First up, we have the Online flower group, wait until you see what the flowers were from this term, we actually finish this coming Monday due to me accidentally burning my hand and having to postpone, but I cannot wait to get into the school room this weekend and play with flowers (even if I have to cover just one finger, that is soooooo much better than it was!

What a lovely selection of flowers we will be playing with.

Whether you decide to just tune in and watch then watch the video replay at your leisure, or you want to work along, is totally up to you as you can ask questions while I make and the recordings will be there in the private facebook group for you and you can keep asking questions and interacting in the group.

Okay, this is going to be SO much fun! I can't wait!

This is a slightly longer class, it is a bring-your-own class but there is very little equipment and a small amount of ingredients required.

Can you imagine, a Bobble-head cake topper that..............wobbles! Fantastic!

My Bluebell fairy that I created for Cakeflix has captured a few hearts lately so I am creating a Rose Campion fairy for the Tuesday evening Bring-your-own class and we will learn how to make the wire armature - always a skill that people ask for - and I will not only show you how to make the head and hands from scratch, but I will also show you how to use moulds and adapt them for your use, so even if you are busy and want to make a figure, you can personalise it. This also works if you are new to sugarcraft, want to learn and practice, but don't feel ready yet.

I love a mix class and this one will be fab. Only three sessions, but the longer sessions are great value and these are all-inclusive so you don't need to bring anything at all.

You will learn how to make a modelled deer cake topper from Saracino, sculpt a mini hedgehog with a rice cereal treat base but we will chat about making larger versions from cake such as the sculptures you can see around the school room, and finally we will create a beautiful box of piped floral buttercream cupcakes.

I am always asked how to arrange flowers and in this "Sugar Flowers 101" class, we not only learn how to make a Peony, beautiful blossoms, my effective twisted willow which gives great structure to arrangements, but we will learn how to wire your flowers into a beautiful finished arrangement which will give both single and tiered cakes the wow factor.

The Day Classes are coming back! I have missed you!

and by popular request, the first will be a Cartoon Cake Slice day class. Only a short session to start, this will let you keep some of your Saturday and will be a nice tea-time size cake that will be loads of fun to make.

I am working on class subjects, so keep an eye on the site as there are more to come.

I want to keep cake classes strictly limited to four people, but flower and modelling classes I will accept up to six.

As you can see, I also have an online class (Monday evening) and a hybrid class (Tuesday evening is both online and in-person), as well as a morning class on a Tuesday.

Places are strictly limited, so please use the buttons provided on the website or get in touch if you have any queries when booking.

Happy Caking

Rhi

It is no secret I love the Great British Bake off. - There is always the "No spoilers!" Rule if we have class on Bake off night to avoid spoiling anyones experience - mine included of course.

A very exciting email popped into my inbox to say that........:

Do you know a young budding baker between 9-12 years old?

Filming would take place from July 2023, but applications close on Sunday 12th March 2023.

Interested bakers can apply online at -www.applyforjuniorbakeoff.co.uk

So what are you waiting for ..... spread the word and.........BAKE!!!!!

Great subjects eh?

My Monday Evening, Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening classes are bring your own and the lists are already on the class pages on the website on these links.

Bring your own classes link

The All Inclusive classes are............all inclusive (the only thing to purchase is snowdrop cutters), everything else will be available for you to use when you attend and you will take home what you make. Here is the link to the All Inclusive classes link

Monday Evening

Will be making flowers. I like to make the stem as a growing stem where possible, and I received these fabulous requests to make this term, so that will be an exciting challenge.

However much you make is up to you. It could be one flower, one stem of umbrella plant leaves and one stem of Bells of Ireland, but that still gives you a great subject to keep in your collection to refer to.

I will be working on Cold porcelain but you can choose whether to create in cold porcelain or flower paste.

Tuesday Morning - 2 spaces available

We will be making a fantasy figure in the "fortnightly" class this term, I included a pic I found on the internet to show you roughly, but you can then do your own research or design to choose your own subject.

The class is for intermediate students - those that have created a figure before. I will make my figure by hand, but if you would prefer to use a mould for the head, then I can show you how to adapt that to personalise it.

We will be using a hand made armature which we will make in the first week as well as starting to create our figure. There will be homework to do in this class if you would like to make a more detailed figure or you can keep it simple and create only what you make in the fortnightly class

Tuesday Evening - 2 spaces available

As always, a fab mix subject class suitable for all levels with hopefully a little for everyone.

We will make both flowers and figures, including using rice cereal treats as the body of the hedgehog. We will be stencilling on cookies using a method I included in my book and just in time for the Easter break, we will be making tasty chocolate treats to learn how to temper chocolate using both moulds and making our own chocolate bars.

Wednedesday Evening

This is my all inclusive class suitable for all levels. The only thing you will need to bring with you is snowdrop cutters. I will add details to the website before that class starts.

Batch 1 - 2 spaces available

of classes is cookies and I will be showing you different methods of decorating them with royal icing as well as using sugarpaste and royal icing combined.

Batch 2 - Fully Booked

of classes will be a spring cake including sugar flower snowdrops, ganaching, sharp edges and piped decoration.

All other ingredients and equipment will be available for you in class and you will take home what you make.

A bit more info

As always, places are kept small for the classes since the pandemic.

For Monday and Tuesday evening you can choose to attend either online or in person as I teach hybrid-style with the online attendees tuning in on Zoom and that will then be cast to a screen behind me so that those in person can stay in their seat if they wish.

The recordings for all of the classes will be stored in private facebook groups - one per group - which you will be able to watch as often as you wish.

When you have booked your place on the class, you will be able to request to join the Facebook group. These will go online on the 11/1/23 and I include images of flower cutters and veiners and suitable alternatives to help you choose your equipment.

At the bottom of the class pages is a link to my YouTube video showing you about tools etc which might be useful for you.

You can book on the website on this link

https://www.dragonsanddaffodils.com/weekly-classes

(I have typed it in full in case of problems, but you can always find the Weekly Classes page in the menu)

As I mentioned, spaces are limited.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask. However, It is just me answering, so please bear with me. I will answer as soon as I can.

Looking forward to the term and I will see some of you next week :)

Rhi

Today, let’s chat about the brand new Bake International. I had the fabulous opportunity to close the show in the Bake Internariona theatre and chose to demonstrate the tasty vegan chocolate biscuit illusion cake tree slice from my first book

Can you spot the adorable Cyril illustration I commissioned from artist emelizabeth-illustrations - find her on Instagram.

Thanks to the fabulous Vanilla Valley who had my book right by the till on their stand at Cake International.

you can still buy the book from their Website when you do your cakey shopping, or from the Dragons and Daffodils Cakes website

During my demonstration I showed the whole process of the cake

* lining the cake tin with Bacofoil

* Making the recipe for the chocolate biscuit cake

* how to temper chocolate

* how to make the chocolate bark

*Assembling the design

* Finish with cocoa powder and a Christmassy swirl

I also chatted about the white chocolate version I created by substituting ingredients and I used white chocolate and cranberries - delicious!

In the book I also used the recipe to make individual chocolate biscuit puddings and topped with adorable little Mervyn the mole - full instructions for those in the book.

Chocolate biscuit cake is such a wonderful recipe. It can be used in the simple way I did at the show, for individuals or even to tier a cake, yes really!!

I made this two tier cake with the Sugar Press Meadow set created just for the book to create the cow parsley and grass side design. the cupcakes around the base were stencilled using the stencils I designed for Vanilla Valley

Yes you guessed it, I used the chocolate biscuit cake as a separator - can you see it sitting underneath the two tier cake?

Originally, that’s all it was going to do, but it looked so pretty I just had to display it on its own.

At the show I promised I would share the recipe for the cake, so here is a snip from the book for the chocolate biscuit cake and how to temper.

the full instructions for the whole design and inside the 128 pages with over 700!colour photographs

Head on over to the shop page to buy.

And now for the big news!

Finally, so many people have contacted me over the last two years to ask about book two which was to be released at the end of 2020, but….. well, lots of things changed that year.

I am happy to share that book two will be released in June at the Caledonian show in Kilmarnock in Scotland and will then be available at Cake International in the November. Last time you could pre-order and received a limited edition with little details added in and so many of you said that was your favourite thing, so I will do that again. More on that after Christmas.

Keep an eye on my Facebook page, every Thursday at 6pm will be Cyril time will posts about the book. I have started by sharing the story of how the book came to be, tune in each week to follow me on my journey.

Happy Caking

Rhi

As before, for the "Bring-your-own" classes, you can

• watch from the comfort of your own home via Zoom,

• make along at home via zoom

• attend in person

• or watch on catch up in the private facebook group where you can also ask any questions you have.

The recordings remain in the group for you to watch when you wish.

The all inclusive classes are in person only

All you have to bring is yourself for the cake class, the rest is provided for you.

For the all inclusive flower class, you will be given a list of cutters and veiners, but the equipment and ingredients will be available for you to use,

and you can still watch back the recordings.

Monday evening - Weekly

A flower class will be making these beautiful flowers and statement foliage including that all important classic rose.

10 weeks £100 (Bring your own ingredients and equipment. Online or in person)

Tuesday morning - Fortnightly A

A flower class - The flowers are still to be chosen, so if you choose to join, you can give me your wish list. 5 weeks held fortnightly £50 (Bring your own Online or in person)

Tuesday morning - Fortnightly B

This modelling class we will make a dragon and rider in your style of choice. Bring along inspiration pics and I will guide you. Fortnightly £60 (extra half hour per lesson) Bring your own. Online or in person. If you can model a teddy bear, you can do this!

tuesday evening mixed class

we have a lovely collection of both flowers and models, including animals as well as a person - great for all levels

£100 for 10 weeks, bring your own available in person and online

Wednesday Evening Sept Flowers

All inclusive class where we will make beautiful gladioli and wired butterflies.

Ingredients and equipment are provided but flower cutters/veiners are purchased by you. A list is on the class page for you.

Weekly 3 weeks 2 1/2 hour sessions £65. In person with recordings held online

Wednesday evening October Cake

We will work on a dummy cake but information will be given for working on real cake. Plus I have already created videos for ganaching and icing the cake.

We will be creating an oriental cake design with a range of detailed features such as a Cloud Tree, Dry stone wall, Koi in Water, Texture effects and more. Weekly 7 weeks 2 1/2 hour sessions £140 all inclusive, just bring yourself.

There are the choices - some really lovely subjects again this term

- minus the Tuesday morning class, but that information will be on before the start of September. Last term we made a violet plant, cuckoo flower and buttercups - wonderful wild flowers that you will be able to see when you come to the school room, or ask and I can show you if you attend online

New to sugarcraft? Not sure what the tools are? I have a YouTube video that explains more about tools, but If you have any questions about the classes, please don't hesitate to ask. Just pop over an email.

If you are new to sugarcraft, my Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening are suitable for all levels - you never stop learning, and there are so many new things to learn.

Want to find out about cold porcelain flowers? My Monday evening I demonstrate with cold porcelain.

Want to improve your modelling? Tuesday morning we are making a dragon with a wire armature support and a modelled figure. If you can make a teddy bear and simple figures, then this will take you further on your modelling journey.

Want to make sugar flowers? Wednesday evening all inclusive will be in sugar, but my Monday evening and Tuesday morning you could choose to use sugar.

There will be a maximum of six in person spaces, if you are a returning student, please get in touch to reserve your space. Online spaces are still limited so that I can help all joining us.

I will have the online facebook groups ready by the end of the first week in September. When you have booked online and paid, you will then be able to click on the links on the autumn class pages and request to join the group.

Want to find previous classes you attended?

Visit the Class links page on the website - only for classes you booked and paid for. They are not open to new students

Have a great summer, I will see you soon!

Rhi

Wow it has been a long time!

Where do I start?

The end of last year I accepted a job with Business in Focus. Those of you who have visited my school know that is the company I rent from, and the perfect opportunity popped up in these difficult times.

Around the same time, I was given an incredible opportunity............I accepted the offer to be part of the team commissioned by Pladis McVities - the Royal warrant holder - to create a cake they would gift to Her Majesty on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.

So after attending a job interview, I was invited to join the cake team, then started the job before starting the cake work ........as well as classes scheduled for the term.........it was going to be an incredibly busy first half of the year and BOY! I had no idea just how busy, so something had to give, which meant I put a pause on YouTube videos's and Kits to Create.

Head on over to my About you Page for a few photos and head on over to my Facebook page for even more.

I am incredibly grateful to Pladis McVities and to my wonderful friends Annie Relph and Alan Dunn for inviting me on to the flower team - those who know me will know I obviously danced for job at the chance of creating British native wild flowers for the cake and yes, I managed to sneak in a snail and some other little bugs too

The New Job .........Not so new now!

I started a temporary contract on the 4th of January as an Administrator with Focus Futures and was promoted to Community Engagement Coordinator in February, a whirlwind first month! I was also given the opportunity to be the lead on the Green Goal Awards which give opportunities to new businesses wanting to make their business more sustainable.

Roll forward to the start of July and I changed to three days a week with the project after my contract was extended and am enjoying the challenge. Learning loads and helping people too. It works beautifully alongside my own business now that I have found my feet a little.

Future Classes

The Platinum Jubilee Cake took up the first six months of the year. Every spare minute was spent creating the sugar flowers we had allocated each other, and if you include the mushrooms and lichen - which obviously I do lol - I made 25 varieties of British native plants (in multiples!) for the cake as well as miniature flowers, a snail, spidersweb and various bugs (which Alan painted).......phew! Exhausting but SO rewarding. As well as all the hard work, there was much laughter and many wonderful memories to treasure from our time up at Pladis.

Weekly Classes

Weekly classes are available to book now via this link. Subjects coming soon.

Places will be limited to six per class. I couldn't spend much time advertising the weekly classes that started in January and June, but we had a wonderful time with the smaller numbers attending, I felt quite spoilt!

We made quite a collection......flowers, models - both human and animal......and new skills such as cocoa butter painting and stencilling.

Subjects will be going up on Tuesday, so if you have a wish list........and are quick!............... I might be able to add it in.

Weekly classes are available to book now via this link. Subjects coming soon.

Day Classes

I will be adding new one and two day classes very soon, these will be starting in the Autumn and I am looking forward to having a few day classes in the diary again.

Subjects will include:

• Covering Cakes

• Flowers and Foliage

• Modelled Figures - This is Auden and they will be offered as an Intermediate armature modelling class (not including Auden's home)

If you would like to suggest a topic for either Weekly or One day classes, please get in touch at rhianydd@dragonsanddaffodils.com

Have a great weekend

Rhi

Just a quick update - the zoom codes were all checked, corrected where needed and added to the Facebook groups

so don’t worry, if you booked in person or via zoom that is still the same, but I have made sure the zoom codes are available to all those on classes and will record and upload everything for students. So if you are pinged or have to isolate you can at least still attend online. (apologies if the website auto emails were confusing, I asked it not to send them) Also, I am reducing the class number in person to 4 while the new restrictions are in so you each get a table, still with screens and we will still be wearing masks/visors to all stay safe

all sorted now, so if you have queries, just shout

January Term

Here are all of the weekly classes for the January term 2022 and their inspiration pictures for the subjects.

Most of the Bring-your-own classes are 12 weeks, except for the Tuesday evening class which is 11 weeks (I have a demonstration when one of the sessions would be).

The all inclusive classes vary in session length, and run one after the other, so make sure you note the dates, although the info will remain on the website for the term, as well as in the Facebook groups.

Registration for the classes closes on the day of the first class of the term.

If you would like more information on the classes here are the links. Bring-your-own Weekly classes

Once your have enrolled and paid for the term, go the the section on the link for your chosen class and click to request to join the facebook group. There you will find equipment lists, inspiration photos and zoom links for those attending online and for the in person students that are unable to attend in person for whatever reason.

I will upload the recordings of the lessons to the groups, but please allow 48 hours for the recordings to upload. You will be able to play and rewatch the lessons as often as you wish as well as post your queries or share your finished work photos with each other.

Nobody will be able to join these groups after the term has started, so those on the course are the only people that will have access. All Inclusive Weekly Classes

There are three batches of all inclusive classes again this term. Enrol on one or all three, it is totally up to you.

The information for the bring your own classes is the same as above except for the equipment list as all of the ingredients and equipment are available for you to use during the class and you will take home what you make.

Need quick access to the weekly classes pages?

All you need to do is scroll down to the base of the page and there are hyper links to both the bring your own and all inclusive weekly classes.

Ah, what a term! We also covered cakes with sharp edges, made forget me nots and did cocoa butter painting, but here is a preview of the images that I will be adding to the weekly classes gallery.

Enrolment is now open

If you would like to join us, here is a little about the January term of classes

• Both in person and online offered for "bring-your-own" classes including the option to re-watch in private facebook groups

• all inclusive Wednesday evening classes have a slightly different balance in the number of weeks per subject to provide variety

• Returning students that attended the September 2021 term are able to reserve their places with a £20 deposit paid using the paypal button at the top of the page - please also email on rhianydd@dragonsanddaffodils.com to let me know which class and I will remove that place off the website for you.

• New students can reserve their places by booking using the buttons on the website.

Monday Evening (weekly for 12 weeks, Bring-your-own)

Flower making can be really relaxing. Whether you are new to flowers or not, it is all about breaking down techniques and the air drying clay makes it a lot easier to learn as there are less breakages. I will be demonstrating using cold porcelain/air drying clay, you could use sugar if you wish.

We will be making a sorbet peony, Gallardia, Tobacco flower, Acer foliage, Echinacea.

Tuesday Morning

Group A Flowers (fortnightly for 6 weeks, Bring-your-own)

This will be a fortnightly group making five varieties of flowers - Azalea, Bourgainvillea, Chamomile, Wisteria and Dahlia

I will be working in cold porcelain, but you can choose to work in flowerpaste.

Group B Models (fortnightly for 6 weeks starting on week 2, Bring-your-own)

This will be a fortnightly group. Miniatures in Sugar. This term we will be making a beautiful miniature village of individual buildings that would look equally fantastic on cupcakes, single or tiered cakes or even as a display

Tuesday Evening (weekly for 12 weeks, Bring-your-own)

This will be a mix subject group. We will be covering everything from a pond theme design creating a sugar waterlily, isomalt water and splash and a dragonfly as well as spring flowers, pansies, snowdrops, primrose a board side design making ruffles and adorable spring animals

Wednesday Evenings (All Inclusive classes)

January Flowers Group (3 weeks)

Flower making can be really relaxing. Whether you are new to flowers or not, it is all about breaking down techniques and learning to work with the paste and tools.

February Cake Group (3 weeks)

Beautiful buttercream flower cupcakes are a real treat not just to eat, but to see. We will make a variety of designs in this course. We will also be learning how to use stencils on cupcakes, first sugarpasting, then using the stencils with dust colours to make beautiful designs

March/April Modelling Group (6 weeks)

Modelling is such a useful skill for everyone, but can be quite nerve wracking.

I will break this down to the basics while we learn to make a character (elephant), an animal (golden retriever) and a standing person (fairy) using Saracino modelling paste. You will learn how to make a wire armature for your figure and even be able to vote on the final model of the term

The new facebook group links are already on the pages.

All you need to do is pay your £20 deposit per class for returning students using the paypal button at the top of the page, or pay in full for new students using the shop buttons on the weekly/all inclusive weekly class pages and then click on the facebook link and request to join the group.

Even if you are attending in person, this is a great place for you to ask questions, and I will also be adding photographs of flower cutters and veiners and templates.

The equipment lists are also already on the weekly class pages (quick link at the very bottom of the home page for those of you viewing on phones)

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So it just remains for me to say a very big thank you to everyone that attended the weekly classes, I know not all of you can watch live or attend in person, but I have absolutely loved seeing your finished work on social media, a huge achievement in the times we live in.

I really look forward to seeing you all in January.

If you have any questions, please ask on rhianydd@dragonsanddaffodils.com or in any of the facebook groups you are in and I will be happy to help.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year

Stay safe

Rhi

What a fabulous term we have had.

It has been an incredibly busy term, so I have put my business head on to see what changes need to be made moving forward.

I know you are seeing less youtube videos, but I have a wealth of footage from classes, and will be editing short summary style videos for YouTube and the requested ones for stand-alone pre-recorded tutorials that you can purchase of the classes you wanted to attend. The pre-recorded tutorials are also on the shop page to make it easier now, as well as online E-Gift vouchers to make it easier and safer.

I have a crazy busy week coming up and then I will be sharing some images of the lovely subjects we have worked on this term.

But first, lets chat about the January term.

Weekly Classes

This January 2021 term we will be having the following weekly classes with 12 weeks on offer. They will be available both online and in person for you to be able to access the recordings (including the weekly all inclusive where previously only the floral class was saved online for you). The recordings will be held in private facebook groups, so I will be setting those up too.

• Monday 7-9pm Floral Class - Bring your own for 12 weeks

• Tuesday 10-12 - Choice of fortnightly lessons of either Week A flowers for six weeks or Week B Modelling for six weeks, or you can choose to do both. Bring your own class

• Tuesday 7-9pm Mix of subjects including flowers, modelling and isomalt. Bring your own 12 week class

• Wednesday 7-9pm Floral January class 3 weeks All Inclusive

• Wednesday 7-9pm Cupcake Class 3 weeks All Inclusive

• Wednesday 7-9pm Modelling class 6 weeks All Inclusive

The morning classes will now only be on a Tuesday morning and you can choose between doing both flowers and modelling at six weeks duration each held fortnightly (week A first with flowers then the following week is Week B with modelling). This means you have extra time to work on your subject.

But of course you can choose to do both.

More and more people are requesting evenings and weekends and this was the best way to organise this.

Equipment lists for the bring your own weekly classes will be online before Christmas as well as the new groups which you will be added to when you enrol.

Day Classes

The Day Classes timetable will be going up also before Christmas, so please let me know if you have any wishlist subjects.

There will be an

• ombre buttercream drip cake class,

• as well as re-scheduling the Mr Morris modelling class,

• the next date for the essential skills class

• and another date for the chocolate class just in time for Easter.

Kits to Create

You asked, so I have listened.

The new December kit is a cutie, and I will be doing the live un-boxing on Facebook on Monday the 13th December.

Feedback I have received said you preferred the un-boxings on Facebook rather than YouTube, so that is easy to do.

The other feedback was asking for kits of different sizes and different styles of kits, so I am stopping the subscription service because having kits of different prices and with different styles meant it is too complicated for this cake maker to work out the subscriptions for, so it is easier to just let you purchase as you choose. I would like to thank those of you that have subscriptions, and I hope you approve of this decision - especially since a number of you requested the changes, so I really hope you like them.

I am going to change to creating kits for special occasions and UK holidays, such as Valentines, Mothers Day, Easter etc etc rather than one every month.

I was also asked for letterbox-sized kits to allow you to send gifts easier and as I mentioned, you wanted different contents too, so I will have to make you wait until they are created for you to see.

You can still win a kit if you send in photographs of your finished product from one of my kits, so don't forget to send in your pictures for a chance to win.

Thank you again for all your support this term and in the past. It continues to be a very difficult time for small businesses and your support means a great deal. Please know that you are always welcome in class and it is always a pleasure.

I will pop another post up when the equipment lists are online and to share the finished classes photos.

Have a great rest of the weekend

Rhi

The show is FINALLY able to go ahead.

The team at Cake International have been working away to create a show that is safe for everyone and WOW is it going to be an amazing show! I am demonstrating my Bulrush plant in the Pro Theatre as well as my little Oxalis plant on the British Sugarcraft guild Stand. My Topiary boot tribute for Jen will be on the Art & Sole Collaboration stand and.,......................................................................

I will be judging on the Friday and leaving Adrian in charge, but other than my demonstrations listed above, I will be demonstrating on the stand Saturday and Sunday.

And if you are looking for goodies to buy, I will have:

• My Book "Cyril's Cake Adventure" with its show offer of £20 (RRP £24.99)

• My Brand new November Kits to Create box which I will reveal live from the show

• and LOTS of show offers, with great reductions on tools, chocolate, the mould and stencils that accompanied my book and more. - Grab them before they are gone!

That is why you cannot buy the tools from the website at the moment, but you can buy the book and kits and they will be processed and posted when I return from the show.

New Classes

I have a selection of new classes for you.

Following the success of the cupcakes and essential skills classes, I have scheduled the Essential skills class for January, so that will be a great gift for someone as everything is included so they don't need to bring a thing!

Places will remain limited with the screens in place and wearing masks/visors, but I was so proud of everyone that completed the course this term, the cakes looked fabulous.

The Halloween cupcake classes were so much fun, and an adults class was requested too, and the cakes were gorgeous!

So I have scheduled two batches of Christmas cupcakes classes, one for the teams of one adult and child to create a box together with these ever so cute designs

Places limited to 3 pairs of Adult and child

And I have scheduled an adults Christmas Cupcakes class too with a whole different set of designs! Places are limited to 6

Wednesday evening is my all inclusive class evening.

They already created beautiful flowers for five weeks, they are making modelled figures this month (that is fully booked), and in December they will be creating this handbag cake. Limited spaces remaining.

Kits to Create

I don't tend to advertise it, but I have been poorly over recent weeks which has meant my workload felt a little heavy with all the classes and filming for my friends over at Cakeflix. But I am getting there slowly and surely.........I think it is just a sign of getting older lol But that means that regretfully I couldn't film the second half of the kits to create to fill the October Halloween box. Thankfully, there were instructions in the box so I hope you had fun making them.

The brand new November box has been sculpted and is been assembled as we speak to release at cake international, so all subscribers will receive a message asking if they would like theirs earlier than the date they have for their direct debits and they will be posted after the show this weekend.

I will go live from Cake International to show you the brand new kit - and it is adorable!

Winner of a free Kits to Create

I am thrilled to announce the winner of the October Kits to Create Competition.

Not only did I get pics of the children with the finished lollies, but in progress pics showing how clever they were and incredibly neat too.

How Fantastic!

I will be emailing to say that you have won and to organise address info to send out your prize :D

Well, it is always lovely to share good news, and on that note, back to packing up the brand new November kit and all my display for the show.

Wish me luck! Take care

Rhi

A lot of work went into this one.

Rather than one design, this kit has two!

The kit makes both werewolf and pumpkin designs, and even more exciting!

There is enough chocolate to make four 3D designs or eight flat backed chocolate lollypop designs.

There are also accessories in the mould such as stump, stem and leaf for the pumpkin and ears and paws for the werewolf.

There is also a witches hat and black writing icing included in a fabulous reusable tube to pipe in the black dots eyes and fill the mouth and even pink heart sprinkles to add as cheeks or a tongue AND tiny white non-pareils to add highlights to the eyes or teeth to the werewolf.

This kit has delicious milk and orange to create your pops, and enough lolly sticks, bags and ties for you to make flat backed lollies. The bags are big enough for you to put the 3D designs in too.

You can make ALL of the following using this kit with a few additions:

• flat backed lollies with the addition of the marshmallows provided for extra tasty yumminess

• cake pops - bake two cupcakes and mix with buttercream or the spare chocolate provided to fill the cavities

• chocolate biscuit/fridge cake - you can use the recipe of my book (you only need 1/10th of the recipe), or to break it down, use 50g of the chocolate provided to fill four 3D pops mixed with marshmallows provided, and add 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp maple or golden syrup - delicious!

• Rice cereal treats - use the marshmallows provided, melt, stir in some cereal such as rice cereal, and even stir in a little melted chocolate - the orange provides a real surprise in the middle - and a little butter to stop it getting to firm

The extra chocolate in the kit also allows you to pipe around the join of the cake pops, but I also advise heating a baking tray or plate in the oven on a low heat and placing your filled halves onto the tray to flatten the back, pop the back of the shape into the mould and place the front on top.

Refrigerate it again, then neaten with your spare chocolate if needed.

Did you miss the live product reveal?

Head on over to my YouTube on this link to watch and I even show you the polymer clay items I sculpted for the kit.

I make them in the right colour of chocolate that will be used to get a feel for how the finished product will look.

I wanted more for kids to do with these ktis to make them a project that could even be done over a few days. Thats why I added more accessories cavities to the mould and the black writing icing really gives them the option to choose.

Make-a-long Tutorial

On Tuesday the 26th October, there will be a tutorial on my YouTube that will be at real time so that you can switch on your device and follow along.

All you need to make the kit is:

• wooden spoon or spatula

• tea spoons

• scissors

• palette knife or regular dinner knife

• plastic bowls (one per chocolate flavour)

• cocktail sticks (if allowed - or use one of the lolly sticks and wipe after use)

• mug or glass to help fill your piping bag

• The simplest pops can be made by filling the cavities to just below the fill line with the marshmallows provided and then pouring chocolate to fill. Refrigerate, heat a plate in the oven on a low temperature, then fix the two parts together with the stick in the middle. You can use the spare chocolate to pipe over the join.

Optional extras to fill the cavities for 3D pops :

• 2 cupcakes and a small amount of buttercream to make cake pops or

• 2 biscuits broken into small pieces, 1 tsp melted butter and 1 tsp maple or golden syrup mixed with 50g of the chocolate and a few marshmallows to fill four of the cavities to make 2 pops

• Rice cereal to mix with the provided marshmallows which need to be melted in the microwave, mixed with the rice cereal to make tasty rice cereal treats.

Sooooo many options, and it doesn't stop there, you can even personalise them by using food colouring gels and dusts, and even add sugarpaste from your store cupboard to model extras.

These pops would look great inserted into the top of a halloween party cake.

Monthly competition.

Each month, you can make up your kit, take a photo and submit it to rhianydd@dragonsanddaffodils.com to be in with a chance to win the next months box posted free in mainland UK AND the winner gets added to the brand new gallery on the tasty treats page.

YouTube Tutorial

I am afraid this week a very large job landed on my desk and it is still in progress, so a tutorial is not possible this week, but there are currently 73 videos over on my YouTube with lots of ideas to keep you busy this October Halloween half term and there is a short video opening the Halloween kit and a look at the polymer clay sculpts I made to create it. Available as always on my YouTube at 10am on Sunday on this link

Here are just a few! As well as designs from Harry Potter and other useful themes including

• The Niffler

• The sorting hat

• Harrys wand

• Harry Potter cake

• Stranger things cake and characters

• Snail

as well as how to make buttercream, ganache, ganache and ice cakes.

It would be amazing if you could share to let lots know about the Kits to Create and my YouTube channel.

Have a great weekend, and now.............back to work!

Take care

Rhi

This weeks tutorial is 40 minutes long and a real-time make-a-long tutorial on how to make both the milk and white chocolate lollies from the kit.

It also has a little extra info on how the fabulous Kelly McWilliam made hers.

You can watch the tutorial over on YouTube on this link

I have been super busy with Cake International work this weekend but I still found time to complete the design and new moulds for the October kit and I can't wait to show you!

But for now,,........................this is all you will see!

What hints can you get from that! In that box is the master copy of the mould and a few hints on top

Subscribers will be receiving their October kit before the Live unboxing over on YouTube on Friday the 15th October at 6pm

Anyone who purchases as a one off, theirs will be sent to arrive after the live unboxing

On Tuesday the 26th October, during half term, there will be a real time make-a-long tutorial for the October kit - perfect timing to keep the kids happy, and even better, it can be watched whenever you like.

Competition

Each month you will be able to win the next Kit!

All you have to do is make the design up from the kit

You can even personalise it with your own colours, add extras using chocolate or supplies from your cupboards at home, the more create the better! But you can also make the kit following the instructions.

Send in the finished kit photograph - you can be in it if you like - and you will be entered into the draw to win the next kit including UK postage and added to the gallery on the Kits to Create page

Right! I have to run back to my Cake International work, enjoy the rest of your Sunday

Happy caking Rhi

No YouTube tutorial today.

It was meant to be the cake-a-long tutorial for the dragon kits to create, but I realised that it was realised so close to the end of September, that not everybody had chance to hear about it or buy theirs,

so I have pushed the cake-a-long to the 10th October instead.

The image above was my first time using the brand new Airbrush by multi-award winning cake artist Clairella Cakes I am proud to be a clairella cakes ambassador, and look how fabulous it worked on these little saracino modelling paste leaves I made for an edible wreath for the wedding cake yesterday (You will have to wait for the next blog for photos)

However I did release the final part in the Japanese garden series earlier in the week, and that is available to watch over on YouTube on this link

and boy was it busy!

My week off for catch up week is meant to be for students and myself to catch up with whatever we are making, but releasing the dragon kit meant that the first couple of days of the week were spent sending out kits to you lovely lot.

Here is just one of the batches I sent.

Each kit is packaged carefully in its box, which is then wrapped up and popped in this waterproof bag.

Thank you so much for buying, can I please ask you to share share share so that everyone hears about the kits.

and speaking of sharing...............................

Meet Hamish by Kelly McWilliam

I mentioned I sent out sample boxes to some incredible people in the industry that I admire, and one of these was the true sugar artist herself - Kelly McWilliam

Here is what she has to say

Now if you don't know Kelly, get on over to her facebook page "Kelly McWilliam - Sugar Artist" and be prepared to be wowed!

I first got to know Kelly properly when we were at the Dublin cake show and I got to see her gorgeous mermaid in the flesh and cheer her on when she was awarded best in class and rightfully so.

Kelly's inimitable style is instantly recognisable, and she used her own special touch to personalise the dragon.

How she did it

Kelly coloured some of the white chocolate with Fractal Colors orange gel and piped it into select areas in the mould, popped in the fridge for a few minutes, then filled the mould with the milk chocolate (adding the lolly stick of course). She followed the instructions all the way through, but then added her quirky touches with some white modelling paste by the Cake Dutchess for the eyeball and eyebrows, and a black dot with a food colouring pen then added the stunning Fractal Colors glowing bronze dust and sparkling gold for that magical glowing touch.

Thank you so much Kelly, I absolutely adore him!

Meerkat Demonstration

The little meerkat facing you here was made during my demonstration for the National Sugar Art Association earlier this week.

He is made from Saracino modelling paste and was coloured with a mixture of dust colour brands to show that they all work nicely on Saracino.

He was coloured with a mixture of dusting and painting which sits beautifully in all the texture added for his fur.

He joins his brother in the school room display cabinets, so pop along and say hi next time you are in.

#Caketober

Inspired by the fabulous Tracey Rothwell of Little Cherry cake Company, I am taking part in Caketober - a great way to make sure you post every day of October, so head on over to my instagram #dragonsanddaffs to see what I have posted so far.

So, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Please share share share (in the words of Paul Bradford) anything you see about the kits to all your family and friends. It is a brilliant present for any occasion and as Kelly proved, not just for kids! Every share really does help get the kit out there.

I am still missing a huge chunk of the business until I can travel to teach classes again, so the kits will hopefully help with even a small portion of that gap.

Back to resting up for me, ready for another lovely week of teaching, so I will see you there! :D

Happy caking Rhi

Finally!

This has been a year in the making and now, the very first kit is available.

The September Box - The Dragon chocolate Lollypop

£15 as a one time purchase

plus UK p+p (or click and collect)

or as a monthly subscription

where each month you will receive an original kit that has been created from a hand-sculpted design. Available with delicious Callebaut chocolate or with beautiful Vegan chocolate.

I just can't believe it is finally ready and available on the website now on the Kits to Create page (there is also a link on the home page and in the shop)

Here is the link Latest YouTube tutorials

Not one,

not two...............

Okay, let's talk about the first ones.

Crackers for Cakes

Why wouldn't you want to make crackers out of saracino, great to show how to sculpt realistic food.

Painting the country cottage

Part two of the cake backdrop tutorial and getting down to the nitty gritty by adding to the airbrushed background using a paintbrush and edible dust colours.

Click the titles for the links to the tutorials.

Don't forget to click like, comment and even share to your friends. Every person that subscribes helps me grow the channel.

Kits to Create videos

Here you can watch the

Live unboxing and product reveal of the Dragon chocolate lollypop kit.

This was on Friday at 6pm, but don't worry if you missed it, the 32 minute live is on my YouTube channel. here is the link.

No time to watch? then watch the promo video revealing a little of the method behind creating the kit as well as boxing up the first kit. But don't forget, there is lots more in the live reveal

Here is the link

Monthly unboxing and tutorials

Each month when a new kit is released, there will be a live unboxing over on my youtube channel followed a few days later by a make-a-long tutorial where you can learn how to create your kit.

Of course, each kit contains instructions, but in the make-a-long I give lots of extra hints and tips as well as telling you multiple ways to temper your chocolate

October Kits to Create box

The design is well underway and will be revealed in the next couple of weeks to give you time to make your Halloween creations. Even more perfect when there are little ones to keep occupied during half term.

Last but not least

The first day class was on Saturday and in my absolute delight to be back, I forgot to take photos, so here is a photograph of the subject that was created

We had a fabulous day working with wafer paper.

• cutting out

• wiring

• veining

• learning three conditioning methods

• assembling into stems

• dusting

• arranging into this delicate corsage

It was so fantastic to be back

Head over to the day classes page to see what is still available

Now I will be spending half term week making my last wedding cake............for now..............as a cake maker in business since 1999 I can't promise I will never make another cake as the temptation is too great when a fabulous design request is made, but for now, it is lovely to be able to finally make the re-scheduled design.

I will also be recording catch up videos for the weekly classes for Monday morning to dust and assemble the clematis and dusting the scabious

and for Tuesday evening dusting the wheat

and finally for Wednesday morning assembling the daphne

I will probably be doing this as a live straight into the group to avoid the usual up to 3 hours to upload each class, you are welcome to watch, however, It won't be a class, I will be doing my homework as well as the dusting and assembly, so won't be teaching other than to explain the relevant bits.

Demonstration Tuesday evening

I will be demonstrating for the national sugar art association, and get to make my meerkat again which is fab, so those of you that are members, will be able to watch

So it will be a busy busy week.

I hope you have a relaxing time. If you have work to catch up on, try to just use your normal class time to give you the rest of the week. But please don't worry too much. We are only two weeks in to the 10 week class, so there is loads of time :)

Have a great week.

Happy caking

Rhi

I am so excited to finally be able to invite you to the unboxing of my new product and tell you a little more about it

join me over on my YouTube channel at 6pm uk time on Friday the 24th September and I can show you what I have created

you will finally see what all the little hints have been about

Here is the link and I also have a Facebook event over on business Page if you would Prefer to watch from there

I will see you there at 6pm

take care

Rhi

Classes returned this week, and it was SO good to be able to welcome people back to the school room, whether in person or online.

Before I give you all the latest news, here is the YouTube tutorial for this week, something I have been asked lots of times, How to made Isomalt Eyes for characters, but I thought it was the perfect tutorial in the run up to halloween too for all those spooky cakes. Here is the link

I also released another tutorial this week - a YouTube #shorts video of a fabulous Monday morning class which brought back lots of lovely memories when I was editing.

Part one is how to airbrush a background, and part two will be mid week next week to paint the cottage and all the details.

I will also release a #shorts for the figure

Perfect if you like to watch scenes coming together. Click for the Link

Weekly Classes

It was so lovely to start back.

Zoom did it again and had updates while we were on summer holidays, so it is always fun trying to learn quickly. Nothing like it lol

But we are back. There are five classes this term which are no longer open to enrolment, but I have had a few on classes that asked if they can attend other classes too which is no problem as the first recording is already up online and you can easily catch up.

Likewise, if you know a past student who didn't realise we were back who still wants to join us, let them know and ask them to get in touch. Nobody will be able to join after we finish.

The classes are held via zoom and the recordings are stored in private facebook groups (as we did last term). It still takes time to do this, so please bear with me and allow up to two days for the recordings. If they are not there then, please get in touch, as sometimes they are uploaded but it doesn't save properly.

There are catch up weeks blocked out which gives you the time to catch up and me the time to record additional videos such as colouring videos (The clematis monday am class dusting session will be in the first catch up session)

All inclusive Weekly classes

These are held on a Wednesday evening and as the title suggests, everything is ready for you.

For the first five sessions we are working on sugar flowers, then the next course starts after that and is three weeks of modelling, then the final two weeks course is a sharp edge covering.

All the info is on the pages, and I have simplified them down too to remove un-necessary information and clean up the website a little.

There are still hyperlinks at the very bottom of the website to the september weekly class page.

Previous weekly class recordings.

There is a hyperlink at the bottom of the page for the "Weekly class links" where you can find the links to the facebook groups where the recordings are held.

If you attended those classes, all you need to do is click on the link for the term you attended and it will take you straight to the facebook group. Request to join and I will add you.

Not available to those that didn't attend that term.

Day Classes

I have quite a list of day classes available this term, and am going to be regularly adding short one evening classes on a Thursday evening. These are all inclusive classes and run for 2 1/2 hours. A perfect bite size class for busy people that can't commit to the full 10 week terms. I have also added the popular essential skills single tier cake class where you split, fill, ganache, ice with sharp edges and make sugar flowers, a wafer paper fan, hoop and work with gold leaf.

Kids Classes

I have planned cupcake classes for October half term. These are halloween themed. However, if there is a firebreak lockdown, there will be the option to reschedule to a christmas themed class or a refund. These classes are for one adult and one child and you each decorate 3 cupcakes to create a 6 cupcake box.

All of these classes are under the "Classes and Demonstrations" link on the website menu, as well as information about the online tutorials - from pre-recorded tutorials as one off purchases to my YouTube channel link.

The Website

As I mentioned, I am trying to simplify down the website, so if you have any problems finding pages, can you let me know and I will add a hyperlink to the very bottom of the page to make it easier for you.

I have also removed the slider gallery buttons from the shop so now all the items are just listed. Someone was struggling to find my book on the site as the gallery was slid past, and they didn't realise you could slide the gallery, so I have simplified.

From phones? If you press the three lines it will bring up the main menu. If you click slightly to the right of each menu item, it opens up the section and you can see all the other options. eg "Classes and Dems" if you click to the right of that, you will see "Weekly classes, day classes, day classes gallery, demonstrations and pre-recorded tutorials"

Each mobile is different so it may look slightly different

The social media links are at the bottom and should scroll as you look at the site too.

However, if you notice anything untoward, please can you let me know so I can make it as easy as possible for you.

Online Shopping

I am discovering more and more that it is difficult to get hold of products, so here are a few links to companies selling useful cake decorating equipment and ingredients. It is easier to buy from within your own country now due to recent changes, so if you are struggling to find something, let me know and I will see what I can find for you.

The Vanilla Valley, Nantgarw - our local

Finishing Touches Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed

The Cake Decorating Company Nottingham, very good general cake supplies

Cake Stuff Scotland , very good general cake supplies

A Piece of Cake Thame, great for flower cutters and veiners, wires, stamen etc

Sugarin UK Scotland, really good for specialist flower making

Artificial floral supplies, moy road industrial estate - reels of ribbons, crystal cake decorations as well as craft supplies, sewing, floristry and fabulous christmas decorations

The Works craft supplies, great for cheap brushes

Sweet Creations Co Wicklow

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Stay safe and happy caking.

Rhi

I know I know! The photo instructions for the original witch are in this blog if you scroll down,

but, when we made her last year in class, she was so adorable, with her cheeky little tilted head and bare stockinged feet I just couldn't resist editing the footage for you.

The tutorial is a 31 minute long video with the full equipment list, and you can pause where you need.

(Also a nice short version for those on the class in case you need to make her again)

Here is the link

And since we are rapidly moving towards Halloween and you might want to get ready, don't forget the Halloween cupcakes tutorial also there

Here is the link

There are so many more on the site which will be useful for Halloween and Autumn.

• Harry Potter cake

• sorting hat

• wand

• horse chestnut and oak

• fir cones

• Owl

• Niffler

• Dobby

• snail

So on that note - have you subscribed yet? There are over 60 videos on the site now, and don't discount the "how I made" videos as I often find I learn loads from those, just watching the process helps you work out how to do what you need to make.

I hope you enjoy them

Happy Caking

Rhi

But First!

Before I tell you anything, I just wanted to let you know I was too eager to show you the Japanese Garden Cake topper series coming together.

So here is the penultimate part!

This is the magical part where it comes together - okay, don't forget how amazing adding colour is, so make sure you tune into the final part

So without further ado, here is the link

Well, I am going to be a little evil, and all I am going to show you is one thing, but I am going to tell you to keep an eye out for a YouTube live announcement.................................................

So keep an eye out for it.

Eeeeeeeeeekkk!

That is all I am going to tell you for now...

I know! I am sorry lol

and on that note.................................Have a great week!

Rhi

I have a cute one for you this week

we had a lovely short term on a Tuesday evening starting June 2020 making a collection of little animal cake toppers, and I have a little soft spot for this little guy

they always transform so beautifully when the colour goes on

if you are ever in the school room, he lives in the displat cabinet along with the dog, meerkat and rabbit

I dread to think what they get up to when I go home

I like to think all the characters have a party every night like the exhibits in the film night at the museum

expect an exciting post from me this week, but for now

here is the link

https://youtu.be/abKyHn8PQXs

take care and happy caking