Welcome to the second Chatterbox of 2008! Included is this issue are the following:

• Children's class schedule for the July School Holidays
• Term 3 Class and workshop schedule
• An explanation of the procedure for booking classes
• Opening and closing dates for Term 3

Where has the time gone? It's June already! Christmas will be here before we know it but in the meantime we have great new offerings for you next term. Children's classes for ages 8 and above will be held during 6 different sessions during the holiday break so check the schedule if you are interested. The booking policy for children's classes will be the same as for the adult classes, the exception being that no requirements list is needed because the children's classes are inclusive; all that is needed is an apron.

You may have noticed some new faces around the shop. Franca has joined the team in the shop and is happy to help with any questions that you have. Rosemary has joined us teaching classes and Kim has returned to teaching after having a baby. We welcome all of our new team members and look forward to their getting to know you.

Please find the class schedule for Term 3 attached. Again we have class times Monday to Saturday. Please remember when attending a night class, the front gate is pulled at 5.30pm so be sure to park at the back of the building and come in via the back stairs. Before your first class, please check in at the shop and we can let you know which classroom you will be in.

A mention about the booking procedure for classes - please remember that no booking is confirmed until a deposit is paid. A few people were disappointed last term because they did not pay a deposit and lost their place in a class. The easiest way to ensure you position in class is to pay your deposit by credit card over the phone when you put your name down. Once the deposit is paid your place in a class or workshop is set and then you need to be sure you have your requirements list as to what you need to bring to the class. All of our classes (except ones noted as all inclusive) require items from home. If you do not have a list, please ask so you can make sure you have the supplies necessary to complete the session.

Have you tried pan coat? It is the ideal solution for novelty tins and it easily covers the hills and valleys of the contour of the tins. It also seals the cake which makes it easier to decorate, which we all appreciate when trying to following the lines. You will be amazed how many products we have in the shop help make the cake decorating a quick and easy exercise. If you struggle with any particular aspect of a project, please ask the staff for help, that is why we are there.

Also remember the baking service available if you struggle getting your cakes made for class. Just try and give us 48 hours notice and we will be happy to help you.

Many students are confused by the mention of a cornflour bag on the requirements list. The cornflour bag is simply a clean knee high stocking with a few tablespoons of cornflour in it that you can use to dust your board when rolling out modelling paste. Speaking of modelling paste - have you tried the modelling paste that we manufacture on site? It is overseen by our resident flower expert who has won many, many first prize ribbons at the Royal Melbourne Show. It is a superior product and once you try it, you won't settle for anything less.

We have finally managed to find the time to make the displays for the cake decorating kits. We have the Pirate Ship, the Skateboard Park, the Dinosaur Attack, the Glam Girl and the Birthday Surprise, among others. Stop in and have a look at how easy these cakes can be accomplished with pictures of assembly, etc. provided with the kit. These kits will be included in our Stocktake Sale so this is the perfect opportunity to plan ahead for your celebrations for the rest of the year. In addition, with Christmas just around the corner, it might be a good time to consider what projects you want to undertake this Christmas season and stock up on those supplies now at a discounted rate.

New cake tins have also arrived! We have a new Princess Carriage that any little girl will love, a Pirate Ship for the boys in the family, a modern Golf Bag for the golfing enthusiasts among us and two new characters.

You will notice some new offerings on the class schedule. We have a wonderful Castle Cake that you can see on display in the cabinet in the shop, Petit Fours which would be a nice addition to your next afternoon tea, Nursery Modelling in which you will make bibs, booties, rattles and others, the Royal Icing workshop will be offered at night this term as well as Advanced Buttercream is back on the schedule as well as Advanced Chocolate. Please let us know if anything interests you.

Welcome to the first Chatterbox of 2008! Included are the following:

• An explanation of the changes to class schedule
• Term 2 Class and workshop schedule
• An explanation of the procedure for booking classes
• Opening and closing dates for Term 2

Wow! What a January we have had! The classroom renovations have come up a treat and we hope you are feeling comfortable in our new environment. The only thing left to do is install an oven in the chocolate classroom so that we can offer a wider selection of workshops for Term 3 this year. If there is anything you are interested in learning, please let the shop staff know so that we can consider your suggestions before next term's schedule is finalised.

Please note a few changes in the Term 2 schedule. The classes and workshops are noted as 1, 2 or 3 stars. These correspond to the level of difficulty of the class or workshop. One star is a class or workshop for beginners, two stars is an intermediate class or workshop that does not require previous cake decorating experience, and three stars is an advanced class with much experience required or an intermediate class to be taken before an advanced class can be attended. If you are unsure about which class to book into please ask the shop staff for clarification.

Regarding the booking procedure for classes or workshops: You are welcome to ring or email your booking, but keep in mind that no booking is confirmed until a deposit is paid. Once the deposit is paid your place in a class or workshop is set and then you need to be sure you have your requirements list as to what you need to bring to the class. All of our classes (except ones noted as all inclusive) require items from home. If you do not have a list, please ask so you have the supplies necessary to complete the session.

When you arrive for a night class, please remember that the front door of the arcade is closed at 5.30pm. Parking is at the rear of the building and then you can access the classrooms and shop up the back stairs. The shop is always open before classes begin, so arrive a little earlier if possible if you need any supplies so they can be purchased before class. If you are attending a class or multiple session workshop, you will be given the next week's list at the beginning of the class, so that you can make sure you have everything you need if you cannot make it to the shop during the week.

We do have classes every night of the week during the term and staff is in the shop until 7pm. If you need to access the shop after regular store hours, just ring ahead to make sure someone will be in the shop. Please keep in mind that our first priority is getting students to class on time, but we are happy to help you if you need anything.

Closing dates for Term 2:

• The shop will be closed Monday, March 10 for Labor Day with no classes
• The shop will be closed March 21 - 24 for the Easter weekend - please note that we will be closed Easter Saturday.
• The shop will be closed April 25 for ANZAC Day with no classes
• The shop will be closed June 9 for Queen's Birthday with no classes

Other than the dates listed above, the shop will be open as normal: Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5.30pm, Thursday and Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 2pm.

If you have a loyalty card, we need to remind you to advise sales staff at the beginning of the transaction or you may not receive your discount. Some of the products are not discountable, for example tin hire, RTR, classes and sugarwork. The discounted items need to be put through the register first so the discount can be accurately worked out. For those of you new to classes, a loyalty card is given to students who enrol in a 5 week class after fees are paid in full. The loyalty card is not given out for workshop attendance only. The loyalty card entitles you to a discount of 10% for cash transactions and 5% for card transactions (eftpos or credit) on items in the shop except for tin hire, class fees, RTR icing and sugarwork.

Please remember students, if you are struggling to get your cakes baked for class, the kitchen can help. We would ask for 48 hours notice, if at all possible.

We would like to welcome our new teachers: Amy will be teaching buttercream and workshops, Trudie will be teaching chocolate classes and workshops. Ann is happy to help you in the shop and we welcome all of these terrific ladies to the team.

On a personal note, I would like to thank each of you for making Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre a part of your lives. I get such a buzz seeing the excitement that each of you has when you take a class and complete a project successfully or when we get to help you work out those crazy cake projects that family and friends inevitably ask for. I think back to my first successful cake project and I get to relive that excitement everyday in the shop. I look forward to seeing you soon.

The time of year has arrived when we are preparing Christmas cakes, puddings, shortbreads and chocolates to laden our tables and give away our special home made gifts to friends and relatives. We have all of your requirements in store, so hurry in before it all runs out. Some manufacturers have had problems with production, but we are endeavouring to keep all stocks up to date.

Tin hire of Christmas will be as follows:
The shop will close on Saturday, the 22^nd of December at 2pm and will reopen the 2^nd of January at 9am. Tins can be collected on Saturday the 22^nd and returned on the 2^nd of January with a hire fee of $5 per tin and a $40 deposit per tin.

The classes for Term 1 2008 are now up. Easter falls in March next year, so Term 1 is very short. Classes fill quickly, so to avoid disappointment, you must pay a deposit when booking. Your place in class is not confirmed until a deposit is paid and will be given to another student if not received. Also, a reminder that deposits will NOT be refunded unless 14 days notice is given in the event of a cancellation.

A reminder to all of our new students that parking is at the rear of the arcade of Henry Street. If parking during the day, please be sure to pay attention to parking times as inspectors tend to be around this time of year. There are 3 and 4 hour places in the Henry Street lot and those are ideal for our class times. Come up the back stairs of the arcade and the shop is located at the front of the arcade.

We will finalise the workshop schedule for Term 1 in January, so there will be additional offerings in the New Year. In addition, January will be a busy month around the shop as we remodel the classrooms. The ceilings will be sealed, flooring and new cabinets installed and split systems placed. This will open up the possibility of many new classes and workshops so if you have any ideas of things you would like to learn, please let us know.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank you for your custom.

Welcome to the final Chatterbox of 2007! Included in this issue are the following:

• Kids classes for Term 3 school holidays
• Term 4 Class and workshop schedule
• Booking procedures and car parking

Kid's Classes for October School Holidays
Children's Classes for the October school holidays will focus on Christmas projects.
Tuesday October 2nd, Thursday October 4th and Friday October 5th
Sessions will be 10:00AM to 12:30PM
The cost for a session will be $29.00 all inclusive per child. We look forward to having lots of fun with the kids these holidays! Please book early as these sessions fill very quickly.

It is truly amazing that we are already thinking about Christmas. We have a great range of classes and workshops to help you prepare for the festive season with numerous home made gifts to make this holiday season extra special. We will aim to have the gingerbread mix in as soon as it is ready at the supplier and the shortbread mix is sure to be popular again as well.

A reminder about the booking process for classes and workshops. Last term's workshops and classes filled amazingly quickly. The procedures for booking a class or workshop will be as follows: Classes and workshops can be booked over the phone and then a deposit is required to confirm the booking - a booking is not confirmed until the deposit is paid. That means that if you book and do not pay your deposit, you could lose your place if the class fills with other students with paid deposits. For classes, a deposit of $20.00 is required, for workshops, a deposit of $10.00 is required. Bookings will continue to be taken until the class is full with paid deposits. Students with paid deposits for classes and workshops will have preference over those students who have not paid their deposit.

Regarding cancellations, if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the class or workshop then deposit will be returned. If a cancellation occurs less than 14 days prior to the class, then the deposit will not be refunded. Please keep this in mind when cancelling your place - if participation is cancelled close to the class commencing, it is not always possible to fill the place and we still have to compensate a teacher and pay for class.

For those of your new to classes, just a reminder that parking for evening classes is at the back of the building and entrance is up the back stairs. The shop is always open before class for those of you that require supplies. We do recommend that you arrive by 6:30PM for a 6:45PM class so that you can get settled and class can start on time.

We would please ask again that students with loyalty cards remember to advise the sales staff of the card at the beginning of the transaction. Some of the products are not discountable, for example, tin hire, RTR, classes and sugarwork, and it will help make the transaction easier. For those students new to classes, a loyalty card is presented to new students when the balance of the class is paid in full (Loyalty cards are not given for exclusive workshop participation - only if a 5+ week class has been attended). This card entitles you to a discount of 10% for cash transactions and 5% for card transactions (EFTPOS and Credit). The discount applies to most things in the shop except those listed above.

We have three new teachers that have joined us. Vanessa will be teaching chocolate and workshops, Nazan will be teaching Beginners Flowers and Trudi will be helping students improve their chocolate skills with Beginners Chocolate and Christmas Gift Ideas.

Remember students, if you are struggling to get your cakes baked for class then the kitchen here at the shop can help. We would ask for 48 hours notice, if at all possible.

We look forward to helping you prepare for the Christmas season and hope that we can help you with new and different ideas to make this festive season an especially enjoyable one. Thank you so much for your support this year - we very much appreciate your custom and being able to help you celebrate the important events in your lives. If we can do anything to make the shop more user friendly, please let us know.

Welcome to the third Chatterbox of 2007! Included in this issue are the following:

• Kids classes for Term 2 school holidays
• New products in the shop
• Term 3 Class and workshop schedule
• Booking procedures and car parking

Kid's Classes for July School Holidays
Children's Classes for the July school holidays will focus on decorating cupcakes.
Thursday July 12th and Friday July 13th
Sessions will be 10AM to 12:30PM or 1:30PM to 4PM
The cost for a session will be $28.00 all inclusive per child. We look forward to having lots of fun with the kids these holidays! Please book early as these sessions fill very quickly.

The shop now has the yummy lemon filling and Mallow whip back in stock. The Lemon filling is ideal to mix with our instant custard mix, great for lemon meringue pies or use it as a simple topping for a sponge. The Mallow whip is a wonderful product that makes perfect marshmallow and is a feature in the new Indulgent Chocolate and Caramel cake workshop. We also have the cheesecake mix, blueberry filling, caramel filling, white chocolate mousse, strawberry mousse, Ready to Use chocolate ganache, and the home style cake mix which makes a wonderful carrot, and/or zucchini cake with just the addition of a few ingredients - a great timesaver! The mousses, fillings and cheesecake mix also feature in the new Divine Desserts workshop.

Just a reminder about the booking process for classes and workshops. Last term's workshops and classes filled amazingly quickly. The procedures for booking will be as follows: Classes and workshops can be booked over the phone and then a deposit is required to confirm the booking and reserve your place. For classes, a deposit of $20.00 is required, for workshops, a deposit of $10.00 is required. It is important to remember to come in and pay the deposit as soon as possible (or do it by credit card over the phone) as only places that have a paid deposit will be confirmed. Bookings will continue to be taken until the class is full with paid deposits. Students with paid deposits for classes and workshops will have preference over those students who have not paid their deposit.

Regarding cancellations, if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the class or workshop then deposit will be returned. If a cancellation occurs less than 14 days prior to the class, then the deposit will not be returned.

For those of you new to classes, just a reminder that parking for evening classes is at the back of the building and entrance is up the back stairs. The shop is always open before class for those of you that require supplies. We do recommend that you arrive by 6:30PM for a 6:45PM class so that you can get settled and class can start on time.

We would please ask again that students with loyalty cards remember to advise the sales staff of the card at the beginning of the transaction. Some of the products are not discountable, for example, tin hire, RTR, classes and sugarwork, and it will help make the transaction easier. For those students new to classes, a loyalty card is presented to new students when the balance of the class is paid in full (Loyalty cards are not given for exclusive workshop participation - only if a 5+ week class has been attended). This card entitles you to a discount of 10% for cash transactions and 5% for card transactions (EFTPOS and Credit). The discount applies to most things in the shop except those listed above.

We have three new teachers that have joined us. Georgia will be teaching chocolate and workshops. Lisa will be teaching Beginners Buttercream and Elaine will be helping students improve their chocolate skills with Beginners Chocolate.

Remember students, if you are struggling to get your cakes baked for class that the kitchen here at the shop can help. We would ask for 48 hours notice, if at all possible.

We are endeavouring to get your schedules to you via email. If you could please leave your email address at the shop or forward it to us via the shop email, susanscakes@bigpond.com we would really appreciate it.

Welcome to the second Chatterbox of 2007! Included in this issue are the following:

• New products in the shop
• Term 2 Class and workshop schedule
• An explanation of the procedure for booking classes
• Opening and Closing dates for Term 2
• A quick note about changes regarding tin hire

One of the new items in the shop are the candles that are in the shape of all of the letters of the alphabet. You can spell any message that you would like and they come in white or red to suit any cake design. Better yet, they can be the only decoration on the top of the cake if you are in a hurry! In addition, have your tried the new raspberry and chocolate lamington dips? The raspberry dip brought back childhood memories of Raspberry Zingers! The dips make lamingtons a breeze-using the utility cake mix and one dip in the chocolate or raspberry and then in coconut. Make a cup of tea and you’re ready for a lovely afternoon tea!

Procedures for booking classes and workshops will be as follows: Classes can be booked over the phone and then a deposit is required to confirm the booking and reserve your place. For classes, a deposit of $20.00 is required, for workshops, a deposit of $10.00 is required. Deposits will only be returned in the case of cancellation if the cancellation occurs at least 14 days prior to the commencement of the class or workshop. If a cancellation occurs less than 14 days prior to the class, the deposit will not be refunded.

Regarding class and workshop fees: Unless otherwise noted, the class or workshop fee covers the instruction only. In most cases, you will need to bring items from home and purchase the items needed to complete each project. Each student starts with a different inventory of equipment at home and each class needs different supplies, so the cost of classes and workshops will vary between students.

For those of you new to classes, just a reminder that parking for evening classes is at the back of the building and entrance is up the back stairs. The shop is always open before class for those of you that require supplies. We do recommend that you arrive by 6.30pm for a 6.45pm class so that you can get settled and class can start on time.

We would ask that students with loyalty cards remember to advise the sales staff of the card at the beginning of the transaction. Some of the products are not discountable, for example, tin hire, RTR, classes and sugarwork, and it will help make the transaction easier.

We often find lost property in the classrooms and shop. Students and customers have left sunglasses, and clothing , etc. so if you are missing anything, please give us a ring to see if we have collected it for you.

Many students do not have time to bake cakes for classes, so we have introduced into our kitchen a baking service for students. Your cake can be baked here for you at a minimal cost. We just ask that you give us 24-48 hours advance notice. If you need a cake baked for you, please see the sales staff and they can arrange it for you.

Closing dates for Term 2 are as follows:

• Easter weekend the shop will be CLOSED Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, April 6th through the 9th.
• The shop will be closed Wednesday, April 25 for Anzac Day and Monday June 11, for Queens Birthday.
• We are normally open Monday to Wednesday 9-5.30pm, Thursday and Friday 9-6pm and Saturdays 9-2pm. Again, with classes we are often at the shop after hours, so just call ahead to see if we can help you, keeping in mind that our first priority has to be getting students in to class. If you know you will be in a hurry, just call and place your order ahead of time to speed up the process for you.

The procedure for tin hire has had to be altered slightly due to the popularity of tins and ensuring they are available when needed. Tins can be collected any time after 10am in the morning (unless it is not booked the previous day then it can be collected after 9 am). Regardless of the time the tin is collected, it is due back by 9.30am the following morning. This is the only way we can ensure the tins are here in time for the next person. If there is a problem with the time, the tin can be booked for an extra day ($3) to enable you to return it later. Due to the increased costs of printing and cartridges, we will now charge $1.00 per double sided colour copy so you can decorate after the tin and picture have been returned.

Now on special are the frozen cookies, mince pies, plum puddings and truffles, at below cost price. Please ask the sales staff if you would like to purchase any of these products, they are yummy!!

We are endeavouring to get your schedules to you via email. If you could please leave your email address at the shop or forward it to us via the shop email, susanscakes@bigpond.com, we would really appreciate it.

Welcome to the first Chatterbox of 2007! We hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and have been able to relax and recharge your batteries for an exciting new year! In this edition of the newsletter you will find:

• Term 1 schedule of cake decorating classes and workshops
• A list of the products and services available at Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre and Susan's Novelty Cakes
• Opening and closing dates for Term 1
• Big news about the January Stocktake Sale beginning SATURDAY, JANUARY 20th and continuing through to the end of the month.

Our Stocktake Sale will once again take place in January. Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 20th ---the sale will run between 9 am and 3 pm for that day and then will continue through January 31st. There will be a discount of 25% on most everything in the shop—the exceptions being consumables, sugar work, Kitchen Aid, class fees, and tin hire. Included in the sale are cake tins, cake boards, ribbon, candles, Christmas stock, cutters and cutter sets, cake decorating tools, turntables, chocolate moulds, novelty items and much more. There will also be extra bargains on discontinued lines and other specials. This is a great time to plan ahead for the important dates of the year or just spoil yourself with the cake decorating tools or cutters that you have had your eye on. This sale only comes once a year, so get in early and take advantage of the savings!

Opening and Closing dates for Term 1 are as follows:
The shop will be closed:
Friday and Saturday, January 26 and 27 for Australia Day
Monday, March 12 for Labour Day
Friday through Monday, April 6-9 for the Easter Weekend, please note we will be CLOSED on Easter Saturday

Other than those dates, we will operate normal hours, which are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 am to 5.30 pm
Thursday and Friday 9 am to 6 pm
Saturday 9 am to 2 pm
Sunday CLOSED
*Please note that when classes are running we are often here after hours. Ring ahead to see if we will be here to assist you.

In addition to mail order, we can now provide a courier service. For just $4.00 (metro Melbourne only) we can get a parcel to you, usually by the next day, if the order is placed in the morning. We would not recommend any fragile items being sent this way, but if you need something and cannot get to us, we can get it delivered to you.

We often get questions about the products and service we offer. We have included a list of most of the products in the shop and the services that are available. We hope that you will find it helpful.

Term 1 Classes and workshops are included on the website. We have added workshop sessions on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings, in addition to our beginning and advanced classes. The nursery modelling class is also on offer again and probably will not be repeated until 2008, for those of you interested. Your place in any class will not be confirmed until a deposit is paid and all classes are to be paid in full before the commencement of the term. Due to popular demand, we have also added a few sessions for kids in the April school holidays. These are on April 4 and April 5, the sessions will run for 2 ½ hours and they will make a variety of Easter eggs. Please check the Term 1 schedule for further details. Our goal for Term 1 is that we have time to plan some new material for Term 2. There are so many of you that have taken the beginning and advanced classes, but want to further your skills (and have more fun!), so if you have not found anything to suit for Term 1, have a look next term and we will provide some new and interesting subjects.

Regarding parking when attending classes. Parking is at the rear of the building and evening classes can only be reached by the back stairs as quite often the grate is closed at the front of the shop. In addition, the shop is always open before class so that students can make purchases before class commences. The teachers this term are Heather-sugar work, Irene-sugar work, Jenny-chocolate, Kim-buttercream, Natalie-chocolate, Sherrie-buttercream, Tina-buttercream and Zilis-workshops.

The emergence of the cupcake as the style of choice has prompted many of you to ask questions about our bakery mixes and their usage in cupcakes. The utility, rich chocolate, Mississippi mud, and white mud mixes all lend themselves beautifully to cupcakes. Baking times will vary but will average between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on the mix. As far as quantities are concerned, each packet of cake mix will make about 12-16 of your standard size cupcakes (#700 size muffin cup), depending, of course, on how high you want them to be.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the shop after New Year and hope to see you during the Stocktake Sale!