Sugar flower classes 

I am happy to write about the sugar flowers classes I will be teaching at 

ABC Cake in Orange. 
There are currently 3 classes offered in August and more will be added soon.

August 12th I will teach a Plumeria and Bower of Beauty from 5pm to 9pm 

August 14th I will teach a Cymbidium Orchid and berries from 3pm to  6:30pm 

August 19th I will teach a Rose and berries from 5pm to 9pm

Please contact ABC Cake to sign up for any of the classes.

To learn more about the classes I teach you can click Classes or go to the Class tab above. 

Current class photos

Plumeria Class

I had my first class at Laguna Culinary Arts, in Laguna Beach a couple of weeks ago. This is a lovely culinary school with a Professional Chef program, catering and special events, wine and cheese shop, and specialty classes. 

I had 4 students who never worked with gumpaste and are not decorators, they just thought the class sounded fun and signed up.. I love to teach those who never worked with gumpaste. The first thing I usually hear them saying is I can never make a flower that looks like that, meaning mine. I tell them oh yes you can all you need is patient. You will leave with a wonderful flower arrangement.

We were making plumeria's, leaves, and buds.. Day 1 I talked a bit about gumpaste and the tools, gave them a demo and told them not to be afraid of it.. It is only sugar and they can redo it if need be.  Before every new petal or leaf I gave a demo since it is easier for someone to follow right after seeing it done. They did a bang up job making 4 plumeria's, a couple of buds and some leaves. They were very excited to come back the next day to add the color. I told them I look on line for coloring ideas.

Day 2 when they returned they all had photos and were ready to go.. Giving a short demo on how to apply the color, shading, over dusting, and some rules like not to dip brushes in different colors, and to go lightly when adding the color since you can always add but it is hard to take away.. This day ran over a bit which was fine and they all finished their flowers. The only thing they didn't have time to do was tape and arrange them so I did it for them. I think they were too excited to see what they made put together and didn't want to wait..

They told me they had a great time and all of them were very happy with what they made.. I think they all did a fantastic job and hopefully they will take my next class there, succulents.

Gumpaste Class Hibiscus and Plumeria

Last week was part 2 of the Plumeria and Hibiscus gumpaste class. I had a great time teaching the ladies who took my class and they were awesome students.

I believe none of the students had any prior experience using gumpaste and found my class either seeing me at the Orange County Fair doing the demo or the school catalog and being curious about it. I am glad to share this fantastic art in sugar and hope they continue on.

We started in week 1 making all the petals for both flowers since they have to dry before adding the petal dust and assembling.  I went over the tools a bit and how to use them and what they do. I then gave a demo on how to make, cut and shape the petals. Then everyone started working as I assisted or explained what they could do to make it different or help fix mishaps.

The interesting thing about teaching for me is I just do certain things to create the petals I don't explain. Not that I don't want to or think it is important, it is just that I do them, not thinking about it. I must have wondered or asked many questions when I started out.

Everyone made their petals using the same few cutters and we had all similar petals but with slight differences. I loved that since flowers are not all alike in real life and are much nicer when not all shaped the same. They all did a bang up job. The most important part is they all had fun!!! So, they told me.

Week 2 and now we get to add the petal dust and assemble them. This for me has always been my favorite part. This is where you get to make the flowers look lifelike and let the artist in you come out. I brought several colors to use, gave a demo on how to add the petal dust and some do's and don'ts from my own experience learning and then everyone began. Even with everyone using the same colors no two were alike. Isn't that great?

After adding the petal dust another brief demo about assembling them and using florist tape. This part just takes practice and will get easier as you do more. But, they all did great and assembled both flowers creating some fantastic Plumeria's and Hibiscus for their first time... I think they all turned out wonderful and again, having fun is what it is all about. I was very excited.

I think I am a true artist at heart. As much as I prepare I always leave something behind. This time it was a missing battery for my camera. I couldn't take any pictures and I am waiting for one of the ladies in class to send me some so I can post them. Mental note for next time is to check I have my camera with the all batteries.

I will post shortly more classes. The Chinese Peony and Stargazer Lily. They seem to be most popular.