The Weekend

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine went by way too fast!  It was good to have 2 days off.  What did I do with those 2 days?


First of all, the Marriott Towneplace Suites here in Lombard has been wonderful!  I love our van driver, Kathy, who stopped at a grocery store for us on the way home (yes, it's "home" for the time being) from class on Fri. so we could stock up on some groceries (and a bottle of wine or 2 or ..... for next week).
Sat. I couldn't really sleep in - think I was up at 6:30 or so.  I did mange to get a little jog in and even stopped at a local yard sale.  Did a bit of pampering (manicure and pedicure):

Today wasn't as fun - it was a "work" day!  Back to the cake stuff to prepare for Monday's class so I hopefully don't fall behind AGAIN!  We need to have a sketch of our wedding cake by tomorrow.  Here is what I came up with so far:

Do you get it?  I'm  not quite sure I even do.  Looks like 3 tiers are there.  I am showing some 'corenelli'(sp. again - no clue)  lace on the top tier (lt. peach), some drop flowers with what I call 'loopies' on the middle tier and some vines with drop flowers and leaves on the bottom tier.  I'm going to do very light peach and white petunias on all 3 tiers and maybe a border of rosettes.  What do you think?  I hope she 'ok's' my sketch. (hate to be sent home over a terrible sketch)  Tomorrow we still have to learn a few more flowers and then we start on our wedding cakes and also do a "sampler" cake which features a whole bunch of techniques we've learning and put into 1 cake.  Busy week ahead!


So since I decided to do petunias on my cake, that means extra practice.  So with the frosting containers I slipped into my bag on Fri. (Kim did, too ~ I wasn't the only one), I did a little practice - this is what things looked like on the 2nd floor of towneplace:

(surely that's just a glass of water within that frosting mess)


After several hrs. of petunias, I might be changing my flower of choice ~  Guess it will be a surprise!


Tired and back to a 5:15 am wake-up.  Catch up with you tomorrow!  No late class tomorrow since gumpaste is over.  Hope to get some more sleep this week  :)

Day 5 ~ Wilton Master Course

I survived the first week of cake decorating bootcamp!  Woohoo!!!  I cannot wait to get some sleep tonight!  I was going to take a complete break from it all this weekend but I found myself packing up icing in my bag and thinking I might be practicing roses and petunias this weekend - we'll see! (need my entire wedding cake design by Mon. - ahhhh!) 


Today was a rough day.  We iced our 3-tiered cakes.  That was more difficult than I thought.(I am going to have to completely cover my cake in a basket weave pattern or something to cover up all my lines/bubbles)  I had planned on doing 1 layer in a pastel lime green color but I'm so glad I didn't work with colors today - frosting the layers took me so long I only had  a 10 min. lunch break!  (not so good....long day to be hungry = crabby)

We worked on Lilies, Roses and Petunias.  I am enjoying the petunias (might have to put them on my project)  Need a bit of work, but here are a few pics from the day:

As you can see I used only "white" icing today.   No time for pretty colors for me (I'm in class with pastry chefs and present cake decorators - just trying to hang)!  I am optimistic about my roses getting better.  I promise I will post a better looking rose next week!

 I think I mentioned the first day the class was on the smaller side with 14 students.  The tables are set up for 4 students per table.   All 3 of the other students at my table are "left-handed" - ok, what are the odds in that?  I can't copy anyone being right-handed!  It's just not fair!  :)  (that's my excuse every day if I can't come up with another one)

You may not hear from me this weekend. I hope to make it out of bed for my free breakfast tomorrow morning.  I also think I need to do some sort of physical activity... a run or something?  I just can't sit these long days!  No, I am not going into Chicago to see the city or anything like that.  I'll be lucky to make it to Target 25 yds away to get groceries!

If anything exciting comes up, I will definitely share it!  Have a great weekend!!!

Day 4 ~ Wilton Master Course

It's Thurs.  One more day this week!  Today was draining.  Lots more stuff. Overload.  It's all good, though.  We started the day with the normal "practice".  That was fine.  We got into the 1/2 carnation (?), carnation, rosebud and then the ROSE.  Carnations were kicking my butt for some reason.  I don't think I even took a picture of any or mine.  Here are some of my practice drop flowers (they actually look much better from a distance):

We had a certain # of each size to make, but of course I did extra since some of them are probably going to find their way to the trash bin.  I do like the look of the "drop flower", though.


Ok, I lied... just found a "carnation" pic:

Here are some of the "rosebuds":

We learned the Wilton Rose right before the end of class ~ I'll incl. a pic tomorrow after my "practice" (if up to par).   Needs  a bit of work!  


I accomplished choosing the sizing on my wedding cake for my final project - bottom tier is 10 in. square, middle tier 8 in. square and top tier 6 in. circle - woohoo!  No turning back ~  We frost them tomorrow!


Today was the last day of Gum Paste class.  Couldn't finish - van ride was there and class went waaayyyy over again (disappointing).  Going to spend some time next week for the final touches.  Here is my Lily and Orchid so far:

as you can see in the above pic I am in serious need of a manicure - think that's what I'll be doing this weekend!

Heading to bed!  After tomorrow's Master Class I have a 3 hr. "Starting a Cake" business class til 6:30.  But you  have to tell me first if you'd ever be interested in having me do a cake for you!!!  :)  Hope to get some good tips!  I'll let you know how it goes!  Goodnight!  xo

Day 3 ~ Wilton Master Course

3 days down!  I feel like a zombie!  Lack of sleep is creeping up on me, but only 2 days left of the "long" days.  Whew!  


Today was pretty good.  Learned way too much - my brain is in overload.  During the early class we learned about filling and frosting and torting and crumbing cakes.  Tomorrow we have to have the sizes of our 3-tiers picked out along with a rough sketch of our wedding cake we plan to design (my sketch, of course, will definitely be "rough")  Do you think I even have that decided yet?  I know my bottom tier is going to be square.  Then, I'm stuck (square....circle...too many choices!) - I"ll keep you posted on that - going to sleep on it..... again!


 We did some practice from yesterday ~ Here is some of my work ~There's some string work and ruffle garland and zigzag garland (and I don't know what else thrown in there).

Again, this is just "practice" :)


The Master's Course ran late and right into gum paste class.  I'm very disorganized when I have to rush.  Here is a pic of my messy work station:

As you can see, we did a sunflower, daisy and hydrangea.  (ok ... those are the flowers they are supposed to be)  This gum paste stuff is definitely a lot of work and details!  We have 1 more 3 hr. class tomorrow to finish up putting all the gum paste flowers together.  I"ll be sure to post a final pic from the class!  Feel free to critique me on it ~ I can take it!


Tonight it was a glass (ok, maybe 2) of Chilean Sauvignon and the Bertoli Chicken Florentine with my friend, Kim.  We've got our routine down for these 2 weeks!  So glad she's here with me - lots of laughs to get us through these long days!


Until tomorrow .... Cheers!