Exciting news for the Bonnie Gordon School in Toronto! I know many of my former high school students will be happy to hear that the Bonnie Gordon School is now a private career college! As an industry leader, they have launched a new 6 week certificate program, “Designer Cakes”, that will allow students to start a career in the world of cake design.
Through a series of specialty skills classes lead by industry professionals, students will explore their artistic potential in fully hands-on labs. Though the primary focus of this programme is custom cake design, students also learn the fundamentals of baking and specialty skills such as gumpaste flowers, figure modelling, pulled sugar, sculpted and celebration cakes. Students will attend business seminars focusing on a range of topics including supply management and materials costing, setting up a business, working with clients, business marketing, promotion and product photography.
I’m thinking I’d like to take their six-week programme! Summer holidays perhaps. 
For more information on the progamme click here.
Speaking of the Bonnie Gordon School, in November (of last year -ack! Time flies!), I had the opportunity to meet my ‘cake idol’ there, one of the key inspirations for getting me started in sugarcrafting, Peggy Porschen.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to be able to not only meet her, but take a 3-day class she was guest instructing at the Bonnie Gordon School. {The school also sometimes hosts workshops with guest instructors}.
In the class, Design a Wedding Cake with Peggy Porschen, we learned all sorts of decorating tips and techniques. One of my favorites were her roses.
(This rose above is dusted with lustre dust)
Besides using gum paste
Guess what she’s dipping it in? My favorite; disco dust
Peggy includes a visual step-by-step on how to make both the simpler roses (above), and the more intricate ones (below), in her book Romantic Cakes
Besides roses, Peggy showed us all sorts of different flowers, decorating ideas and techniques.
These flower instructions, can be found in her book Simply Spectacular Cakes
Among other decorating techniques, I ended up making my own small roses (above). They’re fairly easy to make, although it does take practice to get them to look as nice as Peggy’s. (I’m still working on it!)
These ones are made of gumpaste and dipped in disco dust.
Peggy has also just opened her new Peggy Porschen Parlour in London’s Belgravia selling freshly baked cupcakes, layer cakes and confections. She have also unveiled her first collection of Peggy Porschen Cake & Homewares, available in Parlour and online.
I was also fortunate to be able to interview Peggy before her visit. If you’d like to read more about Peggy, click here.
Other than that, I’m looking forward to posting some of my Christmas cookie stuff… here’s a sneak peek of one cookie:
Happy sugar crafting!
xo,
Marian
Those flowers are gorgeous and your nutcracker cookie is amazing. Looking forward to more of your Christmas cookie posts!
What a great program you mention. Wish they had something like this when I went to pastry school. Love the nutcracker – super detailed.
Wish I could take some of these cake classes! I have some of Peggy’s books, her work is amazing!
Absolutely stunning. And now that I feel like an even bigger decorating failure…
Thanks for the comments ladies!
@ Barb: Don’t be silly; you are NOT a decorating failure! In fact, everyone should check out your lovely creations!
I just got back from 11 days at Bonnie Gordon School, loved it! I travelled from Cape Cod I did her DC1,2,3 and gumpaste roses as well as Haute Couture. I love your blog your work is amazing.
I’m already registered for their spring courses!!!!! I’m tres excited!!!!!!
You lucky girl! What I would not give to be able to attend! I actually bought a Peggy Porschen book on accident, and I look at it MORE than any cookie book I have ever owned! It is INSPIRING! I am glad you are here! Missed you!
Wow…wow…wow! LOVE that flower dipped in disco dust!
OMG! Marian! That cookie looks FANTASTIC (again)! LOVE the disco dust touch!
Wowie wow WOW! That nutcracker cookie is amazing! It definitely got me in the Christmas spirit. You’re very talented!
Beeeeeautiful! Oh please please please post more sugar cookie photos. You’re cookies are so amazing! That nutcracker looks so intricate!
Oh!!! Marian, always a breathtaker & an inspiration!!! What a beautiful cookie!
I love the roses!
I’ve always wanted to own a Peggy Porschen book, but I’ve always been intimidated to buy a cake decorating book that might be too advanced for me. Would it be suitable for beginners like me? Thanks! =)
Anna, her projects include a range of complexities. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy the books; I’m still learning a lot about cakes so I can chose which level I’m ready to tackle. In my interview with her I asked her the very same question… She replied that she purposely tries to reach varying levels so that everyone can use her books.
Great! Thanks for the info, Marian! =)
I wish I could attend her school. I love her work and how perfect her cakes are.Her shop looks dreamy and I wish i could see it in person! Thanks for sharing and your cookie is amazing as always!
Thank you so much for sharing the info on The Bonnie Gordon School! I think that I am finally going to do what I was born to do. I plan to register for the summer course.
Your site has been an amazing resource and a true inspiration. Keep up the good work:)
Thank you again,
Lita