What I did in 2012

Happy New Year 2103!

I'm late in wishing, as they say, better late than never!

My wish for my blog this year is the same as last year...to ensure regular and quality postings every month, so simple and yet so difficult...the simplest things are the most difficult, unappreciated too, because they can't easily be seen...but can only be felt. Here's to more "HEART" in 2013.

2102 has been good to me.

I get to design and implement my cupcake syllabus.

Thanks to Wah Seng, the local retailer and authorized centre for Wilton, the venue where I conduct my classes.

Sharing some photos of students in Cupcake Class Level 1.1.

This syllabus is designed for beginners, from the baking of cupcakes to decorating using buttercream.

Simple piping techniques like swirls, rosettes and identifying tips and their functions.

This is for Level 2 which uses fondant as the decorating medium. 

Level 2.1 shows the using of cutters to create 2D designs

Level 2.2 extends to 3D items which explains the usage of gum tragacanth or CMC (a man-made substitute).

I will be working to further expand my cupcake syllabus this year, that is why they are simply called by their levels, which a theme, or any cupcake theme depending on season can be adapted according  to the syllabus in the levels.

Wishing one and all a progressive and productive 2013! 

Gum Paste Orchid Class in Ipoh

The cake enthusiast community in Ipoh had the pleasure of learning from visiting instructor, Liew Yoke Moy from Cake Art and Sugarcraft at a two-day Gum Paste Orchid class. Through the forum Malaysian Cake Decorators' Club (MCDC), created by Joanne Fam to facilitate learning and sharing of the joy of baking and decorating among the cake crazy community in Malaysia, we have created MCDC Ipoh, a link in Facebook to further connect and bring happening cake events our little peaceful (jamless) town, Ipoh which is 2 hours drive from KL.

This being the first event organised under MCDC Ipoh, we had it at my home. Yoke Moy was wearing a mask as she was having a slight flu the day before. After sleeping it off in KL, and making an early morning journey, here she is in Ipoh ready to start class immediately upon arrival. Enthusiastic teacher breeds equally enthusiastic students!

Day 1 consist of cutting, thinning and veining of petals.

Day 2, dried petals all ready to be dusted with petal dust.

Steaming to set the colours.

My 4 orchids!

Yoke Moy is willing to conduct similar classes again in Ipoh if there is a demand for it. Thanks to all my Wilton student who have attended...this is a highly recommended next step upon completion of Wilton Course 3. And also to Ling Tze, another fondant, gum paste player all the way from Penang.

Chocolate Making with Wilton Candy Molds

Date : Saturday, 24th April, 2010

Time : 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Type of Class : Demonstration

Fee : RM30 per person

Cookie Decorating Class

Date : Saturday, 31st October 2009

Venue : Wah Seng, Ipoh

Time : 10:00 am - 12:30pm or 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Fee : RM100.00 per person

Syllabus : 1) make and bake basic Sugar Cookies

2) Color Flow icing recipe

3) hands-on decorating 6 different types of cookie

cut-outs with Color Flow and Fondant

Bring back 6 decorated cookies on that day.

6 Free Wilton cookie cutters worth RM3.80 each for each participant, courtesy of Wah Seng.

Fun with Topsy Turvy Cake

Conducted a topsy-turvy cake project over the weekend. Also known as Mad Hatter cake as in the Alice in Wonderland tea party session with Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse.

Carving the shape the shape of the cake. Look at the amount of cake carved out in the purple basin. Will be converting them into Chocolate Balls next.

Decorating the different layers with funky designs. Undecorated, they look like round single seater couch.

Evelyn and Haslinda with their topsy-turvy cakes.

A Time to Destress and Get Creative

Have just conducted the second session of Cupcake Class 2 last Saturday. Being a public holiday (Wesak Day) as well, we had as usual a good mix of people...Wilton students like Aishah; first-timers to my class like Theresa and Janice; a friend who runs a fried chicken stall in my regular pasar malam (an entrepreneurial lady, Faizah); Intan Bazian, who is on holiday from Switzerland; and a Japanese student who is also interested in sugar paste flowers (wonder what is the cake decorating scene like in Japan). 

Below are some creative efforts from the class.

An autumn theme basket...one of my favourites.

Thank you everyone for attending. See you all in Cupcake Class 3!

Cupcake Class 2

This is an update to my next cupcake class on Saturday, 28th March 2009. Below are the 4 designs as well as tools to bring. Designs are 90% using fondant and 10% using butter cream.  Since its a hands-0n class, the things to bring are compulsory, whereas the optional are to bring if you already have them. If not, you can use mine in class. They are also for sale at Wah Seng. Cupcakes will be provided in class. Have you tried the Kiwi premix? or Blueberry? Hmm...will persuade Mrs Lai to provide that...definately better than ordinary butter cake.

A brief explanation on the designs; top left is a typical ribbon enhanced by using textured roller and dust with gold Pearl Dust, top right is a top bow with jagged edges, bottom left is button flower using the latest Wilton product (Fondant Cut and Press Set) shown in the Wilton Yearbook 2009, bottom right is a basket of flowers (feel free to improvise by adding a butterfly on the flowers!).

Hope to see you in class!

Things to bring: blade/cutter, scissors, ruler, spatula, , small rolling pin, empty container for cupcakes.

Optional things to bring: Wilton Cutter/Embosser, Wilton 9in Rolling Pin, Button Flower Fondant Press Set, Floral Garland Cutter/Ejector Set, Fondant Shaping Foam, Ball Tool

Cupcake Decorating Class in Ipoh!

                                                                       

                                                                           This is a notice on

                                                          **Cupcake Decorating Class**

                                                           Date      : Saturday, 28th March, 2009

                                                           Time     : 2:00pm - 5:00pm

                                                           Venue   : Wah Seng Sdn Bhd

                                                                             131-133, Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar

                                                                             Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

                                                     Tel        :05-241 6862

Its a hands-on class for 4 cupcake designs using buttercream and fondant. Students get to try out Wilton tools like

Floral Fantasy Fondant Imprint Mat,
Button Flower Fondant Cut n Press Set, (tutorial here)
Fondant Shaping Foam Set,
Floral Garland Ejector Set
Cutter/Embosser.

If you have these tools, bring them during class. If you wish to buy them, you could try asking Mrs. Lai at Wah Seng for product discount upon class registration. 

Tools to bring are: spatula, scissors, tissue papers, leaf tips and an empty container to take away decorated cupcakes. 

See you in class! :)

Gum Paste Moth Orchid Tutorial

Here it is! The tutorial on moth orchid also known as Phalaenopsis Orchid , particularly popular as wedding flowers. There are about 60 species in a variety of shapes and colours. Some of the big petals can be frilled, or curved inwards or outwards. If unsure, just use the link above or google it to check. That's what I did!

In this picture, you can compare it with the one on my previous blog entry. See how the burgandy has faded. :( This picture is taken immediately upon completion of the cake.

Let's get on with the tutorial...

Step 1: Use the cutter to cut out the labellum (throat), thin out the sides, use the foil to give it a cupped shape. Poke wire 26 (white) through the top and let it harden overnight in its foil.

Step 2: Cut the bigger petals using the cutter and press on to the veiner. Use wire 26 (white) and give it a curved shape by resting the petal on an egg holder overnight.

Step 3: There are 2 different cutters for the smaller petals. Cut and vein them as in Step 2.

Step 4: Above are all the petals needed. Colour them using a specific powdered colour (available in ICCA or any of its distributors ), costing RM30.00 for one colour.

Step 5: This is a close-up of the labellum. Use a small piece of gum paste to mould the moth's head and poke through the wire. The moth's head is a smaller version of the unopened buds.

Step 6: Atttach both the bigger petals behind the labellum using the green floristry tape.

Step 7: Attached the top petal.

Step 8: Followed by the 2 bottom petals.

And there you have it, life-size moth orchid!

E-mail me at ttyhien@acupcakeproject.com if you are interested in attending classes for this.