Presenting Flourishes by Lisa Bugeja

Over the past year, I have been working on a number of cutter designs to be used as side designs on cakes.  Ranging from graphic tile designs to art deco designs to damask inspired flourishes, each set can  be used in a multitude of fashions.  Some sets are created in a double edged fashion allowing for mirror image cuts of that shape. The design possibilities are practically endless!  Not only can they be used as cutters, but embossers as well.

Flourishes by Lisa Bugeja are available at Flour Confections and coming soon they will be available in Australia at Glasshouse Cakes & Supplies

For wholesale inquiries, please contact info@flourconfections.com

Here are some of our more popular designs:

 Venetian Windows

 Starburst

 Geometric Mosaic

Keep your eyes out as more designs are being created!

Lisa

Amazing & Lovely - Mike & Lauren that is....

FINALLY! I've caught up on class blog posts! (still more stuff to do but it's a start!)

We JUST finished hosting 2 amazing talents - at the same time no less!  Mike McCarey of Mike's Amazing Cakes and Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes By Lauren both made their return to Flour Confections early this month.  Not only did they team up for 2 fabulous classes, but they each taught a class on their own as well - making 4 days of sugar bliss!  This was Mike's first time in our new location, and Lauren's 2nd.  It was great to have them both back and to welcome back so many students!

Lauren started off the weekend with her What's in the Box? class - teaching students how she created the open shipping box on her winning Food Network Challenge Newlywed Cakes as well as the wonders of working with modelling chocolate.  The next day we had both at the helm teaching us all about structure.  Mike is the cake structure "guru" and guided students in the creation of stands for a high heel shoe cake and sitting dog cake - both to serve approx 25 guests.  The last structure was for Lauren's portion of the class - the waffle cake - complete with floating bottle of oozing syrup!  Our following class was all about the wonders of modelling chocolate. Students created a multitude of projects while learning all the benefits of this medium. Our last class was with Mike - creating a demon of a giant cupcake!  Students worked with live cake & buttercream to create a sculpted cupcake - then added character with modelling chocolate monster arms & eyes - so much fun and so many ways to adapt to other projects!

Here are some highlights from our classes

 Anyone who knows Lauren wouldn't be surprised by this shot! LOL!

 Making edible packing peanuts

 Building the box... 

 Putting it all together

 Mike demonstrating the shoe structure 

 Students building their waffles

 Lauren making good use of the camera

 It's all coming together....

 As Mike said "now I'm hungry for waffles!"

 Mike demonstrating how well modelling chocolate takes impressions

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

 This pic just makes me laugh..

 Lauren's smile is infectious! 

 So many projects & techniques!

 Let's carve that cake!

 Now to make arms - Mike provided a colour step by step process book to keep us on track!

Everyone personalized their monsters!

Thank you Mike & Lauren for a fabulous 4 days!

Dog Days of Summer with Debbie Goard

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!

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.....