Truly Scrumptious - Rachel Findlay of The Cake Stand, SW England

We all love the traditional three tier wedding cakes and have become familiar with the trendy cupcake, but when I saw these colourful fondant fancies I fell in love with them.

Having baked beautiful cakes for friends and family for the past 20 years, Rachel Findlay established the Cake Stand in 2010, specialising in elegant and unique cakes that reflect a couple's personal style and wedding theme.

Rachel skilfully crafts delicate flowers, butterflies, hearts, swirls and pearls from sugar and bespoke cupcakes are lovingly decorated with delicious buttercream, sprinkles and sugar-paste flowers, offering an alternative to the traditional tiered wedding cake.

But as I said, it's Rachel's scrumptious fondant fancies that caught my eye and if you prefer them in soft pastel shades or vibrant colourful hues they are easily whipped up to your taste.  

All images (c) The Cake Stand

Based in Somerset, Rachel takes orders in the SW of England and London and you can find out more from her website. 

Surf's Up - take an online class. What about cake decorating?

If you were inspired by our last blog, perhaps you should have a go yourself.  And you can do it all  from the comfort of your own home by taking online classes.

If you want to get a handle on designing handbag cakes, complete with divots and pleats or genuine looking zippers, rivets and buckles from sugar paste you could try Elisa Strauss.

Or perhaps sugar flowers are your thing.  No, these are not real flowers!

Then Nicholas Lodge is your man.  He'll soon have you crafting tulips, anemones and peonies.

But then again, you may prefer characters showcasing someone's career or hobby.  

Then Anne Heap runs an online class just for you.   You'll learn how to colour and work with gum paste, model human figures and position them, as well as accessorising their hair and clothes.

So what are you waiting for?  And of course, if the worst comes to the worst, you can at least console yourself with some cake!

Do let us know how you get on if you decide to have a go and of course post your photos of the finished article.  We'd love to see them.

Truly Scrumptious - Boston Tea Party Cafe, Salisbury

Guest contributor, Nathalie Jochum shares one of her secret destinations ...

For me, a trip to Salisbury isn't complete without a stop at the Boston Tea Party cafe.  It's fantastic - fresh cakes, hearty soups and sandwiches, the welcoming smell of coffee and a big menu written up on a blackboard.  

The mismatched furniture sets the mood perfectly, making it feel homely and yet still stylish.   As a result there's a truly relaxed atmosphere and everyone from young kids and their grandparents to business folk and students sit comfortably along side each other.

And my personal favourite - the white hot chocolate, you MUST give it a try.

Although the cafe isn't a one off, it is one of only seven branches and the owners like to think of themselves as a happy cluster rather than a clunky chain.  In striving to achieve this effect, each cafe is individual and nurtures close links to the surrounding community, supporting local artists, charities & businesses by using the cafe's space & community notice boards to promote events & organisations.  

www.foxandhounds-eastknoyle.co.uk

Truly Scrumptious - Bakelicious, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

If you’re lucky enough to live near Tunbridge Wells and need cakes or cupcakes for a special occasion or just because you fancy one then check out Bakelicious.

Sally Burton is a mother of 2 primary-school children who has been baking ever since she was their age. She love designing and baking cakes and seeing how happy they make people.

She uses the best ingredients - such as Madagascan vanilla pods, organic Belgian chocolate, and zingy homemade lemon-curd - and bakes in her kitchen at home where she creates unique designs with a wide variety of flavours and fillings. Vanilla seems a popular choice and red velvet cupcakes feature too. 

And these lemon cupcakes with homemade lemon curd centres sound truly scrumptious!  The handmade edible decorations are based on a favourite book, Tumtum & Nutmeg...mice who love picnics!

You can find out more about Sally and Bakelicious on Facebook.