Oh my goodness, things are starting to get very jolly around here! December has finally arrived and we can really start to celebrate the holiday season! Christmas music made it’s 2012 debut in my home yesterday. Today I’m putting the finishing touches on our newest cake series that is about to start (insert squeal here) and my mind is in full-tilt holiday mode! There’s only one little problem. It’s crazy warm outside! I’m ready for some good chilly winter weather. But like much of the US…. we’re seeing very warm days, which just doesn’t feel much like the traditional holiday season. But today’s cake will bring a nice blast of winter to us all!
Today’s cake comes to us from Alison of Alison Lawson Cakes. Inspired by a quaint little cottage, Allison creates a wintery scene filled with beauty and incredible attention to detail. An English cottage with textured sandstone and a tiled roof, all covered in a light dusting of snow. Chimneys flank each side while a stone pathway leads up to the wood grain door. A picket fence, stone sign and ruffled Christmas wreath welcome you. Prepare to swoon over the ridiculously amazing details of today’s cozy Winter Cottage Cake!
Alison of Alison Lawson Cakes shares the inspiration for her cottage:
“Being inspired by your imagination is so much fun! Have you ever pictured a secret place to hide away? I have….a double storey English cottage complete with sandstone, rambling roses, a pale green door and snow flakes.”
Seriously, no detail was too small. Alison captured every little crack, crevice and fleck of snow!
Alison of Alison Lawson Cakes gives us the scoop on her technique:
Besides the overall construction phase, replicating the different textures within the English Cottage was the most exciting part of the project. My main medium was royal icing. I used a paintbrush to layer different colours in order to replicate the texture, as well as varied colours within the sandstone.
The many ‘details’ within this project are endless, but essential. For example, roof flashing and cornerstones. The garden took on a whole different phase in itself, and I decided to use ‘ruffles’ to recreate a rambling rose theme over the cottage, complete with sandstone fence and picket gates all made from fondant.”
More from Alison, talking about her finished cake:
“An amazing journey, and the end result left me ‘dreamy’. I simply couldn’t take my eyes of my creation, and hope you are taken to a special place in your imagination too!”
Seriously! How adorable is that sign? Let’s take one last look at the entire cottage, shall we?
I have to slightly disagree with Alison. This design isn’t just dreamy…. it’s beyond dreamy! It takes me to a magical, snowy scene where I can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and sport a fluffy wool scarf. I’m in love!
A very special thank you to Alison Lawson Cakes for sharing her Winter Cottage Cake with us today. It is simply spectacular! And a fabulous start to a festive December here on the cake blog! Be sure to hop on over to Alison’s blog where she shares a step by step recount of her creation process {find it here}. Enjoy!
VENDORS & CREDITS
Cake : Alison Lawson Cakes
Oh Wow!!! This is so beautifully stunning!!! Very very awesome!!!
I absolutely love the detail and creativity here! So many beautiful cakes on the site, but this one is really incredible! Thanks for sharing it!
Such an honour to be featured on this amazing site – thank you so much for making my day absolutely perfect!