A Golden Dragon for a Lady with a Heart of Gold!

This cake is my favorite creation to date!  Where did the inspiration come from??  .....world history, friendship, family, and a myriad of other things.  The lady who received this special cake teaches world history and one of the topics she covers with her students is China.  I chose the dragon because it is such a strong symbol in Chinese culture and this amazing friend is one of the strongest ladies I know.   The color red is considered a lucky color and who doesn't need a little extra "luck" in their life!!  :)  The four Chinese characters that were included represent things that are important to her; health, happiness, love, and peace.  I wanted the top of the cake to resemble an elegant table setting with a bit of Americana, the fortune cookie!.....what would an American-Chinese dinner be without one?!  There was a special treat hidden in the decorations on this cake that I thought was so touching......a list of fifty things that we all love about this birthday girl in celebration of the fifty years she has touched others with her kindness, compassion, and love!  What a heartfelt addition to make this cake absolutely perfect!!  Everything on and in this cake was hand made and hand painted with love and appreciation for this dear, dear friend!  Happy birthday to someone who is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!!