Posted by sylvia on February 27, 2001 at 10:27:12:
In Reply to: Re: embroidered wedding cake posted by natalka on January 24, 2001 at 14:02:37:
: : : I am getting married August 2001 and would very much like to have my wedding cake decorated with ukrainian embroidery. I have seen it done years ago and was very impressed. My mother has extensive cake decorating experience and would attempt this herself. What design would be suitable and where could I find the pattern? I would appreciate any advice you could give.
: : : Sylvia
: :
: : I've never seen an embroidered wedding cake. What I did see was korovaii, wedding breads, some with intricate designs done in a different color dough. Anyway, to your problem: Typical symbols on wedding korovaii are birds - bride is like a lark who weaves her nest under the roof of the groom's family. Vegetation and esp. vegetation fertiliy (as in evergreens) symbols are used: leaves, branches, sometimes real spriggs of myrtle, heads of wheat. Kalyna, in dough or the real thing is used as decoration. So - I would suggest finding a book of embroidery patterns and going from there, modifying designs so that they can incorporate traditional korovai symbolism and be used on a cake. I should probably also add that the typical embroidered item that is part of the wedding is a rushnyk, or ritual towel. Birds often appear on this also, and flowers. The one obligatory wedding item on rushnyky is a wreath of flowers.
: I got married many years ago, but I had a Embroidered wedding cake. It was a walnut
: torte recipe inside with white frosting and
: red and blk. tiny edible beads done into a
: design. Looked beautiful. this was in Detroit
: and I don't know if that woman is still around.
: I could try to find out. Write me.
The Detroit area was where I first saw the embroidered cake about 25 years ago. What we have decided to do is from the old picture we copied the pattern of roses on a vine and using a transfer paper to transfer it to the styroform round. My mom has played with the consistencey of the icing and and if all goes well she will follow the transfered pattern.. The embroidery will be put on the two top round layers and the bottom square will have a purple ribbon around the centre. The entire cake will sit on a embroidered cloth i made in two shade of purple(wedding colors). the top of the cake will sit two wine glasses etched with our initials and surrounded with baby breath, lavender silk roses and periwinkle.If this turns out I will post a picture