Archives
Guest Speaker at Tapestry in Fort Wayne
I was asked to be a guest speaker at one of the Breakout Sessions for Tapestry. Tapestry: A Day for Women, is a day of inspiration, renewal and education for women in all stages of life. It is an annual event with a featured keynote speaker every year. This year, the keynote speaker is Sandra Lee. She is editor-in-chief of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine, the host of two highly rated television shows, as well as a New York Times best-selling author of 17 books.
I will be demonstrating edible bouquets, including, cupcakes, cookie and candy bouquets. Below is a sample of one of the bouquets.
Class- Hand Modeling Figures with Gum Paste
I’m teaching a class, April 15, on hand modeling figures and animals with gum paste and rolled fondant. We are focusing on basic sitting and standing animals and basic standing and sitting people (like in the picture below). I am also hoping to have a hand modeling book done in early 2011. Watch for updates!
Country Kitchen SweetArt’s Annual Open House
This week we’ve been busy working on Country Kitchen’s annual open house. I am teaching a brief cookie decorating demo where I’ll be dressing gingerbread boys and girls with chocolate, decorating cut-outs with chocolate and transfer sheets, and decorating cookies with fondant. Below are some cookies decorated with fondant.
Country Kitchen’s 45th Anniversary
Country Kitchen SweetArt was started 45 years ago by my Grandma and Grandpa, Mildred and Wilbur Brand. My parents took over ownership in 1986. Both my mom and dad (Vi and Ed Whittington) are retired, though they both can be found here doing projects every so often. In fact, my mom just finished her Cooked Sugar Art book this summer! I feel so thankful to have been “born-into” such an awesome business. We are celebrating the week of October 19-23 with various events, special pricing and doorprizes. We are also having a local Celebrity Challenge Thursday evening with participants: Mayor Tom Henry, FW Derby Girls, Melissa Montana (CEO of Star 88.3) and Cathy Brand-Beere (Owner of DeBrand Chocolates).
My mom, niece Kayla and I decorated a five tier cake for the week long event. We had so much fun creating an assortment of the treats that surround the cake. Everything on the cake is edible. My mom made the awesome little cake stands from Isomalt. We used an assortment of media to create the treats including fondant, royal icing, gelatin, and more.
Cookie Bouquets for Spring Open House
Country Kitchen’s Spring Open House is this Friday, April 17. I am giving four demonstrations on cookie bouquets. The demos include buttercream iced cookies, chocolate iced cookies and fondant covered cookies. The fondant cookie bouquets will be wedding and baby shower themed bouquets. I will be demonstrating my new mini cookie cutter texture sets. Below are samples of the cookie bouquets I am showing in one of the demonstrations.
Baby Cookie Bouquet with Mini Baby Cookies
Mini Brown and Pink Wedding Cookie Bouquet
Mini Wedding Cookie Bouquets
Spring Cookie Decorating Class- March 17
I typically teach two cookie decorating classes a year at Country Kitchen. This spring, I am teaching again. Here is the description: Using fun and simple techniques, create spectacular looking and delicious tasting cookies. You’ll learn how to decorate cookies with run sugar, candy coating, chocolate transfer sheets and more. Take home a half dozen decorated cookies plus a mini cookie bouquet. Class includes supplies used in class and Autumn’s book, “Cookie Decorating”. Find out more information at www.shopcountrykitchen.com
Spring Cookie Bouquet
Truffles for My Valentine Class- February 10, 2009
Teaching my students how to make truffles is so much fun. Most are surprised at how easy it is to create truffles in a variety of techniques including molding and dipping. In this hands-on class the students make several different truffles including: raspberry, caramel, mocha, deluxe nut and many more flavored truffles. The students divide the truffles made in class, and everyone takes home a heart-shaped box filled with truffles. It is probably the messiest class for students as well as the dishwasher, but the students are thrilled with the generous box of delectable truffles to share with their loved ones!
Teaching at Ohio DOS- September 27
I will be in Columbus, Ohio September 27, 2008 teaching Run Sugar Decorating on Cookies. The following day is The Ohio ICES day of sharing, which I will be demonstrating cookie bouquets. B Keith Ryder will also be demonstrating gum paste flowers and Diane Brown will be demonstrating Custom Cut cakes.
For more information, visit:
http://www.geocities.com/caketalkoh/
