First Day Blogger's Block finally cracked by Cake International Success

I planned to start writing this blog well over a year ago. Friends were nagging me to publish photographs of some of the cakes I've made but I really have been too busy to begin and didn't know where to start.

Anyway, it was Cake International at the NEC on November 5-7th and myself and two of my daughters Hannah & Laurice,  both aged 10 decided to enter.

At last, something to write about on this blank page.

Hannah and Laurice both entered the under 14s Christmas Cake class. They both did really well as they had a school entry exam on the Saturday morning and needed to swat up, as well as preparing their cakes (everything is always done at the last minute in this household!)

Anyway they came away with a Gold award each plus 1st and 2nd in the class.

I am so proud of them.

Hannah's is a nativity scene (obviously) using Karen Davies' angel mould http://www.karendaviescakes.co.uk/ which she dusted and painted.

The cow on the top is her version, of my version, of the wonderful Lorraine McKay's version, of a cow http://www.extra-icing.co.uk/ (more about that later) .

 

Gold & 1st in class Junior under 14
Hannah Conod





Laurice used teddies around the base of her cake, an idea adapted from a cake she had seen in one of Karen Davies' lovely Christmas books, giving each a hand moulded and painted Christmas hat.

Gold & 2nd place in class

Junior under 14

Laurice Conod

 

The teddies on the top were hand moulded, with the Christmas tree being made from a drawn template (all very hurriedly put together I have to say).

Laurice entered last year for the first time and also won Gold and was 1st in class.

I have to say a big thank you to both Karen Davies and Lorraine Mckay as their work has inspired both of these two lovely young girls to produce such wonderful work!

                                                            

  

Laurice & Hannah with the
Chairman of the Judges
 Brian Taylor

For the second year running I was totally disorganised and had to rush to make a cake with just a couple of days to go before the show started. I hadn't been able to think of anything to do and when I did, I was too busy to do it! Typical!
Well I just about managed to get this cake finished enough to take to the show. At 4am I only had half a woman! I sort of finished 5 mins before leaving the house and had to stay up for two nights on the trot to get it to that stage, although I was annoyed with myself for having to miss lots of detail and rush the rest.
Anyway, despite all that it managed somehow to pull off a Gold in the novice class!
I was buzzing for the rest of the weekend and had to drink plenty of wine to celebrate!
Next year I will really try not to cock things up and leave it so late (my hubby says he has heard that before!)

Gold Award Novelty Cake - Novel Design