I was a little MIA on the blog last week. Much has transpired!
I made a wedding cake! A brush embroidery wedding cake. It was the first time I’d picked up a paintbrush in a very long while. I decided to forgo any kind of template (maybe I’m getting cocky in my old age?) and see if the nearly dormant instinct for brush strokes could be rekindled. It didn’t take long for me to get back in the routine.
Making this cake reminded me of all the things I love and hate about painting.
Love: hours spent alone, the rest of the world disappears.
Hate: hours spent alone.
Love: creating something beautiful for someone you love.
Hate: that crick in your lower back that comes with spending hours hunched over your work.
Love: the lasting memory you’re creating.
Hate: stained hands, strained eyes.
In the end it made me miss creating art on canvas. Maybe I’ll have to dust off the ol’ easel after all.
I made a groom’s cake too!
The groom proposed underwater, so this cake is a nod to that occasion. I really enjoyed sculpting the scuba divers, even if they are a little Chagall-esque.
I managed to take a few pics when I was off-duty from being Matron of Honor and wedding cake baker. The ceremony was held at the beautiful and historic Museum of Appalachia.
The bride found out a week before the wedding that she is gluten intolerant, so I made her a little gluten-free chocolate layer (right).
My favorite part of the evening was when everyone came together to light sparklers for the bride and groom’s exit. It gave me the warm and fuzzies just like the candlelight service at Christmastime.
 |
| A hasty exit! |
And the fate of the cake?
Demolished.
Devoured.
Enjoyed.
You can’t tell because of the poor lighting, but that’s a white cake with lemon curd filling and vanilla bean buttercream. Everyone loved it and there was only a few crumbs left of the chocolate-raspberry groom’s cake.
Success! I was one happy baker!
My apologies for no recipe today. I’ll be back to regular posting very soon!
xo
stunning!!!! you did an amazing job
Wow. Simply amazing. Once again, I don't know what to say after looking at one of your masterpieces!
i saw the photo on instagram and was in LOVE immediately – absolutely gorgeous!
Wow, that's amazing! You should definitely go back to painting!
Oh great job Heather, both cakes look wonderful and I bet they tasted AMAZING too!
I wish I could have you make a wedding cake for me! Maybe for our 15 year anniversary – 3 yrs from now. Seriously…SO gorgeous!!!!!
What a pretty cake! The decorations are magnificent.
Cheers,
Rosa
Absolutely stunning! That scuba proposal reenactment cake is too precious!
Beautiful cake! Stunning!
The flowers are beautiful, absolutely stunning!
oh my word, that cake is amazing! the flowers are just gorgeous… i love that you incorporated texture into them!
That looks GORGEOUS!
I have been waiting for these pictures. Beautiful!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
They both look stunning!
gorgeous cake 🙂 love all the pictures too.
WOW! The cake is stunning! You did an excellent job on both. I grew up in Norris and never would have thought of having a wedding at the museum! It looked perfect!
Beautiful cake! And sounds delicious. Bet they were very pleased with it 🙂
Stunning – I know what goes into making a wedding cake – mine have all been "all nighters" and I arrive at the venue looking like death warmed over. I can't imagine having enough energy to fix myself up to be one of the guests, forget about being the Matron of Honor!! Excellent job!!
Absolutely gorgeous! You are so talented!
I don't know how you do it. You amaze me with every post whether it's a wedding cake or not. I need to move wherever you are so you can teach me your ways…and so I can meet your adorable pup 🙂 haha
How g o r g e o u s is that wedding cake!?!! Gorgeous looking AND tasty is a rare combination in wedding cakes, but from the looks of your cake in the "after" picture, you nailed it! Congratulations, and I hope everyone had a gread time at the wedding!
An incredible cake for a beautiful couple!
Is that cherry moonshine? Ooof, looks good:)
OMG. O.M.G. !!!
Those pictures say a million words. What a lucky couple to have you baking for there wedding. Love those cakes.
Those cakes look incredible! I love the embroidery on the wedding cake, and everything about the groom's cake, especially the bubbles – nice touch. Your divers look great! Congratulations to you and the lucky couple!
The most beautiful cake i have seen so far…
What a stunning cake! It looks amazing, and even better… it looks like it was delicious too!
What a gorgeous cake! I've seen some pretty ones in my day, but this really tops them all! It looks like it was a lovely wedding, and I know it meant a lot to the happy couple that you were a part of it.
All three cakes (the original, the groom's, and the mini gluten-free cake)are absolutely stunning. I would be so worried that I would screw something up.
Not only a beautiful cake, but a beautiful gift to your family – the gift of your talent, time, and love that you put into every creation. Looks like a wonderful wedding! Kudos to the Cake Matron! 🙂
Just completely beautiful in every sense! Thank you for sharing
Your cake is a true work of art!
Love how much this looks like real embroidery. Beautiful!
Christina
http://www.becauseofmadalene.com
Wow!! How long did the painting take? It looks AMAZING!
The wedding cake is beautiful! The groom's cake made me smile. And the little gluten-free cake just touched my heart. A week out and finding out you are gluten intolerant could mean you would have nothing to eat at the meal you planned! Well done!!!!!
What an amazing accomplishment! Great job!! Both wedding and groom's cake are terrific.
Absolutely stunning!
The embroidery cake is absolutely stunning but you have captured my scuba diving heart with the groom's cake and I think the Chagall-esque divers make it even more special.
Amazing, incredible, beautiful… Words don't do justice to this!
Wow thanks for sharing ! really great job !
Gorgeous!
BEAUTIFUL! You are so talented!
I can't imagine seeing anyone cut into this masterpiece, but after seeing the photo, I want a piece too! Such beautiful work and looks like a lovely wedding too!
There are no limits to your talent….just amazing. Both of them….or should I say, all THREE?!? So sweet of you to make a GF version, too!
You did a fabulous job on the wedding cake, and on the groom's cake as well. I don't know which I like more! I also loved this post… No, you didn't give a recipe, but you gave a glimpse into your "baker's life" and your wonderful private life. What a wonderful wedding — LOVED the sparklers idea! And the wedding cake looked so delicious inside, and the groom's cake being chocolate raspberry? Oh man, come on now. I want a piece of either RIGHT NOW! It was also SO thoughtful of you to make a mini gluten-free cake for your… Read more »
P.S. Hey! I want a jar of those Smoky Moonshine Cherries, thank you very much!
gv
When I watched the reception staff stab my first wedding cake and dismantle and serve it in about 10 seconds flat, I admit I wanted to cry a little. Luckily that feeling goes away when you see everyone enjoying the cake and eating every last little crumbful. This is a beautiful cake, I haven't ever tried the brush embroidery but this is inspiring!
Very, very beautiful and elegant cake!
That was such a beautiful cake. You did a great job! I haven't tried that technique, but my interest is sparked. Thanks for posting the photos, and congrats on a successful wedding and groom's cake!