Pics of my entry into the Nat'l Gingerbread Competition.

[LJC1861]

Here are some pics of the work in progress. It is due on Monday. It is almost finished and the "SS Claus" will have a hidden Mickey on it when it is done. It is based on the Riverboat Attraction at Disneyland in CA.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011465&l=1f30d&id=1171819746

Hope you like it!

Linda

 

[rlovew]

Very cool- my DH walked up as I was looking through the pictures- after lots of wows his comment was 'that's impressive' and I completely agree.

Rebecca

 

[123SA]

Wow! This is so far beyond my abilities I don't even know how to make an appropriate comment. Good luck!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I love all the white scroll work you put on the gingerbread. It is just so elegent. You have talent and patience, a rare combination.

Best of luck in the contest!

 

[LJC1861]

Thanks everyone. The scroll work has been a challenge. It is what I saw in my head the first time I thought about doing a riverboat and has taken many many tries to get it so it would not crack. It is actually three layers thick. There are two identical pieces placed back to back. They are iced together with a thinner layer again identical to the first 2 pieces. It takes 2+ days total for each piece to dry. I make the identical pieces first and let them dry overnight. Then I carefully peel them off the parchment paper and hope they don't break. If I am successful I do the inner layer and place the piece together and let them dry overnight again. Then, if they don't break as I am placing them they get iced onto the piece. Once they are iced into place they are pretty sturdy.

I did a practice piece with 2 levels of scroll work. I put it on to a jellyroll pan and put it in my car. I then drove around running errands, going up hill and down, around sharp curves, and over bumpy roads. The scroll work held up fine and I only lost one m&m that I tried using for trim.

Linda

 

[ddavis860]

WOW!! That looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Good luck! This this weekend?

 

[LJC1861]

Yes, this this weekend! We can start dropping them off Sunday at noon and they have to be in the ballroom no later than 9 a.m. on Monday. Judging is Monday at 10 a.m. and the awards are given Monday evening.

Also, the pieces have to be completely finished when they get to the ballroom. The only work you can do is if something breaks off.

Linda

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

That is fantastic! You have lots of talent. Good luck on the voting. I hope you win!!!

 

[Lisa]

Lisa, that is impressive. The time and patience that went into your steamboat. Amazing. Can't wait to hear about the competition.

 

[party of 3]

that is just awesome! good luck! please let us know how it goes. you've done a great job.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

WOW! Is right! That looks great!!!!!!!!

Great job and keep up the good work!!! My kids would have it devoured if it were here... you'd be remaking pieces constantly...and when questioned "they didn't do it"!

 

[MinnieGarden]

Amazing!!!!! That looks incredible. Good luck!

 

[bearbear]

All I can say is wow. I can't even do the box houses without having a melt down.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Linda- incredible work - you have really been creative with your theme and all the intricate extras you have added. Caroline
PS - how's your mom? Has she seen it?

 

[Raenstoirm]

Impressive is not the word! That is just too cool. I make houses and such, but you are way out of my league!

 

[mrp4352]

Do you have pictures of the finished entry??

 

[logan&tylersmama]

so how did u do? tell us about it
jennifer

 

[Lisa]

Yup, we'd like to know how the contest went. Though it is a first place winner here!

 

[LJC1861]

I will post a few pics of the finished entry tomorrow, and I apologize for not having done it sooner.

Judging was interesting....and nerve wracking. The judges look over each and every creation, with a flashlight and pick 25 houses on their first go around. I talked to several of the judges afterward and 3 of them, including the head judge and pastry chef at the hotel, Aaron Morgan...placed me on their first list of 25. From that list they narrow their lists down to 10. Then they all meet back and compare lists. If everyone's top 10 match then they go with that. They use the lists of 25 if they all cannot agree the first time. Complicated, but it works.

So, essentially I finished in the top 25. The competition was INTENSE, and even the judges said so. Aaron said that this was the hardest year to judge as the level of competition has gotten so high. There were only 2 points separating the grand prize winner from the first prize winner. There were 3 points separating the 2nd and 3rd prize winner, and for the first time in competition history there was a tie for 4th place.

I am already working on a design idea for next year. It will be a doozy.

Linda

 

[rlovew]

I will post a few pics of the finished entry tomorrow, and I apologize for not having done it sooner.

Judging was interesting....and nerve wracking. The judges look over each and every creation, with a flashlight and pick 25 houses on their first go around. I talked to several of the judges afterward and 3 of them, including the head judge and pastry chef at the hotel, Aaron Morgan...placed me on their first list of 25. From that list they narrow their lists down to 10. Then they all meet back and compare lists. If everyone's top 10 match then they go with that. They use the lists of 25 if they all cannot agree the first time. Complicated, but it works.

So, essentially I finished in the top 25. The competition was INTENSE, and even the judges said so. Aaron said that this was the hardest year to judge as the level of competition has gotten so high. There were only 2 points separating the grand prize winner from the first prize winner. There were 3 points separating the 2nd and 3rd prize winner, and for the first time in competition history there was a tie for 4th place.

I am already working on a design idea for next year. It will be a doozy.

Linda

Congratulations on being in the top 25!!! That is fantastic. I look forward to seeing your pictures of the final product.

Rebecca