Wilton Course 4- Completed!

This is the newest course which just debut on February 2012. I figured that since I already got the first three completed, might as well get the last one to complete it...-and finish I did! Thanks to hubby who took care of the kids every Tuesday so that I can go to my class and have my me time despite being tired from work himself.

* Course 4: Advanced Gum Paste Flowers

We were not given a book for this course (yet), it was a bit hard to follow the lessons with a xerox copy for reference but the instructor, Kim, did the best she could and we were able to do what was required every week.

* Lesson Course 4

I was not able to make it to the 3rd class :(. I had a valid reason though, but I wish I didn't have to miss that class. My in laws were going home and I had to stay home and look after the kids while they were driven to the airport for their vacation. 

Last day was about wire wrapping basically. We wrapped all the wires of flowers made during the first 3 weeks and we spent a good amount of our time doing that. After the wrapping, we assembled the Stargazer Lily petals and wrapped them to make them into a flower.

* Mel's Stargazer- The Classic Colors

* Mona's Stargazer- Color more on the Tiger Lily Variety

...then we were to assemble the flowers into a bouquet/ corsage for our final project.

We used up a lot of our time wrapping and only a couple of us were able to finish with a bouquet.

* Instructor Kim's Bouquet

* Charlotte's Bouquet

I had to make do with whatever flowers I had minus the 3rd class' flower so I only got a couple to work with. It was also hard working with this things because they are delicate and prone to breaking. Some of mine broke before the 4th class during drying period, while some of the students got theirs broken on the way to 4th class. It pays to be careful and make extra leaves/ flowers just in case. You could see a cringe on the students face every time one of their item drop and a sigh of relief when they discover that it did not break. 

* Mel's Bouquet

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Far from what I once was

but not yet what I am going to be...

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WILTON CLASS COURSE 4

Michael's Craft Store

Burnaby, B.C.

Wilton Course 3- Completed!

After a month of doing more flowers, we finally got to the last week to complete the 3rd course.

I never thought that I will be able to make a fondant and here I am making my 1st fondant cake ever!

* Scanned copy via Iphone

I actually thought that we wouldn't be required to make a cake this time after three weeks of doing gum paste and fondant decors but then the final week came and we were to bring another cake to cover for our final class.

It was a hectic week for me with Kimi getting better a few days then getting bad the next so I was rushing back and forth from the office then home to check on Kimi and Kenzo then back to the office. It just so happens that a co-worker is on vacation in the Philippines for 2 weeks which means that her work becomes my work.... You got the drift.

* Lesson Course 3

I was actually a bit skeptical if my cake would work as it has a huge crack in the middle. I got a wee bit excited turning the cake into a two layer and it was still a bit too early to do the flipping :(. Small things like this do happen, I guess, and my instructor inform me that we will try our best to salvage the cake and turn it into a fondant cake...

* Fondant layer with a bit of detail

I was breathing a bit more normal when I got the fondant covering my cake. Yey! 

I am so lucky that I got cake-mates that are way prepared than me with molds that they readily lent me so that I can make some details to go with my cake. Some even went so far as to offer me their extra flowers and leaves... :) 

Some of my peers brought in mini cakes that are way too cute...

* Mona's Mini Creation of Blues and Browns

* Erlinda's Mini Creation of Pink and Purples

Some opted to follow the instruction of baking an 8" cake :)

* Charlotte's Splash of Red Fondant

* Daphne's Whites and Pink Fondant

I guess Fiona is the most unique in her design, opting to make a completely different theme and not making any use of the flowers from our previous lessons.

* Fiona's Kite Flying Fondant

...and mine

* Waiting for Spring Fondant

P.S. The violets are actually contributed by Cake-mate Erlinda and leaves by Cake-mate Mona...

Stencils for the hearts in the center and the border, I borrowed from Cake-mate Charlotte. Daphne bought me the fondant to share for this class. 

Thank you :)

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WILTON CLASS COURSE 3

Michael's Craft Store

Burnaby, B.C.

One vote a day will help me in a way :)

I entered a wee bit late so i am not expecting.

CLICK TO VOTE

Wilton Course 2- Completed!

A few weeks of going back to Michael's every Tuesday night...

I have finally finished Course 2 of Wilton Decorating :) Yey!

* Scanned Copy via iphone...

Flowers, Flowers and more Flowers were taught in this class...

* Lesson Course 2

I am so happy to get a break and unleash another side of creativity with icings and something edible this time around.

My favorite was the final class that promises a culmination of all the things we have learned and put them in a piece of cake... It doesn't hurt that we get a certificate to bring home after ;)

* My Carrot Cake (Easy Bake = Ready Mix!)

We had to mark the cake to get an even space for the basket weave icing side we were about to make for this class

* Basket Weave, 1st Attempt :)

I used cream cheese icing for mine to complement the carrot cake.

I didn't realize that we were supposed to keep our flowers from the previous lessons for use this lesson, so I had to make another batch of flowers at home, which worked for me since I didn't want to use multi-colored flowers and opted for orange-y shade to match the carrot cake inside.

* Basket Weave side with Orange Royal Icings... 

Buttercream frosting for the leaves

* Top View: A sprinkle of violets to add more colors...

Cake-mates did just as well with their colorful rendition of their cakes :)

* Mona's Basketful of Flowers

* Erlinda's Warm Colored Flowers

* Fiona's Chocolate Cake with Blues and Yellows

* Wendy's Chocolate with A burst of color int he center

* Mel's Muted Cake... 

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WILTON CLASS COURSE 2

Michael's Craft Store

Burnaby, B.C.

Wilton Course 1- Completed!

I confess. I am a frustrated baker.

I really wanted to do baking ever since I was a kid but baking good seems to elude me during my younger years with an old oven that needs a thermometer to supervise the temperature inside. It was tedious to get the oven to work well and the result of my baking adventures has always been un-encouraging.

I never ventured into baking after that but when I set foot here in Canada, I finally saw my new haven, Michaels. With all the crafts imaginable in every aisle, my earlier frustrations seemed to haunt me once again. I put baking into my personal must do lists and went on with my life adjusting to my new Canadian life.

Forward to a few years adjusting, I got myself a new oven that seems to be easier to operate. I decided to try my hand at a cake decorating class, first. I figured that decorating, I have a background on and I thought that I will try to learn baking afterwards... toink!

I am so happy that I was able to complete the course 1 of baking with my sanity intact :)

* Course 1: Decorating Basics

First day was easy, we had to bring a cookie and the kit needed for the course. No stress here :)

* Tips and Technique Class

* Cookie Decorating 101

Second class was a bit stressful for me. We were required to bake a cake and bring them to class. We were to do leveling (optional), and icing of the entire cake. I did the cake early and got 2 boxes of ready mix cake, in case the first one fails, I have another on hand. I was on edge when I got the cake out of the oven and couldn't sit still until i was able to transfer the cake in one piece into the cake caddy.

* Perfect for Kenzo's upcoming birthday

Third class assignment was easier. We were required to bring cupcakes. I have experienced with cupcake and what are ready mix for? This was a piece of cake (No pun intended)

* Flower techniques 101

Fourth class was cake once again. We had to bake a cake and ice them at home. I was a bit positive because I had a ready mix in my cupboard (remember the one from 2nd class?). I was crushed when I saw the middle part of my newly baked cake didn't actually cooked as it was supposed to and it look like a well when I transfered it into the cooling rack...uh-oh!

It was a good thing though that my cake was high enough and I decided to cut that part that flopped and my cake was a bit low but it was leveled and it will have to do :(

Confidence level: Low again!

This time around we were taught how to do lettering and roses with the use of a decorating nail set.

I decided to take a picture of my seat mate's cake for our last class... 

* Daphne's cake

* Mona's cake

*...and mine :)

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WILTON CLASS COURSE 1

Michaels Craft Store

Burnaby, B.C.

Floral and Swirls...

There is still a lot of room for improvement but...

the tips and tricks imparted by the instructor was quite valuable for someone who doesn't have any background in baking or cake decorating. My icing was a bit on the dry side, hence, the crack on some of the decor but here was what I was able to do on that class...

* Rosette tip to make a flower cupcake

* Pinks and Blues....

We were taught how to do sunflowers, poinsettias and even monster cupcakes... I was not able to do the other icing colors that was why my colors were just in the vicinity of the pastels : blues, pinks and greens... and the ever reliable, white.

Sorry for missing 1 cupcake in the picture above, I was a bit hungry before the class so I ate one of the cupcake even before the start of the class :)