This local lady certainly has talent with sweets

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?

I’m based in Toowoomba, where I’ve lived for about half my life. I am a doting mum to two beautiful rescue cats, a bird, a turtle, and an assortment of tropical fish.

HOW DID ‘SUGARFLOWERWATER’ COME TO BE?

I started making gumpaste flowers in 2013 while experimenting with basic cake decorating at home.

My first flower was an awfully made carnation on a birthday cake for my mum!

I’m mostly Youtube-taught; I’ve benefited from the many talented decorators who share their craft on the internet.

I’ve always loved the detail, beauty and variety of flowers — when I look at a live flower, I see such care and creativity.

WHAT GOES INTO ONE OF YOUR FLOWERS?

The flowers and leaves are made with gumpaste, which is a sugary, edible modelling clay — it’s like the white fondant used to cover traditional wedding cakes, but with an additive that makes it firmer.

I colour the gumpaste with food colouring and I dust the finished flowers and leaves with edible pigments.

However, most items include inedible elements for stability, like wires to prevent the flowers from breaking in transit.

So, while my items may be food-safe, I would not recommend eating them.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PROJECT?

One of my favourite projects was a birthday cake I decorated for a friend and colleague two years ago.

I envisaged a high tea-inspired cake, exploding with David Austin roses, leaves, pearls and piped lace, with a gumpaste teacup and saucer as the central design.

I loved how this project extended my skills and came together as an almost too-pretty-to-eat cake.