This is my first violin cake. I have worked with my real fiddle on the table and started by drawing freehand my template on paper. Then, I carved the violin out of a rectangular cake and used gum paste to do the chin rest, tailpiece, finger board, tuning pegs and scroll. The brigde is made out of fondant and I have used metallic thread for the strings. Many hours and late nights have gone into this; now I hope it will survive the 1 hour drive to a cottage for a birthday celebration!