http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1682240

The above cake was for a girl in my dojo. Her mom and dad ordered it for her black belt party. It has all the relevant patches and insignia and her weapons, etc on it. They were REALLY happy with it. Dad went on and on.

Today when I went into the dojo, he was in my shihan's office and saw me walk by, then called me. He had taken a black backdrop, but it behind the cake and had it photographed by a pro friend of his, then printed it off and FRAMED it with one of my businesss cards, and gotten permission from Shihan to HANG IT IN THE DOJO!

I am floored.



Now...the crazy part. This cake is not my best work for this reason....it is not straight. You can see that the red tier is higher on one side than the other, and I have no idea how that happened, but I can't change it. Also, one of the tiers isn't place on the one beneath it straight....you can see that the sides aren't perfectly parallel.

It is making me NUTS. I was so glad they were happy but now I'm tied up in knots wondering if this is going to make people point and laugh or if they will even notice. (I told a black belt friend of mine that I was worried about the cake because part of it looked crooked....and she said something out loud in the lobby one day when it was mentioned in conversation {can't remember now how it came up} "Oh, is that the crooked one?" and I am freaked that THAT comment will be the focus of conversation about that beautiful framed thing he made, all for me.)

So....I'm certifiable, right?

I guess if anyone mentions it, just play it off like "Oh, you noticed! (big smile) I hoped it wasn't too subtle!"

I am so tired right now.

edited to add: I want to do something to thank him for the gesture. Do I simply write a thank you card, or should I offer a discount on a future cake? Like a big one (25% or so?) Not sure what to do as this is a nice display he made up for promoting my business without me knowing he was going to do it.

Yes you are certifiable. YOU are your worst critic. Now me personally I like that the 2nd tier is not centered because part of martial arts is "trying to become centered" . I think people will be in awe of the cake and never see all the "flaws " you pointed out. It is beautiful and well done. I would just write him a thank you note and then maybe one day bring him in a small cake just for him.
No one is going to snicker or point out the mistakes because they won't notice them to begin with and only a pro will see that and then they won't know if you did it intentionally or if it was a mistake.
Drink in the glory of the moment and quit nitpiking yourself. It is GORGEOUS!!!!
ps...that tiger was making goo goo eyes at me..

Yes you are certifiable!! Aren't we all though. It's a great looking cake!! Us cakers are obsessed with perfection, I do it too.

I would call it a slight twist. If they bring it up, hey it's part of the design.

Did you know, "In Japan, artists consider creating something that is perfectly symmetrical a sign of self glorification, so imperfections are purposely built into the art. So that the Gods do not think you are trying to become like them, and you are showing respect by showing that you are a mere mortal."

yup your certifiable.

The cake is great, lots of details, and if anyone asks, the level is just the camera angle and the angled tiers are to add a sense of movement or action or the finding you centre thing

If you can give a reason for the angles then people will think wow what attention to detail, not oooh look at the flaw.