Amy Cabrero always knew that her greatest love and passion lies in Arts. Based in Puerto Rico, she creates beautiful cake designs at Cakeland Designs and specializes in creating wedding and celebrations cakes. Amy attended University of Sacred Heart, Santurce, P.R. and completed Bachelors of Art in Communications.

This talented cake baker has grown up in an artsy environment; drawing inspiration from her grandmother and mother. Since childhood, Amy has always been involved in creating different kind of artworks from silk screening to animation and photography to ceramics.

Cakeland Designs came to existence in 2005 and since then, she has been living with her passion for creating amazing cake designs. She has a great fan following and why not...she is brilliant at her work.

It is a great pleasure for us to have her as 'Artist of the Week' on our blog. Catch her interview below with some of her greatest creations:


Amy, let's start with a brief introduction of yours.

I am a 32 year old artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mother of a 6 year old son and passionate for cake decorating, drawing, painting, and photography. I’m a morning runner who’s infatuated with technology, documentaries, veggies, music, quantum physics, orchids and Madonna memorabilia.

























When and how did 'Cakeland Designs' form? We would love to know about its inception.

During the 1960's, my grandmother took upon a new hobby, she began baking and decorating holiday cakes for family. Around this time she came up with the recipe for the perfect Syrup Moist Pound Cake. My mother added it to her cook book so she took upon the tradition of baking and decorating cakes as well. In 2005 as I was about to become a first time mom my grandmother suggested the passing of her cake decorating knowledge to me so I can have a profession while spending time with my new baby. That was when Cakeland Designs was born.


























I read about your story that how your interest developed in Arts. Would you like to go in flashback and share those 'aha' moments you spent creating arts?

My artistic side started since childhood. I used to help my grandmother in all her fun hobbies like Ceramics, Stained Glass Lamps, Decoupage, Basic Sewing, Sugar Flowers, Landscape Watercolors, Bobbin Lace and Jewelry. We always had our hands full with a craft. Through high school I started sketching and even designing some flyers for our School Dances. After being raised in such a artsy world, I went ahead and got a Bachelors of Art in Communications degree from the University of Sacred Heart, Santurce, P.R. In these college years I developed an array of abilities in Illustration, SilkScreening, Linoleum, Engraving, Ceramics, Photography, Graphic Design, and Animation. I guess all the times that I spent with my grandmother helping her with her crafts, were my “aha” moments.

































What influences the artist within you?

My mother, grandmother and aunt are all great artists. Just having these amazingly creative and talented women in my life gives me enough motivation to generate my own kind of art.



























































































You've created so many beautiful cakes. Which one is your favorite? And why? (come on, you have to choose one) ;)

Hmm..this is a though question! I can’t break it to one!!!! Birthday Cakes are fun so I am going to
say the Nikon Camera Cake. Photography is one of my favorite hobbies. Wedding cakes are also a main attraction in the reception so my favorites are the ones that stand out of the traditional all white wedding cake or the ones combined with cupcakes.




































And which has been the most challenging one?

The most challenging one was a 7 tier wedding cake with 125 sugar flowers and leaves all around, to be delivered to a location that was 30 miles from the workshop. The bigger the cake, the longer the production. I do not travel with all the tiers mounted up, but some of them have to be stacked. The sugar flowers are delicate and have to be stored securely to prevent breakup. So after preparing for the delivery and driving a long distance through a rocky road, setting up the reception is the hard work. Decorated cakes have a lot of weight so a steady carrier is needed to travel the tiers to the reception area. Because the workshop is far I need to make extra decorations just in case any accidents happen while putting together the tiers. Remember, it’s all sugar and it is very fragile, so patience is a key factor!


Would you like to explain in brief your creative work process?

For the Wedding Cakes, there are hundreds of different cake styles that can be done. So I ask my clients to show me some references of cake designs they like from my website or based on their invitation theme. I then sketch out 4 designs based on those references so the bride can
choose a personalized cake. This applies to Celebration Cakes too.








































Fondant covered cakes take time to elaborate. A minimum of 2-3 days is required. First, the design is sketched out to establish the size and visualize proportions. Then, the cakes are baked and stored. The next day the cake is frosted with buttercream and covered with fondant. Next, the decoration is up. Some decorations like sugar flowers and sugar figurines take a week to construct. Some time is required so the pieces dry up fully so they wont change form with humidity. Depending of the size and decoration, some cakes can be delivered already tiered up from the workshop and others have to be stacked in the reception table.

























































































Let's have a rapid fire:


5 things you can't live without?

iPhone, 160GB iPod full of music, Allergy  pills, Planner/Journal, Cheese. (I didn’t add my son because I do not  consider him a thing. :) )


1 tool you can't create cakes without?

X-acto knife


Tea or coffee?

Espresso but in rare occasions.


Music you prefer while working?

Lets just say music is my muse. Bjork, Madonna, Florence and The Machine, Radiohead, The Postal Service, Lana Del Rey, Sigur Ros, Mum, Robi Draco Rosa, Julieta Venegas, Alejandro Sanz, The xx, Royksopp, Interpol, The Cranberries, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Goldfrapp (I could keep writing but it will take a couple of more pages).


One line/phrase/word that you often use?

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans” John Lennon.


Share the best compliment you've ever received for your work.

My best compliment was for a Louis Vuitton Purse cake. My clients were a group of friends that traveled to the island as a birthday celebration trip. They loved the cake as soon I opened the trunk door. “Oh my god! You are Puerto Rico’s Cake Boss!!!” and a couple of photo shoots came after. It felt so good just knowing that my mission was accomplished.


Share your fondest memory through this artistic journey.

My fondest memory will always be my grandmother. The artist I am today its because of her golden knowledge and her tips and tricks to achieve mastery. She is definitely my guru.





















Do you have any dream project?


Yes! I am planning to open an artsy cake shop with a fabulous dessert baker. This year was full of inspiration and began a watercolor painting series. I’m also in the process of designing t-shirts with graphic designer and graffiti artist Mad Gonzalez.






















































And a final word for our readers..

Life is about discovery, you have to try all the things you like in order to choose a favorite... When you love what you do you will surely succeed at it. I guess that’s why I have been successful.

















Amy, thank you for this delightful interview. It was a great experience learning about you and your work. We wish you all the very best for your dream project!

To see other amazing cake designs, visit Cakeland Designs.
Cakeland Designs' blog.
Cakeland Design on Facebook and Twitter.