One of our Flintshire Sugarcraft learners, Sam Jesson talks about her learning experience! Sam says, “My name is Sam Jesson, after teaching primary school children for thirty-two years I found myself very ill, sat at home in pain then dismissed on medical grounds. I have always been a very sociable person, surrounded by children and adults and then I was at home all day.  

I spotted the Sugarcraft course online, starting in a few days. I knew that I wasn’t mentally ready but enquired to see if there would be a course running in a few months when I would hopefully be feeling better.

The Curriculum Development Coordinator (CDC) Gaynor Hanlon who leads on courses in Flintshire responded to my enquiry and encouraged me to go to the centre the next day and try it out. “You’ll be fine, go along, you won’t need anything, what’s the worst that could happen?” So, taking her advice, I went out, on my own, for the first time in eighteen months. 

That first step changed my life! I know it sounds dramatic, but that’s exactly how I feel. Alison, the tutor showed us a posy of flowers that we were supposed to make in the next three weeks. I just laughed. I’d never made anything like that before and thought it was beyond me. I made my first flower that day, a small pink and white five petal flower. The posy was completed two weeks later and I haven’t stopped making flowers since!  My partner transformed our spare bedroom into a workspace for me. I think that’s partly because of all the sugar flowers I left around the house!

I’m learning every day and have a great tutor in Alison. I’ve also made amazing friends. Each week there is a new flower, technique or skill to try. Some members in the class have been doing this for years and their amazing designs, skill and creativity are an inspiration. The planning and making process of sugar flowers is very calming and relaxing. It’s not all sunshine and roses though, there is a little bit of frustration when I spend an hour making a flower and petals fall off. Lavender is so frustratingly fiddly that I thought I’d never do it. Soon I’d got the better of lavender and used the same basic design, to make waterlilies for my capybara cake. I still don’t know how in six months I’ve gone from a tiny flower to baskets of hydrangeas, capybara, a race track and even a sugar cup and saucer filled with flowers. 

Thanks to Adult Learning Wales, finally, I’m back to my old self but absolutely addicted to sugarcraft and once again I’m looking to the future. My friends and family have noticed how it’s affected my well-being.  I’m thoroughly grateful to Alison, Gaynor and Adult Learning Wales for bringing me back to life.” 

Tutor Dr Alison Bushell said, “Sam actually squealed when she successfully made her first flower! It has been an absolute pleasure watch Sam fall in love with sugarcraft as much as me!”

We’d like to congratulate Sam on her hard work and success. Her sugarcraft works are beautiful!