64
MAGAZINE
Cake Conundrums and Decorating Dilemmas!
Jacqui Kelly is the founder of
Totally Sugar and is a multi-
award-winning sugar artist. She
specialises in edible art and
models fantastic creations.Modelling Support
Q: What supports should you use
when modelling upright figures?
A: Depending on the size and pose
of the figure, I use anything from
a paper lollipop stick to wooden
skewers to a fully wired armature.
Remember to put enough of the
support into the cake so it is secure
for transporting.Joining Hair
Q: What is the best way to join hair
to a head without any joins showing?
A: I always try and create movement
in a hairstyle – it’s much more
forgiving for sugarcraft techniques.
Create a hair coloured cap that
covers the area and then build on top
so there is never any 'head' showing
through first. I might do a short
choppy hairstyle where I could build
up layers of tiny carrots of modelling
paste.Mixing Pastes
Q: Do you recommend mixing pastes
to make a model?
A: I love mixing up pastes
specifically for different models
especially as I have extra hothands and can turn sugarpaste into
chewing gum in minutes! If I was
doing an animal, I would mix 50%
Renshaw Marzipan in with 50%
Belgian Chocolate Modelling Paste
as it’s wonderful for creating fur
and different textures. When adding
clothing to a figure, I would mix a
third Renshaw Flower and Modelling
paste with two thirds sugarpaste as
you can roll finer and create delicate
gathers and folds. When I do a bridal
figure, I even use Renshaw Petal Paste
as it’s super smooth and rolls extra
delicate.Soft Models
Q: My models stay quite soft – what
tips do you have so they dry well?
A: Perhaps a mix of less sugarpaste
and more flower paste or an extra
pinch of Tylose power would help.
If I'm working on a model over a
few days, marzipan and chocolate
modelling paste would always be my
choice as you can come back time and
again to rework the paste as long as
you cover it with plastic.Adding Shade
Q: What’s the best way to add shade
and dimension to models?
A: Oh my favourite part of a project. I
would start by adding a little texturing
and then build up layers of colour
either with an airbrush or by dusting.
There are so many amazing Rainbow
Dust colours out there that you can
really go to town with but build slowly
as it’s much easier to put colour on
than take it off.Rolling Paste
Q: How thick should you roll paste
when covering a sculpted cake?A: You want all those lovely nooks
and crannies you have sculpted in to
show but you also want a nice finish
so coating a sculpted cake I would
roll out to around 5-6mm. That is also
thick enough to add texturing into the
paste.Covering Cakes
Q: Sometimes my fondant doesn’t
quite cover the cake – what tips do
you have to ensure good coverage?
A: If in any doubt, you can check
the handy size guide at http://www.
renshawbaking.com. That will suggest
how much paste you will need to coat
different sized cakes. I have it printed
out on the inside of a cupboard!Thin Paste
Q: When I roll my paste very thin,
I feel like it gets close to ripping –
what’s your advice?
A: Since discovering how easy it is to
work with Renshaw Extra, I am a total
convert. You can roll it nice and thin
and it’s super stretchy so economical
to use but doesn't tear. And you can
use it in moulds – they pop
straight out.Jacqui Kelly
Ask the Expert
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