Having A "sensitive" Day...

Decorating By BCo Updated 3 Nov 2006 , 2:36pm by BCo

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BCo Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:32pm
post #1 of 25

Ok- so I guess I'm being overly sensitive today but I was reading through some posts and read some comments that CCer's say that "outside" people have said to them and it got me thinking of comments people have made towards me.

My boyfriend has taken a few cakes into his job for various reasons and one lady there asked him what kind of classes and training I have had. So his response was None. Since, I haven't!!! She then told him that it was impossible for me to be able to decorate a cake like that without having taken any kind of classes - So he called me in the middle of work to ask me what classes I have taken and to which I replied - NONE! And then he proceded to tell me what the woman said! I was kind of taken back by it! She didn't believe me. I mean, first of all it's one thing to think things and keep it to yourself but it's another to speak it and be rude. I mean, why would I lie about that? Is everything you do in life because you've taken a class or a course?

Don't get me wrong I WISH I had been able to take classes or courses but I haven't had the time. There are a million things I want to learn and to be able to do that I can't because I haven't had the chance to take a class. So for now I just wing it and learn by my mistakes. But why is it that people think you just can't do things w/o having any formal training. There are so many talented people in this world that just amaze me and I'm sure a good bit of them haven't had any training. Not just in cakes but in everything else in life. When I see someone who does something that I couldn't do I am in awe and I would never say - oh, you must have had training you couldn't possibly just be talented!!

Ok - sorry to ramble. I just am having a day!! icon_smile.gif I just wanted to see what other people have had said to them that just threw them for a loop. I guess some people just have no manners! I'm glad my mother instilled some in me!icon_smile.gif My greatest joy is to see my mom, my boyfriend and most of all my kids be so proud of one of my cakes and want to share it with everyone. The look my son gives me when I finish a cake is priceless, he always says- "wow, that's pretty good mom" - with the most genuine smile in the world! They know all the work that goes into it and would never say otherwise!!!

Ok - sorry again- anyone else have these kind of comments made to them?

24 replies
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cakeladee Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:42pm
post #2 of 25

I know what you are talking about!!! I get the same thing, but usually they just can't believe I haven't taken a course, which is on my list of things to do, of course. Keep your spatula up!! My favorite part is also to see the look on the kids faces...no greater compliment!!!!
Cakeladee

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nichi Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:43pm
post #3 of 25

Your stuff is really beautiful... you should take what she said as a compliment. Some people would need formal training to get things so nice as yours so I understand her scepticism.
I do have formal pastry training and all I get to say when someone says "damn this is good" is that it better be for 30k! Even though they can teach you technique but they can never teach you creativity or give you talent, you are born with it.
So be proud!
icon_biggrin.gif

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dianagreen Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:46pm
post #4 of 25

I have no "fromal training" either (GO US!) and i have had some people say thats odd, but get over it when they like the cake. Some people just dont think positive (my mom always says i will fail my college classes every time the topic is brought up-that makes school that much harder for me) I just keep swimming and things always work out - dont worry about the lady who thinks u need classes - smile and have a good day

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:47pm
post #5 of 25

So you're not allowed to have natural talent? Phooey!!! I've never taken a cake class in my life. There are lots of people on this site alone who have never taken a class and who are outstanding in what they produce (one that immediately comes to mind is Emmacakes) - you can't teach talent, you've either got it or you haven't! You can teach theory and methods, sure, but talent is something that is God given. It's clear that you have lots of natural talent too - I'm sure this woman is just jealous of your ability. Just my 2cts!

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Tallulah Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:55pm
post #6 of 25

Hi!! Let me start by saying, I saw your pictures and you are very very talented. I am so impressed that you've never taken a course.

I did take a Wilton course for decorating, although a lot of what I've learned has been through books and trial and error. (I don't post my errors) I started decorating and baking cakes in March.

People aren't amazed so much with my decorating as they are with the taste of my cakes. I've never taken a baking course, nor had I baked a cake prior to March. I just happen to be a good cook. People don't believe me when I say I've never baked a cake before. Sometimes it does bother me, but I just let it roll off my back. You should too. People get jealous when they don't possess a talent someone else does. What a waste of energy on their part!

Don't mind her honey, she is definetely jealous of your amazing talent. Keep baking and show everyone what you can do!!
thumbs_up.gif

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BCo Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 4:59pm
post #7 of 25

thanks guys - I knew you guys would get it! It's not that I'm looking for someone to say - hey, nice cakes you must be a pro because I know I have so much more to learn - I believe you should never stop trying to learn new things. But people are just rude I guess. I should make her a cake that looks like a Miss Manners Manual!! LOL Ok - thanks for letting me vent for a minute. It always makes me feel better to get it out! I guess I need to grow a thicker skin and quick - I have trouble with letting my feelings get hurt over stupid things/people!

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ntertayneme Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 5:07pm
post #8 of 25

Don't let negative comments get to you.. you have a God given talent, obviously from your cakes cause they're fantastic... kill the woman with kindness... I'd send her a nice handwritten note telling her thank you so much for the kind compliment you made about thinking I HAD to have formal training even though I self-taught myself... don't let this get to you.. you're better than that!!

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Shalan Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 5:16pm
post #9 of 25

First of all I have to say, your pics are great. The cakes are beautiful, great colors, clean smooth lines, great design (I love the dots!!) You should be very proud.
Secondly, for someone to say that in order to produce a professional looking end product you have to have some kind of formal training or take classes, that is completely incorrect. I agree with someone who has a post on here, talent is God given, and you have it!!
I was 12 when I decorated my first cake, just to see if I could do it. I used a wilton easter bunny pan that my grandmother had for years. The cake was red velvet with cream cheese icing. I even took some of the icing, colored it and added enough powdered sugar to shape it into eggs with my hands to place in the basket and randomly aroung the base of the cake. Let me tell you, I was hooked!! I continued decorating cakes from nothing more than written instructions, my own ideas and just seeing one in the coolers at the groc store. I finally took my first wilton method class when I was 25 yrs old, just to see what else I could learn. Needless to say after taking all three class, i learned that I already know everything that they taught and even taught the instructor a few tricks. I have been decorating cakes for 16 yrs now as a hobby from home to earn a little extra money and it is very rewarding to see the looks on people's faces when they see their cake, especially children.
So, don't let their comments get you down. You should be proud of the talent that you have.
Happy Decorating!!
Shalan

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lu9129 Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 5:21pm
post #10 of 25

My thinking in life has been:

When I get up in the morning and start my day, I pray for my family and friends and people I have heard about that need a prayer. These are the only people that have opinions that I care about. When somebody is rude or says something about your talents, just think, hmmmmmm were you in my prayers today. I've saved myself alot of hurt feelings when I quit worrying about rude, rude people. I figure I don't have many more years on this earth, I just want to spend my time and energy on the important people!!!! Just my opinion.

Lu

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BCo Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 5:47pm
post #11 of 25

You all are so right- I do find that I spend too much energy worrying about people that have no meaning in my life. (oh, I hope that didn't come out wrong - that sounds kind of harsh) I guess I came from a home where my mother taught me and my brother that if you didn't have anything nice to say then keep it to yourself! I guess not everyone realizes that we ALL have some sort of talent, it just might be different from someone elses. Believe me - I would love to be athletic and good at sports but NOPE - not going to happen!! lol All I can do is give it my best effort and keep on going. I love meeting people that are good at something or are creative and have a special skill that I could only dream about! It challenges me and pushes me to be the best I can be at what I know I can do.

So thank you guys for being so supportive of each other no matter where along the creative/talented path we may be at the moment!

Now - onto the HUGE Football Stadium Cake I have to make next week for 40 kids!! YIKES - Stressing over this one! But yet another challenge to keep me on my toes! LOL As my 5 yr old daughter would say "YOU ROCK" icon_biggrin.gif

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RachelC Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 6:42pm
post #12 of 25

Who cares what she says...obviously she thinks you are good enough to have thought you had some sort of "training" on making your cakes- I'd take it as a compliment! Your cakes are just awesome, and she probably can't get her cakes to look 1/2 as good as yours (maybe even with training icon_rolleyes.gif ) hehe...Obviously...You Go Girl!

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darandon Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 6:49pm
post #13 of 25

she could be the type that has taken every class in the world and is still unable to do what she wants to be creative. Your cakes are beautiful!!

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emmascakes Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 10:06pm
post #14 of 25

I think that kind of comment is massively flattering - some people just have skill baby!

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meghanb Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 10:19pm
post #15 of 25

Great cakes!
I am often asked too, what classes I have taken. I took the Wilton Course 1 class, and those of you who have taken it know that it doesn't really teach you much about real cake decorating. I have now had 2 people I know take that class and they can't understand why their cakes don't look like mine...I don't have the heart to tell them that some of it IS natural talent. That just sounds mean!

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born2bake4u Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 10:26pm
post #16 of 25

i would take it as a compliment, your work is that good that they think a professional has done it. girl get a huge smile on your face, pat yourself on the back. and say good job.

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prettycake Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 10:32pm
post #17 of 25

She's just jealous...

Colette Peters did not go to Culinary School to learn pastry...
There's a lot of famous cake makers out there that never went to
cake classes and are self taught, but are very good at it.

If she does not believe you, so what !!! that's her problem !! you won't die from it.
What she thinks don't count like herself. So don't even give her the time of day... I would not worry about it. Maybe she icon_razz.gif took so many classes and failed, and that's probably what's bothering her...

If I were you, I would make more pretty cakes for your husband to take to work just to agitate her even more..... now that's where the fun begins !! icon_biggrin.gif

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aine2 Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:04pm
post #18 of 25

I'm past being offended by comments I hear about my work now. I am constantly asked which molds I use and also where the little "bits and pieces" (!!!) that I decorate the cakes with can be bought. I thought in the very beginning that I should obtain some kind of certificate to say that I was qualified to do what I do. I was only interested in novelty cake making at the time and I enrolled in a class at a local college only to be told by the tutor that there was no interest in novel designs and that in his opinion it was a waste of time. Needless to say, I left and never returned. I'd like to say to him now if I may, "HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" icon_lol.gif

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Sugarflowers Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:19pm
post #19 of 25

Obviously you didn't need any formal training. Your cakes are beautiful.
I get asked the same question about my training. I did take the Wilton course, but it really wasn't worth much. So my real training is trial and error.

Your talent is amazing and you should be proud of what you do. Her comments are of just one person, a clueless person.

Keep up the GREAT work.

Michele

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madicakes Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:29pm
post #20 of 25

I would take it as a compliment. Maybe she had such a hard time believing that someone with absolutely no formal training had the ability to create cakes as beautiful as yours. I would like to think she meant no harm by it.

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mocakes Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:33pm
post #21 of 25

I'm not quite sure I follow why you're offended? icon_confused.gif

Wouldn't that be a GOOD thing that it appears your cakes are to the level of someone who has had classes?? I took it as a total compliment for you...It didn't seem rude to me at all to have someone amazed that you would have a natural talent for cake decorating.

Take it for what it was....a very nice compliment! thumbs_up.gif

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prettycake Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:39pm
post #22 of 25

maybe it's just that time of the month ..LOL icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

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mgdqueen Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:45pm
post #23 of 25

People say very bizarre things sometimes! This is a similar little story-but not about cake. A lady once wanted to fight because she "knew" I was lying about my naturally curly hair. She went on and on about somebody's hair that "perfectly curled" couldn't be natural. Isn't that ridiculous?

Geez, take it as a compliment! You do fabulous work and should be given kudos for it-even if it is by some dizzy witch at your hubby's work!! Sorry-I'm in a mood too!! icon_confused.gif

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lapazlady Posted 2 Nov 2006 , 11:47pm
post #24 of 25

Your cakes are great. What? No classes? Just lots of skills. Beautiful work! icon_biggrin.gif

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BCo Posted 3 Nov 2006 , 2:36pm
post #25 of 25

mocakes - it's not that I was offended it just struck me as strange that she was challenging me on the fact that I didn't take any classes - I have no need to lie! Maybe she was having a bad day - You are absolutely right- it is one of the best compliments I could get and I realize that and have since taken it that way but it's just craziness that she would argue that fact. I guess it takes all kinds and I wouldn't have thought too much about it if she hadn't made him call me to find out the truth after he said that I didn't have any training! Too funny!! But thank you for the nice comments - I am learning to just smile and say well, thanks, I'm so glad you think I did a good job!! thumbs_up.gif

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