This is my latest cake, and I must say, one of my favorites.  Although not technically Thomas, this cake is of two of Thomas’ friends, Percy (Green) and Gorden (blue.)  The cake is the round house where the trains “sleep” and was made from one 14″ round cake, cut in half and then trimmed to create a semi-circle building.  The two trains are sculpted from gum paste and fondant, along with the doors, stones, and train tracks.  I had a lot of fun making this cake and continue to challenge myself in the sculpting department.  When I dropped off the cake, the birthday boy’s father asked how I had learned to sculpt (classes etc.)  My honest answer is that I think I taught myself, both from observing and then simply good old trial and error.  I am certainly finding that each sculpting project seems to get easier and easier.  I have to credit my good friend, Diane, (Dee’s One Smart Cookie Bakery) with the observation portion of my scuplting education.  Diane and I worked together in a small custom cake shop.  I was in charge of building and icing the cakes, while Diane created all the sugar art work to adorn the cakes.  So every day, as I was icing, I would watch her miraculously create golf bags, baby carriages, and an evening gown-clad humpy dumpty out of seemingly nothing. So who knows exactly where I picked it up, but I am hooked now.

I must admit, however, that the best part of the cake was the delivery.  As I placed the cake on the table, the birthday boy who is turning five, ran in and exclaimed “It’s Percy & Gordon!”  That was all I needed – it made my day.  You always expect the adults to appreciate cakes of this nature, but to have the child get as excited is really neat.

I am still a big believer that cakes are made to be EATEN!  They should look great, but they should taste even better.  This particular cake is Caramel Apple:  Cinnamon Spice Cake, layered with Sauteed Apples, and finished with Caramel Buttercream.

	I started with a rectangle cut from rice krispys for a solid (yet light weight) base.  I then covered the base with black fondant, and then topped it with gray fondant.  I sculpted the face pretty early on – mainly because I was scared and wanted to get it over with!
	Next, I added a tube of blue gum paste for the body of the train, attached the face and wraped a small section in black fondant, creating the “head” of the train.
	The train really starts to come together with the final details.  A red runner in placed around the base of the train, two smoke stacks are added, and the wheels go on.  A couple more details in the front of the train and he is complete.