Tuesday Sept. 25, 2005
My name is Laura Andrade, I am 32, live in Los Angeles, CA.  Married to a great guy whom I met on the internet about 8 years ago. We have a son who is 17 months. I got into cake decorating before my son turned 12 and we had a nice party and his cake was a Noah's Ark. Did not dare to buy a cake from local bakery because it was tasteless.  Been baking for a long time, love to bake desserts and such.  Did a few wedding cakes for friends and slowly turned into a small business.  Finally I found a kitchen to rent and establish my business legally.  Cakes by Laura was founded on 9/9/05.  My website is www.cakesbylaura.net.  I am a faithfull reader of this board and follow the advice of the experts always.  Dolores has a wealth of information and she is always right there to help me with silly questions.  Thanks for reading and happy baking
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Mon Sep 16 09:52:34 2002
Hi - My name is Diane Burke, I live in CT, have been decorating cakes for 2 years, and teaching Wilton classes for
1 year. I love cake decorating! I am trying to figure out a way to give up my career as an Accountant (19 years) to
pursue this full time.

I am married to Kevin (10 years), and he is SO supportive of my cake decorating, and for that I am very thankful.
He keeps a small photo album on his desk at work so he can share my "creations"!

I have met so many wonderful people - fellow instructors, my students, and now a whole new group of friends on
this board. The photos of your cakes inspire me! Thanks!

I recently put some photos on http://community.webshots.com/user/dpb61

I'd love your feedback...
Thanks for sharing, and special thanks to Delores!
Diane
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Mon Sep 16 11:12:00 2002
My name is Mary McDonough, I live in Charlotte, NC and I just turned 30 on Aug. 21st

I got into cake decorating rather by accident, but now I'm completely hooked! I've been married for almost 2 years
to my wonderful husband Ed, who is the catering sales manager for the Holiday Inn in uptown Charlotte. He was laid
off from his job as event coordinator for a large catering company in December 2000, so we decided to start our
own catering company out of our home. I got talked into doing wedding cakes for a couple of our clients who
couldn't afford the prices of the larger bakeries in our area, and that's how I got started. My mother has been doing
cakes for over 20 years, so I had some background in the craft. Because of the terribly sluggish economy and the
fact that we would like to start a family in the next year or two, we decided in April of this year to give up the
catering business, but I've kept doing cakes. I currently work full time as an administrative asst/office manager for a
consulting firm, but my goal (if my husband continues to be successful with his new job and my cake business keeps
picking up speed,) is to be able to quit in two years to have babies and bake cakes.

This board is one of the main reasons for my cake decorating obsession. I've never met such a wonderful group of
people who are willing to share their wonderful talents and information with others! I'm pretty much self-taught,
although a lot of credit goes to my mother for letting me watch (and help) as I was growing up. I would like to take a
Wilton course in the near future though, because I CANNOT seem to master icing roses...LOL!

Thanks so much to all of you and to Dolores for providing this forum! My contact email is
mmcdonough@parksco.com....please feel free to contact me anytime (just indicate in the subject line that you're
from the Sugarcraft board, so I don't accidentally delete your message!)

Mon Sep 16 18:52:55 2002
Hi, My name is Yvonne Poor. I am 45 years old.I live in Almyra, Arkansas. I have been married 30 years and have
2 sons and 3 granddaughters. I have been decorating cakes for about 25 years, but really got into it big about 7 1/2
years ago when my husband became disabled. It was supposed to be a second job. I worked at a factory during the
day and decorated cakes at night. WELL, the cake decorating took over and now this is all I do. I love cake
decorating, it is nice to be able to make a living doing something you love. I found this board about 6 months ago and
love it. I check this board probably 10 times a day, I love looking at the pictures and reading all the post, it has
helped me so much. I'd love for you to visit my website www.cakesbyyvonne.com Thanks, Yvonne
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Sun Sep 15 15:59:38 2002
Sharon Low http://home.primus.ca/~jslow

I've truly enjoyed visiting the board for the past few months and seeing all of the talent out there. I'm Sharon Low.
Originally from Puerto Rico, where I was born and lived 25 years (I'm now 41 yrs. old). That's where I learned the
basics of cake decorating from my mom and then started working with fondant and gumpaste so I could make a
wedding cake for friends. After living in Rochester, NY for a few years, I now live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
with my husband John and 5 yr. old twin daughters Nicole and Chelsea. I teach Education part-time at Heritage
Baptist College, and enjoy cake decorating as a hobby/part-time (although many times it's more full time) side
business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sun Sep 15 09:09:34 2002
Hi everyone. My name is Krista Moores, I'm 23 (24 on the 22nd of this month) I live in the suburbs of St. John's,
Newfoundland Canada. I have a wonderful boyfriend of 7+ years and 2 beautiful children, a girl (3) and a boy (1).
Right now I am a stay at home mom, but will be returning to my full time job as a telephone customer service rep in
October. I have been dilly dallying in cake decorating for many years (started to do the birthday cakes for my
parents when I was about 10). It has been only 3 years that I have been doing it on a regular basis, since my
daughter was born. There are no wilton classes here so I am self taught. I am so glad to have found this board, it
really inspires me to do the best I can and the help here is unbelievable. I love seeing everyone's work and I really
must thank Dolores for allowing us the privilege of such a wonderful board.

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Sun Sep 15 08:40:18 2002
Hi! My name is Jan Pippin. I live in Peoria, Illinois I am 56 year old and have been decorating cakes for 27 years. I
have been married for 38 years to Jerry. He is retired from Caterpillar and is now a bailiff at the Peoria County Court
House - he loves is new job (been there for 1 1/2 years - retired for 4) - bailiff's can only work 1050 hrs a year,
therefore he has time off for all his xtra stuff he likes to do.. I am a secretary in the finance department for The
Salvation Army...I have been there for 14 years (before that I was a baker at one of our grade schools(did that for
13 years) loved that job - but it was sent out to the high schools and I didn't want to go there so I went back to
secretarial work - and I do not regret it one bit. I have three boys - my oldest lives in Las Vegas (LOVE to visit
him)- he works for Sun City, my second one lives in Morton, IL and works for the State of Illinois, my third son lives
in Los Angeles, CA and he works for Honda and we love to visit him too since my husband is a HUGE Dodger fan.
As for my decorating - it has gotten us through three kids going to college - and many many vacations....and a couple
of Caterpillar strikes (hubby was (and still is) a Union Man). Anyway - I have gotten so much GREAT information
from this GREAT site...I tell everyone I know that loves cakes about this site...I don't know what I would do without
it....I come to this site before I go to my email...sometimes I don't even have time for the email...It is so nice to have
so many friends that enjoy what I enjoy and are so willing to share....Thanks for this opportunity to SHARE...
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Carol in AH,MI
     Sun Sep 15 08:09:56 2002

     Hello, everyone! My name is Carol, I'm 57 (ouch!), and I live in beautiful Auburn Hills, MI - about 20 min north of Detroit. I'm married to The  Amazing Bob (26+ years now); and we have a "hiz-n-her" family of 5 grown children. 5 grands also; 1 in West Virginia, 2 in Georgia, and 2 here  in MI close by that we can spoil on a very regular basis. I work full time as an office manager for a sales rep agency; hubby is a retired auto  worker. We are both musicians - we have a weekend band and play 50's & 60's oldies. Hubby also entertains in Senior Citizen Residences and  Nursing Homes during the week; and has his own television show on our local public access station. I've been decorating cakes since I took my  first Wilton class about 8 years ago; but only got really hooked on the craft just in the last 3 or so years.....before that I just messed around with it.
     I wish I had discovered how much I love doing this many, many years ago! Fortunately, The Amazing Bob is very supportive of my obsession;  because the cupboard on the front porch is overflowing with my toys! Finding this board is one of the best things that has happened to me since I  started decorating....so many talented people willing to share their work and ideas! A big THANK YOU to Dolores for providing this forum for  all of us! Would love to hear from each of you! Please feel free to contact me at Rlowe21422@earthlink.net.
     Happy decorating to all!
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Jody  (SC)

Hi all -  I don't even know where to start... I was born in a little town in
the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan... Not that much info,
hey? Well, ok, I'm currently a resident of the Greenville, SC area, by way of
Sarasota, Florida, by way of Grand Island, Nebraska, by way of Alpena,
Michigan. No, we weren't in the military, my parents just couldn't decide
where they wanted to live! :o)

I'm 35 (soon to be 36 on August 23), married to the most wonderful man in the
world for the last 8, going on 9 years. We have two children, Devyn who just
turned five, and Sawyer who will be 2 in August.  Oh, yes, and we're working
on a third! :o) Not this minute or anything, but you know what I mean!

My personal stats are 36/24/36... and if you add them all up you might get
one of the measurements! :o) Doesn't matter because my wonderful husband
loves me anyway! :o)

I got into cake decorating because Devyn was getting ready to turn a year old
and I wanted to do her cake. That and the fact that I was at home going
slowly out of my mind from boredom! Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't trade
being a stay-at-home Mom for anything, but I had previously been working 3
jobs at a time, then slowed down to one after getting married. My work
history includes, educational store assistant manager, Medical Records clerk,
Doctor's office billing/insurance claims, Legal secretary, Personal
secretary, Housemother at a home for unwed mothers, Music assistant at my
church, graphic design and layout, Medical transcriptionist, Apartment
Maintenance then moved to leasing, real estate, and a paper route to mention
a few! No, I didn't lose jobs or switch jobs often... most of them were held
at the same time as one or two others.

Needless to say, being a stay-at-home mom didn't get me out of the house much
and I longed for some adult conversation and interaction. Shortly after
taking the Wilton classes, I began teaching them. I've been doing cakes for a
little over 4 years and have been teaching for almost as long. I currently
hold 3-5 classes a week and do anywhere from 4-24 cakes a week with an
average of two weddings a month. I'd prefer to be able to focus more on
weddings, but not being legal yet, I'm still working my way to that point by
word of mouth advertising only.

Well, I suppose I should bring this not-so-mini autobiography to a close!
Jody
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Teresa - www.kreativecakes.com

I have been visiting the board for a few months now and learning a lot from it.  I wanted to get a feel for it before getting
"emotionally involved" (lol) - Anyway, I'm from Fort Worth, Texas; have been  married 6-1/2 yrs to a wonderful man (2nd
time around) and have 3 children - a 12 year old son (mine), a 6 year old son (ours) and a 4 year old daughter (ours).  I
have decorating cakes regularly for 2 years now, but my first "taste" of cake decorating started with a dinosaur cake I did
for my oldest son's 2nd birthday.  I enjoyed that experience and decorated a few more here and there for the kid's
birthdays, then decided to take the  3 Wilton's classes about 2 1/2 years ago and found out that I was hooked!  By day, I
work as an operations manager for an office furniture dealer and have been there for over 10 years and fit in my cakes when
and where I can.  I was so excited to find this board and I hope that I can contribute to it in return for all the valuable
information I have already learned from it.  I have visited some other boards and this one is THE BEST!  Looking forward
to talking to you all frequently and maybe meet some of you at the 2001 ICES Convention
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Shania from Germany

Hi, I'm Shania from the board, Sanni in real life.I like Shania so much that I thought when I start a "cyber-life" I'll take that for a
name...
I'm 18 and a hobby baker living in good old Germany.Some 4-5 years ago I started baking and cooking and as I love America
what was closer than baking/cooking American?The money I don't spend for baking utilities (can you believe I have to order
square pans at Dolores' place as there are none in Germany?!) I spend for my second passion - Cowboy.He's a Quarter Horse, a native Canadian.I do Western Riding and love animals and plants in general.My parents own a tree nursery and I have my own garden, my focus is on growing pumpkins.Currently I still have one year of school left, then I'll have my "Abitur" so I can study.I wanna do investment-banking when I'm done but before I study I want to go to my trainer (riding) in Ontario for half a year and work there to improve my English and just be the country of my dreams.In the nearer future I will try to make some money with American-style baked goods here, just have no plans how to do it yet.But what they sell as muffins or "original american bagels" here needs to be improved!!!
Better finish now, I'm sort of a telltale person:-)
Hope to see you soon on the board, greetings from Germany!
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DOROTHY, West Palm, FL

Hi, I'm Dorothy. I live in West Palm Beach, Fl, married for 12 years (2nd time around). I have 2 boys (mine)from my first marriage, 33 and 28. I am 53 (can't believe how fast that happened). I have a Master's Degree in Psychology that I acquired over 20 years time. Once I got it, I decided I didn't want to work in that field. My second husband is 15 years younger than I am but all my friends say he has a very old soul. I started baking when I was 11 years old. When my son got married my future daughter in law asked me to make her cake and things sort of snowballed from there. I work for a Circuit Judge 50-60 hours a week, make 5-6 cakes a week, quilt, design and sew wedding dresses and figure I'll get enough sleep when I die. My husband makes candles and when my Judge retires in two years we'll move to North Carolina and open a bakery/store. I love to do wedding cakes and I have four orders for June/July for matching cakes and dresses so I better get off the computer and get to sewing.Love this board.

Dorothy
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BB, http://communities.msn.com/BBcakes

Hi everyone. I am a cake addict. I have been decorating cakes off and on for 5 yrs. now. I am self taught, I have never taken a class so I am still learning. I am from El Paso, TX but we are stationed in Friedberg, Germany with my husband who is in the Army, my two sons and out labrador Hunter. We have been in Germany a little over 2 years and ready to go back to the states.
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MELISSA(TX)

Hi my name is Melissa. I am 27. I have been married for 8 years and have a 5 year old son. I live in Abilene Texas. I took my first cake decorating class at Michaels a month before my son turned two. Then I took the 2nd course from Cap (many of you know her on here . I had always wanted to learn how to decorate cakes. Thought I would be great to do my son's birthday cakes. That was almost 4 years ago. It is mostly a hobby I do them for family and friends. I have done 2 wedding cakes(small ones) and a 4 tier 50th Anniversary cake for my best friend grandparents. Don't really have enough time to do those kind of cakes. Found they were too stressful. I always have this fear of doing a wedding cake and it ends up falling or something major happens. Don't want that responsibility(not yet anyways).So for all of you who do Wedding cakes you have my deepest respect. Wouldn't mind making a business out of cake decorating but am afraid it wouldn't be enjoyable to me and I would lose interest. I enjoy this board and getting a lot of ideas and help. :)
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LINDA(IN)
Hi all, I've been decorating a little over a year and loving it. I'm 37, married to my best friend for 17 years, we have 2 boys, Eric 15 and Chris 12. My folks were in the bakery business in California, guess that's where it comes from (with a 30 year delay). It's great to have so many cake friends here, no one else really wants me to rattle on about this stuff. Love being able to hear about all of you.
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HASSRAH
Fanatic cake decorator, into this stuff for the past 10 years.(Could have built 2 houses on the money I spent on cake toys) 30 something years old(really close to 40). Stopped checking my statistics a while ago since my bust, waist and hips started to look like they are the same measurements!!(If I pull in my tummy I still see a lil shape though!)Hair desperately need a dye job-seeing a FEW!! gray hairs. Married to my childhood boyfriend- he's really patient(I'm a pain in the a*** to live with!!)I have two teenagers, a boy,15 and a girl, 13. They drive me up a wall sometimes. Just as most of you, cake decorating is a passion!! I am fortunate to earn enough from this so I'm able to buy new toys! I live in Trinidad, West Indies-a tropical paradise!! I'm about 12 miles from the beach.
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KARENS(MI)
I'm obsessed with this cake decorating. It seems that this is all I have thought about for almost a year (I started doing this last June). The people ordering my cakes have all given me free will as to the design, so I am always thinking of what I will be doing for the next one. The problem is then that's what I want to talk about.
My boss made a comment to me on Friday about it. Since she does cake decoration (for only her family) it is something we share (outside of work) in common. She probably just shared what others have been thinking about. I guess it is ok for me to hear about their children all of the time... I am single with no children so do not have a husband or children to talk about. I enjoy listening to the daily adventure of their children, the daily updates to their house building... Help! Does anyone else have this problem?
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LORI(IL)

I'm a relative newcomer to the board...I stumbled upon it sometime around last October when I took my first class. I've always been fascinated with really well decorated cakes and wanted to learn but could never find classes available. I've taken Wilton course I and II and will be taking III and a fondant course in a month or so. I've sold probably 4 or 5 cakes so far and am doing a wedding cake in September (eeeekkk!). I'm 30 yrs old, married to my h.s. sweetheart for 9 (ohmy!) years and we have one adorable 2 yr old son, cooper James (he's just learning to say his name, it's the cutest thing!) I'm an R.N. in labor and delivery, working part-time evenings mostly. I will be starting grad school in the fall to become a nurse midwife...which is a little scary...maybe I can find a message board to boost my confidence like this one has! we currently live in east-central Illinois, near champaign/urbana. my husband was in the navy for 6 yrs so we've lived in Orlando, ballston spa NY (near albany) and norfolk VA before moving here (from utah originally). never planned on living in the midwest..but here I am! (husband is a reactor operator at a nuclear power plant here). it has been really interesting to read everybody's 'bios'. particularly since I'm sure there are more like me who haunt the board daily but don't necessarily post that often. I have absolutely loved having access to expert advice. it makes me feel like I can say 'yes' to anything because if I can't figure it out, somebody here has probably done it for 20 yrs and can help me.well..this is getting long. this was a great idea!
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JOHN

Hello, I'm John,I started cake decorating about 22 years ago, I'm 40 now. My family owned restaurants out here in SW Kansas, so i've been around food all of my life. My dad used to buy cakes from the local bakery for every employee's birthday, and I finally said, "gee, I think I could do better than that", so I did :). I used to go to conventions with my parents, and see demo's of cake decorating, and I could stand there and watch all day. We used to laugh, because when people would come to order a wedding cake, they were somewhat shocked to see a 17 yr old guy was doing it. After my family sold the restaurants, I opened a shop here in town. It wasn't big enough to make enough money to hire anyone, so my family helped. After 2 years of that, I got a government job, that I would have been a fool to turn down, so I have been with the government now for about 18 or 19 years. (jobs overlapped a while:)) I was a Wilton instructor for 3 years, then the local college asked me to teach, so I taught there for 7 years, not as a Wilton instructor. I quit that after being in a very serious car accident, and could no longer do as much. I was off work for 3 months that summer, in rehab and pain. :) I decided then it was too much to have a full time job, do cakes and teach. So I quit teaching. I really miss it now, but having a bit more time is so much nicer.
I am kind of quiet on the board, I have trouble getting my point accross in written words, so I read a lot, and keep quiet unless I'm sure I can type it out understandably without offending someone. I know it's easy to misunderstand things on the board. I really enjoy the board and all of you on it, there are a few decorators out here, but it's a little cut throat out here. Most of the others out here quit speaking to me when I started teaching, they were afraid I would ruin the business for everyone. It didn't:) I feel it brought more attention to the craft, and helped business. Well enough about me, it's been a real pleasure reading about all of you.
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Kathyf
I'm 42 - geez, that took too many brain cells to figure out - and I live in Independence Iowa. It's a town of about 6500 - 7000 people in NE Iowa and has no bakery and a severe shortage of decorators. We live just outside the city limits on 2 acres, most of it is flower gardens because I have a SEVERE addiction to daylilies with some host as and other plants thrown in for the fun of it. I've been married for 20 years to a wonderful man (don't tell him I said that!) that puts up with a lot. We have 3 boys ages 25(mine), 25(his) and 17(ours), one sugar glider and 13 (about to be a gazillion since 6 are expecting) pond fish. We are expecting our first grandchild the end of October so I'll be in Wisconsin instead of Ohio in November. I wish I could meet the bunch of you at Dolores' but babies need to be properly spoiled right away!I don't remember when I started decorating. I had a wonderful Grandmother who let me and a friend mess up her kitchen on the farm. I've loved to bake as long as I can remember. I bought a cake decorating kit with my babysitting money but I don't remember how old I was. I made my own graduation cake but didn't take a picture of it. I used to make my own kids birthday cakes and when I had an in-home daycare business I let the kids help make their own birthday cakes. I also helped the kids make decorated holiday cookies and they all got to take some home. I fell into the decorating as a business when another decorator quit doing cakes for a local balloon shop party package. I did mostly character cakes when I started in 1992. I soon found out more people in this area wanted sheet cakes. I started doing wedding cakes in 93 when a customer asked nicely, and asked many times, and it just keeps getting busier every year. I turn more business away than I can take, especially in May with graduations. So if anyone ever gets the urge to start a bakery do I have the perfect location for you!
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YEMLA (WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY)

I'm new to the board. I am 37 stay at home mom, married with a one 5 yr. old boy. I started decorating last year. I took a wilton decorating class to do my son's birthday cake-(Pikachu) last year. It was such a hit that family and friends have placed orders since then. They loved the look and taste of the cake(thanks to the cake mix doctor). I average 3-4 a month. Just birthday sheets or rounds so far. I love this board. You all are so helpful. Thank you.
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SYLVIAB

Hi Everybody,Everyone's bios are so interesting. I live in the Chicagoland area, have been cake decorating for 4 years, single, no children, and in my late 30's. Baking and cake decorating are a creative outlet for me (I'm an accountant during the day). Thanks everyone for the invaluable information on this message board. Hope to see many of you at Convention in August. Take care.
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PATTYCAKES(IL)

Hi, I'm Pat from Illinois. I have a store in Highland Illinois, it is 30 miles east of St. Louis, Mo. I have been decorating cakes for about 25 years, but have only had my shop for 19 years. I started out slow, but it has progressive gotten busier over the years. I am up to doing 7 - 10 wedding cakes every Saturday. Had 7 this morning, and have to deliver one tomorrow morning. I hate doing cakes on Sunday. I have a great husband and we will be celebrating our 29th anniversary next Sunday. We have 3 children Adam 25, Trisha 22, and Leah 16. My kids are old enough now that I can finally attend ICES conventions, and Days of Sharing without having to worry about them. It's great. Nice to get to know you! Are you going to convention?
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JANICE

Thanks for asking the question - have been reading all the responses for a long time now and everyone sounds like they work so hard I feel very lazy as well as very blessed by this business. My name is Janice and I live in Kentucky - my mother has been teaching cake decorating for about 30 years now (we were in the foreign service and she has taught all over the world) I basically learned by osmosis although last year I took some basic fondant classes. After moving back here 4 years ago my mother started in the business by taking over some work for an aunt who has been in the business for 30 years (one of moms original students!). I have two children Katelyn 7 and Dennis 6 and am a stay at home mom and have been married for 13 years to the guy next door - so I started dabbling with mom - two years ago she fell and broke her wrist and I took over the business myself - we are strictly wedding cakes because I don't want to work full time (I also teach preschool two days a week) My aunt who was giving us referrals has drastically cut back the amount of cakes she takes and we are getting referrals of our own now and average about 6-9 wedding cakes from May thru January. I read the board every day but have only contributed a few times because I feel like I don't have the experience or education to answer - but I especially admire Mirada - I used to live in Centreville and wish I could have met you then - maybe when I go back to visit hubbys family.
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KARENS(MI)
Welcome, Cathy.I am a Quality Assurance Engineer during the day (night, weekends) and dabble in cakes for a few customers which has kept me busy. I am a new Wilton Instructor as well. I have been in the computer business since 1973, also managing, technical support, writer, and teacher. I enjoy photography, ceramics, scrapbooking, and interior decorating.I am single (divorced). I hope to be like Mirada and be able to do this for a many years, especially when I retire. I am hoping that this will supplement my income enough so that I can retire in my early 60s instead of 70s.I took my first decorating class last summer from a wonderful cake instructor in my area. I fell in love with it and was fortunate to be able to take all 3 courses with her. I had always wanted to be able to decorate cakes and now that dream has come true. I just wish I had known about the courses earlier. I just found out there were supplies and kits locally earlier last year. I thought you had to get them from special supply stores that were only available to the professional.The people I work with think I am nuts because I spend all week doing cakes only to make what it takes me an hour or two to make during my day job. But I am investing the money I receive for retirement, so it is fun watching it slowly grow. Also, I do it for the picture. (lol)I received my first order for 2 different wedding cakes for 50th wedding anniversary parties this summer, which is going to be exciting. Mostly, I have just been doing sheet cakes for customers. I decorate a cake for the people in my department at work when it is their birthday.I just love this message board. Everyone is so helpful, and it good to have a valuable source for ordering products.I am very excited about teaching cake decorating because of the people I am going to meet and what I will
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VALARIE(CA)

Name: Valarie Enters
Age:34
Decorating: 2 years
Married 11 years

3 kids: Allison 11, Frankie 9 and Jack 2It all started when Jack was born with major health problems. He couldn't eat without choking, and so in the end, they put a tube through his nose...it stayed there for 9 months, then Drs. decided he needed a more permanent one, in the tummy. He didn't sit up till 10 months, he didn't crawl till 13 months, and he just started walking at 2 years old. He goes to Physical Therapy twice a week, and a Early intervention therapist comes 2 x a week too. He has more DRs. than I knew existed, and in spite of all of his problems physically, he is mentally intact. He talks up a storm, and has just started eating small amounts of cookies, crackers, and "tastes" of cake (mostly frosting-ha!) My husband and I were career missionaries in Thailand, working with the Nyah Kur tribal people,and spreading the Gospel for four years. We came back to the States on our regular furlough, we had planned to have our 3rd child. What we didn't plan, was that Jack would be born with medical problems so severe, that we would eventually be forced to return to Thailand, only for the purpose of collecting our things, and moving back to the States. We had trained and dreamed of working in Thailand for life, but God had other plans. So, we relocated in Southern California, and have been helping Jack get better. I had always wanted to learn Cake Decorating. Cooking was my first love, and any aspect of it, I gladly embrace! When we found out that we'd be staying in the States, I decided to enroll in Cake classes. The teacher owns her own private Cake shop, and she is very intense. She will mark you down, NP (not prepared) if you forget anything major. She wants all your frosting made, colored and bagged before you get to class, and she will not let you use a dummy. On the other hand, you learn how to decorate "the old school" way, and it is awesome! She also has a very kind side to her, and upon completion of class, she gave us dipomas,and mini cakes, cake decorator dolls, and the golden tip award if you have perfect attendance. I feel privileged to have learned under such a great teacher.I just love decorating, because I can create, and people get such a big kick out of seeing something everyday, become quite extaordinary!Being the all or nothing person that I am, I am totally into cakes. But, I do seek balance. Our next step is to move to Florida,and work at our mission headquarters in Sanford. Jack is doing great, and surprising the Drs. There are no promises, that he will eat normally, but he is headed in the right direction. Thanks for your prayers and friendship. I too have people, not understand my passion for cakes, and so it's great to be a part of a group of people that love Cake Art too!
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NANCY R (NC)

Hi everyone! Well I'm new to this board also and new to north Carolina. I've been decorating cakes for 3 1/2 years now.When we still lived in my home state of Tennessee and I stopped working to be an at home mom I took my first Wilton class.I was bored and thought it would be something I would like to do. Well I was right,i loved it! Once I completed that class I wanted more.There was never enough people signing up for class 2 and 3 though.So I did what I could to try and teach myself.Last summer we moved to Charlotte Nc because of my husbands job.We've been married for 10 years and have a 10 year old daughter.I was in Michael's and saw the Wilton classes listed,fortunately there were enough people signing up for them here so I was able to complete the courses.There is a local bakery/cake supply shop that offered gumpaste flowers classes so I was able to ttake that.Now once again I signed up for the 2nd round of classes and no one else is signing up! Ugh!!! I'm the type of person who really wants to learn all I can and I feel I need someone to show me so I can make sure I'm doing them right.I'm going to start buying the videos and see about learning that way.After paying the bill's I do order cake stuff.i have several lists of things I want.I buy on the sly and hope they'll be delivered when my husbands at work. :> Alot of time it doesnt happen that way though. He never says anything about it so thats good.I've had several orders for cakes since living here.My daughters teacher orders alot from me.I'll be doing her wedding cake June 16th and I'm nervous about that.I've never done a wedding cake and there is soooo much more involved with that.The other cakes you give it to them and say'enjoy'. You cant do that with the wedding cakes.I didnt want to do it either,if I didnt consider her a friend I wouldve stuck with my " no im not ready for that yet' answer.I'm going to be 32 years old on May 27th.My daughter cant wait to be big enough to get started.She comes up with good ideas for me,its cute when she'll look at a picture and say'On this one you would just need tip #16,#104 etc and swirl this that way' and so on! She already knows alot of the tips and how to use them.I cant wait for her to be able to do this too,i'll have someone to play with! hahaha I guess thats it.....I look forward to reading more on this board and joining in.
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REBECCA S

Like many of the other ladies on this board, I started doing cakes so I could stay home with my children. My husband has a good job as an area sales manager for Vigortone (a livestock mineral company), but I felt like I needed someway to help with the income. This is the 3rd year that I've been decorating cakes and have just recently become swamped with orders.After high school graduation in 1992, I went to Pittsburg State University (in Pittsburg, KS) majoring in Commercial Graphics. Well, after almost 3 years of working 40+ hours per week as a typesetter at a local printing company, and talking a full load of classes (18 to 21 hours), I got really burned out. Something had to go, and since I had rent and vehicle payments to make, the job won. That same year, I started dating my husband (we went to high school together and I always had a crush on him, but was afraid to say anything, because his sister was one of my best friends). Anyway, on New Year's Eve 1995, we got married, and lived in Manhattan, KS for 5 months while he finished his Animal Science degree at K-State, then moved to Emporia, KS where he got a job as a Quality Control Inspector at IBP, and I worked in the Art Department at a local printing company.
After just a few months there, we found out about the job he has now and moved back to southeast Kansas. We bought our house and 30 acres 3 years ago, and now have 2 boys (ages 2 and almost 4), a small herd of Registered Angus cows, a horse, and a dog. We're 25 miles from the closest town of 10,000, so we're kinda in the "boonies", too.
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Just me (NY)

Hi- I go by "just me (NY)" but my real name is AnneMarie. I started using just me because I started out posting under AM- too lazy to spell it out- and another AM appeared! I didn't want to get anyone confused over who was posting but that was before we started adding our states to our names. Anyway... I am a forty year old stay at home mom from upstate NY. I do cakes strictly for fun and I have been teaching Wilton classes at Michael's for a little over a year. I have been doing cakes for about 15 years but very simple until I quit my part time job in '99 and decided that would be a good time to take the Wilton classes. I took course II and III and was hooked. I was asked to teach and they called me 6 months later to tell me there would be a new store opening that needed an instructor- and I was back to work part time. I usually teach 3 classes a week, have at least one cake in my weekly routine for someone, and a zillion cake possibilities in my head that I would like to try based on all the wonderful ideas I have seen here. This is truly a wonderful classroom- and as you can see- we are a varied group- different backgrounds, abilities, and goals- but we all are very lucky to be in this "cake circle". Wishing you all only sweet things in your lives!
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MARIDA (VA)

I live in Northern Virginia, near the Washington Dulles Airport. Am 71 years old and have been doing wedding cakes for the past 20 years. I am a licensed home-based decorator. I took a Wilton decorating course in 1979 for the fun of it never dreaming it would take me to where I am today. I believe that I have the best of all worlds in that I am doing what I love to do, am licensed, have good health and still can make money doing all of these fun things. We have three children and four wonderful grandchildren. I have been fortunate enough to be in the right places at the right time in that I have had two TV shows done on me and several articles in magazines, including Food and Wine.
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Sandie

Hi, This is so much fun! I'm from MI,live on a lake, married 39 yrs, have 3 great kids ,and 3 beautiful grandchildren. I work part time at a local hospital.I've been decorating cakes a little over two years. I love it! And I love this board!
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Pc

Been decorating for little over 3 years, average between 3-5 cakes a week and a dozen wedding cakes a year. I also teach at a local cake shop....just love it :) I'll take fondant and gumpaste over buttercream and royal any day of the week. Hooked on any thing "cake" related!!!!Personal STuff:I live in central California and come Nov. I'm headed to Ohio, YAH!!!!! Birthday #33 is a short step away. I have 4 ankle biters at home (3girls,1 boy) ranging from 3-7yrs. Married to a great guy that may not always understand my cake needs or fustrations but knows enough to listen and nod....lol Learned tons from this board and also meet lots of great people. Pc (Patricia C.)
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LAURASG (TX) name: Lauraage: 32 (BUT I always tell my kids I have 28, ok?)size: 5 (12 years ago)I've lived in Plainview, Texas for about 12 yrs, I'm from Mexico, and started cake decorating 3 years ago, when the lady who like made my son cakes quit because she had terminal cancer, so she ask me if I want to learn how decorate and here I'm. I'm a mom in home married for 12 years with a very comprensive man and have 2 boys 10 and 7.
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JULIE B

Well Hello From SUGARLAND, Texas. Well, I actually live in Richmond 1 mile from Sugarland but it goes so good with cake decorating. I am 31 years old and have been decorating cakes since I was a little girl but never really got big until I moved to the big city. I took my first real order from my hospital bed ( called home to check ans. machine) after my second child was born and she will be three next week. I am a die hard Texan all of my children are named after Texas cities....Dallas is almost 6 and a boy, our only girl is Tyler 3 next week and Lubbock just turned one 2 weeks ago. I just had a cake melt down last weekend and decided to stop doing weddings and cut down on orders and sell off a bunchof my stuff. I am a wilton instructor, I have had articles in ACD. I am just your average run of the mill cake lady. I love this cake board and all the funny things people say....I love trying to help with ideas or solve problems that I can. I have met some neat friends on here that I corrospond with daily. I am a member of our local cake club Frost -a Tiers and I am a member of ICES but NEVER been to a convention. I am married to my very best friend. I thank you for your suggestion for people to introduce themselves..it was areally neat idea I just wish we could all put in photos so we could have a face with the name...on last claim to fame...I served in the Army 4 years.........but just as a dental hygienist.
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Mimi

Had to jump in on this one, Julie as dental hygiene was my first career!
My name is Minette Rushing, Mimi for short, and I live in Savannah, GA. I have a licensed, home based business and make primarily wedding and groom's cakes. I'm 46 (yikes, did I really type that?) have 2 teens, boy and a girl, and one wonderful husband of 17 years. When my first child was born, I quit my job to stay home and raise her. my mom had taken a cake decorating course and enjoyed it, so I decided to do the same. When the kids were school age, I taught dental hygiene at our local university, but Still doing a few cakes, family and friends primarily. My sister talked me into taking fondant and gumpaste classes from Nick Lodge and the rest, as they say, is history. I've been doing cakes for the last 3 1/2 years as a business and can't imagine doing anything else. My husband calls it a sickness (jokingly of course) but I guess in a way he may be right!!!!I want everyone to thank who participates in this discussion board, because you all have helped make me a better decorator. Thanks to Dolores for this wonderful forum. And if I haven't put you to sleep...congratulations!!
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CAROL(WI)

Hi Everyone,
I'm 10 miles East of Madison Wisconsin and started decorating cakes 15 years ago starting with my sons birthday cakes and word seemed to spread! From there I went to work at a local Dairy Queen decorating their ice cream cakes for 5 years. Kept decorating or as I call it, playing in the frosting :), for friends and family. 3 1/2 years ago my sweet mother in law needed support in her final weeks with cancer so we built a legal kitchen in our home and I quit the day job as a mortgage loan secretary and started doing the cakes full time here at home so I could be here for my mother in law. I love what I do, what other job in the entire world gives you the rewards this one does! The smiles and sincere congratulations are worth much more to me than anything. I'm 36, have 2 sons 17 & 18, and unfortunately after a 20 year marriage have filed divorce papers just yesterday.
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MARIA(WA), http://communities.msn.com/CreativePastries/

Hi everyone! I'll be 35 in two weeks :) I have five children; 3 from a previous marriage 14 and 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son. Then I started all over again with my wonderful present husband and have a 12 month and 22 month old sons. Yes, I have my hands full! I've been baking since I was very little and knew that I wanted to be in that field. But then, life intervened and it wasn't until I divorced my first husband that I got the opportunity to fulfill my dream. I graduated in 1996 and have worked as a pastry chef for restaurants, catering companies and as a chef instructor teaching Merchant Marines! While I was teaching, the school sent me to one of Colette Peter's classes; all expenses paid (boy do I miss that job!) I had never seen such unlimited possibilities! Since then, I still teach at a small "kitchen shop" school. I've just started my business and this board has been absolutely instrumental in helping me keep it together! :)
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Claudia
Hi Cathy-I'm in N.E. Oklahoma in a resort/retirement area and I've been decorating about 12 years. I've always loved to bake and people used to ask me to bake pies and desserts for them. I took my first class when a woman asked me to make 100 petit fours. I needed to learn how to do a rose bud. From there it just evolved. I've been a member of ICES 11 years. I've had the good fortune to take classes from Roland and Marsha Winbeckler when they used to teach at Maid of Scandinavia, Patricia Simmons, Frances Kuyper and Eleanor Rielander. I opened my shop 6 years ago. It's in a separate building on our 20 acres. I used to do all kinds of cakes and full meal catering, but now I just do wedding cakes with a few occasional cakes thrown in,in the off season. I have two sons, 27 and 30 and a soon to be one year old granddaughter. Yes, I'm doing her 1st b'day cake and I booked no weddings for that weekend. I also have a wonderful husband who helps me a great deal with my business. Everything from mopping the floor, to building cake stands at the last minute to helping me deliver and set up
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LORI2

I guess it all started in 1985, my brother was getting married on a tight budget, and asked my mom and I to make the wedding cake, neither of us had ever decorated a cake before that, although I've always loved creating messes in the kitchen, and I used my "easy bake oven"(remember those?) till it wore out. The cake came out pretty good, and I decided this was my calling in life, and I've been at it ever since. I've been married for almost 17 years to a wonderful man, and we have 3 great kids. I worked in a bakery for while decorating cakes, but it was so hard being a mom and working too, so I currently stay home and bake cakes. This past year, I've been trying to get more word of mouth business and build my business, its starting to pick up, and I currently do about 4-7 cakes a month.I have found this board to be so helpful, I would be lost without it!!!
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INDA

Hi, I live downunder and soon , we'll be moving to America, by December. I started cake decorating three years ago when I was pregnant with my fourth child, after 12 years!! I have three before him, then, 17 Patrick, 15 Maren and 12 Kristel. I was 42 then, LOL, I practically started all over. Anyway, I had to quit my job as a manager at Mcdonald's for 8 years, I couldn't stand the smell, believe it or not, after eating it forever. I had to do something at home and I've always wanted to have a business of my own. I took lessons in the 80's of cooking and basic baking and wanted to open a shop and would call "Chez Le Gateau Le Sans Rival" The house of cakes with no rival, I think that is what it means? But, it is so hard to open a small business here in Australia, so I ended up looking for a job. After sooo many years, my cookbooks have gathered dust and I opened them and Voila! I went to the local college and took some decorating techniques, they only do fondant and gumpaste here, then I bought books, lots and heaps and loads of books, Wilton etc, got hooked. Instead of reading Readers Digest at bedtime, my Bible next to my bed are these books!! I'm still teaching myself and trying out recipes. I'm scared to post sometimes because I know, I know so little and I might say the wrong thing, or get misunderstood. Then sometimes I really know the answer but by the time I wake up and read the board, it is already answered. When you guys are waking up, that's when I am going to sleep. By the morning, it is already 4 PM your time. I still try to help when I can.
By the way, I'm selling my house, do any of you have tips on how to make the house smell really inviting?? I know Seashell said something about cinnamon sticks or something, please repost Seashell! Glad to know everyone and if you need anything Australian let me know. Dolores's Sugarcraft Board Addict!!
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helenoh
Many years ago( more than I care to remember}I took cake decorating from a woman that had problems sharing her knowledge. I got an offer to teach cake decorating, Then I got scared because I felt I didn't know enough. So I searched the whole country trying to find cake decorating lessons. I found a cake decorator that knew Dolores. She said Dolores had more talent in her little finger than she had in her whole body. I found this friendly little short woman and she signed me up for advanced class. After one class I told her they were talking about things that I didn't understand. So Dolores suggested I sign up for beginners class. I took beginners on Monday, advanced on Wednesday and managed by hook or crook to teach on Tuesday. That was a very hectic and exciting six weeks. The rest is history. I never give advice on the board about cake decorating because gumpaste and fondant were just beginning when I got out of it. You guys are so far ahead now that I will never get caught up. But I did get to be friends with that friendly short little cake decorator. Yea Dolores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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SUSAN (LA)

Hi everyone, I'm in SW Louisiana. I co-own a tearoom-type restaurant and gift shop. We also do catering and gourmet baskets. We have just added cake decorating to our mix and we're off to a slow start. I live in a small town and for some reason it takes us folks a long time to catch on. I do have an order for my first wedding cake in June and am very excited about it. I made a groom's cake last week and have orders for graduation. Oh, yeah, the personal stuff... I am 43, married for 17 years and have a 12 year old son. It's great to meet everyone and this board is great. Anytime I've had a question someone was quick to respond. Although I don't feel like I have much to give yet, hopefully someday I can return the favor.
Susan
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LOURDES(NY)

Hi, everyone my name is Lourdes, I live in Upstate New York, originally from Queens New York. I have 4 children 17 Ninoska, (named after an old black and white movie I say when I was pregnant. the movie was Ninoscka, but we call her Nina for short. Next is my wonderful son James who is 8yrs old, then my little girls, who I can "little me" because she is the one who has to do everything mommie does, and goes, then the newest addition, that God blessed me with my little boy Justin he is now 14 months old. And Ladies listen to this he goes to sleep at 5:30pm the lasted, sleeps the whole night, yes, I did say the whole night wakes up the next morning around 6-6:30 am. And of course my biggest baby of all, my husband Jay. I am a self taught cake decorator, and I just love coming up with creative ideas. I have met some of you about 3yrs ago ant the NY State ICES, and some of you through emails and of course this wonderful website Dolores has created for us to enjoy. I don't have a website yet, but I am working on it. Please feel free to drop me a line anytime. I truly believe we are the Sweetest Bunch

Lourdes
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MPEREZ(NY), :http://justincakes.homestead.com

Hi, my name's Michele and I've been decorating for almost 6 years. I just started my own business, and I live in Long Island, NY. I'm totally addicted to this website. I visit here daily. Everyone is always so helpful.

Michele
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BECKY R (OH), http://about_the_cake.tripod.com

I'm 32 years old, have two children -1 girl almost 5 and 1 boy 2-1/2 (yes, the attitude years! LOL)I'm a former secretary (10-1/2 years)and am now a stay at home mom (5 years). I watched my mom decorate as a child so the passion started about 25 years ago. I've only really been decorating for a little over 5 years. Did a cake for my hubby back when we were dating-oh, I've been married almost 6 years. I took a Wilton class and really got obsessed. Then I found this board back in January 2001. I've learned more from here than any class could ever teach. Vitals (LOL) 5'3" tall, weight: classified(but kind of round), brown hair, blue eyes. My measurements kind of all blend together. I'm trying to get into wedding cakes, but mostly do birthday and other all occasion cakes, cookies, chocolate stuff. I love my family and my cakes!
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BethA (AL)

Hi!I live in North Alabama in a place so small there are no traffic lights, not even a 4 way stop. I've been married for 12 1/2 years and have no kids, and we don't want any. Seven years ago, I took a decorating course with my mom so she wouldn't have to go alone. Needless to say I got hooked! I was three weeks into the course when I got my first paying order, a wedding cake of all things. I expanded into catering 6 1/2 years ago and I'm having a blast!
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JANELL

Lets see, Janell is my real name. Could never figure another fake name to use and I like my own. I am 26 married for 6 yrs with two children. Nichole, 10 and Andrew 2. Yea if you do the math I was a young mommy with Nichole. She was three when I met my husband. I have been decorating for fun for about 6+ years. Mostly for family birthdays and baby showers. No wedding cakes as of yet. Not in a hurry for that one yet. I am a stay at home mom so I spend the time playing with different techniques. I live in Oceanside CA after a three year tryout in WA. I don't know how the heck PJ does it without seeing that sun. One year it rained 136 days in a ROW!!! I kid you not. I did more cakes in WA than here. DH took a cake in for a potluck and afterwards I made a monthly cake for their b-day potlucks and a couple of others for their kids b-days and ect. It was hard to leave that, it had lots of potential. I have learned so much stuff from this board it is amazing all the stuff you can do with cake. I never took any classes, just self taught with lots of help from this board. Well, that is all about me and some. :)
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DENEEN (AR)

36 yrs old, and I truly have to stop and think about it. I have always tacked an extra year on if I don't think about it. stay at home mom, 2 girls, 1 boy between 6 1/2 and 3yrs old. I started because I wasn't very pleased with my daughters first bday cake. thot, I can do that well. so, bday #2 I did her cake. yes, it did look as good as the first, but I was equipped with one bag, one coupler and 2 or 3 tips. (lol, #16 tip at that) took days it seemed like, although I had not allowed myself nearly enough time. why did I think I HAD to make it the morn of the party? anyway, I have been at it seriously for just over 3 years, and I am addicted. I am not great, but I see myself getting better and better. EXTREMELY HAPPILY married to my high school sweetie, altho it took us a while to reconnect. I love this board, and all my friends on it. long live Dolores.
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CATHY(LI,NY)

Hi Cathy, As like so many others on the board I started decorating cakes for my children when they were small, people started asking for cakes and here I am today still making cakes (only a lot older now LOL). The children are grown and now I'm decorating for the three grandchildren.(ages 2,3,&4). Basically I'm self taught, read everything I could get a hold of, and a lot of trial and error (back then not many people were willing to share as we do on this board). I worked as a medical assistant for 18 years and loved it, but four years ago decided it was time to leave the field and get back to what I really enjoyed doing-cakes! My husband and I live in New York, on Long Island (which is why I post LI,NY, because New York's a large area and I'm always hoping to find other local decorator). I've been on this board about 2 1/2 years now and I've finally found two other people recently from my area, and one is only about 10 minutes from me!!! Hope maybe we could meet each other. I'm a Wilton instructor for Michaels, and have been teaching approx 3 years now. Love this board -I log on daily for my "fix" even if I have nothing to say!!
Cathy Fiebe
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ROBIN(TX),http://members.home.net/robinscakes/

I am 31 ( I think - I actually had to stop and count!!) married, 10 years and have 2 wonderful blessings (kids). I live in the Dallas area and have been here for over 20 years. I had my son last June and then in July I decided I needed something to get me out of the house one night a week so I signed up for a Wilton class and after the first night I told my hubby that I was ADDICTED! I quickly learned as much as I could to get enough confidence to start selling cakes and now I do 2-3 cakes a week and loving my new art.
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Gina
ok michelleh. you want my vital stats....I am 19, never had kids, honey blonde hair, 5ft9ins, 130 lbs, 36-22-34, long legs, size 4, and perfect white teeth....oh, but then I wake up and the real me is short and round with 2 giant kids and flat hair. :-) and 19 past a loooong time ago. hi Cathy, I'm so glad you thought of this. I am from Louisiana (Cajun girl) but ive lived in Indiana for 13 years. I am right on the border of Louisville KY. my first cake was my own wedding cake over 14 yrs ago..after my decorator aunt had to back out of it at the last minute.. I thought I could do it after watching her as a kid. turned out great and I was hooked. didn't do it much til much later. I read books and practiced here and there, did a couple of friends small wedding cakes. just recently quit my accountant's position to be home with our sons, so I took couple of classes to perfect my techniques. I have sold a few, done a ton of freebies to spread the word and response has been great. may grow soon. now my hubby just wishes I would stop buying cake stuff. :)so nice to meet you cathy.
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Hali
I'm in Toronto, 28, no husband (whew!) and no kids. About 5 years ago I lived next door to a very busy cake lady, and was then introduced to the world of fondant and gumpaste. I never expected to do this as a business, but in the fall of '99 my aunt called to say she was getting married for the second time, and asked me to do the cake. Her logic was, "Well, you already know how to bake a good cake, and that's most of the work.....How hard can it be?" EEk! I bought as many books as I could afford, and just started reading the instructions over and over. 5 weeks later she had a gorgeous confection monstrosity, and I was hooked. I found I really liked the sculpture and design aspects of this, and thought it would be the perfect job to enjoy while pursuing other interests. I have a background in filmmaking, and have my own production company too encompassing film, (or a lack thereof!) art, and photography. And I'm still working on a website.
Oh and P.S. Hali rhymes with Sally....just so you know.
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MINDYMC(MO) . www.mindyscakes.homestead.com

I'm in Missouri, right across the Mississippi River from Quincy IL. I've been doing cakes for several years now. Did my kids birthday cakes, etc. Then my daughter decided to get married and needed a wedding cake and asked me to do it. I did the wedding cake. Took some classes after that. Just got all my licenses and permits in April, and am now a legal business. :-) and can advertise
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TAMI(AZ)
I've been decorating for about 7 years now... My mom wanted to take a decorating class and asked me to join her... Well, I got hooked and she stopped after course one and I've been going at it ever since!! :) I live in Gilbert, Arizona. I'm a stay at home mom and decorate in my spare time... I do cakes here and there for friends and family, but have slowed down since having my daughter. I'm a Wilton teacher, which I love and I'm Secretary of our local cake club and a Member of ICES. I have to say that cake decorating is my passion and I love learning new techniques... There is so much to learn and so many nice people out there that our willing to share... Especially on this board!! :)Take Care!!
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EARLENE, www.earlenescakes.com

I am always glad to see new people on here. That means that this sugar art field is alive and well and growing. I have pictures and lots of info in the about me sections on my web site - no need to bore you with them here.
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ALICE(CA)

Hi Cathy and everyone here! I've been decorating for 7 years now. Started for fun, taking Wilton classes, then began searching for every possible class, cake supply store in town! I'm born and raised in Los Angeles (a TRUE city girl). I'm a full time Paralegal, married and mother of one. I love doing any and all kind of cakes. Right now, I do about 5-6 cakes a week. 1/2 birthday, 1/2 weddings (Can you tell that I've given up sleep?) I'm a Wilton teacher and have my own classes - that I've designed myself. I'm a Board Member of the California Cake Club, our local club Sweet Arts of Orange Co. and a member of ICES. P.S. working on a website as we speak :o)
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CHERYL

about 35 miles north of Madison, Wisconsin. I took a class at a technical college for six weeks and got hooked. I work full time in a federal prison and started bringing in cakes for the guys (staff!) to eat. Soon, they started asking for them for birthdays, etc. Word of mouth has me as busy as I want to be, doing about 3-5 cakes a week. I also have a hubby working at the prison and we have two daughters, ten and four.

Glad to "meet" you!
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SAYDEE

I started in this when our oldest daughter (of 2) gave us just 6 weeks to plan her wedding on a VERY LIMITED budget. Long story, but I ended up making her wed cake (4 tiers w/side cakes & bridges) NEVER having made a decorated cake before! :) 4 days later I was asked to assist in making another wed cake; 3 weeks after that another wed cake. Thought I had better go LEARN about what I was doing:)

That was in 1980.Buttercream is my medium of choice. I now teach for Wilton at a Michael's.

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MICHELLE

30 minutes SOUTH of Kansas City!!! Out in the boonies in a little town called Peculiar believe it or not!! Been decorating for 10 years....and it all started as a fluke. My mom and little sister took a decorating class (I didn't...I was more interested in art and painting and drawing...I wanted to be a graphic artist and work at Hallmark here!!) Well, I dabbled in it a little when my mom would do a cake...she'd show me a little cause I was interested...(I was a teenager 15/16). Never thought then I'd be ADDICTED to cake decorating at 26!!! I got a job in a bakery after graduating high school, and had to fill in for the backup decorator a few times...hated the job...but did learn a LOT. Within just a few months, I was given the head decorator position! Then, I met and married my husband, and had my first daughter. When I got pregnant with my second, I quit...and am able to supplement my hubby's income with this now (he was able to even quit his part time job he'd had since before we'd even met just a couple years ago, and at one time, we both had full time jobs and he the part time job too...so being able to have me quit my job, and him his part-time job, was a HUGE stress reliever for us). Now, with 3 kids...I have the best of both worlds. I have the ability to be with my babies...and make money with a fun hobby. It's great
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CAROLYN(MO)

Hi Cathy, I'm in Missouri. I've decorated for 37 years, mostly starting as a hobby to do my kids' birthday cakes, but then it just evolved (and I mean evolved as I never planned on doing it for anyone else or as a business)into a business and I was able to stay home with my 3 kids as they grew up and supplement my husband's income and I'm still doing it! I guess this is what God had in mind for me. I wanted to be a nurse since I was 6 years old, but due to many throat surgeries and the timing (they could discriminate against you back in the late 50's if you had some handicap) I could not be a nurse. I instead was a secretary which I hated, but did that until I married 3 years after high school. I took a basic beginner class and have learned most of the rest on my own. My business is all word of mouth and I turn people down because I can't do it all. I live about 30 miles North of Kansas City out in the boonies, 4 miles from any town and on 20 acres with lots of trees and we love it. So peaceful compared to city life! I'm very, very active in ICES and have been on the ICES board twice, Rep for my state twice, and was ICES convention Show Director in Kansas City twice. It is the best thing that has happened to me.
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ANNA N.

I'm in Texas and am a teacher by day and a cake decorator by night (sometimes nearly all night) and weekend. Gotta do something to supplement the miserable pay that Texas pays its teachers! I've been doing cakes for 29 years after taking one class and then learning everything else on my own. I got where I am today by word-of-mouth advertising only, and I have about all the cake business that I need to take on at this time. This website is a great source of information to both the beginning and experienced decorators.
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TRACIEP, www.cincinnaticakes.com

I'm in Cincinnati, Oh. I’ve been decorating on and off for 12 years. Full time now for almost 2. Just got married in November, so it’s really tracieB now. I work with everything, including fondant and chocolate. Gingerbread use to be my main item, but the wedding cakes are really picking up. I ship a lot to other states because of my website.