Hubby Thinks I Should Quit Cakes (Long Sorry)

Decorating By cakedesigner59 Updated 26 May 2009 , 4:06am by CanadianChick

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cakedesigner59 Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:21pm
post #1 of 74

And I think I might agree. And after getting legal just last week! Here is my latest disaster. Another @#$%! bubble in my icing. Of course, I didn't notice it until I downloaded my photos tonight and the wedding reception is half over by now. I think I'm going to throw up. This is the second wedding cake that has been ruined by a huge bubble in the icing. I am doing things EXACTLY like I have always done them, and I never had blow outs before.

My other issue is not ever being able to get my cakes level like you pros here on CC. I try and try; I work for hours until I think I've got it (and work at eye level to make sure I'm getting everything square and level, and then it's not. Hubby thinks it's not worth all the frustration. I've been doing this for years now, and don't seem to be getting any better at it. In fact, when you consider the blow outs in the icing, I'm getting WORSE. Thanks for listening to me vent. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm so depressed.
LL

73 replies
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Minstrelmiss Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:30pm
post #2 of 74

That is NOT a ruined cake! It's fantastic!!! Keep your chin up and remember why you love doing this. We all have out set-backs icon_wink.gif I don't know why it bubbled though, good luck to you icon_smile.gif

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in2cakes2 Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:30pm
post #3 of 74

Please don't give up! Your cakes are beautiful and your talent is quite evident. thumbs_up.gif

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KathyTW Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:31pm
post #4 of 74

I know it won't help how you feel but that is an absolutely adorable cake (bubble and all)....I hope you can figure out what is going on and then continue to do your cakes.

sometimes I feel the same way about getting "worse" instead of better- I think stress has a lot to do with it! I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I won't do wedding cakes - too much stress on myself let alone stress from a bridezilla!

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bobwonderbuns Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:31pm
post #5 of 74

Sweetie, don't be depressed. First off that cake is gorgeous. We all see every little flaw in our cakes because we are looking at them at the end of our noses for hours on end. Heck anyone would see every little flaw that way! I've accepted that there are techniques I'm terrible at and no matter how hard I work at it my work just stays terrible in those areas. My cake teacher says I have talent in those areas but I don't like them and I'm not good at them. However I do enjoy what I am good at and I focus on that. I tell my students -- it's sugar, it's fun! Have fun with it. And give yourself a break, this isn't rocket science you know! icon_biggrin.gif

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jimandmollie Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:32pm
post #6 of 74

Are you kidding me? That cake is gorgeous! It would be a shame if you quit. What is one little bubble? Nothing major.

You know what I think you should do? Make a couple of cakes as gifts for people you love or for yourself. Don't tell them you are making them so there is no pressure if you don't get them done or they aren't perfect. Sounds to me like the stress has made you forget how much you love doing this. I think you need to enjoy it again before you commit to doing it with a deadline. I can see from your pics that you are awesome at what you do and that you put all of your heart into it. Don't you dare give up, you can do this!!!!!

<<<<<<hugs>>>>>> <<<<<<more hugs>>>>>>

Keep your head up and have a few drinks. Tomorrow will be better! icon_smile.gif

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bellalex Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:33pm
post #7 of 74

Your cake looks beautiful! I doubt many people will even notice the bubble. The bows are perfect and your cakes look level to me. You must be a perfectionist because I don't see anything wrong with the cake! Don't quit because you are very talented!

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deb3627 Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:33pm
post #8 of 74

That cake is gorgeous!..Do you have that covered in fondant? I try and make sure my buttercream underneath the fondant is still wet when covering the cake.. I sometimes even put on a THIN layer of Piping Gel..that will make the fondant adhere better as well..If I get a bubble, I use a straight needles and get the air out and it usually lays just fine then.
This is a GORGEOUS Cake, I think you have LOTS and LOTS of talent. The cake certainly wasn't ruined. Those are some of the most beautiful bows I have ever seen on a cake.. Don't quit..

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tonimarie Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:34pm
post #9 of 74

beautiful cake! Is the bubble in icing or fondant? I think you are being way to hard on yourself. Do you have any of SugarShacks decorating DVD's? She's got some great ones icon_smile.gif The buttercream one is great, and give lots of tips on leveling.
http://www.sugaredproductions.com/

If you got licensed, don't give up thumbs_up.gif

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Ruth0209 Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:35pm
post #10 of 74

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I know I always want perfection when I've charged someone so much for a cake, even though I know it's not possible. It is weird that all of a sudden you're getting bubbles. You must be doing SOMETHING differently. If it's the same ingredients, it must be in your process. Are you not letting them rest overnight? Refrigerating when you haven't before or vice versa? Freezing?

I've had blowouts on a couple of recent cakes when I never had before, too. Never figured out why. I figured maybe it was the weather, or just a fluke.

Okay, I just looked at your cakes, and they are beautiful. And please believe me that I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it. Maybe you just need to give yourself a little slack and quit being so hard on yourself. This is supposed to be fun, remember?!

Chin up, girlie! You didn't go to all the trouble of getting licensed for no good reason. Hugs!!!!

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LaBellaFlor Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:42pm
post #11 of 74

Your bows are AWESOME! We all get bubbles. I pop them with a needle & they smooth right out.

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sweetcravings Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:45pm
post #12 of 74

I also think your cake is really beautiful. I do see the bubble in the picture that concerns you..i'll be interested to see what others have to say about the cause of it. I've done a couple of cakes covered in fondant and both developed small bubbles early on. I just took a pin and picked the area, then gently pressed the fondant down in the area, fixed.
I know what you mean about the stress involved in cakes. Each and everytime i do one i have 'mini' meltdowns because something hasn't gone as planned. My DH knows to expect them and is WONDERFUL at bringing me down to a calm place..he is a great problem solver and can often come up with a solution to the problem quickly. That being said, i still won't even touch wedding cakes because of the level of expertise i think most brides expect. I worry about messing it up or a cake disaster. I just don't think i could handle that level of stress even with the best husband at my side...maybe one day.
Don't give up.

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mandyloo Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:52pm
post #13 of 74

I absolutely agree with everyone else...your cake is 100% lovely. It took me a minute to find the bubble...I would imagine no one but you noticed. Don't give up!!

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saap1204 Posted 9 May 2009 , 11:57pm
post #14 of 74

Your cake is gorgeous--I really had to look for that bubble; if I didn't know there was one, I wouldn't have noticed. I would be ecstatic if my cakes looked half as nice!

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Win Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:05am
post #15 of 74

At first, I couldn't find the bubble. I know you are crushed, but probably more so because you saw it too late to fix it. Your cake is precious, don't get discouraged. Out of all the successful cakes, you've had, what, a couple of blowouts? I call that a pretty high success rate!

It's cake. Sugar does not comply without a fight. icon_lol.gif

Now, ask yourself these questions:

Did the last blow out happen on a square cake as well? (Just wondering)
Was the cake quite cold when you applied the fondant?
(I find if the cake is too cold, I have more trouble with a bubble wanting to surface. For me, there's a fine line for chilling, I try not to let it sit in the fridge prior to the fondant layer for more than 45mins.
Did you refrigerate it? (Overnight? Was it humid at the reception site? Could moisture have caused the blowout?)
How thick was the layer of bc beneath?
Have you changed fondant?
Did you rush how long you kneaded the fondant?

I truly have no idea if any of these variables might be the reason for your blow out... they are just some of the things I have come up against in the past that I thought might have caused some of mine.

Don't give up! And... don't let these little "bumps in the road" destroy your confidence and ruin your fun either.

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MACakes Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:05am
post #16 of 74

I can't imagine with your talent you would want to quit. Your cakes are beautiful! Chin up, we all have our weak moments and you will rise above it! icon_biggrin.gif BTW it took some searching the pic to see the bubble so I don't imagine it will be noticed in a dim reception hall.

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jamcakes Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:12am
post #17 of 74

OK - I was in the same spot you are about 6 or 7 years ago. I would get random bubbles and absolutely could not figure out why. But, I am happy to say I haven't had one in almost 7 years. Here is what I started doing they has completely gotten rid of the stinking bubbles. I just poke a very thin pin in different spots around the cake right after I have finished icing it. You can ususally hide the pin pokes behind a decoration. Even in smooth buttercream, they are not very noticeable. If I am doing, say, a 10 inch cake I will poke about 5 or 6 holes in it. Works like a charm! Good luck and don't give up!!

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Luvsthedogs Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:27am
post #18 of 74

Relax and enjoy your talent! We are our own worst critics and sometimes we beat ourselves up unnecessarily.

I try to keep things in perspective when I get stressed. I remember reading an article in an Oprah magazine about a year ago on how to deal with stressful situations and the message stuck with me: Basically use the 10-10-10 rule. This means think about a situation in terms of how it will affect you in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. Within 10 minutes of looking at your cake maybe someone would notice the bubble. Once they eat the cake, I'm sure they would totally forget about it! It certainly won't be an issue in 10 months or 10 years.

I only wish I could make a cake look as good as yours! icon_smile.gif

Have a blessed day!
Cindy

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OhMyGanache Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:31am
post #19 of 74

I got tired of trying to get cakes perfectly level, so I bought an Agbay.

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Sassy74 Posted 10 May 2009 , 12:53am
post #20 of 74

You have entirely too much skill to quit. It's obvious both from your passionate story, and your beautiful work that you enjoy doing this. Every one of us has to deal with frustrations, and would LOVE to be able to do everything perfectly! It's all about getting better! Take the advise offered and keep going. I looked at your cake and saw beautiful bows (REALLY beautiful bows!), sharp edges, and smooth icing. One flaw doesn't ruin the finished product! Take a deep breath--you'll have a new perspective tomorrow!

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-K8memphis Posted 10 May 2009 , 1:43am
post #21 of 74

Omg--that's the cutest cake--so much life and personality in it.

All cakes fart--it's ok. Most all of us people do too--that's ok too.

Pretend your favorite neice or your daughter (got kids?) made the cake and be nicer to yourself. Just freaking be nicer to you.

If you just got legal and you say you're gonna quit I'm gonna go throw up.

So be nicer to me too. icon_biggrin.gif

No but seriously--that cake has so much passion in it. It'd be a crime for you to quit. Just lighten up, CakeBuddy.

(((hug)))

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-K8memphis Posted 10 May 2009 , 1:45am
post #22 of 74

Tell hubby to back away from the little lady wielding a wicked spatula.

I think he just wants you to feel better.

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debster Posted 10 May 2009 , 1:59am
post #23 of 74

My eyes always go to the one bad thing, but to be honest I HAD to search for the bubble. I agree while I'm doing a delivering a cake EACH time I say it isn't worth it if I made 10x what I am. Then I find myself making another one. I LOVE TO CAKE DECORATE!!!! Keep up the good work, you do lovely work!!!!!!

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indydebi Posted 10 May 2009 , 2:23am
post #24 of 74

Except for the bubble, it IS a beautiful cake! thumbs_up.gif

You've gotten great advice and I can't really add to it. (But I'd probably pay attention to k8's advice! icon_rolleyes.gificon_biggrin.gif )

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cakedesigner59 Posted 10 May 2009 , 2:33am
post #25 of 74

I'm sitting here, crying and VERY emotional...because all you wonderful folks have reached out to me to make me feel better. Me, a stranger. This is such a lovely cake community, and I am truly blessed to have found such a caring environment. I know for a fact I wouldn't be doing cakes at all, without you kind folks.

I've wracked my brain and I am doing nothing that I didn't always do...I do refrigerate my cakes (mainly because I feel they are "safer" in there than sitting on my dining room table for two days--I have a separate fridge I use exclusively for cakes). But I've always done that. I guess I could try to NOT put them in the fridge. I usually deliver them all stacked (and because they are cold, they never budge; I've even delivered a 5 tiered already stacked and nothing moved, and did not use a center dowel).

And for those that asked, this cake is all buttercream with only fondant accents, bows and pearls. I have never done a cake in all fondant, and until I read your replies, I didn't realize that those types of cakes got blow outs too! More to worry about (for when/if I do a fondant covered cake).

Hubby just hates to see me get in such a funk when the cake isn't PERFECT, and it never is, is it? Maybe I don't have thick enough skin to be doing this. I appreciate all y'all saying I have talent. You're very kind. icon_smile.gif

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dmhart Posted 10 May 2009 , 2:45am
post #26 of 74

You are being way to hard on yourself. Your work is wonderful. And as far as the bubble, it took me looking twice to find it. The cake is far to beautiful for that to ruin it.

Everyone has given you excellent advice, just keep you head up and move on. Your next master piece awaits you!! icon_biggrin.gif

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jlsheik Posted 10 May 2009 , 2:48am
post #27 of 74

Perfectly lovely cake!! I bet they ate the evidence!! I have had them too, it just happens!

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en-passant Posted 10 May 2009 , 4:18am
post #28 of 74

I guarantee that no cake civilian would ever even notice that bubble. That cake is so busy that the bubble is a bagatelle.

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blondeez Posted 10 May 2009 , 4:31am
post #29 of 74

Your cake is perfect and like en-passant said the cake civilians probubly didnt even see it. We are all our own worst critics and hubbys just sometimes over react when us women get upset. Just look at all the wonderful cakes you have done, all the wonderful comments you have here and think of all the beautiful creations you will make in the future and remember that we all have bad days but the good days out way the bad ones. Hope this helps.

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AuntieE Posted 10 May 2009 , 4:40am
post #30 of 74

I had to look really hard to find that bubble. The cake is gorgeous. Sounds to me as if the bubble had a purpose. Look how much encouragement and support you have received. If the bubble hadn't shown up , you would be stressing about something else. Instead, you are taking in all the good energy being sent your way. Get that chin up and keep on bakin'

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