Okay for starters I realise I'm not "God's gift to cake decorating" I realise I'm a beginner, and that there are many other cakes out there that look alot better than mine. Having said that, I've got to vent a frustration of mine.
My self confidence has never been great - so I figured I should do some
"Me" stuff -just so I would realise that I do have talents regardless of whether it's newly discovered, what have you...
One of the things I did was to take the 3 Wilton cake decorating classes, and I hope to eventually finish the latest wilton fondant/gumpaste course, well the cake decorating helped in more ways than one...I no longer have a sweet tooth!
Tonight I was talking to a friend that is expecting a baby in August (she took some cake decorating classes w/ me and has seen the various cakes I've made) and she mentioned that b/c she wasn't able to find out the gender of the baby (hospital will not do another ultrasound) the baby shower will not be until after the birth...so I was curious who was making the baby shower cake (hoping she would ask me to make it) and she said "____ is doing it"
I'm not saying I'm mad or angry...but I've seen cakes this lady has decorated and while they're not that unfortunate looking, you can tell that she's never taken a cake decorating class. The frosting is never smooth looking, the cakes are dry - I'm not a fan of supermarket cakes, but in her case...I am. She even told the mom-to-be that if it's a girl she is going to decorate the cake pink - even though, she KNOWS that the mom-to-be can't stand the colour pink.
I'm not like that, I would rather give a person the say so in the colour, flavour etc., I will spend time making sure that if a guest has a food allergy that they will also be able to partake of a piece of cake...and I
don't go cheap on my products either -I buy quality stuff, to make sure I am able to produce a quality cake.
I just want to throw a cake at this other lady 
It is getting on my last nerve b/c it seems that this other person is constantly doing stuff like this. She knows that I enjoy doing ____ so automatically she starts doing it just for self recognition, and it's not just this instance but other things as well.
Maybe I'm behaving like a child, but I'm tired of it...she is at the point where she has to copy everything I do. I do alot of sewing also, so what does she do...she goes out and will buy the EXACT same fabric, and pattern...just b/c she's seen me wearing the outfit I've made. She's in it for self recognition. I'm not...I do things to improve my self confidence, and it is getting to the point where she bulldozes her way into misc situations ...and then she can't figure out why I want nothing to do w/ her!
Thank you for allowing me to vent -frustration release completed!
i personally dont think u are behaving like a child.. I really despise people like that.
u can look at the cake and gloat.. i know thats not nice though
Sounds to me like she admires you. Why else would you consistenly copy someone? She may act like a snob around you, like she thinks she is better, but her actions show that she wishes she were more like you. Try to take it as a compliment. I know it is hard.
As for the baby shower cake, it was probably one of those things that she found out about the shower first, and offered to do it for free or something. The mother to be feels like she cant be too picky because she is not paying.
This is all guessing, but it has happened to me too.
Also, don't knock people who haven't had a class. I haven't taken even one. I had a friend give me some pointers a long time ago, but everything else I know is from practice and reading (and this web site).
Good luck.
If there is one thing that time has taught me is, imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery.
The copy is never what the original is. Take some time for a deep breath and realize this poor creature has no creativity, no imagination, no apparent baking skills, and no consideration (the pink!) for others. I'm going to go as far as saying she's actually jealous of your accomplishments.
It's unfortunate that the baby shower cake will be less than it could have been. If you're invited, smile sweetly and pass out milk and business cards as the guests gasp and choke on the cake! 
That being said, she would be on my last nerve as well!
What's the saying...."Flattery is the best compliment" or something like that. I know it can get frustrating. I have someone like that in my life but I just try to stay as distant from them as I can (to top it off, they are a very close family member and a lot older than I am). Just remember that you are better than her and she must have some serious self-esteem issues if she can't think up stuff to do on her own.
Newlywedws, I feel your pain. I've had the same problem in the past with neighbors of ours. Keeping up with the Jones' goes to a whole new meaning with these two!!! Anything we bought, they bought the next day - LITERALLY! This woman continuously stole my thunder, to the point of which (get ready for this!!!) they got married on a whim 3 days before my husband and my wedding date (which had been planned for several months)!!! They even asked us to be their witnesses!!!! Talk about having some nerve!
Needless to say, we don't see much of them anymore... The best advice I can give you is to steer clear of this person! Of course, if you know you will definitely see her somewhere, I would suggest purchasing a truly horrible shirt in shocking colors, and telling her that you made it especially for such-and-such event, and have fun watching her try to replicate it!!!
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Sounds like she admires you so much she wants to be like you!
I wouldnt worry about the cake. Im sure the mom to be will realise it when they run out of milk at the shower!!
But I know how you feel, my best friend had her sons birthday at one of those Kids Gym places and invited all of his classmates from preschool. She knows that Im having a hard time getting business so this would of been great for me to get my name out there. Not to mention, I wouldnt of charged her for it. So I find out that she bought a cake at Sams Club!! She said that her son threw a fit and demanded that cake which by the way, was a plain sheet cake with a plastic Diego on it. It didnt even taste good. But she never once stopped and thought how this would hurt my feelings not to mention bring me business.
I would just ignore it and let it pass. At the shower, everyone will see this god awful cake and they may ask who did the cake, but they may not. But if anyone asks if YOU made the cake I'd make it quite clear and rather loudly spoken that you did NOT make the cake lol.
I also like the idea of making the small 6" WOW factor cake for the happy couple to welcome thier baby with 
Or at the very least give her a coupon for one for the week after the baby is born 
cause I know from experience, she ain't gonna want cake an hour after she has the baby lol maybe a few days later but not right away lol.
While imitation is flattery, if the quality isn't the same then no doubt everyone will see the difference.
I suggest you "take the high road" and not turn it into a competition. You dont' want to develop the reputation of "...well, you BETTER ask her to do your cake or she'll get all pi$$y about it!" You want them to order a cake from you because they WANT to, not because they feel they HAVE to.
I used to work with a lady like that (20+ years ago). Bless her heart, she tried very hard but she did the worst work I have ever seen. I encouraged her in her efforts. I pointed out what she did good. We compared notes. We took turns bringing cakes in for the dept pitch-ins.
Until the day that I "suggested" she was underpricing her cakes and she told me that I was jealous of her work and scared that she was going to be my competition. I said, "Honey, you make all the cakes you want at that price, because at those prices I won't have to worry about you being my competition for very long."
No one was throwing MY cakes in the trash and getting something else at the bakery (like one co-worker did when she ordered cupcakes from the other lady for her daughter's classroom birthday party!)
That is funny about the cupcakes, indydeb. I had a boy not want to cut the cake I made because he wanted to save it just for him. He threw a big fit and she had to run to the grocery store and buy an off the rack cake for his party. He wanted to save it and display it in his room, since it matched his motif. They finally cut it a week after the party. I didn't dare ask if it tasted ok, since it was so old.
ok, just another perspective here: you are mad at another cake decorator because you don't like her work and because a third party asked the other decorator to make the cake and didn't ask you to do it?
Come on - really? I'm trying to say this in the nicest possible way, but . . . .sometimes it really isn't about you.
she hasn't started doing cakes to spite you - have you considered that maybe SHE enjoys doing them as well? or sewing, or whatever.
At the shower, bring a small, 6-inch WOW! cake for everyone to see/admire, but let it be known that it's just for the new mom and dad for their special time together after the birth.
I was going to suggest a cupcake bouquet! 
Unless you don't want to let that gem of project out of the box for the person to copy as well?!? I'll bet too she got to the mom-to-be first and offered and the mom simply accepted. Take confidence in your own abilities and know your work is good enough to be replicated. Personally, I think this person admires you to the point that she looks at your confidence in trying and succeeding at these things and gains enough for herself that she gives them a try. Take ownership of that! 
Just a suggestion - if you are a guest at the shower and weren't asked to bring a cake, don't bring cake in any way shape or form unless it is boxed and wrapped (and not being shown off!) and is very clearly offered to the mom-to-be as something for the mom-to-be to take home. This isn't supposed to be about showing the other guest that you are better at making cakes or showing up the other decorator - this is supposed to be about getting together and supporting the mom-to-be.
Just a suggestion - if you are a guest at the shower and weren't asked to bring a cake, don't bring cake in any way shape or form unless it is boxed and wrapped (and not being shown off!) and is very clearly offered to the mom-to-be as something for the mom-to-be to take home. This isn't supposed to be about showing the other guest that you are better at making cakes or showing up the other decorator - this is supposed to be about getting together and supporting the mom-to-be.
I agree.
I agree with the pps... don't take it personally. Your work is great, and it was probably someone other than the mom-to-be who chose the cake artist (or the cake artist volunteered).
You could give her a gift certificate for a cake, cookies, etc., for use at her convenience so that the new mom doesn't have to bother with it for her next party, holiday gathering, etc. (or even just if she needs a pick-me-up sugar rush sometime!), which I think is a really thoughtful gift, without getting into a contest with Mini You. Having learned from other threads, though, I'd be pretty specific on the GC if you go that route - 8", 10", sheet cake, etc., so that she doesn't get over-excited and go nuts on you.
You say that the other lady does it "for self recognition". But isn't that why you are mad? Because you are not getting recognized.
I agree with jmt1714 - sometimes it's not about you.
And here's something else for all of us to ponder - just because we start a business doing something we love doesn't mean everyone we know has to buy from us.
I agree with the above posts...take the high road! Don't bring any cake...it will look like you're trying to one-up this lady. I know it's upsetting, but you've vented about it and should now let it go! You know you are talented and don't need to prove anything to anyone. As far as the copying goes, I'm sure it is so frustrating for you, but as others have said, she's only copying you because she admires your work and looks up to you. When I was a kid, I used to copy everything my cousin did...just because I thought she was the coolest person around! Eventually, as I grew up, I got my own thoughts, ideas, style, but I still think my cousin is great. This lady might just be childish, but you're the better person. I'm sure there will be many other occasions for you to shine with one on your cakes.
....You could give her a gift certificate for a cake, cookies, etc., for use at her convenience.
Good idea! I gave a co-workers a gift certificate for a free First Birthday Cake. She kept the certificate in the baby book and when I made the cake, I told her to keep the certificate in the baby's book as a souvenier!
How come she is able to copy every aspect of your life eg buying same fabrics etc? You must be broadcasting it in some way for her to pick up on it and to want to copy you. Perhaps if you take a low key approach to things and so don't provide an everflowing source of ideas she will look elsewhere for inspiration. Just a thought!!
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