Proud Of My Work- But So Disappointed In Judging
Decorating By JoAnnB Updated 26 Aug 2006 , 10:53pm by ozcake
I was so proud of my cake and flowers for the State Fair. I went this morning to do a demo on gumpaste flowers. A third!*&%! Has this happened to you in a competition? It isn't as if the others were Oklahoma sugar show excellent. Oh well. Maybe next time.
You can see the pictures in my gallery. Thanks for looking.
JoAnn
How did the others look like ?
YOur cake is beautiful and perfect.. very unique..don't worry, I always say, "there is is always a next time and a next year".
With the COUNTY Fair here in Sacramento last May, I only got 2nd for my dummy, and I was not happy too. I know it hurts esp. when you know and people say your cake is the best looking one. COngratulations on your third place ribbon.. 
Oh my heavens the cake both of you have displayed are awesome...Someday maybe me too..
Mel,
Thank you for the kind words. I might have some clues when we get the judges comment cards next week. We can't have them until we pick up the cakes. I would be interested to read the comments for the first place cake. It was supposedly an ICES judge. An ICES member was also the winner.
Then to make it even worse, another ICES member came to the table where I was working and "told" me where I was supposed to display their flyers (I told her I wasn't a member) Apparently, they were doing a demo after me. She also instructed that I was to leave them there when I left. Then she walked off. Incredibly rude.
I think I may reconsider joining in this area.
JoAnn
I looked at your gallery and at your gumpaste roses. They are so pretty. I am finally getting the hang of making them but they are still so thick and heavy. If I roll them thinner, they just seemt to tear...any suggestions? BTW..your cakes are very pretty...I will be entering my first cake in our local fair next week. I think those of us that take the chance to enter are winners EVERYDAY!!!
Contests are so subjective! Who knows what the judges are specifically looking for or what bias they have. Your entry is beautiful; you know it and so does everyone who sees it!
Cheers, from
SwampWitch
Karen, what kind of gumpaste are you using? It should be pliable and not sticky. The Wilton branch works great, but it does need a good bit of shortening to be soft enough to roll out.
When you pull off a small piece to work with, put a little shortening on your finger, just a smear. Work it in to the bit of paste. this will add some moisture and flexibilty to the paste. (Nicholas Lodge trick)
Pick up the dough between rolls, like you would pastry. If it seems to be sticking, a very fine dust of cornstarch can help. You can put some cornstarch in a piece of nylong stocking so it dusts on very lightly.
HTH
JoAnn
JoAnnB,
I know how you feel, I recently entered a competition too and when i entered I wasn't really thinking about winning or getting anywhere with I was mainly doing it to improve my skills, challenge myself etc but I poured my heart and soul into my cake and when I dropped it off the people setting up the display said it was amazing and I was feeling really good about things. When I came to see the cakes after the judging I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed that I didn't get a place or a highly commended or anything. The cake that won was fantastic and I believe that it should have won but it would have been nice to get something.
I did notice however that even in the other classes all the cakes that won or got a place were of a certain style (completely different to mine) and they all had extension work on them I personally don't like this look think it is a bit old fashioned although it is hard to do so I guess that is why the judges viewed it favourably. I did think that my cake also had difficult work in it the carving and intricate shaping (the baby cake in my photos). Sorry this is so long but I wanted to say that sometimes I think they go for a particular style or technique (well that is what I am telling myself anyway 
) and just because you didn't win doesn't mean it wasn't a beautiful cake and it was beautiful I looked in your photos
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