While I learned a lot about working with fondant and gum paste, the most important thing I learned with John and Susan Rota at their Introduction to Cake Decorating Workshop concerned the process. I had no idea how much time and effort and skill went into these creations and what an amazing creative experience it is. While we began with a picture of someone else's whimsical design, we were able to make it our own depending on size and shape and placement of pieces or how we chose to hand-paint the leopard spots. While parts of the process were pain-staking and at times frustrating, it was exhilarating to see it all come together, and this exhilaration only inspires me to want to do it all again.
John was incredibly patient modeling techniques, encouraging me when I made mistakes, and spending as much time as needed on each stage. There were three of us in the class, which allowed for a lot of individual attention, but it's clear that both John and Susan love what they do--designing, creating, and teaching--and that's what made this experience so much more special. I don't think I'd be as excited about wanting to learn more if I'd had a teacher who was just going through the motions to make a buck. I think I'd feel overwhelmed and under-qualified. Instead I feel like I can do this if I take one step at a time and practice, practice, practice. Maybe in a few years I could be at a professional level.
Here's an idea of the day to day process of decorating a specialty cake.
Day One
After covering each form, we began making ribbons and blossoms out of the gum paste. The little white blossoms were a bit tricky and required a lot of trial and error.
Day Two
We made fabric roses out of a combination of gum paste and fondant and set them aside to dry.
Next we assembled the three tiers, then cut out diamond shapes and rolled little balls from fondant and attached them (with a touch of water) on the bottom tier. Last I made little pearls out of gum paste and fondant and set them aside to dry.
Day Three
We added strips of fondant to the top tier
and hand-painted leopard spots on the middle tier--which I was amazed I was able to do after a bit of practice. Then with royal icing, we piped little beads at the base of each tier--which as simple as it seems, I could not master. Try as I might, mine looked nothing like John and Susan's perfect beads. This one I need to work on!
Next we assembled our ribbons, forming bows...
and strung our pearls...
and began placing the bows, and pearls, and flowers and blossoms and leaves
wherever we thought they looked best-- until it was complete!
And I even received a certificate!
I managed to get my whimsical cake home intact, where it now graces the corner of my desk.
I'm already thinking of ideas for cake designs, but of course I must first begin at the beginning--on my own. I went out today and invested in some necessary items: turn-table, fondant roller, cutters and former trays, etc. to get started. I plan to make a single-tier cake and cover it with my own fondant and start with a simple design. So keep an eye out for my first solo specialty cake.
To John and Susan I say thank you for opening the door to such an enjoyable and delightful art form. I've no idea where this will lead, but I am so excited to get started--and that's what life is all about.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI recently came across your blog while doing research on cake crumbs Intro to Cake Decorating and Design. I know you took this class nearly 3 years ago, but im wondering if they ever taught how to work with a real cake. I emailed them about it and John says all workshops are conducted using an actual cake. But looking at your post it seems as though they taught using a dummy cake. I'm just curious and want to make sure I am not paying for something I do not need. Thank you!
Oh yes, their classes do involve baking your own real cake and decorating it as well! In fact, I love and use their recipes for white cake, buttercream, and fondant. They are fabulous. I believe my earlier blogs refer to them.
ReplyDeleteThe class you are referring to above was strictly focused on decorating and yes we used styrofoam forms. I still have that cake sitting on a table as a show piece. I get so many comments on it. To me it is a work of art that I treasure, and I am glad that that particular class did not use real cake. It would be long gone by now!
However, many of their other classes do involve baking, so check out what you need and want.
I highly recommend Cake Crumbs classes. If I was still living in the Valley, I'd continue to take them. So enroll and enjoy. Your money is very well spent. And tell them hello from Debbie now living in Lake Arrowhead!