Well I have had my major disaster. I am ready to just through in the towel. lately my cakes have not been coming out the way I want, well tonight trying to do a firetruck for a friend of a friend (who is paying very well for it) and everything that could go wrong did. they wanted it torted and filled with two different types of filling well that was the first mistake, the cake was entirely too heavy. then the icing messed up, then the ladder I had made over a week ago broke, even the extras I had made broke. So I have decided to not make any more cakes for a while at least until after the first of the year then maybe I will try again. I just cant seem to get them to come out the way I have them pictured in my head. So I am done. This is the final result. I am not even going to charge the lady, because I am so embarassed as to the way it came out.

I think its pretty darn good!! I would still charge for it, it still ingredients and your time.. I like it!!

I see nothing wrong with your cake! Looks good to me and don't throw in the towel just yet, take a small break and relax with it!

frogfiend if you're like me, your poor head is filled with pics of Colette Peter's cakes...mine never meet my expectations ever! I've learned to step back and close my eyes and then open them again as if I've never seen a million perfectly decorated cakes. Makes mine look better What I'm trying to say is that we look at cakes the way collectors look at paintings...with a critical, well trained eye. Most people never notice all the things we do. I think your cake looks great

I totally understand what you mean. I have these amazing ideas in my head and they never make out of there! But that's no reason to give up. One of the things I've done is to better plan out my cakes and do things well in advance so that if things do go downhill, I have time and a back up plan.
Like Lisa said, people don't look at cakes like we do. They don't see the imperfections we see and they don't know what mishaps you had in the kitchen. All they see is the finished product.
And in your case, I think it looks great! Try not to beat yourself up. It's easy for people to say DON'T DO IT! But we all know it happens, so just don't let it KEEP you down!

I agree to the max with Lisa. I tend to see every minute detail and know when something is wrong. When people see the cakes though, they don't know what to look for, they just see the overall cake and are impressed. That is exactly what I did when I saw your cake. A lot of times I really like a cake I see on here and would not know if something was wrong unless it is pointed out in the description. If it makes you feel any better lately my cakes have not came out the way I wanted them too, and I too wanted to throw in the towel...thanks to my loving and supporting husband, I am going to keep trying. I encourage you to do the same. You can look at my photos to make yourself feel better. lol. Good luck and keep up the good work.

i think it's great!!

Dont be so hard on yourself!!

Sell her the cake!!!

I applaud you for wanting to give the customer your best work. If the decorating isn't up to your standards and you're stressing out, then you're right to take a break. I'd still charge the customer a reduced price. You did put your time and effort into even it didn't turn out the way you wanted.

I like it, the ladder is way cool. Every here is right, we are harder on ourselves than anyone else. Taking a breather is always good to do, especially with the holidays right around the corner. You'll get your cake mojo back!

I think everyone goes through what you are going through right now. Taking a break always helps, but your cake looked great. We tend to be more critical about our work than others do.

Vicky, MO

Disaster? What disaster? I don't see no steenkin' disater! (sorry, it's Friday and I'm feeling silly today)

Seriously though, the truck looks fine! Even if it's not what you had in mind! Keep in mind that this is an ART FORM and NOBODY get it exactly like their vision every time when they're being creative!

However, you're absolutely right to take a short break ... if it's not fun anymore, what's the point?

I had the same feeling after my "pink wedding cake" ... I was stressed out, hadn't slept, hadn't made enough of the little diamonds to go around the bottom (which I thought would be fine, just put the back against the wall right? WRONG ... they had the cake table set up almost in the middle of the room! All I could see was the flaws!) Now I know ... no wedding cake orders with only 3 weeks notice, especially if they want the custom figures on top too! On the up side, I've had 2 more orders from the bride since, so she obviously liked it!

I think your cake looks really good! There maybe things you see that you don't like, but I think the customer will be very happy. Don't give the cake away. If you don't charge them then you are under vauling yourself.

As far as your feelings on the cake. Take a step back, get some sleep and maybe you will have a different feeling on the cake. I think right now the stress and problems you had doing it are ruling your feelings on the cake.

Take a break, give yourself some me time, and I hope you get back into cakes in the new year.

I think it looks great! I look at every cake I do and think.....I should have done this...or that! Then my DH always says.......could they get this cake from the local bakery....NO WAY!!! Be proud of your talent....but if you need a break, by all means take one!!!

We all have days and even weeks like that. I think you did a really good job...I am sure your customer will be pleased with it. I have done some cakes that I HATED...but the customer loved it. Take a break over the holiday and then start fresh. I am sure you will miss after not doing it for a week or so.