Inspiration

For me, the most difficult and important part of making a cake is the design.  Some people, like my friend Nicole Erle, are naturally gifted when it comes to design and presentation, and from the get-go just know what's going to look good and what isn't.  For others, like me, it takes a good amount of time and effort.

I do find a lot of inspiration in day-to-day life, however.  Every now and then, I see something that catches my eye, I do a double-take and I think, "That would look kickass on a cake!"  At that point, I really dork-out, and stop and take a pic of it.  

Inspiration comes from all sorts of random places... below are some pics I've saved over the years, some of which I took myself.

Cups for sale on display at Starbucks

A dress on display in a store window (love the lines!)

A henna tattoo

Whoa, how'd that pic get on here?  Sorry....

A mosaic by a local artist here in Philly

Pretty plateware I saw in a store

A FIERCE peacock clutch purse at the Wynn in Vegas

A pillbox

Stacked plates and cups 

(The other day I saw a busser carrying a small stack of plates and cups.  

I wish I stopped to take a pic, but I was crazy busy!)

I have a collection of these pics, which I've been collecting for a few years now.  I have yet to make any of these into cakes-- hopefully I will get the chance some day!