I love the beginners workshops because I feel I am amongst friends! I started working for Lindy’s Cakes six weeks ago so I too am on a huge learning curve with sugarcrafting. What is fabulous about the ‘introduction’ or ‘beginners’ classes is how much the students learn in a day. They arrive full of enthusiasm and a touch of apprehension. They leave with an armful of knowledge, a sense of achievement and the best thing of all… confidence! You see, the thing is, Lindy and her glamourous expert assistant, Sally, have been doing this for a very long time. They have seen it all. They are not remotely phased by cakes that resemble Mount Vesuvius or pancakes as opposed to grand cakes or indeed cakes that are… ahem… slightly on the overdone side! In fact I think they quite like it because it’s a great platform for learning. And that’s the clincher, we all have to start somewhere. Sugarcrafting is a learned skill and Lindy is rather good at teaching it!
This course is designed to cover the basics of colouring and handling sugarpaste. Students also learn how to cover boards and a cake achieving a smooth professional finish. Everyone achieves this, honestly, I find that remarkable. But re-winding slightly; Lindy and Sally advise and talk through the baking of the cake, recipe tips and help the students understand how to achieve the right cake for sugarpaste – crucial. And if your cake is just not up to the mark they have canny tips using carving and shaping that leave you wondering where that cake you arrived with has disappered to, and where this rather lovely cake that sits before you came from! Once covered it’s time to get really creative with demonstrations on stencilling; so effective, so easy – I am allowed to say that, Lindy does! Also the use of cutters; again remarkably effective and they give you the chance to get funky with your designs. And ropes and ribbons made out of sugar that finish the cakes off beautifully. This part of the class is so brilliant to watch because by this time in the day the students are feeling comfortable and confident and it is where the creative styles really start coming through.
Everyone did a fantastic job and a rather handsome bunch of cakes left our workshop today. Well done ladies – you did yourselves proud. I am quite sure you have shocked and impressed your family and friends with your glorious creation… and perhaps even yourself!!
If you feel inspired to join us in the Spring, please visit our website for course dates and more details.
Our one day workshops make excellent Christmas presents so why not add one to your Christmas list or buy a gift voucher for your nearest and dearest!