I have been watching the wedding cake competitions on the Food Network all afternoon and I want to know, how do you get THAT skilled? I realize many of these folks have been decorating for years, but still... these cakes are AMAZING!

They're probably members of CC . I know that's how I've improved so much .

I know what you mean. I told my hubby that while I may dream someday of entering Okla Sugar, I then sit and watch one of these shows and think "who are you kidding? "

Wow. All I can say is just "wow".

(edited to correct a typo)

That means a lot coming from you indydebi. Those cakes in the Okla Sugar Show make me speechless.

I watched all the cake competitions today on TV and am in awe. I would love to be able to do work like that! Maybe with another 20 or so years of practice.

I sat with my mouth agape most of the day. I watched all of these before, prior to my new found love of cake decorating, but now, knowing how some of these things are done... it's even more awe-inspiring.

Once upon a time I took a class with a big name in the biz. I asked said big name "how did you get to be sooo good at this?" Big name smiled and said "practice." Now let me tell you, this person has a tremendous following and their workmanship is amazing. I remember in my very first cake classes (I took the Wilton classes at a local store several years ago) and the teacher had us practice that stupid shell border for 10 minutes before each class really got started. I protested and groaned every week, complaining that I can't pipe, my shells don't look like the picture, I'll never get this, yada yada yada... Anyway, at the end of the 12 weeks guess what -- I was piping faster and my shells actually looked like the picture!! Who knew??

Thank you for this post ~ I almost asked the same question.

An hour ago I was in tears (and I don't cry often). I only recently (last year) became licensed and that amazing show completely knocked the wind out my sails. I can't image ever being able to do work like that ~ it is almost other-worldly. I looked at my cakes and am now thinking I should just delete them all... My style is "all over the place" and the pretty, delicate stuff scares me to death....
It's frustrating because I do have a strong background in art, yet I can't pipe without shaking yet. Whoever said it was right~ drawing on a cake is WAY different than drawing on paper, etc.

My jaw drops on a daily basis, but that's also what keeps me coming back. The beauty of what so many people can do with sugar...

I understand how you feel K2Cakes. I wanted to say, "I don't think I can do this, if that is what is expected of me" Granted I only started deocrating cakes in Aug 2008, but still. I know I don't have the patience for some of those skills.

The decorators on the Oklahoma show are incredibly talented and their work is amazing. But you also need to factor in that all of them spend months on their entry. I am not trying to discredit anything they do, but time does help.

On the Food Network, obviously that is not true. It is alot of creativity, perseverence, and experience...and nerves of steel. Cudos to all of the decorators on TV today!

I watched those challenges all day and I could watch them all day tomorrow. They are so good. I love them.

I'm still new and learning (mostly from that talented decorators here at cc.) One dayI hope to THAT good.