Cherry

Having never been to any of the cake international, or any other show cake related I decided that 2013 would be the year to put that to right.  And if I was going to be attending those shows then I should take the deep breath, be brave and enter one of the categories.  Manchester Cake International being the first one in March I submitted my entry form for the decorative class and put my thinking hat on.
It's funny when you aren't looking for idea's they come to you thick and fast, but when you want something you can never find it.  Then I saw an image on Yarn bomb Consortium on Facebook that hooked me,  Harajuku girls from Japan, colorful, eclectic, imaginative and lots of fun, research under way.....  I was mesmerized by their style, wild hair in stunning rainbow of colours, they would be my subject.

Spending the weekend before the show, teaching at The Enchanted Cake School, Heather the owner kindly offered me a chance to stay up there to create my competition piece.  So Monday morning I began.  

The decorative class means that cake does not have to be involved the piece and can include internal support and structure, but not external.  I wanted to challenge myself by making a standing figure, I knew that would need to be substantial to support the rest of the body so by using steel supports bolted into the base I had enough rigidity to build the rest of the body onto.  Not having to use cake allowed me to use a polystyrene dummy for the skirt to be dressed onto.

Starting at the bottom with the legs and shoes I worked my way up methodically, building the body and head then back to the skirt to make ruffles for the underskirt, then the top skirt and pleats.  Once these were in place I could work on the torso, layering up, a blouse and handpainting the cherries onto this, the bodice of the dress, the main body of the cardigan and lastly the collar of the blouse.  Positioning the arms building those up and dressing those could then be completed.  Lastly working on the face and hair to add the finishing touches.

Boxing her up ready to travel to Manchester was nerve wracking, but that done there was no going back.  The biggest sigh of relief comes when she was in place at the show, on her table and ready for the judges and the public.

















I have been overwhelmed at the response I have had from Cherry, my facebook page hasn’t stopped having comments and new likes.  I have posts and messages on my page from so many lovely people and some that I had the pleasure to meet at the show.  

The world of cake decorating can sometimes be a hard place to work in, but this weekend I have found nothing but pleasure in everyone I met.

I was very protective at the show and stunned to find the pulled sugar exhibit next to her had been knocked over at one point. How she escaped any damage I'll never know, but so thankful that she did.

Oh and how did I do ... I was awarded Gold, very proud.

Thank you to Heather at The Enchanted Cake School for putting me up and allowing me to take over the school to make Cherry, to Marie of Marie’s Bakehouse in Manchester for taking custody of Cherry until my good friends Andy and Kathy collect her ready for her journey home at Easter.
So …. next ?  Well there is a show in London in April !!!! …. watch this space …..
Happy Baking
Rhu x