Maggie Austin Cake: Artistry and Technique

A genteel warning: I do not spare the opportunity to fawn over this exquisite cake tome, so you've been duly put on notice. Therefore, let us proceed! This is beyond the ethereal vision I had in my head, having followed Maggie Austin from the beginning of her unique foray into cake creations, due to an abrupt need to leave her beloved life as a ballerina, following a ballet-ending injury. The creativity and vision she used to bring a story to life in the world of ballet, has been circumvented into an exquisite vocation as cake designer. The intense demands placed upon her to share her abilities with the literal legions of devotee's has been answered in book form, having given us a taste of her skills through Craftsy classes; we are greedy and wanted more because we couldn't get enough. Miss Maggie Austin LaBaugh, we deeply thank you; you have given us PLATINUM, as calling this book as gold would pale as an adjective. The way she thinks is through the eyes and soul of an artist, not a cake baker. She did not come by this profession because of initial love and targeting of this creative medium. But fortunately for us, her artistic bend in ballet has transferred into this second career in which her innate ability to express what we can't see, comes out even more lovely. The mediums she uses are nothing special but it's the manner in which she molds and pampers and expresses her thoughts through these mediums, is what sets her mile apart from the majority of cake designers. She is an artist first and foremost and you will be amazed at how fondant and gumpaste can be transformed into edible art. This art includes both cakes and cookies, though the majority is cakes. The book itself is large, heavy, and gorgeous......coffee table gorgeous! The layout and print type is simple, but so very delicate and airy. The photography pristine. The styling is eye-candy. Her instruction is minimal and as needed, yet complete. I would not suggest this as a beginners book, though I would tell a novice to place this book to the side until you get to a comfortable level, as this is gently encouraging and well-written, for when you advance. For those from intermediate to advanced, this is perfect, as she teaches the techniques to make the decor, so you would need a solid base of knowledge with fondant, gumpaste, and wafer paper; while buttercream is also used within cakes, it's not a medium she uses for the outside. Her "Frills" cake and her "Stained Glass" cake are two of her most noted cake creations, and I am assuming that those are what catapulted her into the competitive world of cake design; I know that it was an instant love for me, as well as those within my cake circle. And these two cakes are wonderfully given their sections among the many lessons in this book. Also, while I feel most of her cakes have a gentle, pastel appearance, she has included several more stark examples that use darker colors/themes. Then at the end of the book, she posts all the cakes on 4 pages so you can see everything at one time. The book is broken into nine sections, with each having chapters and lessons; a general peek into the book: 1) This first "section" is the Basics and Foundation of her lessons, with tools needed, mediums, recipes for both cakes and buttercream and a cookie recipe. 2) "Frills": One of her prettiest cake style with ruffles and frills for standard and floral styles. 3) "Floral Appliques": This was one of my favorites as she teaches the creation of delicate flowers with the slightest brushes of gold on the edges of the flowers to make them look enameled, plus other floral combinations, as well as cookies with flowers and gilded edges. 4) "Textile": The use of embroidery to make flowers; gold leaf with overlay for cake and cookies; an amazing tribute to Frida Kahlo. 5) "Pearls": Handmade oysters with pearls! Cameos! Folk art cake! 6) "Sculpted Fondant": I love the simplicity of "bas relief" look of cakes in which its white on white, bas relief to look like stone, elephants, urns. 7) "Painting": The Stain Glass cake.....absolutely gorgeous! Impressionism in both cakes and cookies. Abstract painting. 8) "Wafer Paper": Once a medium used to make roses on cakes during the 30's-50's, this now has been transformed into the ability to make feathers, petals, and butterflies. 9) "Sugar Flowers": Using the Dutch Masters period paintings of still-life, Maggie shows how she creates these same stunning flowers, culminating into floral arranging for the cakes, and how to insert them. This is a wonderfully created cake book from a wonderfully creative cake artist; definitely a classic to placed alongside a small handful of others that are worthy of special shelf space. Peace.

Maggie Austin Cake represents whimsy, fantasy and pure sophistication. Looking through her portfolio is akin to walking around in the most beautiful museum. This book brings to life all new cake and cookie designs from a woman who is as graceful as she is talented. Her generosity in sharing with her 'Magginites', her ethos of 'embrace the imperfections' as well as the beautiful, non-judgmental, humble tone of her writing is what makes this book so accessible to each and every person! Before Maggie Austin's online class I had never even seen a gumpaste flower! I then built a whole new career- from medicine to cake designer-after learning to craft a single blossom. Then I got the opportunity to meet her and I have to honestly say, she and her sister Jess excelled all expectations! They are kind and gentle and the most humble people you can ever meet; people who seem truly generous with their time and talent. This book will stay with me forever and I hope that each person who purchases it (I've purchased both formats) will treat it the same as I...like a veritable work of art; a book for the ages filled with (as Maggie writes) a new 'visual vocabulary'. A masterpiece. Thank you Maggie, you have truly changed my life in more ways than you can ever imagine, or know.

VERY happy with the book, price and seller. Item is in brand-new condition, better than described, and well packaged for shipping. Will favorite this seller. Thank you, Hilltop Book Shop - have been after this book for a few years!

This is the only one of my many baking and decorating books that I've read cover to cover - in 2 days. It's a thing of beauty. And practicality. I will be referring to it time and again. If you want your baking artistry to reflect natural beauty, this is the book for you. She teaches in detail how to achieve the styles she is well known for. You will need to know how to get your cakes ready for decorations. No wasted time here on how to bake, tort, crumb coat and fondant drape your cakes. Also, if you only work in buttercream, this book is not for you. She does share some recipes, but that is not this book's focus. If you're a serious decorator, it belongs in your arsenal.

I feel like this is a book that will vchange my life! Maggie Austin's book is incredible, amazing, breathtaking, and like a work of art you can look at once come back and look at it ten more times and I have no doubts that you will something new and wonderful each time. I have just recently (like the last month) gotten into cake decorating and I love it. I feel extremely fortunate to have come a cross such a beautiful treasure early on. I feel like the techniques Maggie shares with us are awesome for bringing what I see in my mind to life. All I can say is, "Get the book, you won't regret it!" I look forward to the day I can visit her shop and maybe even take a class from her in person. Thank you Maggie Austin for this Jewel.

This book! It is so so beautiful. The instructions are clear with step by step photos for many of the flowers. Maggie's work is beyond gorgeous and this book is full of inspiration! Considering the cost of a 2 day workshop is something most cannot afford, (although worth every single dollar) this is also an amazing value. It is THE book I have been waiting for! Love, love, love it!

Maggie is talented beyond words. She has a great vision for art. The book itself is an art gallery. So beautiful to look at. There are lots of tips in here on how she did some of her cakes, cookies and flowers. Very inspirational. As far as tutorials go it gives lots of good written tips with photos as well. I think some of the tutorials were lacking in details. Like for instance in the first sugar flower tutorial the rose. She starts off with making the base for the petals. She tells you it's important for them to be big enough for the petals but doesn't say how big that is.. For a beginner I really have no idea how big it needs to be. There's no indication of gram weight or banana for scale... Lol. There were a few other areas that I found a similar lack of details in the tutorials. All in all I would recomend this book to anyone who loves edible art, wants to be inspired and get good tips. I'd love for her to make a very detailed book dedicated to only sugar flowers and coloring them. I'd be first in line!

This book is absolutely amazing. It is full with ideas and creativity. There are step by step pictures on how to make the flowers. There is also explanation on how to use fondant and wafer paper, which cutter/mold to use, etc. This is my favorite book for any sugar flower and cake decorating. She is definitely one of the most creative cake artist!

I couldn't wait to recieve it and read it word by word page by page.. Maggie is so talented, I was amazed by the pictures of her cakes, pure edible art. The book is more of an inspiration book it has step by step instructions on some of the techniques she use also on basic sugar flowers and leaves and some recipes in the beginning but most of the times just an explanation on how to replicate the cakes. If you are interested in cake decorating you will want to have this book in your collection.

Un libro hermoso

Beautiful book by my favourite cake decorator. Thank you Amazon and PIC MART . You are the best for sure.

C'est une magnifique livre! J'ai l'impression de parler directement avec Maggie, c'est très bien écrit et il y a beaucoup des astuces et des techniques. C'est un livre un bon valeur et les fotos des gâteaux sont magnifiques. Attention: il ne faut pas avoir peur du travail en détail : les techniques sont tellement intensive au travail

This book is full of tips and tricks for people looking to expand on their cake decorating skills! There are a few great recipes and beautiful images showcasing the authors amazing talent. As soon as I opened the book I was let to my next amazon purchase a new attachment for my kitchen aid mixer. This book is not only very helpful it is a work of art.