Such a lot of details to be included on this retirement cake, which I made for a very special colleague and friend. I had to include: her doctoral thesis, her love of gardening, peonies (her favourite flower), ballet, reading, her little dog, Shakespeare and theatre.

So, the base tier is cake and made to look like a garden crate. I used powder and paint to get the effect I wanted.

The book tier is dummy and is airbrushed.

The next tier is also a dummy and was made to look like a ceramic planter and I made little plaques to incorporate ballet shoes and theatre masks.

The flower pot tier is made of RKT and is airbrushed and brushed with dust to get an aged effect.

The models are made from Saracino modelling paste.

I’m in love with this cake!