I have seen a couple things I like in the new wilton book. Esp the new fondant mat with floral pattern. Does anyone know when these items will come out.. I have only seen new book at cake decorating store. Hobby lobby and walmart have not gotten yet. I would like to get this mat w/ coupon, so do these stores get them later than cake supply places. thanks

I saw the mat before I saw the book. It was at my Michaels store. At least a month before I saw the book. If you have one close try there.

Our mats are already available at both Michaels and AC Moore.

I'm pretty miffed at Wilton, 'cause more and more of their year books are taken over with cupcakes and fondant. Stuff I'm not all that interested in doing, or don't have the proficiency yet to do.

The new tools and such have been out since April/May.

I know Michael's has them. Not sure about the other stores because the 2 other ones in my area don't carry any Wilton.

OK missmeg, I've seen your gallery and non-interest is one thing but you definitely have the proficiency to try your hand at some fondant!!

Our Hobby Lobby has the new wilton products and has had them for a few weeks now. I am a WMI there, and my supervisor said that most stores have them, but some stores aren't displaying them yet because they have to reset the aisles first. HTH

I've been told that Michael's is the 'testing ground' for Wilton, everything from classes to products. Michael's usually has product/classes at least 6 mos ahead of the other retailers. Our AC Moore just got the new Wilton products whereas they have been available for quite sometime at Michaels. I haven't seen anything new in Walmart yet.

I used the floral mat at the Annual Instructor Meeting for Wilton at the end of June. Yes, it does turn out. You have to use a small rolling pin and roll very slowly or else you will have "shadowing." I don't believe you have to use shortening or a dusting pouch whatsoever. We covered a 6" cake with it and it worked pretty well but I haven't used it on larger cakes yet. Someone even tried using it on a cake iced with buttercream and it worked (at least on the top). I don't know how you would manage the sides though. My Hobby Lobby had it in stock the Monday I got back from AIM and I noticed that our Michael's had it, too.

I have a hard time finding alot of Wiltons cake decorating supplies where I live. I usually just go to Wiltons online store and purchase there. Ebay always has alot of Wilton things too!

missmeg - try it again! I'm a true beginner, and I find covering a cake in fondant easier than getting butercream smooth. If more of the people for whom I make cakes loved fondant (and I use Satin Ice, so it's not really a taste issue, just texture), I'd use it even more than I do. Everyone I know is so impressed by a fondant-covered cake that it's a shame more people don't want to eat it.

[quote="tracey1970"]missmeg - try it again! I'm a true beginner, and I find covering a cake in fondant easier than getting butercream smooth. If more of the people for whom I make cakes loved fondant (and I use Satin Ice, so it's not really a taste issue, just texture), I'd use it even more than I do. Everyone I know is so impressed by a fondant-covered cake that it's a shame more people don't want to eat it.[/quote


I agree Tracy! with AWOLF too! It's very fun and practice practice practice!

Yes, and the two things I've learned through serious (and repeated) trial and error are to roll out the fondant a bit thicker than many people think (maybe almost a 1/4 inch thick) and to roll it out on a mat lightly coated with shortening to avoid sticking and to avoid drying out the fondant (which then cracks!).