Happy New Year!!

I've been slightly M.I.A. lately, and my sincerest apologies for that. 2011 has been a hell of a year, and I truly mean this in the most glorifying way.

Through my classes and workshops I have met some incredible people, enjoyed some great moments and witnessed an Esprit-de-Corps develop among my students, that took me back to memory lane while serving in the Canadian Navy back in 1993.

Making cakes the Kitschcakes way requires many important ingredients: lots of know-how, imagination and creativity of course, but also virtues like patience and persistence as well as the willingness to focus on a project that will take us out of our comfort zone and give us a "sleepless streak" for a few days.

Sounds like hard work? You bet it is! Think of it as running a marathon where you suddenly hit a wall and you struggle those last 10km. If you give up, it's all for nothing. Persist, and you get to live something unforgettable that you can be proud of.

With the cakes however, it's even better than that, because you get to make people happy. You work on that project for endless hours, struggling, googling on your iPhone, cursing at the X-acto knife. And when you reach the finish line, it's all tears and recognition from the others, and this all reflects on you! Bliss for all! There is not much else out there that I can think of (other than enduring pregnancy to give birth), that can get so many people emotionally involved for the better.

Cakes are AWESOME!!!!

This being said, there is another downside...I even call it the Dark Side, and I preach about it all the time (just ask my girls...). Most of my students really love this art (which is fantastic). They like it so much, that they literally give their cakes away (for Free!) I'm always nagging at them for this, because they sometimes (often) don't value their work and their time like they should be.

Today, one of my students sent me a pleasant surprise. I was so happy to read this, because it reflects exactly what I am often ranting about. I think that they are slowly starting to "get it", which makes me very happy, because they deserve to be celebrated for what they create! :-D

You all can read it...I can hear myself psychobabbling when I read this....LOL!!

January 3, 2012 Category: Cakemechanic Blog 82 Comments

By the end of this post someone will have just finished working 12 hours and 20 minutes working on a cake for a birthday, baby shower or wedding. They will have skipped sleep, missed a day with their family and spent a good penny on ingredients. Pushing themselves as they juggle between sleep and sanity. All for a free cake! Yes you heard it here. FREE CAKE!

How is this cake free you ask? I’m sure you want to grab one of these for your next event. You too can have a cake “as seen on tv” for free!

Let me explain something to you. When cake artists are at work. They usually put in about 300% more work than most people. Like many artists they are in this for the passion and love. Like they say “love don’t pay the bills”.

Well the reality is, the bills have to get paid. No matter how appealing a free cake sounds and you would love to get a great deal. Its like stealing! Yes you are robbing someone, who has worked incredibly hard to make you edible art that will adorn your function. Feel guilty yet? If the answer is “NO” then my time is wasted on you. I suggest you go to your local grocery store to get your next dream cake. If you have little respect for the artists then this cake is not for you.

So perhaps stealing is too strong a word. But borrowing implies you’ll be giving it back. I’m not sure rent-a-cake is going to catch on. Or whether anyone would want their “borrowed” cake back after you’ve had a slice.

Wondering why I am against the free cake idea. Well lets say many of us in the industry have been asked for discounts that are often insulting and sometimes a little crazy. Its understandable that we all have reasons to save money and love a good deal. But this is not the place for a bargain. Cake decorators don’t exactly make a lot on cakes. Well you have a few who do. But thats only the ones you usually see on television with brands that represent them. The majority are not on television and are equally talented. They do not demand remarkable prices. Many undervalue the costs of their cakes. So when someone requests a 3 tier cake with all the trimmings and sparkle for under a $100. Well its just unfair.

So lets make a resolution starting this year. Lets forget about the “free cakes” and start appreciating the workmanship and time these artists invest in your cake.

Hope you liked it as much as I did!

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, and think about this New Year's Resolution:-D

Cheers!

The Pike Gang! Just Too Much Fun!

UGH!! Has it been so long since I've last written? OMG I need to get on the ball with blogging, or else...

So much has been going on these last few weeks I dare not give out too much information (I'll definetly be keeping that info for several more posts, in due time;-) don't want to spill the confetti here...)

Let's put it this way: Miss Kitsch has plenty of open kitchen cupboards, full of sweet projects and surprises. It is all incredibly sweet and exciting and I'm just dying here, holding back.

However, the only bitter part has been the utter lack of sleep that comes with massive preparation. Tomorrow, Miss Kitsch heads out to ice hockey camp with Miles, my shining star. Despite me not being very "outdoorsy" or "adventurous" (as in sleeping in a room filled with bunk beds and several other people (who might snore:-O), I swear I am so sleep deprived at this point in time that I would happily sleep outside on the pavement if it meant that I could sleep a whole 6-7 hours all-in-one-piece!!!!

So really, this Ice Hockey Lager is exactly what I need right now! I can replenish my empty batteries and come back home with ideas galore!

Since July I've been wanting to post this, but never got around to it. I gave a private cupcake workshop to a fine bunch of Anglo ex-pats, including an Aussie! It was tooooo much fun! A fine bunch they were and among the group was a very skilled, artistic young man. He created some amazing designs. Ms Kitsch was impressed. He took plenty of pictures too! Here they are. Enjoy!

Introduction and orientation

Ms Kitsch demonstrating how to decorate...

Veryyyyyy concentrated

A sprinkle here, a sprinkle there...

What's that? LOL

Ahhhhhh, yes of course! Add some Royal Icing details and Presto!

This story was the best: This lovely lady from Australia works in a bakery that sells cupcakes--but she didn't know how to make them. The irony is that she had to come to Switzerland to learn how to make them (and they don't sell cupcakes in Swiss bakeries...LOL!!)

The Birthday girl checking out "The Best Of" finished product!

Verrrrryyy cute, guys!

"Say Kiiiiiitsch!" (for the camera)

It was fab meeting all of you! Keep in touch! :-D

Big Hugs and Sweet Cheers!

ModeinSwiss.ch

Since a couple of months now, I have had the pleasure of meeting many interesting people, mostly thanks to Kitschcakes.

A few weeks ago I received an email from Nancy, a "fashion Blogger", who had the idea of a fashion photo session in the whimsical environment of the Casa del Kitschcakes.

I agreed, despite knowing full well that I would be baking and decorating up a storm, just for the photo appeal.

So Miss Kitsch put on her apron and got baking...and decorating....for days! Then suddenly I stumbled across a party favor website here in Switzerland called: "confetti box".

I was super excited!! I found tons of cool, colorful party must have's: colorful table cloths, matching dishes, cool vintage banners, cake pics, balloons and the ULTIMATE dessert table MUST: paper vintage straws!!!!!! OMG!! I nearly lost it when I found these cute retro-looking straws! So I HAD to have 'em...in every color! (because you just never know...it's always good to have everything in every color...just in case;-)

Here they are, these pretty little things......

...standing next to my Vintage authentic bubble gum machine from the 1920's (It's a Ford brand, and all it cost back then was a penny!!) Can you say inflation?? ;-)

Cute cupcake pops in the background...

Nancy experimenting with those straws...

Tea party pops!

I'm a little teapot, short and stouts...

...eating the Cake, out of the Cup...

Nancy going for a little stroll in the garden, sipping her Kitsch Cocktail...

à la prochaine Nancy!!

photos by: Greg

A historical August 1st

Today is August 1st, which means Switzerland has its Birthday! Born in 1291, that would mean that our Confedera Helvetica is 720 years old!

For Kitschcakes, August 1st will always have a certain significance and this is why:

This time last year, I sent one of my favorite politicians, Christophe Blocher, a cookie collection made especially for him. Since I don't know him personally, it was difficult for me to come up with a personalized design. However, I do know that he loves his country.

Knowing this, I decided to create a "Blocher Cookie Collection", consisting of sacred Swiss cows, Edelweiss (the Swiss national flower), Swiss flags, and alps.

So I sent these cookies off to him and his wife, not really thinking much about it.

Well, 2 weeks later, to my shocking surprise, I received an email from a luxurious biscuit chain here in Switzerland: "Läckerli-Huus". It turns out that the CEO of Läckerli-Huus is Mr. Blocher's daughter! And as fate would have it, she was visiting her parents the weekend of August 1st and it is then and there that she discovered Kitschcakes!

To make a long story short, Mrs Blocher thought it would be great to incorporate my Kitschy cookies into her assortment. After many months of discussing designs, testing and controlling for quality, labelling etc, the very first collection was herded into all 11 Läckerli-Huus stores all around Switzerland in May 2011.

The first collection of cows and butterlies sold out within 3 weeks, and so a second bunch were produced and shipped out in July.

Fingers crossed that the Kitschcakes become a staple in all of Läckerli-Huus stores:-)

On a personal note, of all the incredible highlights I have experienced in my lifetime (and I assure you, there were many of them!), this episode definitely ranks up there near the top.

On Monday August 9th 2011 at 10:30, I picked up my iPhone to read my emails. I was working at the dental office at the time (dental hygiene). After reading the email from Läckerli-Huus, I remember vividly how I felt: it was one of those rare moments in my life where everything became suddenly blurry and I became weak in the knees. I thought "Thank You GOD", someone who sees what I see...

Somebody pinch me please..........

Swiss Helvetic Collection from my kitchen:

Sent off to Blocher's home:

Where they landed in their new home: Läckerli-Huus of Switzerland.

Life really is like a box of chocolates... (or in my case like a box of cookies)....you just never know what you're going to get!

Thank Goodness for those who walk through life with their eyes wide open!

The History of Cupcakes (or so the story goes...)

Stumbled across this cute little video not too long ago and it made me smile. Thought I'd share with you, in case you were ever wondering what was the story behind these cute little cakes.

N'Joy! :-D

Sweet Greetz,

Le Petit Prince

I think that one of the most gratifying things about what I do is the fact that I have met some pretty great people on my promenade "Off the Beaten Path" this past year.

One of the best things about cake decorating is that, people who find it as cool as I do are often a little crazy like myself! (so we immediately have something in common and usually hit it off straight away;-)

One particular person who comes to mind is "Miss Doudou", who is creator of something really cool called "La Doudouterie":

Her logo here:

One very fine day, Miss Doudou contacted Miss Kitsch, to inquire about getting a customized cake done for her baby boy's baptism. Ms Kitsch suggested they meet in person to discuss all the details about this fab cake and so they did...in the SugarCasa. Details here...

During our meeting, I discovered many interesting things about Miss Doudou. Mainly that she customizes "Doudous" (stuffed animals). According to your wishes, she can design and create your own unique stuffed animal that is truly one-of-a-kind. I found this concept to be too cool and I must also add that Miss D has a keen eye for design. Her creations are personalized to the last detail as you can see for yourself while browzing her Blog.

The cake featured above was to be the Masterpiece at the event, and it had tremendous success. The Event's color theme was blue in every shade, and golden crowns were to be seen everywhere. On top of that, mini Wespas with candies attached to them were being given out to all guests to take home as a little souvenir. The cake had to represent all of these elements and, as you can see, I think we managed to design it appropriately.

Making this cake was truly a pleasure for me, mainly because I have added another person to my répertoire of "Kindred Spirits". And to this fact, all I can say is:

"Que la vie est belle!"

Cookie Blues

I found something verrrry sweeeeeet, that I simply HAD to share.

Enjoy :-D