Peony Sugar Flower Vase

I just had the wonderful opportunity to make more peonies...in peach and white...and mix them with green hydrangea, filler flowers, and a myriad of other little buds and leaves. This time, I used them in a sugar vase topper:



The vase itself was made out of a granulated sugar and water mixture pressed into a slender mug. Once formed and dried for a day, the edges of the vase were firm, but the center was still soft enough to be scooped out with a spoon.



I formed a small base by pressing the same mixture into the hollow base of the mug. Both were dried for an additional day until they hardened completely, and I glued them together with royal icing:



The base of the vase was covered with tiny strings of sugarpaste to give it a modern and polished look:





Finally, I used royal icing to glue a Styrofoam ball into the opening of the vase, and then created the bouquet by arranging all of the flower, bud and leaf stems in the Styrofoam. A few extra peony petals were added for fun:



Thank you so much for stopping by!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Peony Sugar Flower Vase

Petalsweet in San Francisco Part Two

When visiting San Francisco a few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the very kind and fabulously talented Richard Festen of Baking Arts!

Richard has a degree in cellular biology, and spent the first part of his career in the biotechnology industry. Later, he graduated from the California Culinary Academy Baking and Pastry Arts Program in San Francisco, and began creating beautiful wedding and celebration cakes. In addition, he started teaching culinary and pastry classes. Now through his business, Baking Arts, he offers an amazing array of classes at his studio in the city. You can learn the fine art of chocolate, croissants, choux pastry, petit fours, macaroons, artisan breads, puff pastry, cupcakes, souffles, tarts, cookie and cake decorating and more! Check out his current class schedule here!

Richard is also very experienced in working with chocolate modeling paste, and has perfected the art of using it to create stunning cakes like these:

Wrapped cake by Baking Arts:



Striped cake by Baking Arts:



He offers Master Classes in both the wrapped and striped techniques, and I cannot wait to get back up to San Francisco to attend both sessions! I have limited experience working with modeling chocolate, and am looking forward to learning how to use it in such a beautiful way!

The Baking Arts studio is a gorgeous space, and Richard works there with small groups of students to make sure everyone gets plenty of hands-on practice and a good understanding of the theory behind the process. He also works with private parties...which would be a great idea for a group of friends! He is kind, thoughtful, patient, calm, smart, funny, experienced and knowledgeable...all attributes of a wonderful teacher.

And I couldn't help but smile when I first walked in...the studio is absolutely beautiful, and lends itself to a very relaxed and positive learning environment:



More examples of Richard's work:



Sign me up for modeling chocolate, macaroons and croissants...just to start! My next trip to San Francisco will definitely include a few classes! You can read more about Baking Arts here, and you can contact Richard here.

Thank you, Richard, for your time and gracious hospitality! It was such a pleasure to meet you!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Petalsweet in San Francisco Part Two

Petalsweet in San Francisco - Part One

I just got back from a wonderful long weekend in San Francisco! Such a fabulous city, and even more enjoyable when one is treated to spectacular weather, and wonderful opportunities to meet and work with some really amazing people! Here is the first part of my recap of an absolutely lovely couple of days!

I chose to stay in Mill Valley, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge...lush and beautiful and still really green this time of year. It's so different from the dryness of San Diego...and really close to where I grew up!

The view from my hotel...and Mount Tamalpais...which is still one of my favorite hiking spots:



Gorgeous view from the Marin Headlands as I drove into the city:



I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful client who wanted to learn more about several sugarpaste flowers, including hydrangea, filler flowers, Phalaenopsis orchids and peonies. Over two days we reviewed techniques and created flowers, buds and leaves, and then spent quite a bit of time coloring them and adding all the fabulous little details that bring them to life! Two really great days, and I couldn't have asked for a nicer and more hard-working student!

Peony petals and leaves drying:



Various filler flowers and buds drying:



Finished hydrangea, orchid buds and leaves:



Phalaenopsis orchids:



An over-sized white peony - it's gorgeous! And I can't wait to see how my client ends up using it on a cake:



Color palette for a second peony with an open center:



The first row of petals for the open peony flower:



I did not get a photo of the finished open peony...and am patiently waiting for my very talented student to send me one! I promise to share when it arrives!

I also finally had the opportunity to meet the very kind and fabulous Tracy Auseklis of The Buttercream Studio! We have been corresponding via email and Facebook for quite some time, and it was so great to actually talk to her in person! She picked me up after class one evening and took me to her wonderful studio for a quick tour:



Her cakes are incredible - she has amazing talent! Here are some of her beautiful display cakes in the consulting area:



One of my favorites...in pink and black:



And the ADORABLE Tracy herself:



After seeing where she creates all of her amazing cakes, Tracy took me back into the bustling city to one of her favorite Thai restaurants in the cute neighborhood of Lower Pacific Heights...and we talked shop (and everything else), for the remainder of the evening while we enjoyed a delicious meal! Thank you, Tracy, for your generosity and thoughtfulness, and for taking such good care of me!

MORE from this trip coming soon...I can't wait to introduce you to another amazing pastry chef who is creating beautiful work with modeling chocolate!

Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline Butler of Petalsweet Cakes. Content of this blog (including text, photographs and layout) is the property of Jacqueline Butler - please respect copyright laws. If you want to link to my blog, or post any of my photos, please contact me - it would be great to have the opportunity to connect with you. Thank you!

Petalsweet in San Francisco - Part One