I just finished doing a 25th anniversary cake for one of my very good friends. This is the first cake I've done for a friend or family member in quite awhile, I've been so busy doing 'paid' cakes. What struck me was the fact that all day I was so HAPPY, and I was pleased with my results. When I'm doing a 'job cake' I'm always short tempered and am rarely happy with my results (even though others compliment my efforts). Do any others feel this way? Maybe I'm going to have to be more selective about who I'm doing this for...I don't want to turn decorating into something I HAVE to do...I want to experience more of this 'joy of decorating'

Here is a pic of the cake...not stacked yet of course, it still has to travel...I'll post the finished cake when I take the picture at the party on Saturday.

Very pretty!! I so know what you mean about getting stressed. It seems like if I tell somebody that I'm going to do a cake--but I really don't feel like it/have time, etc., etc., etc--I almost never like how it turns out.

I love to decorate--I sometimes forget that, too.

Lisa

very nice!!!! cant wait to see what it looks like together.

Great job, Im sure your frien will love it.

Very nice!
I know what you mean about the cakes too. I sometimes get like that...

Your cake looks so nice. I am wanting to do something similar soon. I'm so new to this though - would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

What size cakes are those?

What is the construction method? I see the pillars. Is the other cake just on a cake board or somehting else?

Thanks so much!!

Jenn

VERY NICE JOB! I GET VERY STRESSED REGARDLESS OF IT IS A PAYING JOB OR JUST FOR FUN. IN MY EYES IT HAS TO PERFECT NO MATTER WHAT. I DO ENJOY IT VERY MUCH BUT I MAKE MYSELF NUTS! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE FINISHED CAKE!

Great job on the cake. Wonderful!

Beatuiful Cake!!! I wish I could do that trim.. I never can get that swag thing down. Or MMF for that matter.
Now as far as getting stress..hmm.. When my children learn that I am doing a cake, LOL they all get out of the kitchen and don't talk to me.. No matter how much I am getting paid when I am finished I think I should have charged extra for my fits!!! And yes sometimes I feel less stress when it's a freebie. Maybe because we know that our talent is being given from our hearts (free) and not being watch or questioned (was it worth the money)..

It's lovely. I hate doing string work, but your's is nice and even.

I also feel that way about many of my cakes and I get short tempered. I was having difficulty getting something to cooperate when my husband walked in. He asked what was wrong and I said what does it look like!! He was clueless of course. When I finished the cake, he loved it. It was his favorite one ever. I was still so frutarted with it that I refused to even take a picture of it. He is still giving me grief about that. He says I am just too hard on myself.

I guess that's what drives us to always try to be better.

I guess I would have to say the thing that stresses me is what drove me to start doing cakes, My Kids! lmao, They love to watch, but I always have to make an extra for my lil one, cause he is always wanting to EAT it! he is like is it ready yet? now? & one my Favorites,, No I didnt put that imprint in the middle of your perfectly smoothed cake,thankfully I just have to say, this is for Mommy's work and he gets it now. =0)
~Sweet~ =0)

P.S. I think your cake is Great. the drop strings are so perfect! Love IT!
~Sweet~ =0)

I feel the same way you do. My sister told me i should open my own little bakery out of my house but i told her i don't want to "have" to make cakes. i enjoy just doing them and if i make a little money one the side well great but if not im still happy.

My husband always tells me I'm too hard on myself, but I feel like he just doesn't get it. I guess everyone feels that way sometimes! I love doing cakes whenever. I figure if they don't like it, they'll let me know and I'll fix it then or work it out. No complaints so far! The cakes that have ended up really nice, I absolutely hated while I was doing them. Maybe they turned out nicer because I worked harder to fix them and make them better!

Jenn - the bottom is a 10" and the top is 6". I used 7" push-in pillars that I got 1/2 price!! and they are just foil wrapped cake boards in between. The little topper ornament is hard to see, but it's two children dressed as bride and groom that I got for $1 at a dollar store.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. This is only my second stacked cake. I was very nervous doing the swags and strings since I haven't done them much...the fun part was figuring out how to evenly space them around a 33.5 inch cake! If you could see the back, you'd see that there is one set that is a bit longer than the rest. I'm sure liking working with the fondant though - I love that smooth look - like a fresh canvas.

that's beautiful!!