Should I go on?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by art deco cakes by galidink on October 7, 2012 at 3:47pm

ok , try not to worry so much, i am very sure we ,and many others know your work is beautiful , and you would not do that with your work ,

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on October 7, 2012 at 4:26pm

I make cake toppers on the odd occasion for people who simply can't afford the whole cake package I offer, and one thing that I learned early on is at some stage you have to let go. Once the cake or topper is out of your hands, you have no control or say in what happens to it or what someone does to it. You have completed your part of the business transaction and done it well. What happens after that is not up to you. It doesn't matter what you think about what the client does with the cake or topper, as long as the CUSTOMER is happy. That's the bottom line. I too have seen photos of the cake at the party, and although it's not how I would have done it, the recipient was happy with it.
Professionally, of course you can look at this cake and know that you could have done it better, but that's not what you were contracted to do. It's up to the cake maker to bring the two elements together. Honestly I don't think your name would have been tarnished by this one cake; it would be the baker, because although the flowers are lovely, people will be looking at 'the cake' as a whole and associate that with whoever made it. 
I would be saying to the baker, did you know that I made my flowers so you can attach them to the cake like this? You can also do *insert solution here* so that it blends with the rest of the cake.
Show them how you would do it, because they need to learn that skill if they are to work with you in the future or anyone else for that matter. If you can't let your work 'go' work educate them so you'll both benefit.

Permalink Reply by art deco cakes by galidink on October 7, 2012 at 5:39pm

yes your rite Yvonne ! like they came out of a play dough toy !
yvonne murphy said:

Your flowers are Beautiful. The swags look like rolled fondant strings, not swags at all.

 

Permalink Reply by Linda Luna on October 7, 2012 at 6:37pm

Without your flowers, could this person even sell her cakes? I do not think so. If the customers want your beautiful work, they should order from you.

Permalink Reply by Sandi Newsome on October 7, 2012 at 7:43pm

I agree they did not do your work justice with this cake.  The drapes are really bad, looks like they piped butter cream with a large tip.  Maybe they don't work in fondant or maybe the bride didn't want fondant on the cake, who knows.  I am not a professional but I am a bit of a perfectionist and I would be disappointed also.  I was recently asked to make flowers for a wedding cake I haven't seen a photo of the finished cake and frankly I don't want to.  I know that the cake would not meet my standards but the bride was happy and thats what counts.  The bride in your case knew the bakers work before ordering her cake she had some idea of what to expect. It looks like they piped buttercream to make the drape, maybe they don't work with fondant or maybe the bride didn't want fondant, who knows.  The important this as Bettina said is that it is not your work that will be judged it is the bakers name that went on that cake not yours.  I'm a seamstress and many times I have been asked to create something that I didn't like, that I was actually embarrassed to show as my work but my hubby has to keep reminding me that it is not what I want but what the customer wants. 

Don't let it get to you, take photos of your work before you deliver it and then let it go.  You know you do excellant work you can't control the work of others.  But if you can't let it go then maybe you should ask for examples of the work the people ordering from you before you accept the job and maybe give them some instructions on how they should include them on the cake.

Permalink Reply by Magdalena Visser on October 8, 2012 at 3:06am

I think your suggestion to give off and let go is a very good one. Shame the baker that decorated and then sent me the photo's was proud of his work and actually called it a masterpiece, so who am I to judge? ;0)    

Sandra Newsome said:

I agree they did not do your work justice with this cake.  The drapes are really bad, looks like they piped butter cream with a large tip.  Maybe they don't work in fondant or maybe the bride didn't want fondant on the cake, who knows.  I am not a professional but I am a bit of a perfectionist and I would be disappointed also.  I was recently asked to make flowers for a wedding cake I haven't seen a photo of the finished cake and frankly I don't want to.  I know that the cake would not meet my standards but the bride was happy and thats what counts.  The bride in your case knew the bakers work before ordering her cake she had some idea of what to expect. It looks like they piped buttercream to make the drape, maybe they don't work with fondant or maybe the bride didn't want fondant, who knows.  The important this as Bettina said is that it is not your work that will be judged it is the bakers name that went on that cake not yours.  I'm a seamstress and many times I have been asked to create something that I didn't like, that I was actually embarrassed to show as my work but my hubby has to keep reminding me that it is not what I want but what the customer wants. 

Don't let it get to you, take photos of your work before you deliver it and then let it go.  You know you do excellant work you can't control the work of others.  But if you can't let it go then maybe you should ask for examples of the work the people ordering from you before you accept the job and maybe give them some instructions on how they should include them on the cake.

Permalink Reply by Magdalena Visser on October 8, 2012 at 3:10am

Thank you, But maybe he tried his best. I'll suggest to the manager that I'll teach them how to make a swag for the future. 

yvonne murphy said:

Your flowers are Beautiful. The swags look like rolled fondant strings, not swags at all.

 

Permalink Reply by Magdalena Visser on October 8, 2012 at 3:16am

The problem is that these people don't know about me, They work in the city and know that this large retail branch bake wedding cakes. If I knew how to market them I would've done it a long time ago. They are the people who order 5 + layered cakes. 
Linda Luna said:

Without your flowers, could this person even sell her cakes? I do not think so. If the customers want your beautiful work, they should order from you.

Permalink Reply by Mandy Nel on October 8, 2012 at 3:17am

Enjoy your break xxxxxxx

Katy Nott said:

Magdalena, I am so sad to read your post.  How bitterly disappointing for you to put so much effort in to something and then have a bunch of amateurs mess it up for you.  If you are not happy having your name associated with these people, then you have to have a serious discussion with them.  Tell them you are not happy with the quality of their work and either they step up or you back out.  You cannot allow yourself to be embarrassed by something that is associated with you.  I have felt like this in a job I had towards the end of my career.  I was an expert in my field (corporate travel management) and my last job was working in a company that I didn't really have much respect for with a bunch of people, most of whom were average to say the least and didn't give a toss about the client.  I was glad to be out of it frankly, as I felt they were damaging my reputation and I could do little about it.  

I will be interested to hear what others say, and what your decision will be.  We are going away for a few days tomorrow and this is my last comment for a few days.  But I shall watch this discussion and read others comments when we get back

Sending love and hugs - keep you chin up!

xx

Permalink Reply by Danielle Dyskin on October 8, 2012 at 8:30am

It is a shame that they made the cake look so bad but you can be sure that the bride never heard about you so your reputation would not be damaged - the bakery is selling the cake with their design and their flowers (even if they don't make them).  I sell edible images to one of my competitors and it actually makes me feel good that their finished cakes don't look as good as mine (yes I am a bitch) - but no client will ever know that I am doing the images for them. If you are making money from selling your flowers to a bigger bakery don't lose out just because you don't like the finished product - you are still getting paid for doing something you love. 

Permalink Reply by Magdalena Visser on October 8, 2012 at 8:35am

That is so true. I went to see the manager and he agrees with me. He will try to get permission for me to give them a bit of training.

Danielle Dyskin said:

It is a shame that they made the cake look so bad but you can be sure that the bride never heard about you so your reputation would not be damaged - the bakery is selling the cake with their design and their flowers (even if they don't make them).  I sell edible images to one of my competitors and it actually makes me feel good that their finished cakes don't look as good as mine (yes I am a bitch) - but no client will ever know that I am doing the images for them. If you are making money from selling your flowers to a bigger bakery don't lose out just because you don't like the finished product - you are still getting paid for doing something you love. 

Permalink Reply by Mandy Nel on October 8, 2012 at 8:40am

I hear u sista!!! :-)

Danielle Dyskin said:

It is a shame that they made the cake look so bad but you can be sure that the bride never heard about you so your reputation would not be damaged - the bakery is selling the cake with their design and their flowers (even if they don't make them).  I sell edible images to one of my competitors and it actually makes me feel good that their finished cakes don't look as good as mine (yes I am a bitch) - but no client will ever know that I am doing the images for them. If you are making money from selling your flowers to a bigger bakery don't lose out just because you don't like the finished product - you are still getting paid for doing something you love. 

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