Hello guys! It's been so  long since I was here! lol! So here goes the story that I need your helpful insight on: So I'm trying to decided whether to attend a baking and pastry program or do online classes, or go somewhere like the wilton school. I'm trying to take my design skills to the next level as well as my knowledge of cake and other desserts. If I had to pick the main thing, it would be cake designing and sculpting as the top priority. I have been in business since 2000 but want to do more and keep up with the latest trends. What do you think? I know it's ultimately my decision but Im at a crossroads here and Im confused on what to do. One last question: When you guys want to try out new ideas (i.e. cake sculpting, fondant designs, etc) Do you use real cake all the time or cake dummies? I'm ready to try quite a few things but I know that's tons of cake just to sit around. Will it last like a cake dummy if I do the design out of cake? Ok, sorry to ask so many questions, Im actually pretty sick right now and all I can do is lie around so I figure I will make my time useful !!!

Hiya! If you are unsure of what to do, maybe take a couple Craftsy classes? There are some reasonably current design classes in the Cake Decorating classes they offer. As far as pricing goes, wait for them to run a special - they always do. Never pay full price. But they are still CHEAP AS compared to attending a class in person. Best of all - no travelling, you get to keep the class indefinitely and ask questions of the teachers, and you can go at your own pace, fitting it in to your current life demands.

I tend to practice less these days, as I've been doing it for many years. But if I do, I'll use a dummy, for sure. Don't ever practice a new skill on a paying customer, unless they are happy for you to resort to a Plan B in case you fail!!

I'll tell you what you could do..........come and teach me how to make that beautiful white wedding cake.

You are already a good decorator and far above most of us on planet earth.  Good luck in your decision making. I wish you much success in your business and your artistic skills advancement whatever you decide.

Cheers,

mb

If you are just wanting to improve your decorating skills then pastry school is really not what you want.  It won't really teach you cake decorating skills, its more about learning to make pastries and desserts and the like.  Wilton may be a bit better but if your wanting the last trends Wilton again wont be the best and I don't know how much they do in sculpturing if any.  I think what Evoir said would be better, buying the craftsy classes instead.  If you are wanting to experiment then use cake dummies.  If you wrap them in plastic wrap first then you can easily pull it off when you are done and use them again.  Is this your full time job or something on the side and do you do a lot of cakes now or just the occasional?  I think that will be your best determiner of what to do. 

THANK YOU MBALASKA! What a huge compliment! I sincerely appreciate it!

I do have a pretty large client base and get calls pretty often. I had a shop that I closed but plan to re-open spring of this year. I really want to go in with a new look, new ideas and trends. I just wondered how could you sculpt a cake dummy to look like a purse or etc?

Thank you EVOIR for the information! I do want to learn other pastries as well, but my heart has always been for my cakes, I was just checking out craftsy earlier today and wondered how good it was.

Thank you Reginaherrin! I didn't know how to keep the cake dummies and you helped me lots!

AHey there, surf the web for cake purse Styrofoam dummies they sale them on cake supplies websites. Or simply carve out the shape you want using rectangle shape styrofoam from craft stores. Use the cut off pieces to sand the shape of your purse smooth. I done this before when I'm playing around with ideas. I hope this helps. Joann and Hobby Lobby have foam cutters also, a serrate knife works well too.

OMG HAMSQUAD! I NEVER KNEW THEY DID SUCH A THING! NOW I'M TOTALLY PUMPED! LOL! WELL, I guess I know where my extra money will go to this weekend! Can't wait! Thank you for sharing!

AOh, you are sooo very welcome! Go explore and have fun!