Kathleen_li, I started a mid-level cake decorating class many years ago at a specialty cake bakery and was loving it, but only got to take a few classes before a family member had a health crisis and I had to quit. For some reason I just never took another one. I did learn the basics of roses and the main thing I remember is you need stiff icing. That's about all I can tell you about it.

If they are the Wilton, yes they are worth it. I took two different classes (Wilton) years ago when JC Penney offered them. I still have all my tubes etc. You'll love it especially if you have a lot of cakes to make. You'll learn how to make that basketweaves and grass for Easter baskets.

I don't have anyone to decorate for anymore. I used to make the office birthday cake. They might offer an advace class if you think you need that one.

I am getting ready to start my first class at Michaels for a Wilton course (Mar 6th). I had talked to one of the worker bees at Michaels and she showed me pics of her stuff (which looked good), she said the instructor was very good, so I figured I'd give it a try. I have played around for years with the stuff I have and do OK, but I decided to learn how to do it properly, so I am looking forward to the class. I'll let you know how it goes. Once I am finished with the course, I think I'd like to concentrate on "fancy cupcakes" and mini cakes, they seem to be all the craze right now.

I will try to post some inspiration pics of the cupcakes and mini cakes I found (as soon as I do some photobucket house cleaning -they tell me that I am almost over my bandwidth)

Thank you, Ladies. You all seem to think it is worth it. It is a WILTON course, but it is an hour's drive so I want to be sure it is worth it. Of course, the outlets are there, so I could hit the stores too!!
Judith, I would love to hear how you like it, and see your pics too. I bought one of those Wilton cupcake stands a few year ago, I haven't used it though. I do make a lot of those egg shaped cupcakes for Easter, but they don't fit in the stand! About 7 years ago I went to a wedding on an estate here, and the wedding cake was cupcakes, But that was before that rolled fondant, which I don't care for, became the rage.
Minnie, I am sure your cakes were a big hit! I know they are very time consuming, so that was very kind of you. When I was doing catering, I used to bring all my new "creations" into school for my colleagues to taste and judge. They were not good judges though, they would eat anything!!!! esp if it was free!
On a diff "sweet" topic, my husb makes wonderful rugelach. Since there is so much rolling of the creamcheese/buttery dough, I thought maybe one of those pasta makers would work...IT DIDN't! The dough is too rich, and it was a mess to clean! So maybe I will have to get into that polymer clay as I have seen them use that with the clay. Oh well, another failed idea!
Sandi, you should try to take another course if you liked it, and you are near a Michael's? You are artistic and I am sure would be very good at it!
Thanks again for the info everyone!

kathleen, there are good tasting fondants out there. Perhaps the ones you had before is the one that Wilton makes? Wiltons has the worst reputation for fondant taste, definately avoid them. There is also "poured fondant" which is a whole lot easier! You can get wonderful cup cake info on peoples "blogs". If you go to flicker.com and type in "cup cakes" you will find fantastic things!

Of course GW doesn't have a forum for cake decorating, I searched all over here, and there is very few posts on this, so I will have to struggle along by myself...I'm not so sure we can get away with posting cake decorating here???

Why not, no more off topic than dogs and errant bunnies!
And it is a way of celebrating holidays..What holiday doesn't have cake associated with it?? I would be very interested in talking about it here, or if they would, another forum. Maybe entertaining?? No one usually posts over there anyway!.
Ok, I will have to try a different fondant, and I will check those sites. The few fondants I had were on wedding cakes, and were very sweet! I like whipped cream, buttercream is too sweet for me also, and of course creamcheese, and a choc icing I make. When I was "selling" I was always amazed how much cream cheese I needed for the carrot cakes, and even buying in bulk it was a pricey item. Now I don't keep track of the cost. If someone asks me to make them a cake for an occasion, I just tell them what to buy, and I do it for them.
I mean even Ash Wed has a sweet associated with it, HOT CROSS BUNS!

Maybe you could Judith--especially if you are making "holiday" cakes and cupcakes! ;o)

You can always contact Admn here--I am sure they would open up a forum for cake decorating.

I used to think about learning cake decorating too--can't do it now DH is diabetic and I am overweight! Not a good idea to have cakes and icing around my house! Ha ha

Hey, wait a minute--maybe I could just learn to do those "faux' cakes like we see used for decorations. Hmm! now that's a thought!

Luvs

Well, Luvs, you could make the cakes for your grand kids! And learn to make sugar free things. I used to get special orders for that. My dear friend is an ovarian canc surviv and diab, so I try to come up for things for her. I have also done a gluten free dessert for a friend who has celiac dis.
In any event, it is an artistic expression, and I know you are artistic.
J, years ago, (99) I (prob others too!) asked Spike to start a building a home forum and he did.

Kathleen, and Luvs, not too long ago I emailed Admin asking for a Tablesetting/Accessorizing Page, never heard back from them....
Well, at least they haven't deleted us thus far....

Luvs, I need to loose weight too, but I figure if I walk a 100 miles a day, I can get away with it. ;)

kathleen, I love sweet icing, but I know what you mean, sometimes the sweetness is overboard. Luckily there are many recepies out here for "faux" butter cream and the real thing. I made a butter cream a few days ago, it was a bit too sweet. Of course I ate it just the same...(someone has to test this stuff you know....) LOL
From what I have read it is better to have a higher percentage of butter as compaired to the confec. sugar in the receipe to be less sweet. So my next "try" will be with a slightly different receipe.

Oh, I remember those "trial" days. You should get you dd's bf in on those, men don't seem to pack on the lbs as easily as we do!
If you find something really good, please share. And I would be happy to do the same with you or anyone else interested. I do have an aversion to recipes with "too many" ingredients though. Overkill..LOL
J, do you have the Baking with Julia cookbook?

Kathleen, DD's boyfriend is not really that big on sweet stuff (bummer)! I'll definately share what I find. Yes, I have quite a few of her books and probably a hundred or so more cook books, my biggest problem in my house is keeping ahead of all my books and dishes and such!! A great book is the one called "The Cake Bible" by....Rose Levy Beranbaum, I love the book because she goes into all the "reasons" why something works or doesn't. I have done her receipe for the Cordon Rose Cheesecake and it is fabulous, every loves it (but not cheap to make)!

100 cookbooks, OMG, you really must have one of those PODS in your yard! You are the Queen of Things!!!
I did get Birenbaum's book from the Lib one time , don't remember that spec recipe. So when I return my Roehme books tomorrow I will see if I can get it. You really are a trouble maker. So let's see..dishes, glasses, access, candles, vases, mirrors, COOKBOOKS. How about fabric..any collections..fess up! But you do make me feel like I am not as sick as I thought I was!LOL

i have to look thru my books. I know I have a lot of Cake Dec ones mostly the old Wilton. They are still fun because of all the ideas. I know I have some Maid of Scandnavia's too. I'll look soon and see if anyone wants them for the postage.

kathleen, I do love reading, most of my books are "learning/instruction type of books", cooking, flower arranging, interior decorating, biography, inspiration stuff and some financial stuff and some fun stuff like Harry Potter and the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. I can spend hours and hours (not to mention money) in book stores. My dream home would include a very large library and a "dish room"!

You certainly do have a love of learning! When we moved after being in the same house for 27 yrs., I did donate many of my books. I kept the cookbooks, and now I use the library. My friend supplies me with the latest fiction, and then I donate them . So I will forego the Home Library, but the dish room sounds good!!

kathleen, Well, I love learning certain things, at least the ones I am passionate about. LOL I will use the library for some things, but if I love the book, then I just have to buy it... I moved so much in my life, and had to give so many things away, now I can finally enjoy "keeping" my belongings until I decide I want to get rid of them,(which still does happen) but, it is so much better having a choice now. If I had a better memory perhaps I would not have to keep so many books, but I find I do have to referr back to many of them either for inspiration or instructions LOL