How do you manage the mess? Ive been taking classes for two months now, and things have also been CRAZY at work. Well, tonights my grand finale cake night for class two, and last night I got home at 9:30pm (from whats supposed to be a 9-5 job)
I knew I needed to bake the cake last night in order to put my icing on this morning, so I baked a chocolate cake while I watched my DVR of The View
Well, my cake fell and I salvaged what I could . . . but then when I tried to put the icing on this morning, I couldnt get the crub coat going it was awful. Finally, I realized Id had ENOUGH I was tired of the messy kitchen, tired of the different icings stored in the freezer, on the countertop, tired of the tips separated by vinegar baths, tired of the flowers drying in what used to be my study . .. just TIRED.
So, the cake went in the trash, so did the cupcakes, so did at least three containers of icing. And I scrubbed that kitchen till it was spotless no trace of flour, no crusted over spatulas, nothing.
Then I went to my local grocers and ordered a smoothly iced 8 round. Im going to throw a basket weave on that puppy, and attach my beautiful pansies.
I WAS going to sign up for fondant starting next week . . . but I think Ill sit it out this month, until cake decorating becomes fun again.
Any others witnessed burnout?
wow that sucks... but seriously... burnt out after a few classes?? I wouldn't plan on making this a career if I was you. j/k 
It sucks sometimes! But you get used to it. 
I'm sure you like it, and can do a good job on it. I would take the fondant class and go for it!
Dont let it get to you... if you love it - keep doing it!
I know what helps me is being very organized. I clean up as I go, which helps alot with the mess.
It sounds to me like it isn't cake decorating or the classes that have you burnt. Your overly tired from daily life. I bet you have been burning the candle on both ends. Been there. Number one thing I have learned is that you need to take care of yourself FIRST!!!!
Make sure you get "you time". Even if it's just an hour to catch your breath and relax. A hot bubble bath, a glass of wine, a good book. Lock the doors and don't answer the phone during that time. You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel!
Best of Luck to you
I know how you feel. I've found that what helps me is the motto: "My dishwasher works for me, I don't work for my dishwasher." I was raised in the kind of household where you have to wash everything thoroughly and stack everything perfectly in the dishwasher until it is crammed perfectly full before you run it. Now that I have my own place, I shove whatever I can in there without rinsing it first- just dumping out whatever falls into the sink. My KA bowl, mmf stuck to everything, little bowls with frosting all in them- it all melts in the dishwasher and comes out clean- no greasy, nasty frosting mess all over my hands, no scrubbing, nothing. Sometimes I feel bad about how much I run it, how much water is used, etc. but it's just all part of doing a cake. Also, I use those little mesh bags you can put crusty tips in and throw in the top rack of the dishwasher and they come out all clean. Definitely worth the $2.
I peeked at your pictures and GF...YOU HAVE TALENT!!!!!
Only you can decide if you want to continue this path. But based on what I see by your pictures, I would encourage you.
You will find a lot of support with the CC family. I know I have as well as learning soooooo much.
I sat down with my husband and said----
I also work full time. I also have children who need to be transported to various places. I also go to church and I also have various other items on my plate that need to be done. Chosen or otherwise. Soooo---I said that if he wants money from the cakes, then he too would share in the responibility of getting to the finished product. He now bakes the cakes and he is the clean up. I love doing the cakes and cookies but I got to the place where I hated it because I was the only one doing the work, but everyone wanted to enjoy my profits.
This has worked for us.
Just find your even keel. It will happen.
Good luck!
Lu
because I was the only one doing the work, but everyone wanted to enjoy my profits.
Oh yeah, I'm with ya there, sista!!
I asked hubby and daughter to unload the van for me once after a catering. It took them all of LESS THAN 5 MINUTES! And they whined and complained the whole time about how it's not THEIR business and why do THEY Have to do the work....THEY didn't sign up for this!
But who do they all come running to when they need money for something? Yeah....Mama's catering account!
Sometimes (sometimes!) I feel like they only part of this they want to be "part of" is the spending the profit part.
Not all the time .... just sometimes when I'm tired and I ask for 5 minutes of help and I get this reaction. To be fair, most of the time, they are pretty good about it.
But of course it's the pitifulness about them that we remember the most!
(big sigh!)
I have had similiar experiences, but the longer I stay at it, the better it gets. The key is organization.
I Keep all my icing covered stuff, spatulas, tips etc. in a container (like Rachael Ray's garbage bowl) while I work, and when I'm done with it I add Hot water and soap to let it soak before cleaning or putting into my mesh bag.
Cleaning up in stages as you go helps a lot, and I also cover my counter in newspaper so that all I have to do is wad it up and toss it when I'm done.
I have several ways I deal with the mess...
1) I make a schedule of what order to do what. I know... pretty simple sounding, but it really helps this very unorganized person!!! LOL
2) I, too, keep a 'mess bowl' for used tips, bags, knives, etc, and when it's full or I'm done, I pour boiling water (our water heater is currently broken, so it's easier to boil water than to crawl under the house and light it just for dishes!), and clean when I need the bowl again.
3) I have a MIL and SIL that live with us, and they are neat freaks. I'm one that will sit down between putting the cake in the oven and cleaning up (bad back... need to do that!), and while I'm sitting down, my Magical Self Cleaning Kitchen (the in-laws) just seem to happen. I come back after a few minutes of resting my back, and the kitchen is clean and ready for me to go again. 
Okay, yeah, I know that last part is cheating, but I take what perks I can get from having my in-laws living with us! LOL
Organization is the other key, and I'm very lucky that I have a) a cabinet specifically for just my cake stuff, and b) three mixers. It's a very simple thing now to get the cake ready in the large KA, the royal icing in the Sunbeam, and the regular icing in the Hamilton Beach. Then I can clean everything at once, without stopping in between tasks. Told ya I was lazy!
Regarding Mess:
Once upon a time, before Sugar Art I created photography, but Ms. Muse hated me. Creating art of any sort is difficult, but having a muse unwilling to do her job makes this whole business nearly impossible. She simply did not like photography let alone anything two dimensional. Sometimes she would run away, leaving me the entire creation and its mess for me to clean-up alone. She would stick out her tongue and the whole business became deadening to me and nearly impossible to create. And soon I was left with only the mess.
When I discovered Sugar Art, Ms. Muse loved it and couldnt wait for the moment we would be in the studio, but she still has a very hard time helping me clean it. I have to be very careful when complaining around her because she is so sensitive, without her inspiration I can not create, so I create with Ms. Muse and then clean-up after Ms. Muse. I have dishpan hands and the smell of Clorox about me, but I love my creations so it is well worth the pain.
I feel your pain !!! I am a mother of 3, including an attitude filled pre-teen, a rowdy, 100%, into everything 3 year old little boy and a clingy little 18 month old baby girl who will not let me out of her site long enough to use the bathroom, much less anything else. I have stayed up many nights until 4 a.m working on cakes because that is the only free time I have, knowing I will have to be up again at 6 More than once I have looked at my home that looks like a tornado hit it and my kitchen with icing and cake stuff everywhere and that full sink of dishes and thought "Why in the world am I doing this to myself?" But then I start decorating a cake and when I am focusing on that I forget everything else. Cake decorating is my "therapy"
If you love it and it is your passion, keep trying. If you truly love it, it will bring you many more rewards than heartaches. I guarantee it !!
Ok. I'm done !
well as yet i am not blessed with a mechanical dishwasher. i am the only one around here. ive got the hands to prove it. so what i do is, keep the sink filled with hot water. i then just toss whatever into the sink. this way they get a good soak until i can get to washing them. since i dont have a ton of supplies, some things need to be washed for the next step. i have to stay organized. it makes me crazy to have "stuff" all over the place. as i use "it" i put it back. this helps a lot. some may say its more work, but i cant function any other way. sorry so long.
well as yet i am not blessed with a mechanical dishwasher. i am the only one around here. ive got the hands to prove it. so what i do is, keep the sink filled with hot water. i then just toss whatever into the sink. this way they get a good soak until i can get to washing them. since i dont have a ton of supplies, some things need to be washed for the next step. i have to stay organized. it makes me crazy to have "stuff" all over the place. as i use "it" i put it back. this helps a lot. some may say its more work, but i cant function any other way. sorry so long.
The clean up does wear me out so I 'try' to stay organized. I've been burned out before so I only make cakes when I really want to and I have the time. I get up at 4:00 and work 10 hour days and I'm not so young anymore, so I can't stay up decorating like I used to. I now put limits on myself so I don't get too stressed out. I do wish that I did have more time to bake and decorate. It's so much fun!!
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