June 22nd, 2011

Currently I’m in love with… Amy Stevens’ cakes

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As you know, I-love-cake.
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So, quite naturally, in my spare time I’m on the look out for cake on the internet. And it was when I was link-hopping that I found Amy’s art cakes.
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Amy Stevens art cake blue white black www.cocoandme.com Coco&Me Coco and me

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Don’t you think these pictures are Oh-My-God-‘this-is-out-of-this-world’-Wonderful?

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Amy Stevens art cake orange red green www.cocoandme.com coco and me Coco&Me

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When I encountered this treasure finding, I just had to share her with you!! ^^

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Amy’s art confections series started when she turned 30. She originally wanted to make 30 cakes for her show, but as she discovered that her cakes were not going to look like what might appear on a Martha video, she decided that they would look better if made in their exuberantly imperfect state.

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What I love about her cakes is exactly that imperfection.

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It is perfectly imperfect & beautiful.

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Amy Stevens art cake white blue amber www.cocoandme.com Coco&Me coco and me

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I asked Amy some questions:

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Q: Are they all edible?

A: The cakes are edible, although they are rarely eaten. Because I make them with the sole purpose of decoration, I don’t use the very best ingredients and sometimes the cakes sit for a while in my studio while I am shooting and editing the images.

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Q: Is it sponge inside?

A: I use the same cake recipe for all of them, it’s a yellow cake recipe from Martha Stewart. Every so often, I will spend a whole day baking cakes – of many different shapes and sizes. I then freeze the layers in a big freezer in my studio and when I want to decorate a cake for a shoot, I thaw out various layers and put them together. Usually the cakes are layered with icing in between.

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Amy Stevens art cake white orange www.cocoandme.com Coco&Me coco and me

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Q: What technique do you use? ie; piping bag with different nozzles?

A: I use parchment triangles for the bags and various tips.

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Q: Is it buttercream?

A: The icing is a decorator’s ‘buttercream’ recipe I got from a cake decorating class. It’s basically powdered sugar and vegetable shortening. I found this to hold up the best – even under the hot lights while shooting. When I bake cakes for eating, I will make real buttercream (with butter!) I find it to be a little finicky in humidity, but it tastes so good.

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Q: Do your get cake orders from friends? Or bake a lot beside of art?

A: Sometimes I make cakes for friends or special occasions. I have this book called the Cake Bible and like to try different recipes from it. But in general I love to cook and bake and am constantly trying something new.

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Q: Amy, I love your pictures so much, have you ever considered doing a calendar? I’ll be the first to buy it!!!!

A: I have considered calendars and maybe in the future will make one. Right now I am working on a photo book of Confections that will be available through my website and Blurb, and will also be selling note cards soon through my website.

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Amy Stevens art cake green www.cocoandme.com Coco&Me coco and me

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Check out more of her fascinating cakes on her website!

t xoxo

43 Comments »

  1. I like her “perfectly imperfect” art pieces. They look amazing especially on the colourful background! I guess she chose the background first, right? Good stuff (and I can see that you love them)!

    Comment by jun - June 22, 2011 6:46 am

  2. the cakes are crazy arty! i love the colours she incorporates into her decoration. such a grand idea.

    p.s: btw, i really enjoy reading your blog post and looking at your cake photos, they look divine.

    Comment by erna dyanty - June 22, 2011 7:06 am

  3. Hi T, Hows you?
    Just an quick catch-up to let you know that I’ve been a bit busy on a new project, but don’t worry I’ve been keeping up with your posts too, how could I not!
    If you pop over to my blog you’ll see what I’ve been up to!
    http://www.kayscakeshop.blogspot.com

    Hope you like them, Kay x

    Comment by Kay - June 22, 2011 8:18 am

  4. Oh and don’t forget to do my giveaway, I’m really interested to see what a fellow ‘caker’ suggests! x

    Comment by Kay - June 22, 2011 8:20 am

  5. i also enjoy cookies! zephyrcakes (on facebook) does fantastical creations, & the occasional cake :)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=216134235075116&set=pu.172557392766134&type=1&theater

    hope the photo loads, it’s a cake, of course ;)

    Comment by petoskystone - June 22, 2011 11:34 am

  6. Hey Jun!!!!! Nice to get a comment from you!! xx Yeah, they’re pretty special right?! It makes me want to be more creative with my stuff too!
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    Erna, I love that her colours correspond to the background, & the way she interprets the patterns & makes it her very own. – Cheers, & I look forward to hearing from you again!
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    Hi Kay!! What a lovely idea you have for the push-up cakes! Very very original:
    http://kayscakeshop.blogspot.com/2011/06/push-up-cakes-my-first-giveaway.html
    Mine would be apple crumble (alternate of goo & crunch, goo & crunch) or tiramisu or battenburg for the beautiful coloured layers!
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    Petoskystone, cheers for the fantastic link!! xx They are unique aren’t they – especially with the use of the shiny colours!

    Comment by tamami - June 22, 2011 12:43 pm

  7. How unconventional and pleasing to the eye! I love them. I will add her site to my favorites..!!

    Comment by heidy - June 23, 2011 2:28 pm

  8. Heidy, I’m so happy you think so too!!! xx

    Comment by tamami - June 23, 2011 4:23 pm

  9. I love how bright they are ~ the cakes remind me of all the colours you see when you visit a hot country. Also the way she plays with backgrounds is great too.

    P.s. I am sorry to hear about your family struggles, it must have been such a emotional roller-coaster. But its great to hear that your dad is doing much better now. Bless you! Hope you get back on track to what I’m sure will be a wonderful book :)

    Comment by Jennifer - June 24, 2011 12:29 am

  10. I love these T! They remind me of a 70s cook book that belonged to my Mum that I used to drool over.

    Hope to see you soon!

    Comment by Layla - June 24, 2011 10:37 am

  11. Jennifer, I see what you mean about the colours that might be seen in hot countries!!! A-ha! – Thank you Jennifer…!!
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    Layla, Layla, Layla. Oh-m.G, actually, this is soooo you! xx Hope to see you soon too!!!

    Comment by tamami - June 25, 2011 1:17 am

  12. These are great, they look so neo-Baroque (can’t help it, I’m an art historian ;) )… but at the end of the day I’d rather have a cake that tastes spectacular. Like yours! xx

    Comment by Rachel - June 29, 2011 11:59 pm

  13. Hi Rachel! Neo-Baroque… hm, I wish I was knowledgeable enough to comment back & agree, but I really haven’t much clue when it comes to history…! – – I googled for a bit to try to understand the subject, but still clueless as to why these cakes are so. Rachel, if you get to read this, could you please teach me? xx

    Comment by tamami - June 30, 2011 3:01 am

  14. Ah, I mostly just meant they’re madly OTT and flamboyant (though if you want an actual art/architecture example, just think of the Paris Opera!). That last one makes me think of a Faberge egg (see, another example)… xx

    Comment by Rachel - June 30, 2011 11:48 pm

  15. Rachel, ah ha! :) Yes, I agree with the OTT feel too! And the last one Does look like a Faberge egg!!!! How funny! :) Thanks for replying back Rachel!!!!! xoxoxo

    Comment by tamami - July 2, 2011 5:35 pm

  16. hello coco&me… we’re housebites – a new service which gives chefs and foodies the opportunity to cook you’re own food for people in their local area.

    we’re launching in central london v.soon and we’d love you to be involved, or just to tell you more if you like the sound! so feel free to drop me an email any time. find us on twitter http://twitter.com/housebites or drop me an email andy@housebites.com cheers.

    Comment by andy - July 11, 2011 10:03 am

  17. Hello Andy, thank you. Good luck with your new venture! Sounds interesting! All the best, T

    Comment by tamami - July 13, 2011 11:43 pm

  18. Hi Cocoandme.
    Is there anychance that you can give me your email address ..as I have some question to asking you ..manythanks bea.

    Comment by Bea - July 17, 2011 1:13 pm

  19. Hi Bea, I’ve sent you an email!

    Comment by Tamami - July 17, 2011 1:19 pm

  20. WOW ! It looks more like art then just cake ; )!

    Comment by ClouDesign - July 18, 2011 7:15 am

  21. Indeed!!! :)

    Comment by Tamami - July 18, 2011 10:29 am

  22. Hi Tamami, I can’t seem to find a contact email for you – could you drop me a line? I’ve got a story you may be interested in! Thanks, Stephanie x

    Comment by Stephanie - July 31, 2011 12:34 pm

  23. Hi Stephanie!!
    thank you for contacting me! I have emailed you back! x

    Comment by tamami - July 31, 2011 10:25 pm

  24. Tamami~
    Listening to the news over here and feel concerned about the riots in Hackney. Are you and your family okay? I wish I could get info from you on the general situation. Hackney was our favorite part of London and our hearts are broken. You can email me directly if you’d like.

    Our best to you~
    Diane

    Comment by Diane - August 9, 2011 6:02 pm

  25. Diane,
    I feel so blessed that you are thinking of me. Thank you…!! xxx
    We’re all fine – infact, I don’t live in Hackney, but in a different borough in N.London, which hasn’t been affected or so I thought. Until my local shop around the corner informed me earlier that, actually, last night, there has been some disturbance on our high road too, & also at the nearby retail park where there is a sports shop & electronics shop (… but this was not on the news).
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    Tonight (on the fourth day of riot), that local shop has 5 men at work (instead of the usual 1) … just in case. There definitely seems to be tension & fear in the air – & it is also very disturbing to see what is going on right now. Everyone seems to be on alert & not have much faith that the police will be providing the safety when needed.
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    I’ll be watching the news & see if anything happens tonight again in London. I might not go in on Saturday…
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    Lots of love, T xx

    Comment by Tamami - August 9, 2011 7:50 pm

  26. are you & yours still safe? >:/

    Comment by petoskystone - August 10, 2011 3:38 pm

  27. Petoskystone,
    awwwww…, thank you for your message!!!! :) :) :) So happy to know that you’ve thought of me. xx We’re all fine, Ldn was relatively quiet last night – the mass police numbers helped I think! Let’s hope that there’s no more…!

    Comment by Tamami - August 10, 2011 4:34 pm

  28. :)

    Comment by petoskystone - August 10, 2011 8:36 pm

  29. I saw about the riots on TV too, and wanted to make sure you’re okay. Take care.

    Comment by Rita - August 11, 2011 4:20 am

  30. Hi lovely Rita!!!! Thank you very much for thinking of me!! Am fine!! xx

    Comment by Tamami - August 11, 2011 8:48 am

  31. Gah! I’m late again but v. relieved to hear that you are okay. I really hope things stay calm from now on. xx

    Comment by Rachel - August 15, 2011 6:23 pm

  32. how whimsically delish!

    Comment by Dina - August 15, 2011 6:34 pm

  33. Rachel, indeed, I think like-wise… It’s scary… Thanks Rachel for your comment! Hope things are well for you in US! xx
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    Dina, I agree!! :)

    Comment by tamami - August 15, 2011 9:06 pm

  34. Hi Coco&Me!

    I love your cakes. I would like to order a pear tart for this Saturday 20th-it’s for my husbands birthday. Could you let me know if this is possible. I would need it for 10 people.

    Thanks so much

    Anna

    Comment by Anna - August 16, 2011 7:29 pm

  35. Hello Anna! I’ll email you in a second!!

    Comment by Tamami - August 16, 2011 7:50 pm

  36. Hello, Tamami!

    We miss your posts!!! :)

    x,
    Raquel

    Comment by Raquel - August 29, 2011 1:57 pm

  37. Awww… Raquel!!!!!!!!!! Thank you xx
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    I will post soon I promise!
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    I’ve been meaning to…, but have lately been so lazy… The children are on Summer holiday & they use up so much of my energy ( & together with doing the market), I feel so worn out & un-creative at the moment! :(
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    I’ve got so much to write about though! Like about my best ever banana cake, so please stay tuned!!
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    All the best, T xx

    Comment by Tamami - August 29, 2011 11:06 pm

  38. Hi! I love your blog!!! Do you by any chance make wedding cakes? If so please email me!! xx

    Comment by Neema - September 1, 2011 11:07 am

  39. Hello Neema!
    I’ll email you in a little while! xx

    Comment by Tamami - September 1, 2011 2:38 pm

  40. Hello! Just to let you know that I put up some pics of your lovely cakes on my blog as mentioned yesterday in the market! Hope you like it! Thanks x
    http://reasonablygumi.blogspot.com/2011/09/broadway-market.html

    Comment by Gumi - September 4, 2011 9:29 pm

  41. Gumi san, thank you very muh for posting amazing pictures of the cakes on your blog!!!! :) :) :) How wonderful!! Cheers!! T xx

    Comment by Tamami - September 6, 2011 6:34 pm

  42. hey..howz it hanging? ;) your young man in school now? book driving you nuts yet? ;)

    Comment by petoskystone - September 9, 2011 1:48 pm

  43. Hello Petoskystone!!! How have you been?? So lovely to hear from you!! ^^ I’ve been meaning to update the blog…!! Yes, my son is (finally) at school from this week & my daughter will also be going to nursery from next Monday! So I’ll have more ‘me’ time from next week!! xx

    Comment by tamami - September 10, 2011 2:16 am

 

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