jl5949 recently made the suggestion in a different thread that maybe we should share some positive comments. I agree! So here we go, an experiment in psychology!

Did you know that bad moods and negativity are catching like cold germs? That's what I tell my kids, and I also truly believe it. BUT, you know what else is catchy? Happiness, a smile, and other peoples' good feelings! Corny, huh?

Let's give it a try...

Whether you're a hobbyist, a home-based baker, or a bakery owner; what was a memorable comment, compliment or descriptive word that someone used about your cake that made you light up inside? That sent your caking confidence into the stratosphere?

I wanna hear about it!!

Well, I don't have a comment or word...but I made my son a 3d pirate ship cake and as soon as I walked into Chuck E Cheese so many heads turned people were asking if they could take pictures of it and it seemed as though every kid in the place forgot about the games they were playing and crowded around my sons cake ...No one really believed it was cake and they were asking so many questions, it felt amazing...My son said 'Mommy I think everybody likes my cake' I wanted to cry I was so happy...needless to say, I think I gave out about 50 business cards

A couple of years ago, I was asked to make 40 2-layer 8" table cakes for a mentoring group that we have here. It was the 10th birthday of the program. I baked 80 cakes, put them on boards, stacked 2nd layer, crumb-coated all 40 of them. Made my icing and was waiting for my help to show up so we could get started on them.

A total no-show with help, tried to call a couple of other friends--no one home . So I jumped in and started icing all 40 of them in pink BC icing, then white cornelli lace. Made BC roses (3 for each cake), 2 daisies for each and numerous little purple drop flowers--all in BC. Boxed cakes and delivered with 30 minutes to spare.

Putting them out on the tables, all I could mutter was "never again!!!!" The girls started coming in and one little girl asked who the cakes were for. The program director said they were for them. The little girl looked at me and said "You made those ALL for us?" All I could say was "yes, I did because you deserve it." Left with tears in my eyes--the girls were beaming.

My neighbors and I are planning a backyard party and I got this email about food prep last week...

Lauren and i were actually going to have a sign up and one of the options would be "professional looking wedding cake"... we were hoping you'd pick that one.

Sure, I know my cakes don't look professional (yet) but it's so great to know that friends appreciate my work.

Great idea for a thread!

I think my favorite was the comment indydebi left on my square wedding cake. I felt like I had made it to the cake hall of fame when she added it to her favorites.

Those are great stories!

Kivia, that cake must have been SOMETHING! Good for you! Aren't kids' comments the simplest, yet sweetest of understatements sometimes?

Mac, all I can say is that your story made me misty! I'm proud of you!

ac2steachk, you have lovely cakes in your gallery. I'm not surprised that your neighbors were hoping for you to volunteer the cake!

jammjenks, I agree! Indydebi is a great source of inspiration, and so are you! (Esp. now that your a Hall of Famer! )

I LOVED waking up this morning, to find this good stuff to read. It's a rainy day here in NH today, and rain is coming for the next 3 days. I'm going to go fill up my mug of hot java, and hope to read more stories soon!

Keep It Coming'!

I have a couple. I did this competition where Duff Goldman was the judge and I got 3rd place. He talked about everyone's cake and it was incredible! You'd think I was voted president or something, people asking me all kinds of questions about it.

Also I recently did a horse cake that I was really proud of. I was excited when sugarshack commented on it and asked ME how I did it!

I did a cake for a man's 90th birthday that turned into two cakes, then three cakes (12X18's all) and when they called and requested a fourth I had to say no. I could only accomodate three. They were so-o-o nice about it, I made a couple dozen sugar cookies decorated as baseballs. (He's a fan). When I delivered them (I thought they were pretty generic) they just couldn't stop gushing over them. They left a message on my answering machine later that night, saying how the cakes and cookies were the highlight of the party. Then they sent a thank-you note in the mail. Then they sent a thank-you "package" that had candies, candles, tea, etc. included. I started to feel bad, as the cakes were okay but nothing super special. But they were to this family!

My favorite is after I made my first 3-tier wedding cake. Bride and groom loved it. I was over the moon.

I'm still sort of new to this, (I've only been decorating for a year and a half). Anyway, when I made the cake in my avatar for my cousin's daughter, she was SO excited she took a pic with her camera phone and started sending it to all her friends! They were super impressed with her cake, and she felt like a million bucks! It was awesome

My daughter, 24, took the sushi cake I made her to a sushi restaurant to have a party with friends. She told me all the waitstaff, hostess, and owner all crowded around the cake and couldn't believe it was a cake!

I have several stories that made my day. One was when my friend came to pick up her child's cake she was so pleased she was in tears. Then she told her friend who I also do her childrens cakes that she knows she can just tell me the themes and she knows the cakle will be great. But the best feeling of all was this weekend when my black and white 50th birthday cake made the popular cakes of the day. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

I am just a hobby decorator, I don't get enough experience to get much better. But when I made my son his jungle cupcakes (staying up to 4 in the morning for the sucker parts and trees a couple nights-- while I was 8 months pregnant) and all the kids were running over to see them and someone asked me if I could make them for HER son's party coming up, I was so happy!! Even throughout the party various people would come by to look at the display--it was really rewarding. My son just liked eating the ears on the suckers but he was happy anyway.

For me, it's the comments I get about my sister's wedding cake. The first comment was her expression when she saw the cake. She walked through the door of the reception, saw the cake, and her mouth fell open, pointed at the cake, and then grabbed the groom to look at it.

Then over the next few months, I still receive compliments on how good it tasted. Just last week, found out the groom's brother wants me to make his wedding cake because it was the best cake he'd ever tasted. Given he's not engaged, we'll see if that happens , but it's still an amazing compliment to get.

I do this as a hobby still, but my neighbor asked me if i could make her a babyshower cake for shower she was hosting. she told me that the mother to be cried when she saw the cake. I know that we are hormonal when we are pregnant but still made me happy that somebody appreciated my work and was touched by it.

You guys ROCK!!

I love your stories, and my re-warmed coffee tastes better with a good dose of this thread!

Isn't it a great feeling when we realize that, although we're our own worst critics, there are others who are so appreciative of what we do?

I made a small cake (6 inch and 4 inch on top) for my friend's anniversary. She always said she wanted to watch me decorate a cake. When she came to pick up her cake, I was starting on a purse cake for a little girl. She got to watch me color and roll fondant, use my sugar gun, prepare my board ,etc. She got so excited. she called her hubby and told him about all the little gadgets I had and what I could do with them. Before she left, she gave me a hefty tip. She said she had no idea the amount of work that goes into one cake.

Oh how I wish! I hope someday to receive compliments like that. The bride and groom whose cakes I did for FREE b/c they were broke...not even a thank you. My dad liked the cheeseburger cake, tho. Didn't want to cut it, so I guess that's my biggest compliment. I hope that I get good enough someday to get compliments like that!!

I forgot -

I always like to hear that the birthday person wouldn't let anyone cut the design on their cake. It may not be a direct compliment, but it makes me glad that they like it that much.

I am very new to all these. Started taking wilton course 5 months back. Two things I want to share here. I made a cake for my daughter's pre-school for end of the year. She was in the class called Bee-hive. So, I made a beehive topper out of fondant and made little bees out of fondant and used it to decorate a thank you cake. It is a very simple cake. When I took the cake in, teacher started crying and gave me a big hug and said no one has ever done anything like that to any of the teachers over there.

Second one is my recent cake (Thomas the train cake in my photos). Party was at Chuckecheese in NY and after I took the cake from PA (2 1/2 hours drive), I was keeping the toy trains on the top and everyone gathered around including people who work there. They were all amazed at it. (It is a simple cake too. Nothing to compare with all the pictures in the galleries here) and since cake cutting was not for another hour, the waitress told my friend that she doesn't want some kid coming and playing with the cake, so she took it inside and kept it safe and brought it back in time for cake-cutting. That I think is a nice compliment.

Thanks for starting this thread.

My favorite compliment was just recently on my iceskating cake...the customer emailed to tell me that one of the mom's at the party said it was the best cake she had ever tasted. And then on another cake (the Ella cake with the bees) the mom said her daughter started to cry and didn't want her to cut the cake.

Ok, so my coffee's not so great anymore ...but all your stories ARE!!

I hope you stash these nuggets of pride and accomplishment safely away in your brain and heart, and remember them when you're having a moment of doubt.

I have to find something for my kids to do or they're going to start a professional wrestling team in my living room!

Have a terrific rest of the morning, everybody! Love ya!

As a young decorator, I was "star-struck" by several of the amazingly talented decorators in our state ICES chapter. At a competition, I overheard the one women comment how the fondant bow and ribbon on my (Beginner level)cake looked so real! I was absolutely flabbergasted and totally honored to have this "cake-guru" compliment MY cake! I was on cloud 9 the rest of the day!

Several years ago during a demo at an ICES convention the well-known demonstrator (*grrrr* can't recall who it was now) made a reference to a cake she had admired in the cake display room, and went on about the well done piping..... well, I nearly fell off my chair because it was MY cake she was talking about! Talk about your head being in the clouds! I don't think my feet touched the ground the rest of the week!

deleted...I have no idea how this double posted?

I am just a hobbyist as well, but the best compliment was when I made a cake for my 11yrold cousins bday (the murder mystery cake). She told me weeks later that her friends were still talking about my cake that made me feel pretty darn good

Not exactly a compliment, but my twin grandsons birthday cake, I made the Lightening McQueen theme, badly I might add....anyhow, the look in their eyes, and the hugs meant more to me than anything.

hellie0h, I feel you! When I whip up something for my kids, or even let them make little 4" cakes by themselves, the hugs I get are worth more than anything at that moment!

A coworker begged me to make her wedding cake. I'd never done anything that big and it was a huge stress for me (even though I was also very proud she asked me!). I was SO afraid it was going to fall over! Anyway, when she saw the cake, she cried and told me that it was more perfect than she ever imagined. Some of her guests were also musicians and were "reading" the music on the side of the cake!
I loved being at that reception!

It's the cake in my avatar. The chocolate layers were wrapped in Mozart music tranfers. She is a music teacher and her husband is in the Air Force Band.

I am by no means an expert and still have lots to learn but the best compliment EVER was when my little girl told everyone that her mom makes the best cakes ever.

Here is the pic of my son's pirate ship cake that i made...