Good catch!

Oh it's been a busy old week here in caketopland! It must be June. So far, sunny weather for all to enjoy. Oh I remember the days when it was snow all over the country and no one could get to work and, oh! watch out for that snowball... ooops too late.... and now it's sun everywhere. Don't forget the sunscreen, and that nice straw cowboy hat I saw you wearing... and picnics.... and if you happen to have a secret swimming spot, (some folks do, you know) keep it secret, keep it safe!!!
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I wonder if there are fish in it? If there are I know a young fellow from caketopland who'd want to know the secret. Mind you, he's got a fish on the line already, well done that man!

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I must appologise as I have been very bad at keeping on top of the emails just lately. There's just not enough hours in even the longest of June days. I promise to do better. Just in case you have an urgent query you can always give me a bell. Leave a message if I don't get to the phone in time- sometimes I'm gluing, doing the post, having lunch or, well, answering emails.....

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There is a FAQ page on the website which the webmaster edited using her great talents of attention to detail, excellent vocab and translation from the 'Helen', to make the complexities of personalised cake top ordering infinitely easier to understand. That may help. Sometimes it's hard to know where to start eh? It also explains the basics like, how big are they? What are they made of? How do I pay?

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The webmaster is working on the new caketops site, so let us know if you have any feedback on the FAQ page or any other part of the site that we could improve on.

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I do hope you're having a lovely sunny June day today!

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P.S.

Would you believe I can almost call myself a 'runner' ? Thanks to Coach Jenny over at Invergarry Lodge I have earned myself a place in history and a lovely shiny medal for my trouble, running 10K in the glorious time of 66 minutes. If it hadn't been so hot that day it probably would have taken us half the time.... not. Anyway, my first race and in the beautiful surroundings of sunny Skye. Hooray!

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Kirstie's Homemade Home

Have you been watching Kirstie's Homemade Home on Channel 4? Lots of wonderful ideas and crafts and I love a junk shop bargain too!

Even though it was the last episode the other day it was my favourite, as there was Mich Turner from Little Venice Cake Company showing Kirstie how to do a bit of cake decorating. Nicest thing for me was the shot of one of my caketop figures atop one of LVCC's fantastic cake creations! TV stardom at last... well sort of....

Mich and her team at LVCC make the most amazing cakes, they really are superb. Mich first commissioned figures from me way back in 2002 and since then I make a handful of special figure orders for her every year. They're different from my regular caketops as they are completely made from clay, quite a bit bigger, and believe me they can take a very long time to do! The episode featuring Mich was really good as she showed Kirstie how to make some lovely mini cakes with roses on top, and some trademark candystriped ones - steady hands needed maybe, but lots of fun. I think I may have to have a go myself....

If you missed it, you can still watch it on the channel 4 website, and there is lots of info about all the things Kirstie got up to here.

But if its fantastic wedding and celebration cakes you want more of then check out the Little Venice Cake Company and prepare to be amazed!! Mich has written books too which are packed full of fantastic ideas and designs, and great instructions so you can make amazing cakes of your own! Oh and if you are interested in a cake top, don't forget me!!

Lucky horseshoes...

May already! I'm a busy bee with lots of caketops to do. Spring and Summer are definitely the busiest times for weddings, so get in touch quick if you still haven't ordered your cake top.

Oh, but don't you worry, it's not like it's a race or anything...

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Sporty cake tops happen to have been popular just lately, but this one was my first on a horse racing theme. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up any racing tips for you, although I'd suggest this fellow would be well advised to not be holding a copy of the 'Racing Post' when walking down the aisle...

Actually the look of the cake top is to be a surprise for him, he doesn't know anything about it. With a bride that thinks of everything, I bet it's a dead cert that their wedding day will be a sure fire winner!

Webmasterly...

Oh all this technological stuff can just be too much... that's why knowing the 'webmaster' is fortunate indeed. Along with her extensive knowledge of 'code' and general geek genius, her elfin charm is indisputable. Oh and we like the same sort of tunes... mostly... but I am rambling.... THANKS to the webmaster there is now a wee flickr gadget wotsit sitting to the left of this here page. Hooray! Webmaster to the rescue when I got stuck (at an early stage) and before you could blink there it is flickring away laughing at me cos I couldn't do it....

I thought I should add some more 'stuff' to the blog you see, since I have recruited a posse of lovely genuine followers - hello you! So, on the flickr thingymajig you can click through to view some alternative snaps of caketops as well as some random photos I've taken when wandering about the Highlands. The webmaster has passed it for Quality Control, of course she could just be being nice...

I must also thank (is this the Oscars?!) Matt and Jenny at Invergarry Lodge for introducing me to flickr. I have often coveted thier flickr slideshow when visiting their blog, and Matt has some of the best photos on flickr I am sure. Check out his and Jenny's GLOWING TENT!! It's a winner!
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The Italian Job

Look what Maury the Italian photographer did to this cake top!!

Don't worry; no bride or groom was harmed in the making of this photo, Signor Maury photoshopped it.... Congratulations to our happy Bride and Groom who were wed in a beautiful and romantic Italian Castle, and grazie to them and to Maury for letting us see this super photo! There's another picture of the beautiful cake with it's cake top (unphotoshopped!) in the gallery, along with photos of other cakes with thier cake tops 'in action' so to speak. Its always a treat for me to see the cake top i've made on its cake, and its wonderful how different, imaginative and personal each cake is, and how happy the bride and groom's all look!

STOP PRESS!! We have TWO, not one but TWO, new genuine followers to welcome!! Hooray!! Hello Tony, Hello Jen!! Thanks for adding yourselves and wee pictures to the 'caketop club'. How cool... but oh no the pressure to write something interesting on the blog has now gone up significantly with two new real people to 'entertain'....... however i shall give it a go, and it does mean i do HAVE to eat some more chocolate cake to celebrate..... oh its a hard life..... Cheers! xx

Show me the welly...

I'll tell you a secret; the bride's I make don't actually have any legs under their dresses! Well, unless they want to show off their wellies that is, in which case they need a couple of feet to wear them on, plus a bit of structural engineering to make them stand up and a skirt that stays hitched in just the right place...

When not wearing wellies, perhaps you like to wear a sturdy pair of hiking boots? Just the thing for stomping over a muddy field or hill or whatnot, dogs in tow...

Sure, that's not everyone's cup of tea. Footwear can be the kind you just like to shop for eh?!!

Here's to shoes and Jimmy Choos!

A classy couple!

This cake top was made for a couple who enjoy their classic motorbikes. In fact the groom is a contributor to the Classic Bike Guide- he's holding a copy do you see?! Our biker bride has such lovely red curly hair it would be a shame to hide it under a helmet so she's holding hers instead, but the Groom is wearing his with pride! The open face helmets work well on the cake top as you can still see the happy expression! This is my first proper go at bikers jackets and after a fair bit of cutting to find the right shape, and experimenting with 'zips' I'm rather pleased with myself, even if I am still knee deep in leather look pvc.... I think with a bit more practice I could manage some fringing... So lets wish our bikers good luck, sun and open roads as they are cruising down the aisle tomorrow...

Now say hello to an old married couple who have just got back from honeymoon. Yes, Matt and Jenny had glorious sun for the wedding day, torrential rain and wind for the Scottish bit of the honeymoon, and Arctic snow and northern lights for the Norwegian bit. They seem to have brought the sun back with them though, so hooray for that! Just in time for Easter at Invergarry Lodge.

Now if you are on the hunt for wedding invites then have a wee look at my friend Julie Clark's new website for her card business All That Glitters She makes fantastic tiaras and favours too. Everything she does is beautifully made so I can definitely recommend her most highly folks!