just wanted me to incorporate the bride and grooms occupations: physical therapy and firefighter.  Here is the cake I came up with:

The color scheme of the party was purple and teal so I made edible sugar flowers to match. I wanted to glitz the cake up a bit so I painted the centers of the flowers in shiny silver and added decorative silver dots.  Sitting atop the cake are the bride and groom.  The bride is holding her goniometer, a tool used by physical therapists to measure range of movement. The groom is wearing a firefighters hat.  When I surprised them with the cake, they were so shocked and excited!  Here is the happy couple, Adina and Yosh, with their cake.

Adina’s mom wanted to save the top tier of the cake for them to enjoy at a later date.  She wrapped it up and stored it in the freezer.  Everyone at the party enjoyed the bottom tier; there wasn’t a piece left!  Here’s a picture of the groom and my son, Charlie.  They are buddies.

Mazel tov Adina and Yosh!

I can’t believe it.  My baby is one year old!

I wanted to celebrate Charlie’s birthday but didn’t want to overwhelm him so my husband and I decided to keep the celebration to family only.  Here’s Charlie eating a cookie pop.  I baked sugar cookies on lollipop sticks and decorated them with green icing and the number “one”.  The second design I created was made to look like a swirled lollipop.  I displayed them on a lollipop dessert stand.

I also made lemon meringue cupcakes and mini chocolate chip banana muffins.  I displayed those on cake stands that I made in blue and green to match the party colors.

I found this super cute idea for a DIY dessert stand on Hostess with the Mostess’ daily blog.  I love how they came out and I can’t wait for an excuse to make them again!  To add to the festivities, I hung these cute paper lanterns that I bought at Party City.

Now for the cake.  I wanted to make a cake that was whimsical and cute, but not too babyish.  This is what I came up with.

The cake was a 2 tiered tapered design, decorated in white, silver and blue.  I tried out a new design element for this cake.  I always experiment on my family; isn’t that what they are for?  I have never made tapered tiers before, but they came out great!  For the bottom tier I baked 3 cakes: 8 inch, 7 inch and 6 inch.  The top tier is also three layers: 7 inch, 6 inch and 5 inch.  I layered, iced and covered in fondant as usual.  It worked out fabulously.  Charlie was mesmerized by the sparkling candles.

I know he is only one year old but I couldn’t stop at just one candle so I put in twelve; one for each month.  Happy first birthday baby.  Mommy and Daddy love you!

This cake was made for a birthday celebration.  I was asked to make it a few days before the party so I was told I can do whatever I want.  That’s my favorite request!  I always have design ideas that I want to try.  I have been itching to make an edible brooch to dress up a gum paste bow.

I love how it worked out!  To make it, I used a flower cutter to cut the shape out of the blue gum paste.  Then, using royal icing, I attached edible pearls on each petal.  I used a button mold to create the center button shape.  Using silver luster dust mixed with vodka, I painted the button and let it dry to the touch.  I attached the button with more royal icing.

I applied royal icing using a cake stencil to create this design on the bottom tier.  This is only my second time using a cake stencil.  I’m getting better at it but it is a tough technique!

I cut out hundreds of little gum paste flowers for this cake.  I gave them some shape using a ball tool.  Then each flower was dusted with shimmery green petal dust.  To achieve the rounded top of the cake I cut a styrofoam ball in half and covered it with fondant.  Then I attached each flower with royal icing.  I think this is my favorite cake yet!