Who Here Is Self Taught?

Decorating By SweetPatsy Updated 3 Oct 2011 , 10:45pm by jules5000

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SweetPatsy Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 6:13am
post #1 of 135

I would love to know who is self taught on the boards and if you have a business. I am teaching myself and I am proud of what I have done so far.

134 replies
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NatD Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 6:32am
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I am self taught with less than a year of cake decorating...everything i've learned has been trial and error and tutorials on the web...I think just because someone didn't go to school for it doesn't mean they can't be successful...if you got it ..you got it...ya know what i mean.. icon_biggrin.gif

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karateka Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 6:35am
post #3 of 135

I am mostly self taught. I started my business before I got any formal training. However now I have had classes with some good people. I wish I could take more.

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ski Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 7:02am
post #4 of 135

Self taught here and lots of online friending!

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kaseyrconnect Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 7:08am
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I am self taught. I remember being at a child's birthday party and seeing the cake, I thought "I wish I could do that". Then I decided to try it, and I was hooked. This was about 30 years ago, and somehow I found out about Mailbox News cake magazines and I got a subscription to that and read them from cover to cover over and over and just kept practicing. Trust me, my cakes were pretty sad in the beginning, but I enjoyed the whole process, so I kept trying to improve. I am still learning so much, and I owe a lot of that to the people right here.

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SweetPatsy Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 7:19am
post #6 of 135

There is so much info here on CC that I am losing sleep up at night reading!

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theonlynameleft Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 8:02am
post #7 of 135

I am self taught - not that I could say thats a good thing, ha ha! Have been doing this since about February this year when I did my little girl's third birthday Dora cake. She loved it - didn't attempt to make the Dora though cos thought it would be a "thats not Dora" moment!

Pretty much just look at the amazing experts pictures on here and try my best to make it turn out remotely similar - but still have a long way to go. Learning so much each time I try something and have had some horrendous muck ups and temper tamtrums. icon_rolleyes.gif

Actually, I think every time I make a cake my husband ends up saying - I don't want you making any more cakes, ha ha ha!!!

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dancingqueen07 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 8:35am
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I, too, am self taught. I mainly make my cakes for friends or their children although I am getting more people ask me via the children's school to make cakes. I find this very difficult as I don't know what to charge and as I am still learning and feel that my cakes are not perfect that I can't charge and often end up just covering the ingredients and losing out financially!

I live in Spain where it is impossible to get cake supplies and have to rely on my family and friends visiting from the UK to bring me new equipment and supplies. For this reason, I do not like to practice and waste my limited fondant, etc, so my practice only comes when I actually make a cake. I visited Orlando last month and went to D & G Occasions during my trip and to say I felt like a rabbit in headlights was an understatement. What choice!

Good luck to the Newbies.

x

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cr8zchpr Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 9:03am
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I am self taught as well, and still learning everyday. I have been baking since I was about 12 and decorating even back then. I used to hound my mother to buy me the kits that Wilton used to sell, the pan, tips, color, etc., and I was hooked since then. I bought every cake book out there and read them all from cover to cover and learned so much, but I'm also proud to say figured some things out on my own and even created some techniques myself. I still have a long way to go but I'm happy that I have all that road behind me...icon_smile.gif

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ramacake Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 9:06am
post #10 of 135

I am self taught also. I have been doing cakes for around 40 years. I started doing cakes for my kids birthdays, and have never stopped. It just takes practice and determination, and a little artistic ability dosen't hurt either. Just stick with it and very shortly, you will be amazed at what you can do.

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grandmaruth Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 9:51am
post #11 of 135

I too am self taught..have been at it only for about 2 years...with each cake and all the compliments i am only drawn into it even more...it certainly addicting...and i love to challenge myself because the feeling you get when you try something new and a little more complicated and succeed...well its a great feeling!!! icon_biggrin.gif

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Caths_Cakes Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 9:56am
post #12 of 135

Self taught icon_smile.gif I started two year ago, After stupidly offering my services to a friend to make a cake for her (Even though id need done it before ) thankfully, she was my Best friend, and she helped me with lots of vodka . . . . Suffice to say the cake didnt get very far, but i was hooked icon_biggrin.gif lol, Its been nothing but librarys, Youtube , Cake central and lots of practise for me icon_biggrin.gif

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mamawrobin Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 10:49am
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I am self taught and although I've worked as a decorator I've never had my own business. I'm not really a business minded person but I do love to decorate cakes.

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Rylan Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 11:00am
post #14 of 135

Me too, I'm self taught. No business but I enjoy what I do.

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newsums Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 11:01am
post #15 of 135

I'm also self taught, can't believe I baked and decorated my very 1st cake almost 3 years ago.
How time flys when your having fun (well most of the time lol) xx

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PatricesPieces Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 11:09am
post #16 of 135

Self taught....been doing this since I was 10. Holy crap..that means i've been doing this for 34 years now. Actually I got hooked from a neighbor who used to make cakes. She saw me crocheting and asked if I would mind giving her some crochet lessons. When I went over for her first lesson, she was decorating a cake. She showed me a few borders and let me practice with some of her tools. After that, I was hooked. My grandmother bought me my first set of bags and tips and a Wilton magazine (still have that magazine). I learned to do the rose by reading the magazine. Finally took a class when I was 26 years old and was asked to teach after the class. I would love to take lots of classes, but need to save up some money first. There are soooo many great teachers out there.

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jlkallred Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 11:15am
post #17 of 135

I'm self taught, too. Although I'm not sure the word "taught" fits! I did the Wilton character cakes for my kids when they were little. Hadn't done one in about 11 years, then my daughter asked me to make my grand daughter's 1st b day cake. I was hooked! I just do them for family because I don't have the self confidence to do anything more. Like someone else said earlier, my hubby wishes I would quit due to the stress, so imagine how I would be if I was earning money for it!!! My dream is to be able to come up with ideas of my own instead of copying other people's. But, I do love looking at all the pictures here on CC!

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KitchenKat Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:33pm
post #18 of 135

Schooled in baking. Self taught in decorating.

I have to say that after 2 years of culinary school & 6 months of apprenticeship, I learned more about baking by getting into my own kitchen and just baking, experimenting and having fun.

As for decorating, I never thought I'd enjoy it nor have the knack for it till a friend of mine taught me how much fun it can be.

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Loucinda Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:38pm
post #19 of 135

I am both. I knew how to bake - have done that for years! I never decorated until about 5 years ago. I am not "self taught" though, I took the wilton classes first, and ever since then, I have tried to take classes from someone different every year. I love to learn, and I am a very visual learner, so the classes help me considerably....so no, not self taught, but still having fun! icon_biggrin.gif

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Btrfly578 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:41pm
post #20 of 135

Self taught and learning different things everyday. I to have been baking since I was kid. Hope to one day have my own Bakery.

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jeannetted23 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:42pm
post #21 of 135

I am completely self taught.

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Mommyofseven Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:46pm
post #22 of 135

Self taught ( I know it shows lol) Well I guess I should say Cake Central Taught

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emiyeric Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:47pm
post #23 of 135

I would hardly say I've taught myself everything, since I've learned just about everything I can now do from CC and you wonderful CCers! But yeah, I'm just a hobbyist who likes to play with sugar doughs icon_smile.gif ... have always loved baking and have always loved artsy stuff, but only put the two together a couple of years ago. Having a BLAST, and would love to actually train with someone, but I'm afraid that's not in my immediate future icon_smile.gif.

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cakeflake80 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:53pm
post #24 of 135

I am completely self taught also. I have always been a very creative person....I was always making 'something' as a child! I dabbled in cosmetology and never went further than completing the 1000 hour course. Had my first child and needed to feel financially secure, so I went into accounting (who would have thought??? My Dad was shocked...saying he couldn't imagine someone like me sitting in front of numbers all day)!! All the while, I was making my daughters birthday cakes, and when I look back at them now I am like 'why didn't I do this, or that?!?!?'. But it was all because I didn't have time because I was working a full time job with a family. Fast forward 7 years....large company closed shop last summer and I have had all the time in the world to practice practice practice!! I have made more cakes in the past year than all of the cakes combined in the past! It's definitely a passion, and definitely a great way to keep my creative mind thinking. HOWEVER....I would love to take baking classes LOL!! The baking aspect of cake decorating is by far my least favorite part. I can do it, but I rarely stray from the box mix for fear of messing it up or having it not taste right. And I couldn't survive without CC......it's a lifesaver!!

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meharding Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 1:53pm
post #25 of 135

I took a Wilton Class about 20 years ago and made cakes for my kids birthdays. When they started having children I offered to make birthday cakes for them. After finding this website I ventured into fondant, and all kinds of cake flavors, icings and new methods. Thank you to all you very talented people who have made what was a part-time hobby into a full out joy!

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lenagc Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 2:20pm
post #26 of 135

I too am self taught, I always loved to bake, my children started buying me cake books for my birthday and Christmas, and I started reading everything I could get my hands on. For a year and a half I studied and practiced. I entered a few local contests and won first place, my neighbor happened to see me returning from a contest and saw my cake, she right away asked if I would do her daughters cake, I did, and that neighbor brought me so much business, from friends and friends of friends. I don't advertise but I manage to stay busy, Thank you CCrs for all the information you are willing to share, and for all the beautiful cakes they are so inspiring!!! Happy Baking!!

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Sugar-Coated Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 2:44pm
post #27 of 135

I'm self taught also. Been at this for a few years now. Having lots of fun!! I wish I knew how to do more with buttercream though; I do lots with fondant. I'd like to have more knowledge about buttercream flowers, ,etc.

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Charity875 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 2:59pm
post #28 of 135

I am also self-taught. I was working as a comptroller for a retirement admin company when I found out I had to have brain surgery to fix the causes for my severe headaches and dizziness that also caused a lot of numbness in my arms. It was very hard not to go back to work. I have always enjoyed making cakes for family and friends. So to feel my need to stay busy I started trying different things with my cakes. I love to be creative! This hobby has become my way of dealing with hard times I face everyday and it is a joy to put a smile on someones face! icon_biggrin.gif

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FlourPots Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 3:00pm
post #29 of 135

Totally self-taught and not in business, nor do I want to be.

My only regret...wish I had stumbled onto this hobby years ago.

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greengyrl26 Posted 9 Aug 2010 , 3:03pm
post #30 of 135

Self-taught for the most part. Took some wilton classes for the basics. But the bulk of what I know and do, I taught myself thru books, videos or online.

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