Does anyone have a super close up shot of any of the birds from Rylans' cakes? Or seen a tutorial anywhere of anything similar (nothing in his tutorial posts or elsewhere online as far as I have looked). I think they are lovely but my attempts so far have been rubbish, mostly because I can't see them too well in the photos he has posted on here, or on his blog. They look simple, but they aren't.

Rylan, if you read this, I love your birds though reading your blog you appeared to get a bit tired of them in the end! If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!

My initial reaction having read the title was, ask Rylan to make them.... lol He's a class all his own. But try sending him a pm, maybe he can help you out. Challenge should DEFINITELY recruit him to do an episode. Better yet, "Amazing Wedding Cakes", should use him.

I did a cake similar to Rylans and did ask him about the birds, he just said he thought they were the easiest part of his cake. But I had trouble too. They wouldn't stay rounded. I think it would be hard for him to explain the process, he shaped them until he got it right.

Ooh yeah, I'd take a couple of already made ones from him if he has no use for them!
I didn't really want to bother him, so I'll wait and see if anyone has any ideas before sending him a PM.
I agree on him getting a call from any of the shows, I'd love to watch one with him in! Maybe we should start a fan club

Here's a few assorted bird toppers that might help with shaping. Couldn't fine any info on the birds though.


http://www.projectwedding.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/birds-one.jpg

http://chelsi83.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/bird-cake-toppers.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/LittleLitz16/WCB/BronzeBirdWeddingCakeTopper.jpg

http://www.glamour.com/weddings/blogs/save-the-date/1118-naked-love-birds-wedding-cake-topper_we.jpg

Thank you warchild, they are very helpful!

Dayti, here's a slightly different view of the cake with a bird sitting on a branch. You can see the shape of the bird a bit better on this one.
The photo should enlarge a bit if you click on it.


http://www.artandappetite.com/wp-content/gallery/cakes/organic-final-470-3.jpg

Thanks. I will have to have a go at these tomorrow, I need them for a wedding cake for Friday and Mondays are my quiet, modelling days. I hope they turn out better than the last ones I did! The pictures you posted earlier help a lot.

Hi Dayti,

The birds are really the easiest and the most effortless things on the cake (I accidentally made it). Just roll your gumpaste into a seam-free ball. After it looks seam-free, just rub a ton of shortening all over (to make it slippery when forming). After rubbing shortening, just free form it by pushing, rubbing and just using your fingers. When done, I just lay it on a bed of cornstarch, to help it dry faster and get the shorting off. I hope I could have explained it better--it is so hard to describe in words on how to do it, haha.

Hey Rylan - I made two earlier today, and only just saw your reply. I didn't even think to rub shortening over them, but they turned out ok. I made a ball, then made a kind of fat, chubby triangle, then formed the tail and head, then the beak. It is tough to explain especially since it's one of those things that you just have to keep tweaking til it looks right!

Sounds great! I can totally picture what you are talking about. I'm sure it turned out great! Oh, and by the way, I'm so in love with your avatar!

Ooooo...those birds are so pretty! Simple and elegant. And apparently easy to make! I'll have to try them very soon! Thanks!

Thanks, carmijok!

Rylan your work is absolutely amazing!!
I wanted to comment on your pictures but seriously I was lost & didn't know which one to pick as my favourite!