My name is Cindy. I live in Spanish Fort, AL. I have two kids DS 9 and DD 4 and one DH LOL. I am contemplating taking the Wilton course at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I grew up with my mom making cakes for every birthday and occassion.
You guys are are a talented bunch and very gracious for sharing your secrets here!
So that leads me to my question--With so much information and instruction available here, how many of you have actually taken the Wilton course (or other cake decorating classes) and how many have just "winged" it through the school of hard knocks? LOL
I signed up for the wilton courses after my first cake. I did 5 or 6 before the classes started and I was dissapointed. Many people on here say that it is a great start and I think most people have taken them but I didn't like it very much maybe because I like fondant and making figures and stuff and wilton doesn't do anything like that.
Welcome to Cake Central. It does help to take a couple of hands on classes. It helps to know what 'stiff icing' looks like, how royal should pipe, and how to properly level and stack a cake.
These basics can help you avoid disasters. For example, read through the disaster forum to see how many decorators were unprepared for the cakes they tried. It is a great learning experience.
wilton classes are generally affordable and strong on basics.
Welcome to CC Cindy. Personally I have never taken a class it's all been self taught. I have thought about taking them though. I actually bought the books wilton use, and have done a home lesson sorta speak. Everything takes practice, practice, practice 
Tonya
My first Wilton 1 lesson was back in 1982, when I was 12, and I haven't taken a class since. I'm self-taught, but then, that's how I tend to do just about everything. 
I guess it's all in how you learn. Some people are really good at learning from books and how-to videos, while others need hands-on instruction. Some need both! I teach craft classes, and some people are able to 'get it' with just the written instructions and pictures... others need to be shown step-by-step. So it really just depends on how you learn best. 
Hey there. I'm pretty darn new, too, but here's my advice for what it's worth.
You might buy the book and the kit for course one and see if you can get what you want out of the book. If you find you need some more visual, hands-on type learning, you can sign up for the class and you'll already have the stuff.
Personally, I found it useful for quite a few things I just couldn't get out of the book. It seems simple now, but I mangled up so much parchment trying to roll cones. It took about 5 second for the instructor to show me.
I was given the classes (courses 1-3 and Fondant/Gumpaste) last year for my 50th birthday at Michael's. I loved them.
Now I have gotten the decorating bug and have started to decorate - sold some; gave some away.
Cindy, I guess we are sort of neighbors, I live in Trussville, AL.
Welcome to CC! You will LOVE it here, but you'd better hire a maid and a cook. You won't have time to cook meals and clean your house with all the cake tips you want to try, and with all the reading/posting you'll do here!
About a hundred years ago 
I took Wilton Course I and loved it.
I have often thought about taking the other courses, but have never gotten around to doing it. After almost 2000 cakes, I guess I can say that I learned some basics from the Wilton course, but have learned most of the stuff I know from books and from other people. And I have figured out ways to do things on my own. But I have never used fondant...yet...
I wish CC had been around back when started 20 years ago. I learn something new every day here.
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