Whimsical Topsy Turvy Cake

Whimsical CakeThis  is my latest experiment making a whimsical cake.  This cake was inspired by the original topsy-turvy cake designer, who also did my wedding cake years ago, Polly Schoomaker in Portland, Oregon.  Although she is no longer in business, her cakes leave behind a legacy and a source of inspiration for all cake decorating fanatics.

Whimsy Cakes from Portland OregonThese are but a few of Polly’s incredible cakes. She brings a level of precision and balance that is unparalleled for an otherwise non-uniform cake.

I started this topsy turvy cake as most others, with a sketch followed up by a computer design. This allows me the chance to play with proportions, designs and colors without having to experiment on the actual cake.
The next challenge is coloring the fondant to match the design. It is very rare that you can find just the right color off the shelf. These samples each contain a mixture of two or three food colorings to get the hue just right.

Birthday cake topper These over-exaggerated candles are the perfect fit to top off the cake.  They are made of fondant that has been rolled, shaped, and ran through a skewer.  The spiral effect on the candles is done by rolling the fondant with the back edge of a knife.

Here is a close-up of the cake. The flowers and colors were inspired by the Hawaiian heritage of the birthday boy. A few little accents like the bright yellow dots and flowers give this simple cake a polished finish.

10 Comments to “Whimsical Topsy Turvy Cake”

  1. jmemorris 6 March 2010 at 5:42 pm #

    Have I ever told you how incredibly talented you are? God has given you some wonderful gifts! So excited that your website is up!

  2. MooBee Mama 6 March 2010 at 7:49 pm #

    Such a cute blog! Trying not to lick the computer screen.

  3. face.painter.maria 26 May 2010 at 1:27 am #

    I absolutely love your cakes. Where are you located?

  4. JuiceCup 30 May 2010 at 3:24 am #

    I live in Portland, Oregon. It’s not a business, just something I do for fun!

  5. Amy 5 June 2010 at 2:06 pm #

    I absolutely love your cakes. Where are you located?

  6. JuiceCup 6 June 2010 at 9:03 pm #

    I’m in Portland, Oregon.

  7. Pokerspiel 20 September 2010 at 9:58 pm #

    I always inspired by you, your thoughts and way of thinking, again, appreciate for this nice post.

    - Norman

  8. Lauren Farrier 21 October 2010 at 2:42 am #

    Hey there! I heard about you through Aly and Kawika who are friends with my sister. I would love if I could talk with you about a wedding cake! My wedding is set for July 2nd of next year. Please feel free to email or call me! My number is 503-799-4090
    Thank you,
    Lauren Farrier

  9. JuiceCup 10 November 2010 at 5:13 am #

    Lauren,

    I am honored! Sadly, however, I’ve made a decision not to pursue cakes as a business. The projects got a little too big and time consuming. I now only bake for immediate family and parties that I host at my own house. I’m so sorry not to be able to help. I’d be happy to help make a recommendation for local bakers if you’d like. Just let me know!

  10. Lissie 15 November 2010 at 12:43 am #

    Your cake is wonderful! (I found your site while looking for Polly’s cakes – she did my wedding cake as well! I’m sad to hear she’s out of business.)


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