the cake artist's studio
boutique bakery
A Female Owned and Operated Business
Home of Real Buttercream
Central Illinois's Original Cake Artist Since 2001
About The Artist
Owner
and Pastry Chef of The Cake Artist's Studio, Ashlee Roderick Freburg , is one
of Central Illinois's foremost cake designers. In 1995, Ashlee received
an A.O.S. Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from The
Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Ashlee has
also studied under master sugar artists Ewald and Susan Notter of The
International School of Confectionery Arts and professional cake designer
and winner of a gold medal at the 1988 Culinary Olympics, Betty Van
Norstrand. Her 30 years of experience have included work in the
pastry departments of The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN, and John's Island
Club in Vero Beach, FL. From 1996-1998 she was the pastry chef at Blantyre
in Lenox, MA, a Mobile Five Star Resort and a member of the prestigious
Relais and Chateau Properties. Ashlee has been privileged to prepare
desserts for such people as Billy Joel, James Taylor, John Williams, Yo-Yo
Ma and The Eagles.
Her work has been featured twice in the late 1990s in the popular Victoria Magazine.
Since returning to her hometown and opening The Cake Artist's Studio in 2001, Ashlee has made more than 3000 wedding cakes and numerous birthday and special occasion cakes. She continues to pursue excellence in her field by participating in educational workshops. At the 2004 World Pastry Forum held in Las Vegas, Ashlee learned from such highly acclaimed pastry chefs as Jean Phillipe Maury, MOF, Exec. Pastry Chef at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and Wayne Harvey Brachman, author of American Desserts and guest chef on The Food Network.
In September 2007, Ashlee competed in the Grand National Wedding Cake Competition winning a silver metal for her entry entitled, " We're not in Kansas anymore." This six-tiered "Wizard of Oz" fantasy cake was a hit with all ages and was seen by thousands of show visitors. American Cake Decorating Magazine chose Ashlee's cake to be featured in its first coffee table book showcasing the Tulsa show.
Every October since, Ashlee has competed in the Tulsa competition. 2010" Gaudy Gaudi" a sunflower adorned silver medal winner. 2011" Palm Springs Romance" inspired by mid-century architecture again a silver medal winner. 2012 "Papal Blessings" was patterned by a Pope's mitre in blue, gold and pearls also a silver medal winner. 2013" From Russia With Love" won a bronze medal for Ashlee with a design based on The Firebird Ballet by Stravinsky. 2014" Pretty Paint by Numbers" a 150 hour homage to the beloved past time of paint by number. 2015 *The Prince of Prints* was the result of Fashion Week theme paying tribute to Emillio Pucci. She received a 9 place silver and was published in a British cake magazine. Her award winning entry from 2016 is amongst the others on display in in the showroom for customers daily. * Love Illuminated* won 13 out of 70 with Ashlee's 13th Century illuminated manuscripts inspiration on the theme Mad for Metallics.
Seven of the above competition cakes have appeared in international cake magazines with the hopes of more to follow.
The 2017 theme perfume inspired Ashlee to create and enter her "Confetti" entry. Covered with colorful sugar brocheses and hollow gelatin balls won Ashlee a bronze ribbon and is also on display.
