Sometimes, you never know when you're going to meet your next client!  I was hanging out outside of a friend's apartment, probably on my way out, and one of her neighbours walked up and joined us.  Of course, I was introduced as "the cake lady" and Willie jumped all over it!  She said she needed a cake for a baby shower for her daughter.  Honestly, I hear this quite a bit and sometimes that's all that comes of it.  But, not in this case!  Willie was true to her word and ordered a cake for the shower.  She had seen another baby belly cake that I had done on my site and wanted the exact same cake.  No sweat!  It was a pleasure to make and I think this one came out better than the last one.

When I was dropping the cake off, the soon-to-be-Uncle give me a giggle.  "That's an awesome looking cake!" he said, "Except that its strange to be eating what's meant to be my sister's boobs..."

Yup, dig in!

It's not often that I don't actually meet my clients, but this was one of those times.  My client works for a company that I left a number of years ago, but since I still maintain friendships with many of the people there, a lot of my stuff still shows up in the office, and my client got to enjoy some of my yummies.  When it came time for her first child's Baptism, she asked me to make the cake, cupcakes and cookies (not pictured, sorry).  Her Dad was kind enough to pick everything up, so I never got a chance to actually meet Deanne.  Not yet, anyway.

When a long time client asked me to make the cake for her sister's baby shower, I was thrilled!!  Her sister was blessed with twin boys, and the shower had a jungle theme.  My client sent me a bunch of pictures, including the invitation, but gave me specific instructions that this was not to be a tiered cake. 

Initially I wanted to do two cakes, one for each boy, but after seeing the invitation, I decided to use it for inspiration and make one tall tier.  The leopard dots turned out to be darker than I had expected (the Youtube tutorial said to make sure my colour was deep - lesson learned).  I had lots of amazing feedback on this cake - everyone loved it as much as I did!

About 6 months ago, I had to do one of the things I hate most – disappoint one of my customers.  I had made some amazing wedding shower cookies for her and she wanted to book me for another job, but I was already booked.  It breaks my heart to say no to people, but since there is only one of me, there is only so much I can do.  Luckily, a few months later, she called to see if I was free for a baby shower in September.  And since she was calling so far in advance, I was free!  She sent me a picture of a two tiered cake, covered in buttercream roses on the bottom and topped with baby shoes and roses on top.  Lisa’s Lemon Velvet was to be the flavour (lemon cake with cream cheese icing) of both tiers – so good!!

My client also requested hand made cookies as give-aways for her guests.  I made two dozen cookies, each with a slightly different variation on of the below themes.  These were so very much fun to make!  The decorating is when I get to go back to being a kid and get to enjoy being creative.

It’s been such a joy over the past couple of years to watch my friends become parents.  And what a joy it is to play with their kids and then give them back!  One of the little angles to join us recently was little Declan.  It seems like just yesterday I was making some yummy treats for his parent’s wedding reception, and now it’s already his first birthday!  His Mom requested a Monkey cake and sent me some great pictures she found on-line.  The top tier is vanilla cake with banana custard and the bottom tier is a strawberry shortcake made with fresh whipped cream.  Happy Birthday Declan! 

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a new customer seeking a cake for her daughter's baptism.  Bianca was interested in the ducky cake, but wanted it in the same colours as Quinn's birth announcement, which she kindly sent to me.  She decided on chocolate cake with vanilla bean buttercream (my personal favourite combination).  A couple of days after we figured out the plan for the cake, Bianca decided she would also like some cookies as give-aways for her guests.  She requested Q shaped cookies again with the colours of the birth announcement (pink, green and brown).

Sometimes cakes come from the most unexpected places.  One night after work, as I was getting ready to take a shower and I thought I heard a knock at my door.  I wasn’t sure, so I froze there, mid-undress until I heard the knock again, and then I ran like heck to grab a robe and answer the door.  Standing there was my favourite neighbour from the 5th floor with her cell phone in hand.  “Can you do this??” she asked as she thrust her phone towards me.  On the phone was the cutest picture of a twins cake – two baby bums, one male and one female, covered in pink and blue blankets.  “Of course I can!” was my answer and I grabbed the customer’s details as it was for my neighbour’s co-worker, not herself.  The cake came out beautifully and everyone was happy with it!  My neighbour said that she was going to post picture of my work with my phone number around her office.  How sweet is that!

This week it was my pleasure to work on the Baptism cake for my good friend's baby - the gorgeous Mila.  Tara had seen a cake I did a few years ago for a first communion and she fell in love with it.  She wanted it duplicated exactly!  Inside is layers of vanilla cake, freshly whipped sweet cream and strawberries.  Tara also ask for me to make some cookie bombonieres to give away to the guests.  And as a last minute request, my famous peanut butter poppers were added to the order.  They were a hit and sold out before desert was even served.  The meal, by the way, was faboulous yet again.  I LOVE going to the Portuguese events - the food is beyond amazing.  I just have to learn how to make those custard tarts!

I think I've mentioned this before... one of my favourite parts of this job is getting to travel through life with my clients and helping celebrate their most special moments.  Anna Maria and Sean were referred to me by a day-job-work friend a couple of years ago.  I met up with the young couple for a tasting to discuss their upcoming wedding, and I was surprised when they asked if I would make their engagement cake.  So that's where we started, and from there I went on to make their wedding cake, parent's and sibling's anniversary cakes, bridal shower and even some birthday cupcakes that Sean surprised his new wife with (where upon I found out they were expecting!).  I was thrilled when Anna Maria contract me regarding the cake for the baptism!  I couldn't wait to meet the newest member of this cute little family.  Anna Maria had seen a picture on my website of a wedding I had done a few months earlier, and she said that was exactly what she was looking for.  We went with a white and pink flower theme.  When I picked up the stand much later that night, Anna Maria said she had something in mind, but I ended up exceeding her expectation!  it was better than she had imagined.  Katerina is a beautiful and very happy baby; I very much look forward to some birthday cakes!

It was my great pleasure to finally be able to make the baby shower cake for my dear friend Tara.  She and her husband Mike are welcoming their first daughter, Mila, to the world in November.  Mike and Tara are two of the most deserving, loving  and sweet people I know, and I'm very happy Mila has chosen them as parents.  Mike and Tar was kind enough to take a chance on me and trust me with their wedding cake.  It was my first wedding cake and could have easily been a disaster (luckily, I had amazing help).  I'm looking forward to many years of birthday and anniversaries cakes with the Cordeiros!