One of the mom's at my DS's birthday party was wowed by his cake and mentioned "wow, you really put me to shame, I'm making a cake next weekend."
Thinking I had found a cake buddy, I asked what she was doing. She said she had 'just' bought the plastic horse corrall to add to the top of the cake. Now I see nothing at all wrong with this, and told her that it was great that she was making his cake for him. But she seemed to be putting herself down. 
I want to make elaborate cakes for my kids, but don't want to seem like a 'cake snob'!! I want to accept the compliments, because I put a heck of a lot of work into it, but I don't want to seem like I'm 'better' than anyone else. Is there a graceful response for this situation? I love to see the cake decorating trend growing and would love to encourage it!
On the other hand, maybe I'm losing future business if I ever actually do this professionally??? 
Hmm... I feel so guilty when people compliment me a lot, lol. I'm silly though. I try to be gracious and just say something like 'thank you. it's a lot of work but i really enjoy it.' or something like that.
As far as encouraging others, a couple months ago I was putting together a baby shower/luncheon for a friend, and instead of making the cake myself I asked one of our mutual friends who is in the process of taking the Wilton courses to make the cake for the shower. She was in the middle of taking course 2, so she didn't know how to do a whole lot yet, but she bought the baby carraige pan and decorated it with stars and it turned out really cute. She called me for advice a couple times and I was really encouraging, and everyone complimented her at the shower so I hope it built her confidence.
There is a lady here at our new church who makes cakes and she refuses to even acknowledge my cakes. I have seen her glance at my cake and turn her nose up without even saying a word or having a piece, even though I compliment hers when she makes one. I guess some people can't handle competition 
I just try to be encouraging when people put themselves down. It makes me feel really awkward, I know what you mean.
Here is something that you need to carry with you. That other woman you speak of is not a concern.
Her opinion of you (or your cakes) is none of your business. So do not let it worry you.
Share, I just can't help trying to understand why people here are loosing their good deeds by competition. Yes, it is fun to compete but if you are always on top eventually it gets pretty lonely. We are all people and all human beings. Encourage as doing good for others will be eventually doing good for you.
As for loosing business, the amount of work that it really takes is far beyond some people's tolerance. Not to say that people will not attempt to make cakes but they will give up and eventually have you make them. If not it is ok there is enough business out there for everyone really. Otherwise we would all be ordering cake from the same people.
Let it go. If you don't it ads stress to your life. Do you need more stress?
Be happy and comfortable with you and your abilities.
Be the better person, share and then don't worry. It will all come back to you. What you put out there you get back.
I guess maybe I overthought this. I just felt so terrible that she made it sound like her cake was somehow inferior. It made me feel awkward because my mom was there and insisting on RAVING on the cake during the entire party. I'll have to ask her to tone it down a little in the future. It's wonderful that she's proud, but...
I guess I can be proud of the things that I have learned and try to graciously accept compliments (always a problem for me in all areas, not just cakes) and offer to help whenever anyone asks. I feel like it would be presumptuous for me to offer, I don't know this woman well enough.
Thanks for the responses!
Well I took a look at your cake and my first thought was "Nice cake" but not that hard to do if you just add store bought figures. Then I read that you MADE them out of fondant and my thought was "No wonder that lady felt like she didn't compare to you! Your cake was fantastic!!!!!!
I don't think you need to say anything when someone says they can't do as good as job as you. Most people can't. Just say thank you and explain that you love it.
shelbur I feel completely the same way. I always try to complement other mum's on their cakes, and end up feeling sad that they sometimes feel like that. Especially when it's clear that they have spent forever getting the cake 'just right' for their special person. My tactic is to say 'it's my 'thing'! Everyone has their 'thing'. What is yours?' which gets them talking about their hobby. Everyone is fantastic at something, sport- scrapbooking - sewing - photography - mosaics, whatever. (most of which I am hopeless at!) Take some of the focus off yourself and onto someone else. It might be our 'thing' but a party is such a public place to be showing our hobby off to people.
Thinking I had found a cake buddy, I asked what she was doing. She said she had 'just' bought the plastic horse corrall to add to the top of the cake. Now I see nothing at all wrong with this, and told her that it was great that she was making his cake for him. But she seemed to be putting herself down. I want to make elaborate cakes for my kids, but don't want to seem like a 'cake snob'!! I want to accept the compliments, because I put a heck of a lot of work into it, but I don't want to seem like I'm 'better' than anyone else. Is there a graceful response for this situation? I love to see the cake decorating trend growing and would love to encourage it!
On the other hand, maybe I'm losing future business if I ever actually do this professionally??? [/quote]
Just a thought -- accept her compliment and don't apologize for your enthusiasm about cake art. You have no way of knowing why she said what she said in such a way as to make you think she was putting herself down, but that cannot be your concern. We really can't be held responsible for what everyone else thinks. You know that your intentions were good when you asked her. You meant it when you said that it was great she was making a cake. You are sincere in iyour enthusiasm for decorating. There's nothing wrong with any of this. Now, if you had said that you told her something like, "Plastic pieces on top of cakes are hideous and show no real effort on your part, what are you thinking!?" then you might have something to be concerned about. But, what you said wasn't hurtful or mean-spirited in any way. And, you know if your heart that you just wanted to talk cake. I've had this happen several times myself, so I'm with you there. But, if she takes your enthusiasm and doesn't order from you or whatever, it's on her. There's nothing you can do -- unless you're fake about things, and that most likely wouldn't sit well with you based on what you said.
Like I said, just a thought, a long one, I know, but just wanted to give you some support. 
Sarah
I relish every moment I am caught up in praise for a cake. Isn't that one of the reasons we post here on cc? We love the feeling we get when our fellow cc'rs ooh and ahh over our work. It is inspiring to have someone love what you do. I am not in the cake business to make money, yet! I will be honest that more than 90% of the cakes in my gallery were done at little or no charge. I am not doing anyone any favors by doing this, but I know that when I deliver a cake, the feeling I get because someone loved and so greatly appreciated my work, was worth the time and energy I put into it. Someday, when I am ready to be in business for myself, I will know that I am worth the cost of my cake. In the meantime, I blush, say thank you, give all the wonderful details on how I made the cake, and pass along my website so others can share in the joy. Other cc'rs should enjoy the praise too because you all work so hard. Don't be modest!
amberhoney - that is a really diplomatic and clever way of handling such a situation.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! This was the first situation I have been in like this, where I felt like the woman was putting herself down. I have another friend who dabbles in decorating and have offered to share some tips with her, but I don't think she's actually that interested.
I think I mumbled something about it being my hobby...I like the idea of using that as a conversation starter to hear about other hobbies!
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