where and what to buy for cake decorating.

[Twit]

I have just started to decorate my own cakes, I was given a cake decorating book for my birthday after constantly complaining about the quality of birthday cakes in the supermarket.
My question is this; where [online] would you recommend I buy my bits and pieces, and what should I buy?
I have had a look around and am feeling overwhelmed by the choice. What colour paste should I go for? I am also a bit confused about edible sparkle/glitter powder. Some websites say it it inedible, some say it is non toxic and you could eat it.

The cake shop I was talking about is actually called thecakestore I could google their cakes all day

YAY they are there, Oli!!!
your cakes are great, I adore the ben 10 one... genius

Horse #2's head is still on I stuck a big long piece of spag (actually it's linguine but I'm guessing it doesn't matter) into the body right down to the base and kept the top as long as I could without it poking out the top of its head, and I used plenty of glue and have kept it supported since. I'm not taking any chances with this one!

Stealth, I found you on flickr, your cakes are brilliant! How did you do the dry ice thing?

I haven't dared look at the horse yet this morning, I really hope it's ok as it's for this afternoon.......

I shall leave that message there for a little while for PlumBumMum and then get MNHQ to delete it, I think

The dry ice - hardest bit was buying it! The cake had a glass sunk into the middle - we put a bit of hot water in and dropped the dry ice in just before bringing the cake out.

We then had lots of fun with the rest of the 10kg of dry ice

Oh I've seen the message if you want to delete

I had to turn down a cake yesterday feel bad since I'm only starting and should be grateful, but it was another irish dancing pump and I used the remainder of my stuff to make one for dd1s friend for her birthday, and I'm supposed to be decorating today.
Starting to feel the pressure I have been asked to do 3 cakes in the one week[eek]

Moosy hows your horse, ny very first cake was the horses in the stables, the amount I leant from that one cake

I might not be allowed to do anymore, have sent dh to the cake shop for supplies he might come home and ban me

BTW, Twit - I have never tried Yule Log, but Mary Berry has a couple of good roulade-type recipes which work well for me.

Stealth love love love them, I used to be a microbiologist so leved the science one,

(btw thats my maiden name)

might have a transit van to do in January so will be picking your brains

stealth beign nosey here... did you make a pirate ship for "Leo"?

trying to work out if I have founf th right album on flikr?

Yes, Greyskull, that's me - that was the closest I have had to a paid commission - it was my contribution to an auction of promises (so the good cause got paid, I didn't).

your cakes are gorgeous!!!
Why don't you sell them.. you could make loads

because I do have another job (WOHM) - so more than one a week would kill me, and I can't see how you all make it actually pay [admiring]

Charge more

Phew!

Horse cake is done and delivered . Pic on profile.

The photos make it look a bit yellowy but it was white really (should've used the flash).

Awww - it's gorgeous - a girly dream cake but with no pink involved - I am impressed!

wow Moosy my dd1 would just love that, it is beautiful, right stupid question, what did you use for the silver mane and tail?

Thank you, I think it's my best cake yet

The silver is just lustre dust brushed on dry. I used the same for the centres of half of the flowers - the other half are brushed with purple (lavender) blossom tint.

ohh I have silver lustre dust, it is really good I would never have thought of doing the horse lying down like that, I'm actually going to have another wee peep at it

Moosy, that cake is fabulous. How long did it take you?

Moosy does it have the snowflaky glitter stuff over the rest of the cake? I have some of that (lovely friend who understands me and bought me a stacking cooling rack also bought that )

Thanks Bella, not including the time it took to make the horse that broke () I think it was only 2.5-3 hours - about 1.5 yesterday making the horse, maybe half an hour cutting out and dusting the flowers, then another half hour assembling it and putting the tail on.

My friend whose daughter it was for has a good camera so I'll put her photos up instead soon.

Moosy, that is totally fantastic

I just wish I had more time to do more cakes now that I'm getting more confident, but at 37+4 I somehow doubt I'll have a lot of time spare very soon!

Better photos are up now, it doesn't look yellow now