Sunday 6 March 2011

A promise I once made.....

As you will have seen in this post I have made lots of cakes over the years, mainly for my 2 children, now aged 22 and nearly 25. Two weeks ago my daughter came up from Essex for  Matt's birthday tea party and as we were chatting said to me, "Mum you made me a promise years ago....I am going to ask if you will keep to it?" Now that really got me thinking..what on earth was it....did I promise her money, a house, new shoes.....!? Well the answer came, "You always told me that you would never make my wedding cake, as that is just too much to be doing whilst getting things ready for the big day, but you would make me an engagement cake. Will you do that for us?". I do actually remember saying this, she was probably about 12 or 13 years old at the time. You will all remember that Milly and Tom did actually get engaged in December but the planned engagement lunch was cancelled due to the heavy snow. I assumed, what with Christmas and all the celebrations that that was it.
Well  apparently not...they decided they really missed not celebrating their engagement with all their friends and family so they have planned an Engagement Party in mid April and yes, yours truly will be finally making that promised Engagement cake!

I had such fun showing you my old cake creations I made Matt that I thought now would be a great chance to share some I have made Milly over the years. It was a real trip down Memory Lane looking at Matt's old cakes and I must admit these have been the same for me. As before I'm afraid the photos are very poor quality as they are old "developed" photos which I have scanned and put onto my computer. Nothing like the qualitty of the photos from my new camera, which I am just loving playing with.

So here we go..this is not the first cake I made her but it was one of the first themed cakes. It was her 4th Birthday (1990) and Milly always loved Beatrix Potter and especially the Tale of Jeremy Fisher. It was her first "big" party where we hired the little local hall and of course she chose to have Jeremy on her cake.


This was taken before we transported the cake up to the hall. He had a separate fishing rod which I then threaded the line through but unfortunately I never did take that photo- I was probably too busy hosting party games with 20 excited 4 year olds!(You can enlarge any of the photos by double clicking on them to see the little details).







By her 5th birthday she had caught the "Disney Bug" and that year we had "The Little Mermaid" with Ariel the Mermaid on top. I can remember spending hours making little sea creatures out of icing to put round the edge. My Matt was a 1 year old at the time and every afternoon he had his afternoon sleep I would make a few more and show them to him when he woke. I am not sure he understood where they came from at the time!






Birthday number 6 was part Disney part A.A.Milne as Milly has always loved Winnie the Pooh ( and I of course love dear Piglet). We had an afternoon tea scene of them having a party. The food was fiddly but fun to make and the candle holders were honeypots I made out of fondant icing.








Disney's Beauty and the Beast was the theme for her 7th birthday and I decided to incorporate a plaque I made again out of fondant icing. By that age I was working part time whilst both children were at school so time was getting a little shorter for me to made the incredibly elaborate figures. I did make sugar roses to stand the candles in though.











By the time Milly's 11th birthday arrived Disney was no longer so popular and her cake featured my interpretation of her ballet shoes. Milly danced from the age of  2 1/2 and only gave up 2 years ago when she moved from London. She danced through her primary and secondary school years and even through medical school and only gave up when she became a junior doctor. Believe me contrary to what the press may say they work long hours. She did many exams and even danced at White Lodge, home of the Royal Ballet School, London at some of their training days.






Her 12th Birthday was during the Teletubby craze and yes even 12 year olds loved them. I even managed to buy her a Tinkiwinkie doll which at the time were scarcer than hen's teeth! This was such a fun cheerful cake.




So here I am 13 years later designing an Engagement cake for my darling daughter. Where did all that time go...but what happy memories are stirred by looking at some of my old cakes.

I have been busy ordering some new cutters..here is a sneaky peep...

And yesterday I had a play cutting out some hearts using some left over green icing from Matt's cake...



I have played with using textures, different thicknesses and also cutting one heart into another - I quite like this effect.











As you can see I already have a theme and no it's not Disney ;0). I have bought some lovely bright red icing I shall make the hearts for the real thing. I also have an idea for the top but that's under wraps for now.

All will be revealed in due course.






So I will be busy working on this over the next few weeks. I will really enjoy creating something special for Milly and Tom's Engagement cake. It is something I am really glad I did promise to do and also that my daughter still wants me to keep to it..after all that was a promise I made many, many years ago!

Bye for now,

Jane x

22 comments:

  1. Jane, I am *SOOOOOO* impressed with your cake artistry! As I told you, I dabbled in cake decorating, but nothing to the extent of the figures and flowers you've made with frosting. You're a master!!

    Can't wait to see Milly's cake!

    Hugs from Oregon.. Teresa

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  2. *Blush* that's so kind Teresa, thank you. I am enjoying my ideas with Milly's cake...watch this space!
    Enjoy your Sunday,
    Jane x

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  3. I loved seeing your daughter's childhood cakes this time! They are so well done - I just love all the clever little details you put in, like the little sea creatures round the mermaid, and the tiny food and flowers! It's so sweet that you are going to make the engagement cake, and I really look forward to seeing it - I'm sure it will be gorgeous!
    Helen x

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  4. Thank you Helen. I had such fun making them over the year's. It's good to see some of them again!
    Jane x

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  5. It was so much fun to see the cakes that you made for Milly, marking the phases of her growth. I imagine the engagement cake will be equally enchanting (and more), made with your special promise and from the heart! Do share the pics! :o)

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  6. Thanks Michele and of course I will share the pics - I have so enjoyed sharing these with all my blogger friends :0)
    Jane

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  7. What an honor to have your daughter want you to make her engagement cake. That is so special. And how lucky your daughter is to have such a talented mom who can do this. What a wonderful memory it will be and a tradition you have created. Good luck! The samples look so lovely and romantic. xoRobin❤

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  8. I was very thrilled Robin that she asked me. I hope she will be just as thrilled with the end result!
    Thanks for your kind comments,
    Jane x

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  9. I can't wait to see the engagement cake Jane!! I'm quite sure it will be brilliant just like all the other cakes you've made.
    Thanks for the memory jogging too! Belle from Beauty and the Beast was a big hit in this house too as was the Little Mermaid! I can still hear 'Under the Sea' ringing in my ears!! I lost count how often we watched that film. :)
    I remember knitting Tellytubbys and my husband couldn't take enough of them to his work everyone was crazy to get one!
    It must be because our children are of a similar age that you manage to push my memory buttons Jane!!!
    Anyhow it is lovely that you will be able to keep your promise to Milly. :)
    Vivienne x

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  10. I'm so glad I took you down Memory Lane too Vivienne, they were all classic times-the Telebubbie craze was SO huge.It's always lovely to see you visiting me here and leaving such kind comments.
    The sun is shining today, shame I have to go to work!
    Have a great week,
    Jane x

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  11. Hi Jane, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a lovely comment! Am so impressed by your beautiful birthday cakes! How lovely for your duaghter to have had those made with love for her every year.
    I think it is so special that Milly remembered all thoose years ago that you promised to make her engagement cake - I'm sure it will be so beautiful and I look forward to seeing it.
    Gill

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  12. Hi Gill, welcome,great to see you here and thank you and for your kind comments. My cake will be revealed to all in due course...keep watching! Have a great week,
    Jane x

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  13. Hello Jane,

    I am so happy you will be making a cake for Milly&Tom, I remember how devastated you were when the snow kept you home when the party was! This will be the most perfect cake you have ever made (no pressure there since the ones you showed us were spectacular ;)!) and made with so much love...I cannot wait to see it!

    Happy designing!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  14. LOL...no pressure at all Mia ;0)
    I am doing it in stages, hearts first!!
    Have a great week, it's sunny here.
    Jane x

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  15. Dear Jane, you are amazing!!! You have so many talent - You could open your own patisserie!!! With unique jewelleries for presents and adorable cards for them!!!
    Thank you for sharing all the cakes! Of course we are now waiting so much to see this special cake!
    xxx Teje

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  16. Thanks Teje, that would be such fun but then I would have to give up my day job which I must admit even with it's tough days, I still love! I am working on the engagement cake, heart by heart ;0)
    Jane x

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  17. Hi Jane
    Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog earlier.
    It is so very very sad about Elspeth. It shocked me so much, that someone so creative,so clearly full of many talents with a wonderful family and life, should die so young - younger than I - even though I never knew her it seemed so tragic. It must have been especially so for you as you knew her.
    Thanks for your comment - it makes you realise how important it is to let people know what they mean to you doesnt it?

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  18. wow, some really great cakes! just wanted to tell you I have a post on your gift...http://fallingladies-fallingladies.blogspot.com/

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  19. Hi again Gill, yes indeed Elspeth was a delightful soul and finally having the child she so wanted later in life seemed to make her life complete. She kept her severe depression very secret and sadly none of us knew til it was too late.Do enjoy her books, they are very much "her".
    Jane x

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  20. Thanks for the link Andrea and I am glad you like your pay it forward gift,
    Jane x

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  21. Oh wow, I am blown away with your cake decorating talent! I love, love, love the Jeremy Fisher cake.

    Such a nice thing to do, making the Engagement cake for your daughter. My Mum made my Wedding cake, which was then decorated by my cousin, I should stress, she asked to, I can totally understand it being quite stressful amongst all the other things to do before such a bit day.

    I look forward to seeing the progress, especially after seeing all your past creations. No pressure ;) Bethx

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  22. That's very kind of you Beth...they were great fun and give such fond memories, the children still remember them.
    I agree no pressure on Milly's engagement cake eh ;0)
    Jane x

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