I actually started "doing" cakes when my first son had his first birthday in 2007 - it was a lurid topsy turvy that didn't fall over, tasted OK and was covered in weird fondant seams! But at the beginning of 2010 a friend twisted my arm into doing a cake for her (60+ guest!) birthday party.

It was the first time I'd taken my hobby outside the family. I barely slept for 2 days ... and I liked it ;-).

Since then I've been trying to juggle two small boys, a husband, sundry dogs and cats, a full-time job that actually pays me a salary and ... of course... the all-consuming hobby that has filled my diningroom with boxes, tins and bits and pieces, dominates my online time and seems to have taken over my freezer.

I am limited to two cakes a month (on weekends only) by arrangement with my exceedingly patient and generous husband. Because of this, I am more of an armchair caker than I would like to be ... but the creations that I see here on flickr are so incredibly inspiring that I think my aspirations often stretch my abilities far beyond breaking point.

But still, I sit here night after night and think "I think I can almost do that!"...