Ummm...OK, I did not read the responses.
So, my gorgeous peonie wedding cake? Didn't place. My awesome Charlotte's Bedding Cake with the owls on top? Didn't place. My beautiful french hat box cat? Got 2nd place.
Now all three of those cakes are awesome. This is just the way competitions go.
Don't be scared to post, that's a little dramatic. What, are you using your real name? Afraid some one is going to start a new thread titled "GUESS WHAT THAT DUMMY DUMB DUMB HEAD ASKED???" 
Come on. It's the internet. An extra layer of thick skin should suffice, and the ability to ignore posts that raise your hackles. There is so much good stuff in here, and like anything anywhere...some bad sprinkled in. Ignore it.
mensch i am hoping there was some words left out or errors in typing in regards to your reply.....i have said it before....sometimes you want to ask advice or a question and the fear of getting the response you gave keeps me from doing it.... so sad
I agree. I am fairly new to this site and I am addicted. There are so many people of here that are so knowledgeable and experienced. They give wonderful and kind comments, advice etc. There is a HUGE variety of levels of decorators on here. From those of you who amaze us all everyday to those who have never decorated a cake and are just curious. This is an amazing site. I am on the forums reading all the time but I rarely post because I am scared of what someone might say to me. I sometimes have a question that may seem ridiculous to someone more experienced but it isn't a dumb question if I don't know the answer. I still won't usually ask. I realize when you post you open it up to opinions you may not agree with but opinions are different than insults Queenfa was giving a fellow cc-er praise and encouragement when she needed it. I thought this site was for sharing ideas, not tearing someone else down.
I have to agree with Sweet thing, I am newish to this site and though I love it for the wealth of info and help on offer here it has become a source of some kind of sick entertainment. Every time I log on here I see some snotty comments by (I assume) adults that should have grown out of school yard bitchiness. Just my humble opinion.
Ummm...OK, I did not read the responses.
So, my gorgeous peonie wedding cake? Didn't place. My awesome Charlotte's Bedding Cake with the owls on top? Didn't place. My beautiful french hat box cat? Got 2nd place.
Now all three of those cakes are awesome. This is just the way competitions go.
Yes there are. 
That sucks!
That has happened to my sister several times.......
with cakes, crocheted afghans, vegetables, chickens......you name it. She usually enters an item in several categories and her work is lovely. There are these "levels" though, on the judges sheets and if you don't achive these "levels" to the satisfaction of the judges, then you can't have first place, even if you are the only entrant. Sometimes, there is only 1 judge as well......so it is all up to the biases and preferences of a single person.
Don't sweat it. Your cake is lovely.
I'm so sorry - that stinks. Your cake is beautiful!
I would give you a a blue ribbon. Beautiful cake
Your cake is absolutely beautiful! That same thing happens at our county fair and I've seen some bad work get blue ribbons and even honors or champion, but the good work is rewarded a lower ribbon. Last year I could have sworn the judges had a bias against fondant.
How much experience have the judges had and are they up to date on what is happening in the cake world? Maybe you should be the judge next time! Cake decorating as we knew it has really exploded in the last few years. So many more options and medium to use.
Aw geez.
All these different interpretations of why I wrote what I did, and naturally every last one is right (insert sarcastic emoticon here).
Of course I have nothing against you personally, queenfa, having never met you and having never noticed any other posts by you here on CC.
I was basically speaking out against the phenomenon that seems to be increasing intensity here on CC, that of the sense of ENTITLEMENT that so many people seem to have. I see it everywhere here. I look at the galleries, and in the comments sections of way too many cakes there are demands for complete instructions and step-by-step tutorials and film clips on Youtube, etc.
Not everyone has the time (or inclination) to write down every last little thing they did when working on a cake, or take photos every step of the way. Not everyone wants to share their secrets with thousands of other people.
And, in response to your sarcastic comments about my posted cakes, there are none. I have not posted any cakes. I read the Cake Central Terms very thoroughly before I joined.
then mensch, my question to you is why are you here....why isnt your work out there to be helpful and yes be judged...like the rest of us...why sould we even value your input at all when you dont care enough to display your works of art and share with us....and i thought that is what this site is all about....how you accomplished most difficult requests....i dont live in your area....i wont take away your customers and i will credit you if i ever use anything useful that you post....bottom line...you have no right to be taken seriously if you dont put yourself out there so others can see and appreciate and /or offer suggestions...just as you did
Grandmaruth,
Thanks for your concern, but it's a shame you didn't take the time to throughly read my previous post before you posted.
Like I wrote, I won't post my work on CC because I read the Cake Central Terms very thoroughly when I joined as a member. All of my pics of cakes do get posted on my website when I update every Sunday. I am not afraid of being judged, as I am confident that my work is up to par.
I didn't offer any suggestions to the OP... I think the cake is fantastic! I'm merely reacting, as I wrote in my previous post, to the fact that so many people DEMAND tutorials and step-by-step instructions (with photos). many people (myself included) haven't the time to write down every little detail of what they do when working on a cool cake, and many people don't have time to photograph every step of the way and then edit and download onto youtube
I do help, and I do share. I give advice when needed, and my opinion when asked. Just because one doesn't post every picture of every cake one has ever done doesn't meant that one should automatically be discredited as a community member.
wow mensch...you are a piece of work....duh..i did read your post "thoroughly"...it took a while looking up each word to see what they meant.... 
believe me anything "mensch" will bring up a red flag...and a reminder to never ask you for information or help....there are so few perfect people around....we are blessed
I have entered two County Fair competitions, and I will not enter another... Not because I am a "sore looser", but by the time I pay the entry fee, and all the expenses of the cake, only to lose, it just isn't worth it..... There is only ONE judge, and she is there from 8:00 AM until 6:00 Pm...... the decorated cakes come in around 1:00...... she is already tired and brain addled..... My first year, was my carousel cake..... I had working lights, and it rotated. It had nearly a thousand flowers on it.... People were taking pictures of it, etc...... I DID get a blue ribbon, but not the "over all".... The over all was a beginner doll cake, done in the star tip... When I questioned the judging, they said "probably because you didn't give a good enough description"......... Uhhh...... okay.......
Carousel...... http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=855143
Second year I did the hatbox cake....... same thing...... lost to a two tier plain cake with dots and splashes of roses...... answer when I once again questioned the judging....." Doesn't fondant taste kind of bad?"...... these cakes are not tasted..... they are dummy cakes ......
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1248937
Moral of the story..... if there is ONE judge, and she doesn't like fondant, you are screwed !
I think you guys are being hard on mensch. You may not have like the way she phrased it but in view of her add'l posts, she makes a good point.
I, too, am often puzzled by the many requests that just assume (!) I, or any caker, writes, records or otherwise documents every step of every cake they do.
Just for the record, I never even sketch my cakes. I don't read directions on how to make a cake. I don't write down how I make the cake. I look at a cake, I figure out what needs done, and I do it. This is how I've done it since day one, since I started doing cakes 30 years ago. THere was no internet, no you-tube, no cake shows. All we had was a picture of a cake in a magazine and our ability to "figure it out".
The only reason I've taken any step-by-step photos is for a project I'm working on, or because it's already been a common question on this site .... so if I have a cake coming up, I'll take pics to answer the question and show folks what I mean. But it's not so I can "remember" how I made the cake.
I think I've proven that I'm more than willing to help anyone who asks for or needs help, so I don't think there is any way this can be misinterpreted as any kind of stance on the side of anti-helpful-to-newbies.
Maybe its an age difference. I haven't grown up in the easy access to internet where you can find step by steps to everything. Maybe that's why I don't just assume it's always available. Maybe that's why I never assume it's even an option. Because I grew up in the "figure it out" era.
ANd I think mensch WAS helping that person out by ASKING "why do you need instructions?" It's like when your parent or your teacher wont' GIVE you the answer and makes you "look it up". You learn it better thru trial and error and when you do it yourself as opposed to someone just handing you the answer.
Just my two cents worth ....
I think you guys are being hard on mensch. You may not have like the way she phrased it but in view of her add'l posts, she makes a good point.
I, too, am often puzzled by the many requests that just assume (!) I, or any caker, writes, records or otherwise documents every step of every cake they do.
Just for the record, I never even sketch my cakes. I don't read directions on how to make a cake. I don't write down how I make the cake. I look at a cake, I figure out what needs done, and I do it. This is how I've done it since day one, since I started doing cakes 30 years ago. THere was no internet, no you-tube, no cake shows. All we had was a picture of a cake in a magazine and our ability to "figure it out".
The only reason I've taken any step-by-step photos is for a project I'm working on, or because it's already been a common question on this site .... so if I have a cake coming up, I'll take pics to answer the question and show folks what I mean. But it's not so I can "remember" how I made the cake.
I think I've proven that I'm more than willing to help anyone who asks for or needs help, so I don't think there is any way this can be misinterpreted as any kind of stance on the side of anti-helpful-to-newbies.
Maybe its an age difference. I haven't grown up in the easy access to internet where you can find step by steps to everything. Maybe that's why I don't just assume it's always available. Maybe that's why I never assume it's even an option. Because I grew up in the "figure it out" era.
ANd I think mensch WAS helping that person out by ASKING "why do you need instructions?" It's like when your parent or your teacher wont' GIVE you the answer and makes you "look it up". You learn it better thru trial and error and when you do it yourself as opposed to someone just handing you the answer.
Just my two cents worth ....
...and that is why YOU rock, my fine Indy friend!!
This thread has made me finally say it out loud..."CC has become so less fun!!"
The comment about 'how did you do the cake' was a compliment, not an entitlement nor a demand. No reason at all to call down that post.Wow........
AMEN....It's just pixels people
Grandmaruth,
I'm merely reacting, as I wrote in my previous post, to the fact that so many people DEMAND tutorials and step-by-step instructions (with photos). many people (myself included) haven't the time to write down every little detail of what they do when working on a cool cake, and many people don't have time to photograph every step of the way and then edit and download onto youtube
Shouldn't the choice "to give/not to give" instructions be left up to the one who made the cake?
As far as "being given answers" instead of "looking it up", isn't that whats being done? Just because one does not walk barefooted uphill bothways in the snow and driving rain to the library and dig threw drawers and drawes of card catalogs doesn't mean they are not "looking it up". It takes time to search these forums and read these posts. Most people who are beggining to learn don't have the privledge of spending the extra $$ for trial and error. I am sure they wouldn't mind the trial and error if they knew they were going in the right direction. And it's not like looking at a picture or reading a description is going to make the cake for you. You still have to do it and work thru any problems that might arise from change of climate.. etc...
I am personally thankful to everyone who has ever given me any help, directions, receipes, or pictures. I shows generosity and a good heart. And should anyone ever need anything from me I would be more than willing to help in anyway I can.
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