Help Me To Understand Less Is More
Decorating By Lazy_Susan Updated 25 Jan 2006 , 6:37am by Lazy_Susan
After looking at my cakes and reading one of the comments, I think I know what it is that bugs me about them. I think I have too many things going on. Do y'all believe that less is more? Does a cake look better and/or more professional if the design is not so busy? Please help me to understand how to "Design" a cake. What do you think about? What is the type of look that you try to achieve?
Thanks,
Lazy_Susan 
After viewing your cakes I came to the conclusion that they are all BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!! You have quite a talent with flowers I am still struggling with. Keep up the good work. You would be great doing a victorian cake which has alot of detail. best of luck with future cakes.
After viewing your cakes I came to the conclusion that they are all BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!! You have quite a talent with flowers I am still struggling with. Keep up the good work. You would be great doing a victorian cake which has alot of detail. best of luck with future cakes.
who says it has to "less is more" for you?
consider all the various pro decorators you've seen. Each as a distinctive style, from wacky (Colette Peters) to amazing sculpture (Mikes Cakes), etc.
Yes, many have gone for a spare esthetic (some nearly BauHaus) for their cakes. I for one don't often do all kinds of frilly cakes, perfering to work in fondant and focus on 3-D cakes (influence of building all those sets for plays) and I don't have the skill to do all the amazing stringwork, etc. that adorn other cakes.
Sophie-Em makes a good point. You are developing quite a talent for detail work (and w/out taking classes--so jealous). Maybe, you should focus on doing the really ornate cakes, as she called them Victorian cakes, possibly even Lambeth method cakes (style using lots of detail, stringwork and orverpiping). Would certainly set you apart and endear you to all the die hard romantics out there.
Be your own special self!
Doug I couldn't have said it any better!! 
Here's a great point to consider-why would someone want to pay you instead of the local mega mart? Because you can provide something truly unique!!! And yummier to boot! Find your style and what makes your customers happy. I think what you do now is on the right track for that!!!
Thank you everyone. This didn't go the way I had planned. Instead, I think it has made me realize that perhaps I HAVE found my style. I was wanting to hear how less is more (thinking that I am putting too much decorating on my cakes). But instead you have made me realize that perhaps I should perfect my current style. I think I will... I am soooooo excited now for when I get my next stretch off at work (in 3 nights). It will be cake baking time again!!! 
Thanks EVERYONE!!!
Lazy_Susan
Everyone has their own style and you should stick to what you like and know.
I will be honest when I put comments on various cake I often say not only what I love or like about the cake but often say what I would have liked to have seen or preferred. I never mean any offence by it, I would love that sort of info on my cakes as it can often give you a new perspective on things.
Your post tells me though that sometimes comments can be taken not the way we intend them, thank you for opening my eyes I will be more careful.
I think your cakes are very pretty and well done. Keep up the good work.
I think your cakes look great too. Not busy at all, but elegant. I'm still discovering my style. I seem to be on the eclectic trend (like the rest of my life). I have trouble coming up with a design and usually just kind of design as I go or I'll get a sudden inspirational mental image and everything will just click. Have fun baking! I wish I had more time to devote to my baking addiction
I like that you do different things on your cakes. I'm still trying to learn so many things I havent had the courage to do stacked cakes yet, but I will .......someday.
Susan,
Your style is your style Do what makes you happy.
I go crazy with flowers...can't stop myself, have to keep adding until my little voice tell me stop 
I just looked at your cakes, And I for one, think they are beautiful! Not "too busy" at all. I know how you feel though, because I sometimes add things and then think, "I really should have stopped 15 minutes ago!" But Hey, If all cakes looked the same, with no "original" decorators out there, it would be a very boring Bakery!!!
Thank you everyone I really wasn't fishing for compliments but rather the opposite. Thanks for making me feel like where I am headed is the right direction for me
Lazy_Susan
ok you asked for some honest opinions and where you can improve..but first I want to say you are doing fine. don't let anyone spoil your fun YES you will get better. We all improve as we get experience. heck I have been doing cakes for over 20 years and still have a long way to go.
My first cake is refered to as the dead bunny cake....
You do tend to use very bright colors try to tone down the color of your leaves... look at some real ones.. They are rarely that bright... leaf green is not really the color of leaves you can mix colors to get the one you want.
to me german chocolate cake calls for simple decorations like roses from chocolate candy clay and chocolate borders not bright flowers on the side personal preferance on my part.
too me less is more does mean elegant too many colors, too many styles is not less Childrens cakes can get away with multi colored borders but you would never do that on a wedding cake
The first time I did corneli lace my sister said it look like worms on the cake OOPs too big of a tube and too far apart yours are far better but do try to get them closer together and use a finer tube if you can
You will find your style will change as you grow and learn. do not compare yourself to others but learn from them. Learn what you like and do not like.
An example is Blue roses I refuse to make them until I see one in nature... but others make lovely cakes using blue roses... not wrong just not me.
so your cakes are lovely and you will continue to improve. Have fun and enjoy your hobby.
I hope this is what you were looking for...I also like honest help that is how we learn and it is the little details that make the difference in a good or great cake.
You know, I looked at all your cakes and what I see is great consistency in your decorating (borders, rosettes) and good-looking roses! I thought I would never learn to make a rose. I did it thousands of times before it clicked. You've already got those things mastered and that's the hardest part! I do agree with you and msmeg that oftentimes "less is more". I think looking through these photos helps us to find what we like and study why we like it. As far as coloring goes, I have found through trial and error that softer, more muted colors for roses and leaves is more pleasing to my eye. I would actually love to see your delicious looking german chocolate cakes decorated in only chocolate. I think it would be quite stunning; and easier to decorate as well! Have fun experimenting!
ok you asked for some honest opinions and where you can improve..but first I want to say you are doing fine. don't let anyone spoil your fun YES you will get better. We all improve as we get experience. heck I have been doing cakes for over 20 years and still have a long way to go.
My first cake is refered to as the dead bunny cake....
You do tend to use very bright colors try to tone down the color of your leaves... look at some real ones.. They are rarely that bright... leaf green is not really the color of leaves you can mix colors to get the one you want.
to me german chocolate cake calls for simple decorations like roses from chocolate candy clay and chocolate borders not bright flowers on the side personal preferance on my part.
too me less is more does mean elegant too many colors, too many styles is not less Childrens cakes can get away with multi colored borders but you would never do that on a wedding cake
The first time I did corneli lace my sister said it look like worms on the cake OOPs too big of a tube and too far apart yours are far better but do try to get them closer together and use a finer tube if you can
You will find your style will change as you grow and learn. do not compare yourself to others but learn from them. Learn what you like and do not like.
An example is Blue roses I refuse to make them until I see one in nature... but others make lovely cakes using blue roses... not wrong just not me.
so your cakes are lovely and you will continue to improve. Have fun and enjoy your hobby.
I hope this is what you were looking for...I also like honest help that is how we learn and it is the little details that make the difference in a good or great cake.
Thank you for your honesty.
Lazy_Susan
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