Instructors at Sweet Retreat
Peggy Tucker School of Cakeology & Cake Play https://www.cakeplay.com/
Peggy is an Certified Master Sugar Artist and is internationally known, not only for her unique skills in sugar art, but also for the quality, and fun, demonstrations and classes, at which she inspires enthusiasm in everyone who attends. This reputation has opened many doors for her in the sugar world.
She is a Certified Master Sugar Artist, one of 32 in the world, and is the owner of School Of Cakeology. She specializes in teaching the art of Sugar, Cake Design, and Cake Decorating, and is an International Instructor.
She has been seen on the Food Network, Fox news, has written articles published in American Cake Decorating Magazine, Edible Artists Network Magazine, ICES Magazine, Minnesota Women Magazine and Rochester Newspapers have written many articles on her over the years.
Mike Elder - Black Sheep Custom Cakes www.blacksheepcustomcakes.com
Mike Elder is a former hot rod shop owner, pilot and racecar driver hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, He got his start in the industry when he'd leave his hot rod shop early on Fridays to help his mother with her bakery business. And in due time, clients began to order more and more cakes in Mike's style. What started out as a Friday evening gig for Mike, later turned into a full-time career.
Soon after, the producers of TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off,” noticed Mike’s unique style where he was later casted. To this day, Mike is still the only competitor to win three shows in a row – and was never defeated on “Ultimate Cake Off”. Mike has also appeared on Food Network’s, “Cake Wars”, Food Network’s “Halloween Wars” and Food Network’s “Santa Baking Blizzard”. Mike also often appears locally on Kansas City television stations and is frequently featured in magazines, and newspapers as well as online.
In 2014 Mike was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for creating an edible racecar for charity. Mike has traveled extensively to promote his art all over the nation and abroad. In 2017 Mike helped set another World Record with Record Setter for “Most cake smashed in the face at once.”
He’s done cakes and demonstrations for events ranging from rock concerts, to charity and fundraisers. He has also been fortunate to work with some of the cake and food industries finest, taking away life lessons along the way.
Mike founded Black Sheep Custom Cakes as a way of promoting exploration and advancement in the sugar arts, and to create unusual and extreme cakes for clients. Mike is known for his outlandish sculptures and for his clean and realistic designs with his own twist.
Soon after, the producers of TLC’s “Ultimate Cake Off,” noticed Mike’s unique style where he was later casted. To this day, Mike is still the only competitor to win three shows in a row – and was never defeated on “Ultimate Cake Off”. Mike has also appeared on Food Network’s, “Cake Wars”, Food Network’s “Halloween Wars” and Food Network’s “Santa Baking Blizzard”. Mike also often appears locally on Kansas City television stations and is frequently featured in magazines, and newspapers as well as online.
In 2014 Mike was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for creating an edible racecar for charity. Mike has traveled extensively to promote his art all over the nation and abroad. In 2017 Mike helped set another World Record with Record Setter for “Most cake smashed in the face at once.”
He’s done cakes and demonstrations for events ranging from rock concerts, to charity and fundraisers. He has also been fortunate to work with some of the cake and food industries finest, taking away life lessons along the way.
Mike founded Black Sheep Custom Cakes as a way of promoting exploration and advancement in the sugar arts, and to create unusual and extreme cakes for clients. Mike is known for his outlandish sculptures and for his clean and realistic designs with his own twist.
Dany Cabrera - Global Sugar Artist Network Mexico Country Manager , Satin Ice Ambassador
Daniela Cabrera Godinez ( Dany) , is a Mexican sugar artist and Cake Designer. She has always loved hand crafted stuff, like painting, drawing, modeling with all kinds of dough, so she developed a lot on her creative side, until she met fondant. It was love at first sight!! Since then, she dedicated entirely to learn more about sugar modeling and to improve her skills.
She is a teacher specialized in sugar modeling, specifically fondant toppers. She is a Satin Ice instructor and has been have been traveling around the world for 9-10 years now to teach and share her knowledge with amazing People!!
In March 2017, she was named Operations Manager in Mexico for Global Sugar Artists Network (GSARN) and is an Ambassador and official distributor in México for CERART - the Italian tools brand for cake design.
In 2016, she organized the first collaboration of Mexican sugar artists, focused on projecting the talent of Mexican sugar artists to the world.
Her work has been published by prestigious international magazines, including: Cake Masters (England), American Cake Decorating (United States), Cake Fiesta Magazine (Philippines) and Pasteles de Ensueño (Spain) - As well as in national magazines like Decochef.
She is a teacher specialized in sugar modeling, specifically fondant toppers. She is a Satin Ice instructor and has been have been traveling around the world for 9-10 years now to teach and share her knowledge with amazing People!!
In March 2017, she was named Operations Manager in Mexico for Global Sugar Artists Network (GSARN) and is an Ambassador and official distributor in México for CERART - the Italian tools brand for cake design.
In 2016, she organized the first collaboration of Mexican sugar artists, focused on projecting the talent of Mexican sugar artists to the world.
Her work has been published by prestigious international magazines, including: Cake Masters (England), American Cake Decorating (United States), Cake Fiesta Magazine (Philippines) and Pasteles de Ensueño (Spain) - As well as in national magazines like Decochef.
Kathleen Lange Confectionary Chalet https://www.confectionarychalet.com/
Kathleen received numerous awards from Wilton; Hall of Fame and Imperial Club Awards; as a top instructor, teaching at the highest volume stores; teaching over 10,000 students as last recorded by Wilton, the year 2000. During her lifetime, she has visited 50 US states, taught in 20 states and 14 countries, teaching in over 50 cities since 2010. Kathleen is an active member, instructor and demonstrator of the USA Division Representative & Int'l Excellence Team Cake Designer of (FIPGC) International Federation of Pastry Gelato & Chocolate – Italy;ICES (International Cake Exploration Societe); 3 C's (California Cake Club); San Diego Cake Club, RBA (Retail Bakers Association); IBE (Int’l Bakery Expo, Hong Kong; IBIE (Int’l Baking Industry Expo, Las Vegas, NV) and other Industry Shows, Culinary & Pastry Schools. She has been featured in numerous trade publications, cover of the Food Section of San Diego Union-Tribune; San Diego News and Radio stations; Milan, Italy Radio and she has contributed tutorials to several Int’l cake decorating newsletters and magazines and now releasing her own instructional DVD's.
Lucinda Larson-Olds https://www.facebook.com/LucindasIcingDiva
Renowned sugar artist Lucinda Larson is known for her lovely gumpaste flowers, and wonderful use of color. She is fondly nicknamed the Buttercream Queen and The Icing Diva. In addition to her 30 years of teaching at numerous prestigious culinary colleges and expos in the Northwest and across North America, she has received many awards and “best of shows” for her work. She has been featured in national and international magazines, TV, and on the cover of American Cake Magazine. Lucinda’s spunky personality and passion for cake decorating makes learning simple and fun…a real treat! (taken from http://www.creativelive.com/instructor/lucinda-larson)
Michele Sweeney www.epicdelights.com/pastry-chef-michele-sweeney
Chef Michele first picked up a pastry bag at the age of 6 and spent many summers as a child in the bakery watching her mother create works of art. She is a 4th generation baker and 2nd generation cake decorator.
Michele has a degree in Multimedia Design & Production. She also has a secondary education in baking, pastry and confectionary art. She's a graduate of the internationally acclaimed Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionery Art in Chicago, IL, a former Wilton Method Instructor and an International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) approved teacher.
Michele's work has won several awards, and has been featured on a number of sites and publications such as Craftsy, Satin Ice, Lucks, Icing Images, ICES Magazine, American Cake Decorating Magazine and Edible Artist Network Magazine. She has also been featured on the Food Network as a competitor on Cake Wars Christmas.
Michele has a degree in Multimedia Design & Production. She also has a secondary education in baking, pastry and confectionary art. She's a graduate of the internationally acclaimed Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionery Art in Chicago, IL, a former Wilton Method Instructor and an International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) approved teacher.
Michele's work has won several awards, and has been featured on a number of sites and publications such as Craftsy, Satin Ice, Lucks, Icing Images, ICES Magazine, American Cake Decorating Magazine and Edible Artist Network Magazine. She has also been featured on the Food Network as a competitor on Cake Wars Christmas.
Dawn Parrott, Freelance Sugar Art Instructor, Owner of Dawn Parrott Designs
Dawn Parrott, CWPC is a certified working Pastry Chef, a former pastry chef instructor and accomplished award winning cake designer. Her inspiration came at a young age when she watched her dad and step mother make incredible cakes for family and friends. Her mother also owned her own business in ceramics, which also taught Dawn more of the artistic talents she still uses today. Many years later and mostly self-taught, Dawn has won awards around the country and continues to practice and teach the craft as she knows it.
Dawn’s specialty is in the piping area. While she loves to work with many mediums, royal icing is definitely her passion. It is her goal to make people want to pick up a piping bag and create works of art. Sharing the passion for this amazing field, is all she strives to do. “If I can inspire one decorator, then the work has been rewarded.”
April 2015, Dawn was selected as one of North Americas top 10 Cake Artists, by Dessert Professional Magazine. Royal Icing Award winner at Cake Masters Awards 2015
In September, 2014, Dawn won the Grand Prize in the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. In September 2013 Dawn won 1st place runner-up at the Tulsa Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show (OSSAS) in the Wedding division.
Her award winning designs have been featured numerous times in different cake, baking magazines and books across the US and Internationally. Dawn has appeared on television; The Food Network Challenges.
Dawn’s specialty is in the piping area. While she loves to work with many mediums, royal icing is definitely her passion. It is her goal to make people want to pick up a piping bag and create works of art. Sharing the passion for this amazing field, is all she strives to do. “If I can inspire one decorator, then the work has been rewarded.”
April 2015, Dawn was selected as one of North Americas top 10 Cake Artists, by Dessert Professional Magazine. Royal Icing Award winner at Cake Masters Awards 2015
In September, 2014, Dawn won the Grand Prize in the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show. In September 2013 Dawn won 1st place runner-up at the Tulsa Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show (OSSAS) in the Wedding division.
Her award winning designs have been featured numerous times in different cake, baking magazines and books across the US and Internationally. Dawn has appeared on television; The Food Network Challenges.
Kelly Lance Master Sugar Artist aporiti
Kelly admits that she is an “art addict” and have been all her life. For over 25 years she has been teaching and sharing her love of the sugar arts. She began by taking the Wilton classes, moved on to teaching them and was then introduced to ICES where she found a whole world of other people who shared her love of making beautiful things. In 2008, she took the Certification Test and was awarded the title of Certified Master Sugar Artist, and in 2014 was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Sugar Artist`s Hall of Fame. She is also an accredited Journeyman Judge with the same organization.
She has taught and judged many places all over North America and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many wonderful friends and sharing what she love to do. |
Shaile Socher
Shaile is a sugar flower artist, and it was by chance that she
fell into flower making when taking cake decorating classes for a fun new hobby. She just loved my first rose class a bit too much and It took off from there. She teaches and demo's sugar flowers and enjoy entering cake show competitions. Shaile has contributed tutorials to various cake publications. She honestly love anything sugar flower related. Shaile has won several awards for sugar flowers, including Best in Show 2019 at the San Diego Cake show. She also has won Bronze and Silver awards at Cake International the past 3 years. Shaile feels that flower making is the most fun since it has a bit of everything she loves about being creative.
fell into flower making when taking cake decorating classes for a fun new hobby. She just loved my first rose class a bit too much and It took off from there. She teaches and demo's sugar flowers and enjoy entering cake show competitions. Shaile has contributed tutorials to various cake publications. She honestly love anything sugar flower related. Shaile has won several awards for sugar flowers, including Best in Show 2019 at the San Diego Cake show. She also has won Bronze and Silver awards at Cake International the past 3 years. Shaile feels that flower making is the most fun since it has a bit of everything she loves about being creative.
Leslie Foster The Cake Room
Leslie Foster of Leslie’s Cake Room took her first cake decorating class after retiring from the police force because of injury. She fell in love with the sugar arts and soon she was teaching classes not just taking them. As the chairperson Leslie grew the Oregon State Fair’s cake competition from just a few entries into 100. She also has been active in growing the local cake community.
Leslie has been published in many publications and has competed on the Food Networks show Cake All.
Leslie has been published in many publications and has competed on the Food Networks show Cake All.
Titia McLuckie
Titia is a Certified Master Sugar Artist from Oregon, She has an educational back ground in Food Sciences and The Culinary arts. Titia is known for her fine handwork in piping and color theory. Not only is Titia a CMSA she is also a certified ICES judge. She has a wonderful eye for detail. We are very happy that she is part of the Oregon Sugar Artists Association and Oregon ICES
Rhoda Sheridan
Rhoda started taking her first cake decorating lesson when her boys were young. Being the wife of a military officer and moving from base to base she couldn’t always rely that there would be a local bakery to supply cakes for her family. So the passion with sugar began.
Rhoda lives for teaching begging cake decorators and children. She specializes in chocolate and butter cream piping, but she also love all other sugar forms of art and is always increasing her knowledge base.
Rhoda is also passionate about quilting and embroidery and sometime will try and mix techniques. We are very happy to have Rhoda as one of our member and her vast knowledge that we are able to draw from.
Rhoda lives for teaching begging cake decorators and children. She specializes in chocolate and butter cream piping, but she also love all other sugar forms of art and is always increasing her knowledge base.
Rhoda is also passionate about quilting and embroidery and sometime will try and mix techniques. We are very happy to have Rhoda as one of our member and her vast knowledge that we are able to draw from.
Mary Richelt
Mary is a teacher at Blake’s Decorate , She is known to teach several different mediums including cake decorating both butter cream, Royal, Fondant and Gumpaste. Mary has an educational background in food science and brings that knowledge into her art.
Mary is also passionate about quilting and embroidery and sometime will try and mix techniques. We are very happy to have Mary as one of our members who is willing to share her knowledge.
Mary is also passionate about quilting and embroidery and sometime will try and mix techniques. We are very happy to have Mary as one of our members who is willing to share her knowledge.