Thursday, July 29, 2010

In The Beginning....


Hello everyone! How is your summer going? Mine has been busy as heck and it is flying by.

And since it's hot as Hades down here where I live, I took the opportunity to stay in the A/C and did some deep de-cluttering of my house.

While going through boxes, I found these very old photos of cakes I made about 23 years ago , at the time of my first classes. What a fun surprise to have found them, and to look back at the old days!


These are the actual class cakes. My brother Michael took the class with me. He is such a cool guy. You have met him before here and here. I think mine are the two on the right. The class was given at a local cake supply shop, and would be the equivalent of Wilton 1 and 2 , I would guess.




A sheet cake I did shortly after. The flower basket is made like those panoramic eggs with a mold and granulated sugar. I think that started my infatuation with molds.


Proof that at one time I could make a buttercream rose that was halfway decent.



Ah, my famous rough icing that I use when I do not want to bother with smoothing the cake. Freehand writing could use a little work, LOL.




I remember bringing this baby shower cake to work at the hospital where I worked at the time. All plastic decorations..... haha



A baby rattle......




Notice that you can see the cake through the icing. I had not perfected my icing technique yet. :)



I seem to have been fascinated by plastic decorations. Tried my hand at block writing since my script left something to be desired.



It tickles me to look back and see how my skills have progressed. There are a lot of good memories tied to these cakes as well, as I did them all for friends and family.


Do you guys have old cake pictures you look at from time to time?



To celebrate all of our humble beginnings, and because it has been way too long.......


TIME FOR A GIVE-AWAY!


Everyone who posts a comment below will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes:



Wedding Bouquet Flavoring (5 bottles will be given away)

and a beautiful item from the CONFECTION COLLECTION!



Winners will be announced next week, so enter now!


Good luck!
Sharon



316 comments:

1 – 200 of 316   Newer›   Newest»
Diana Viera said...

I think it's great that you are sharing with us the beginnings of your creations. It shows that practice can lead to bigger and better things. ~ Diana Viera

Tawnya Torres said...

OMGee......I remember when I first started learning. I didn't take any classes, my mom taught me the very basics. You have come a loooong way!!!

Danielle said...

Oh wow! Trip down memory lane huh? Thanks for sharing with us! I look back at my first cakes and cookies etc - which was only 18 months ago - and laugh (fondly).

becklynn said...

LOVE the plastic decorations:-D
I actually took my Wilton classes (with Ruth!) at the JC Penney store in Lakeside Mall. This has inspired me dig out some pictures of my first cakes! My very first cake was a Cat in the Hat cake for my son....ya gotta start somewhere!
Becky
PS: I love the new DVD!

grgapch said...

You've come a long way baby!

Unknown said...

When I look back at my work, I laugh, yes I laugh at myself cause it looks like I had taken some speed and decided to decorate, hahahha. But hey, you have to start somewhere. By the way, I really enjoy how you share your knowledge with everyone, not everyone is that quick to do it. Have a "cool" summer!!

dina said...

we all had to start some where.

ljchris said...

Thanks for sharing your first creations. There's hope for me after all!!

BrendaM said...

WOW! Those basket sugar molds.....Now that's old school....LOL
Your beginner cakes look better than mine.
Thanks for posting these...there's hope for me yet.

Donna g said...

Your first cakes even
looked good.

Joy said...

Great story and pics! I'm a beginner and your story gives me hope that w/LOTS of practice, I will get better!

Nikole said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures with us!

carlakb said...

I can remember the 1st cake I made for my mom becoming a pastor and I proudly brought it to her Church for her celebration; I think I might have embaressed her w/it? It was a dark purple, didn't know how to pipe yet or smooth my icing, but I really tried. Lol

Cake Believe said...

I love that you started somewhere other than where you are now....it leaves hope for the rest of us! Thanks for sharing so much with us!

ElizabethM said...

I guess you have had enough practice to make perfect because your cakes are now just perfect!
LOL - I think they still sell those plastic decorations!!! :-)

Gabby Malcuit said...

Thanks for posting these!

Marlyn Adames said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marlyn said...

It is great to look back to when we started and see the amazing improvement that practice makes, It makes you feel great!

mommyofseven said...

Thanks for showing what lots of hard work and practice can do. You are always such a big help and always quick to encourage. THANKS

Anonymous said...

Oh, this gives me SUCH hope! My current cakes look like your beginner cakes, and oh how I want to make cakes like you make them now! Thanks for sharing these! It definitely gives me hope that I can become Sharon #2...especially with your AWESOME DVDs!!! Love 'em! ~RCW

FrostedFantasies said...

I love when experienced decorators share their early cakes...it makes me feel a little better! I haven't been doing cakes very long, but hopefully with more practice and watching your videos I will become closer to your perfection!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing.
Tangela
Tang_erine_15@hotmail.com

Annette said...

You were a natural right from the beginning :-) Thank you for sharing your pictures and for the chance to win one of your niece's creations, they are wonderful!!!

Annette

http://suinflowerscreations.blogspot.com

Heidi said...

Your post reminds me of my first cakes. I've definitely improved, though I still have a long way to go.
heidikittelson@gmail.com

Newtothis said...

Your first cakes look great! I would never post mine.

reesesob said...

I just found my old pictures in the basement an couldn't help but laugh! Thanks for sharing yours!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing. Your work is great.

Nhalia said...

You've given me hope that I can get better LOL :) Thanks for sharing those with us!!

Jean said...

Sharon, I love seeing your work "in the beginning". It gives me hope for myself! I have to say, even back then your work was neat, clean and creative. I just got received your Sheet Cake DVD this week. I'm loving it! I have always dreaded when someone in the family wanted "just a sheet cake". Now I feel like can give them a sheet cake I can be proud of! Thanks, you're amazing.

Sheridan said...

That is great!

Lauren said...

Oh my those are great pictures!! Thank you so much for sharing them.

Laura M said...

Just got my first video of yours about the basics of buttercream. So excited to watch it! :)

Anonymous said...

OMG! I still have my very first photos too LOCKED AWAY!! LOL! I always tell my students to take pictures of their cakes and write the date on the back if it doesn't automatically print on the front so you can see just how far you have come.

The plastic decos just crack me up! There is a cake store north of me that sells tons of the plastic toys for the tops. I cringe when I walk down that aisle.

Tricia Crowe said...

You are an absolute inspiration and it gives me the encouragement to keep going. In 23 years time I might also be able to turn out your current works of art!
Tricia Crowe

Unknown said...

How brave you are to post your first cakes! Thanks for showing us where you started.

Traci said...

I cringe when I look at my first cakes, but the people I made them for were impressed at the time. Go figure. I guess we're hardest on ourselves, aren't we. I'm much improved, thank goodness, but still learning thanks to TV and dvd's like yours! Keep 'em coming!

chineva said...

thank you for sharing your beginning, It gives me hope to do great things.

Jennifer G. said...

I liked seeing your cake pictures. Thank you for all of the skills and knowledge that you share!

Monica said...

Sharon, I just want to say THANKS for making our lives better so that we can improve our Cake mastering Skills. All of your DVD's ROCK!!!

Lora said...

Isn't crazy how far you've come? I remember some of my first cakes and am still nowhere near your talent, but hope to be one day. Thanks for sharing. Just goes to show how far you can go with perseverance.

Sweet Designed Cakes by Itala said...

It is good to see how you started. Thank you for sharing those moments with us.
I love your work and your dvds.

Toi Myers said...

Sharon, Sharon, Sharon. I can see from your old photos, that even back then you showed great the talent that you have now. Yes, it has evolved to perfection but, I could see where your cakes were smooth as butter. Lol, I do the same thing, rough icing, when I'm doing a cake for the house or neighbor that I don't feel like being bother with, hehe. I have lots of old pics that I look at and sometime cry (joy) bc of how far I have come in being a cake decorator. Thank you to all of the cake decorators that are an inspiration to me, especially YOU!! Thank you! Keep the videos coming :-)

EmberFae said...

I love seeing where people began! It's amazing to see the progression. Thank you for sharing your beginnings with us!!!

Unknown said...

How great that you still have the photos! Isn't fun to go back and look at those old pics? Makes you feel proud of all you accomplished :-)

KOELLA said...

thanks for sharing! Its inspiring to see how far you've come- thanks for continuing to help share your knowledge for success!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Love your videos and all your inspiring tips! Your buttercream dvd is amazing!!!

Deah said...

Too bad there wasn't SugarEd Productions way back when. Glad we have you now!

Anonymous said...

Your beginning cakes look fantastic! Mine looked nowhere near as good as yours!
Rita-Greer,SC

Amy Schlager said...

Fun to see but I bet your friends loved your cakes and were excited you made them with love just for them....and you have come a LONG ways!! Yay!!!

wjbowden3 said...

Im a Beginner in cake decorating , i have only made 14 cakes and i search everyday online for other cake sites to llearn as much as i can , and when i found your site, I defiantly want your dvds, Very informative, seeing your cakes from when you first started, ,Your an inspiration to beginners like myself as far as i am concerned, I only hope and pray i can get as good as you are , so maybe sometime after a few hundred cakes i can start to consider trying to sell my cakes and donate my cakes, (http://jaciscakedesigns.blogspot.com/) Its an incredable feeling to put such a big smile on someones face when they see such georgoeus cakes as yours, Thank you so much for Sharing

Zabrina said...

I remember my first cake was my very own baby shower cake! I had somuch fun doing it and funny enough also used some molds for the teddy bears I used. It's good to see pics from the very begining, it reminds us of the progress we've made.
-Zabrina

Anya R. said...

If I showed you pictures of my class cakes, you'd know why I gave up on buttercream and started hiding everything with fondant!

Susan said...

I love looking at early photos of cakes I have decorated. You have come such a long way! :)

Mish clark said...

Too funny. It reminds me of cakes my mom makes. I love them

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the inspiration!

Keri Barousse said...

Thanks so much for showing us your first cakes. You give us "Beginner Decorators" hope that we can someday be half as good as you are!!

Anonymous said...

What fun to dig up old pictures! I came across mine the other day - yikes.... either laugh or cry ~ such memories...thanks for sharing yours.
I have a few of your dvds - they are awesome ! Thank you again !!

cmalin3 said...

You know, I think we all need to look at photos of our "early work" from time to time! Sometimes it's a giggle, sometimes it's an honest-to-goodness "Wow! Look how far I've come!". Your generosity with your knowledge and experience is such a boon to those of us just starting out. Thanks a million!

Unknown said...

I am new to cake decorating but I am taking lots of photos now so I can look back and see them.

Cristina said...

I hope one day I can make beautiful cakes as yours!!!
I will be trying your white cake recipe this weekend!! :)

Sue Buckley said...

Sharon, you HAVE come a long way, but think of the pleasure of making those cakes! You are so dedicated to improving everyone's techniques, and that is because you started out just like us in the beginning! Your videos are great! I even learned a lot from your latest!

Cristina said...

I hope one day I can make such beautiful cakes as you do!! I will be baking the white cake this weekend. ;0

nayeli hartman said...

I now see I need about 23 years to be as good as you :) I will be about 60 years...
Thank you for sharing!

Kerri Richards said...

Oh those beginning cakes!!! But aren't they fun to look at and relive the journey! (I took all of mine out of my cake albums - lol)~ Kerri Richards

amandaluvscakes said...

I have been looking for my old photos - what a comparison that will be - hehe. I placed an order last week (my second from you) and can't wait to get it. I am also making your buttercream recipe for the first time tonight. I have many good recipes that I have used but so many people rave over yours on cake central that I just have to try it. Thanks for sharing so much with the cake community ;)
Amanda Andrew

Unknown said...

You have GROWN SOoooo MUCH. May you continue to be BLESSED!!!!!!

MasBella2u2 said...

I love your work and would like to get started again with cakes and always look forward to seeing all of your marvelous delights...

x said...

I love Wedding Bouquet and old photos.

Fabby said...

Hi Sharon,

I love the work you do. I had no doubts that you can make roses. I think mastering the rose is one of the most challenging techniques a cake decorator must conquer. I just finished making 300 burgundy roses and trust me it was a lot of work.
I had a lot of fun making a fashion cake for a friend. It was a purse, shoe, necklace and lipstick. I enjoy what I do.
I love watching your tutorial videos. They are full of so much useful information and great Ideas. I appreciate the work and effort you put into creating each one of them.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Fabby

Anonymous said...

I love how you started out learning and then WOW WOW WOW ...look at them now...I am still a beginner..I have only been making cakes now for 1 year and I hope one day to be half as good as you are!
Crystal Lucas

Anna said...

it's fun to look back...I had some pretty crazy cakes years ago. I like to think I'm a bit better now :D

Bonnie R. said...

It's fun to see your early works. It gives us newer decorators hope for our futures.

Liz said...

What a great post! I love looking back at my old work as well. Helps me appreciate how much I've learned :)

julieswmclasses@aol.com said...

As i sit here thinking about the cake business my friend and I are going to start . I think back tothe beginning cakes and that I too can accomplish greatness with practice , learning and more practice. Thank you for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

Even as a beginner you can see you talent! Thanks for sharing your earlier creations with us!

Sugarplum Cake Boutique said...

I have some long lost cake photos too! It's fun and scary all at the same time to look back. I think you had something going, even in the beginning, for smooth icing!

Sugarplum Cake Boutique said...

i have those "in the beginning" cake pics too! it's scary and fun all at the same time to look back. Your cakes were sooo smooth, even in the beginning!

Rebecca said...

Cute cakes! It's fun to see where you've come from! :)

Kirsten said...

I have some of those "80's" cake pics too..from my first Wilton class..but I must admit..your talent has far surpassed mine..You are awesome! :o)

Jessica Nanney said...

I love looking at your first cakes!!! I too have noticed how much my skills have improved just in a year... and that is all thanks to your DVD techniques and practice, practice, practice!! :)

Rachel said...

I take photos of all my cakes; I would love to win!

Anonymous said...

Your Fondant DVD has been so helpful, along with your website full of helpful information and inspiration! Getting ready to order "Boxes and Bows" and so want your DVD for the Topsy Turvy. I have done little family cakes and a couple Buttercream Wedding and Anniversary Cakes. I am addicted and look forward to progressing and improving the art! Thanks!
Sandy

Michaela said...

I love the trip down memory lane! It gives me hope! You have come a long way!

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing those pictures. I have just started decorating but that's definitely an encouragement to keep practicing. oh and I love your dvds!

Unknown said...

Hi Sharon, I´m been following your blog from some time now and my best friend just bought three of your DVD´s for me as a gift (I think he wants something more than a friendship hahaha)and I´m dying for them to get here! I´m saving all my butter/hi ratio shorening/eggs etc until they arrive, don´t wanna run out on anything at half trough the DVD! =P

Shani said...

Your beginner cakes actually look better than some of the cakes I've seen at the local grocery store! Thanks for showing us what time and a lot of practice can bring! --Shani

Ivy D. said...

I enjoyed looking at your first cakes. I just completed a mini course for decorating cakes, but my cakes did not look anything close to yours. It is obvious that you had experience before producing those beautiful cakes. I hope to continue with the courses. I find it to be so much fun. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

How totally cool that a famous sugar artist would share her beginning decorating efforts. Many thanks. Olivia

lisa gassmann said...

I wouldn't say I "like" to look back at those old pictures, but I do like to look at how far I've come. Thanks for sharing.

Olivia Mageau said...

How totally cool that a famous decorator would show us her first decorating efforts. Many Thanks. Olivia

Jen said...

Sharon...Thanks so much for letting up see the early beginnings of your fabulous work. I laugh when I look back at my first cakes, lots of Wilton character pans and they were all decorated in stars. Thanks again for sharing.

Debbie said...

I keep pictures of all my cakes, not really a whole lot to date since I just began classes Jan of 2010, but have been making ones for family and friends as well. If I learn nothing else, I definitely learn something from each cake that I can work on to make better! I love this new journey and so appreciate your expertise and advice. Deb

Anonymous said...

Your old pics look good, shows how far you have came. Keep up the good work.

Leana

leana@rdmfg.net

Linda said...

It is so fun to see that we all started at about the same place! Now, if only I had progressed as far as you!

Lecia said...

It is so nice to see that even you are are so talented started off basic :)

ShelleyG said...

Even back then, you were pretty darn good. To progress and perfection, you are an inspiration, Sharon.

Julie said...

Wow! You have come a long way! Such an inspiration to all of us novices!

Anonymous said...

kinda reminds me of my first cakes
crooked writing and all
but i am still not at your level
I guess it'll take me about 23 yrs too.
I admire your talent so much
comtinue to do good work and God bless!!!!!

Melissa said...

Thank you for sharing with us your first cakes. It's encouraging to see that not every cake has to be perfect! Thanks!

Debssweets said...

Thanks for sharing your beginnings, I always get a kick out of those first attempts. I'll never forget the first wedding cake that had about 300 royal icing roses. Now that was a learning experience. Don't think I've made a royal icing rose since then. LOL

Sugar Pie said...

I'm sure that you were beaming about those cakes much the same as you beam today. Isn't it a good feeling to look back and see how much you have progressed? This also gives other decorators hope that preserverance will pay off.

Carol said...

I love these pictures! I still remember my first layered cake, a 6-layer coconut cake of all the things! What was I thinking. Thank goodness the frosting didn't have to be perfect since it was covered in coconut. Turned out pretty good for being my first one.

Melissa said...

Thanks for sharing! It made me want to pull out my old pictures...

quarkwright said...

What?? No star-tipped character cakes?!?

Unknown said...

Sharon I think I am still in the humble beginnings stage. I hope some day to look back on pictures and see the progress.

Shirley Nault

Kristy said...

It is so nice To know that even the best started with a basics course like I'm in now! You really inspire me! Thank you!

monique said...

They look great! Wonderful inspiration for newbies.

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is great!!! Your cakes are so perfect that it gives me hope in knowing that you started out like most of us and progressed to the great decorator that you are today!

kylakae said...

How fun! This post makes me want to hunt down pictures of my early cakes. I know I have some hiding somewhere!

Susan said...

I just recently started cake decorating, and even in this short time I can see a big difference! Thanks for sharing your beginning photos!

Debbie said...

I just want to say thank you for showing a much better way to smooth ice cakes now. After Crisco changed their formula I thought I was done for. I got your DVD and I am totally loving it. Your writing wasn't that bad. You should have seen mine when I first started. Really really bad. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

jamalpecoe said...

Thanks for sharing - it gives me such hope that with time and practice I could actually be good too! ;) I love how you are so down to earth about stuff. And your cakes are truly amazing!

Jaycee said...

This is too funny! I know that in a few years from now, I will probably be doing the same thing with the pictures I have of my current cakes! Here's to knowing that we all get better with practice! Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge with us!

W. Humphreys said...

I'm excited to get the Back to Basics DVD....and win some wedding bouquet flavoring! :)

Jenn Holt said...

I have some of those too, though I have not perfected my decorating totally, but I do still see a difference. Love the pics, Definately lets us know there is hope for all of us, lol!

Anonymous said...

Great to see you started out the same way! Thanks for sharing.

Maya's Kalupi said...

Hi Sharon!

Thanks for sharing the pictures...
THank you so much also for including my comment for your Back to Basics DVD...I'm "Armee C"
I'm so happy when I saw my comment when i opened sugareds email to my inbox.
I have ordered some stuff needed for doing fondant cakes...I'm so excited to receive it so that I can start baking already....
Your baking experience is like "WOW"..."i'm not worthy"...lol..wishing you more cakes to bake and decorate!!!

Maya's Kalupi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jhkfan said...

You give me hope that someday I will make great cakes too!! I've got a long way to go, baby! Love your new DVD, I've learned a lot.

mszig01 said...

Sharon your past work compared to your currant work Amazing. But we all have to start somewhere. I am very new to cake decorating and your DVD'S are a great add on to my Wilton classes I have taken. I am excited to see your future DVD'S of specific cake projects.
Mitzi Brignac

mszig01 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TucsonGina said...

Even back then you had natural talent! I remember going to classes with my mom 40 years ago and I have just started decorating this January! Thanks for sharing!

Josée said...

Even your 'rough' icing looks better than my 'smooth' icing on a good day! But thanks to your Perfecting the Art of Buttercream DVD, I'm slowly improving!

skirt2131@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

My first cake was an 8" round with Wilton roses. The cake shows thru because I didn't have any idea how to ice a cake.
Now, a whole 4 months later, I'm going to be brave and bring in, not one, but TWO, cakes to the 2010 ICES Cake Shack. I'm SO tickled you showed your humble beginnings cakes, because if you can do it, SO CAN I!!! See you at ICES! Christina

Ellen said...

It's nice to know there is hope for me in 20 years! Hopefully, I will perfect my decorating as you did. I started with classes at Michael's also. It's a bug you catch and can't get rid of! Thanks Sharon for sharing all your secrets on your DVD's, they have so much info on them!

Ellen

Unknown said...

I remember my first cake... I was 8! :) I made a 3 layer round with terrible pink buttercream roses and DARK DARK DARK green vines all over the cake! (This was before I realized that more coloring WASN'T always better.) Haha... those were the days.

Terri said...

I love looking at your cake pictures. You have come so far. It reminds me that everyone starts somewhere and that I have a chance of being as wonderful at decorating as you are. I love your videos and the ideas and techniques that I can learn and incorporate into my cake business.

Lorie said...

i recently found some of my mother's plastic cake decorations--including the Wilton clown heads. 30 years later and they still freak me out. How far caking has come!

Lilly's cakes said...

Hi I started cake decorating about 1 year ago i never took a class so i think its great that you share with us, i like to read you on your blog and i also fallow you on facebook, thank you for inspiraring me .... i hope i win been wanting to see one of your dvd :)

Anonymous said...

I love pictures from the past and all the sweet "rememberings" that go along with them. Thank you for sharing.

Linda H.

Charmaine said...

Thank you for sharing those "first" photos with us all, it does take one back in time.
I have always wanted to do cake decorating and I do have a photo of my first wedding anniversary cake that I did 42yrs ago. But, would have to "dig" through the loads of photographs to find it.
Anything for a laugh.....right?

vpardo53 said...

I remember one of my first cakes was for my daughter's first birthday. It was a cake shaped like a cat on top of a sheet cake. During the party the cat's head fell off. I was in tears!!!! :-)

Nofi said...

Wow, you really have come a LONG way. I haven't decorated as long as you but I'm enjoying it. But I forgot to take pictures sometimes. =S Anyway, I love your DVDs and have learned a lot from them. THANK YOU!!!! =D

Cara said...

I built my very first cake last weekend! It was such a wonderful feeling to come away having learned soooo much about making a cake (especially with fondant) by just jumping in head first.

Here's my blog post on it: http://butter2mybread.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-built-you-cake.html

Elins Cards and other handscrafts said...

So nice to see that you have been a beginner once too ;o) Thanks for sharing..
It's amazing sometimes what one can find deep into the boxes hideing away.

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see that even you had humble beginnings!
Love your plastic accessory fondness!!

Rhonda Christensen said...

Sharon...you are just awesome to show us your early work and for sharing so much with us!

Anonymous said...

those cakes are amazing!

Anastasia Ward said...

Hard work pays OFF And you have proved it.Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Sharon, You and you cakes are amazing. I absolutely love all of your tutorials. Thank you for sharing!

Danella

danella_lovett@yahoo.com

Colleen said...

I hate to show my age, but I, too, have lots of those types of photos from the early 1990s. Cake decorating has come a long way. Clearly you had talent from day one! Love your instructional videos -- they are the BEST! Thanks, Colleen

Kupkakeinator said...

I love looking back at old cake photos, it shows how much you have improved and evolved your style over the years. One of my fave photos is the one that got me really obsessed with cake decorating properly, rather than just as basic cakes - I got obsessed with sugarcraft! Long may it reign.

Annie said...

This is too funny! We found a photo of my first "theme" cake. ( I created a fishing cake for my husbands 24th birthday...complete with Ken doll and fish ornaments ) Often talked about over the last 10 years. Looking at the photo now....I'm horrified! Based on the expression captured in the photo...so was my husband. Thankfully...I've come a long way baby! It's great to remind ourselves how far we've come! Thanks for sharing your humble beginnings.

ginger said...

Thanks for sharing the photos! I think I have a few of those hiding in my drawer, I'm afraid to bring them out, but that is actually a great idea! I'm sure my students would love to see that my cakes started out just like theirs!!! Thanks for all that you do!

ginger soave

Alexis said...

Love looking at your old cake photos. Reminds me that we all have to start somewhere :)

Petite Foury said...

Wooow, 23 years of experience! And I have only ONE :-) . But, hey, you make PERRRRRFECT cakes, and most of all you are a great teacher; and that should be the greatest achievement that anyone is expecting after a long period of learning & practicing.
Regarding my "first cakes", I have a few photos on my blog with the first creations, put them there to see from where I've started, and where I am today...there is a tiny evolution :-)))

Kim C said...

Well it's sure fun to look back at your old picks. It's true we all have to start somewhere and look where you are now. You go girl!! I too have come a long way in learning and have much more to go. Thanks for your wonderful dvd's because they are the best!

lam159 said...

For a beginner, your cakes look great! The only direction you can go is up!!! Keep up the exceptional work!!!!

Anonymous said...

I remember growing up watching my mom decorate cakes. I remember those plastic decorations LOL! I would of never thought I'd be decortating cakes myself one day!

Jenny said...

How fun! It proves that all anyone needs is practice and more practice. I love your cakes and videos. Thank you for sharing!!

Kristin said...

Love it! I can't wait 'till the day I can look back and say, OMG. My cakes have a LONG way to go before I ever come close to yours! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm with everyone else on this one...it gives us hope! Thanks again and God Bless!

Stacey said...

Wow! 23 years. I began decorating ten years ago when a friend wanted to learn, so I tagged along to a class with her. Now, I love doing cakes!

Unknown said...

Seeing where you started to where you've become, gives us beginners hope! Thanks!

Alice Ann Horner said...

I am glad to know that I am not the only one that started out that way! Love the DVDs!
DoubleACakes!

Susan White said...

I have been waiting patiently for you to post the pictures after you commented on them on FB last week when you found them! It is so reassuring to me to see that you started exactly where I did -- and that I can keep my hope alive that one day I will create a cake that will rival one of yours! I may need about 10 more classes with you -- but maybe someday huh? Thanks Sharon - you will never know what an inspiration you are to so many - in so many different ways!

Donna Linnane said...

Sharon, you are such an inspiration. Seeing your early work makes me feel encouraged. Practice really does pay off! Thanks for all you do,
Donna

Anonymous said...

Thanks for allowing us to join you on your trip down memory lane. Your first cakes were much more ambitious than mine. My first cake was a sheet cake decorated to look like a man's shirt complete with plastic collar and tie. It didn't take a whole lot of "skill" but I was so, so proud of it.

vj said...

I'm an RN. I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to baking. I love to bake and decorate cakes. That is my stress reliever. I remeber those Wilton classes. I was so proud of my first cakes.

Sissy said...

Not sure why my post came across as anonymous but I wrote the one about the sheet cake decorated like a man's shirt. Sorry for the extra post.

CookiePem said...

I find things about every cake that I wish I had done differently. That's what makes the next one better and the more you practice the better they get.

Leaha said...

I love looking at first-time cakes ~ it really makes you realize how far you've come. Stay cool!

RobinLeah said...

I see a lot my my first cakes in yours. I can only hope that my cakes will look as good as yours as I continue.

liz said...

Love the old pics..thanks for sharing!!!

Anonymous said...

from GChen
LOL. funny to look back. my most memorable 1st was with those black diamond sheets. I added to a white cake for my hubby's birthday. The next morning it bled into the white and was pinkish all along where the diamonds met the white. man, i was so bummed. thanks for all your awesome dvds!

gchen2020@yahoo.com

KarolynAndrea said...

I love looking back at my first creations, makes me realize how far I've come. I can't believe people used to "ooh and aah" over those! The biggest improvement with my cakes is when I started using your techniques from the DVD's. I can't thank you enough!

Meredith said...

Thanks for sharing Sharon! I'm lovin the plastic decorations!!
Meredith (from NC purse class)

fiddlesticks said...

Oh how fun to see some of your first cakes...
You really have come a long way baby!

Missy Shay said...

You should see my first cakes - they are terrible! Thank you for sharing!
missy93073@yahoo.com

Sherry Mendez said...

Shazam, It's so cool to see your humble beginnings. I love that we can view your journey from where you started to where you are now, and it's a millions miles in between. However, the not so cool part for us 'beginners' is that your then is MY NOW and I still have a long way to go....Lol. Thanks for sharing so much with us. :-D
Sherry
cakelover@cox.net

DianaTodd said...

I love your "In the beginning Cakes" the icing looks like my beginning cakes. I hate to shoot images of the cakes because I can see that they do not look that great but I do want a history to follow so I can see how I have improved. No matter how bad the cake is I will shoot an image just so I know one day that I did improve! YAY for the give-a-way.
Diana

ME! said...

So, it is possible for me to make cakes that look as good as yours. I just need to practice, practice, practice!

Taresa said...

I remember wanting to do fondant so desperately and it didn't like me very much! Hmmm, I think I'll leave those pictures in the box a while longer! Better now because of techniques I learned from your videos. thanks Girl, You Rock

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your old school photos. Congratulations to 23 years of great cake decorating!

Julie Hansen said...

I am STILL "In the Beginning . . " so I truly appreciate hearing from you and everyone for that matter! I will continue to work at it, whether it is only part-time or not, but I bring cakes into my work like you did. I am looking forward to purchasing your DVDs one day. Hopefully, in a year or so I will be looking back as you are been and say, wow . . look where I started and where I am now. Thank you so much for all your help.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the pics. It's cool to see how your talents have grown over the years. Not saying you weren't great in the beginning. =0)

kristi p said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the hope for all of us out here.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your photos!!
There is hope for me!!! Thank you Jesus!! :) Love your videos.

Roselyn Llanos-Robles

Kristi H said...

What fun! Thanks for sharing with us! It's fun to see were you started. I also like looking back at my first pictures, it helps keep me motivated because I know I've progressed.

DARLENE said...

Postng the photos helps us all know that you have to start out at the very begining and build your skills, I teach and some students are expecting their cakes to look like a cake they have saw on TV and seem to be disappointed with their work. So thanks again for showing us your start and what we can achieve if we keep trying and buying your videos!!!!
Darlene

mpetty said...

Wow, talk about giving someone hope! Your early cakes look a lot like mine! LOL, maybe 23 years from now mine will look as good as yours do now. Thanks to your great DVD's, maybe it'll be that much sooner.

Apria said...

I am a newbie, and learning each day new things. Thanks so much for sharing your craft with us. I do appreciate it, and learn so much.

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting these! Gives beginners like me a lot of hope!

LadybugLuggage said...

Sharon,

Thank you for sharing so much with us, you inspire us to became fabulous ;)

Susan Forest said...

Sharon...I LOVE your cakes and DVD's! I think you've brought each one of us hope and inspiration when you posted your first cakes on your blog for us! I thought you were just born with these amazing skills, so it's nice to see the progression, and, it's not a let-down at all for me to come to the realization that you don't possess Super-Human Decorating Powers like WonderWoman, which is what I originally thought ;)

Christy Kirby said...

Thanks for sharing these. You are so very talented, and it was fun to see how you started out!

Christy Kirby

Kim Barton said...

I've only been decorating for a year and half. Took the Wilton classes last fall. I loved looking at your first cakes...and LOVE your DVD's. I've improved alot since I got my first one.
kimelderbarton@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Your pictures are proof that I can someday be just like you! lol. I just have to keep working at it. You continually amaze me with your skill and creativity, and the dvd's I've already bought have been so helpful. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

Jeanie O'Bryan

Deb said...

Love seeing those early pics. Makes me think there IS hope for me! LOL When we see the amazing work you do, we sometimes forget, everyone has to start somewhere. Thanks so much for sharing your awsome talent! - Deb

LadyDi007 said...

Thanks for sharing. Not many professionals share their beginning experiences. Cake decorating itself has come a long way!!

eeb said...

It just goes to show learning new things embellishes your creativity in a way that when you look back you feel good about how far you've come.

Cindy Guggenheimer said...

I just wish that my first cakes looked that good! I'm still new but I have lots of your DVDs so there is hope for me yet!!

Elaine said...

I just loved looking at your old cakes. I remember making the sugar basket and putting it on a cake when I was a teenager. I took classes, put down the bag until my children were born and then did their b'day cakes. After becoming handicapped, I picked up the bag again and started decorating for therapy and ministry. I hav come a long way and someday will hopefully become a semi pro at sugar art. You dvd's have been such a help and inspiration! THanks. Elaine from ALabama

Beth said...

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your photos! It gives me hope that with lots of practice I can someday be a fabulous decorator like you. Thanks! Beth

thub said...

haha! So awesome to see pictures from when you first started! I think back at some of my cakes with the icing recipe that was given for class and how I used it for some of my first customers....GAAAG! And how we all thought that icing was "good"... who knew there were better ones out there! Thank goodness for internet and SugarEd!

Stephanie Williams said...

I recently started creating cakes. I have most of your DVD's and they are great!

VikTheChef said...

My first cake was a coconut covered Bunny rabbit face with licorice whip whiskers. I thought it was da BOMB! :) Vik

Michelle F said...

Thanks for sharing Sharon, you'll always be my cake decorating hero!

Susie Lang said...

Would never guess these were "beginner" cakes!

Tnash said...

Oh, what a long way you have come! Yes, I have pics of my first cakes: boards without foil, crooked borders and edges, roses and the like. Thanks for the flashback!

edm said...

These are great. Thanks for sharing. Just goes to show, practice make perfect!!

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