Sweet Talk with Flour Confections

Dog Days of Summer with Debbie Goard

Labels: Classes

Also in August we hosted another new face & amazing talent - Debbie Goard of Debbie Does Cakes. Debbie is known around the globe for her amazing cake sculpting and especially for her faux food & animal cakes. She has a love for dogs, especially Chihuahuas - so it was only fitting that she come and teach us just that! I was especially excited about this class for 2 reasons: 1) because Debbie is a dear friend of mine and 2) because I was going to embrace the student role and take the class!

Working with fresh cake & buttercream, students were guided through the process of creating a to scale dog, sculpting the head, carving the cake, structure & airbrushing. So much information was given and the results were fabulous! If you were unable to join us, be sure to check out Debbie's new book - Twisted Cakes! And you too can take home a part of the class, get Debbie's custom "Skully" stencil HERE!

Here are some highlights from our class

A detailed handout complete with templates was given to each student

Class all ready to go - small class numbers allow for better learning & one on one time with the instructor

This little guy flew from Oakland to Toronto in Debbie's carry on - yes TSA had questions! LOL!

Students ready to learn

The master at work

Proportion is key - keep your head ready for reference when carving

I'm all carved and ready for fondant!

Fabulous work everyone!

Thank you my dear friend - love my pooch!

Debbie's amazing creation! And that's not all - she designed that skull stencil as well - available HERE

Time to get Swanky!

Labels: Classes

In the summer of 2012 we welcomed some new faces to Flour Confections - Wayne Steinkopf & Chuck Hamilton of Swank Cake Design. Wayne is known for his beautifully clean designs and methodical approach and students were chomping at the bit to join in on these classes! Wayne & Chuck brought their fabulous sugar shoe class and the amazing sugar jewelry class. Not only did the students have the privilege of learning from this Swanky duo, but they walked home with TONS of goodies - including everything they needed to recreate the sugar shoe over and over again! We cannot wait for the return of the Swank Boys!

Here are some highlights from our classes

Class began with a full demonstration by Chuck on how to properly cook isomalt for making sugar jewels

Next Wayne guided students on creating amazing sugar jewels & brooches - here the overhead camera really came in handy to show all the details - and students got to keep the moulds!

Susan working along making sugar jewelry

Next up - the fabulous sugar shoe!

Wayne was there every step of the way

Kathi about to make the "stressful" cut!

Putting on the final details

And of course we are always having fun!

Talk about a sweet runway!

Thank you to all our students and of course to Wayne & Chuck for a Swanky good time! Until next time.....

The return of Lorraine McKay!

Labels: Classes

2012 has been a FULL year for guest classes at Flour Confections covering every subject possible! We were thrilled to have the talented (and my good friend) Lorraine McKay of Scotland return for 2 2 day bride & groom figure modelling classes & a head & hands workshop. Lorraine teaches her amazing caricatures around the globe and books up years in advance - we in fact scheduled this class at the end of her last visit!
Anyone who knows Lorraine, knows she has an amazing sense of humour, a fabulous accent, a love for Maltesers and all things "Queen"!

Here are some highlights from her visit.

It's a well known fact that Lorraine hates her picture taken whilst wearing her reading glasses!

Detailing is key!

Students hard at work

The camera & TV allows for perfect viewing for all

One of the options for design in our first 2 day bride & groom class

Small class sizes allow for perfect learning

Again the camera missing nothing!

Here you can see Lorraine at her best!

Amazing projects underway!

Love ya Lorraine!

Days with Debbie Brown

Labels: Classes

In the early months of this year, we had the privilege to host Debbie Brown for 3 wonderful classes. Debbie is internationally known for her creative characters & figure modelling and she has over 20 books on the subject!

Debbie guided students through 3 different projects: Adorable kittens on a pillow, a Noah's Ark cake perfect for any baby shower, and a cute just married couple.

Debbie has a soft spoken nature & simple approach to decorating with minimal tools required. Students also loved her teaching style and it shows with all the wonderful class projects!