Hi All
I was just wondering if anyone can recommend a book for learning how to do mad hatter/topsy turvy style cakes? I looked up çakes to inspire and desire'on Amazon, but the reviews weren't that great. Any books out there that are helpful in relation to this style of cake?
thanks in advance!
I can't tell you about books, but there is a tutorial here and several others on youtube. I make a lot of these cakes and have never used a book.
Good luck!
There are at least 4 VERY distinctly different styles for these sorts of cakes and the instructions cannot be interchanged (unless you want a disaster)
Lindy Smith has a DVD that is very comprehensive - although as a Planet Cake devotee of the sharp edges was having a chuckle with Lindy when I met her about her carving OFF the sharp edges!! hahaha - seems the Brits like their curves!! She doesn't use a central dowel pole though - and I think I would stick to using one.
I don't like the method of carving into the top cake to make the cake fit 'in' - but thats just me!! 
I've done the Planet Cake Madhatter course and LOVE their way
Deliciously Decadent (Taya) has done her own version of the Madhatter as a tutorial and whilst she does do things a lot differently. with shape and covering before attaching to the centre pole (oh and her centre pole is very tiny compared to PC) it will give you an idea of how to proceed and you can make your own adjustments as you go.
I personally think the shapes need to be at least 3inches less at the bottom than the top (so tapered in) to give a good effect and the top tier top should be nearly parallel with your board...... they can look distrastrous if the angles are all wrong- IMO they are NOT meant to look like they are all WONKY with NO thought process at all ... remind me of a mad woman's breakfast!!
Its the careful thought process and mathematical calculations that create a cake that looks to be defying gravity that makes an amazing cake
Oops - nearly forgot the links
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/OnlineShop-DVDs.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deliciously_decadent/sets/72157616259103302/
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE GIN AND TONIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in the Blue Bottle ....... pick one up at Duty Free !! hahahahaha -
Let me know before you come .... got lots of Cakey Buds who LOVE to catch up for dinner and drinkies!!!
Met some really nice people.... off forums..... oh AND SOME SUPER WEIRD ONES ...seriously TROUBLED people ...... hahahahahahahahahahahhaa (you know WHO you are!!) YES - they lurk around here too !!
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE GIN AND TONIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in the Blue Bottle ....... pick one up at Duty Free !! hahahahaha -
Let me know before you come .... got lots of Cakey Buds who LOVE to catch up for dinner and drinkies!!!
Met some really nice people.... off forums..... oh AND SOME SUPER WEIRD ONES ...seriously TROUBLED people ...... hahahahahahahahahahahhaa (you know WHO you are!!) YES - they lurk around here too !!
Oh this is going to be trouble. 
Me thinks this will be one of those "What Happens in Sydney Stays in Sydney!" 
Woo hoo! 
thanks for the replies ladies!
Will definitately check out youtube.
Applegum, thanks for those links!
There are at least 4 VERY distinctly different styles for these sorts of cakes and the instructions cannot be interchanged (unless you want a disaster)
Lindy Smith has a DVD that is very comprehensive - although as a Planet Cake devotee of the sharp edges was having a chuckle with Lindy when I met her about her carving OFF the sharp edges!! hahaha - seems the Brits like their curves!! She doesn't use a central dowel pole though - and I think I would stick to using one.
I don't like the method of carving into the top cake to make the cake fit 'in' - but thats just me!!
I've done the Planet Cake Madhatter course and LOVE their way
Deliciously Decadent (Taya) has done her own version of the Madhatter as a tutorial and whilst she does do things a lot differently. with shape and covering before attaching to the centre pole (oh and her centre pole is very tiny compared to PC) it will give you an idea of how to proceed and you can make your own adjustments as you go.
I personally think the shapes need to be at least 3inches less at the bottom than the top (so tapered in) to give a good effect and the top tier top should be nearly parallel with your board...... they can look distrastrous if the angles are all wrong- IMO they are NOT meant to look like they are all WONKY with NO thought process at all ... remind me of a mad woman's breakfast!!
Its the careful thought process and mathematical calculations that create a cake that looks to be defying gravity that makes an amazing cake
Oops - nearly forgot the links
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/OnlineShop-DVDs.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deliciously_decadent/sets/72157616259103302/
just how do planet cake carrve and decorate with stripes? Im carving my 1st tomorro for my daughter and so wanna do it planet cake way :cry any help would be great. Thanks. Margi:
Check this out I just printed it out. http://cakecentral.com/article.....ical-cake
Sorry it wouldn't copy and paste. I just asked the same question look up my post should be on the same page as this. There is an article I just printed up with instructions and pictures.
5 years have passed....... and now for the first time there is an ONLINE class for the Madhatter.
Just released today - http://bit.ly/R5uksE
Quote:
5 years have passed....... and now for the first time there is an ONLINE class for the Madhatter.
Just released today - http://bit.ly/R5uksE
Thanks!!! I'd never seen that site, but have been following Verusca Walker forever! So excited- Can't wait to learn some of these Australian techniques 
Quote:
5 years have passed....... and now for the first time there is an ONLINE class for the Madhatter.
Just released today - http://bit.ly/R5uksE
Thanks!!! I'd never seen that site, but have been following Verusca Walker forever! So excited- Can't wait to learn some of these Australian techniques
Oh I know you will LOVE it - Jessica Pedemont travelled to USA and did a class for this Madhatter - Jamie did the class and I know for a fact she paid LOTS more than this. I know online will never take the place of a hands on class but for some people THIS is as close as they are ever going to get.
Jessica is a super fun person and she is really thorough in her demonstrating techniques - these are great videos - I have done the original Planet Cake class - and think this series of videos is as good as - probably better because you get to stop and start them - and watch them over and over - or even play them whilst you are in the middle of construction.
There are at least 70 tutorials on there now - with new ones being added all the time
Here's a sneak peek of the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOIAbWoSHAA&list=UUT69llUNpOAMD5u-RC2nLYQ
Want to see the whole thing - join here http://bit.ly/R5uksE
I'm a member of that site also...I LOVE Margie Carter!
Kinda obsessed with her work right now actually...
Jessica's classes are also amazing...
I never leave comments at the on-line schools or classes I've taken..(Pretty Witty Cakes, Paul Bradford, My Cake School, Craftsy, CakeStyleTV...), but I left one on her purse cake tutorial last month...
I think I said something like, she's so completely natural on camera that it's like hanging with someone you know...
...and it is...for real!
Anyway...for people who may not want to join, there's another great option...it's a Topsy class...at CakeStyleTV...(sort of like Craftsy, you own the class without a monthly/yearly fee)
It's really, really good.
Very similar looking design to Jessica's...
They have several FREE courses and if you sign up you'll get emails pretty regularly letting you know about sales...
I got the Topsy one, months ago, for 50% off...
A few weeks ago it was going for only $5.99!!!!
http://cakestyle.tv/products/topsy-turvy-party-cake/#!prettyPhoto
That class from Cake Style tv is awesome- he explains and give templates for carving and stacking and you don't have to cut out the top of your cake and compromise the structure to get the illusion of the topsy turvy. Very well explained and not expensive for the tutorial,
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%