Sue and her mum Doreen made beautiful miniature porcelain dolls which quickly became hugely popular with collectors around the world. Making the leap from a kitchen table to business premises, and several changes in direction over the years, Katy Sue is now a leading UK craft product designer, manufacturer and retailer.
Below are photos of the original Katy Sue Designs dolls, Sue and her mum Doreen, Sue's daughter Sarah playing in their shop, Sue decorating their first premises in Jarrow, and a magazine article from the early days.
]]>Chef Nicholas was one of the world’s leading tutors in both sugar flower artistry and pastry. An accomplished author, teacher and TV judge, he had the honour of making cakes several times for the British Royal Family. He loved travelling all over the world sharing his skills and judging cake decorating and sugar art competitions at the highest level. As well as teaching at his own schools in Atlanta and Tokyo, Chef Nicholas was an instructor at the prestigious French Pastry School in Chicago and taught globally at culinary schools and cake exhibitions.
Many of you may have met Nick at cake shows over the years or been lucky enough to participate in his classes. We have such fond memories of Cake International where Nick would have a constant and captivated audience each day, sharing his incredible skills.
The International Sugar Art Collection is the Georgia-based school where Nick taught all levels and aspects of sugar art, cake decorating and cold porcelain. Founded in 1992 with his partner Scott, ISAC recently celebrated 30 years in business. This anniversary video is a wonderful celebration of Nick’s artistry and achievements, click here to watch.
Nick touched so many lives through his inspirational teaching and also his genuine interest and enthusiasm for everyone he met. He was passionate about sharing his skills and sincerely valued his flower making family. Nick himself put it best in the dedication in his book, Flower Pro Volume 3:
This Book is dedicated to you all, my Flower Pro family and community, for your love and support of Flower Pro and the Flower Pro Ultimate Members Club.
Huge thanks to Scott Ewing, my rock, for all your incredible help with the camera work for the Ultimate Members Club live broadcasts and videos, and the Hostess with the Mostest Noreen McKie for taking such good care of me during my trips to the UK as host, cook and driver – I do not know what we would do without you both!
Very special thanks and appreciation go to Susan Balfour and the incredible team at Katy Sue Designs for making my sometimes crazy ideas a reality, especially setting up the Flower Pro Ultimate Members Club at the start of a global pandemic!
And to my incredible Flower Pro design team, especially Ceri Griffiths for your support with samples and TV work for Create and Craft, and the rest of the team – Noreen McKie, Doreen Thompson, Veronica Seta, Chrissie Boon, Shaile Socher, Arati Mirji, Jak Heath, Dawn Butler, Greg Cleary, Margaret Ellis, Lareefa Ghazaly, Julie Askew, Karen Seal, Petya Shmarova and Sarah Thomas – for your support with samples and filming episodes for the Flower Pro Ultimate Members Club.
Thanks to chef Mark Balfour and Michael Balfour for all your help and the most delicious lunches, dinners and a few drinks too!
And in reflection of the COVID-19 global pandemic,
'Life is fragile like a sugar flower, beautiful to look at but broken in a second.'I hope I have brought many of you some distraction and joy during this very sad global situation we are all in! So my hope is you will enjoy Book 3 as much as Books 1 and 2, and I can't wait to see all of your creations!
Sweet wishes,
Chef Nicholas Lodge ♥
Nick's passing is an unfathomable loss to the cake industry and to his many many friends and family around the world.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Nick's family at this sad time 💚
]]>Having grown rapidly by acquisition over the past four years, Katy Sue headed by founder Sue Balfour and experienced entrepreneur Neil Stephenson, has completed five bolt-on acquisitions in recent times but this more significant acquisition moves the business to a platform of size and scale in the papercrafts segment. The acquisition of Kanban is one of a number of deals the business is currently looking at as it continues to build a family of well-loved craft brands.
Yorkshire based Kanban brings complimentary papercraft manufacturing capability along with more than 20 years of designs and creative content. Popular with card making fans, the brand is known both in the UK and Germany where it will continue to trade. Sue Balfour explains,
“I have been a Kanban fan for a long time, appreciating their constant innovation and incredible foiling detail. We are delighted to bring yet another quality UK manufactured product range to Katy Sue HQ. Our plan is to quickly relocate the business to our factory in South Shields and bring the brand back to TV and online during March. We can assure all Kanban fans that we will shortly return to the airwaves on Create and Craft and QVC Germany.”
Commenting on the deal, Paul Wright, Chairman of Hochanda Global Ltd, owners of Create and Craft TV added,
“We are thrilled to continue our strong relationship with Katy Sue and of course Kanban at this very exciting time for the channel. Kanban has been the premier supplier for card making kits to Create and Craft over many years and we and their army of fans look forward to seeing the new products arriving on our screens soon”.
Katy Sue has grown to over 30 staff during the pandemic and is investing heavily in its TV presence and ecommerce capability, specifically its own websites and marketplaces such as Amazon. This expansion is part of the company’s plans to grow revenues to £10m, employing over 100 staff by the end of 2025.
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Katy Sue, makers of the world's best silicone moulds, have today acquired one of their largest competitors in a significant international expansion. The fast growing craft business, which is implementing a buy and build strategy to consolidate the highly fragmented craft market, has completed the acquisition of Austrian mould manufacturer Alphabet Moulds.
Having grown rapidly by acquisition over the past 4 years, Katy Sue, headed by founder Sue Balfour, has acquired Acrylic Crafts a maker of laser cut craft supplies, paper craft experts Craft Creations and last year the acquisition of paper quilling experts JJ Quilling. The latest international acquisition is one of a number of deals the business is looking at as it hopes to build a family of well-loved craft brands.
Alphabet Moulds brings with it over 300 new mould designs along with additional manufacturing capacity perfected over the past 11 years. Sue Balfour explains,
Katy Sue has grown to over 30 staff during the pandemic and is investing heavily in its ecommerce capability, specifically its own websites and market places such as Amazon. This expansion is part of the company's plans to grow revenues to £10m, employing over 100 staff by the end of 2025. This European expansion compliments the companies based in the UK and its USA operation in New York.
Katy Sue expect to re-open the Alphabet Moulds website by mid-February 2022.
www.jjquilling.co.uk | www.acryliccraft.com |
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JJ Quilling is a 40-year-old family owned business which serves an important paper craft niche. The business is the number one UK manufacturer of paper quilling supplies and kits, and is the only remaining UK manufacturer of speciality foil edged strips. The quality of their range is recognised by enthusiasts as far afield as Japan and the USA and has itself grown rapidly as a result partly of the increase in the craft’s popularity.
ABOVE: Extraordinary paper quilling artwork by JJ Quilling's Diane Boden
Sue Balfour, our Katy Sue CEO commented,
“We have been working on our own range of paper quilling products which are set to launch in early 2022 and searched for a UK supplier to add to our kit designs. We were surprised to find most of the supplies were a poor quality and had to be bought in China and so we were delighted to begin working with JJ as a UK supplier and ultimately to have the opportunity to acquire the JJ Quilling range and manufacturing capability. We intend to invest in more products and additional customer service capability to help the business reach its real potential.”
Diane and Tris Boden, the owners of JJ Quilling said,
“We had been considering retiring but wanted to make sure the business lived on and became part of a business with the same culture and ethos as we have. We approached Katy Sue and found Sue Balfour was the right person to take things forward, so we completed negotiations quickly and to our complete satisfaction. We are going to stay on for a period to ensure the business is fully integrated into its new home at Katy Sue”.
JJ Quilling will be accepting orders until 11am on Friday 24th September. We then expect to pause orders for one week whilst Katy Sue relocate manufacturing from Kent to South Shields. Orders can continue to be placed from the JJ Quilling website but please note that shipping will resume on Monday 4th October.
See the paper quilling range at www.jjquilling.co.uk
Whilst Emma has worked exclusively on the Adventures in Paper Cutting range with Katy Sue for over three years, this month sees her take up a full-time position in product design within our growing company.
Emma brings a wealth of design experience and fresh ideas around paper craft trends both in the paper cutting arena and more broadly. The stresses and lockdowns of 2020/21 have seen a significant increase in all craft sales generally as creative consumers try new hobbies, but the Katy Sue paper cutting range has hit the sweet spot with an increase of over 400% in customers trying out this mindful craft for the first time.
“I love paper and there is no bigger thrill than to see a simple sheet of paper being totally transformed into something truly beautiful with just a pencil, scalpel and whatever my imagination allows. I am so very excited to now become a full-time member of team Katy Sue as this allows me to spread my creative wings into so many new areas and to pass my paper passion on to those coming to this craft for the first time,” said Emma.
Our Adventures in Paper Cutting craft pads and kits offer an easy entry level into the hobby which increases in levels of skill, with ready-to-cut templates from simple to more advanced designs in each craft pad. The finished pieces are often then gifted creating another level of enjoyment for both the giver and receiver. Designs include dream catchers, trees, flowers, birds, lions amongst many others, with the simple process of cutting by hand becoming a meditative process by which you become intently aware of the paper transforming into a piece of art.
“I am in total awe of Emma’s creativity and am a long-time fan of her talent, so I along with the rest of the creative team were jumping for joy when she decided to join us full-time. We have been a great partnership for many years on the Adventures product range and I can’t wait to see that expand in 2021,” said Sue Balfour, Katy Sue's CEO.
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Jo Madeline remains on the team and we can't wait to be wowed by her creative designs. We love Jo’s style as she inspires ways to use clay.
Karen McCaughern will be showcasing her designs for us for another year, inspiring us with her creative makes and gorgeous samples.
We have Karen Seal remaining and we can't wait to be inspired by Karen's designs. Karen is also a member of our Flower Pro design team and we can't wait to see her clay makes throughout the year.
Sue Baylis will inspire us for a further year with her creative designs and alternative uses for our Moulds. We look forward to seeing what Sue will do with our new moulds that we have in the pipeline for the next year!
Remaining for another year we have the fabulously talented Tracy Marriott, a clay crafter from London, we can't wait to see how Tracy uses our Moulds to create clay samples ready to inspire our Katy Sue crafters!
Victoria Heasman remains on the team for a further year and we can't wait to see how her creative thinking and designs inspire us with our new product launches. With her alternative thinking and creative process we can't wait to see what she makes this year!
Clarie Boyd will be remaining on the clay team and will be wowing us with her floral makes as she has just joined our Flower Pro design team as well. We look forward to seeing what floral elements Claire can add to her designs as she works in hearty clay and our Flower Pro moulds.
Heather Robertson will be impressing us with her fairy-tale themed designs with added floral elements. Heather has recently just launched her very own Fairy Door Mould, which was her own design, check out the latest Katy Sue Mould here.
Jak Heath is our in house designer at Katy Sue HQ and is on hand to make videos and samples for our new launches. Jak is our guest presenter on Create and Craft TV and helps develop our craft range.
We have Debbie Raybould remain on the team and we look forward to a year filled with her creative designs with her very own twist of creative flair added to her craft samples made with our Moulds, MDF and our paper craft range.
Our Paper Craft Team
And for our paper crafting team we have Jan Jay staying with us for a further year and we are so pleased to introduce two new members to the team, Angela Finch and Shabneez Khan-Muztar.
We have Jan Jay on our paper crafting team, and Jan is a local to the Katy Sue HQ! And we are so pleased to have her remain on the team. We look forward to seeing her stunning cards on TV as she wows us with her style and stunning designs.
Shabneez Khan-Muztar has joined our paper crafting team and we can't wait to be stunned by her gorgeous designs and style. Stay tuned as we launch our latest Paper Craft pad and Shabneez's first samples are shared via our Facebook page!
We also welcome Angela Finch to the paper craft design team and we can't wait to see her stunning paper craft designs throughout the next year. Angela has created some gorgeous cards for our latest launch, head over to our Facebook page to take a sneak peak!
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New for 2021 we welcome Claire Boyd to the Flower Pro team. Claire has been a member of our Craft Design Team for two years and she’s super keen to combine her professional floristry skills with her clay and craft techniques. We can’t wait to see all of her fabulous clay creations made using Flower Pro.
We are also pleased to have Heather Robertson on the team as a guest member, Heather is also a member of our clay team. Look out for Heather’s fairy-tale creations filled with fantastical floral elements
We welcome Susan Clippinger to the team. Susan is a huge Flower Pro fan and has been decorating cakes for over 25 years but her passion is flower making with our Flower Pro moulds. We can’t wait to be inspired by her floral makes over the next year!
We are very pleased to introduce Sharon Bimson from Sadie May Cakes to the Flower Pro team, Sharon makes bespoke wedding cakes across the North East and North Yorkshire, so she’s local to the Katy Sue HQ! Sharon’s style is very elegant and floral, we can’t wait to see her creations over the next year.
And from Redditich England we have Dawn Dryburgh Lawson from Cake Creations Redditch New joining the Flower Pro team. We are really excited to see Dawn's makes as she uses wafer paper with Flower Pro to create beautiful floral cakes! We are ready to be inspired!
A huge welcome to all of new members to the Flower Pro design team, we can’t wait to be inspired by your creativity over the next year!
We also cannot wait to welcome back for a further year the following designers! Veronica Seta, Karen Seal, Julie Askew, Chrissie Boon, Lareefa Ghazaly and Greg Clearly.
Veronica Seta is a our Flower Pro Ambassador of Italy and she stuns us with her designs for each new Flower Pro launch. You can often find Veronica's work in Cake Decoration and Sugarcraft magazine and American Cake Decorating magazine showcasing our Flower Pro Moulds.
We are really pleased to welcome Karen Seal back for another year as she wows us with her clay makes using the Flower Pro range, we look forward to seeing all her creative ideas using our Moulds and Veiners.
We welcome Greg Clearly back for another year, Greg is our only Australian Flower Pro design team member and we are so pleased to have such a talented sugar artist on the team!
We welcome Chrissie Boon back to remain on our design team, Chrissie is our Canadian design team member and we love her pretty floral style! Looking forward to another year of her gorgeous designs!
Lareefa Ghazaly will be staying on another year on the team showcasing her stunning sugarcraft skills, we can't wait to see what Lareefa does with our Flower Pro Moulds this year!
Julie Askew will be joining us for another year and we can't wait to see all her beautiful Flower Pro designs made with air drying clay.
Jak Heath will remain a design team member wowing us with her beautiful craft creations made from air drying clay.
We can’t wait to be inspired by our Flower Pro design team and we have so many exciting new launches in the pipeline for 2021.
Sweet wishes from Katy Sue Designs and Chef Nicholas Lodge!
The successful move to producing digital-only products has come as Katy Sue has recognised that its ever popular range of paper craft designs could be replicated to a digital download format, to allow its customers to quickly print their own products at home. This means that a customer can receive their product instantly and keep it forever, with no delivery time.
The digital paper craft product range is available across Katy Sue’s various web platforms, including its Katy Sue UK and US websites and Craft Creations website. To also attract new customers to the digital products on offer, Katy Sue has opened an Etsy store, aimed at the “Makers” market, which stocks the full digital product range. Since launching the digital download product range, Katy Sue has seen digital sales grow to almost 20% in less than four weeks.
Meanwhile the content side of the business has been enhanced, with the launch of the Katy Sue Members Clubs, providing exclusive online content, early access to new products and unique online classes. In collaboration with internationally renowned Chef Nicholas Lodge, the first group Flower Pro Ultimate Members Club launched on Friday 17th April. It has already seen significant uptake and the company is optimistic that this new subscription model will be as popular in the craft world as the new Disney streaming channel is on traditional TV.
Commenting on the news, Sue Balfour, Katy Sue’s CEO said. “We are proud that our team of loyal employees have been able to launch these new products while working remotely. Using collaboration tools such as Workplace by Facebook has allowed the group to stay in touch and rapidly develop new products and services. We have been investing in our tech for the past two years, and this latest investment is in response to feedback from our customers, eager to keep crafting with their favourite brands”.
The business has been acquisitive of late, and is actively looking for ways to expand its business, and grow its stable of world famous brands.
Katy Sue understands the demand for craft products is high at present and the huge benefit that these products provide to well-being and metal health. Although always very popular among the ageing population and those who suffer from disabilities, during this unprecedented time craft products are also growing in popularity with families and a younger audience who are looking for creative ways to spend their time at home.
]]>On 23 March 2020 the government stepped up measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and save lives, with many businesses and premises asked to close. However, they have stated that “Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.”
As an online retailer, we understand the demand for cake and craft products is high at present and the huge benefit that these products provide to well-being and metal health, as they can be used for indoor activities that can be done safely at home as individuals or as family units.
Because of this, we as a team are doing everything we can to still supply craft and cake decorating products via our online channels, whilst looking after our 34 members of staff and following the government’s advice.
At this current time, 28 out of our 34 staff members are either working from home or resting and waiting for a rota call, and our remaining staff are local and are able to get to work without using public transport. We are fortunate to have four isolated working units at our headquarters in South Shields, England and our facilities have been adjusted to make them incredibly safe for our staff.
Our warehouse and logistics facility is separate to the rest of the business meaning it is easy to isolate that function entirely to protect our staff. As we manufacture 100% of our products in the UK using our own equipment and with our own UK supply chain, we are able to refresh our stocks in line with demand, and we currently have more than three months of stock available to deliver via our websites, Amazon stores and (coming soon!) our Etsy store too.
The warehouse is being manned by two staff members who already live together and walk to work. Acrylic Craft Production is also being manned by two staff members who already live together and walk to work. Katy Sue and Craft Creations production is being manned by four staff members who are working to a rota and with stringent social distancing measures to keep them safe while at work. Couriers are able to attend our sites and collect parcels for delivery without contact with our staff and as such is a safe means of delivering.
Our telephones are diverted to our customer service staff working at home who are still able to take customer calls regarding products, deliveries and trade purchases.
Our creative team is beavering away at home putting the finishing touches to some very exciting products which we will be telling you about soon – so please make sure you have signed up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about new product launches.
Our demonstrators and design team teams are continuing to create craft and cake samples to inspire and support our community of customers via our Facebook pages with live video streams. Get involved, and show us what you’ve been creating too.
We are also supporting our design partners across the globe and our local key suppliers at this difficult time.
While we find ourselves spending more time indoors than usual, why not visit our YouTube channels which have extensive content available to help teach and demonstrate the use of our products – or join our community of crafters and cake decorators via our Facebook groups.
We are all in this together. Please stay safe, and we hope that we can be part of some of the happy memories you can create in your homes during this time.
]]>Update: As of Thursday 12th March 2020 Katy Sue Designs implemented its well developed plan to protect the business from the spread of Covid-19.
Based in South Shields, the business has 34 staff, who operate from 5 different units. We benefit from having the ability to effectively segregate departments and significantly lessen the cross spread of this infectious disease between our employees. We also have extensive and highly sophisticated IT systems which allow remote access for all systems making home working a more practical step. With this in mind the business is now operating with 40% of its staff working remotely and the remainder on either reduced hours working or shift based rotas which help mitigate risk and keep the wheels turning. Business is operating as usual in every respect and we remain committed to the well being of our staff and customers at this difficult time.
We uniquely benefit from being a manufacturer of our own products and as such have no issues around international deliveries of finished stock – particularly from China. We have supplies of raw materials capable of sustaining the business until at least September 2020 and are confident that we will have no stock related issues in that timeframe. Our web sites, Amazon stores and associated platforms are still taking orders and our sales lines are open and staffed as usual. We are in a position to continue with business as usual and trade customers can of course place orders in the usual way. Clearly we are dependent on national couriers to continue distributing orders to any and all customers.
We expect to remain open for business throughout this difficult period and intend communicating with customers and staff using technology where appropriate. Please visit our web site for further updates.
Thank you.
Katy Sue Designs
]]>The North East Business Awards, organised by The Journal and The Gazette (part of Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror plc), toast success, celebrate achievement and highlight successful and innovative businesses doing fantastic things in the North East of England. The awards shine a light on companies large and small, new and established, to highlight how the North East is a great place to live, work and do business.
This year makes the 20th year of the North East Business Awards and Katy Sue Designs attended the sparkling award dinner for Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside regions at the Ramside Hall Hotel in County Durham on the 12th March.
During the night, Katy Sue Designs took home the Small Business Award (sponsored by North East Business & Innovation Centre) where they were shortlisted alongside fantastic regional businesses Excelpoint Limited and Funky Chunky Furniture.
CEO, Susan Balfour said, "We are honoured to win this award. A huge thanks to our amazing staff and South Tyneside Council for all their support of our growing company."
Katy Sue Designs will now take on its counterparts from heats in Northumberland and Tyneside, and Teesside, at the overall regional final of the North East Business Awards which takes place at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, on the 30th April 2020.
To find out more about the North East Business Awards, please visit www.nebusinessawards.co.uk or follow the hashtag #NEBizAwards20 on social media.
]]>This year makes the 20th year of the North East Business Awards and the celebrations will include three award dinners divided by region: Northumberland & Tyneside at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on the 27th February, Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside at the Ramside Hall Hotel in County Durham on the 12th March, and Teesside on 26th March at Middlesbrough College.
Following these award dinners, the region will come together for a Grand Final dinner on 30th April at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield.
Katy Sue Designs will be attending the Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside award dinner where they are nominated for a Small Business Award.
Sue Balfour, CEO of Katy Sue Designs says, "It is wonderful to be recognised and nominated for a Small Business Award by the North East Business Awards. We pride ourselves on the team and company we have built over the years, and for the strong connection we have to the North East area with our offices and manufacturing based at South Shields Business Works. I’m looking forward to the event, and wish all those shortlisted the best of luck.”
The full shortlist is as below:
Apprenticeships, Training & Skills Award (sponsored by Esh Group):
Funky Chunky Furniture
ITC Service
Sotech Limited
Company of the Year (sponsored by Bernicia):
AR Power
Crafter’s Companion
Demeter Water Solutions
Digital Technology Award (sponsored by Sunderland College):
Cameo Digital
Concept IT
ITC Service
Heart of The Community Award:
believe Housing
Keepmoat Homes
Vic Young (South Shields) Ltd
Innovation Award (sponsored by Business Durham):
Footy.com
Nine Software
Shoptimised
High Growth & Ambition Award:
Design X-Press
Elmtronics
Tayloredfit Physio
Manufacturing Award (sponsored by South Tyneside Council):
Design X-Press
Marmax Products Ltd
Sotech Limited
Newcomer of the Year (sponsored by Virgin Money):
Azalea Academy CIC
Breakfree Counselling Service Ltd
Mint Business Club
Services Award:
DKS Straightforward Ltd
Expedient Training Services
Stiller Warehousing and Distribution
Small Business Award (sponsored by North East Business & Innovation Centre):
Excelpoint Limited
Funky Chunky Furniture
Katy Sue Designs Ltd
Tourism & Hospitality Award:
Adventure Valley
No 16. Seaham
Sunderland AFC
To find out more about the North East Business Awards, please visit www.nebusinessawards.co.uk or follow the hashtag #NEBizAwards20 on social media.
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For more information about The Sunshine Fund or the Glass Slipper Awards, please visit https://www.thesunshinefund.org/glass-slipper-awards.
]]>One of our goals this year is to raise more awareness about fake products within our industry, and why it is so important to buy from a reputable brand.
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We are very proud of the high quality of our cake decorating moulds which are carefully designed and produced in our factory in the UK and made with FDA compliant food grade silicone.
One of our goals this year is to raise more awareness about fake products within our industry, and why it is so important to buy from a reputable brand.
]]>We’ll be sharing lots of breathtaking cake images created by these very talented individuals over the coming months, but for now we thought you would like to get to know our team, starting with our newest members. Please give them all a warm welcome!
Dawn Butler – Dinkydoodle Designs – UK
Hi, I’m Dawn and I’m the 2020 Katy Sue Cake Design Team team leader! In 2010 I turned my hobby and love of making cakes into a small home business, and soon became recognised for my realistic airbrushed cakes.
In 2012 I launched the Dinkydoodle airbrush and colour range which received worldwide acclaim, being regarded as some of the best products in the cake industry. Then in 2014 I invented CakeFrame – a food-grade, purpose-made internal structural support system for cakes which helps you create gravity-defying cakes!
Some of my proudest accomplishments have been when I was crowned Cake Masters Cake Artist of the year in 2016 and as one of the UK’s Top 10 cake artists by Cake Masters Magazine in 2017. I’ve also had the massive pleasure of being commissioned to make a helicopter cake for her majesty the Queen and the Duke of Cambridge, which I made fly!
I’m so happy to be working with Katy Sue Designs and all the fabulous Katy Sue Cake Design Team. We have exciting things planned!
Facebook Page: Dinkydoodle Designs
Take inspiration from Dawn's Christmas Cake:
Santa Belt Silicone Mould
Alex Coppleman – Mr Alexander’s Sweet Eats - Australia
Hi, I’m Alex. I am 24 years old and I have Down's Syndrome. I’ve always enjoyed baking cake slices and cupcakes, but my favourite part is decorating them. I live in Australia and I have been running my own cake business – Mr Alexander’s Sweet Eats – for 3 ½ years.
My cake teacher Karen helps me make and decorate cookies, cupcakes and cakes for my customers. The best part of decorating cakes is seeing people’s faces when I give the finished cake to them. They are always surprised at what I can do.
I am very proud of my cakes so far and I love a challenge to try new things; especially when I get to attend classes with amazing teachers from all over the world. When I take my salted caramel slices to a class, the teachers don’t want to share them with the other students!
I like using Katy Sue moulds because they make it easy for me to add fun details to my cakes with less help from my teacher.
Facebook Page: Mr Alexander's Sweet Eats
Take inspiration from Alex's Christmas Cake:
Reindeer Sugar Buttons Mould
Fir Tree Silhouette Mould
Christmas Embellishments Mould
Dale Patrick-Evans –Pick ‘n’ Mix Parties and Gifts - UK
Hi, I'm Dale and I am 21 years old. I started my business in January 2016 by making and selling sweet cones for kid’s parties with my mum, who used to make cakes as a hobby for friends and family.
My mum said that if I wanted to offer cakes as part of my business, that I needed to be able to make them. So, since February 2016 I have been decorating cakes for all occasions, from single-tier birthday cakes to multi-tier wedding cakes. In October 2017 I also started to grow my business further by experimenting with different flavour chocolate truffles and have since grown the chocolate side of my business to offer over 15 different flavours of truffles and many other chocolate products.
Fast forward to now and I have gained five awards, including a Certificate of Merit in the wedding category at Cake International Birmingham 2018 and a Bronze Award in the wedding category again at Cake International Birmingham 2019.
Since joining the Katy Sue Design Team in August 2018, I have loved working with all of the new moulds and seeing what I can create with them. I love letting my imagination run free and creating cakes that I wouldn’t normally create.
Facebook page: Pick 'n' Mix Parties & Gifts
Take inspiration from Dale's Christmas Cake:
Large Antler Mould
Pine Cones
Flower Pro Rose Cones & Thorns Mould
Flower Pro Multi Leaf Veiner Mould
Jennifer Jenkins Kennedy – Jenny’s Haute Cakes - USA
Hi, I’m Jenny and I am a self-taught cake artist from Denver, Colorado. I took a break from practising law 12 years ago to raise a family. I have four beautiful children ranging in age from 8-18. I started making cakes as a hobby and fell in love with the artistic side of it.
I started my business Jenny’s Haute Cakes in 2012. I specialize in custom special occasion cakes. I particularly like making novelty painted and sculpted cakes, and modelling figures. I am a certified Wilton Instructor and I have been a Sugar Angel for Icing Smiles for the past 6 years, and regularly donate cakes for charitable causes.
In 2012 I entered my first cake contest, Sweet Times in the Rockies (STITR), and won the People’s Choice Award, and since then I’ve been lucky enough to win competitions and have my work featured in magazines around the world, such as Cake Masters Magazine, American Cake Decorating Magazine and Sugar Magazine India. Most recently, this year I won Best in Show at the Colorado Chocolate Festival.
Facebook Page: Jenny's Haute Cakes
Take inspiration from Jenny's Christmas Cake:
Fir Tree Silhouette Mould
Nutcracker Mould
Ballerina Sugar Buttons Mould
Christmas Baubles Mould
Lisa Ogden – Oggys Cakes - UK
Hi, I’m Lisa and I live in Lichfield, UK. I blame my mum for my baking obsession! I can’t remember a time in my childhood that she wasn’t making cakes for friends and family. However my interest in cake design and sugarcraft remained a hobby while I followed a career in accounting.
I married in 1995 and had three sons who are my harshest critics and brilliant taste testers. With the encouragement and support of family and friends following the arrival of my youngest son, Oggys Cakes was launched in 2006. Although I do make ‘sensible’ cakes my favourite cakes are the fun and quirky ones, and I love it when my clients set me a challenge.
I am completely self taught and really enjoy learning new skills and techniques. I’m really looking forward to being part of the Katy Sue Design Team. Due to the quality and ease of the products, they enable cake makers to give profession results regardless of the skill level.
Facebook Page: Oggys Cakes
Take inspiration from Lisa's Christmas Cake:
Reindeer Sugar Buttons Mould
Penguin Sugar Buttons Mould
Snowman Sugar Buttons Mould
Santa Belt Mould
Monika Stout – Truly Scrumptious Cakes - USA
Hi, I’m Monika and I’m the owner of Truly Scrumptious Cakes in Encinitas, California. I spent years as a graphic designer, working at a drafting table with T-square and triangle, assembling the then-complex layers of commercial art. But, with the move to computers, I missed working with my hands to create something beautiful. I took a cake decorating class with the aim of making original cakes for my children. Once I began, however, I realized that this is what I was born to do!
Over the last ten years I have been lucky enough to build a successful custom cake shop where I create one-of-a-kind works of sugar art, as well as teaching sweet and savoury classes for the last six years. I currently work as a cake artist and food stylist for the popular Netflix show, Nailed It as well as behind the scenes on Sugar Rush and have styled a number of magazine covers.
I love the Katy Sue products because they are so unique and creative. The moulds are made from quality materials and the designs are the most detailed I have ever seen. They make decorating a breeze. Whatever design you are looking to create, Katy Sue has a mould to help you take it to the next level!
Facebook Page: Truly Scrumptious Cakes
Take inspiration from Monika's Christmas Cake:
Small Antlers Mould
Christmas Baubles Mould
Brickwork Silicone Mould
Knitting Mould
Natasha Rice – Natasha Rice Cakes - USA
Hi, I’m Natasha. I’m from California and I created my first cake in 2010 for my daughter’s birthday party. I was a fan of cake shows on television and thought to myself, “I could do that, how hard could it be?”
Well, little did I know it wasn’t as simple as it looked. I spent weeks teaching myself what I needed to know to decorate a cake. I spent more money on my supplies than just purchasing a cake from a bakery, and overall my cake didn’t look like the ones on television.
Even though my first cake wasn’t a success, I loved the creative process that went along with cake decorating. After that, I started making cakes for friends and family, and over the years it went from a hobby to a profession. I love Katy Sue molds because of their quality, details, and great range of designs. The molds give my cakes that professional clean look that I am known for.
Facebook Page: Natasha Rice Cakes
Take inspiration from Natasha's Christmas Cake:
Pine Cones Mould
Large Antlers Mould
Word Perfect Holidays Set Mould
Holly & Mistletoe Mould
Samantha Gojak – Wicked Cakes - Australia
Hi I’m Samantha from Wicked Cakes. I’ve always been artistic and over the years I’ve been involved in creative hobbies from painting to papercraft. I studied Design at the University of New South Wales in Australia and worked as a Jeweller/Goldsmith for 10 years until I started a family and turned my fine metal working skills towards all things sugar.
I love the challenge of cake decorating competitions and have brought home numerous ribbons over the past 10 years, as well as sharing my skills at local Cake Decorating Guild and Association meetings and being a guest demonstrator at the Cake Decorating Guild of NSW’s Sugar Showcase twice.
I have been designing and teaching a variety of cake decorating classes for the past six years. Sugar is still my artistic medium of choice – my killer sweet tooth may have something to do with that!
Cake decorating and sugar art have brought some of my favourite people into my life, from both nearby and thousands of miles away, I can’t wait to see what else is in store for me on this sweet ride!
Facebook Page: Wicked Cakes
Take inspiration from Samantha's Christmas Cake:
Stone Silicone Mould
Holly & Mistletoe Silicone Embossers
Sarah Arnold – Sarah’s Biscuit Bar – UK
Hi, I’m Sarah. I started my cake and biscuit decorating journey back in 2009 when I attended a class run by the internationally renowned cake designer and sugar craft expert, Lindy Smith. From that moment I was instantly hooked, and my dream one day was to build my own business to allow me to create individually designed cakes and biscuits every day!
I spent the next four years juggling this new found passion with the necessities of my day job – however in 2014 I finally took the plunge and left my corporate life and moved to Devon where I was blessed with the time to rekindle my love of baking.
During that time I attended classes so that I could improve my skills and become more confident to experiment at home. After watching literally hundreds of tutorial videos I felt I was finally in a place to create Sarah’s Biscuit Bar.
I am so excited and honoured to be part of the Katy Sue Design Team and look forward to creating pieces of art using their fabulous moulds which I have already been using for many years.
Facebook Page: Sarah's Biscuit Bar
Take inspiration from Sarah's Christmas Cookie Platter:
Santa Head Mould
Christmas Sign Posts Mould
Christmas Bells Mould
Little Tree Silhouette Mould
Merry Christmas Mini Plaque Mould
Clock Mould
Brickwork Mould
Cable Mould
Stitched Teddy Bear Mould
Bow Trio
Sarah Harris – The Cupcake Range - UK
Hi, I'm Sarah and I am a chartered public sector accountant by day working in local government as a Strategic Audit Manager. My role is to protect the public purse from fraud, error or poor value for money; it is a career I care passionately about.
My two sons are grown up now and mostly not at home so when I am not working I love baking, especially cake making and decorating. I first became a member of the Katy Sue Design Team in 2015. Since then I have grown in confidence and have learnt so much about cake decorating! I have had such fun making creations with their moulds; and it has led to many new and exciting experiences.
In 2017 I entered the cupcake category at Cake International in London for the first time and won Gold and third place in my class; it was just brilliant that the Katy Sue team were there to share in my joy.
Then in 2018, the year I was celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary, I won a Christmas cake decorating competition with Dr Oetker (using Katy Sue moulds in my chocolate log design). The prize was an all expenses long weekend trip to Zurich, Switzerland for two including a chocolate tasting tour! It was the perfect way to celebrate our anniversary.
Facebook Page: The Cupcake Range
Take inspiration from Sarah's Christmas Cake:
Santa Topper Mould
Reindeer Sugar Buttons Mould
Penguin Sugar Buttons Mould
Happy Christmas Large Plaque Mould
Christmas Bells Mould
Continuous Quilting Mould
Knitting Mould
Dog Sugar Buttons Mould
Christmas Embellishments Mould
Wood Panel Mould
Sofia Raposo – Sophia Fox Cake Designer - Portugal
Hi, I am Sofia, the cake artist behind Sophia Fox Cake Designer, and I am from Seixal, Portugal.
From an early age I developed a great passion for the arts. I graduated in Architecture in 2006 and have over eight years of professional experience in that field.
However, I discovered the world of creative pastry in 2012 and fell in love. Since then I have successfully participated in national and international competitions and I have been published in cake art magazines. Most recently, I won the Cake Master Award for the Category of Painted Cakes and also a gold medal award at Cake International in Birmingham.
Since 2013 I have been teaching classes on modelling, painting and creating textured cakes and wafer paper flowers both in Portugal and in other countries around the world. This led me to open the Sophia Fox Cake Art Studio five years ago in Portugal - a space dedicated to training in various styles of artistic decoration for cakes, pastries, as well as offering courses and master classes.
Facebook Page: Sophia Fox Cake Designer
Take inspiration from Sofia's Christmas Cake:
Large Antlers Mould
Santa Belt Mould
Teresa Antonowicz – Teresa’s Sweet Creations – USA
Hi, I'm Teresa and I’m a stay at home mom of two children. I’ve got no fancy pastry schooling background, I graduated in Marketing and Management from a university in Poland, but I've always loved crafts and making things.
One day, I decided I wanted to start making my kiddos some cool birthday cakes because my little princess didn’t like any from my local bakery. I looked up some YouTube videos and books, started dabbling in a li’l bit o’ this and a li’l bit o’ that… and I did my first fondant cake in 2012 for my daughters second birthday and everybody loved it.
Over time I started to get more and more orders so set up my Facebook Page Teresa's Sweet Creations where I make custom cakes for special occasions.
Facebook Page: Teresa's Sweet Creations
Take inspiration from Teresa's Christmas Cake:
Nutcracker Mould
Santa Belt
Holly & Mistletoe Mould
Teri Pringle Wood – USA
Hi, I'm Teri and I make cookies. It all started a few years ago when I decided to decorate Valentine cookies for friends. It didn’t take long for me to know I was going to have to do a little practice especially since I fell in love with European traditional cookie art.
Since then I have practised with enthusiasm and passion to create all sorts of fun and intricate cookies. I enjoy working with Katy Sue as a design team member and use their beautifully detailed moulds to inspire new cookie designs.
Facebook page: Teri Pringle Wood
Take inspiration from Terri's Christmas Biscuits:
Reindeer Sugar Buttons Mould
Heather is an artist, sculptor and tutor from Hampshire, England. She studied art and design while growing up South Africa, and developed a love for the natural world and wildlife. When she returned to the UK, Heather went on to study with the London Art College, receiving a distinction in Children’s Book Illustration, and illustrated a children’s book for a local author.
Now, Heather is a certified UK Pal Tiya Premium (a concrete-based clay) teacher who runs polymer clay and Pal Tiya Premium workshops in and around the Basingstoke area, as well as running a local craft group. She creates works in polymer clay, Pal Tiya Premium, acrylics, oils, watercolour, charcoal and chalk pastel.
Heather’s art and craft work is heavily influenced by fantasy fiction like ‘The Dark Crystal’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘The Never-Ending Story’, and she is very skilled in making art dolls and figures, collectable wands, fairy doors, dragons, pen pots, gift jars, book covers, wall plaques and jewellery (to name a few!)
She will be appearing in the first episode of new Channel 5 TV Show 'The Wonderful World of Crafting' where passionate crafters are given the opportunity to turn their hobby into a business. Catch her at 8pm on Channel 5 tonight to see her in action!
Heather's first live TV shows with us will be on Create and Craft on Thursday 24th October at 9am, 12pm and 6pm.
We're so happy to have Heather on board, and know that you are all going to love seeing the pieces she can create with our products.
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Commenting on the deal Sue Balfour CEO of Katy Sue said “We have been working with Acrylic Crafts for a number of months now, and recently launched a range of MDF shapes which sold incredibly well on TV. Our highland Cow was particularly popular in Scotland, where it has become a symbol of the country's heritage. We expect to launch new MDF and Acrylic products shortly and are looking forward to working closely with Phil Davies and his experienced team.”
Phil Davies, MD of Acrylic Craft, commented: “We quickly saw the benefit of combining resources with Katy Sue Designs, using their digital marketing capability to grow our online sales whilst taking advantage of the huge investment they have made in their sophisticated warehousing and dispatch capability. Having invested significantly ourselves in manufacturing capacity, bringing our laser cutting machines up to 7, we now believe we can double our business over the next 12 months following this deal”.
Katy Sue Designs has set ambitious growth plans, aiming to build a £10m revenue business employing over 100 staff within 5 years. Having secured investment in late 2018, the business has seen sales growth of over 200% and is on an acquisition journey to build out the business, consolidating a highly fragmented UK craft market.
]]>The news is the latest in a series of exciting growth plans for the silicone mould manufacturer which has seen its growth increase by over 200% in the last year, as well as acquiring the Craft Creations brand which is central to its new dedicated paper craft range.
CEO Sue Balfour is looking forward to the business’s next phase of growth with a significant focus in UK Shopping TV with Create and Craft and Ideal Shopping.
“Moving from one channel to another is never an easy decision, and on this occasion, it was based on our own changing product range and our desire to focus on new markets,” she says.
“We are hoping we can build on the success we originally had with Create and Craft – where we started back in 2005. As always, we are grateful for the help and support of our previous partner Hochanda with whom we have enjoyed working with over the last three years.”
www.KatySueDesigns.com
www.craftcreations.com
www.createandcraft.com
Sky 683
Freeview 23
Virgin 748
Freesat 813
Apple TV
Amazon Fire
Online at createandcraft.com
Craft Creations Ltd announced at the start of 2019 their intention to close the business and cease trading. Subsequent to that Katy Sue Designs Ltd agreed to acquire the assets of the business with a view to relaunching the business during April 2019.
Katy Sue Designs was set up with Sue Balfour and her Mother 25 years ago, originally in the collector’s craft market then subsequently moving into paper crafts with the Flower Soft product range and in recent years with our award-winning range of decorative silicone moulds. In 2018 the business reintroduced paper products and the Craft Creations brand is a further extension of this strategy.
The business remains committed to both silicone and paper products which are all made in the UK at our South Shields facilities where we will continue to trade under the award-winning brand names Katy Sue Designs and Craft Creations.
To give us the capacity to bring exciting new designs it is necessary to shrink the product range and provide a more bundled version of some products, however we will continue to offer the most popular range of products and services direct to the consumer via a new website, and through existing trade partners.
This initial product selection will be increased as demand and capability allow, and we appreciate your patience, as until June we may have slightly longer lead times for orders as we establish the business.
In what has been an incredibly busy period, we have now moved all manufacturing capability to a new site in the North East and will begin production next week. The website will be live on the 25th April and our new phone number which you can contact us on now is 0191 250 9350. We are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and of course 24/7 via our website: www.craftcreations.com
We look forward to helping you with all your paper craft needs.
Stay up to date with Craft Creations by joining our Newsletter
Some of the North East’s best known businesses have been shortlisted for this highly prestigious award and here at Katy Sue Designs we are very excited to hear the announcement that we are one of the finalists.
With 12 categories to choose from, including some of the leading North East businesses such as Barbour, M5Tec and Beamish Museum, it will be a tough decision for the judges.
We are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in the Export Award category. This is due to our large expansion from the UK, our ambitious growth throughout the USA and Europe. In the last year here at Katy Sue Designs, we have tripled our revenue and increased our workforce by almost a third. It’s a very exciting time for us here, and we are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for 2019’s Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside Business Award.
Meet our extremely talented Cake Design Team members…
Teri Pringle Wood – USA
Three years ago I decided to decorate Valentine cookies for friends. It didn’t take long for me to know I was going to have to do a little practice especially since I fell in love with European traditional cookie art. So for the last three years I have practiced with enthusiasm and passion, I look forward to working with Katy Sue and their beautifully detailed moulds to inspire other cookie designs.
Take a look at Teri’s Facebook page here
Lareefa Ghazaly – Lankan Cake Craft – Sri Lanka
I’m Lareefa Ghazaly and I’m a British citizen. I moved from the UK and settled in Sri Lanka in 2012. After I moved to Sri Lanka, I started admiring cake decorators and then completed my PME diploma and Wilton courses in an institute in Sri Lanka. Later, I started a company named Lankan Cake Craft and I’m presently doing cakes for orders, cake classes and also selling cake decorating equipment such as moulds and lace mats.
My facebook page is Lankan Cake Craft
Julie Rogerson – Julie’s Cake In A Box – UK
I have always enjoyed arts and crafts, although my drawing skills leave a lot to be desired, so usually stick to the crafts and sewing side of things!
Baking has always been a big part of my life, both as a child with my mum and then later with my own 3 children as they were growing up. It seemed like a natural progression to combine my 2 interests and from there my passion for decorating cakes began.
I attended a cake class at a local cake shop, where I decorated my first cake 4 years ago. A year later I started my business, Julie’s Cake in a Box, which I currently run alongside my job as a nursery nurse in a local primary school (often found at the playdough table making models and flowers!). I am, however, working towards my goal of being a full time cake designer.
As much as I love a well decorated cake, I firmly believe that cakes should always taste as good as they look!
I am so thrilled and excited to be joining the Katy Sue Design Team because I love using moulds, they are so versatile and easy to use. I think Katy Sue moulds are the best in the market, both in quality and choice of designs. I cannot wait to get started!
Take a look at Julie’s Facebook page Julie’s Cake In A Box
Sue Pinnick – Yummy Cakes By Sue – UK
I’ve been a self-employed cake decorator at home for over 10 years and I absolutely love my job. I’ve been married for almost 13 years and have 2 wonderful children. My daughter Zoe is 12 and my son Andrew is 10.
I’m a fully accredited teacher and demonstrator using Patchwork Cutters and this has allowed me to demonstrate and teach around the UK and in Europe.
I get invited by Cake World Germany to demonstrate and sell their products at all of their cake shows. I’ve been learning German for 2 years so I can demonstrate in German. I’ve been to Hamburg, Friedrichshafen, Copenhagen, Austria, Hanover and the Cake & Bake show in Dortmund.
I’ve had an article published in Cake Craft and Decoration magazine and had loads of my customer cakes published in Party Cakes magazine.
I recently participated in an 80’s themed collaboration and would love to be part of another one.
Why do I love Katy Sue products? That’s easy…. Not only are they all beautiful, but they are so easy to use and they are affordable.
Visit Sue’s Facebook page Yummy Cakes By Sue
Zoe Smith – Bluebird Cakes – UK
I’m a mum of two from the North East who fell into cake decorating about nine years ago. Now I’m obsessed! I have an art/fashion background and always have to be creating something.
I came second last year at the Cake and Bake show in Manchester, the first time I’ve competed and also have had tutorials published in Cake Decoration magazine this year, two had the front cover of their supplements. Also had a two page interview in Squires cake decoration magazine. I also have over 680k followers on Pinterest.
I love Katy Sue moulds (use the bunting lettering mould lots).
Visit Zoe’s Facebook page Bluebird Cakes
Georgie Godbold – UK
I have always been a sugarcrafter, I just love working with sugar and trying all the new ideas decorating cakes, but my overall passion Is designing. (Note book and pencil always ready in my handbag and beside table!!!!)
I created my quirky ‘Sugar Wobbly’ characters in 2010 and my first book was published in 2012. I demonstrate my work home and abroad. And will be travelling to New Zealand at the end of October to give workshops and demonstration. My sugarcraft creations have been shown in many magazines and I have also demonstrated on Cake Academy and Create and Craft Television.
I am a busy person, retired early and have never stopped designing and creating. You have to love what you do and that is me.
See more of Georgie’s work on her Facebook page The Sugar Wobblies
Sarah Harris – The Cupcake Range – UK
I have a passion for baking which I have had since being a child, but more recently I enjoy mostly decorating cupcakes. A few years back I went on a basic cupcake decorating course and I loved it so much I have continued with it ever since.
It is a hobby, I bake only for family and friends, often as a surprise gift to commemorate an occasion such as a birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day or baby arrival. My family are strong believers in celebrating each birthday with a cake and I have never missed out myself in receiving a birthday cake each year. I have made a birthday cake for my Mum pretty much every year since I was a child and she is now in her 70s!
I have two sons, one now has a place of his own some distance away from our home, but I still made sure he got a homemade birthday cake last year which I sent him through the post! During the day I work as an Audit Manager in local government. I have worked for the same organisation since the year I got married which was in 1988.
With encouragement from friends I set up a Facebook page and called it The Cupcake Range
Teresa Antonowicz – Teresa’s Sweet Creations – USA
I’m stay at home mom … of two (PATRICK & NATALIE) I’ve got no fancy pastry schooling background. I graduated Marketing and Management University in Poland . I love craft things . One day, I decided I wanted to start making my kiddos some cool birthday cakes….because my little princess didn’t like any from my local bakery
I looked up some YouTube videos/books … starting dabbling in a li’l bit o’ this and a li’l bit o’ that… and I did my first fondant cake in 2012 for my daughters second birthday ….everybody loved and here I am I love cake decorating ….I love to see kids smile – when they see birthday cake …during this time I got more…and more orders … I hope one day ..my hobby/small business …will turn into the big one because I love what I do
Teresa’s Facebook page is – Teresa’s Sweet Creations
Doreen Thompson – Katy Sue Designs – UK
I am part owner and Creative Director at Katy Sue Designs. Technically I’m retired but I find myself in the craft room with Noreen virtually every day J I have always been creative and have done most crafts from sewing to card making and particularly enjoyed the 10 years plus our company had making porcelain Dollshouse Dolls for collectors all over the world. About 3 and a half years ago I retired and started taking the online cake decorating classes with Craftsy and found a whole wonderful world of cake decorating and cookie decorating. I’m still learning but I am thrilled to be part of the product development team here at Katy Sue…it’s a sheer joy to be playing with so many wonderful products.
Doreen’s Facebook page is – Katy Sue Designs Cake Decorating
Gilles Leblanc – Les Gâteaux de Gilles – Canada
Born and raised in Montreal Canada, Gilles Leblanc was the youngest of six children. His interests in the arts were present at a very young age, and very much encouraged by his mother who shared similar interests. His pastimes as a child were always based around the arts, whether sculpting or painting, he enjoyed experimenting with different materials. As time passed, his passion and curiosity grew and Gilles Leblanc wanted to pursue a career. Being a perfectionist, he enrolled in a well renowned jewellery school, to better perfect his knowledge of the various metals. It wasn’t long after that Gilles work was exhibited in various art galleries and featured in different magazines. Electroforming, bronze, silver and even gold gave Gilles Leblanc’s pieces their originality, and unique quality.
Gilles Leblanc eventually had to put his sculpting and career on hold, but his passion for the arts never died. He later discovered the art of cake decorating, and his passion was renewed. Gilles Leblanc’s talent in sculpting, and original ideas succeeded in creating many diversified cake pieces. Gilles Leblanc has also taken part in many cake collaborations, and has been featured in various magazines, earning him the admiration of his peers.
Gilles Facebook page is – Les Gâteaux de Gilles
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