FAQs

Who will be teaching your classes?
Zilly Rosen has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Masters of Art in Teaching, and 15 years experience teaching art to all ages in St. Louis, Missouri.  In the '90s, Zilly taught sculpture, clay, silversmithing, 2-D design, printmaking, and 3-D design from curriculums that she developed. After moving to Buffalo in 2003, Zilly taught art at Bryant Street Studio with Clare Poth and Elisabeth Samuels.

Meghan Finamore is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.  She has decorated wedding cakes for Zillycakes and for Dolci, and she has a teaching certificate through Buffalo State College in the Boces program in Baking and Pastry Arts.  She currently works for Chocolate Delivery Systems as a Pastry Chef.

How are your classes different from Wilton classes?
Zilly's background as an artist and teacher sets Zillycakes classes apart from other cake and cookie decorating classes or workshops.  Zilly works with icing, cake, cookies, and fondant as if they were art materials.  Basic art design elements and principles apply to any successfull artistic creation.  Zilly helps her students work with color, pattern, form, balance, and contrast as they design their own individual cakes and projects.  If you want to master a decorating technique and become a better artist, a class at Zillycakes is for you!

Do I have to know how to bake?
What do I need to bring with me to class?
When you come to class, all the baking and prep-work has been done for you!  All cakes, cookies, icings, etc. are prepared and ready for you to start.  This eliminates a substantial hassle of preparing your own materials before getting to the fun of decorating!  All baked good are baked fresh and to order just for us just three blocks away at Dolci Bakery, where Zilly began working as a cake designer in 2006.  Lists of flavors are available for you to choose from when you register for class.

How much will I spend on tools and supplies?
Another way our classes are different is that we provide all the tools you will need to complete any project you might imagine.  While we do offer a select line of decorating tools and supplies for purchase, you are not required to purchase anything for our classes.

When are your classes offered? 
Who takes your classes?
Fall 2010 classes are Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm.  Our fall session runs 10 weeks beginning September 15 through November 17.  Registration for the fall session will begin on Tuesday August 17th at 10 a.m. for those with previous credits and for those purchasing a 10 class passes.  Open registration begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday August 18.  Students can sign up for just one class or all ten when they register.  Due to the size of the studio, classes are strictly limited to 6 students.  Beginners and experienced cake decorators are welcome.  Unfortunately, the studio and classes are not wheelchair accessible.   

How old do you need to be to sign up?
Zilly's classes are offered in a "multi-age" format; we welcome anyone 13 years old and up to attend by themselves (including well-behaved adults).  8-12 year olds need to have a parent or guardian registered along with them.  For 5-7 year olds, we recommend private parties or workshops on Sundays.  Zillycakes is also happy to schedule private lessons, birthday parties or private gathering anytime that studio availability permits!

What things do you cover in your classes?
Our 10 week fall session is as follows:

    Sept. 15                Cake Basics 101
    Sept. 22                Buttercream Piping 
    Sept. 29                Fondant 101
    Oct. 6                    Royal Icing
    Oct. 13                  Tiered Cakes
    Oct. 20                  Gumpaste Flowers
    Oct. 27                  Gumpaste Sculpted Elements
    Nov. 3                   Gumpaste Applique
    Nov. 10                 Cake Sculpting Part 1
    Nov. 17                 Cake Sculpting Part 2
        
To receive quarterly emails about our class schedules, please email us at zilly@zillycakes.com .  We can also email you a full description of classes if you request that in your message.

How much do classes cost? 
Is there a discount for multiple classes?
Each 2.5 hour class costs $50, which includes materials and baked goods, which of course you get to take home to enjoy!  We offer pre-paid punch cards that work as credit toward classes.  For $200, you get a card that allows you to attend any 5 classes within a year's time for the price of 4 classes (a savings of $50).  For $400, you get a punch card that allows you to attend any 10 classes within a year's time for the price of 8, and it also includes a $10 credit for cake decorating supplies from C.K. Products (a savings of $100).  You can also pay as you go. These make great gifts!  If unused, they expire 1 year from their issue date.

For more information:
Email zilly@zillycakes.com today and ask to be placed on the email mailing list!