Roller Hockey Puck Cake

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Christina and Lee have been clients of ours since 2007, when Rick made their wedding cake. Since then, they have been returning to us for their special celebrations, each time with a fun and different theme. Their latest cake, a sculpted roller hockey puck with Lee's squadron patch, was ordered by Christina to honor a number of special celebrations -- Lee's return from a 9 month training on the mainland, a military rank promotion and his 28th Birthday.  When we were discussing a theme for the cake, she told us that Lee has played roller hockey for years and really wanted to get him a roller hockey puck cake. She thought it would be fun and different and perfect for someone who loved the sport so much. Rick sculpted the roller hockey puck out of our guava cake and painted Lee's squadron patch into the middle of the cake. The couple was very happy with the cake and it was a fun one for us to do. Welcome Home, Congratulations, and Happy 28th Birthday Lee!

Seahorses and Turtles Birthday Cake

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Ever since we moved to Hawaii, we've had a steady stream of ocean inspired and under the sea cake design requests, and I have to say that I never tire of seeing them.  We got the order for this latest ocean themed cake from a woman who was overseas at the time and returning to Hawaii to celebrate her and her husband's birthday.  Rick made all the pieces of the realistic ocean scene and limited the color palette to mostly shades of blue, cream, and white.  The coral pieces were made using a technique that Rick teaches in his class. They are versatile to work with and allow for many design possibilities. Happy Birthday to Rose and Brent!

Sculpted Castle Cake

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Last fall our client Laura began planning her amazing gift to present at her High School Reunion to Castle High School, in honor of their 50th Birthday in 2011. When she called us to discuss the cake design, she was very excited to hire Rick to make her a sculpted castle cake with a knight on a horse which is Castle High School's mascot. The school colors of maroon, white and gold would be included in the design as well as a "50" in honor of their milestone birthday celebration. Ever since the order was placed, we knew that Rick would have to set aside a significant amount of time to make the custom knight on a horse as well as sculpting the castle.

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Rick sculpted the castle out of cake and every part of it was edible, including the handcrafted knight on the horse. The only part wasn't edible was the structure needed for the figure.  To give an idea of scale of the cake, the custom knight on horse figure stood 15" tall. Adding the knight on the horse really added to the "WOW" factor of the design and after spending a couple of days working on the figure, it was all worth it when it was finished. The horse looked so realistic I wanted to reach out and pet it and the detail on the knight was incredible! We were extremely happy with the whole composition.  When we met Laura at the hotel where the reunion took place, she had such a strong emotional reaction to the piece that her eyes began welling up with tears. It was more than she had expected and was so proud to present her gift to her class and to her school. Seeing how happy she was made us feel even more proud of the piece and knew it went to the right home! Happy 50th Birthday to Castle High School, and thank you so much to our client Laura for her wonderful gift!

"Discover Your Inner Artist" Classes Update

We thought it was a good time to provide an update on the status of all the "Discover Your Inner Artist" classes. Yesterday the 3rd and last Melbourne, Australia class sold out! For those who have asked, we're sorry but Rick is not able to offer a 4th class in Australia. There is a wait list open and you can contact Three Sweeties directly to be placed on the wait list.

All of Rick's "Discover Your Inner Artist" classes in 2012 are Sold Out except for Allentown, Pennsylvania and London, England. Class 1 in London is sold out and Class 2 is open for enrollment.  For any of our sold out classes, you may always ask to be placed on a wait list, and in certain cases that may open up an additional class.  For our locations where there are still spots available, we have provided information below on the venue and how to register.

"Discover Your Inner Artist" - Class 2 - hibiscus/bamboo and clownfish in coral
August 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 2012  9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location:  Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School, London, England, UK
Status:  OPEN, Class 1 is SOLD OUT!
Follow this link to register

"Discover Your Inner Artist" - Class 1 - hibiscus/bamboo and clownfish in coral
September 13th, 14th and 15th, 2012   9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location:  Mother of Cakes: Sugar and Cake Academy - Allentown, PA  U.S.A.
Status:  OPEN
Follow this link to register

We would like to thank all of our students who have supported Rick's efforts in his teaching career. We have been touched by the generosity of your comments and letters expressing your excitement about the classes! Many of you are counting "the sleeps" until the classes start and it makes us even more excited to meet you, knowing how much value you have placed in his courses. Thank you all, so very much!

G'day Australia! "Discover Your Inner Artist" Class coming to Melbourne in 2012!

We are THRILLED to announce our newest location for the "Discover Your Inner Artist" class in November 2012 and it's a place we have been dreaming of going to for many years -- Australia! We received an invitation from Melbourne's own Three Sweeties for Rick to come and teach his signature hibiscus/bamboo wedding cake and sculpted clownfish cakes and he of course, jumped at the chance to bring his craft to one of the most beautiful places in the world! The dates have been set and class registration is now open! Here are all the exciting details:

Three Sweeties Presents:  "Discover Your Inner Artist", a class with Rick Reichart in Melbourne, Australia on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2012.

Rick will be teaching some of his favorite art methods including airbrushing, hand painting, cake sculpting and free form art techniques without using fancy cutters, molds or stencils. At the end of the 3-day class, students will have two amazing completed cakes and a variety of new cake skills.

To register for the class, visit Three Sweeties website, www.threesweeties.com.au, where you will find a wealth of information about the class, policies and pricing.

Spaces are going fast and we have students coming from all over Australia and New Zealand to attend. The class was just announced and is already more than half full. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to learn from Rick and to get in touch, with your inner artist!

We will be posting updates on the Melbourne class as well as the London, Pennsylvania and Canada 2012 classes on both our "Classes" page on the blog and the cakelava Facebook page.

June 2012 Canada Class Projects Announced

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All Images by Rachel Robertson Photography

Students who enrolled in Rick's sold out "Discover Your Inner Artist 2" classes at Icing Inspirations in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, recently got a special sneak peek at their two new cake projects he designed especially for them.  They have been patiently waiting to see what they would be learning since our March visit to Canada, when he was invited back to teach the second installment of his "Discover Your Inner Artist" series. The classes were announced with the projects to be determined, and we returned home to Hawaii to a hectic schedule, with a new book deal to work on in addition to cake orders.  Last month the cakes were designed and photographed and his students in the class were informed in July.  Last Sunday Icing Inspirations who is hosting Rick, held their Second Annual Cake Competion and open house and the cake projects were revealed to attendees which included a number of people currently on the wait list for a spot in either class.

Rick and I are extremely excited about these projects! As with the first "Discover Your Inner Artist" class where Rick taught students how to make his signature hibiscus and bamboo wedding cake and a sculpted clownfish cake, the second installment in the series will teach students to rely on their own creative abilities by using a variety of art techniques without using molds, fancy cutters or stencils.

"Discover Your Inner Artist 2" will focus on more advanced airbrushing and hand painting techniques  and also shaped tiers. Rick will be demonstrating to students how to make the hourglass shapes he uses on many of cakelava's designs.  Students will also be making the painted hand crafted lotus flowers on the cake, and all the sushi pieces on the platter.  At the end of the 3 days (24 hours), students will have two amazing cakes to take home.

We would like to say "Thank You" to our gracious hosts, Chrissie and Justin at Icing Inspirations, and to our students in both June classes as well as those currently on the waitlist hoping for a spot. We appreciate your patience as Rick designed the cakes and hope you are as excited about the projects as we are!  We would also like to thank our photographer Rachel Robertson who did an amazing job, once again, on the class photos!

Although both of Rick's "Discover Your Inner Artist 2" classes in June 2012 are sold out, there is a wait list in effect for both classes and you may register your interest with Icing Inspirations directly by contacting them via phone or their website. www.icinginspirations.ca  We do not currently have plans to teach these two designs elsewhere in 2012.  Hope to see you there!

Sandy and Ryan's Wedding Cake

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We met Sandy and Ryan last year when they came to Oahu to plan their wedding. They requested an elegant cake with handcrafted bright pink plumeria flowers with gold accents. Rick designed the cake as a four tier, varying the heights of the tiers for a more modern style and added gold bands of different widths on the cake and gold leaves on the plumerias. The couple used the hot pink and gold palette throughout the wedding, with the bridesmaids dresses and bouquets in the bright pink and gold chiavari chairs for the guests. The wedding was held at a beautiful private home in Kailua. Nichole Shin of Nichole Weddings & Events did a fantastic job coordinating the gorgeous wedding. We were proud to be a part of an amazing team of vendors which included Visionari, Nichole Weddings & Events and Indigo Catering. For the inside of the cake, the couple wanted to continue the tropical theme. They both love coconut and chose our Coconut Pineapple Chunk for two of the tiers and the other two tiers were coconut cake with a guava jam and guava cream combination.  This cake screamed "Hawaii" inside and out! Congratulations to Sandy and Ryan!

It Starts with a Heart and a Key ...

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Last week we posted a dramatic hibiscus wedding cake made for a couple who were married over the Fourth of July weekend. Shortly after the hibiscus cake was delivered, we headed off to another wedding that same night. The two cakes couldn't have been more different. One was a beautiful tropical floral design and the other was a very modern and stylized graphic using a heart and key swirly motif provided to us by the couple. Their wedding colors were fantastic - turquoise, black and white - which was full of contrasts and made for a striking design. It's difficult to tell in the photo but the cake tiers are also lightly textured. 

For this cake, our couple gave Rick carte blanche on the design and as long as the cake integrated their heart and key theme into it, they were completely open to whatever he wanted to make. When the couple were presented with Rick's sketch, they were absolutely thrilled and were excited to make the cake. Having not just a three and a half foot wedding cake, but also another wedding cake in addition to this one on the same night kept us busy on the holiday weekend. Seeing how happy our clients were made for an already celebratory weekend even better! 

NEW London Class Added!

London Class Update!  Rick's August 16th, 17th, 18th, 2012 "Discover Your Inner Class" at Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School is now sold out. However, we have a wonderful host who has invited us to extend our stay in London, UK, so Rick can offer a second class! We have had a number of students who were not able to sign up for the first class and will now have the opportunity to register for the second group.

Class 2 is now open for registration and will take place at Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School on August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2012. Aside from the dates, everything else remains the same for the second class. Same price, same times and the same amazing cakes will be taught to the students (see photo above for class projects) in Class 2.  Registration for Class 2 is offered through Exotic Fantastic website:  www.exoticfantastic.com

A number of people have asked about other locations within Europe for the class. Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School is the only European location Rick will be teaching in 2012. We have students coming in from all over Europe and we are excited to meet everyone!  To learn more about Rick's "Discover Your Inner Artist" series of classes and read student testimonials and see photos, visit our Classes page on the blog. 

London Class Now Sold Out!

We woke up this morning to some amazing news! Rick's August 2012 "Discover Your Inner Artist" class at Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School in London, UK, is now Sold Out!

If you were hoping to take the class or tried to register only to find out that the registration is closed, please don't fret!  Exotic Fantastic Cake Decorating School has opened up a wait list and you can contact them directly to be placed on the list.  We are working closely with our host and Rick may potentially offer a second class. We will be posting updates on our Classes page as well as cakelava's Facebook page

Thank you to our students who have registered, many of whom are travelling from other European countries.  Rick and I look forward to meeting all of you!

Dramatic Hibiscus Wedding Cake

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We've noticed a trend in the past couple of weeks towards large cakes.  Two weekends ago Rick made a three and a half foot tall romantic floral and damask print wedding cake . Over the July 4th weekend, we delivered this striking modern, squared tiers hibiscus themed wedding cake, which stood almost 3 feet tall for Kim and Andrew's wedding.  This weekend we are working on another large cake and have started the custom pieces for that.  Kim and Andrew's cake was designed to work with the couple's wedding colors, orange, turquoise blue, with accents of green.  Rick designed the cake with dramatic hibiscus plants, which he did free hand without stencils.  We were very happy with the finished design and were excited to present it to our couple!  The cake was delivered to Lanikuhonua, a picturesque outdoor location on Oahu's west side, beautifully landscaped with tropical plants.  The orange, blue and white decor throughout the wedding matched the cake perfectly.  We want to congratulate Kim and Andrew and all our July 4th weekend wedding couples!