Just Venting About Everything...
Decorating By iluvcakes5 Updated 13 Apr 2007 , 6:14pm by iluvcakes5
I am a newbie and I am overwhelmed with self-doubt and curiousity and excitement...
I live in a small town and so there are very few cake decorators and the one's that are cake decorators here are all awesome!!!! My work is good, but it is no where near what some of the cakes look like on here or like my competition. I am self-taught and I know that in time my cakes will look flawless like some of your cakes on here. I just feel like it is taking forever to get my business off the ground.
I have so many questions and I solely depend on CC for help!!!!! Like, Ace of Cakes - last night - Tajah Mah Hall (however you spell it) - how much of it was cake? How did they make it? How does their work look so flawless - was it built out of gumpaste? And the food basket with fries and onion rings - what did they use?
I just want to sit and watch a place like that. I just feel like I have so far to go...
Also, did anyone see the Cake Challenge on Food Network? I want to watch how cakes are carved... I want to know how did Browen's cake that resembled Colette's - stay up there tilted....
What does it take to be that good? Where is the light at the end of this tunnel @!#$%^ LOL!!!
Thanks for reading...
I'll tell you what it takes, talent, which you have and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, AND MORE PRACTICE.
People like Duff, Collette, and Bronwen have been decorating for a long time. They got that good by practicing. I hope to be that good someday. I watched that challenge and was amazed by Bronwen's cake also. I know they had a ton of supports on that cake at the top, but I was still nervous.
Baby steps. You are not (and neither am I and neither are a lot of people on CC) as good as Colette and any of the other famous cake decorators you see on TV, so stop comparing your work to theirs. You'll be depressed 24/7 if you set your standard to that level right now! 
Baby steps. Master the skills of straight borders and the variety of borders you can make with just one tip. Master the drop flowers and how to arrange them on a cake for a great look. Master the rose. Give fondant a try, getting it smooth all the way around. With each progression you will gain confidence and add to your skill level. All of us were at your point in the beginning .... we've just got more practice time under our belts, that's all! 
Baby steps. And practice practice practice!
I will keep practicing and practicing.
But, I want everyone to know that all of you, I have huge respect for. Your work is amazing and the support system on this website is so wonderful. I wish that I could give everyone of you a hug and tell you how much you are appreciated for your time on this website.
Thank you
I too love Ace of Cakes and Challenges. Like you, I am a newbie (1 year) I feel I've improved since my first cake. I did take a class at a local ROP but that was just basics. You don't get good by going to school. you get good by practicing. So grab a bucket of buttercream, a spatula and decorate your little heart away.
Also, feel free to ask people here on CC. Everyone is always happy to give you advice and input on any questions you have.
~Hugs~
Loops
How fun would it be to just sit and watch those pros in progress in their cake shops??? I think there is quite a bit of editing going on with Food Network too. They cut out a lot of the pain staking steps. They show us the "ta da" scene, and we sit and drool. They don't show you the hours and hours that went into it, or the two and three times it took a decorator to get it "just right". I get inspired by watching the shows. It gives me something to strive toward. Good thing we alll have each other!
How fun would it be to just sit and watch those pros in progress in their cake shops??? I think there is quite a bit of editing going on with Food Network too. They cut out a lot of the pain staking steps. They show us the "ta da" scene, and we sit and drool. They don't show you the hours and hours that went into it, or the two and three times it took a decorator to get it "just right". I get inspired by watching the shows. It gives me something to strive toward. Good thing we alll have each other!
Your absolutely right. And I would like to see their first cake.
However, when they do show the pros goof up or have to redo something it makes me realize that no one is perfect. For example when Bronwen had a lumpy t.v. on the challenge or when Collette had problems with the fondant. Things like that show me that there are ways to overcome those things and still have a beautiful cake.
I agree with what the others posted. And know that you aren't alone. When I first found this site I was intimidated by all the beautiful cakes and I didn't post any of mine. It took me 5 months to build up the courage.
There are decorators here from beginner to expert and things can be learned from all of them. You just need to take it one step at a time. Every cake I do I try to add a new element. I like to get books from the library and see the techniques & designs they do. As I can afford it, I purchase the books that I like.
Don't get discouraged, everyone has their cake disasters. If you watched Ace of Cakes last night, then you also saw how many problems they were having with the other cakes.
Happy baking!
Welcome to our obsession!
By your thread it sounds to me you don't really want to do "cakes" but want to sculpt like I do. I would start checking out some sculpting books from the library to "feed your eyes". Then get some books on ceramics for construction and assembly. Start small look at Sculpty clay books for your beginning inspiration. Look as Lindy Smiths beginner cakes. Take little bits and learn the medium (fondant, BC, gumpaste, royal icing) (and cake), see how it handles, what it's limits are and how far can you take it.
Check out some designs on this site that would really stretch your talent and limits, ask questions from the decorators and start creating.
Now here is my trick, make a plan of the cakes you would like to create, break it out into six months. Maybe a cake every two weeks. In three months you will have six cakes made! You will be six times smarter and better! Now plan another three months.
The true thing is you have to have a plan and then you must work your plan.
Remember to post your pixs. 
I would love to do all of it!!! Not just sculpting and not just decorating!!! I am at a point in my life that I cannot just do cakes, so it is just a second job on the side because as slow as it is to start a business, my family needs a second income, so it is just trying to find the time to practice, practice, practice.
I have done a lot of cakes and do not have a way of posting them. They are good, but they are not great!!! Maybe I do have my own standards to high, but I have always done that to myself.
My dream would be to start a cake and cookie business. My small town is not really into the cookie bouquets and I want to get it started. I think that it could be a huge success around here. I live in a small town, but am only 15 minutes from a huge city. But, right now I have little ones at home and I work full-time and then there are your children's extracurricular activities.
Basically, it is hard to find "Me time" in order to pursue my dreams and so for now I will still be addicted to CC and drool over all of your cakes and cookies.
I think this website is amazing and I could not be where I am without CC and the people on here.
THANK YOU
Since you have a full time job, and children it will be hard to find the time to do all the things that you want to do. BUT, you have an advantage. You have a group of people that can be potential customers.
I was reading on one of the threads here where someone was taking cookie bouquets into work around a holiday with the hope that she would sell them. She did very quickly.
On Tuesday & Fridays, my dh and I go to a local italian restaurant and hang out in the lounge with the regulars, I had some Easter orders to deliver there and I made up an extra box of cookies, hoping I would sell it. It sold as soon as I opened the box. I could have sold a couple more if I had taken them.
IMO the best advertising is word of mouth and letting people know about your business.
Ya'll are so wonderful!!!! I have definitely learned that word of mouth is definitely the key!!!
I will definitely keep all of ya'll words of wisdom in mind as I pursue my dream.
I am going to get some business cards made and then maybe just start making cakes and cookies and dropping them off at different places with my card and see if that helps me in quest.
I look forward to one day this being my job everyday. It is something that I really enjoy doing and it would be even better to make a lot of money doing it.
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