Who All Has Took The Fondant And Gumpaste Class?
Decorating By mommyinaprilx2 Updated 12 Apr 2007 , 10:17pm by Jenteach
And what did you think of it? I am a Wilton instructor at Hobby Lobby and we are teaching our first class in May...I was just curious what everyone thought about it?
You asked so here goes: IMHO the first class was a waste of time especially if you had already taken course III. The second class wasn't much better. Finally, in class three we got to do flowers!! Personally, I think course III should be required to take the gumpaste class. Everyone in my class who already had fondant experience was bored silly until we got into flower making. I understand that this was a new offering so I hope they will listen and revise the course soon.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! 
It was fun because I took it with my same instructor for I II and III. The class was just 2 students and my classmate also took the other courses with me. Since we knew fondant we just talked about other things. All we really learned was how to make gum glue and the 3 flowers. The other things we already knew. I took the class because I thought there would be more flowers and I thought we would learn to make them on wires.
I think in my HONEST opinion that wilton made the class up in order to sell more product and shamelessly so! It is Boring. There is nothing in the class that really needs hands on help. You can learn it all by just reading how to do it. I was annoyed with the whole thing. If I hadn't been the only student in the class, I would have quit. LOL...is that honest enough 
Oh and that rolling pin thing they want to sell you is silly. It has one pattern on it.....you can't do much with just one pattern. I say buy some foam stamps and have fun.....they are a dollar each or less. Why spend 20 on something that only has one application? okay I will stop before I get myself TOO worked up LOL.
Ditto, the previous posters!!! I was bored silly and really wanted to work on flowers more!
I would have to say, also, that if you have taken Course 3, you can easily do without the first class. If people have only taken Course 1, (the only requirement) then I can see it being a good introduction to fondant. That said, however, I agree with cakerlady and tyty, in that I was hoping for less fondant and more gumpaste. I would rather take a four-week gumpaste flowers course than a fondant/gumpaste combo.
I still enjoyed it, as it was all the same ladies I took Course 3 (and some that we go back to Course 2) with, and the same instructor (who is wonderful) so it was more like a social club meeting for a lot of the classes. I loved learning the flowers that were offered, except for the fantasy flower - I would rather learn a real flower. The daisies were my favourite.
I think it's a good introduction to those of us that were feeling a little intimidated by gumpaste. Now I can't wait to take the Gumpaste flowers course.
I have to disagree. The only class that I had taken was course one and most likely won't use the techniques taught in course II & III and that is why that class worked well for me. I had never used fondant and gumpaste before and I learned a lot from the course.
I could see being frustrated if I had taken course II & III. I think that Wilton should make it clear that this is a beginner class and that would solve some of the problems.
But why would there be a need for 2 beginner courses (3 & 4)? I've taken 1-4 in order & couldn't believe how basic course 4 was!!!! Thank goodness I had a very good instructor or it could have been a lot worse. I didn't really learn anything new until the lessons on the gumpaste flowers. So, 1 out of 4 classes where worth my time. I agree that this is Wilton's attempt to make more money off selling their product. It's very obvious just by looking at the required elements to bring to class ea. time. I did not choose to buy all that stuff, or I would have been broke. Hopefully, if enough people email Wilton, they may change the format. So, if you haven't taken course 3, I guess it would be worth the time. However, I feel sorry for those that already taken it b/c they will be very bored.
Sorry for being so negative, but that's the truth.
'
I could see advertising this as a course to go inbetween course 2 & 3, but not after 3. Unfortunately there isn't a certified Gumpaste only course, and the instructor up here doesn't know enough to teach it on her own (not her fault). I think Wilton should have spent more time teaching their instructors on a Gumpaste ONLY course in regards to flowers. Then again, this is IMHO only.
Chocolateandpeanutbutter, funny you should mention the fantasy flower, I had a wedding consultation Sat. And she loved that flower and wants it on her cake.
That's so funny! I looked at that flower, and thought, "bleah!" I took it around to show my coworkers (I work at the Michaels where I took the courses) and waited to see what they said. If they said "oh, isn't that pretty," I said "really? I don't like it at all!" and then we all laughed.
But I'm sure your cake will be lovely - please post the pics!
And, we are very lucky to have excellent instructors here who are qualified to teach gumpaste flowers. I can hardly wait - I think it's only two sessions, though. I already have the kit so I can practice.
And I was looking into taking the course but now maybe I won't. I have already taken courses 1,2, & 3 so if it is alot of course 3 then maybe I won't take it. I want to learn new things like just making different flowers and what not. I hope that they will change it then. I wait and see if they will change the course then before I take it.
Here's a link to the other thread about it and in my post there is a link to the previous thread about it...the general consensus was overall dissapointment at seems...
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-1479571-.html#1479571
Cheers!
There's plenty of dissapointed comments to look at in this link, and there are links within this link about a previous thread with, guess what, more dissapointed comments...
Wilton's "begginer" gumpaste course STILL gets my 
...
Cheers
You know when I first heard they were offering this class I wondered about it. I kind of sat back and waited to see what each person had to say, and you said just about what I thought might happen. First, it is a beginners course but there are other beginners courses in flowers where they actually get right into making flowers, teaching you how to wire etc. I also think your class, no matter what the subject, is only as good as the instructor. If the complaints I have heard regarding some of the Wilton instructors are as it seems to be for many, Wilton should be contacted. You are paying to learn, the instructor is there to teach. If they aren't qualified to do flowers and they aren't intereted in teaching their students they should bow out and let their students choose to spend their money and time elsewhere. I just see it as something that would discourage so many people from ever trying to learn, and that's a shame because flower making is so enjoyable and satisfying when you can create something that looks close to a real flower. I am really sorry to hear that many of you were disappointed in your class. Contact Michaels Corporate offices as well as Wiltons and voice your complaints. Maybe they will rethink this program and improve it. I don't think you can expect it to be compared to a Nicholas Lodge or Scott Woolley class, but you should be able to come away happy with what you have learned.
I was disappointed in this class. I agree with everyone else. If you've taken class III this class is a waste of time. I dropped out after 2 of the classes and I wasn't impressed with the flowers we did. The carnation was horrible. I went home and made the carnation out of Scott Clark Woolley's book and it blew the Wilton carnation away! Here's a picture of the 2. I was really hoping this would be an advanced fondant gumpaste class. I also wanted to take the tiered Wedding cake class but after taking this one I am discouraged and will not take it.
Oh the pink ones are the ones I made out of Scott's book and the white ones are the Wilton ones.
Jacqui
My take on the class:
I learned a few things but I also think Wilton should reorganized course III and the fondant/Gumpaste class. I think the course III should concentrate on tier cakes and advance royal icing decorations.
The Gumpaste/fondant class should be a longer class with intro to fondant cake covering,drapping,hankerchiefs, should also include basic modeling of figures along with basic florals, and floral sprays, with one cake at the end of class.
I just finished this class on Sunday. I knew kind of what to expect by seeing the posts on CC. I decided to take it anyway because I knew nothing about gumpaste. I had all three other Wilton courses. The first class of this course was an absolute waste of time. The last class was an absolute waste of time. The middle two classes I learned a little bit. But, my instructor wasn't very good, either. For instance, she taught us the wrong way to do the daisy. My carnations look terrible. I would love to see how to do that really cool carnation. The fantasy flower was silly, or at least the way mine came out. She never did any demonstrations, just talked about it. I could go on and on. It wasn't a total waste of time, IMHO, but it came pretty close at times. If you know nothing about fondant, it is probably a great class.
Thanks for all your replies. I was afraid that I was get that response though. No problem though. I didn't make the guidelines I just teach by them! lol I took this at Micheals as a student myself last month and def know what all of you are talking about. I just had funbeing a student again and not the teacher! lol last summer there was supposed to be another flower in there as well I think and for some reason they took it out of the guidelines. I still have all my guidelines and was thinking of playing around with my time and trying to fit that other flower in to the time so the students could get a bit more out of the class. We will see.
As far as a couple of you talking about another gumpaste flower class I am lost...please fill me in?????? I didn't know there was another one! Or did I totally missread that?
Also please email wilton with your thoughts on this class!!! Of course Micheals and Hobby Lobby and all the other stores that teach it have nothing to do with it since we get all our stuff right from Willton so it will all have to go though Wilton.
My instructor taught my the cala lily which she said was left out so that the fantasy flower could be done. I will end up using the lily which was easier and a whole lot prettier.
My instructor was really good and I will be contacting Wilton to leave positive feedback.
My suggestion to Wilton is that they make the Fondant/Gum Paste the second course.
Of course Micheals and Hobby Lobby and all the other stores that teach it have nothing to do with it since we get all our stuff right from Willton so it will all have to go though Wilton.
I don't quite agree with that. Michaels or Hobby Lobby is using their name to promote the Wilton classes, and as such people will buy their cake decorating supplies at their stores. If enough people complain to Michaels or Hobby Lobby's Corporate offfices, not just their local store, they will get the message that their customers are not happy with the Wilton classes. In turn. Michaels and Hobby Lobby are going to be in touch with Wilton insisting they make some changes and make this right by the students.
My instructor was great, but she can only do what is allowed through the guidelines. On the last day she showed us the Cala Lily, which I love. I am just hoping that there could be a class to teach the orchid and other exotic flowers some day in the near future.
My take on the class:
I learned a few things but I also think Wilton should reorganized course III and the fondant/Gumpaste class. I think the course III should concentrate on tier cakes and advance royal icing decorations.
The Gumpaste/fondant class should be a longer class with intro to fondant cake covering,drapping,hankerchiefs, should also include basic modeling of figures along with basic florals, and floral sprays, with one cake at the end of class.
I agree with you 100%. The only thing I enjoyed about the class was my teacher and the fact that she took the time to show us some of the other flowers since we new the basic stuff.
I have not had course 3 and I will be finishing the FG class tomarrow its not been what I thought . I was hoping more Gumpaste but I feel anything I can learn is good. I wish we could of learned the wiring and coloring like so many here do instead of just using icing color but I felt I benefited some.
Shirley W would you consider traveling around the different states PLEASE???
I'm going to sign up for the Fondant and Gum Paste class to start on May 1. I have only taken course I, but the Michael's near me does not offer course II or III in May, onlly the Fondant and Gum Paste one. Do you think I will learn a lot, or do you think that I will be lost since I haven't taken anything but course I?
TIA
Jen
Yes since you've only taken course I. If you had taken II & III I might say something different.
Have great time.
Do you think I will learn a lot, or do you think that I will be lost since I haven't taken anything but course I?
This course is meant to be taken at any point after Course 1. That is why they did not name it Course 4. All you have to have is Course 1 to do it.
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