This cake didn't turn out exactly as I had in mind...I know my "petals" aren't right because I cut them too thick and was unable to get them to ruffle right, but I went with it anyways just to see how it would look. This was just for practice and was not made for a customer...That being said I'd like to know what everyone thinks of it...It's odd looking I know. I can't decide if I like it or not! LOL

31 views and no opinion? Come on..I'm not skeerd...lol

Well, is it supposed to be something specific? Are you trying to do one of those exploding rose things that's all the rage now? 

Honestly, I see a really creative interesting cake that really has nothing to critique, *unless* you tell me it's supposed to be something very specific that I'm not seeing....then I guess there's something to work with. 

it has a bubbly amoeba like ambiance that is actually pretty cool

in a petri dish, mother of pearl kind of way

Hello Ducky, the design is a little strange to me, I don't really see an organic flow.  Maybe if the circles were a lot thinner, more uniform in thickness and you chose a different shade of orange?  

inside out mabe pearls

The cake is not unattractive at all, but it leaves me scratching my head, wondering "Do I like it or not?" That's the weird thing: I don't know!
 

AI think the disc shapes work the best. But to me it seems like it's missing something. An accent color maybe? I think it has sort of an ocean vibe.

My honest opinion, not a fan.  If I didn't see your explanation I wonder...what is it?  Doesn't look like a flower really.  Just looks odd to me. 

Just a suggestion, after looking at it again. Cluster stuff like that. What I mean is, make two defined areas of whatever that is you made (which is cool). But arrange them opposite each other, and make one smaller. Have a couple of pieces trail off from each one, so it flows better. Let that border show a little more too, cause that's visually interesting, and it's hidden by your giant explosion of petals/whatever those are. And when I say 'whatever those are', it's not meant dismissively, it's meant as I don't know what they are. Hope that makes sense. Either way, it's your baby and no one else has to understand it. Right?

If this had been created by Colette then we'd be dying to copy it.  I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like it.  Very modern and fabric-like.  If you could stick a few more petals inbetween the larger petals, I think you'd love it.  In other words, you need more smaller petals.  You're on the right track and your overall work is neat, just needs more smaller petals and less larger ones.

I think if it had been just the sides of the cakes, instead of on top of the first tier, and with a few less smaller petals and without the middle of the flower, I would like the look a lot more.

I do think it's kind of cool and beachy though, and I love the gold edging.

My 'just go with it cakes' would never end up on here, haha. If they did, someone would definitely be forwarding them onto cake wrecks!

AI like it. Abstract art!!

Sorry, I don't care for it at all. However -- if this was your original design then you're doing a good job of thinking "outside of the box" and I'm sure you will come up with cakes that will wow us.

the 'petals' remind me of potato slices, so I see potato slices on this cake and I can't get my mind out from seeing it that way..like raw pringles scattered on the cake. 

This! Reminds me of pearly sea shells, upside down.

First - Bravo to you! Its not easy putting yourself and your work out there for crit!

Then... I'm also not sure if I like it...? Is the cake itself buttercream, airbrushed? Can't say I like the shading.

Maybe the colours don't quite work - looks "dirty" in a sense with the browns. If it had been a soft colour or all white, with touches of colour on the petals it could work. I do like the colour edging on the petals. Yes, the petals are too thick. And that kind of overshadows the whole cake, I agree that you need to make some smaller ones and create a flow. Your work itself is neat and good, perhaps just the design isn't quite working for me.

Looks yummy still!

I just thought that perhaps if your petals were more stiff precise shapes instead of trying to look like a flower...circles or ovals which were done in fondant/gumpaste and dried so that when applied they stood up and off the cake, in this design - to me it would looks very abstract-art-like and kinda cool.

Kinda like this in a way...

AMy immediate reaction was it reminds me of mushrooms growing on fallen tree trunks. Not petals unfortunately. But as far as something creative that could be adapted to say a forest-y cake, I'd say it has merit.

If I have a suggestion, it would be to study art and design when you can to get a better appreciation for balance, spacing and placement of accents.

IMO, I'd LOVE to see more posts like yours! Well done :-)

Thanks everyone for the feedback!!! I almost died laughing when I read potato slices...HAHAHA Yeah, they kinda do look like potato slices!!!
The concept started out as the exploding flower....but when I realized my petals didn't look right, I just went with it anyway. So, technically the cake is a failure....It is truly an odd cake, and I can see why some wouldn't like it. I agree that it doesn't have an organic flow to it, which is why I think I can't say I like it all that well. My cake composition needs a lot of work. I haven't been doing this very long, and I'm still working on transfering what's in my mind to the cake itself...not so easy for me sometimes...

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give me some constructive critisism. I appreciate it!!

PS- I would totally eat that cake by the way and I've, also, had quite a few that didn't turn out quite as I had envisioned them.

I think it's great that you put it out there for us to see and you're easy going about it- whether the opinions were positive or confused. I think that is awesome!

Thanks cakefat! I don't think I could improve as a cake decorator without a little help from you guys. There's so much exquisite talent on this web site...I feel blessed that so many would take the time to give me a bit of advice

Personally it does nothing for me.  Ducky 316 you will find as you practice that things quite often don't turn out how you expected as you learn.  Some you will like and some you will not but it is all experience.  One of the reasons I am not interested in going past hobby status is that I could not stand having to try and produce replicas for people.  Even when I start off copying a cake it quite often turns out different, probably because I don't have enough experience and also because I am quite happy to get side tracked.  Stick with it and most of all enjoy it.

haha, they kind of remind me of the suction cups on an octopus "leg"...that said, i think its kinda cool! if you added a ton more of those petals and disks then i think it could look pretty innovative!  we all have those cakes that didn't quite turn out how we planned and we are left just staring at it...wondering..."to like, or not to like, that is the question" :)

Hi Ducky316

You said in your last post, Quote "technically the cake is a failure" I would say that your cake is very UNIQUE! As the saying goes "Nothing ventured nothing gained" I admire your spirit, sense of humour, positive attitude and perseverance, and hope that you will continue making cakes, so hang in there - its early days!

Thank you for starting this thread! It is people like you who put the FUN into cake decorating, and you will inspire others -  to lighten up and ENJOY the Art of Cake Decorating - be they beginners, hobby decorators like myself, or professionals.

Wishing you every success in the future

Happy baking!!!

Regards

Margaret393

Thank you Margaret! What a nice thing to say!!!

I love it!  It is different and unique.   It has a lot of possiblities by changing colors and trim colors.   It is abstract in a nice, rounded way.   Love it!