Seriously.. when... when... WHEN will I know enough about making cakes to have just ONE go smoothly? It seems every cake I've made lately I've either priced dramatically wrong, timed incorrectly, sized incorrectly, supported poorly or made some other mistake that has either caused me more gray hair or caused me to need to upcharge for the stress factor!!
Everytime I feel that I've got it down pat, I get thrown for a loop!
SOOOO how long does it really take to be able to pull off this "cake thing" ( as my DH calls it.. ) and be really good at it?
Been doing it 25 years and I'm still learning new stuff. It's an ongoing process. Once you master one thing, there are 2 new techniques that pop up that you just GOTTA try! Each structural problem you encounter is a lesson learned that prevents you from doing it that way again. Each cake that you quote incorrectly is and experience that taught you where you went wrong.
" I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
--- Thomas Edison
" I have been through so much that I don't fear any more. Maybe it is the failures that have taught me to love to succeed or maybe it's the rejections that have toughened me."
--- Author Unknown -
That's like asking, "When will I stop being sore after exercising?" The answer is, when you stop pushing yourself. You're probably doing more cakes now than ever before so the chances of something going askew are greater. Plus, there's the 'cake funk' factor. Sometimes ya just go through a period of time when it seems like everything you touch turns to crap. Happens to all of us. It does end. I promise. 
Don't get discouraged. There's probably going to always be some little thing to make it not go smooth, but I'm sure your cakes always turn out in the end. You're probably just being hard on yourself as I always do. I am still learning things and every cake is a different experience. As for pricing, I'm with you on that. I still have a hard time knowing what to charge. I always feel like I am charging too much for just a cake, so I end up charging less. But I know I should be charging more because they wouldn't have come to me if they could do what I do. Who knows? Just don't give up. It is worth it if it's something you enjoy doing.
You could be fine right now if you just made the same cake every time - then you'd know exactly what to do and mostly get it right - but you'd be bored rigid. Try just making small changes each time or trying out only one new technique per cake - that way it's less likely to go wrong!
Just wanted to say YOUR CAKES ARE AMAZING!!!
I'm sorry you're having problems, but the end results - MY GOSH they're fabulous!!! 
Thanks.. I needed that! I know I'm my own worst critic, and being pregnant doesnt help the emotional moments of having a cake ALMOST fall apart on you.
I also fear that someone will discover the true cake-fraud that I am!
But seriously, I am fairly certain all this comes with the artistic hangups I've had all my life so I better just get over it!
I've been struggling with this at times too.
But then I realized. Not every cake turns out exactly as the sketch shows. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow. And let the "art" show us where to go.
Also, i have really learned to not judge the cake until I'm completely done. Sometimes I get so peeved at a cake. But If i step back and look at it I realize its pretty cool.
I also fear that someone will discover the true cake-fraud that I am!
Actually, that's very normal. It's called the "Fear of Discovery". For all of our confidence, our skill, our mastery of whatever skill, inside us is this little fear that people will discover we're not as smart/talented/great as we appear. They will discover we are one big bluff and can't really do whatever it is that we do best.
If we're honest with ourselves, we all have it. So you're just like everyone else! 
Why on earth would you think you're a 'cake-fraud?'
You obviously possess great talent and skill...what on earth is fraudulent about your application of those talents and skills on cake?
I've never heard that before (and indydebi, that's just bizarre!! 
). Chin up! You are an accomplished cake artist. Your pictures are proof positive.
~ Sherri
First... thank you. Second.. I feel I'm a cake-fraud because I've only been doing this a few months and there is just so much I don't know.. ( i actually had to log on to the Wilton website yesterday for a basic decorating question answer!). I wonder if my cakes are really worth the price tag that I TRY to attach.
I'm not saying my cakes are crappy... I was just so frustrated yesterday that after I thought I had finally nailed a complete cake order, I realized I screwed up and it cost me another 2 hours of work and insane stress.
About the cake I dramatically under-estimated the time needed to complete.. About the purse cake that started to slowly sink into itself.. about the cake which started to actually MELT during delivery..
About the barn cake that I made a structural mistake on and started to
burst apart during DH's delivery attempt.
Ya have to laugh...?
Ooohhhh, I understand. I'm glad you don't doubt your abilities!
Haha, I have been doing this for 10 years, and a few weeks ago I did all the shopping for an 8-tier White Almond Sour Cream bridal cake and a 2-tier Sarah's Red Velvet cake. Got home, baked the groom's cake, and had to check the order form again to make sure she wanted cream cheese buttercream on the groom's cake...come to find out, to my absolute horror...that the 8-tier bridal cake was supposed to be red velvet, and the groom's cake WASC.
That cost me hours and an additional 100 bucks...and I still have 12 pounds of sour cream in the fridge! LOL
Yes, you do just have to laugh.
I think we all do things like this...but don't feel like a fraud just because you've only been doing this a few months. That's why websites like Cake Central and many other great cake sites exist - because we're all here to learn!
Actually, that's very normal. It's called the "Fear of Discovery". For all of our confidence, our skill, our mastery of whatever skill, inside us is this little fear that people will discover we're not as smart/talented/great as we appear. They will discover we are one big bluff and can't really do whatever it is that we do best
Although, indydeb, I must admit that what you describe above is right on the money alot of the time.
Thanks for reassuring me that I havent completely lost my mind!
It was something I read some time ago, but it helps me get thru those stress times when I find myself going "What the heck am I doing!? I can't do this? People are going to think I'm a big bozo!" 
Then I take a deep breath and realize it's just my "Fear of Discovery" surfacing and everything will be fine. Because I CAN do..... whatever.
I'm no expert for sure, but I'm guessing it's all a part of the process. We learn something from every experience. Your cake are incrediable...
Like my signature says...just remember it's just a cake! Don't let them discourage you!!
I looked at your pics. You have a choice of learning how to do a cake in one style... every single time... just so you don't have problems - or creating something new all the time... and pushing yourself to the limits of your talent (at that moment)... but you have issues as you are learning.
Each of your cakes goes in a completely different direction. You try something new all the time... and you are having some great results! I try to do something similar.. but I don't have near the success you have. Those 'issues' are how you learn and improve. As frustrating as they can be - the 'issues' are what make it worthwhile in the end.
So the choice is yours. But realize the next time you run into a problem - that the problem is just a result of progress.
Must tell you - you are not alone. There are always something "happening" - never a dull moment. But I manage to "save" most of my cakes. I made myself a promise: keep the urge to point out my mistakes to myself and just accept the compliments gracefully. I battle with that sometimes and know that I can be my own worse enemy (if I let myself). But mistakes still get to me ... and then I take a picture from another angle so that I don't have to look at it forever 
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