The Cake Decorator's Motif Bible
by Sheila Lampkin

At one time, covering cakes with fondant and decorating them with sugarpaste was the province of master decorators. Today, everyone with a sharply pointed knife and over-the-counter fondant can enjoy the act of creation with sugar. Sheila Lampkin, a world-wide experienced teacher, judge, and past editor of Cake Craft and Decoration magazine, recognized that many decorators needed the availability of quick and easy ideas. She responded with this marvelous book, which offers more than 500 motifs that can be used individually or in combinations. What a find!

The first 60 pages are filled with important technical information, and include step-by-step photographs and tables of ingredients and baking times for making four types of cakes. She also includes tips to ensure success; making and using royal icing, buttercream, fondant, and gumpaste; necessary tools and equipment; piping; using color and a template; adding detail to a complex motif; and combining appropriate designs.

Every motif includes designations of an appropriate degree of difficulty, its uses as low relief or flat, and as a cake top or side design. Suggestions are made for colors, designs for mixing and matching, required tools, skills that need refreshing, and the order of work. Each design is shown on a grid for those who wish to manually or electronically enlarge or reduce its size.