Tuesday, November 16, 2010

THE First Birthday Cake


Perhaps it's only my fellow cake designers who can understand the stress (I put on myself) for my daughter's first birthday cake. In fact, my husband jokingly reminded me TWICE that he ordered a sheet cake, NOT a sculpted cake (a.k.a. cake that will take days to bake, sculpt and decorate) but OF COURSE I was not going to serve a sheet cake at my own daughter's first birthday party.

"Owl Eyes"

So the stress actually started months ahead of time deciding on a design. I finally chose an owl because we affectionately coined the phrase for my daughter "owl eyes" for when she should be sleeping in her stroller but we see her bright large eyes looking back at us.

My inspiration: sketches and tear sheets

The colors came from the plates and napkins I chose, and the style was modeled after all those fabulous Owl pillows, back packs, change purses that are around now. I used a special textured rolling pin to make the medium-pink color look like corduroy on the back and in the ear and pocket details. I hadn't used that rolling pin since the first sock monkey I made, in 2005 on the first Food Network Birthday Cake challenge. Lots of stitching, everywhere to make a cute and cuddly owl.


It was made of our old-fashioned vanilla cake with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream, very simple but delicious.

And it is kind of appropriate I joined twitter today and I am using this "bird" cake photo for all my tweets! Follow along...



**Top photo by my talented cousin Jordan Pique

34 comments:

Julie F said...

That is so sweet:)

So Sweet Cake Design said...

absolutely incredible, just perfect! you are an artist!
I'm from Brazil and a big fan of your work

kisses

dani


http://www.temdoce.blogspot.com/

citygirl - Stacey said...

I LOVE cute owls and this one is the cutest. Of course you had to make her cake! Wouldn't expect anything else!! Can't beleive she's already one! Glad you are blogging again. :)

Stephanie said...

I love it! And yes, I agree about the stress! :)

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about putting the stress on yourself - family birthdays are worse than any commission!
LOVE the cake - super cute!

Desserts With Stephanie said...

Very clever and original looking! Love the eyes.

giovanna said...

incredible! sooo cute! so beautiful. you are amazing!

Cake Believe said...

Oooooo....I LOVE it!!!! And I totally agree with you.....how could he even THINK about a sheet cake??????

Erin said...

There is even stitching in the eyes! I love it - wonderful job!

Dani said...

That is GORGEOUS!

Brandy L said...

Gorgeous cake! What a sweet little owl. :D

Katie Yoon said...

Wow! This is the cutest cake I ever seen!!!

Elisa said...

Thanks everyone! It was a lot of fun!

Unknown said...

I so want that cake. My daughter's 1st year old b-day is coming up and it is an Owl theme. It is the cutest cake ever! I love it.

Rowaida said...

Gorgeous cake! love it.
I am so happy you are on twitter! Love your amazing work and books, wish you great success
Regards,
Rowaida

Anonymous said...

Really cute cake for year 1

Olivia said...

Perfect! I love it.

Unknown said...

Muy linda....I like!!. I bougth your book and I really like that too. Congratulations!!

Unknown said...

Ohh what a lovely cake! I love it!!!

Milind said...

looks original...!
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Ratita Golosa said...

The cake is beautiful! Very very nice.
Congratulations to your baby's first birthday.
Hugs

CakeWhiz said...

That is so cute! I love it!

Anonymous said...

Sweet cake for year 1 baby

Anonymous said...

great work.. love it.
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Unknown said...

I love owls and this cake is adorable! I want this cake for MY birthday. LOL!

MamaWa said...

That is absolutely the cutest cake I've ever seen! Your work is so detailed and clean.

Zaidinil Khusna (Dina) said...

your cakes are really inspiring me!

Elizabeth said...

this is SO cute!!!! Very original. I just love it! so glad I happened upon your blog :)

Claire MM said...

i would love the recipe and decoration for this cake, i am stressing already with 2 mths topgo for my little girls first birthday ! i dont bake but am determined to make her cake i love this one ! any details would be much appreciated

Claire MM said...

i would adore th recipe and decoration recipe for this cake any help appreciatted never made a cake but determined to do my daughters first birthday cake

myrtle said...

WoW! amazing cake. . love this one. .=)
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Ann said...

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