I had to deliver a cake and it seemed I couldn't do anything right today. I baked the cake on Friday, cut the guitar shape and iced it. I covered the board with royal icing and left it to dry overnight. Right on schedule.
Saturday, I airbrushed the cake since the boy wanted it light brown in the center faded to dark brown on the sides. I wasn't happy with the color but he didn't want fondant so it will have to work. I decided to make the neck out of chocolate and was really proud of myself for fashioning a mold and adding white chocolate for the knobs and frets. I attached this to a piece of foam and hot glued to the board.
Today I decided I didn't like the look so I re-iced the cake and airbrushed it a lighter brown. I remade the neck from fondant. This turned out 100 times better than the chocolate one. I was feeling really good about it now but this is when everything started going down hill.
As I placed the newly iced cake on the board I nicked a big piece out of the front so I fixed it up and got out my airbrush and tried to blend it in. I attached the fondant neck to a piece of cake board with jell and hot glued to white styrofoam and then hot glued it to the board. The icing got messed up where the neck rested on the edge. Everytime I tried to adjust it, I'd nick another spot so the lighter color showed through the darker color. I took a breath and tried to keep my cool. As I tried to fix the icing I dropped my offset spatula on the cake. Arghhhh! Fixed the icing and airbrushed it again. I added some trim, all the fondant accents and attached spaghetti with royal icing for the strings. One piece kept popping off and another nick on the icing. I finally got everything done and wanted to try to cover up the imperfections by blowing some of the new fda approved edible dust mixed with a little brown dust. I tapped the edible dust container and a big clump fell into the brown. Now I have another mess but at least it's on my counter and not the cake. It's now 1:30 and the party starts at 2 so I have just enough time to color and roll out the fondant for "Happy 11th Birthday Alex"
I'm really not loving this cake and sure the woman won't either when my DH tells me it looks fantastic and better than the day before. Gotta love him.
The party is at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City. We get there at exactly 2:00 and the manager shows us where to put the cake. Much to my surprise, people are coming up to check it out and saying that it's great. Now here's the good part. The manager gives me his card and says he loves my cake. He'd like me to email him my price information since they have lots of partys and maybe we can work out an arrangement. What?! I went from rock bottom at 1:00 to total flattery by 2. I just couldn't believe it. I tried to act cool but I couldn't stop smiling. I just had to share. Here's the picture I almost forgot to take.
How cool i that cake! Way to go. It is not being able to doa perfect cake the right off the bat, but being able to do a perfect cake in the end. That rocks!
And what a wonderful compliment from the manager!
Awesome,
Julia
Ya know, that is an awesome cake!! I think this is the problem. We all look at our work very critically and we all know where the 'mistakes' are that we don't like and we think that it's not a good looking cake. Then we bring it to the person who it's for and they thinks it's absolutely awesome. We are just too critical of ourselves. That really is an awesome cake though.
AWESOME JOB! I know how frustrating it gets though and to have it go from so low to so high must be one heck of a boost to your ego. GREAT JOB!
Rachel
Yeah!! Excellent news!! A near disaster turned out to be a blessing!! The cake is fantastic!! Good Luck on the Hard Rock Cafe cakes!! You'll knock em' dead!! 
Wow your cake is great!! I have a question, why do you cover your board with royal icing? Just curious.
wow! that looks great! i know how you feel about having trouble with a cake. it always comes out in the end, though!
and congrats on your new opportunity!
Wow your cake is great!! I have a question, why do you cover your board with royal icing? Just curious.
The board was very large and it was the cheapest and easiest way to cover it. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
Mary Ann
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%