Happy Holidays to you and your family! 

From Nicholas, Scott and the ISAC Team!

It has been another fabulous year at Nicholas Lodge's International Sugar Art Collection! Thanks to each and every one of you out there: students, clients, fans, shoppers, friends, and family. You are the reason we are here, and why Chef Nicholas travels the world sharing his sugary talents. Chef Nicholas, Scott, Ann, Molly, Jan, Carol, and I send all of our warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a happy and healthy new year. We look forward to seeing you in a class next year at ISAC (you can find our 2019 calendar by clicking here), or at one of the many cake shows throughout the USA and the world that Chef Nicholas will be attending. 

Chef Nicholas isn't the only talent in house... our resident photographer and videographer, Scott, has created a holiday video that will leave you feeling merry and bright! Enjoy by clicking the image below. 

Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, and we hope to see you in the new year! 

Chef Nicholas, Scott, Ann, Molly, Jan, Carol, and Stephanie

Our goal is for you to be completely satisfied with your Amazon order! If for any reason this is not the case, we would appreciate it if you would give us a chance to address your concerns, before leaving feedback or a review, by emailing us at customersvc@nicholaslodge.com. We would be grateful if you would leave us a positive feedback and review of your Renshaw Fondant. Leaving feedback seems like such a little thing, but it has great impact on our business and we would greatly appreciate your time in leaving it.

2017 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

WINNER of the 2017 Golden Tier Educator of the Year Award

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

Today is November 1, 2018. That means that our annual Grand Holiday Open House is just 17 days away! EEEK! I thought I would do a quick post this week, giving you all the nitty gritty (or should I say sugary sweet) details on our event this year! First of all, you need to know the dates, right?

This year, ISAC's Grand Holiday Open House is on the weekend of November 17-18. As in years past, there will be several sessions over Saturday and Sunday. There will be three sessions on Saturday, and one session on Sunday; Saturday sessions will be held at 9am (sold out), 12pm, and 3pm, the Sunday session will begin at 9am. Each session is three and a half hours long, and each session will present the EXACT same demonstrations. Besides the 9am session on Saturday November 17, there are still some seats available in each of the other sessions. There is a $15.00 fee to register, and once you check in the day of the open house, you will receive a $5.00 to be used on any purchase at ISAC on the same day! Yay! As always, please remember that due to some demonstrations using hot sugar mixtures, extremely hot equipment, large crowds, and for the safety, comfort and enjoyment for everyone, we ask that small children and babies in strollers not attend the open house. We thank you sincerely for your understanding.

Now, on to our special guest this year- Sandra Beltran from You Can Call Me Sweetie! If you are a fan of Sandra's blog, you will know that she makes amazingly beautiful cookies. When I went to her website to grab the links, I fell into the rabbit hole of her cookie photo galleries! I was totally engrossed with zooming in on each photo to gawk are her amazing attention to detail. I spent a good half hour looking at her photos before remembering I was in the middle of writing this post! If you plan on attending our Grand Holiday Open House, then you are going to have the privilege of watching Sandra's fun and festive cookie demonstration. These holiday cookies are going to wow you! Personally, I myself cannot wait for her demonstration! I have been looking forward to it ever since Molly showed me Sandra's suggested projects earlier this year. Oh, and you lucky ducks even get the opportunity to sign up for some hands on classes with Sandra as well! After open house Sandra is teaching 3 five-hour classes! Each class is a collection of cookies, and each collection is absolutely gorgeous! The Unicorn Bliss cookie collection class has already sold out (not at ALL surprised, I love rainbows and unicorns and this class is ALL that and a bag of whimsy), but the sleek and sophisticated Art Deco Cookie Collection class (think of glitz, glamour, and The Great Gatsby), and the Bohemian Love Cookie Collection (a free-spirted but stylish cookie collection) each have a few seats still available for interested students. FYI0 You cannot sign up for any of Sandra's class on our ISAC website!!! She is hosting the registration for HER CLASSES on her own website. Scroll down until you see the classes held at Nicholas Lodge International Sugar Art Collection. **OPEN HOUSE REGISTRATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE!!**

I know you are all dying to know what new tricks and tips and mind blowing ideas Chef Nicholas Lodge is planning on sharing with you all this year. He never fails to pull out ALL of the stops with his demos. Sadly, just like I have to tell you every year, Chef Nicholas doesn't even tell us, his own ISAC family, what he is planning until the last minute. Sometimes I have an inkling on what he might be doing. Sometimes Molly catches a glimpse of what he is working on, or perhaps he asks Ann to prepare paste in a specific color that gives us a clue. But this year he has been traveling so frequently, that I have absolutely no idea what he is planning to dazzle you all with this year. Of course, that means when he starts his magic, I will be there oohing and ahhing along with all of you! I am pretty excited!

To sign up for our Grand Holiday Open house, click on the following links; choose the date and time that works for you! If are interested in being added to the wait list for the 9am Saturday 11/17 Open House session, please call the store at 1-800-662-8925. Alternatively, if you have already registered, and know you will not be able to make it to any of the sessions, please call us and cancel your seat, many people would love to attend if you cannot not! Thanks!

Saturday 12pm-3:30pm Grand Holiday Open House Session

Saturday 3pm-6:30pm Grand Holiday Open House Session

Sunday 9am- 12:30pm Grand Holiday Open House Session. 

There are still seats available in these great classes this summer at ISAC! Click the links below to register now. 

English Over-Piped Elegant Wedding Cake with Ceri Griffiths, 11/7-8

Unicorn Bliss Cookie Collection with Sandra Beltran; 11/18

Art Deco Cookie Collection with Sandra Beltran; 11/19

Bohemian Love Cookie Collection with Sandra Beltran; 11/19

 Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie 

Our goal is for you to be completely satisfied with your Amazon order! If for any reason this is not the case, we would appreciate it if you would give us a chance to address your concerns, before leaving feedback or a review, by emailing us at customersvc@nicholaslodge.com. We would be grateful if you would leave us a positive feedback and review of your Renshaw Fondant. Leaving feedback seems like such a little thing, but it has great impact on our business and we would greatly appreciate your time in leaving it.

2017 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

WINNER of the 2017 Golden Tier Educator of the Year Award

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

Chef Nicholas, Scott, Molly, Carol, Janet, Ann, and I all want to wish you the very best this Christmas! This is the time of year when it is important to reflect on the year we have had and remember all of good times we have shared. The ISAC family is grateful for all of our students, clients, as well as all of the amazing guest instructors who visited and taught in Studio B this year. 

Most of all, Chef Nicholas and Scott were thrilled to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the International Sugar Art Collection. In 1992, Chef Nicholas and Scott opened shop. I think I speak for all of my co-workers when I said that we were honored to be a part of ISAC during such a meaningful and emotional time. 

Your ISAC family wishes you a happy and healthy Christmas. We hope to celebrate with you for another 25 years! Merry Christmas everyone!

Sweetly yours, 

Stephanie 

2017 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award

WINNER of the 2017 Golden Tier Educator of the Year Award

Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award.

For several years now, ISAC has been making Edible Snow Globes during the holiday season. .We have even hosted several competitions for Edible Snow Globes; the submissions were pretty spectacular! This year the Edible Snow Globe Domes were part of our 12 Days of Christmas sale! I have good news. If you are still trying to decide on a gift for a co-worker or teacher, or would like a fun family activity to do over the holiday, you'll be pleased to know that we have extended our sale price for the Edible Snow Globe Domes! This set of 6 (which include the domes and the bases) is normally $12.99, but the sets are currently on sale for only $4.95 (plus S&H)! 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from Chef Nicholas, Scott, and the entire ISAC family. We wish you a happy holiday spent with loving friends and family (and of course beautiful cakes!). Last year Scott wrote a beautiful message to all of our blog readers, and I wanted to share a part of it again this year, because it is just so well said.

Design and Photo: S.Ewing/ISAC

"I'm thankful for you...our students, customers, clients and decorators that seek the very best in cake decorating equipment and classes. For if it was not for you, there would not be a ISAC school, web site, retail gallery, conventions, cake shows and competitions. It is because of you that we are here. Throughout the year we receive many letters, notes and emails from our vast customer base, many containing photographs of the cakes or sugar art they created using our products or our suggestions. We are always thrilled to know we assisted in some way to help you deliver the best finished product possible for your customer.

However you choose to observe or celebrate the holidays, all of us here at ISAC hope it is the best one ever for you, your family and your dear friends."

Happy Thanksgiving!
Best wishes,
--Scott Ewing, Nicholas Lodge and the entire ISAC Team

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Winner of the 2015 Craftsy Blogger Award for Best Craftsy Cake Decorating Instructor Blog

Chef Nicholas Lodge: 2015 Finalist for the Cake Masters Cake Hero Award. 

When I was growing up, one of my favorites things to do during the holiday season was to build a gingerbread house. I say, "WAS," because as I grew up and starting building the house on my own I realized how much WORK it was! Cutting and baking the ginger bread (or even going to the store and buying a kit), setting up your workspace and all the necessary supplies, constructing the house and waiting for the royal icing to dry... and that's before you get to the fun of decorating! Oh, then you have to clean everything up! Oy! Sadly, for me and probably many other families, the planning, preparation, and clean up just outweighed the fun and memory making of building gingerbread houses as a family!

I miss the happy memories of being silly with my brother and parents as we decorate a yummy little holiday house, and I want that back now that I have kids of my own. Well, Scott decided that maybe ISAC could become a tasty, gingerbread construction site over the holiday season- and now we have Gingerbread Depot! 

The man is a machine. Chef Nicholas does not mess around when it comes to his profession. He is currently in Chicago teaching at the French Pastry School, but what he was doing last week is what I think will interest you most. RIGHT after the Thanksgiving holiday the Craftsy team flew into Atlanta. They had a lot to get done...

Can we talk about why December 2015 will be awesome? For starters, you're reading this blog and it's Tuesday! December is going to be so great I couldn't wait until Thursday to post! What is so awesome you ask? Well first off starting today is Chef Nicholas and ISAC's 12 Deals of Christmas sale! Second, we are only two weeks away from announcing the winner of the 4-hour private class with Chef Nicholas! Want to find about more about our great sale and how you can be the winner of the 4-hour private class? Well, my friends, read on...

And the winners are...

First things first... I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2nd Annual Snow Globe Competition! The First Place winner in the youth category is Annabelle Columbo. In the adult category the Second Place winner is Lourdes Diaz, and the First Place winner is Christopher Taylor! Congratulations to all the winners and competitors, thank you for taking part in our fun holiday contest!

I am a huge fan of Halloween and Thanksgiving, so I normally get a bit touchy when I see holiday ads and hear holiday music before December 1st. That being said, I know there are many more people who LOVE starting the holiday season as early as possible and start listening to festive music on November 1st and get all their holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving even arrives! No joke, Molly (if you've been in our retail gallery or called us up... you know and love Molly) starts posting on facebook in the middle of summer saying, "X Weeks Until Christmas!" Seriously, ask her.

I'm not quite ready to jump on THAT bandwagon yet. However, this weekend, the ISAC team came up with a really fun and festive holiday contest. So this year I have agreed to start celebrating the holidays early this year. Chef Nicholas wants to giveaway a very personal prize to a fan (or a fan and a friend!). What kind of prize? Well... that depends on you! In 200 words or less, please answer the following question:

Photo courtesy of CKProducts.com

The holidays are right around  the corner. Halloween is a week away, Thanksgiving is a month away, and Chanukah and Christmas are just two months away. What makes all these holidays even more fun?! Cookies!! What makes cookies beautiful? Royal icing!! What's NOT fun? Coloring royal icing...

The entire ISAC family is very excited to announce the 2nd Annual ISAC Ultimate Edible SnowGlobe Competition! Last year was our inaugural event, and we were very pleased with all of the beautiful entries that we received. This year we have had many people ask if the competition would be held at our Grand Holiday Open House, and we are pleased to say YES! At our Open House event, November 7-8, 2015, all the SnowGlobes will be on display and guests will be able to vote for their favorites. The theme is Holiday Memories, so try and incorporate some favorite holiday event or tradtiions in your SnowGlobe.

Merry Christmas from the ISAC family!

Traditional Christmas Pudding

It had been my intention to continue discussing holiday treats all December long. After reading my blog last week about the Bûche de Noël, Scott suggested sharing the history of the English Steamed Plum Pudding. While I loved the idea (I'm always open to suggestions), this American girl has never even HAD Plum Pudding! Luckily for me, Scott knew much about the history and traditions behind this beloved dessert from his own personal research.

That leads me to introduce my very special guest blogger today- Scott Ewing! Not only will Scott share the history of Plum Pudding, he will be sharing his personal recipe as well!

Yule Log Cake

With the holiday's right around the corner, I thought I would delve deeper into some holiday cake decorating.  To me the obvious choice was the Bûche de Noël or the Yule Log cake. In all honesty, I was not super familiar with this cake until recently. Up until I started working at ISAC, when I heard "Yule Log" I thought of the televised burning log each Christmas (which I did not understand). Before I talk about the actual cake, let's talk about the history of the Yule Log.

Happy Thanksgiving from the ISAC Team!

We hope that everyone has a happy, healthy holiday today! I know everyone of you will be enjoying your delicious Thanksgiving feasts with your family and friends! If you are one of our overseas friends, celebrate with us by having a big dinner and being thankful for all that you have!

GREEN Friday Sales!

We here at ISAC value holidays with our families, and our physical store will be closed Friday. HOWEVER!!!!!! Our Black (GREEN) Friday sales will be available on our website! So, sleep in and shop our online shop in your pjs ALL WEEKEND LONG!  I shared all of our sales last week, but I will recap them again so you can be ready to shop til you drop starting Friday:

Chef Nicholas got back Tuesday after judging the National Gingerbread Competition held at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. This was the 22nd year of the competition and Chef Nicholas tenth year as judge. Prior to his tenure as judge for the National Gingerbread Competition, Chef Nicholas judges two Food Network Challenge episodes shot at the resort: "Gingerbread Mansions "and "Gingerbread Champions." This week, you are lucky enough to hear about the competition and judging process straight from the judges mouth! Chef Nicholas himself wrote this week's blog! Enjoy!

Oh, and be sure to read all about our fabulous upcoming holiday sales at the end of this blog!

ISAC's Grand Holiday Open House

Thank you, thank you, thank you to EVERYONE who attended our Grand Holiday Open House this past weekend! It was, as always, so nice to see our old friends and even nicer to meet so many new ones! We hope that everyone had as much fun as we did!  I was going to write a loooooong blog describing the event, but I thought it might be fun to do a photo-blog. So, scroll down and enjoy! (Make sure you go all the way to the bottom, that's where I share the winners of the ballot drawaing and our First Annual Snow Globe Competition!).