Sunday Sweets: That Takes The Cake 2011
March 27, 2011 Ah, Austin. That sweet, funky town in the middle of a state that yearns for my death. I can actually feel its beady little state eyes glaring at me from here, waiting for me to fly over its borders so it can shoot down my plane with its state death ray. Or maybe make my spleen burst. Or - OR - maybe I'll just choke on a Texas peanut. But, I digress.
So, apparently, there's this "cake show" in Austin where bakers make cakes and show them. Which is why it's called a "cake show." And apparently, many of these cakes are freaking awesome. Let's take a look, shall we?
No, seriously. Wow.(You may have noticed by this point that I'm not all that "good" with "words" but I am "trying.")
Hey, look!
By Carley KingYellow is my favorite color!
Ya know, what's most impressive to me is that these bakers actually left the relative safety of their own homes and, as far as I know, Texas did not kill a single one of them. Frankly, I'm amazed.
By Chris Suson WinglerGreen is my favorite color!
By Top That! Cake DesignsI'm pretty sure those are daisies.
This next cake was part of the official Texas theme of the show:
By Ashlee TrotterWhich was death.
Wait. I'm being told that it actually wasn't death.
(Are you sure? It was in Texas, right?
Huh.)
Ok, apparently the theme was "Superheros."
Like this one:
Great. Now I have the theme from "Batman" stuck in my head.
(I'm also not so good with "Superheros.")
He looks like he's ready to kill me. Clearly, he is from Texas.
By Laura FinlaySo young. So angry. Darn that rap music.
The helmet is to prevent Texas bird flu.And finally, the most awesome cake I've seen in quite some time:
Those elephants look so life-like! Like they're about to trample me.A special thanks to our Texas liaison, Kimberly Chapman. And hey, maybe next year Jen and I will be able to attend the show! (They rent out the Popemobile, right?)
Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.
Quick update: Thanks for the great comments today guys. For the record, Jen and I both agree that Texans are some of the kindest, most awesome people we have met. However, I've been to Alamo, Houston, Amarillo, Dallas and Austin and been sick, injured or hospitalized every time. But maybe it's just me... -j
Reader Comments (160)
-Gigges-
I swear. You just love baiting people don't you?
If you had forgotten, Texas is the Friendly State. I really love the Dia de los Muertos cake, the calavera was gorgeous
First, the mushrooms are COOKIES! I didn't even know that could be done with cookies! Amazing skill!
Second, Come back and visit Texas again! The bonk on the head was Texas' way of saying "Stop for a bit and go get checked out...you've got something really wrong with ya." You've been looking at it all wrong. Texas <3's you!
I'm from Austin and I can say I think you are amazing and you make my day everyday. Not sure about the hate on Texas
It says something about what a fan I am of this blog that I'm more giddy at you calling me your liaison than including my cake! Okay I'm pretty giddy at both, but...*squee*
You do know next year's theme is Renaissance, right?
I'm a poor Canuck living here and it hasn't killed me yet. OMG with the allergies today, kind of wish a zombie would come eat my eyes so they'd stop itching so bad, but I'm not actually dead.
If you come to next year's show I promise we won't let Texas kill you. The show will fawn over you like the cakey celebrities that you are. I will personally ensure it! Or come start building up the immunity at our Day of Sharing in July. I'm teaching gummy!
Either way, you have to come to the next show. Did I mention: RENAISSANCE! Chris Wingler and I have already promised each other to dress up. YOU MUST COME.
WV: walizin: You can come a'walizin Matilda with my Aussie hubby who has survived living in Texas twice. Mostly.
PS Someone asked about the text. The whole thing is up http://kimberlychapman.com/crafts/cakes/2011-feb26-wolverinecake.html#essay" rel="nofollow">here.
Hey! Quit messin' with Texas!
We're one of the friendliest states in the nation.... GOT THAT?! ;)
don't make me hurt you.
These cakes are breathtaking.. I have to agree with you about Texas trying to kill people. My husband planned a fishing trip to Lake Fork, TX for over a year. He came home with what had to be a mix of Anthrax/Whooping Cough/Smallpox/Athlete's Foot. In spite of that, he plans to go back next spring!
From your many and varied derogatory comments re: Texas, I will just go ahead and assume you've driven on the freeways in Houston.
I have to say, you led the entry with the most impressive cake. After that first one, the rest didn't seem as impressive.
What a treat to find the Austin cake show for the Sunday Sweets - very kind and brave after your experience here in TX. I went to the show on a whim and am very glad I did. There were so many amazing cakes that weren't posted. I wish there was a "like" button to the comments like on FB...Zombies on 290...hehehe....
I'm so glad you are both alright now. We pray for you guys a lot. Thank you for this blog!
Haha, this is the funniest post I've read in a long time! I literally laughed out loud when John announced the "theme" of the show: death. Hilarious!
Love the Angry Birds cake!
The stars at night, are big and bright, CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP, deep in the heart of TEXAS!!!
And the cakes are magnificent too! That last safari cake took my breath away! I. want.
I love this post and I really love knowing the backstory (!) but, hey! y'all come back to Texas! More specifically, come back to Austin! We'll form a special protection squad for you and keep you safe and healthy. Third time's the charm? Besides, we've got some awesome cakeness here obviously...and a really close by RenFest...and a con or two and many, many geeks. Geeks who were totally deprived of your Austin appearance by the extremely unfortunate circumstances that caused your schedule change! So come on back and stay a bit - we do have computer connectivity here (giggle).
Ha ha ha!
Breathe!
"Darn that rap music!"
Cajun Bloody Mary and tequila and whole chilies..
Chupacabra charms...
Ha ha ha!
Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!
Wow! I am speechless. My favorite was the one with the mushrooms.
Liked the cakes. Didn't like the Texas jokes.
If they were funny or witty jokes about Texas I'd have appreciated them, but they weren't. Kind of pointless and completely unnecessary. I still like your site, but I lose respect for people that stereotype a place they didn't go to.
Those cakes are awesome!
Not to scare you further but my darling Fiance- who claims to be a Texan- has managed to not only crack his skull open (and leak out cerebral-spinal fluid) but also to contract West Nile... while in Texas. I can't wait to leave this state. The whole Texas ego thing got old really fast- like a week after I moved here (3 years ago).
I will say that our baker is amazing, and a Texan- so the state isn't completely horrible.
Please come back to Texas, Jen and John (the Hubby of JEN)! We'd love to have you back for a tour. As you can see, we have fantastic cake makers, and we'll gladly provide a running barricade of Texan CW fans armed with disinfectants (and cupcakes) to keep you safe!
I hope the next time you come to Texas it treats you like it treats most people. We're really not so hostile an environment as you experienced (though we don't seem to value education and childcare at the moment...but I digress...).
As an Austinite, a 4th generation Texan and daily reader of CW I propose that if you almost die in a state you get a temporary citizenship that entitles you to say whatever you want about said state for one decade per doctor you had to consult. I got food poisoning at a certain steak house and maintain that all those from down under are plotting my demise.
Hey, don't forget Orlando was just honored as the "Most Dangerous Spring Break Destination" in the country. Probably by a bunch of Texans ;) We're glad Jon's still alive and well in spite of Texas, and the Sweets today were phenomenal!
http://mix1051.radio.com/2011/03/10/orlando-named-the-most-dangerous-spring-break-destination/
I love the first cake. It's taken from a kid's book called Weaving of a Dream. It was my favorite growing up!
As a native Texan, I laughed, giggled and smiled. AWESOME cakes and since Angey Birds is my latest addiction was so excited to see that cake. Want it for my birthday.
I'm from Texas and we love you! :D
OMFG!!!! Freakin AMAZING!!! by far my favourite sunday sweets, they were amazing couldn't pick which i liked best ... all i can say is ... THAT'S A CAKE??? THAT SHOULD BE IN A FREAKIN ART MUSEUM ... ALL OF THEM!!!!
Okay, I see that a couple of other people have pegged the first one as coming from The Weaving of a Dream too, but, but, but, I made a DIORAMA of it in 4th grade... and the cake is way better. ;-)
Hey! You're not supposed to tell people about our zombie hordes, those are a surprise. ;)
And love that calavera cake! When I finally get my pretty princess wedding (we got married in my parents' backyard, yes in DEEP South Texas. My dad smoked ribs for our dinner, it was fun... but last minute) I want that cake.
I'm apparently the lone dissenter who doesn't love the Wolverine cake. He's supposed to be short! And stocky! Not all lithe. Wolverine is not pretty, bub.
As a native-born Texan, I would like to note that John is completely correct! Our state IS out to kill every poor soul that crosses the state line. (John, have you ever heard the song "The Devil Made Texas"? I think you would agree with it.) On a side note, the cakes are lovely.
Jon,
I'm a Texan, via relocation to Austin 20 years ago, and I'm not hating on you. Of course, I read the posts about your Dallas experience during your World Tour so I understand the facetiousness of the theme of your post. However, for those who don't get the joke, *yelling* CLICK ON THE LINK "yearns for my death" in the first paragraph of today's post!
*stepping of my soap box* I've got your back, John.
Im from Wacko... excuse me, Waco, Texas. There were some amazing cakes there that day. Those who were wanting to know where all the boots and cowboy hats and stuff are at, will need to check out The North Texas Cake and Sugar Art show just north of DFW, where this years theme is Texas. :)
As a proud (though displaced) Texan and Austinite - most excellent! I am sorry our state attempted to kill ya though and glad you survived the assault. Rock on!
What is with the hatred of Texas?
The Angry Birds cake is SOOOO CUTE!! I wish I was better at making cakes I would so make that for my SIL's birthday. (WE love playing that game!!)
@anonymous 12:43pm
"okay, look, Texas does not want to kill you! Texas LOVES you! you just have to let Austin have its way."
Hey, now, Jon's near-death experience was in Dallas! Austin is innocent, I tell you, innocent!
I have to say I was sad that almost all the trolls were asleep under their bridges today. I was expecting much more righteous indignation (which is always fun to watch!) and vociferous state-defending.
Be that as it may, the cakes are awesome and I am glad you're not dead!
wv hobleye- The junior version of evil eye that makes you walk funny.
My 4 yr old and I loved the day of the dead cake the best. He said it was a great cake because it had things for girls and boys on it.
I'm with you on the fear of Texas. Last time I was there I had to do a double take at the sign on the door at Whole foods, which gave me a friendly reminder to not bring my gun in with me.
"So young. So angry. Darn that rap music."
I have to tell you that I use this quote all the time... usually about my cat. So glad to see I'm not the only one that does that, especially since it seems these days that people mostly quote memes.
Is it bad that the rainbow light-up cake made me think of the Pandorica from Doctor Who?
I too want a mini giraffe..
Somehow Imissed why Texas tried to kill you.. All I can imagine is a stampede of Fire Ants followed by an air assult by Texas skeeters..
Beautiful first cake, but my FIRST impression was "I didn't know Joan Crawford was in the ORIGINAL "My Geisha". ;)
Thanks (as always) for posting such awesome cakes on Sundays. :) Satisfies my sweettooth (somewhat).
PS: Watched "The Rocketeer" and IMMEDIATELY thought of you when I saw it in the channel guide. :) I want a helmet cake to commemorate when I get my living room decorated. I'll need to bank carbs so I can enjoy it. LOL
I want an Angry Birds cake. Or the death one. Or the crazed elephants. The yellow and black one.or.. or.. or..
Official Texas State zombies...maybe the TX Legislature was in session?
Ask someone else though, I'm in VA.
I hope you'll reconsider your fear of Texas. Texas is not out to kill you. Just small portions of Texas are. Unfortunately, since we're so big, those small portions are still larger than some states. So I'm not saying it isn't hazardous. Just... well, okay, maybe you should stay away. :)
I have to say, though, I don't think the biggest risk of this post was taunting Texans. You just pissed off a whole bunch of Canadians by taking Wolverine away from them! So watch out for Mounties!
I just moved from Jacksonville, Fl (aka paradise) to Texas and wholeheartedly agree Texas = Death
John, John, John, please remember, DALLAS tried to kill you, not Austin. We are much more laid back in Austin. That's why it would be safe for you to come to such an awesome cake show. How could you miss coming to see such amazing cakes? That Day of the Dead cake is impressive. (But did you notice it's mostly the Texans who have appreciated it?)
Awesome post, John. Awe-some!!
{{:standing ovation:}}
While Texas has never tried to kill me directly, per se, it is my least favorite state.
So, I appreciate your post!
;)
Shoni
wv chrop: you chropped Texas to bits! :)
Hopefully your comments have revealed that Texans have a great sense of humor and that the overwhelming majority of us would not ever in the least want you to relive your near death experience here. I love these cakes and your blog that brings beauties like these as well as hilarious wrecks to us day after day!!
Hummm ~ Seems John was sick before he got to Texas,and Texas saved him! First by kindly hiting him over his head with a sink to get his attention,then finding that another state had infecteded him with some dreadful something..
One of the funniest posts ever! Oh John, poor John. You're right--stay out of Texas!
Being from Oklahoma and now living in New Mexico, my anti-Texas bias is both lifelong and intense, making your jokes even more hysterically satisfying. Really, truly, brilliant. Thanks for the great laughs!