Hi.
Sorry, but I need to vent. You dont have to reply if you dont want to. I just need to get this out....

I was asked to do a baby shower cake this weeked. Actually, two, one decorated for a baby boy( chocolate cake),and one decorated with red roses(White cake). I was sooooo excited because this is the fist time I was asked outside of my imediate family to make a cake like this! I made all the fondant stuff and decorations ahead of time. My family got me a Kitchen Aid mixer, something I had my eye on for such a long time! It is amazing! Love it! I was so excited to use it. I knew that with it, my baking and decorating would improve. Everything was going fine until it got so INCREDIBLY HOT this weekend. my white cakes broke, had to re-bake them. The day before when I went to decorate the chocolate cake the icing was sooooo runny it would literaly slid off the cake!!! By then I was crying my eyes out. My dad came home and tried to help but the darn icing wouldnt stay. Oh, by the way, it was about 90 degrees inside my house, about 98 outside. Yeah, no AC here in California.....I DONT KNOW WHY. (none of my neightbours have it either. I guess it never got this hot up here before). I moved out to the garage where it was cooler, had to make the icing 3 different times before I was able to get something to stick, but then the darn crumbs got all over the place. It ended up looking sooooo dirty and so ugly! Took me forever to get it done. It was in and out of the refrigerator as soon as I added something else on, just to make sure it wouldnt melt again. Nothing was working for me that day! I had such high hopes for this cake....I know I can do better. I just about gave up cake decorating all together!!!! The other cake went a little smoother, but of course, it was already 10 pm!!!!!!! I cried so hard it wasnt even funny. After much prayer from myself and my family I was able to get them done. Got it delivered, and they seemed to like it....but of course, I didnt. I still dont. Sure, I'll have to live with it, but I am not happy with it at all. I really had thoughts of giving up cake decorating. So dissapointed. *sigh* Now I am waiting to hear what they thought after they served it. Oh well, not everything can go well all the time, right? This experience has definately taught me alot.
If you are still with me, I would like to thank you for sticking around and reading my venting! Sometimes, you just have to let it out, you know?
The cake pictures are in My Photos, I havent figured out how to post them in the forum yet!
Thanks! And a great pat on the back for all of you incredibly talented cake decorators out there!

~ Isaby~

the cakes look beautiful. Would never know that you had any problems.

The cakes are beautiful. It's tough sometimes but you did an amazing job and I never would have guessed that you had such a hard time.

oh jesus.
i will pray for you because those cakes are amazing for the cali heat.
I live in san fernando valley in CA & I know what heat your talking about.
I try not to use my own kitchen so when I rent they never have the AC going either so its like a battle or time & temp. conditions.
but all & all those cakes are amazing after all what happened.
kudos to you dear & the roses are gorgeous !

I was waiting to see some disasterous looking cake, but I think they are beautiful!!! YOu did a great job! Dont be so hard on yourself.

Next time try putting melted chocolate in chocolate frosting so when you put it in refrigator it gets really firm like a chocolate bar, good luck, keep tryinf

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! It really means a lot, and I am so thankfull for CC!!! Illust- I havent been in California for that long.....I was in Florida before, but I didnt do many cakes there, and plus, I had AC, I think its a law over there! lol But I would have never thought that California gets so hot!!! I am by San Jose (Closer to the San Francisco Bay area). Crazy!!!!
Thanks one again for your replys everyone!

Are you kidding? I saw those cakes in the gallery last night (before I read this) and spent quite some time just staring at them! I love the way you added the dots on the border of the blue cake and your roses are absolutely exquisite! You hold your head up high, girl! These are great!

had you not said the story I would never had known they at you had such a hard time with them they look great

I agree. I think you did a GREAT job; those cakes are beautiful. But I know how frustrating it can be, when things don't turn out like you want them to. I had major problems w/the graduation cake in my photos. Everyone else loved it, but I wanted to run it over w/my car!!!!

Your fondant work is outstanding!!!! I love your flowers!

I think you did awesome with the icing too... ninety degrees? Good grief!

If I were you I'd probably consider choosing a room to decorate in and buying a window unit a/c for that room if possible.

Your cakes look great! I know how you feel though! Maybe you'lll have to invest in a window unit of air conditioning for your kitchen! Bring on those cake orders!!!

You did a great job!! I hear you on the heat and no A/C thing!! We've had some wacky weather here too. Heat is a very bad thing for icing!!

Your cakes look perfect!! Great job!

And just a note about adding melted chocolate to BC icing...not a good idea. This changes the consistancy of the BC and should only be used to make Ganache. If you want maximum crustability in the heat, try using less shortening.

Also, to avoid crumb problems, give it a crumb coat first and then fridge it to solid it up. Then apply the finish coat. And fridge again. Hey, that's why I have an extra fridge in my garage. Cool air is our best friend!! LOL

Most of all, have fun with what you're doing.....don't give up!!



Lisa

Like I said at your pictures, I wish my disasters came out looking that good!

Your cakes look sooo perfect....especially your flowers. It's hard to believe the problems you had since they both look so great!

They look wonderful. I had the same problem with my veggie tales cake I did this weekend. The cakes started falling apart and the fondant didn't want to cooperate. But, they seemed happy with it, so I guess that's what matters. We can't be perfect. I would have never guessed you had any problems though.

Oh my! I ventured into your photos with one eye opened and squinting with it at that. I was expecting something truly tragic. Instead, I seen 2 really beautiful cakes! What a jokester you turned out to be!

Great job!

Your cakes are just beautiful! But what I wanted to comment on is your story and it just sounds like you have a wonderful and supportive and helful family. I loved when you said your dad came home and tried to help you. It made me think of my dad, and brought back wonderful memories of him helping me and my sister in the kitchen, buying us all the ingredients to make whatever goodies we wanted to make. I say my dad got the desire in me to bake started, and I just have wonderful memories of it all.

Have fun with your beautiful cakes and keep cool! I used to live in California, so I know how hot it can get. Bernadette

Not to hijaco your post or belittle the trouble you had...but your cakes look awesome to me! Not just trying to make a fellow decorator feel better either...I truly think they look fine.. but to ask another Q...kinda related...why doesnt most anyone in CA> have airconditioning? I know when I lived in San Diego...nobody did. I was there only for a few months and rented a gorgeous upscale apt...and never even thought to ask...since it was so lovely...and then when it warmed up ( we got there in the rain known as Jan. ....it got hot and there was no air! There was some mumbo jumbo I heard from locals about it not being humid thence no need...but my fat butt sweated...lol.

Oh my God!! Those look great considering the problems you stated. I know what you mean when it gets hot out. 3 years ago we invested in central AC before that I had to work in my basement and I would mix all my icing ahead of time and refrigerate 1 day before so that I could use it. I still have problems with humidity and usually have to work late at night or do tons of ahead of time work.. Don't give it up!! This is just alittle experience to help you in future endevours.

I think your cakes are all awsome. Chocolate cakes are one of the hardest cakes to ice and decorate. So you had a hard time decorating in the heat. I live in OK and it is hard here too. You did a great job. We all are our worst critics about our work. Don't let this heat get you down. It seems to be getting worse. Hopefully your family will get an air conditioner when the cake orders start coming in. Because they will come. Your work is great. Your roses are awsome. Dont get down on yourself. After living in the desert all of my childhood, we did not get any air conditioners untill I was in my mid twenties. We did have a "swamp cooler" and it was humid. And that was when I went to high school.

Thank you all for your posts!!!! You guys are soooooo encouraging. I appreciate all the support given. It really means a lot to have other's opinions sometimes. If you think its a good cake, them it really must be.

Beemarie- yeah, I really do have a very supporting family, to the point that they will jump in and help (even if sometimes they actually hinder more than help, lol) My sister was so nice to go get ingredients and so shoping with me for the supplies. My mom too, she helped me with the mountain of whashing in the sink. My dad is a pastor, so he prayed for me, lol. This cake turned out the way it did becayse it took lots of prayer, let me tell you!

I got feed back from the people at the party and they said everyone loved it. No cake left over and lots of people with red mouths (they ate some of the flowers, yuck! I warned them). SO that's a good thing, if they ate it, it was good. I'm happy about that. Like I said before, I learned a lot this weekend, both what to do and what not to do, and you guys gave me great tips to try too. Thank you for those. As far as the AC unit.....lol I have no Idea why in the world the houses in CA dont have AC! My friend who lives in an apartment doesnt have one either. Mind you that we live in really good neighborhoods!! But I guess all the houses here are at least 50 years old, and most dont want to go through the trouble of remodeling and installing new things in a house. That is the case with me, I rent a house so the only option would be the window one, but still, in my situation .... it took me long enough to get my KA, LOL! My best bet is doing it in the evening, I got to bed late anyways. Maybe with more cake orders it will be possible. We're planning to move soon, lol. Unbelievable, huh? Anyways, thanks again!!!!!
~ Isaby~

I think both cakes look beautiful. I had a very similar weekend. I decorated 2 cakes and one fell right on top of the other in my 90 minute drive with them. I wanted to cry. I even thought about quitting decorating too. So who knows. Hang in there.

Good job, Isaby! I'm with everyone else- they look great- but I am totally understanding of that dilemma- On the last two cakes I did this weekend, everything that could go wrong, did. Long story. I was ready to throw in the towel as well. I took them to my Mom's work and was so embarrassed and made a million excuses. Bottom line is many people (especially "regular" folk who are not decorators) don't see all the things we obsess over- they're just happy to eat cake! I have come to the conclusion, though, that my talent leans more toward cookies.

I hear ya on the heat. Sorry you had so many problems but they look great. )

I agree with everyone else, I think they look great. Wish I had a bite!

It sounds like you are blessed with an incredible family. Treasure that!

I think I'm rather spoiled! A/C is always a priority for me!!

I know we all have these moments. Your cakes look great.

I thought your cakes were beautiful! You did a wonderful job despite the conditions. (I did try to use your story to convince dh that I needed an air conditioner but he's not biting! lol)