AHi Barbara, I think I posted a link to the recipe I use. It's really easy to mould. I am going to make the body and the head with RKT and then the rest with fondant.

Jean, when a thing like that happens I always think that it's their loss not mine!:grin:

Kathy, for me it's squires kitchen. But I have used A piece of cakes's flower paste. I have to make some Cameo colour roses for the cake that I'm doing in few weeks time and that colour is not available already made. So I contacted A piece of cakes and within few days they got me the colour mixing three different colours. I highly recommend them as they are very helpful! And the flower paste I have used is Beau products and they have gorgeous colours.

Thanks catsmum for that. :-) Will ask my us and get it sorted out nest week.

I now have good reason to start using my flower paste. See? I don't even know what it's technically called. 

Kathy, if you have no option and have fondant and tylose around the house, the ratio depends on humidity but generally I think its about 1/2 tsp tylose powder per 250g of fondant. More humid, more tylose. For my figures, I mix the tylose powder until it starts to be stiff enough so I don't pay attention to the ratios at all! 

Right got the powder out- its squires kitchen petal powder. just mix with water. I'm terrible I never seem to want to try anything new straight away. I got comfortable with making my own gumpaste and I had something in my cupboard for months that's better than homemade gumpaste!

Bashini- so you buy ready coloured flower paste? Do you get coloured powder or coloured blocks (like fondant)?

catsmum- i seem to recall vases being mentioned on this thread before- I'm dying to see your finished cake. 

When we bought our wedding cake, hubby and I had just come from an appointment with the florist and were walking to the car. We passed by a cake shop and we both went- wait we need cake! We went in, had a browse, both liked the cake where the bride was in the bed, the groom was on the floor with a bottle of champagne in hand, so he was clearly sozzled. The cake itself was the bed- we both thought it would be fun to have that as our wedding cake. We scheduled the tasting, chose our flavour, and the only thing I asked was that the bride have black hair like me (that didn't happen). I think judging by some of the horrors some bakers experience with bride and groomzillas, we were one of the most laid back couples ever. It didn't even bother me that the bride topper didn't have black hair. 

Ok ramble over, back to trying to create a website with moonfruit!

AMorning all. :-) Cats mum, your cake sounds difficult! I can't wait to see it, I hope you'll post pics when it's done. Kathy, I 've been using Satinice gumpaste, got it on ebay, it rolls really thin, dries quickly too. I don't have the problems cazza has with it, don't know why cos it's often hot and humid in sunny South Wales! I've got some tylose but when I tried adding it to sugarpaste it wouldn't mix in, stayed really grainy, the only thing it's good for is edible glue.

Jean, employers shouldn't discriminate but in reality they do. Yes I have decided to stay at home with her for now, for lots of reasons, not just the difficulty with getting a job if I'm honest about her.

I bought some squires black flowepaste the other day, I looked at the Beau products one, I was tempted cos it was cheaper but I'd never heard of it so thought I'd better not. Is it good bashini? How's the house?

It's taken me about an hour to type this, this cold has addled my brain I think!!

AJean, yes, I buy ready coloured flower paste. If I colour the white paste it's going alter the texture of the paste. So ready coloured ones all the time. :)

Maisie, it's similar to A piece of cakes, but a little softer than that. You need lot of cornflour to roll it. But I love the colours of Beau products. I have a cake to do with cerise and purple colour peonies. I've ordered those coloured from Them.

The house is great, Maisie, thanks. A bit more unpacking to do though...:)

I'm having a bit a problem at the mo. I made a huge order to Design a cake and they have put my billing address as my shipping address and now my box is missing!!!:x The driver has delivered to a neighbour and when I checked they don't have it!!! I've been calling the delivery service and Design a cake and they want to investigate!!!

But apart from that I had a lovely bride come in for a cake tasting. They loved the cake and she is going for fondant ruffle design. I still have to give her some design ideas and hope for the best!!:grin:

And here is my baked giant cupcake!! I was so worried that it wouldn't cook properly but looks good... So pleased with it...

[IMG ALT=""]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3224834/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

ABashini, was it a signed for service? Sounds like it was if you know it's been delivered to a neighbour. I'd say if they've got your shipping address wrong they should send you a new parcel to the correct address while they investigate. Glad your tasting went well and your giant cupcake looks perfect. :-)

AHi all, mmm, thats fab Bashini, how long did you cook it for and what temp?

My tasting went fab, she was chuffed to bits there was a lemon cake, for the choc cake she want a nuttella type ganache, has everyone made this ?

AHi Barbara, it's a 5 egg HD Sponge mix and baked at 140 fan assisted for nearly 2 hours. :)

Never made that combo but if you have left over ganache, mix some normal butter cream and then add Nutella until you get the taste you desire. That's how I do my chocolate orange butter cream. :grin:

AHi Maisie, yes it was and guess what, I found it. A neighbour has signed for it but the delivery person has written the door number!!! They are sending another parcel tomorrow and I have to return the other one. Anyway all sorted now!!!:)

AOh bashini that's a lovely bake! Can't wait to see it in all its splendor soon :-)

Started a new job today, well back to the old one after a secondment... Brought cake on day 1, was that a bad call? Now they're gonna expect it right?! Dang!

AGlad it's sorted bashini.

No, never tried nutella ganache nanny. I've got a good recipe for nutella cake though.

Hi Gray, yep, they're gona expect it every day now!

Would any if you know why my mud cake practically split in half while I was levelling it? And, do you think it'll still be ok to use?

AMy mud cake did the same maisie! Both of them... Cooled it in the tin and everything...

AHi Gray... Thanks. Will post pictures when it's done!! :-)

Maisie, yes, me too!! :)

If it's not going to be stacked as a bottom/ middle tier, then I would use some ganache to stick the two pieces back together and I am guessing that you are going to use a board under the cake...

AIt's going to be a bottom tier :-( It's not completely split but I think that's more to do with me holding it together than anything else. I've put it in the freezer, I was hoping to be able to use it. Thing is, I've got 2 cakes for the same day and a lot of things I've either never done or never done successfully before. I'm starting to panic now!

AAw been busy all day since my ladies left, covered my cake and board for Fri cake, then found DS wants a cake next Tuesday for a colleague who run the London marathon, on top of that the person who I'm making the rally car asked for 6 minion cupcakes, after that I still have another flower cake and my hen cake, phew!! Good job I'm partime thats all I can say.

ANutella cake sounds fab Maisie!

Bashini, I'gonna try that one day.

AHi All When panic sets in Maisie, I have to make lists. I find it easier to cope if I force myself into being methodical. Also helps when you are feeling a bit overwhelmed if you can cross a few things off your list. Hope I remember this tomorrow!

After several more sessions of ganaching, smoothing and scraping, got bottom and middle tier covered with sugarpaste and my DH set to with the poly dowels ready for the weight of the vases. They claim these dowels can be cut with scissors or poultry shears; he had to use a mini hacksaw to cut them but I am now confident they will support what is needed. (Hope they are not famous last words!) Earlier I had started making the floral topper for the top tier and made ribbon loops and organza fan thingies but decided the base was going to be too big so moved my attention back to cake....see I told you flower arranging was my nemesis :cry:

Well I did reduce the size of the polystyrene shape which will form the topper and at least got the organza things in. No choice tomorrow but to face my demons! It's flowers all the way. I'm sure I'll be weeping on this forum tomorrow night.....stay tuned for next epistle!

P.s think I am now working for about 20p an hour. I have a great spreadsheet set up which calculates my material costs but fail miserably on calculating and costing time. :-?

Hello all. 

Nanny, nutella ganache sounds really interesting. I'm not a big nutella fan, but my teen would love it. I'm glad your tasting went ok! 

Maisie, I hope I didn't come across as some know-it-all about employers and discrimination. I know its a reality, which is sad in this day and age isn't it? Sorry I can't help with the mudcake. I made it once and didn't really like it on its own, but i found it ok with loads of ganache or buttercream.

If you have a moment, I wouldn't mind some feedback on the site I've spent all day making:

http://jeansonlinestuff.wix.com/cake-jeanie-2

The url is temporary, it will be changed to www.cake-jeanie.co.uk once everything on the site is good to go.

I'd also like some feedback on pricing. I know pricing is a complicated issue, so mainly I would like to know if I'm underpricing. 

Kathy, I decided to use wix because I really struggled with moonfruit!

Sorry I can't respond to all the posts, I'm half asleep and my arm is aching from moving the mouse !

Good night all and 'see' you all tomorrow!

ANo Jean, of course you didn't. Catsmum, yes, lists are good, my husband jokes I make lists of my lists! I'm off to bed now, night all.

AGoodnight all. I'm just off to bed but thought I would check in before I go and see what you have all been up to. You all sound so busy!

I had a quick look at your website on my phone Jean and its looking good. I'll have a proper look on the PC tomorrow. I like the colours and the layout. If I'm 100% honest I'd change the pictures on your home page. Not that they're bad cakes or bad pics but I would maybe go for stock photos for a home page just because I think it gives it a more professional look. There are tonnes of profession stock photos for sale, and some can be really cheap, and I know when we've used them in the past they just add something extra to the site. Obviously just a suggestion though I hope you don't mind me saying? It's looking really good.

I'm very excited to see all the pics of all the cakes everyone is talking about. I have no more cakes to make until second week in may again now...

Night all!

AJean, quick message to say there's a typo on your website. It says "show covered" tree (I think tree, can't remember!). Obviously it should be snow and everyone reading it will know that, just wanted to let you know. I put that first so I wouldn't forget, I think it's fab! Easy to navigate (on my Iphone), lovely colours, great to see prices. :-) Now I really am going to bed! Night all. :-)

APetitcat what's you royal icing recipe? There shouldn't be lumps.

ACakejeanie I love your site, love your cakes, you must be so proud?

AMorning. Jean the stock photos don't have to be just pics of cakes they could be some bowls and spoons and such or a little stack of macarons (think I saw a cute pic like that so just an example). Or a pic of someone making a cake? I'm sure people would get confused with what you have made and what you haven't.

It's look really good though so well done. Is there a way of upgrading the Wix account to get rid of ads like there is with moonfruit?

AJean your cakes are beuatiful! I really love how easy your site is to navigate and I think your prices are good plus you havent tied yourself to them; you’ve said that the price depends on the disign.

Just a couple of suggestions maybe;

Perhaps make you big picture on your hompage a ‘this week’s/month’s feature cake’ as it mightl bring people back to see if their cake was featured plus it gives the homepage some regular freshness...

Maybe consider removing the ‘message’ option in your form and asking more details instead; things like delivery town, number of servings needed, date of celebration, cake flavour, have a wee look at mine here: http://www.grayscakes.co.uk/contact I do find it’s a bit of a long form sometimes and some people can’t be bothered so just email or phone.... but most of the time i find the extra details really helpful :-)

Lastly in your pricing section people probably wont want to buy the ‘stars and balls’ cake specifically, they’ll want their own design so maybe have 4 price categories instead of prices for specific cakes: something like ‘3D cakes’, ‘party cakes’, ‘sculpted topper cakes’ & ‘large/tiered... cakes’ and just put example pictures beside each price guide.

Really hope that helps, in all honesty I think your site’s fab as it is so these are just little maybes!

AI think the featured cake idea that gray suggested is fantastic. Would show that you're constantly updating your website and would give a good reason for having one nice big pic on your homepage of a cake you have made - wouldn't matter so much about the background then I suppose.

AOh and I can't advise on prices as I don't have a clue but having a rough guide 'table' at the top with the categories gray mentioned sounds good too. Then you could have a few example pictures underneath for each category with a 'hover over' prices and description like in your gallery. As you are more cakes and take pics you're happy to put on your site you can showcase the cakes you're making and tell people what they cost incase someone wants a very similar cake making (could do that either on the price page or on the gallery page)