After thinking about it for a long, long time, I finally got round to making a book for Phoebe one afternoon in December. I'd imagined it would take me ages to sort it out which is why I put it off for so long, but in the end I was very pleasantly surprised as it only took a few hours to put together Phoebe's Cakes.
As you know, I like to photograph Phoebe's amazing baking creations. She is very patient and knows not to disturb, alter or, heaven forbid, eat anything until the camera has been whipped out. (It pains me when she makes great cakes for friends' birthdays in the evening when it's dark - cakes don't look great with a flash - and then takes them to school the next morning before the sun is up again. We've missed out on quite a few good cake shots this way).
I collected photos of her cakes into a file as I went along, and it occurred to me that she should have her own cake book which brings together her 'work', just as an artist has a portfolio to show off their talents. She is extremely modest about her baking skills and I wanted her to have some tangible proof of how good she is. Nevertheless, it took me a shockingly long time to sit down and do it (at least that gave me more to work with) and now I realise it's as easy as pie (cherry with a nice piece of lattice-work pastry on the top, I think).
I used Bob Books and even though I did it very close to Christmas, the copies arrived after only three days which I think is amazing. I made a hardback photobook and it was incredibly straightforward, although I now have renewed admiration for book designers who make it look all too easy. I stuck to a very simple design and played with sizes and positioning, but nothing fancier or more sophisticated than that - it really was a matter of 'I've started so I will finish'.
Phoebe is delighted with her first book. When she showed it to a group of our friends, they asked in all seriousness how many copies she had sold. I wish. I only made two, but I like to think that this at least gives Phoebe's Cakes a certain cult cachet.
[Best place for more obtainable but definitely less unique cookery titles: Books for Cooks]
What a completely brilliant idea. And a lovely way to show Phoebe how proud you are of her. I can understand why you kept putting it off though. Our photograph albums stop when Matilda reached six months old, she is now 11. A few years later we went digital and the images simply tack up on my computer. I keep thinking that I should do something like this with them. Now that you say it's a piece of cake or was that pie, I'll give it a go. Thanks for the link.
Posted by: Charlotte | January 04, 2011 at 14:56
The book is charming, and I like your "I've started this, so I'll finish" philosophy. I might try applying that thought where needed.
Posted by: Gretchen | January 04, 2011 at 15:41
i seriously would buy a copy.
Posted by: Tola | January 04, 2011 at 16:27
Oh how lovely! I feel sure it's just a preview of what's to come... a collaboration between Mother and Daughter. We're already sold on the idea. Bake on!
Posted by: Susan M. | January 04, 2011 at 16:50
What a literally delicious looking book and a wonderful idea!
Posted by: Lacer | January 04, 2011 at 16:58
What a lovely idea.You have such a great mother /daughter relationship.Wonderful.
Posted by: busybusybeejay | January 04, 2011 at 17:04
What a wonderful present - something to treasure for both of you!
Posted by: Ali | January 04, 2011 at 17:05
I don't recall having seen the one on the orange checked tablecloth - wow!
What a nice idea for a gift, and very well done.
Posted by: Lisa | January 04, 2011 at 18:21
What a fabulous idea!
Posted by: Kristin | January 04, 2011 at 18:25
I love how Phoebe has decorated her cakes. She inspires me with her use of colour (and sweets!). Fab photos and great idea to put them in a book.
Posted by: Helen | January 04, 2011 at 19:06
I seriously would buy a copy too. Fabulous cakes and fabulous photography.
Posted by: Sue | January 04, 2011 at 19:27
Oh how wonderful. I am in love with all my Bob Books and often use the site to make presents but they are never this mouth-watering !!!
Posted by: Susan | January 04, 2011 at 19:28
Phoebe's book is AMAZING, Jane! What a great mother you are - I'm sure she was over the moon! The cakes are fantastic and your photos really do them justice. Keep up the good work, both of you!
Posted by: Concha | January 04, 2011 at 19:57
so gorgeous! her work your photos...beautiful! and such a sweet and thoughtful mom you are!
Posted by: Victoria | January 04, 2011 at 20:05
Oh thats is lovely, a book to remember cakes by
Julie xxxxxx
Posted by: Julie | January 04, 2011 at 20:26
Lovely!!!! I like you Jane have a fantastic relationship with my daughters....great friends!!! As my mum and i do!! The book is a fab idea, go you!!!
Posted by: jacky | January 04, 2011 at 22:39
What an absolutely fantastic idea! You have inspired me!
Posted by: Karen | January 04, 2011 at 23:41
What a great idea. I love looking at her cakes and I bet she enjoys looking back on what she has created.
Posted by: Sally | January 05, 2011 at 01:20
I WANT A COPY!!!!! <3
Posted by: Bethany | January 05, 2011 at 02:34
awesome.
makes me want to go bake a cake. :)
Posted by: christy | January 05, 2011 at 03:21
Absolutely brilliant - what a fantastic idea. Phoebe is so talented!!
Posted by: Rachel | January 05, 2011 at 04:12
That's such a great idea, how talented Phoebe is.
Oh and Books for Cooks, I've been living in the US for 7 years now, but boy did I like to eat lunch and browse at books for cooks when I lived in London. I bought some of my favorite, but slightly obscure, cookbooks there many years ago.
Posted by: Rachel | January 05, 2011 at 04:57
That looks beautiful! Such a great idea, think I might have to steal it!!
Posted by: Petit Filoux | January 05, 2011 at 09:38
I love the idea and the pictures are fantastic!! It looks so professional! Great! x Pati
Posted by: Pati from London | January 05, 2011 at 09:59
How wonderful! The book is just bursting with colour and energy! What a great Christmas present.
Posted by: Lisa | January 05, 2011 at 10:18
Well it IS a perfect idea! What fun.
And I agree with you about Christmas.
Posted by: knittingoutloud | January 05, 2011 at 12:57
Love, love, love!!
Posted by: irene | January 05, 2011 at 13:00
That's a marvellous idea, and all credit to Phoebe for creating the raw material!
Posted by: Cornflower | January 05, 2011 at 14:49
Beautiful! I think you are both so excellent at following-up on good ideas.
Posted by: Amy | January 05, 2011 at 19:04
What a fab idea! My friend Laura had a her nuptials 'published' by Bob's Books, and I thought at the time, "How lovely". Feel inspired now to make my own ......
Keep up the good work, Phoebe, the next Peggy Porschen! There is a wonderful cake decorating suppliers near my mother in Dorset, and they have the most wonderful window displays - your ideas are even more creative!
Posted by: geraldine | January 05, 2011 at 22:16
Wow - how beautiful. Both the cakes and the photos. And the colors......
Lucky girl. Very lucky Mom!
Posted by: Kristin Nicholas | January 06, 2011 at 01:03
What a literally delicious looking book and a wonderful idea!Thank,s for great sharing.
Posted by: Ithaca flower delivery | January 06, 2011 at 12:08
That book looks so professional and the cakes look fab. Honestly, I could see those pics in a professional cook book. It has put me in the notion for a chocolate cake with Maltesers or choc buttons...yum.
What a lovely thoughtful gift for your daughter.
Dawn x
Posted by: D A Nelson | January 06, 2011 at 13:19
What a thoughtful gift and just generous thing for you to do. This is lovely. :)
Posted by: Val | January 06, 2011 at 19:21
What a lovely and bright gift! You've a talented daughter!
Posted by: Gina Alderman | January 07, 2011 at 04:19
What a fantastic idea - and the book looks fantastic, too. I, too, have a keen baker at home - and I photograph her creations. I'd never thought of turning them into a book though.
Posted by: Amanda | January 07, 2011 at 10:42
Fabulous - what a wonderfully affirming gift that will stay in Phoebe's heart mind and soul all her life.
Posted by: Georgina | January 07, 2011 at 15:02
What a brilliant, happy book! Perfect for inspiring new projects or giving a lift on a grey day!
Posted by: Shannon | January 07, 2011 at 16:14
i love it. i think you two need to make a cookbook together. seriously, if you paired up your photographs with some recipes...you'd have a bestseller! it's gorgeous.
Posted by: Jessica | January 08, 2011 at 03:18
How cool! Phoebe's cakes (or the pics of them, since that's what we have to make do with here on the net ...) always cheer me up. They are so pretty, original and colourful! The book looks fabulous! What a great present! :-)
Posted by: Eva | January 09, 2011 at 17:46
Oh. my. word. LOVE IT. You are a wonderful mama and your Phoebe is a cake baker/decorater extraordinaire!
Posted by: Shanda | January 13, 2011 at 12:13
I just saw that Bob Books posted Phoebe's Cakes on their Facebook page!! Brilliant!
Posted by: Moica Eisenberg | January 13, 2011 at 18:47
HA! I typo-ed my own name!
Posted by: Monica Eisenberg | January 13, 2011 at 18:49
That was such a sweet thing to do for your daughter! Lovely idea. Must file that away in my brain.
Posted by: Valerie | January 17, 2011 at 21:09
what a lovely idea. phoebe is very talented. wish it was available as a picture book. it looks very inspiring.
Posted by: thuy | January 25, 2011 at 00:20
Simply lovely! What bright joy for a dark morning...
Posted by: mags | January 26, 2011 at 12:21