Bride and Groom Workshop for February in London

Due to demand for Bride and Groom workshops in London I have decided to swap the original workshop planned for February to the couple featured in the photograph. It seems a better idea to have this class at the beginning of the year to be in good time for the 2010 summer weddings. I would dearly love to recreate Daniel's cake for a workshop and will do so later in the year. You can now book your place for this class...the number will be limited to 16 so don't delay, demand is high for this subject. If you are unsuccessful for this class you will be added to the waiting list for the next one. You can see all the details for this class on Extra Icing website.

Raspberry pink and puppies....oooooh!

This is almost the last cake I have for this year. One more to go then I'm done. I've had a great time with this one, I love the character and the dogs are a new type of breed for me to try and on the whole I am happy with them. I'll have to play around a little more to get some more expression. Perhaps I'll recreate this for a workshop. Good idea? Or no......I like to hear your views. You can see more views of this cake on my Flickr photos. Don't you love the raspberry colour with the black? I'm using these colours a little too much lately. I'm always the same when I find something that I really like....I kind of overdo it! Thank you for looking!

Another workshop show piece

She looks a bit shell shocked, doesn't she? Maybe she's looking at a UFO in the sky....or perhaps sees her boyfriend kissing someone else under a tree. OR maybe she's just standing still trying to avoid a sting from the wasp circling her head! Whatever the reason for her expression, this was one of my weekend workshops so once again I am left with my own creation, which is just as well, as I really need some new display stuff for showing off at this year's Cake Show at the NEC, Birmingham where I will be demonstrating my work on Sugarshack's stand which is No. A10. This piece is called "Beautiful Belle" and you can find the next class on how to create her on my website which will be taking place in February 2010. The workshop will be held in Scotland.

Book now for January 2010 - Bride & Groom workshop in Scotland

Remember this beautiful bride? This wedding dress was admired so much that it seemed the right thing to do to choose it for a workshop subject some time next year. So 2010 kicks off....think I said that already a few posts back! I must be getting old if I'm starting to repeat myself! LOL!.....with my Bride and Groom Workshop to recreate this stunning gown and to show once again how to create an impression of tartan. Bookings are now being taken for this January workshop. You can find all the details right here on Extra Icing. This workshop will be limited to 16 students and already some spaces have been secured so don't delay with this one. Bride and Groom classes still remain to be the most sought after. I look forward to seeing you.

The London dates are sorted!

The London dates are mostly sorted....the most popular one, and the one that already has a waiting list is the Bride and Groom. Everyone who wanted to know when it was going to be has been informed so the class is now open to one and all. The dates are July 2nd and July 3rd. Precluding this workshop I have a shorter workshop for "Head and Hands" which will take place on July 1st. This little workshop will run from 12pm until 5pm and concentrates solely on making the correct shape of head and how to create expression in your models. It is a good one to do before the intensity of a Bride and Groom class as, most students will tell you, the head takes the longest to do, to try and perfect. It's amazing how much is learned from making a Bride's head on the first day to making the Groom's on the second. Many students prefer the look of their groom because of the "practice" the day before. So Head and Hands might be something to consider if you hope to book the Bride and Groom class also. If you check my Extra Icing website you will find the classes listed in the Menu. Look for Sugarcraft Workshops and my 2010 Workshops along with the London dates will appear. I hope you find a class to suit you and I look forward to seeing you in 2010! (Dates for September and October will be listed at a later date)

London Bride and Groom workshop...wot d'ya fink??

• 
  I've just returned home from London where I held my 2 day Bride and Groom workshop. The venue is brand new and with all new things there are teething problems and little issues but nothing at all that cannot be corrected for the next time....because my friends, there WILL be MANY next times! Yippeeeee! Sugarshack of London have acquired new premises where they have custom built a classroom for tutors like myself to hold their workshops. The premises also houses their new shop which is in the process of being stocked.....so when I arrived to hold my first workshop with them, they were busy trying to get the shelves loaded for all the students who would no doubt be eager to see what they could take home. Do you ever go to a sugar craft day out without taking home a bag full of goodies?? I never do, and I didn't miss out this time either! hahaha! The Bride and Groom workshop is a very popular one and the pace is pretty intense it has to be said. But....if you want all the detail that you see in my work, you have to be prepared to keep your head down and not be distracted. I personally cannot thank the Sugarshack team enough for ALL that they do for me. Their support of my work, their speedy delivery service and their ability to laugh at my jokes....that in itself is an achievement! My students....what can I say. I think I must be a magnet for being able to attract the best...and I mean the absolute BEST bunch of people wherever I go. I constantly meet new friends and am always filled with pride when I see what they have achieved at the end of a day. Which brings me to timing and what would I change for next time around. The timing of this particular class is perfect in my opinion. Two figures.....one for each day, or three quarters of one complete and half of the other in one day I have to say. The second day is used to finish off the making of the models and to add little details. Some details require a lot of explanation and a good deal of listening.....others are little bits and pieces that aren't rocket science and people just want to see how I do it and can then go on to do as they wish to personalise their models. Everyone hears the same intruction but there are no two subjects exactly the same. It's wonderful....in my humble opinion.
• Should I reduce the numbers for this class?? Maybe......but I think the problem lies with how the tables are set out. For the first time, I had 8 students on two tables, 4 on each side which meant they were facing each other. This is great for getting to know each other socially, but for learning....it is very difficult to keep things calm so that everyone can hear each step by step instruction. The volume of noise in the room at times would reach an impossible pitch which is really up to me to control.....so next time, the tables will be set as they are on my Overseas classes which means nobody is facing anyone else. If this means that the numbers have to reduce slightly to make room for the tables (which I doubt will be the case) it would also mean that the cost would rise for those students attending. It's a bit of a catch 22 but I am "on it".
• I supply absolutely everything for my workshops which means all the students have to do is turn up! Bliss I would say. However, for any class which requires a covered dummy in future, I will be asking that this be something that is brought along on the day. Fixing all those dummies onto cake boards and then covering all of them, mixing 10kg of sugarpaste with CMC to make enough modelling paste for everyone too....I have arms like Popeye and a back like an old witch! I tend to forget that some people do not know how to mix modelling paste and I do this to save my students the trouble....sometimes, not always. I think this is also something that I will allow my students to do for themselves as part of the learning process too.
• Sugarshack are very grateful for the feedback given about the premises and the little changes that need to be made to make things that wee bit better in the future and guarantee that your comments will be acted upon and not ignored. Also...they are offering 10% DISCOUNT to ALL of my readers and students for the month of NOVEMBER ONLY! If you wish to shop online with Sugarshack please quote: NOV102009 to recieve this offer!
• I welcome all the feedback from my workshops and look forward to seeing many of you again (who are already on the waiting list for 2010...thank you!) and meeting new sugar artists who would like to spend a fun filled day of intensity and hard drudgery......strike the last part, I was attempting humour! LOL!

The last wedding for 2009!

This is my final Bride and Groom for 2009. You can view the whole cake, including the little bridesmaid on my Flickr photos . In 2010, I will only be taking special commissions as most of my time is going to be dedicated to teaching and working on new Online Tutorials and Instructional DVD's. I have a list as long as my arm of "things to do!" and I am finally organising my time in the right direction. You all know my Calendar for 2010 as it stands at the moment....busy, busy times ahead indeed. I will be spending time creating brand new projects of my choice for using in workshops at home and away so there will be LOTS to see in the coming months. Bride and Groom subjects are always popular so there will definitely be a few of those coming up. Oooooh.....can't wait for 2010 to be honest. I hope you can't either! Come and see me in Scotland if you can too. I have a new venue for the workshops which has plenty of space and all the equipment you will need. I'm kicking off 2010 with a Bride and Groom wokshop at the end of January. Details can be found on Extra Icing website. I look forward to seeing you!

Did I ever show this one properly?

I recreated this little piece for a demonstration in Austin, Texas in August. My demonstration was for Capital Confectioners Day of Sharing, so I tried to keep it appropriate. I only got around to photographing this little piece properly earlier this week. You could say I'm a little bit behind with things to do! It was a possibility that I would return to Austin next year to do more classes but as there are so many other dates in the diary to commit to, it has been decided to leave Austin until 2011 when I will be part of "That Takes the Cake" show by Capital Confectioners. That is the plan.....I'll keep you posted. I am considering other dates for next year and by the end of 2009 I should have all of those listed on my website so keep watching....you never know where I'm going to pop up next!

A little demo piece...AND...exciting news!

This is just a little demo cake to use up a covered dummy I had lying around....as you do! haha! Anyhooo....I need to mention the NY Cake Convention which is coming up in January 2010. I am so excited to be part of this HUGE event and will not only be demonstrating but doing a few workshops too. You can read all about it right HERE! If any of you are going to be there, come and say hello!

A hoody spider on the attack!!

Before I mention the picture on the right...last night I was in Broughton nr Biggar to do a demonstration. I'm never in that neck of the woods much and have to say that it was a beautiful evening so the drive there was simply stunning. The scenery all the way was quite incredible, beautiful greenery, horses...and the odd coo along the way. If it was easy for people to find me in a rural area then I would happily move there and enjoy the peaceful serenity for the rest of my days. Alas...there is no railway station nearby to take care of my lovely Overseas visitors who frequently use Edinburgh Airport and Railway Station so I will be moving to somewhere a little less wilderness and more village like....just not Main Street any more! Anyhoooo......last night, my demonstration was going extremely well until we had a visitor who wanted to take a closer look. A HUGE....and I mean HUGE spider in combat gear and hoody, BOLTED towards me at a rate that could win a Gold medal in the Olympics! Luckily there was someone in the audience a little faster who managed to eject yon hairy beast and calm was brought to the room once more. Yeeeeugh! I'll have nightmares for a week now! On another note....my Scottish classes for 2010 are in the process of being finalised. I have dates from January to April posted on my site and already places are being taken so don't hesitate if you see a particular class that you would like. I will be posting dates for my London classes on a separate page on the website very soon so keep an eye out for those too. "My Little Brother" workshop has been added with a couple of little additions to the original design too!