The Christmas Table: Christmas recipes and tutorials A celebration of all things Christmas! | Page 70

About the Author Trish Barber I stumbled upon sugar art quite by accident in 2011 when I decided to do an RSPCA Cupcake Day fundraiser at work. A good friend who has been making decorated cakes for a number of years introduced me to this wonderful pliable medium called fondant and I’ve been hooked since. My first fondant creations were very simple - a bunch of puppy cupcake toppers representing five breeds, namely Bullmastiff (but of course!), St Bernard, Dalmatian, Beagle and Pit Bull Terrier. I’ve always been fascinated with caricatures and portraits so in 2012 I started making 3D caricature figurines (my friends call them bobbleheads), and came out with the name “Cakicature” for my brand. In 2013 I decided to design my own product range and after more than 12 months of intense googling and pinteresting, hair-ripping frustration and enough failed heads to fill a wheelie bin, my Chicka range came into being. Since then I’ve made a few Chickas. Most of the time an idea just smacks me in the head and I couldn’t make a Chicka quick enough, usually staying up late into the night and sometimes forgetting to eat. I love how so many people are eager to name a finished Chicka. It’s very hard to pick a name but every Chicka gets a name, and every time I finish a Chicka, I draw a cartoon version with my Wacom or iPad. A friend at work and her writing club friends then assign personalities to each Chicka. It’s quite a process! I love how so many people are involved with every new Chicka. I’m happiest when I’m creating a new Chicka or making a 3D caricature figurine. Yes, that’s how my brand name came about. Caricature + cake = Cakicature! www.facebook.com/cakicature About the Author | 70