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post #1 of 7
9/5/12 at 1:27am
Thread Starter 
does it take you to make fondant details for a cake? I'm beginning to think I'm too slow...or too anal when it comes to trying to make things just right. I was asked to make 2 lounge chairs and 2 palm trees, all 3-D, and it took me about 3 hours. When I do things like chairs, I actually "build" them cutting each piece to fit then assembling them. With the trees, I made each palm one by one, wired them, added the veins, put them on the tree base (which are thin dowels), then added the bark, and added coconuts. When I told the person I was making them for how long it took me to make them, she said "It took THAT long"? This is someone who doesn't do fondant work, but it did kind of take me back when she said that. She hasn't seen them yet, but it got me thinking. Am I too slow???
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post #2 of 7
9/5/12 at 5:07am
Good grief - i just looked at the Corn on the Cob in one of your photos -
Congratulations - your work is excellant.

Some people can knock things up in no time (and often it looks like it) - so please don't worry about how long it takes you if you are doing and creating such detailed work.

As you say - you make each piece then assemble - and yes, that all takes time. But your finished creations shows that thumbs_up.gificon_smile.gif

If people want works of art - then they must be prepared to pay for it.

As for the lady who said "it took you that long" - well if she could do it and do it quicker she wouldn't be asking you to make them... icon_wink.gif

When people say things like that - politely say - "pefection takes time, and would you want anything less?"
Or something along those lines... This business of being namby pamby to people who just have no idea is pointless - Sell yourself as well as your creations.
Again - your work is excellant.


Bluehue
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post #3 of 7
9/5/12 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Thank you Bluehue. What you said made me feel so much better. I know there are things that I could do to make the work go faster (using the corn cob you mention as an example. I've seen people using jelly beans for the kernels, but I chose to do them out of fondant). It's just when she said that, it really hit...hard. I do take pride in what I do, and since what goes out has my name on it, I want it to look the best that it can. I like your idea for a return response. I will use it in the future!

Again, thank you for making me feel better! icon_smile.gif
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post #4 of 7
9/5/12 at 10:53am
It takes time to create art. It takes me a long time on my pieces too
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim.
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Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim.
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post #5 of 7
9/5/12 at 4:51pm
It takes as long as it takes...Some things take longer, and sometimes the same thing that took an hour yesterday will take three today (depending on mood) icon_rolleyes.gif
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #6 of 7
9/5/12 at 7:58pm
I often take forever doing my fondant detail work as well. Basically what I have decided is that if I have the time and I am enjoying the work, then who cares. If I have a lot of cakes to get out then I have to make sure I am not fretting over details no one but me will ever notice.

I recently had a request by another NASCAR owner to do their car but they wanted me to short change the work in order to save on the price I was going to charge. I refused to do less than intricate work because the end result would represent me and my work ethic. I did not get the job and I am okay with that. I would not want sub-par NASCAR work out there when I am in an area where there are a lot of NASCAR owners and future potential work. I guess what I am trying to say is draw a line on what you can let up on and what is really important and then stick to it.

Quality control is a concept that all business owners have to embrace as well as obtaining a profit. You cannot let the quality drop if you expect to continue making a profit but you cannot make a profit if you can't get orders out timely. Thus the conundrum! I am still finding the balance myself.
Creating works of art every chance I get! And yes, I am licensed, permitted, inspected and insured! Check out my website!
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Creating works of art every chance I get! And yes, I am licensed, permitted, inspected and insured! Check out my website!
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post #7 of 7
9/6/12 at 1:10pm
I made a Navy hat (simple, right?) and an Army beret. The beret took about 5 minutes, not including the research time. I had to redo the Navy hat 4 times! As costumeczar said, it takes as long as it takes. YOU are the one who must be satisfied with the end product.
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