Just Received My Wilton Encyclopedias!
Decorating By momsandraven Updated 30 Dec 2005 , 9:38pm by momsandraven
I bought Volumes 1 and 3 of the Wilton Way encyclopedias off of half.com a while back, and they finally came today!!! (I had them shipped media mail, so it was a bit slow.) OMG!!! I can't wait to try out all of the cool borders and flowers in these books!!! There are SO many flowers that they don't teach in the classes! 
I'll be up late playing tonight!
I bought Volumes 1 and 3 of the Wilton Way encyclopedias off of half.com a while back, and they finally came today!!! (I had them shipped media mail, so it was a bit slow.) OMG!!! I can't wait to try out all of the cool borders and flowers in these books!!! There are SO many flowers that they don't teach in the classes!
I'll be up late playing tonight!
Thanks for this post, i had no idea there was such a thing as a Wilton Encyclopeadia!!! Im going to search for one right now!!!
I am a fan of buttercream decorating, but they are not big in Australia. This sounds like the right book for me to get.
let me know how good they are.
thanks
Nati
I had never heard of this either! I just searched on eBay and found them. It says the copyright dates are from the 70s, is this what you are talking about?? You'll have to let us know how they are! Anything different than what's out there now? I had posted a question about wanting different border ideas and someone recommend the older Wilton yearbooks.
Let us know!!! Thanks! 
I've heard of the Wilton Encyclopedias, but wasn't sure if they were worth buying or not.
Mamafrogcakes ~ Those are the ones.
I have all three volumes also; got them off Ebay. I actually have an extra copy of volume one that I plan on listing on Ebay. Volume Two is the hardest to find on there, and I managed to win an auction that had one and two for less than I had paid for the first copy I got of volume one. (did that make sense? 
)
Anyway, they are definitely worth having; lots of neat ideas and great info. I think Volume Two is my fave; it's has tons of info about different cake decorating styles from around the world.
They are really awesome. Volume 1 was printed in 1974, Volume 2 in 1977 and Volume 3 in 1979. There are lots of sellers out there without a clue, so make sure they aren't selling a Wilton YEARBOOK by mistake. There's a person claiming to have Volume 2 on half.com for $7 and change, but his description says something about Blues Clues etc. - I can guarantee you this is a yearbook since Blues Clues did not exist in the 1970s.
The Volume 3 that I bought was an old library book, maybe you guys could check out your local libraries to see if they have them. Then you'd know for sure if it's something you want to invest in. (I can tell you now that you will want them!)
While we're talking about older Wilton stuff, I also bought a couple of Wilton yearbooks from the early 80s on eBay. Is it just me, or were their ideas WAY better back then?? The cakes seem so much more creative and artistic- not just fondant, stars and roses. Maybe it's because I've looked at my newer yearbooks so many times they seem a little boring, but it does seem like the older ones were better. Anyone else think this?
While we're talking about older Wilton stuff, I also bought a couple of Wilton yearbooks from the early 80s on eBay. Is it just me, or were their ideas WAY better back then?? The cakes seem so much more creative and artistic- not just fondant, stars and roses. Maybe it's because I've looked at my newer yearbooks so many times they seem a little boring, but it does seem like the older ones were better. Anyone else think this?
I agree! I've bought all the yearbooks since 1990 and want to go back even further. I've also bought all the "Celebrate" editions (except one that I just can't seem to win on Ebay). They are definitely more artistic. I get so tired of seeing just fondant ideas in Wilton's newer yearbooks. Most people don't like fondant and don't even want it on their cake, and a lot of the ideas done in fondant don't translate well into buttercream.
Honestly, I have this personal thing against fondant...fondant users please don't hate me for what I'm about to say 
...although fondant is very pretty on wedding cakes and can make cute kids' cakes, I don't feel like it's really decorating; anyone can roll out dough and use a metal cutter.... (the real artistic use of fondant comes with modeling and painting, but a lot of people don't take fondant that far). There, I said it. That's my confession for the day.
There, I said it. That's my confession for the day.
Cakesoncall~
LOL!!! That is so true! I agree with you. I have seen some VERY pretty cakes done in fondant, so you fondant people don't hate us! It's just not for me. I prefer buttercream.
I have all of the yearbooks back to 1990, and am now working on the 80s. I liked the 1995 and 1999 yb's a lot. I have to admit, there is a fondant wedding cake in the 1999 (pg 89, if you're interested) that I'd like to try for the county fair next year. It is fondant though, so I'm going to need a lot of practice! The 2 yb's that I just got are 1981 and 1982, and there are some really neat ideas using pans that they still make, like the horseshoe, etc. along with the standard rounds.
Wilton has encyclopedias??????? I had no idea! I must find them. Ladys and Gentlemen I have a new mission! Wish me luck 
OK...you have me wondering now. I just purchased "the Homemakers Pictorial Encyclopedia of Modern cake decorating"Copyright 1954, second edition, 9th printing June 1958. I purchased this because it was a steal and I love the older cake decorating books and yearbooks. We have the yearbooks since around 1974. Where does this book I purchased fit into the scheme of things, because you are all saying that the encyclopedias you have are from the 70's? 
I will now have to go searching for the one's you are all talking about.
What are the actual titles of the encyclopedias? I'm searching on Amazon as well as other sites for these. They sound great. . . I'm not a fondant fan either! I've found The Homemakers Pictorial Guide to Cake Decorating as well on Amazon for a steal also for a song!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Leslie
i would also like to know the titles so i can search on some cdn sites. they sound interesting.
They're called "The Wilton Way of Decorating" volumes 1, 2, and 3.
Here you go girls...let the bidding war begin!
Volume 1 on eBay
Here is some more information:
The Wilton Way of Cake Decorating, Volume One.
ISBN 0-912696-04-4. Published in 1974.
The Wilton Way of Cake Decorating, Volume Two.
ISBN 0-912696-11-7. Published in 1977.
(Note: a good portion of this book is dedicated to pulled sugar techniques - very instructive with lots of pictures.)
The Wilton Way of Cake Decoratin6, Volume Three.
ISBN 0-912696-16-8. Published in 1979.
A couple of other worthwhile vintage Wilton books to add to your collection:
The Wilton Book of Wedding Cakes. ISBN ISBN 0-912696-03-6. Published in 1971.
The Homemakers Pictoral Encyclopedia of Modern Cake Decorating. No ISBN. Published in 1969.
Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating. No ISBN in the book. Published in 1968. This is the sequel to Wilton's first book, The Homemakers Pictoral Encyclopedia of Modern Cake Decorating.
I own and recommend all of these books (some were my mom's when she was a newlywed...and as I grew up, I loved looking at these books for hours and hours). The techniques that are taught, the pictures provided, the instructions given...these are truly great additions to your library.
And they're special, too, since they are no longer in print.
That is a great list Cakepro! Thanks for the suggestions! Darn, my birthday is so far away!! LOL
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