So I decided to take a real cake decorating class. Up until now I have just learned as I went. After the last cake I made for a friend, I had a lot of positive feedback. I have been thinking for a long time I should try to make this a business once my kids start school. So, the plan, take a class, learn some new stuff and apply to future cakes.

The class was such a joke. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the instructor, running late and looking very unprofessional (I probably wouldn't leave my house like that to run to the store let alone teach a class). She handed out pastry bags to everyone (materials are supposed to be supplied) and as she did so had to pick her hair off them.....gross! That was she passed them out after she stacked them all together and chopped off the ends. And that is what we used for decorating last night. No tips, not even an even hole and some grocery store canned icing.

She then proceeded to show us how to print. She did so with the tray in front of her but facing us. She printed her P's backwards so it said 'Haqqy'....and she didn't seem to notice. We spent two hours drawing letters, squiggly lines and blobs with tails. She seems to think blobs with tails are very important altho that is how she references them.

I phoned about a refund but was told they don't do that. Can't wait to see what we learn next week when we are supposed to bring tip #4.

Is this a Wilton class?

Holy Moly! What do they mean they don't give refunds. I would start by calling the Better Business Bureau, Attorney General's Office and the Consumer Protection Agency.

Firstly, with the hair story, that is unsanitary practices (so call the Health Department too). You get my meaning, tell them they can refund your money or deal with the consequences, including bad press.

People like that should not be teaching anything to do with food prep.

I wish we had a wilton class where I live, but we do not. She says she is a professional but I am thinking her stuff is more likely on cake wrecks. I don't think she is going to like me much as a student because I am going to demand she teach me something. Another lady in the class asked her if she has used marshmallow fondant and she didn't even know what it was. Should be an maybe the third class with tip #18 something might develop....lol

Being a wilton instructor, that is no wilton (or any other cake decorating) class I have ever heard of. Where are these classes taking place? Who collected the money for them, and how much are they charging you for this? I would be livid. Is there a BBB where you are?

ummm; yeah id be taking that further! lol im put off taking classes now too! as yet i havnt taken one.. and am currently tossing up whether or not to do one.. hmmmmm...

I am so sorry. I loved my Wilton class. Learned so much from my instructor. At least you can learn what NOT to do.

I am soooo sorry! How horrible!

I did the Wilton Classes when I first started, it was a good way to get started. (Our cake store offered them but they were way too expensive for me.) I am very glad I invested my time and money to stick with it (and used a lot of Micheal's coupon over the course of three months!). Overall I learned quite a bit. On the flip side I did buy a lot of Wilton stuff I no longer need or even use and have refined a lot of my skills through this website and reading a lot of cake books. Hopefully your class gets better, or you will learn a lot of things NOT to do in cake decorating!

Sandi

WOW! I thought I had a bad experience with class; however, you take the cake! (pun definitely intended)

You Tube has some really great videos that will show you techniques. After my miserable teaching experience I decided I could teach myself much better. Hobby Lobby sells the Wilton Course books & the Wilton decorating books. These will give you more info than what you're learning.

If you can't get a refund then you better be a PITA student & get something useful out of it. Good Luck!

I live in a small town and the courses are offered here through the cultural center but she comes in from the nearest big city to teach the class. It is in the program guide as a 'learn to make professional cakes' kind of thing, so I really feel I was misled. I know I wasn't the only disappointed person there. Three of the women work in bakeries and want to move into caked decorating at work, so I doubt they will learn what they need to do that.

I doubt the BBB can do much for me, but I will be making a formal complaint to somewhere, just not quite sure where to do that yet.

I thought it would be a lot of fun and now I dread going again.

That stinks that there are no Wilton classes by you. I absolutely loved my Instructor! SHe is not only an amazing caker, but a wonderful person. She truly cared about how we did, answered so many questions, and had so much patience! I even take the classes over again just to hang out, it also gives me reason to make cakes! I feel so lucky to have met her and I know she is the best one around teaching Wilton around here. Unfortunately, the classes are only as good as the teacher. I hope the class improves for you. Good luck!

I should have taken some pics of what I was 'learning' last night. I think I will take my camera next week, that might make her wonder...lol

Wow..I feel bad for you! I, myself, took Wilton courses and I learned so much from my instructor. In fact I'm going to take a cupcake course from her next month! I do agree with the other posts here though, go to youtube.com. There are a lot of instructional videos on there. (I didn't even know I was watching Lorraine McKay do her tutorials! I just knew I loved her voice!)

Unbelievable! I'm with everyone else here - file a formal complaint to whomever is in charge of the cultural center or facility. If enough people complain maybe they'll get a REAL cake instructor.

I hated the curriculum for my Wilton classes, but I had the BEST instructor and we learned so much from her - "insider" tips, short cuts, recipe fixes, all sorts of wonderful information. And she knew lots about how to make sugar flowers in various mediums so she gave us some little extra instruction on that and I loved it. SHE totally made the classes!

I hope you're able to find a good class in the future with a really great instructor. My instructor was such an inspiration and she is what kept me going and wanting to do more.

Good luck!

I emailed a formal complaint to the Director of the Cultural Centre. She said she would look into it and call me early next week to discuss. I wonder if she received more than one complaint today....altho since I complained both to the lady on the phone today and to her, she might think it was two different ones, as I didn't give my name earlier.

I am disappointed now I am not taking a Wilton class after all the nice things you all have said about the instructors.

Check out your local library. I am a beginner and I took the Wilton classes at my local Hobby Lobby and have a wonderful instructor. She too shared insider secrets. I recently found two cake decorating books that are very good at explaining cake decorating. They are old and cover some techniques that are not taught anymore. Unfortunately, I do not have a natural talent for this, but I love it. The books have helped me a lot. I have ended up photo copying the entire two books because they are no longer published and I couldn't find them on any books sites, new or used. Good luck!

I never think to go to the library for anything. The wilton sight has some good tutorials as well. I was planning to take all 3 sets of classes but I will definitely not be spending any more money on this ladies classes.

yeah, i think im going to end up getting a book; ive been tossing up whether to take a class or get a good book for my money (cant afford both). just heard back from the lady who does classes in my area.. she doesnt seem very good.. apart from the fact she def. comes across rude and pushy. =/ We dont have wilton classes here.. and this lady was my only hope.. dammit. oh well.
can anyone recommend good books? particularly for sugar flowers?

For those outside the US, you can check on this link at Wilton.com and see if there is an authorized instructor in your area. If a shop is an authorized distributor, but doesn't offer classes, I'd suggest calling them because they may be able to recommend someone to teach you:

http://www.wilton.com/about/contact/intl_distrib.cfm#australia


Despite the "australia" in the addy, the page shows many, many countries.

HTH
Rae

thanks for that rae! im in australia anyway.. lol

After most of the class complained, class #2 was much better. She made a decent attempt to give us some real instruction with tip #18. Tonight we had to bring a cake to decorate. We practiced a bit and then iced our cakes. Here is the best part of the whole experience...NOT....we used the same bin of icing that we used to practice with last week. That is all 8 of us used and reused icing from one bucket then scraped it all back in at the end of the night, and that is what we iced our cakes with.

Such a shame to have to throw cake away. So disgusted by that...yuck!

I over heard her tell one of the other ladies that noone had signed up for the next set of classes yet...hmmmm...really is it that suprising?

hvanaalst,
If you can, check out Ebay. They have the Wilton course books on there, (Course 1,2,3 and Fondant and Gumpaste). You will learn from the books, but as others have mentioned when working with an instructor they will give you insider tips, ideas on what you are doing right, how to fix something etc. I am taking course 1 currently but have already ordered the other course books off of Ebay cause I want to practise before I sign up for the others.

The same bin of icing? That would gross me out as well.

A friend of mine has the books to loan me so I will check them out. I just found out there is a new Micheals craft store being built in my town so i may end up taking the wilton course anyway.

This lady is just so unprofessional it is crazy. Definitely wouldn't recommend anyone buy a cake from where she works. Can't wait to see what we 'learn' next week...lol