OK, I am 35 years old and my mom's comments on my cakes hurts a little even at this age. I made a pool cake for my daughters last day of Pre-K. Although I've never charged for a cake (not yet anyway), I put it out there on the forum today about what you would charge for my pool cake. Fellow CCrs came back with $50. I told my mother about the price and her comment was no way and that I should call the local supermarket to find out what they charge. I explained to her that I have no desire on having my cakes being compared to a supermarket cake and so on. So my question is to all you cake decorators that inspire me... do I look like i'm on my way to being able to charge those prices or am I in lala land? You can be honest, after all, my mom is... but keep in mind, I've only been decorating since February. Thanks!
That's an impressive cake for a new decorator. Not certain about the price of that cake since I don't know what size it is, but it's definitely good quality.
Mom's are not always right - sometimes they can be overly critical. I have a friend whose mom said to her ON THE DAY SHE CAME HOME WITH A BRAND NEW BABY "when is the baby due?" and patted her tummy.
No excuses for that kind of attitude, just get yourself back over to CC where you'll get more support!
Uh - is your mom on crazy pills? LOL just kidding! I just looked at your cakes and they are great! Your mom doesn't know what she's talking about and is being extremely critical! Maybe she can see your flaws kind of like you can see your flaws, but grocery store cakes not only have a lot of flaws, but they are boring, unoriginal, have no time invested in them, and more often than not don't taste that great!
Your cakes are way better than anything they could do and are worth paying more $$$ for!! I would pay $50 for that pool cake! Maybe some people would rather go to the grocery store because they don't have much money and can't budget that much for cake - and that's why the grocery store cakes are there - for those that can't afford wonderful gorgeous homemade with time and love cakes! I know a lot of my friends couldn't afford what I would charge, but that doesn't make my cakes less worth it! Be proud of what you've accomplished! You are definitely on your way and before long you'll be getting orders for $200+ cakes!! Just watch your mom's jaw drop! LOL
NO NO NO NO NO!!! Mom IS NOT always right!! And sometimes Mom is just downright mean and hurtful!
My own mom is famous for making ugly comments about anything I do, and now she's started in on my cakes.
Your cakes are fantastic! You have a lot of talent and should not underprice your creations to try to compete with grocery stores...they don't provide the quality that you do.
My mom told me that she couldn't believe anyone would pay my prices...but they do, and with no complaints. Meanwhile mom is so cheap that she's trying to take a plastic flagpole 'holder' off my house (that we're not using) instead of shelling out a couple bucks for a new one.
Sorry for the rant, but DO NOT let her get you down. You are a very talented decorator!
Honestly, what grocery store does she know of that does cakes like that???!!! Your cakes are adorable. I even added your pool cake to my favorites! You did an amazing job on that, and you should be proud of yourself. Alot of people just can't imagine spending money on a cake...maybe she is one of them.
Next time she makes a comment that makes you want to chew nails, just say in your sweetest voice "Thank you Mom, I love you too!" It get's my mom every time!!
And yes, I think you are on the path to selling your cakes!!
Our families are usually the least supportive. Plus you don't mention how old your mom is, but sometimes that's a factor, especially if they were a Depression Child where you never spent a dime that you didnt' have to. I know of a guy who built an enclosed porch on his house that looked terrible because he used whatever windows he had in the garage and the barn ..... because when he was a kid during the Depression, you "make do with what ya got". Why, he'd NEVER spend perfectly good money on windows that matched when he had perfectly good windows just laying around! (He ended up tearing the porch off because it looked terrible!)
In my experience I have learned that Mom is NOT RIGHT! That pool cake is amazing and you could easily get $50 for it.
I have also learned that my husband is never right. He once told me that a cake I did wan't worth anything. Everyone else who saw it (before my kids got to it) said I could have gotton $100 for or more since it was a 2 tier cake.
But mom is not right in this case for sure.
I just looked at your photos and I think that you do awesome work! 
I am very lucky to have super-supportive parents, but my in-laws, not so much! My MIL asks me if I feel guilty stealing people's money for "just a dessert" She thinks no cake should cost more than 10 bucks. 
Then again, she never objects when I offer to take cakes to family gatherings or Birthday parties.
Bottom line, if people are willing to pay whatever price it is that you are asking, that means that THEY think your cakes are worth it, and that's what really counts.
I agree with everyone when they say, "Mom IS NOT always right," and when they say your cakes are great! I think a lot of people think that since they can get a cake at a grocery store for $15 or $20, they should be able to get one from anyone for that kind of price. Noone---except fellow enthusiasts---know the time and energy and passion we put into our cakes. I am new to this and my cakes may not look great, but they were all labors of love for me. I think I get better with each one and I have had people tell me that maybe I should be selling my "creations." I would love to someday. I think your work looks fantastic and you clearly like doing it. I am sure your cakes taste 100% better than ones from grocery stores and I KNOW they look better than those. They are specialty cakes...made from a vision for a specific request...not a standard style with some flowers and writing that looks that 5 others on the grocer's shelf.
Sorry to ramble 
My mom is never right.... I hate to say it but she seems like she is just out to ruin my life. I love her don't get me wrong but she's always been the one to always kick me when I'm down and if I'm not down she'll push me down and then kick me.... She asked me what I charged for a cake I did, it was a woman's torso cake (on my website) and I told her I didn't charge them it was a gift from us to them, our best friends, but I had been told here on CC that it would typically go for over $75.~ concidering the fact it's 4 cakes and 5 1/2 batches of buttercream. She said $25 max! it's not worth even that. Then she asked me to make a 1/2 sheet cake for her friends father's funeral. I did so (white cake in photos) she asked how much I'd normally charge for it (thinking she'd pay me something) I said $45.~ since it is a 1/2 sheet (11x15") she said "You're crazy! I can get that at the grocery store for $15.~" I said whatever mom and walked away. She's ordered another cake from me for this saturday for my nephew. I told her I figured out the total for the cake being $56.~ she looked at me looked at my nephew and said "what do you say to Aunt Becky" he said thank you I told her "That's all he's getting if you aren't paying for this cake I'm not buying him a gift or a card" she proceeded to tell me how much of a B I was and that I was wrong for not buying him even a card. So I give up... no more favors for her.
Anyway not all people out there are like that my dad loves what I do, my brother loves what I do, my husband, our best friends, my daughter, my step kids... everyone loves what I do and my friend who is worse off, money wise, then my mother ordered a cake for next week for her 10th anniversary and didn't bat an eye at the $30.~ price tag (which was $10 off as thier anniversary gift lol) so I know I have something good going on and I don't NEED my mother's approval or praise when I have so many other people praising me even if I screw up on a cake I still have people telling me how beautiful it is or how delicious it is and so on...
Don't let it get to ya hun if you do, you'll start hating even sharing in a simple phone call with her.... I'm only 28 and me and my mom just got close recently due to my sister's accident 3 years ago, and I regret ever trying to be close to her because now she picks at everything! We are trying to have another baby... "that's the last thing you need and the worst thing you could do!" staying home to raise my daughter (8 yrs old now) "worst thing you could ever do!" I just looked at her and said "why? because she might not turn out like me? she might actually like me? she might actually be a good kid and not act out? she might actually grow up happy and safe?" she just walks away... no fault on her at all lol...
Keep up the great work hun and if she ever makes ya feel bad again just come to us we won't lie to ya 
she's just jealous cause you've got such a good thing going
Heck ya your cake is worth $50!!
I'll ditto everyone else here and say Mom's aren't not always right. My mom is like others and no matter how good my things are she never compliments first, but critcizes ("Well other than that huge obvious horrific,how could you ever do that flaw, it is wonderful") She swore outrage at the fact I charged $75 for the elmo cake in my pics. (She even used to do cakes!)
But I think part of that isn't being cheap or critical, it is just that 30 years ago when she was my age, that was the price of things. Her perceptions of what is a fair price is out of whack with what current retail prices are. In her mind prices haven't gone up as much as they are. She won't bat an eye paying $5 for a bag of chips but is shocked at $75 for a cake since when she did them, they were $1 a slice.
Don't take it as honest criticism because if all of us cake people who are up to the times love it (even those that couldn't afford it!) then you know you are on to something. Yes, you are definitely at or beyond the $50 level!
...But I think part of that isn't being cheap or critical, it is just that 30 years ago when she was my age, that was the price of things. Her perceptions of what is a fair price is out of whack with what current retail prices are.
I would agree. It always cracks me up when I hear older people decry that they ".....won't pay more for a car than I paid for my house!" They bought their house 50 years ago for $12,000 and now they are shopping for a $50K Cadillac and think it's ridiculous!
I told one older relative, "Yeah, but I bet when the realtor sells your $12,000 house for $105,000 you'll take it, wont' you?"
Happened upon this in my collection of quotes ....I thought it seemed to fit here: (italics and bold added by me)
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson
I saw this post and just had to reply. Your cakes a great! I would certainly see you getting $50 for the pool cake. Maybe even $60. Keep plugging away at your passion and ignore the negative criticism. Just try to concentrate on the constructive criticism and do your best. Everyone else will come around, if not eventually. 
I agree it is definitely worth $50. Shame on your mother. I am amazed at people that think just cause you are capable of making a cake that you suddenly should be obligated to make cakes for any and everybody FREE. Just for the pleasure of doing it. HELLO it is fun to do, but. . . . there are limits!
I told one older relative, "Yeah, but I bet when the realtor sells your $12,000 house for $105,000 you'll take it, wont' you?"
LOL that's the truth!! I can't complain about my mom in the least. She, my sister, and my husband have been my biggest supporters. We all agree that we wouldn't PAY what other people do for cake...but that's only because we can make them. The average person cannot.
If momma wants to buy a grocery store cake for her money, by all means LET HER BUY IT. I'm not going to knock all the grocery cakes (there are other threads for that!!! LOL) but I am gonna say that momma does NOT always know best. Your cake is wonderful. You have a bright decorating future ahead of you. I wouldn't even TELL her what I charge anymore.
...But I think part of that isn't being cheap or critical, it is just that 30 years ago when she was my age, that was the price of things. Her perceptions of what is a fair price is out of whack with what current retail prices are.
I would agree. It always cracks me up when I hear older people decry that they ".....won't pay more for a car than I paid for my house!" They bought their house 50 years ago for $12,000 and now they are shopping for a $50K Cadillac and think it's ridiculous!
I told one older relative, "Yeah, but I bet when the realtor sells your $12,000 house for $105,000 you'll take it, wont' you?"
My MIL is really good at making comments like "we were only making $50 a week." I start thinking about how little rent and a loaf of bread was at the time. 
I feel very lucky to have a mom who thinks I'm a genius when it comes to my cakes.... or maybe she is a bit on the crazy side. But I have had so called friends that have been there to make sure I don't get a big head about anything. Quick to put me down. And I can never understand whyyou can get 50 compliments on a cake, and the one insult is the one that you remember the longest and feel the deepest. And to have it come from your mother or any family member is the worst. Your cakes are wonderful and don't let your mother's remakes make you feel you aren't good enough. You are better than 'good enough!" (maybe she is a bit jealous of her lack of talent compared to you.)
I know how you feel, when I first told my mom I was selling cakes to the people I work with and one day wnated to try to work in a bakery or go on my own her only comment was "how much do you really thing you can make off a box cake?" I couldn't believe that is all she thought I did. I may use box mixes but I pour my heart and soul into decorating the cakes in a personal and pleasing manner. Sometimes mom, family members, even friends just can't think of nice things to say and may even wish they could have done it so they put you down to make themselves feel better.
You do a great job so brush off whatever she says and keep decorating.
Along the lines of "same but different", my husband does wood working. Not the little craftsy things, but he makes furniture.
Had a friend and her husband who we ran into at the mall's food court and got to talking .... they were looking for a stand for their HUGE fish tank and asked hubby about making one. Now, like us, hubby doesn't like to just throw a number out there until he can work out how much and what kind of wood he needs, etc. But, being on the spot, he spent quite some time talking to them, finding out how big the fish tank was (50 or 100 gallon .... HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!). With a qualifier of "I'll have to confirm these numbers, but somewhere in the area of ....... (multi-hundred) dollars."
Remember, this was a hand-crafted wooden stand strong enough to hold 50-100 gallons of water and a very expensive fish set-up! And the guy almost jumps out of his seat proclaiming, "@*&$^^%, I was thinking ten or twenty bucks!"
Hubby informs him "I can't even buy the screws and nails for that. Sorry." And we left.
They're out there .... and they're allowed to vote, drive and pro-create! 
I am having this dilemma too. I have no idea what to charge for a cake. I like your mom have a hard time believing that someone would pay $50 for the cake. Not that it isn't worth that much or more but that someone would be willing to pay it. But this is why I am so stuck - if everyone is saying they would then I guess that is the truth. How do you figure out if your cake is a $50/$75 or more? I have to make a baby carriage cake ( i think it is going to be a molded cake) with lots of fondant accents - blankets, etc. Can i charge $100?? or more? If I scale it back to the baby carriage pan and star tip it is it still worth $50?
The only time mom is always right is when the mom is ME. Just kidding. You would have to know my teenagers to understand that remark. Anyway to answer your question - NO!! My mom also has hurtful remarks about me decorating cakes too. So I understand where you're coming from. Just don't let it get you down. She probably means well, and like my mom sometimes just doesn't get it.
The only time mom is always right is when the mom is ME. .
That sounds like something my mom would have said. Her favorite line used to be "because I'm the mom, when you're the mom..." She quit using that a couple months after I had my oldest (first grandkid) and she said it to me and I looked right at her and said "but I am." The look on her face was priceless and my father just about died laughing. I think she still tells my brothers that since it's impossible for them to be the mom, I've borrowed the line for my own boys.
Another way to look at the original question is that if your mother is always right than HIS mother is always right. 
I know of very few women who would say that what MIL says is 100% correct all the time, personally mine is right maybe once a month but can go far longer.
I like this topic. My mom and I have a strange type of best friend relationship - I could not live without her... but she drives me crazy too. Fortunatley, she thinks I am wonderful at basically everything I do. I haven't even started cake decorating yet, and she is already talking about how amazing I'll be... (I hope)
Anyhoo...just remember, people are people. As lswayer alludes to, jealousy can be a huge reason that people are quick to criticize, even the tiniest flaw.
Also, some very legitimate and difficult professions are considered by those outside of the circle of influence to be a "hobby". For example, my grandmother raised me, and because of that started sewing so she could be home to care for me... even to this day, after 25+ years people try to bargain with her for a cheaper price on a hem, or think they can get a new zipper for a dollar.... I think some people see cakers as the same thing... a "hobby", when in reality it takes patience, love, and SKILL... sad, sad, sad.
Sorry for the long post.... just my thoughts.
ciao.
They're out there .... and they're allowed to vote, drive and pro-create!
Ohh boy, you cannot imagine how many times I have thought that same thing, for so many different reasons...SOME PEOPLE
I do have to say, your cakes are wonderful. And even though it is easier said then done, don't let yourself believe those things! My mother was(still is, but not as bad), very similar to the moms mentioned here. She would say things that hurt, and not even realize it. I was blessed enough not to get too much of it, my sisters got most of it=( To this day, those words, said so long ago, still bother my sisters to this day. That is why I try so hard to make sure my daughter knows how much I love her, how smart, beautiful, and kind she is...every day. I don't want that one bad/mean comment made to hang with her the rest of her life. Just know that some moms out there don't realize just how bad those words hurt, and what kind of damage is causes. You make wonderful cakes hun, KNOW THAT!! Jen
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