Meet the Maker… Gillian Bell CAKE

There are so many wonderful details that come into play for weddings, wedding flowers, styling, venues, lighting, dresses, makeup, guest lists, food…. And then there is CAKE…

Sometimes there are some special cosmic moments that lead you to cross paths with something wonderful and well last year that something wonderful happened to cross my path in the form of a dear sweet, sweet lass named Gillian Bell.

If your hunting around for the perfect wedding cake then perhaps it’s time to close your laptop, put down your fork and take a step into the world of Gillian Bell Cake… She is the extraordinary bespoke cake maker to tantalise your guest’s tastebuds and ensure your cake is one of sheer romance and memory that will linger long after the devouring has come to an end…

I was lucky enough to be invited to provide some blooms to a brief by Gillian for an editorial spread in “ON Trend” Bridal Magazine. Gillian invited four local florists to take part in creating blooms to highlight her various themed cakes. For our theme Gillian had dreamt up a naked cake inspired by William Shakespeare ever popular A Midsummer Night’s dream. A cake fit for Titiana’s own wedding banquet. From the moment I read the words for the cake inspired by “Titianas wedding” my mind began to wander into landscapes of enchanted Forrest’s, green covered banks and places where fairies danced and wild blooms grow and from this I knew I wanted to create a piece full of whimsy and wonder.  Small intricate and enchanting floral details carefully woven to bring to life a small snippet of the beauty of a Shakespearean masterpiece – A midsummer nights dream.

I’m delighted to share some images of our collaboration here with you. The images were captured beautifully by Kylie Sommerfield from “Just for Love Photography” and I am so grateful for this wonderful creative brief and the opportunity to work with one of Gillian’s masterpieces. So I felt like it was only fair I shared a little information about this wonderful Baker. So here is a little insight into the wonderful mind of Gillian Bell – Cake!

Who is Gillian bell..

Gillian Bell is a very ordinary person who is moved by things like the aubergine and citrine colours of vintage glass that is a ripe fig; the heart aching beauty and perfume of a citrus orchard in blossom; the dappled sunlight through the verdant green and cerise of a cherry tree; and the fragrance and texture of warm sponge cake as it’s spread with magenta dollops of homemade raspberry conserve.

What allured you to the world of cake making?

I’ve been baking all my life. I grew up in a large family and my mother was very busy with children and had little time to bake. So at some point as a small child I must have decided that if I wanted cake, and often, I needed to bake it. I also loved to read and had my head in books – books about adventures that were all the more exciting because of the wonderful teatime treats, suppers and picnics that featured in them. I wanted to recreate the homemade treats that I found so powerfully evocative.  Baking cakes has always been part of my life – part of the everyday ordinary events, as well as the special occasions.

What do you love most about making cakes?

There is something very human about the experience of baking, and deeply sensory. I am blessed to be able to source beautiful seasonal, organic, local produce to bake with. For me, it is the narrative of my life.

As a creative what is important to you when meeting a client for the first time and hearing their brief?

I want clients to feel instinctively that I’m the cake-maker for them.

What are three tips that you could give your bride and groom on how to get the best out of their cake on the “big day”

Understand the difference between baking and cake decorating – be mindful that they are completely different skills and passions when you approach any wedding cake-maker. Ask what’s in your cake, where the ingredients come from, when will your cake will be baked. Remember, your wedding cake is food and should be of the same quality and freshness you expect of the other courses you have selected for your wedding banquet.

What is Gillian Bell’s own personal choice when it comes to wedding cake?

Ah, that’s a hard one! Is it the fragrance and texture of freshly toasted, new season almonds, ground by hand and baked into a light sponge, paired with a fresh cherry compote, or memories of the summers of my childhood where strawberries still warm from the sun are steeped in hedgerow elderflower syrup and paired with cream cake, or perhaps the perfume of orange paired with cardamom in a moist honey cake, evocative of a Byzantine tale?

To delight in more of Gillian Bell’s delectable cakes visit http://www.gillianbellcake.com.au/

With great compliments to Kylie Sommerfield, On trend bridal and the 3 other incredible florists who participated.

Images by http://www.justforlovephotography.com/