Hey everyone, I was just wondering if everyone here has taken the wilton classes. Has anyone gone to culinary school? How many of you do this full time? And how many of you went to college for something else? Im just wondering because I've alllllways loved baking ever since I was a little kid and I was talked out of going to culinary school by my parents because they said it wasn't realistic so now I work in accounting (have been for 2 years) and I absolutely hated it. I'm still in college for business management and im taking the wilton classes also. I was looking into culinary schools also b/c I refuse to listen to other people anymore so I was just wondering how everyone else got started and if this is just a part time thing or if anyone went to school for this. Thanks!!
I took Wilton class 1 a couple months ago because I just needed to SEE someone make a rose.....for some reason I couldn't figure it out looking at the books..........everything else was either self taught or learned on this site! I've never even owned a wilton yearbook......I do have 2 Cake decorating books though..but I've never done anything I've seen in them. I would LOVE to go to cullinary school but I don't think it's necessary to make a business out of this.
I took 'em (in Wilton III and Gumpaste now) so I could learn how to make a wedding cake...I never expected it, but I found out that I absolutely love doing it...for me worth it..absolutely..
Just having hands on learning and instruction on roses, putting fondant on a cake..
Not that you couldn't learn it by yourself, but I love the social aspect and having the teacher right there to ask and show us..
Love to bake/cook but the rest of it is all self-taught..plus my dear Mum was a great cook!!
I've taken Wilton Course 1 and am almost done with Course 2. I've really enjoyed it so far and plan on taking Course 3 and Course 4 (which will be offered starting in the spring).
I would LOVE to be able to go to some type of culinary school but don't know if I will be able to swing it or not. I've been in Police/Fire/EMS communications for 20+ years so no, haven't been doing cake decorating for a long time. But I do love it.
I love that saying doleta....I wish I knew what I wanted to be when I 'grow' up.....I like cake decorating but I would never want to make it into a business....then it would be work to me...I just wanna make cute cakes for family and friends.....
I really envy people who know what they want to do and do it!
I just graduated from college in May with a Communications degree. While I love my event planning and marketing job, I would much prefer to spend my time working on cakes and other baking things. My advice would be to do what you love. You are ultimately the person who will be doing a job for the rest of your life, so don't feel compelled to do what others want you to. That being said, I don't think it is bad to get a degree in one thing and then take classes in another field. This allows you the comfort of a job while you can make extra money on the side baking, and eventually move into a full time baking job. That is my hope for the near future.
I have taken all three courses and will do the gumpaste the beginning of next year. I absolutely love decorating cakes. I have found my passion and I intend to go with it. I have been in the accounting field for the past nineteen years and I dread going to work every day. Especially now since I have a new passion. I meet today with a hotel to see if I land the account and if I do I will be able to say goodbye to my job and hello to my new love. So I say do whatever makes you happy while you still have the chance!
noreen, congratulations on sticking to it! Education is a wonderful tool.
I have 25 years cake decorating experience, at first...all I was was a WILTON yearbook copy cat cake decorator. I hadn't taken any classes but had ordered the Mail Order cake decorating courses.
I would only do character cakes for friends and family for my money.
I used to bake from a kitchen that I installed in what was supposed to be a garage but never was. in 1996 I decided that people were not taking me seriously so I got my Baking and also my Bread certification at a cooking school and took my first Wilton classes around that time and became a WMI.
By this time I had my little shop.
I closed and came to Florida and after ALLLLLLL THAT TIME, I too would just do what I loved, and went to University and got a Baking and Pastry Arts Degree.
Now, with all that experience, certification, debt and degree.......
I wonder if I could've saved myself ALL That money, time and be standing in the same place today!??
I'm glad that I got my degree, but...it's just one of those things...the school can only teach you basics, it's up to me to go out there and live it to learn it.
But, I still think education IS a good thing..lol
I'm very slowly teaching myself based on books and what I've learned here. I've taken all 3 Wilton classes too - actually twice because I took them about 4 years ago and then didn't do anything cake-y for quite some time and felt I really needed a "refresher" course. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to the French Culinary Institute in New York - and I would die for an internship with Duff, Collette, Ron Ben Israel, Norman (um shoot forgot his last name), Bronwyn, or Mike from Mike's amazing cakes - Mike was the one that got me interested in cakes way back when he did a Reading Rainbow show..... they made a pig cake, a car that they airbrushed - and I was amazed! I hadn't seen anything like it and wanted to learn so badly!
I also went to college for about 3 years and then said that I was really wasting my parents' money b/c I didn't know what I wanted to do. Now I'm interested in pastry arts and graphic design but have no money! So I'm teaching myself on my own - say some prayers for me! 
LOL
I've never taken a Wilton class or culinary school, but both on are my wish list.
Are we pitiful when we're young? We listen to mom and dad who tell us to "go to school and get a "good" job with a 'fine' company." Read the books by Donald Trump and Martha Stewart and other successful people. Most of them will ask us (paraphrased), "Why are you taking advice from someone who is not living their dream?" My latest Trump book points out that only on Wall Street will someone drive to the office in a Rolls Royce to take advice from someone who rides the subway!
I'm also a collector of quotes and one that is hanging on my wall is from Elton John: "I've finally decided my future lies BEYOND the Yellow Brick Road". (In 40 working days, this day job is done and I'm taking the detour off of the yellow brick road to do this full time!)
And my personal favorite by John Lennon: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making OTHER plans".
Life's too short to spend it doing something you hate. The very very fortunate ones are the ones who know what their passion is ..... and they pursue it.
I went to college in 1979-1981. Became an xray technologist and went as far as I could in the profession, Director. Took off work (totally) in 2003 until last summer. Work part-time now. Took all 3 Wilton courses this summer and have found my "niche". Do at least 3 cakes a week, usually for free for friends. This site has encouraged me and is so full of information, ideas and talented people! Nicholas Lodge and Scott Mark Wooley (or Woolley; Cakes by Design) have wonderful sites to look at if you are interested in sugarpaste flowers, etc. They are way too advanced for me but give some idea of what I want to do when I grow up....
I have taken two of the Wilton courses. I really would love to go to culinary arts school. I love creating with food. Right now, however, my kids are my number 1 priority...but maybe when they are grown. If I remember right Colette Peters never went to school. She is self taught. But, Duff Goldman went to culinary arts school. So, it could be done either way. Go with your gut and don't let anyone discourage you.
Self taught for now...there is great information on CC.
The nearest Wilton Classes are too far away for me to get to right now. I am taking a 2 session basic cake decorating course in November which I am very excited about.
I have a BSc. in Biology and a background in Project Management. I am currently working as a research assistant at a university. I'm waiting for the day when my DH will finish grad school so that I can stay home full time and bake cakes to my hearts content.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%