A different type of flower

[BarleySugar]

Thanks everyone for your kind words, I showed them the pics tonight, and they were pleased with it. I have made it for their wedding present, and they won't see it properly until they arrive at the reception, as I am going to be taking it to set up the morning of the wedding.

I have sometimes thought of doing cakes professionally, but with all the rules and regs, and needing a steady income to pay the mortgage, it doesn't seem viable.
I sometimes take orders by word of mouth if anyone asks, but it depends on the time of year, as some times are more busy with school work than others. This one was very convenient as I made the cakes at Easter, and had the summer to do the flowers
I understand why prices for this sort of thing are so high though. The materials cost in the region of £70 (supermarket and specialist cake decorating shop), before any time is taken into consideration.

[happybunny]

OMG it's fabby!!!

[SueA]

That's beautiful Barleysugar & a really nice idea for a present. I would have loved a cake like that when I got married years ago but they were all very 'traditional' then & I had to fight to stop them sticking a 'bride & groom' on the top, I wanted fresh or icing flowers but had to settle for a silk flower arrangenment, I think it was just something they normally stood the 'bride & groom figures under normally!

[shirlthegirl43]

How beautiful. Clever you!

[BarleySugar]

Just an update to say they happy couple got through the ceremony and the photos yesterday with the sun shining on them! Amazingly, despite heavy showers beforehand, it stopped raining long enough for all the guests to arrive at the registry office, and for the photos to be taken afterwards.
Unfortunately, we arrived back at the venue for the reception to find no food or bar, the caterers had mucked up the times. They were supposed to set up at 1.30pm, we arrived around 2.15, and they got there for 3pm, then dropped a bottle of red wine, which spread everywhere! Once that had been set up, everything went really well, and I still blush at the number of compliments. My SIL said she had felt the tears begin to well up when she saw the cake in real life. I was immensely pleased to have produced something that made her so happy.
They are off to Australia to visit some of her family, as well as seeing the sights. 3 weeks, a wonderful opportunity. I can't help wondering though, if they have any intentions to suss things out down there, as she has dual nationality through her father.

[piskieinboots]

you are one seriously talented lady - well done you, they must have been thrilled

[Hilary B]

I made roses and decorated the cake for my daughter's wedding. It wasn't in that league!
I am much better at 'novelty' rather than 'quality'. Because a sponge cake was also wanted, and my son-in-law worked with racehorses at the time, I did a sponge cake cooked in a roasting tin, covered it with green-dyed desicated coconut (stuck on with chocolate butter-cream) and added a few items to look like a race track (including 2 plastic race horses).

[BarleySugar]

After all your kind comments, when my school asked if anyone could come up with some ideas of course we could run for Adult Education, I've suggested I could do a flower making course. We are considering a one day workshop to decorate a Christmas cake to gauge interest in a longer running course. Fingers crossed that it goes forward.

[SarzWix]

That's great BarleySugar, I would love to learn how to make beautiful flowers like that
I made a wedding cake for my S.I.L. a few years ago (what a fiasco - they ended up not even getting married, after I had spent weeks & weeks making cakes ), and did all the piped royal icing myself, but I had to buy in the flowers because I just couldn't get the hang of it!

[di]

Hope the course goes well Barley Sugar.I've ben looking into doing an evening course but they're all rather pricey & totally awkward times.Picked up a rather excellent(if not somewhat '70's in style!)Mary Ford~101 Cake designs,book from a charity shop.I'm pretty hooked now on doing novelty cakes(very rustically)but may now spend my allocated housework times practising making flowers & the sort!!
The book's great~there's even a typewriter!!(but not a camera which I'll be doing for my Dad next month!!~nor a Henry Hooover!)