I finally got the guts last night to ask DH if I could take a $100 cake decorating course, and wonder of wonders, he said OK with absolutely no argument.

So now I'm taking a cake sculpting class taught by Bronwen Weber, who is nationally known for her sculpted cakes. I registered today.

Her website is here, though I haven't been able to connect with it
www.bronwenscakes.com

and here is a link to the cake I'll be making (scroll all the way down to the bottom)
http://www.cakecraftshoppe.com/cake_decorating_classes.asp

I can't wait!!!

Ali

Alimonkey, I was thinking about taking that class too. Do you know if it is filled?

Oh, are you taking it in Dallas or here?

Not to be rude here, but why are you so afraid to ask your husband to take a class? You're a grown woman, no??

Ginger,

Yes! Sign up! It would be so much fun if I (kind of) knew somebody else in there! I registered today, and I was only the 5th out of 16 to sign up. It may fill up faster once October is here, though. I called yesterday to find out how many spots they still had left, I was really surprised to find out there were so many. I half expected it to be full!

Also, I'm going to Houston this weekend so I may (or may not, since I just spent $100 on a class) come back with some high ratio shortening. If you want, I can pick you up a box. Let me know. We can have coffee or a margarita so you can get it.

Ali

The high ratio shortening sounds great, but I don't bake enough to get a big bucket. Margarita sounds great, but are you taking the class here or in Dallas because it looks like she's doing it in both places. I'd rather take it at All in One.

Ginger - the link is for Houston, but I just posted it because they have a pic of the cake & Allinone's website doesn't.

Sangria - DH is the keeper of the checkbook around here (if I did it, it would be a disaster ) so any time I spend that much, I have to make sure it's in our budget. We're a single income family while I'm at home with DD, so $100 can make a big difference sometimes. Right now, I'm spending WAAAY more on cakes than I actually bring in selling them.

Ali

So what? Even if you're on a budget and don't have a dime, you should not be afraid to ask him for something. You'll discuss it like adults. He's your husband, not your father.
That's all I'll say. : )

All I have to say is how jealous I am .....I only wish I could take classes like that but I live in Canada and I don't think there is anything like that around the area I live in....although I would be willing to travel a little ways. That's sooooo great you get to take that class. Hope you have fun and learn a ton!

Sangria - last word on this topic, I hope.

Maybe if I had put a little smilie after in my first post you wouldn't have taken it so seriously. I'm not afraid of my husband, I just didn't want to start an argument in which he tells me we don't have the money right now, and tells me (justifiably) that BTW I have spent way too much on my new hobby and puts me on a spending freeze. I'm not in an abusive or co-dependent or any other bad kind of relationship, I'm just married to a man that is (mostly) understandably concerned about our financial situation.

And, as a matter of fact, the way the subject came up was by him telling me he thought my 3-D cake was the best out of all the ones I have done. The reason I had not mentioned it before is that I really couldn't justify the cost to myself, let alone to him, until he made that comment.

Ali

Gibson - where in Canada are you? If you're in Ontario, I'd say there's a good chance there's some kind of class in driving distance, even if they only happen once a year or so. I'm sure somebody could lead you in the right direction. If you're in another province, sorry - you're probably out of luck

Ali

Where in Houston do you buy the High Ratio Shortening? I bought a small container at "Make-A-Cake" but I am interested in checking out other stores in the area that might have different stuff.

Gibson, there are lots of classes available in Canada...even ones you don't have to ask permission to take.

(hahaha...sorry everone, I had to add that in for my sarcastic side! I COMPLETELY understand where both Sangria and Alimonkey are coming from! I am the major bread-winner in my family, so I poke fun at my husband all the time for asking my "permission" to buy things.)

Where are you located Gibson, and I'll try to point you in the right direction for classes?

OOOOHHHH!!!!! Congratulations on getting to take the class. I can not wait to see what you create. Please do share with all of us what you learn.



Amy

Hi, Christie - it's great to know that you can buy a small amount at Make-a-Cake. I hadn't been there since I found out about the hi-ratio stuff. I may have to try it in a smaller quanitity.

Here's the link to Bakemark - it's off Hwy 6 way south, near 288 somewhere. Can't remember, but you can google the map.

http://www.bakemark.com/htmllocations/Houston.htm

Ali

Of course I'll share!!!One of the neat things about this class is the fee includes ALL supplies and materials, so I'll come home with a really awesome cake, I hope, and it includes lunch, so I think it's really worth the money.

Ali

Ali,

Thanks - I will have to venture out there.

I purchased a 3lb tub of CK brand High Ratio Shortening at Make-A-Cake for $7.99. So far I really like it!

Thanks again!

Good luck and have fun at the classes! I can't wait to see the pictures.

Does your icing taste better with the high-ratio shortening? Just wondering, because $7.99 seems like an awful lot for shortening.

Wow - $8 for 3 lbs? That sure is a lot! And only $23.16 for 50lbs. I guess I'll go ahead and springs for the big box. I'm sure I can find somebody to take some of it off my hands if I don't like it much!

Barbara-Ann - I haven't tried the high-ratio shortening yet, but it has emulsifiers added to it, which are supposed to make a fluffier icing without the greasy mouthfeel of regular crisco buttercream.

Ali

I thought that the icing tasted fluffier with the high ratio-shortening. I was really wanting to try it and that was the only size they had and I didn't know where else to get it. I will try Bakemark next time. Thanks for the info!

I am also interested in checking out the classes in Sugarland!

I love taking classes and learning new things. I take classes in Dallas.
Sherry