Orchids for a wedding cake

Before I took a week off work for the Nicholas Lodge class, I had learned that Sucré had an order for a wedding cake with orchids. I asked if I could make them. When I got back I volunteered again, and was given permission to make the orchids. I was super-excited, especially since I had just learned to make three different types of orchids in the class.
I asked my co-worker how many, what type, color, and size. I spread the work out over five nights. I was volunteering to make these, so I wasn't getting paid for my time or materials.

1st evening) I made the gum paste,
2nd evening) made centers and started a few petals,
3rd evening) finished petals,
4th evening) attached the throats,
5th evening) assembled and dusted with color.

I think they look beautiful!

Well, I brought the orchids into work the day before the cake was due and found out that the couple had canceled the cake order. Talk about a way to completely bum you out. I spent all that time and money and the flowers would not be used. It's easy to understand why a bakery should require deposits on special order cakes. And the deposit should not be refundable once work is begun.
The good thing is that I got good practice even if they are not being put on a cake. But the flowers would have been beautiful on top of a wedding cake.

Nicolas Lodge Training

Yesterday and today I attended training at Nicolas Lodge's International Sugar Art Collection. The class was for Southern Spring Flowers made from gumpaste. I really enjoyed the class. Nicolas Lodge was a very good teacher. They even cooked lunch for the students. There were eighteen students in the class and I was the youngest student. Fourteen of the students had taken classes from here before. I will attend more classes when they fit my schedule. The class cost $280 but that is only a small part of what it cost if you need to get the tools to continue making the flowers that you learn to make. Today I spent $443 on the tools needed to make the flowers I learned to make in this class. (You can see a picture of the tools I bought on my tool page.) I guess it's the cost of doing business. To give you an idea of what it cost for these flowers, the magnolia retails for $70 each and the the daffodil is $8. These pictures are small and don't do the flowers justice. They really came out looking realistic. My favorite flowers were the cherry blossom, tulip, and the magnolia. My least favorite was the daffodil.

Cherry Blossom
Daffodil

Dogwood

Magnolia

Tulip

Tulip

Nicolas Lodge (with his big magnolia) and me.

Upcoming Class

I'm excited about taking a two day class at the end of this month. The class is at The International Sugar Art Collection School of Sugar Art, which is located in Norcross, Georgia, which is just down the road from my house. The International Sugar Art Collection by Nicholas Lodge is the school where Nicholas teaches all levels and aspects of sugar art, cake decorating and cold porcelain. I'll write about it after I take the class and post some pictures.

Here is a description of the class from their website:
Springtime in the Southern States
This is always a fun and popular classic class taught by Nicholas!
Students will create a life-size southern magnolia. You will have to see this magnificent gumpaste creation to believe it! Other flowers covered in class will include the tulip, cherry blossom, daffodil and a dogwood spray. All flowers will include buds and leaves.

Here are two pictures of gumpaste flowers from their webiste, that I'll learn to make.