While I am in story telling mode (and just because I want to have a brag about my cake), I will share the story of my Harry Potter Chess Set.

I have been decorating cakes since I was in my late 20s but I would only do one or 2 cakes a year just for the local agricultural show - cake decorating competition - and usually it would be something that the children would enjoy and because I really love cake sculpting.

As I live in a very isolated area I have very little contact with other decorators so what I know I have taught myself..so I am just loving CC!!!!!
Apart from buying my fondant I made everything including my sugar paste icing from scratch. I have also learnt to be creative in what I use for tools etc.

In 2003 my son was given a Harry Potter Chess Set game board which I took one look at and decided I just had to make it into a cake.
After many hours of painstakingly fiddly work, rushing home for an hour lunch break to make another piece, sitting at my table into the wee small hours at night I finally got them and the base cake finished. I entered it into the local show and it won, then drove it 300 kms to Darwin (our state capital), entered it in their show, and it won and also received the most outstanding exhibit award. It was even featured on the TV news roundup of show exhibits.

One of our local news paper reporters kept saying to me that my cakes werent as good as those in the Royal Adelaide Show. So just to prove to him that my cakes WERE good enough, in 2006 I remade the chess set, more hours of fiddly painstaking work, (it took about 2 months), drove 2000 kms south to Adelaide and entered it into the Royal Adelaide Show cake decorating competition. There it came third... I was unsure of some of the rules and did a couple of things wrong which went against me but my mother is convinced that the judges thought I had used some sort of mold to make the chess pieces. silicone or otherwise (which I didnt) Anyway I was still pretty pleased with the result. Then...when I got home the reporter had left town so I couldnt rub the news into his face either!

I have only recently got the internet and been able to upload my photos to CC and to Flickr and on Flickr my chess set was nominated for the Worlds Most Amazing Cake Group competition for January..And it won.I am ecstatic, thrilled, rapt etc etc.
That is why I am sharing this story with you all.

If you would like to see my cake check out this link

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1302350.html

If not no worries!
Thanks for reading my story and have a great day!

Wow multiplied congratulations--fantastic workmanship.

Stunner stuff. Outstanding.

I loved your chess cake the first time I saw it. Now I love it even more after reading the story behind it. You do amazing work.

Wow, what amazing work! Congratulations on all of your success.

I am in awe of your talent. Your figurines are perfect and the story behind the cake was very inspiring. I too am always up for a challenge as you were but your talent is quite remarkable. Congratulations on all your wins.

That is incredble. Do you mind telling me how on earth you actually made those figures so detailed, I am starting out and have done a few classes and would love to be able to make really deatiled figures one day..have a feeling maybe I am using the wrong paste. Congratulations!

Congratulations! Amazing work!! I'm in awe of your super-hero modeling skills!

Melanie Mc.

It is a masterpiece. Brag away because you've earned it. Thanks so much for sharing, the talent here on CC never ceases to amaze me.

Just amazing! You have every right to brag!!
You're very talented, keep up the great work!

Danielle

Thank you all so much for your comments. I may do a video showing how I made one of the pawns (yet again)......stay turned.

eilidh....I have sent you a PM

Bron

Oh my goodness, that is absolutely Astounding!!! I too would love to see how you made such detailed pieces by hand. Stunning work, I'm completely blown away by it.

wow, wow, wow,
can't think of anything else to say!!!!

Your cake is fantastic and your story makes it even more so. Thanks for sharing. I would love to see a video.

This is almost impossible to believe! I am sooooo amazed!
I wish I could achieve one day half of what you can do!
Your art is an inspiration! Thanks for sharing

I'm speechless...that is spectacular in every way .

Excellent work! When's the next cake coming?

Unbelievable! Well done you aussie!

I can't believe you drove it all the way to the second show - it was worth it i'm sure!

Thank you all for your comments. I have also included a close up of the chess pieces see link

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1302357.html

if you would like to see it.

(although I wish I could straighten up the bishops crook....it annoys me greatly) lol

I have posted the tutorial in a new thread if you are interested in knowing how I made the pieces.

I am a complete and utter HP GEEK, and I BOW before your talent! That cake is AMAZING!!