Gumpaste Hydrangea Class

Member featured in American Cake Decorating Magazine!

Dianna is a self-taught hobby cake decorator, fine artist, and member of the New York City Cake Decorators who has a passion for cake decorating. She attended her first cake show last year and has become addicted to sugar (sugarcraft that is)!

At the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Cake Show, Dianna and her partner Vanessa won 1st Place with her Shrek Castle Cake Design. Dianna also won 1st place in the Non-Tiered Intermediate Division with the beautiful cake shown here. Isn't her "painting" technique stunning? Dianna's "painted porcelain" cake is also featured in the August/September issue of "American Cake Decorating" Magazine!

Orchid Class with Chef Lauri Ditunno, Cake Alchemy

Chef Lauri Ditunno's 2 Day Orchid Class was blast!! It was big fun seeing familiar faces and chatting about cake "stuff". Members learned how to create cymbidium and cattelaya orchids in a no-stress and fun environment. The first day we rolled out and cut our orchids. Lauri patiently demonstrated each orchid's creation step by step and even showed us how she makes her own gumpaste!!

The second day, we got a sneak peak at a real bridal cake tasting prior to the start of class. Lauri gave tips on dusting, painting, steaming our orchid petals, and wiring the orchid spray. It was also a pleasure to watch one of her interns decorating a wedding cake, and viewing all Lauri's lovely decorated display cakes.

Chef Lauri is a graduate of the International School of Sugar Art and has received an A.O.S. from the Culinary Institute of America in culinary arts. Her "Orchid Ambience" cake was voted one of the "50 most beautiful cakes" by Bride's Magazine.



Visit Chef Lauri's custom cake business and sugar art school, Cake Alchemy, at http://www.cakealchemy.com

Here's a great tip we learned from Lauri: Re-purpose a travel clothes steamer as an alternative to steam from a tea kettle when steaming gumpaste leaves and petals. Who knew???

Member Summer All-Occasion Cakes

Members have been very busy baking cakes, cupcakes, and cookies, attending cake decorating and sugarcraft classes and meeting with Chefs in the NYC area. Cake decorating is such a fun and creative passion. It gives such joy to folks as well as satisfied tummies!

Here are Laura's mouthwatering selections for Summer 2008. The burger and lobster cakes would be perfect at a cook-out, family reunion, or any casual occasion. Laura loves to make these types of cakes. Can't you smell the "burger" hot from the grill or the "butter"dripping on her "lobster"? Laura has less than three years experience cake decorating, and demonstrates how passion and practice and result in such tasty offerings. Enjoy!