I dropped off my cakes at the cake show yesterday. Maybe I should not be decorating cakes. Compared t the rest if the beginners mine looks like a child (and not a talented child) did them. Looking at everyone elses, I don't think I will ever be that good. Next year I will have to enter as an intermediate ans I don't know if I can.
Awww...well you never know, sometimes we get so sick of looking at our own work that we feel its uglier than other people's, but they might feel the same way! It only matters what the judges think.
Anyway we can all improve and you'd be amazed the difference a year can make! There's always something to learn.
I think its great you entered!!!!! Good luck!
Oh hon, don't think that way!! We all do that to ourselves, doubt that we're any good. I think most of my cakes are mediocre only because I always think I could've done better, but people seem to like them, and tell me they are nice. And they sure keep ordering them, so I must be doing something right!! 
Don't beat yourself up, just keep doing your best and you will keep improving with each cake you do!
I was worried about entering my cake in a cake show too! I'm putting it off until next year. :/ Good luck though!
I dropped mine off too. There are a lot of really nice cakes. I had to enter as intermediate. I'll post pictures on Monday. We hung out while cakes were being delivered because we wanted to avoid traffic and last night was the only chance I had to vote so I wanted a lot of cakes there before I did. I'm sending you a PM about my observations 
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I'm going to enter my first in May and believe me I'm scared I won't measure up to the kids group! But we have to try 
I think that a lot of people enter in categories that are too low for their ability level to give themselves a better chance of winning! I know people who sell cakes and have registered businesses who enter competitions that professionals aren't supposed to be in. Seems kind of sketchy to me. I'll bet your entry wasn't as bad as you think!
We are our own worst critics, I'll see things that no one else seems to notice. I'm always whining for one more hour. I'm sure your cake is beautiful relax and enjoy your accomplishments.
I felt that way when I entered my first show. I had no idea what to expect and when I got there I felt so stupid carrying around my cake. I couldn't wait to hide it in it's corner and get out of there! The next year I actually won a ribbon. While I agree we are our own worst critics, you also have to consider this a learning experience. Look at the other cakes and note what specifically you feel like you need to work on and then practice, practice, practice! Next time you'll be better prepared both in your skillset and what level work the other cakes are.
Good luck
Ok...listen carefully...There is absollutely no way to get better then to look at what other people are doing and improve on where we are at. God didnt put us here for us to sit there and say to ourselves, I shouldnt, or I am no good. He wants us to excell by doing, making mistakes, learning from them and from other peoples and getting better. You entered, that is awesome, many people didnt even do that. You are probably too hard on yourself, most of us are. But you entered. Now, next time, do better, whether it is intermediate or not, you enter again, and eventually someone will pound it into your head that you are better than you thnk you are. Do not let other peoples work bring you down, but let it inspire you. Keep going and keep talking on this forum. But keep chugging along and dont stop!
Personally, every time I do a cake, it's never good enough for me, although others think it's great. I still think they are just being kind. But it's a fact about being a perfectionist, you always could have done something a little differently, or a little better, or a little nicer, etc. If we did everything the way we envision it, and worked on it until we were satisfied, it would take months to create a cake. 
Practice, practice, practice; and still I'm never satisfied and don't think I ever will be. 
Learn to be satisfied instead of a perfectionist....none of us are perfect nor will we ever be
I dropped off my cakes at the cake show yesterday. Maybe I should not be decorating cakes. Compared t the rest if the beginners mine looks like a child (and not a talented child) did them. Looking at everyone elses, I don't think I will ever be that good. Next year I will have to enter as an intermediate ans I don't know if I can.
Let me tell you a (true) story: Once upon a time, a friend of mine took a painting class. The first night of class she was asked to paint a still life of a basket of fruit then sign and date it. Well she wasn't much of an artist and she wasn't at all happy with the result. So the teacher keeps the pix, they go through a rigorous class for several weeks, and at the end they are asked to paint the same basket of fruit. Well when they finish the last painting, teacher hands back the original painting they did of the same fruit basket and the students could now see just how far they've come. She told me it was the most profitable class she's ever taken.
When I look at my early stuff, from a critical eye I see where it's lacking, certainly, but I also see the pride that went into those cakes, the excitement that I had created something I thought was beautiful at the time and I remember how getting all my buttercream borders even was an advanced skill for me. But I remember most how much I LOVED doing this creative art form, and it's that love for the craft that kept me going, no matter how bad my stuff first looked.
A few years ago I went to NYC and met Sylvia Weinstock. Her work was amazing to me and mine was still very beginner. But I proudly showed her my stuff and she was encouraging. Looking back I probably should have been mortified to show my beginner work but hey, I was proud of it and I loved doing it. As inexperienced as I was, I still had the attitude "if Sylvia can do it, I can do it." I came back from NYC that year and I have at least two cakes in my pix that are replicas of her cakes (the Fall calla lily cake and the sunflower cake.) If you find a style or an artist you really like, try to emulate their style. Remember, it's all about overall excellence NOT perfection. There are flaws on every cake, it's just that the more experienced decorators know how to work around them. So don't ever be intimidated -- shoot for the stars if you want to reach the moon!
My pleasure. Never give up what you love. Never!!
I dropped off my cakes at the cake show yesterday. Maybe I should not be decorating cakes. Compared t the rest if the beginners mine looks like a child (and not a talented child) did them. Looking at everyone elses, I don't think I will ever be that good. Next year I will have to enter as an intermediate ans I don't know if I can.
AMEN to bobwunderbuns' comment!!
OMG,- Alaskahsm, I looked at your pics...if you're an untalented kid...what does that make me??? Keep your head up and be proud of your abilities, no matter the level of talent you think you are!!!
So how are you doing Alaskahsm? We haven't heard a peep out of you! Are you feeling better now?
I guess I misunderstood your comment. It sounded like you were comparing your cakes to theirs, thinking yours "looked like a child (and not a talented child)" and you "would never be that good." Oh well, I guess I misunderstood. Glad you're feeling better though!
Don't sweat it. Just focus on your craft, work on mastering those techniques and have fun with it. Other than that let the chips fall where they may!
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