Once a year Lindy puts her sugarpaste firmly to the back of the cupboard and gets out her ‘Artista Soft’ modelling clay. Today I am sitting amongst lots of naked bodies… no not our students… but the bodies of bride & groom toppers in the making! This workshop is one of Lindy’s favourite classes. Lindy has been making toppers for some time now and made her first official topper in 2003 for her brothers wedding. What a lucky guy having Lindy Smith as a sister!! It’s a lovely diversion from working with sugar yet sits so nicely alongside sugarcraft.
Held over 2 days, this class focuses on making 2 bodies and dressing them. On day one Lindy takes the students through the making of the body and head. This stage is crucial, and does take some time, because when you come to dress and add detail to the models they should look in proportion. Although these toppers are in a ‘caricature’ style a good shaped body will serve you well.
I love this stage of the day… looking around there are bodies with no heads, cocktail sticks with heads on waiting to be joined to a body, bare chested brides awaiting a bodice, armless torsos waiting for limbs… it does make me smile.
Seven students join us today and it’s been fun hearing about their inspiration and designs for their bride & grooms.
Sarah is creating her couple based on herself. Not quite married yet, she got engaged recently, she actually booked this workshop before her fiancé popped the question… he took the hint… impressive!!!
Vicki is doing models for a wedding couple to be, she also needs to do the couples son and their dog, a gorgeous black and white cocker spaniel. She’s got until May to perfect the technique and the look and a Lindy modelling workshop is going to help her enormously.
Mark who is taking some time out from military duties is taking inspiration from the recent Royal Wedding… what a great idea! He is also building a business hiring costumes to the military so he was inspired to create a bride and groom topper of Prince William and Catherine Middleton to perhaps add another dimension to the business. It’s a super idea and we wish him well. Very exciting!
Serial workshopper Julie Marney joins us to make a replica of her and her partner 20 yrs ago. What a lovely idea and a super way of celebrating her relationship. Julie is no stranger to Lindy’s Cakes nor sugarcraft and owns her own cake company. This modelling workshop is adding another string to her bow.
Chris who is here to improve her modelling skills is having fun with her naked bodies and has just shouted “My body is ageing rather rapidly”… oh how we laughed. What is happening is that her modelling clay is starting to crack. ‘No problem’ Lindy says… simply wipe over the clay with a brush dipped in water. These are the tricks you learn on a Lindy workshop!
The group have been flicking through magazines getting inspiration and checking out the wedding trends for 2012. We are seeing pastels, lace, vintage style, purples, lime green, lots of birdcages and a nod to the patriotic colours of red, white and blue.
On day two the fun really begins because it’s the day you get to dress and add detail to your figures. The Bride and Groom Toppers workshop is not all about the dress! You also need to think about hair, flowers, waistcoats, lace… it’s this kind of detail that personalises your figure and makes is unique to the bridal couple. You can pop a topper on to a cake or keep it for putting on the mantle piece! The wonderful thing about them is that they will last forever and are virtually unbreakable.
A Bride and Groom Topper is quite simply a wonderful memento of a special day, a forever keepsake.
Student Facebook quotes:
“Truly cannot thank you all enough for a wonderful couple of days and for curing my fear of modelling! Thank you Lindy for sharing your wonderful skills/knowledge in your own amazing way and to Jane and Sarah for their wonderful organisational skills and assistance together with superb lunches! I have learned so much in addition to making some wonderful new friends.” Julie
“Don’t know when I have enjoyed 2 days as much as the last two, Thank you Lindy and Jane. New friends made as well!!!” Geraldine
If you’d like to join us on a similar class why not take a look at our workshop calendar to help you decide which to choose.
shelly rodgers says
Hi,
I have been making sugarpaste figures for a while or using fimo for weddining toppers, but this artista sounds interesting and i really would like to try it. however i am a bit confused by it, what do you use to colour it and to paint on any detail, i usually use gel food colouring on flowerpaste.
I also cant seem to see where to buy black in order to make the suits?
thanks in advance 🙂
also thanks Lindy for all your advice, met you last year at the cake show in Birminham and you were lovely 🙂
Lindys Team says
Hi Shelly
You can use a pigment colour chart which allows you to mix a variety of colours from Artista soft pigments. Here is a link to it on our online shop:-
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/shop/Artista-Soft-Pigment-Colour-Chart.html
You can use paste colours to paint on any detail. The edible food pens are also good if you want to add stripes, etc.
We sell the black Artista on our online shop. Here is a link to it:http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/shop/Artista-Soft-Pigment-Colour-Black.html
Regards
Zoe