Feeling Very Inadequate!

Decorating By Lizzybug78 Updated 23 Jan 2014 , 8:31pm by MBalaska

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Lizzybug78 Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 5:13pm
post #1 of 47

I was quite happy, searching for how to make a Corpse Bride out of sugar, when I came across this site - http://bakers.cakenweenie.com/100-2/

 

Now, despite 20 odd years experience, and knowing that I'm pretty ok as a decorator, I just want a hug 8O

 

The Abraham Lincoln model is particularly incredible; make sure you check out the detail on the chair! 

 

Some people just have waaay too much talent :grin:

46 replies
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cakealicious7 Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 5:27pm
post #2 of 47

AOh it's ridiculous how talented they are!! But you shouldn't feel inadequate!! A lot of people must look at your work and think the same thing-" look at how talented she is " so I'm sending you big hugs!!!

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AZCouture Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 7:44pm
post #3 of 47

ACakenweenie! I was a participant in that project, mine was Veruca Salt, with an acorn head. Fun times...

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MBalaska Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 8:06pm
post #4 of 47

GROUP HUG  :P

It would be impossible to look at advanced High End Cakes like those made by AZCouture and not understand that ours are way way way ...........well.......not like hers. 

 

So I celebrate her skill applaud her business success, wishing her a million dollars worth of profit $$$$$.

 

Then I continue to enjoy my silly little cakes and try out the ideas, tips and techniques that she is kind enough to share.   Partly because I make very good tasting baked goods, no matter the wonky looks. Partly also because mine would never get better without those people sharing theirs.

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CakeRae80 Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 8:06pm
post #5 of 47

AZCouture I just saw her, she was AMAZING!

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AZCouture Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 8:15pm
post #6 of 47

Asilly little cakes...rubbish! No such thing! And here's a virtual hug for you, OP. And I've only gotten where Iam bbecause I am stubbornly nit picky and practiced obsessively. And I'm not done yet, I have a loooong way to go. I will always be an eager student.

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cakeyouverymuch Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 8:49pm
post #7 of 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBalaska 
 

GROUP HUG  :P

It would be impossible to look at advanced High End Cakes like those made by AZCouture and not understand that ours are way way way ...........well.......not like hers. 

 

So I celebrate her skill applaud her business success, wishing her a million dollars worth of profit $$$$$.

 

Then I continue to enjoy my silly little cakes and try out the ideas, tips and techniques that she is kind enough to share.   Partly because I make very good tasting baked goods, no matter the wonky looks. Partly also because mine would never get better without those people sharing theirs.

 

This!  Especially this:

 

~~Then I continue to enjoy my silly little cakes and try out the ideas, tips and techniques that she is kind enough to share. Partly because I make very good tasting baked goods, no matter the wonky looks. Partly also because mine would never get better without those people sharing theirs.

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hbquikcomjamesl Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 10:52pm
post #8 of 47

I think that if you look at the cakes shown in my Flickr "Baked Goods" set (link in signature), they might make you feel a little less inadequate.

 

By way of analogy:

I am, at age 51, a student musician. I began junior college piano classes in my late 40s, with the first semester followed almost immediately by private organ lessons (yes, I do mean like in real pipes).

 

As a musician, I will likely remain a ham-handed beginner for the rest of my natural life. But that doesn't keep me from enjoying performances by violinists like Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Hilary Hahn, Leila Josefowicz, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, or cellists like Yo-Yo Ma, or trumpeters like Alison Balsom, or flutists like Sir James Galway, or organists like Pamela Decker, Peter Sykes, Diane Belcher, Gabriel Dessauer, Chelsea Chen, or Felix Hell, or the recorded legacy left behind by the likes of Maurice Andre, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Jacqueline du Pre, and E. Power Biggs. Indeed, I can sit there and be humbled by kids with wall-to-wall chops (e.g., Karen Electra Christianson on the East Coast, and Suzy Webster on the west coast, whom I first heard when she was barely out of kindergarten!), who can play me under the table without breaking a sweat, and thoroughly enjoy it.

 

I may feel humbled, but I don't feel inadequate. Indeed, my own musical adventures make me that much more appreciative of the talents of others, because I understand what's involved.

 

You are worthwhile. Your skills as a decorator may not put you in the same league as some, but they undoubtedly put you far beyond others, and they give you a far greater understanding of what you're looking at than others.

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Lizzybug78 Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 10:54pm
post #9 of 47

AThanks all for the hugs:D It's funny, I know I can hold my own, but then you see such awesome talent, and the incredible imagination, design and craftsmanship that goes into those pieces and suddenly you feel like a beginner again! :D

AZCouture - was your design on the link I posted? I couldn't see it when I looked again (admittedly whilst being chatted at by the kids so slightly distracted), but if you can point me at it I'd love to have a peek!

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hbquikcomjamesl Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 11:16pm
post #10 of 47

So let's see some of your work.

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AZCouture Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 11:33pm
post #11 of 47

A

Original message sent by hbquikcomjamesl

....private organ lessons (yes, I do mean like in real pipes).

Did you just make a funny? ;-)

Lizzybug, that website doesn't agree with my phone, so I can't link you to it. The background is a blue and white swirly pattern, and what I made is a figurine representing Veruca Salt from the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka. Since ir was a squirrel room with "bad nuts", instead of geese and golden eggs, I gave Veruca an acorn for a head. :-)

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AZCouture Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 11:45pm
post #12 of 47

AI'm not one to try to compare my work with anyone else, never did, not even in the beginning. That doesn't mean I don't lust after some decorators and wish I could do some of the things they can. Geez, let's see. I wish I could make a GP rose like Robert Haynes. Perfect square tiers? Gateaux, Inc. is my current crush for spectacular squares. Planet Cake are the masters of the true madhatters, not the weird topsy turvy cakes with holes cut out of the tops of tiers and are straight sided. I love Stevi's unique and picture perfect edible paper and cake designs (Hey There, Cupcake), Cake Opera is my all time crush, for the sheer decadence and romance of their designs....so trust me, most of us have our idols!

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Lizzybug78 Posted 17 Jan 2014 , 11:49pm
post #13 of 47

AThat sounds excellent! I'll have a proper look tomorrow when the kids are busy :D

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hbquikcomjamesl Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:03am
post #14 of 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture 
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hbquikcomjamesl 

....private organ lessons (yes, I do mean like in real pipes).


Did you just make a funny? icon_wink.gif

 

 

Uh, no. Haven't you noticed my avatar? Have a look at the relevant page of my web site.

 

Quote:

Lizzybug, that website doesn't agree with my phone, so I can't link you to it. The background is a blue and white swirly pattern, and what I made is a figurine representing Veruca Salt from the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka. Since ir was a squirrel room with "bad nuts", instead of geese and golden eggs, I gave Veruca an acorn for a head. icon_smile.gif

 

Uh, the room full of squirrels sorting nuts came from the original novel. I have an old enough edition that the Oompa-Loompas were a tribe of cacao-bean-craving African pygmies, although I understand that there are still older editions with some name changes.

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AZCouture Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:38am
post #15 of 47

AUhhhhh, ok. And of course you weren't making a funny, how silly of me.

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AZCouture Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:42am
post #16 of 47

AThat reminds me of when I was in my smart ass prepubescent phase of life, and thought most adults were idiots and dumb, and couldn't believe that they didn't know something. "Uh, noooo, how can you not know that? Duhhh." Thanks for the trip down memory lane with those "uhs", that was great.

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IAmPamCakes Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:55am
post #17 of 47

AIs this Cake Central? Or Music Student Central? Do I care that you know the names of so many musicians? ... uuuuhh, no.

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sixinarow Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:56am
post #18 of 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 

That reminds me of when I was in my smart ass prepubescent phase of life, and thought most adults were idiots and dumb, and couldn't believe that they didn't know something. "Uh, noooo, how can you not know that? Duhhh." Thanks for the trip down memory lane with those "uhs", that was great.

LOL! I still think it in my mind sometimes! :wink:

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ApplegumPam Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 1:00am
post #19 of 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmPamCakes 

Is this Cake Central? Or Music Student Central? Do I care that you know the names of so many musicians? ... uuuuhh, no.


Nah .... he plays with his OWN organ !

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AZCouture Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 1:03am
post #20 of 47

ASo Lizzybug, I would say to jump in and share some work! Someone whos been going for 20 years must have some serious photo collections, and seriously funny client stories.

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Lizzybug78 Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 12:25pm
post #21 of 47

A

Original message sent by AZCouture

So Lizzybug, I would say to jump in and share some work! [B]Someone whos been going for 20 years must have some serious photo collections, and seriously funny client stories[/B].

Ah, 20 years experience, not working! Only been doing the selling part for a few years;-) I started when I was 15 with my sister's 3 tier royal iced wedding cake, cos there's nothing like easing in to a hobby is there? :grin: And of course, despite me not having any photos of it, I'm positive that that first major cake using royal icing that relies on good and practised technique was awesome and perfect, right? *hears crickets chirping and sees dustball weaving across the floor*

I've just had a look again on the Cakenweenie site and found Verucca, and as I expected she's brilliant:) What I find so impressive though, from yours and the other designs, is the originality of them. I can honestly hand on heart say I would never have thought of giving her an acorn for a head - that to me is a genius idea.

I'm just going to see if I can find some photos to post, then try and work out how to post them. Back in a bit.

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AZCouture Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 3:23pm
post #22 of 47

AHa ha...yay! Looking forward to seeing your schtuff!

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-K8memphis Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 3:27pm
post #23 of 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzybug78 

I've just had a look again on the Cakenweenie site and found Verucca, and as I expected she's brilliant:) 

 

 

hey lizzy or az-- can you post me a link right to verucca or tell me where to go once i go back to the website--it was too big for me--i got lost

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-K8memphis Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 4:21pm
post #25 of 47

thank you sweetcarolines--

 

and a really nice figurine

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sixinarow Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 6:13pm
post #26 of 47

Just so everyone can see Veruca in all her glory! :smile:

 

 Veruca Salt - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Jaimie Hoffman - Yuma Couture

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JWinslow Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 6:32pm
post #27 of 47

Nice, AZ :)

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MBalaska Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 8:21pm
post #28 of 47

that sculpture is unique and creative. the clothing is unbelievable.  I'm baffled by the modeling that you all do. Wow.

but to stay true to the thread....... "my lesser level of adequacy may or may not reach for the stars and aim for the moon, but only reach the rooftops".:)

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cakeyouverymuch Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 10:56pm
post #29 of 47

AZ,

 

May we know how you did the edge of the jacket?  Is that a mold? 

 

And I love the polka dot stockings.

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AZCouture Posted 18 Jan 2014 , 11:01pm
post #30 of 47

AWell, thank you. That was exruded fondant rope, and I think I just smushed it up with a grass tip of something else pointy to pull up some texture.

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