Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fan "Art"

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

This Halloween, why not add a little personality to your pumpkin?

Harry F. carved this little beauty. Disturbing-yet-fabulous, no?


And Lauren was inspired by both the famous belly cakes and Suzy's Wreck to create her own CW tribute costume:

And yes, she's pregnant. That's what makes it so horribly good.

And finally, I'm pleased to announce that I've finally solved the mystery of this little guy:

Several of you sent in pictures of the above cake topper spotted at a cake show some weeks back. (It's good to know that the sight of something this disturbing brings me immediately to mind. Heh.)

Here's another angle:

As you can see, this is a figure of a middle-aged guy in boxers and a mohawk riding a carrot. Trouble was, no one could tell me who made it, or even which cake show it appeared at, so I was left to wonder if the baker responsible meant to do a sneaky homage to CW, or was just plain nuts.

Well, not too long ago, I got a delightful e-mail from the cake's creator, Burton (also responsible for the fabulous Frankenstein wedding cake), and I got my answer: he's both.

Here's his explanation:

"I am convinced that it is only a matter of time before Cake Wrecks inspired cakes get their own category at cake shows. Since I am usually very far behind the curve on most things (current affairs, fashion, street slang, which fork to use…) I thought I would try to get ahead of the curve on this one. So I decided to enter a competition cake partially inspired by the Cake Wrecks blog. And why go half way? I entered it in Kerry Vincent’s own Oklahoma State Sugar Arts Show."

Yes, Burton made a middle-aged half-naked mohawk-man carrot jockey for Kerry Vincent. Told you he was nuts.

Here's the whole cake, with Burton's notes:

See the little fireman's hat? That's an ode to yet another famous classic Wreck.

Wondering how the crowd reacted? [evil snicker] Burton, fill us in on all the gory details.

"Public opinion did not favor this entry. Every time I saw anyone approach my cake they would immediately exclaim, 'Oh, look at the cute pumpkin scarecrow cake!' and then pass my cake by on their way to see the cute pumpkin scarecrow cake that was several entries down the table. My entry did get high marks from Craig Gustafson of American Cake Decorating Magazine, though, and the judges gave it first place in its category —take that, cute pumpkin scarecrow cake!"

And just because I had fun reading it, here's the rest of his e-mail:

"After the judging I spoke with one of the judges who admitted that most of them didn’t know the significance of the carrot until Bronwen Weber set them straight. [Bronwen rocks.] I actually got to meet and make a fool of myself in front of Bronwen as well as Kerry Vincent and several other celebrity decorators. While I may not have made a fool of myself in front of Jennifer Matsubara, I at least left her convinced that I am very creepy, if the look in her eyes and the speed with which she backed away were any indication." [Hah!]

"I just thought I would let you know how something as sweet and innocent as the naked, mohawk-baby carrot jockey can be twisted and perverted in the wrong hands. Mine."


The good thing, Burton, is that most of us are just twisted enough to love you for doing this, so it's all good. Wreck on, my friend. Wreck. On.

(Still trying to figure out what the deal is with the carrot jockeys? Well, I don't have much of an answer for you, but you can start by going here.)
Sharon said...

Omg I love the geriatric carrot jockey!

Jen said...

Needs to be a T-Shirt! Great detail there. :)

Anonymous said...

That may be one of the best things I have ever seen. I love the cult geekery that has sprung up around CW. Okay, actually I love cult geekery of any kind, but this kind is especially sugary.

Brooke said...

All of the tributes are genius. I wish the carrot jockey cake had included a close up and explanation of the lower tier.

Pam Walter said...

Perhaps a bit too much going on for people to appreciate it.
http://blog.sweetservices.com/sweetscandyblog/

Sariah said...

That is just AWESOME. And now we know what the baby carrot jockeys look like when they grow up. (Kind of scary, if you ask me.)

Auntie Meme said...

That's incredibly well-crafted. Too bad it's too late to make the pages of CakeWrecks. (And when is CakeWrecks, the movie coming out?)

wf: I have no falking clue what that CCC is meant to be.

Nobody said...

the guy riding the carrot? is awesome. and thanks for the link back to the fireman story... i laughed so hard i cried. and made my husband look at me funny. :)

Hyla said...

AWESOME!

Breath-e said...

Amazing, wonderful, twisted tribute. "Creepy" decorator guys are okay in my book (or yours as the case may be).

Wreck ON!

Katy said...

ROFL! That's true fandom there.

Sandra D said...

That's just beautiful, and I would have totally voted for it.

Anonymous said...

I actually really enjoy postulating that the carrot is also past its prime. Only an old carrot could be contorted into that shape without snapping.

Rachael said...

this makes me so happy. lol

Renee Nefe said...

Oh that's so awesome!! JEN! You're FAMOUS! Woo Hoo!

I LOVE the halloween costume too. too very inspired!

Christine said...

LOVE the carrot jockey! Would have loved to see the look on Kerry Vincent's face when she saw it! At least Bronwen was on hand to educate her!

quichepup said...

Awesome cake!

I apologize on behalf of the state of OK for dissing Burton's cake. I'm glad he won.

. said...

Oh Burton. Will you marry me?

Kaaren said...

Awesomeness! LOVE the carrot jockey. The detail on that cake is great!

Baker's Cakes said...

AWESOME!!!!

Amber said...

Wonderful details! The boxer print, the mohawk, sneakers, glasses, everything! THIS is *exactly* what the baby carrot jockey will look like in about 40 years (if the baby jockey never went to therapy to work out his childhood issues with carrots and mohawks).

Burton is not only a great cake artist, but what a wonderful writer to boot.

Thanks for sharing!

Alex Getts — Art & Illustration said...

That pumpkin is freaking awesome!

msyendor said...

Crap. Old man yam rider has me laughing so hard I'm drooling on my keyboard. Great ending for my Wednesday word day!

WV: bolit -- best pronunciation I could manage 'cuz I'm still laughing.

Unknown said...

That is so funny.

BB said...

Very, very funny. Burton's remarks are just as funny as the cake itself. How wonderfully disturbing!

Anonymous said...

CakeWrecks in 2060: This is your little mohawk baby, all growed up and still having fun on that carrot! Awesome detail and skillz on the cake - I love the mismatched pillar.

Carved pumpkin is too good! Shirt... definitely appropriate for Halloween!

WV: imske - got ma hat and carrot, now Imske-daddling outta here.

MC from NZ

The Little Red Hen said...

Wow! What a champ! I'm glad the judges were familiar with the site :)

Susan said...

Two thumbs up for Burton! That is hysterical!!

Anonymous said...

It's the baby carrot jockey all growed up. I bet Kerry Vincent fainted!

Caitlin said...

He's obviously one of the babies 50 years in the future! :)

Melinda said...

Hey! I know that lady with the creepy belly baby thing! She lives in my neighborhood. Awwwe... CakeWrecks, bringing sick freaks together, one weird friend match at a time.

Kachine said...

I love the old carrot jockey!!! So adorable!

Aviatrix said...

Lauren, not only is that a brilliant and brave costume, but it is the best-executed self-taken mirror photo I've ever seen. Surely your child will be grateful for his or her genetic heritage in creativity and style.

LizPBlog said...

My first comment to Cake Wrecks, and I feel compelled to, er...point out...that the droopy carrot tip sticking out from middle-aged jockey's legs is, well, much more disturbing than the baby carrot version.

Jennifer said...

knew it was an omage straight away! how brilliant is that cake...and the fire fighter hat is AWESOME (although I don't think it worked in his case)

Ream O Rama said...

Burton, you are my hero!

cyn said...

I'm sort of relieved to hear that the figure of a middle-aged guy in boxers and a mohawk riding a carrot WAS an intentional homage to CW. *whew*

I guess even naked mohawk-baby carrot jockeys have to grow up sometime!

Something Else Entirely said...

Pure Genius!!!!

TheQueen@TerrorsInTiaras said...

Hilarious. I love that Bronwen was the one that set everyone straight.

kayoko said...

We appreciate the ingeniousness of that cake even if the folks at the cake show didn't!

Gary said...

All three of these tributes are superb, but the Pantsless Aged Mohawk Carrot Jockey must be the best decorated cake I have ever seen. So what if some Philistines in Oklahoma didn't think it was cute enough?
The coin box next to the carrot is a touch only a genius would think of. And the four columns, three damaged and one missing-- perfect. Not to mention the loose sock, and the Latin motto on a banner.
Burton, I bow down before your splendor.

Anonymous said...

That's like the best cake ever. I love it.

ComedyMouse said...

That is beyond awesome. The style totally reminds me of the Transmet comics.

SO. BRILLIANT.

Words cannot express. <3

Elizabeth said...

Best Pumpkin Ever!!

MyCatsRule said...

All I can say is: ROCK ON BURTON! This freakin' awesome cake, Bronwen Webber, and Kerry Vincent in one place? How awesome is that?

P.S. There should be a warning on your book for people not to read at work when reading at work is verbotten. I got in soooo much trouble - but it was WORTH it!!!!! I can usually laugh pretty hard to myself, but your writing style to go along with some of those wrecks caused me to lose absolute control. I bow to the god and goddess of cake wrecky humor!

Goof said...

:D Awesome for Cake Wrecks to be recognized! I think he's just showing what the baby carrot Jockey might look like in the future. Long live Cake Wrecks!

queenb said...

All of those pics are fabulous! Harry F, you've got some serious pumpkin carving skills! Lauren, very clever! and wrecky!

And Burton! Your cake is so incredibly fabulous! The really fantastic ode to Cake Wrecks aside...the detail in everything is really amazing! The bricks, the tile, the face of your mohawk man...wow...

A round of applause to all of you Wreckies...

~Bonnie B :)

Anonymous said...

So now we know "Whatever Happened To" the baby carrot jockeys.
Too funny!

Little Luxuries said...

Take away the Mohawk and that carrot jockey looks disturbingly like Dr. Scratchansniff.

WV: tramsta - a public transit gangbanger.

Anonymous said...

OMG, he did that at Kerry Vincent's show??! He *is* nuts!!! (But super work.) And how lovely of Bronwen to explain.

Food Network usually does a show on the Show, hopefully the geriatric carrot jockey will be featured.

Rachel said...

I haven't words to describe the coolness of Lauren's costume. Way to go, and I hope the baby inherits her sense of humor!

Anonymous said...

Love the Halloween costume. Mad props there. And way to embrace the creepy baby shower cakes, too. I've been telling everyone I know, "NO BABY SHOWER CAKES. PERIOD!" I'll be quite happy with just some plain flowers and correct spelling/grammar, thank you.

Unknown said...

Burton's cake is awesome!!! (excessive exclamation points are totally necessary)
Would I be going to far to liken it to Josh Bell playing violin in the subway and only one fan recognizes him? No, I don't think I would. ^_^
Also, because I'm a nerd, I want to know what the Latin on the banner says. Did he happen to say?

Stillapill said...

Burton - that cake is sheer genius! It makes me very sad that I did not get off the couch and go to the Sugar Arts Show at the Tulsa State Fair earlier this month. It was a whole 12 miles from my house. If I had known this cake was there, I would have gladly fought for a parking spot, paid the stupid gate fee, and walked through the throngs of people just to see it! Sadly, it will probably not be on the Food Network show about the show (as it were), since they always focus only on the wedding cake contest. While I enjoy that, too, I think Burton's cake might just merit an entire show of its own. :)

I want to know the Latin phrase, as well as what is on the backside of that jack-o-lantern...

scorpguy1028 said...

I think the Jockey is too sexy for that cake! I'd kill for those Legs and Chest. Fine sculpture in Cake!

Mom-to-be's belly is GREAT! Chocolate delivery,indeed!

Stillapill said...

Oh - one last question: Is that a Members Only jacket or a Michael Jackson-style jacket from the 1980s that the geriatric carrot jockey is wearing? :)

Unknown said...

All of it is too awesome. The carrot jockey in particular is faboo beyond belief.

He should enter it in the Austin cake show...we're much more fun down here. :D

Jenn said...

Burton is awesome! I love his boldness to do this in a show! Amazing detail and homage. Love where CW is taking you :~)

junewilliams7 said...

These are all fabbo tributes to Cake Wrecks! Burton is my new hero, and I hope you meet him at the Bethesda signing on 11/5. I wonder if he looks like the carrot jockey...

Tracy said...

Am I the only one that thinks the carrot jockey looks like Adam Clayton?? LOVE IT!!

Anonymous said...

OMG - Too Awesome!

Carrot Jockey Sr. totally looks like he stepped out of the movie "Heavy Metal"

Rock on!

Jules said...

The t-shirt costume is awesome! =D Love how it is done. =D


Summer
A Writers Den
Brown Mestizo

Melissa said...

The banner very loosely translates (from what I can see and remember from Latin and the handy-dandy Latin to English translator) something about being persistent about walking upon lame flesh? Can't see all of the "Pedi" word and can't make out the beginning at all. At first glance it looks like it says something about babies/children and carrots. Heh. This will bother me forever, now!

Melly

Annette said...

i look at that whole cake and I'm just amazed at it. It's well done.

Mary B said...

When will we get a Food Network Cake Wrecks Challenge?

Anonymous said...

Woah, that is one amazing pumpkin carver!

And I'll join in the lovefest for Burton.

Stillapill, a preliminary glance at the Latin motto revealed that I'd have trouble translating it with my Latin dictionary (translation: it's more the Latin of Harry Potter than the language of Cicero).

Anonymous said...

I fully endorse everything in this post, especially the cake.

Fluffy Cow said...

Love, LOVE the carrot jockey. If anyone meets Burton, give him a hug from me.

Michelle S. said...

The carrot jock cake is absolutely hilarious!

I have to say, though... the sculpting on this thing is extraordinary. Extreme talent and a geeky sense of humor? Plus he bakes?

Is he single?

Miranda said...

Dear Lauren: AAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHH! AAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!! AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!

Suzie said...

That is so NOT a wreck! It's a wonderful Sunday Sweet! :)

Anonymous said...

This story just COULD NOT get any more awesome!!! Well, unless Kerry Vincent e-mails you pictures from her own horror file dating back over half a century....

And say hi to my lovely wife at http://trekcelt.blogspot.com/, she's the one who introduced me...

NumberGuy.

NWK said...

So, how do we get a Challenge episode based on Cake Wrecks. That would so rock!

Gary said...

Jikuu said...
"I actually really enjoy postulating that the carrot is also past its prime. Only an old carrot could be contorted into that shape without snapping."

Yes, of course! (Slapping forehead.) I wondered why that carrot was so limp. It has to be an old carrot! Mine get that way when I leave them in the fridge too long. An old rider on an old carrot!

The longer one looks at Burton's wonderful, wonderful cake, the more incredibly awesome it becomes.

WV: kilmi. You can kilmi if that isn't the best cake decoration in the history of the universe.

Typo Tat said...

Oh, this is beautiful! Totally awesome, too bad the public didn't 'get' it. This cake, total win!

Can we see a picture of the cute scarecrow cake though?

bf said...

The pumpkin is as hilarious as it is brilliant. I burst out laughing when I saw it. So, Harry F., I raise my glass—of something that might once have been orange juice that I found in the back of the fridge this morning—in a toast to a wicked cool idea and to your mad pumpkin carving skills.

And when has a single garment said so much about the potential horrors of pregnancy/realistic baby cakes. The Cake Wrecks maternity shirt is true genius, Lauren. Who better to nurture the next generation than you. I’d toast you as well but I’m becoming convinced that this never was orange juice.

In conclusion, let me say that you are all very kind. I’m feelin’ the love. Thank you.

Also, the good citizens of Oklahoma have nothing to apologize for. The cute, pumpkin scarecrow cake was very cute and flawless in its execution, as were so many other entries in the show. I don’t know Kerry Vincent’s reaction to the Carrot Jockey cake but the woman is unflappable and has a good sense of humor. It would take more than my dementia to throw her off her game.

P.S. the message on the banner: “Keep hands and feet inside the carrot.”

Unknown said...

Anonymous wrote... "That may be one of the best things I have ever seen. I love the cult geekery that has sprung up around CW. Okay, actually I love cult geekery of any kind, but this kind is especially sugary."

Yes. One could even say SWEET :D

Awesome post. love the pumpkin & costume, but Burton takes the cake.... :D

Trish said...

Burton is my hero! I can't believe he did that for Kerry Vincent, I LOVE it! Everything about that cake was awesome.

katiebug said...

I absolutely love Tim Burton. He is who my fiance and I are theming our wedding after. The cake rocks

Melissa (& Billy) said...

Metal. \m/

I can just see it: Food Network Challenge: CAKE WRECKS

You know it's coming. XD

CookieMonster said...

That cake and email was too funny!

That T-shirt is disturbing.

Unknown said...

An old man in diapers riding a carrot? Eww..methinks serious fetish issues going on there!

Amy B-H

Melissa said...

Burton answered! "Keep hands and feet inside the carrot", indeed... Giant fail trying to translate that one on my part - 30 years since last Latin lesson and weird looking Latin not withstanding.

A Cake Wrecks Food Network Challenge with Burton as on of the participants would be fantastic! My whole family loves Challenge and my husband and I LOVE Cake Wrecks.

kerry said...

I love the old-guy carrot jockey! It's cute!

Allie said...

LOVE IT!! And I love that Bronwen Webber knows CW. I adore her and her cakes.

Calli Arcale said...

Burton answered! "Keep hands and feet inside the carrot", indeed... Giant fail trying to translate that one on my part - 30 years since last Latin lesson and weird looking Latin not withstanding.

I don't speak Latin, but I am familiar with *dog* Latin, and I suspect that is what is being used here. If so, that would explain the difficulty in translating as if it were genuine Latin. ;-)

Dog latin is what gives us such wonders as the Ankh-Morpork City Watch motto, "fabricati diem, pvnc" ("make my day, punk"), and the motto of Possum Lodge in the Red Green Show: "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" ("when all else fails, play dead").

Lauren said...

Thanks for all the love, guys! I really enjoyed making that costume and I'm glad you like it, too. My husband, on the other hand, thinks it is in very poor taste and forbids me to wear it when trick-or-treaters come to the door on Halloween! Probably a good idea - don't want to scare the littles.

Probably the best part about the costume is we found out the day I finished making it that our baby is footling breech, and so I will be getting a c-section this Monday, rather than baby coming the "normal way." Which makes this costume that much funnier and more appropriate!

Anonymous said...

BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! This blog sooooo rocks!

Smashie Smasherton said...

How awesome! While you had the cake and were searching for the cake-maker, I had the cake-maker and was searching for the cake!! I know Burton's parents, and heard about this cake from his mother, and wondered if it would be featured on the blog. I'm so happy to finally get to see it!

Kay said...

Love it! But what in the name of Carrot Jockeys is a "semi-professional" cake?!? Does that mean you only get paid for your cake decorating work SOME of the time? Or only half of the cake is made by a professional and the other half is made by a complete amateur? :)

Bree said...

Awesome. I especially love the little coin machine next to the carrot rider. It would have gotten my vote.

Connie G said...

Absolutely hysterically wonderful!!!

Stillapill said...

Burton - your Latin phrase was perfect! But I still want to know if the carrot jockey is wearing a Members Only jacket and what is on the other side of the fireman's hat. I would also like to say that your emails are hilarious! Do you do stand up comedy while decorating your cakes? ;)

Callie Arcale - I think Dog Latin is probably the coolest thing since Pirate English. I can only hope that Facebook allows us to view our pages in Dog Latin some day.

Katiebug - I don't think Burton is Tim Burton. I could be wrong, but I doubt Tim Burton has mad cake skills or the time to even consider baking... Plus, the phone number for Burton's Cake FX shop is for a listing in Virginia. I can see where they might have a similar sense of humor, though. :)

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC! Ride on, indeed!

-Julie

May said...

Burton is made of WIN!!

Anonymous said...

Burton is awesome. I clicked through to his site and lo and behold, in his cake gallery, he also did several of those Threadless shirt design cakes too.

Sharon said...

I'm the fan who saw it at the VAB Cake Show -not Kerry Vincent's -& emailed you (smsk on yahoo/shabang on twitter), so he entered it in TWO shows? Awesome. I say we petition food network now for a cake-wreck related challenge. And no, Stevie CANNOT comepete, b/c she has an edge.

Teri said...

I was actually AT the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show- drove my mom (the decorator) from Ohio to Tulsa. Anyway, while we were in the incredibly HUGE line viewing the cakes on Saturday, when we came to this cake, I exclaimed "Oh my God, a carrot jockey!", and then had to explain to my mom. A couple of cakes downthe line, I heard almost verbatim, the same exclaimation, not once, but twice!
And yes, Bronwen Rocks! Got my pic taken with her!

Sarah Jane said...

Is it wrong that these made me hungry?

{ Bethany } said...

I really don't think the pregnant lady's "costume" is funny. That would really offend and hurt so many people who have lost a baby.

Unknown said...

"Geriatric carrot jockeys" would make the most AWESOME name for a punk band! Also, my WV is "sumwors"
Wow, there SURE are some wrecky cakes on here from Halloween--Think next week ther'll be sumwors?

Student said...

I - I'm practically weeping here.

It's a thing of beauty.

And he made it for KERRY VINCENT.

-sniffle-

Unknown said...

... and, of course, the metaphoric brilliance of the limpness of the end of the carrot.

Tova said...

Remember, young aspiring carrot jockeys: stay in school, or you could end up middle aged, riding a 25 cent carrot ride in a grocery store! But make good choices, and your dreams of carrot-jockey fame could come true!!!!!

Cupcakes Lady said...

A lot of time and effort in that cake. Good work, well done. xx

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that he took that cake to Ms. Vincents sugar arts show.. no disrespect to Kerry but I think she needs her stuffy cake world rocked by more expressive cakes like this one! I LOVE it and I agree it should be a t-shirt!

Molly O said...

By the way, the pictures from the last cake you posted were from a cake that was entered into a competition at the Oklahoma Sugar arts show...the contestant UNFAIRLY entered their cake into a category LOWER than their ability and took prizes and glory away from people who deserved them.