Those who can't teach, bake...

To paraphrase the famous French Queen... "let them decorate cake".

Cake decorating, much like fashion, is an art form – a delicate dance between creativity and technique. For years, it was my secret obsession, my guilty pleasure tucked away in the confines of my kitchen. But as I perfected my piping skills and mastered the art of macarons (among other bakes), I began to wonder if there was more to this sweet obsession than meets the eye.

During lockdown I failed miserably at homeschooling my three children. When attempts to sustain the daily workload were met with resistance (and tears, mine and theirs) I pulled out the aprons and baked something with them. I was encouraging them to read the recipe, calculate the measurements required and use their motor skills to measure, mix and create.

That was my first foray into teaching, even if I didn't realise it at the time.

Then last year I started talking about the prospect of teaching workshops with a fellow baker friend. The main thing that was stopping me was having a space within which to offer such a venture. As luck and fate and opportunity would have it, I brokered a relationship with a local cafe owner who said they'd be happy to host my workshops.

I put some feelers out for possible attendees, and got a few replies of interest, and so my first three adult workshops came to be. They were intimate groups, sometimes with small children in tow, and those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the content and what they learnt from me.

Queries as to kids' workshops then followed and I hastily threw out an ad for the upcoming school holiday period. The response was overwhelming. I had kids of all ages in attendance and my 2-hourly sessions provided fun for all. Now, school holidays have become synonymous with my kid's cupcake decorating workshops! I'm preparing for my Easter sessions as I write this (spots are still available).

Launching my workshops has been a journey filled with highs and lows. From securing the perfect venue to promoting my classes on social media, there were (and still are) moments when I question whether I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Not least the Ladies Night workshop I held recently, which garnered so much interest (thankfully) I had to break the attendees up into more digestible groups due to limited space at my chosen venue (a local hair salon).

My aim with these workshops is to give people the confidence to take the fundamental skills they learn with me and apply it to whichever bakes they set their ovens to. I love it when my students send me photos of their creations, it reminds me why I set out on this path to begin with.

Because beyond the buttercream and sprinkles lies a deeper truth: cake decorating is about more than just technique – it's about self-expression and empowerment. In my classes, I encourage students to think outside the cake box, to push the boundaries of their creativity and embrace their unique style. After all, in a world filled with cookie-cutter cakes, it's the rebels and renegades who truly stand out.

Mother's Day Workshop

To experience one of my workshops for yourself, come along to my Mother's Day special on Saturday 11th May and learn how to assemble and decorate a floral template cake.

Book Ticket