What Other Crafts Do You Do That Helps Your Cake Decorating?
Decorating By NEWTODECORATING Updated 13 Sep 2005 , 9:52pm by charlieinMO
adven68 I love your painting.. It is wonderful . I can see you definately have a flair for color . Awesome.
Liz
This is a great topic. I am a graphic designer designing ads, catalogs, etc. by day. I LOVE IT. What's funny is my degree is in Government. That makes sense, right? Anyway, even though I am in the minority and ADORE decorator icing, I am not in this for the cake aspect. I am in it for the creativity of it all. It's such a cool medium I find. I have dabbled in drawing and would LOVE to begin painting but with two little ones, that has to go on my list of "to do's".
The painting and flower arrangements are awesome. Thank you for sharing how you work in other mediums.
Wonderful painting adven! And Thanks for the compliments Dixon! I also pencil sketch but am slow ..lol. I have worked a bit with clays etc. But I agree with the above quote that cake baking/decorating is perfect...the combinations of all these skills...the baking... sculpting..smoothing...leveling...colorizing and constructing..crafting...decorating...and then to get to see true excitement on the face of the person/persons about to enjoy it ..then to see it complete when it tastes as wonderful as it looks...it is a great boost to the ego and heart!
Was reading this and couldn't help myself but to add what other things I like to do, great topic!
I do embroidery, cross stitch, sew, and I love to draw stick figures!!! Hubby and I laugh so hard when we play Pictionary, he can't draw to save his life 
but he can sing beautifully-if you like country music!
What a great thread this is, I just had to put in my 2 cents.
I used to do a lot of drawing and a little painting, and was really into crosstitch when I was younger (like, 12-13). Now it's mostly just cakes.
I also dabble in photography since we bought a digital camera last year - it's more fun than I ever thought it would be! http://photoblog.edencakes.com
I also write a LOT, but I don't know if that counts since it's not a visual medium.
edencakes, I found myself caught up in your blog!
What great pictures, you have a wonderful eye for photography. (and a great sense of humor!)
I use to do a lot of landscape painting with oils. Not as much anymore but I think that has helped with color mixing etc . I have also painted things on most of the walls of my house..Hubby is afraid to go out of town for a few days as he never knows what he will return to.. Last yr he left on business for a few days and I painted cats , flowers and birdhouses all over my kitchen walls.. Think since I retired I have Way too much time on my hands..LOL.. I will attach a pic of my computer room wall.. I think I would really like to try the airbrushing on cakes and painting on them.
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Liz
Gee Liz, that is beautiful work, you are an artist. Do you have any idea what folks charge to have this kind of work done on their walls? You could be rich kiddo! Seems to me that your area had a few millionaires, start advertising! Go to a local, "Colour YOur World" or paint and wallpaper store and tell them you do this kind of work - that is if you are interested and running out of walls of your own, haha!
Hugs Squirrelly
I have dabbed into every craft you can imagine...I am a painter at heart...since childhood...but I am interested in anything everything that is done by hand (or computer) and I need more space just for my how-to books. I love jewelry-making, faux-painting, quilling, glass-painting, dough-crafts, mosaics, stained glass...etc...etc....
I usually do one thing until I really master it and then go on to something new. Cake decorating, I have found, is a combination of everything that I have learned. I have seen cakes made that require the skills of a sculptor, a painter, a stained glass artist....you need a sense of engineering, a sense of color, a sense of design. Not to mention the art of baking, a good business sense, or the wisdom to seek help when necessary.
This site is a tribute to all of that. I am not the only talented one. EACH one of us must realize the talent within and show the world what we can do. I have found that the art of cake decorating is a wonderful "quick-fix". What other medium can please a crowd so much while validating the creator's abilities in such a happy way?
Am I too deep? I just wanted to share how much I love doing this stuff!
Wow, that is absolutely heavenly, peaceful, gorgeous! Love it!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
Wow! Don't you just love a good sale.. I think if I get the set from my daughter that I will just be able to practice with it. She used all sorts of mediums to paint with it so I would be afraid to use it for food even after cleaning it really well.. Im sure she has had laquers and stuff in it.. But it would be good to practice with to see if I like the technique enough to go out and buy an airbrush system.
If you run cleaners through this system, you can use it on cake with the appropriate colouring systems, I am told.
Hugs Squirrelly
I figured I would put in my 2 cents here. Other than cake decorating I crochet. Mostly small projects like baby blankets. Something to keep me occupied, but one thing they Both have in common,.... CARPAL TUNNEL LOL
You could crochet wedding bells, hearts and such for decorating wedding cake stands and display tables. I love crocheted things!
Hugs Squirrelly
I use to do pencil portraits. But I am such a perfectionist, they would take forever. Still do them occasionally.
This might translate well into cocoa painting and using edible markers to make sketches!
Hugs SQuirrelly
What a great thread this is, I just had to put in my 2 cents.
I used to do a lot of drawing and a little painting, and was really into crosstitch when I was younger (like, 12-13). Now it's mostly just cakes.
I also dabble in photography since we bought a digital camera last year - it's more fun than I ever thought it would be! http://photoblog.edencakes.com
I also write a LOT, but I don't know if that counts since it's not a visual medium.
Wonderful pictures, I enjoyed the site and pictures a lot! Loved the poem too!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
Whew, so many talents out there! The thing is, as you get older you get more adventurous to try new things. You will surprise yourself once you lose the fear of failure, you can learn just about anything. Some artists are born that way, that is true, but many folks can learn how to draw or paint. We all can learn to be creative!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
You are all so talented.....but I have to say that one person in particular seems to hold a very special talent.....SquirrellyCakes...you never fail to say something sweet, caring, helpful and supportive. Thanks.
You know what kiddo, every time I am having a bit of a down time in my life, someone makes a comment like you did here, just now, that would lift anyone's spirit. So I think my special talent is really somehow miraculously managing to surround myself with kind and supportive people that bless me with their presence and thoughtfulness. Now that is either sheer luck or good fortune or a combination of both!
Thanks for you lovely words!
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes
adven68 you are right about SquirrellyCakes.. she is a sweetie that's for sure..Here is a little poem I wrote a few years ago. It was for a dear friend of mine..but I think it is perfect for Squirrelly Cakes too..although I haven't met Squirrelly in person I just imagine her having a huge smile and we all know she has a big heart.
An Angel Among Us
God sends us angels , to brighten our days
To lighten our load and shorten the road
He has sent us this angel to walk by our side
She's a blessing amoung us, this angel on earth
Amber curls and a gentle voice
A smile so sweet it melts your heart
Always there to give a helping to hand
Her friendship is a shelter from many a stormy day
She cheers our spirits when we're down
Her face never holds a frown
She listens to our words but seems to hear our hearts
The joy she gives lights our days
She is a little part of heaven right here on earth
I thank the lord above for sending her to us....
Liz
So Crimson Hair is a poet, that is absolutely beautiful, brings tears to my eyes! Your friend must have been a great treasure! I hope you continue to write, you have a wonderful way with words!
And thank you kiddo, you are living proof of why my favourite place in Canada, is Northern Ontario, you just cannot beat those people! Cold hands for 10 months of the year, but warm hearts year round!
Hugs Squirrelly
I love cake decorating and scrapbooking, but I think I would so enjoy photography- that I think is my next "thing".
edencakes Thankyou for sharing your pics with us they are great. You have inspired me!!!!
Well Donna, you know, from the little I have seen of Louisiana, even with the devastation in so many parts of your state, it is beautiful country, wonderful architecture, so if you decide to pick up that camera and shoot, you seem to be living in a perfect place to photograph!
Hugs Squirrelly
Squirrelly.. I'm not a poet by any means but thank you.. You are so wonderful to everyone on here I just wanted to let you know that we do appreciate all your kinds words and thoughtful ways. Hugsss
Liz
Edencakes I just love your web site.. Your photos are absolutely amazing. You had me laughing about that dirty stop sign and I love your puddle poem. You have a gift with words and a camera. I saved it to my favourites and will check back often.. Thank you for sharing it with us.
All right, i'll give in and add my 2 cents worth also
Growing up I always enjoyed crafts. I tried painting and drawing, but I always got frustrated with myself because it wasn't perfect. I haven't had a chance to go back to it and take time to try again.
I also use to design dresses for fun. My aunt got me some barbie fashion thing and It was used a lot! So I guess I technically still was drawing.
I also sew, cross stitch, I also did a lot of plastic canvas, and I use to do a lot of sculpey clay, however somewhere along the lines that talent has eluded me, and I am having one heck of a time figuring out how I did it. (as I am trying to transfer some of my knowledge to sculpting fondant etc.)
However one of my biggest passions has always been photography. I love it. I like having my picture taken, and taking others pictures. There is so much you can say with a picture, and other times you just can't capture what you're experiencing with a picture. However when you look at a photograph all the memories come back of what happened, and for me those are always good times.
I also consider my work a craft. I design and fabricate (build and weld) custom stainless steel products. Mainly for the large food manufacturers, however we also get smaller companies and get to do detail work for new buildings going up (such as handrail, tables, doors, you name it out of stainless we can do it)
I love the challenge of not doing the same thing twice and always challenging myself (and trust me our customers at work can come up with some odd request) This is the same feeling of accomplishment when I decorate cakes. Being able to do it and not doing the same thing twice.... and yes we all have those odd request for cakes too.
I have always been a visual/hand on learner and everything with crafts encourages this in me. I have also always enjoyed math (geometry and trigonometry) and I usually tend to take things I learned from these and apply them to all of my "crafts" whether it is work or hobby.
Ok, i'll get down off my soap box and quite down for awhile. I am getting a little sleepy
Leily
Wow Leily, with stainless and metals so in demand, that must keep you busy, sounds wonderful!
Haha, geesh, if only they had shown the practical applications of the various maths when we were in school!
Sounds like you dabble in a whole lot of things, good for you!
Hugs Squirrelly
leily- I am imagining you could create a beautiful SS cake stand!!!
kind of sad isn't it. I translate everything to cake.LOL
I too enjoy other things outside of cake deco. I sew, crochet, scrapbook(haven't done this one in a while), and craft different projsects. Here in my house we like to do "Homemade Christmas'" We make ornaments from scrach, paint them and deco them. We make goodies for impromtu gifts, and I usually crochet or sew something for our families homes! Our families love it to see what I come up with next. And I haven't even started yet for this year!!!!! Oh well, I will find something to do!
Okay everybody--
Here is another website to go to that some of our talents can help. www.BlanketsForTheGulf.com
THey are hoping to get 5000 blankets by December 1 to distribute to Katrina survivors. I can't knit but I do make the no-sew fleece blankets and I have 3 that I can finish and send by the weekend. TIA
Just thought I would add that I think the flowers are great, the painting is great and the poem!! Talk about hitting the nail on the head! I too have never "met" SQC but she is a wonderful person and has really helped me hang in there and to keep trying this cake thing!
Ok, here are my hobbies, I crochet (mostly baby blankets), have painted in the past, pottery (throwing on the wheel) I really LOVE doing this and have thought about doing from my home but just an expensive hobby to start up! I also cross stich. Have tried to teach myself knitting but find it takes more concentration then I have to give at the time with my three kids! Would love to do photography but may have to wait on that one for awhile. Mainly now I am involved in scrapbooking, sewing quilts and my cakes. I am starting to run out of room. My husband gives me a hard time everytime I start a new hobby asking if this is the one that I am going to stick with. I just say "I'll let you know soon!!" I am going to check out the link for the blankets and see if I can get a couple of friends to help out with this also!!
Thanks for starting this link. Fun to see what everyone does!!
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