Thank you to all my family, friends and clients for being so patient with me last week as I lost myself in the sweet realms of sugar flower art.  Sumaiya Omar better known as The Cake Duchess has hands that breath life into any sugar flower in the most beautiful way. Her wedding and celebration cakes are breathtakingly beautiful and elegant and her work is inspirational. I was so privileged to take part in her Floraison: Sugar Flower Art Course last week. What a gorgeous treat from my husband to be able to take a week and focus on learning from Sumaiya. Sumaiya you presented your course so beautifully in a tranquil environment and spoilt us with delicious edibles to keep us energised each day. Your teaching skills are amazing and what I learnt was invaluable.

Each course I attend always brings new and interesting people into my sugar world so not only was I delighted to learn from Sumaiya, who is an award winning cake artist, but I met two new students, Nafeesah and Faheema.  Being the gorgeous women we all are, we chatted a great deal over the week and learnt so much from each other, Sumaiya being abundantly generous with her knowledge and the three of us sharing our own stories. Nafeesah, pictured above, worked so neatly and quickly, transferring the traits she needs in her own profession to her sugar art work. You are an inspiration in how to truly multi task and do everything with care and precision. I will always picture you with that beautiful yellow David Austin rose!

Faheema, pictured below, this was the calm before the storm in this picture and boy you made us laugh when you announced you wanted to go home after the ‘fun’ of putting your first flower into the cake. Just so glad you didn’t as what a stunning cake you made! I love how you so calmly and patiently learnt a totally new skill, never having done sugar flowers, producing a colourful and pretty cake after the week. Your love of colour and style definitely shows in your sugar work!

The three of us here, tired but inspired after the week ready to take our cakes home. Thanks again Sumaiya for your gentle humility in teaching us these flowers and sharing your skills with us …. now it is just up to us to practice!

The Cake Duchess Floraison Cake below with its intriguing David Austin Rose and bass relief work was the magical invitation and enticement to an amazing week!

The Cake Duchess Floraison Cake by Sumaiya Omar