Christian Ward
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Let me tell you about something special that happened last month that made me very very very happy.
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I was given a painting!!!!
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It was from the artist Christian Ward, in return for the wedding cake I had made for him back in mid 2008. The wedding cake was a gift from me to him & his wife A, one of my closest girlfriend. My friendship to Mrs.A go back all the way to our college days. We shared a flat for more than four years I think. And actually, Mrs.A is the one who initially started Coco&Me with me – she’s the one without whom I wouldn’t be doing what I do nowadays. So it was only natural that I make a cake for them as a gift, despite their offer of payment – I mean, how could I charge them when I owe so much to her for changing my life for the better?
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So that was back in 2008. Then just last month, I was told that he’d like to give me one of his paintings & I was like: Oh-My-God! Because I knew Christian Ward does amazing paintings. You’ll see what I mean – just check out his other works on the following gallery websites:
Max Wigram Gallery
Patricia Low Contemporary
The Saatchi Gallery
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I obviously felt as though my cake does not have the same value as his work. It is such a huge honour… Plus I’ve never owned a painting ever before…
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I’ve taken some pictures of it to show you, but perhaps my photos don’t do it justice. The colour is a lot more mysteriously luminous, & has the power to draw you in to the unique world. Me & my other girlfriend’s ‘personal take’ on this is that we think it maybe depicts the after-life, as the cherry blossom could mean ‘transience of life’. Yet it is in full blossom, in the glorious midst of beautiful life. And it has varicolored pools of aura. I find it very calming & spiritually cheering.
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(Close up.)
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I really love the painting. Thank you Christian! It means a lot to me. I sometimes stop in front of the painting, & have a look, have a calm breather, & then go back to my busy day.
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(And here is a picture of the wedding cake I made for them. – Three tier wedding cake with white chocolate cigarette surround. Inside is a dark chocolate sponge cake with raspberry ganache layer.)
(Close up.)
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So far I have made four wedding cakes. All of which went to very special people in my life, & I feel so honoured to be part of their special day. One was to a local regular customer, another to a special blog reader, & ofcourse there was one that was for my stall neighbour Ms.S that I documented here on the blog back in 2007. – Ms.S & her family still talk about the wedding cake to this day, so sweet, & makes a point out of always buying cakes from me for family get-togethers!
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PS: You’re all probably wondering what’s gotten in to me, posting stories on here three times in a space of two weeks!! ;-) LOL…!
Hi! Both the painting and wedding cake equal in awesomeness!
My sis has suggested that I make her wedding cake. I love to bake, but I feel wedding cake is a whole different thing altogether – a longer stage-by-stage process.
Would appreciate any advice from you. Your cakes (and everything at Broadway market) all look so professional.
Comment by Tian - April 16, 2010 6:42 pm
Hello Tian!
Thank you for commenting here!
About making a wedding cake, I guess you’re right that it is different in that it takes longer to make & perhaps with more care, but I really think anyone can do it, so long as they practice multiple times beforehand to perfect it, so that there’s no stone unturned on the big-baking-day!! ^^
Comment by tamami - April 16, 2010 10:15 pm
congratulations! so much light in his work-glows & moves on the canvas…
Comment by petoskystone - April 18, 2010 12:43 pm
Hello Petoskystone!I am in love with your take on how the light moves on the canvas. I completely agree! And it’s such a lovely notion. Thank you very much. xx
Comment by tamami - April 18, 2010 8:53 pm
Yeah, I’m wondering what’s the matter with you, 3 posts in 2 weeks!?!?
Love the cake, love the painting.
The sakura is all about gone in Tokyo… you have yours for the whole year.
Comment by Rita - April 18, 2010 11:38 pm
A work of art in exchange for a work of art – seems like a fair trade to me! xx
Comment by Rachel - April 19, 2010 6:29 am
Lol Rita!! I know! Where does this writing spurt suddenly come from?! Lol. The sakura in UK is in full blossom right now. So beautiful. I especially like the white ones.
– Actually, my daughter’s name is Sakura!
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Hi Rach! THANK YOU ALWAYS for your kind words.
Comment by tamami - April 19, 2010 8:50 am
Oh, your daughter is the most beautiful Sakura around, then. Regardless of the season!
Comment by Rita - April 21, 2010 11:43 pm
Totally! ^^ And she’d be the bright pink coloured flowered one – she loves it… …
Comment by tamami - April 22, 2010 12:02 pm
How beautiful this painting is…the colors are just amazing. I also love the cake and the bamboo look it has. I appreciate you finding time to post, it has been a treat. Your blog is a great read and I always learn something new…Thank you!
Comment by Heidy - April 22, 2010 4:19 pm
Hello Heidy! I ‘m so happy that you like the painting! The colours really ARE amazing! And thank you for your kind words. I intend to write more very soon, hopefully a recipe this time that I’ve been testing the last few days, so hope to hear from you again! T xx
Comment by tamami - April 22, 2010 8:28 pm
I need you!
Hi there, I’m organizing a sale evolving around kids and their yummy mummies and would love love love for you to join me by holding a stand! The event is on Saturday 5th June, 2010 in Southgate, North London.
Please contact me if you are interested.
PS: You’re a star!
Xx
Comment by Vanessa - May 4, 2010 1:43 pm
Hello Vanessa!! Thank you kindly for your invitation to be part of your sale! Unfortunately I’m committed to be at Broadway Market on Saturdays… so sorry. Good luck with your sale day!!! Best wishes & warmest regards, Tamami
Comment by tamami - May 4, 2010 2:04 pm
What a gorgeous painting, and what a very special exchange, both ways. It’s all about making each other’s worlds richer and brighter and it’s so nice that you as friends both have something that comes from the heart to lend to one another :)
I will be trying to come to the stall soon to buy myself a belated birthday cake I promised to myself and… forgot (sounds funny, but my birthday always creeps up on me and I forget..)
Comment by sopchan - May 11, 2010 11:31 pm
Hello Sopchan!!! Thank you!^^ I’ll look forward to meeting you at the market!!!
Comment by tamami - May 12, 2010 9:35 am
Hello Tamami,
How are you and family? It had been sometime I didn’t visit your blog and you had improved so much (besides your adorable children!) You’re now a pro in this field – Congratulations!
I do agreed with you the painting it’s so dreamy as I looked at it! Our lives should be like sakura with each year’s spring she’s blooming with great hope looking forward to embrace the force of Mother Nature. Come what may, she’s still standing tall and proud :-)
Comment by pixen - May 21, 2010 2:31 am
Hello Pixen!! And thank you!!
Glad to hear from you again!! xx
Comment by tamami - May 23, 2010 6:34 pm
Hi Libby,
I am contacting you on behalf of one of the UK’s largest baking ingredients manufacturers. We love your blog and would like to invite you to an exclusive launch event to be held in London on Thursday 16th June.
We would like to send you an invitation via email with further information, however I am not sure how to contact you best.
If you are interested in coming along and would like to find out more please can you email me?
Regards,
Claire
Comment by Claire - June 7, 2011 2:32 pm
Claire,
I think you’ve got my name wrong!!!
Also, I would prefer if you could expand on what exactly the ingredient manufacturer is – & perhaps on what they are launching!
I’ll email you back if you reply! All the best, Tamami Haga
Comment by tamami - June 7, 2011 4:26 pm