Cake of the Week: Sassy Circus Cake!

Last Thursday I got the call every cake designer loves, not! Yup, that just happened. hello 1992.
It was a desperate husband looking for a spectacular cake for his wife's birthday...that weekend.
I would've immediately said no while staring at the wall full of clipboards listing things that had yet to be molded, sculpted or crumb-coated but this guy was a total sweetheart and convinced me that a few hours less sleep this week was definitely worth making this cake. The rush fee I tacked on didn't hurt either.

His wife wanted a Topsy-turvy cake similar to the style they had at their wedding and was celebrating her 30th birthday with a Circus themed party. How fun is that?! I was in.
The goal was to capture the colorful, whimsical spirit of the circus while creating a cake that was sophisticated enough for 30 year old.

The flavor for the top tier was Old Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Swiss Meringue Butter cream; the birthday girl's favorite, and the bottom tier was Very Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Swiss Meringue Butter cream.

To create the Topsy-turvy effect I used two Styrofoam wedges slightly smaller that the tiers they were supporting. Once the cake was together it was time to paint.

I painted the tiers of cake with patterns of warm colors and the supports with patterns of cool colors. I accented the patterns with royal icing painted with silver luster dust. For an added touch of fun I trimmed the bottom for the support tiers with gold gum paste ropes and tassels.
I finished the cake with cool colored fondant "balloons" and a silver 30!

I was having so much fun with cake and the hours flew by; when I finally delivered the cake to the venue I had moments to spare. The birthday girl, who was dressed as a ringmaster, loved the cake; as did all her guests and I, as is usually the case with my favorite cakes, was sad to see it go but was glad it found a good home.

Well it's "bake" to work for me!
Thanks for tuning in... until next time.

Karma Cakes: Doughjangles - Sweets by Aaron

In Karma Cakes, I highlight an organization or individual that uses baking to make the lives of others a little better. If you know of a bakery, organization or individual that does this please let us know.
Most everyone I know that bakes, including myself, do it because is makes people happy. Then there are those that use baking as way to reach people in other ways like...
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website and logo design donated by Oddulent Global Marketing

In October 2006, Aaron Ware lost his best friend. His twin brother ,Eric (pictured below on the left with Aaron), with whom he had been inseparable since before birth; they were spotted holding hands in a sonagram; had passed away after battling brain cancer for 3 years.
Worried about her son's declining mood and behavior, Angela Ware made an appointment with her family's pediatrician, Dr. Marilyn Corder to discuss possible solutions for Aaron's depression.

Instead of referring Aaron to a psychiatrist and prescribing anti-depressants, Dr. Corder tried a different approach. She asked Aaron what he loved to do, and with a smile Angela hadn't seen since losing Eric, Aaron replied, "I love to bake."
On her prescription pad she instructed Aaron start a business and listed all the steps involved. She became his first investor with a $20 bill from her own pocket and that is how Doughjangles was formed.

It's truly brought their family together. Aaron (pictured on the right) bakes with assistance from his mom and older brother, Bryce. His dad, Eric, helps package, label and deliver the cookies.
What Aaron earns from his cookies, after purchasing supplies and paying his brother's $2 a day salary, goes to help the charities that helped his family while Eric was battling cancer and offered support after. Check out Aaron's Donation Page for a full list of the charities he's supporting with his cookies.

If this post has you in a cookie mood, you can order a batch baked by Aaron himself by visiting his website, Doughjangles.com. Choose from five crave worthy flavors, including Blissful Chocolate Chip and Paula Deen's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies for $ 12.00/dz & $ 8.00/shipping. Even those without a sweet tooth can help by sending donations to the charities listed on Aaron's Donation Page.
I myself am checking the mail every day for my Blissful Chocolate Chip Cookies. I'll keep you updated.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

From Grief, a Md. twin bakes to brotherly love

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HELP FOR HAITI

It's been 12 days since a 7.0 magnatude earthquake ravage the capitol of Haiti and neighboring towns. Aid is arriving but alot more is needed. I've compiled a list of charities you can support in under a minute by send text messages which are then added to your phone bill. I know we're in the midst of our own recession and we're all busy but everyone can take minute to donate via text.

1. HOPE FOR HAITI text "give" to 50555 $ 10.00
2. YELE HAITI text "yele" to 501501 $ 5.00
3. YELE HAITI text "haiti" to 501501 $ 10.00
4. RED CROSS text "haiti" to 90999 $ 10.00
5. OXFAM text "oxfam" to 25383 $ 10.00
6. UNICEF text "unicef" to 20222 $ 10.00

Mesi! ("thanks!" in Haitian Creole)

*if you find any other reputable charities that collect donations for Haiti via text, send 'em on over and I'll update them!*

Thanks for tuning in! 'til next time...

Sugar Mama loves MoMA

First of all I like to wish every one a Happy New Year and welcome to the new and improved Sugar Mama NYC blog!
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Lately, I've been finding myself overtired, overworked and overstressed. I love my job but I felt like I was drowning in an endless sea of Hermes Bags, Louboutin Shoes and Tiffany Boxes; which wouldn't sound so bad if I wasn't talking about cakes. I was beginning to feel stagnated and uninspired; not good for an artist.

The remedy? A truly enlightening afternoon at MoMA where an A-MAZ-ING Tim Burton retrospective is featured.



This is as much as I could capture with my camera with getting in trouble, but the exhibit itself is truly mind-blowing! It features sculptures, sketches, short films that spans his entire career.
One of my favorite pieces was "Vincent," a short stop motion film about a 7-year old boy who thinks he's Vincent Price, narrated by the man himself. I've loved this movie since I discovered it a few years ago and it was cool to see early sketches, sculptures and how in the world TB thinks of this stuff.

If you can't make it, don't worry you can visit the MoMA online store and pick up this book and other cool Tim Burton stuff like journals, tees, DVDs, Postcards, bloody hatchets... ok, no bloody hatchets; just making sure you were still with me.

For you lucky duckies that can make it to MoMA before the exhibit closes on April 26th, be sure to pre-purchase your tickets online because it usually sells out.
$20 adults/ $16 seniors /$12 students/ $0 kids ( 0-16)
** being a student of life doesn't count, I checked**

Well, being in the Museum of Modern Art, I certainly wasn't going to spend all afternoon with Jack Skellington and Frankenweenie. Here are some other highlights from my visit:

Wouldn't these make awesome wedding cakes?
** click of each painting for more info**

This is one of my favorite paintings of all time and I couldn't believe I was standing this close to it! For a split second I wondered how far I could run with it before I was tackled, tasered and knocked unconscious; and that's by the other museum patrons much less MoMA security.

Well, it's"bake" to work for me. Thanks for tuning in!
Until Next time...

Celebrity: Idris Elba & Pete Rock

Ah, celebrities and their last minute cakes...

This cake was ordered on Monday for a Wednesday night party for the amazingly handsome and talented Idris Elba. And I firmly stand by that statement. Mr. Elba has starred in countless movies, including Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls and Guy Ritchie's Rock N Rolla. He also took the helm of Dunder Mifflin when NBC's The Office's top dog left to start The Michael Scott Paper Company. Only a man with superb talent would attempt to fill Michael's shoes. And for the handsome part, well I'll let you judge for your self. Google "Idris Elba" and click images. Go ahead, we'll wait...

See! What did I tell you!!!

Any way, in addition to being a hot actor and hot,well, person, Idris Elba is also an extremely talented musician and DJ who goes by the name of Driis. To celebrate his new album and birthday I was commissioned to make a cake shaped like a DJ's turntable. We were also invited to attend the event taking place at a super secret location in lower Manhattan. Seriously, it has no name, just a building number and from the outside it looks like old book store.

I finished the cake with just enough time to get dressed and throw my make up in a bag to deliver the cake and party like it's Wednesday.

The event was fabulous and the music was even better since it was DJ'd by the guest of honor. When the cake was presented, Pete Rock gave Sugar Mama NYC a shout out and Idris loved the cake, which

you can "kind of" tell by the photos taken by my friend Lauren who is a model and clearly knows which side of the

camera she belongs on.

I spoke to Idris personally and he thanked me for the cake and told me how much he loved it! He also said the next time he was in the area, he would visit my studio...

I hope he wasn't kidding...

Well, it's bake to work for me!

Thanks for tuning in! Until next time!

I Enjoy Being A Girl...

Very recently, Sugar Mama NYC was asked to participate in a fabulous cocktail event at the legendary lingerie mainstay Town Shop on The Upper West Side hosted by a fabulous new lingerie company called Dirty Dolls.


I was contacted by Mel Gorski of GoGoMedia to add a wedding cake and delicious cupcakes to the lingerie party which focused on soon to be brides. I was joined by make up artists, provided by The Glam Fairy and Jo Weldon from The New York School of Burlesque, whom provided saucy striptease lessons. Top it off with vino-a-plenty and a fabulous swag bag filled with goodies from Bust Magazine and Booty Parlor and this was definitely not your mama's panty party!

* photo courtesy of Raquel Lauren www.raquellauren.com*
Sugar Mama Cupcakes decked out with The Sugar Mama and Dirty Dolls logo. Flavors included Pink Champagne (gone in 15 minutes!) , Red Velvet, Chocolate and Butter Cake all topped off with Vanilla Rum Buttercream... yes, you can eat the logos!

* photo courtesy of Raquel Lauren www.raquellauren.com*
Courtney Leigh(left)and Erica Rosalind of Dirty Dolls Lingerie making a Sugar Mama sandwich and showing off the goodies... and the cupcakes! Check out my gorgeous make over courtesy of The Glam Fairy!

* photo courtesy of Raquel Lauren www.raquellauren.com*
My burlesque inspired topsy turvy creation topped with The Dirty Dolls silouette, provided by the dolls. On the right, you can see The Glam Fairy herself, Alexa Prisco working her make up magic!

So, I'm pretty sure this photo was also taken by Raquel but since she used my functional but by no means professional quality camera, I'm sure she wouldn't mind not being credited here.
Here we three glamorous ladies are made four by Mel Gorski of Go Go Media Inc. Mel and Erica met while working for Playboy! I was the lady walking around in "the boots."



This photo was lovingly borrowed from the Dirty Dolls Society page, thanks ladies!
This is the fabulous Jo Weldon modeling the same lingerie set I snagged from Dirty Dolls. Click here to snag your own! Bra & Panty. You can definitely see the Playboy influence in the style, but it's infused with class, couture and best of all COMFORT! It's sexy lingerie that you actually want to wear because it fits so well! I love, love, love my Dirty Dolls lingerie!

My boyfriend is also a fan.