Hiya,

Wow, yes I think I seem to be typing that so much at the moment.

Exciting times ahead for cakes2party4.
I received a phone call approx a year ago, and since nothing has come of it.

One of the ways I would like to move my business forward is to have more work in advance so I can be organised, it is difficult making cakes when so many come in within the week required.

One or two fine, but 5. This makes model making difficult and also limits the design of the cakes I make.

However over the last year this has slowly been changing. As well as a few companies wanting to work with me. For various reason's this hasn't happened fully.

To my surprise the lady Maria, who contacted me the year previous sent me an email asking if I could make a cake for one of her clients.

Maria works as a home concierge, this entails her making associations with local reputable companies to supply her customers with their requirements. Whether this is a one off requirement, or regular work that may need undertaking.

I hadn't met Maria personally, but was happy and confident (well as confident as I get) to make the cake. A colourful fun tractor for a 3 year old.

In my remit, in my comfort zone, apart from not carving a cake for a while and having not just one person to impress, Maria...also mother and child!

Wow, once again.

Luckily I loved the cake, happens to be my cake of the week.
Maria came to meet me, collect the cake staying for a cup of tea and trying a toffee popcorn cupcake.

So I felt more at ease as she had tried the cake personally, met me.

We had a lovely chat, and now know her personality which obviously doesn't always come across in emails.

I am commissioned to make another cake in June, and the possibility of more in July.

I know this may not be regular, but it is in keeping with what I do and where/how I would like my business to grow.

Always typing that, seems a grown up word. My children are growing up and I have always said the cake making has got busier each year as they don't rely on me to physically look after them.
I am not ready to move on to a shop, if ever.

I am looking forward to being associated with such a professional company.

Like buses the opportunity has also arisen to work alongside a friend, Betty Marshmallow, I now make some models for their cakes or take on the whole commision. This is exciting news as I get to sometimes go help in her shop... then I feel like a proper grown up. The shop is based in Ely, and Betty M is the place to go for cupcakes and delicious sandwiches...heading their later for home made scones...

These are daunting tasks at times, again having to please Betty M, then the customer...

Cakes2Party4 is established, has been going for 7 years in my work room... a few years previous for friends and family.

My son is moving on to secondary school, time for me to move on too.
Next stage here I come...

exciting times.

baking dreams come true...
Alex

Hiya,

I was wondering what you see when you send me images, ideas for a cake.

Do you look at a whole figure, idea?

Just see it as oh a xxxxx on a cake.

I once had to do a bicycle onto a cake. It was more intricate than described. Which was "It is easy, two circles and a triangle."
Really, have you tried to making icing into a circle, a triange, then a handlebars, pedals, seats, lines for wires etc...
It obviously depends on how much detail you would like on a cake.

This is blog isn't a moan at all.

I am interested, when you see something to make into cake form, do you notice the lines, shapes, where hats are plaaced on the heads of characters, how many shades, colours and basic as well as intricacies there are?

Do you realise that some things for the price you are willing to pay take time, more time and patience, very often having to overcome challenges to make something stand on teeny tiny thin legs, with a huge body?

I love the challenges, I love the teeny tiny things I have to make and working out how I am going to do it...sometimes more is spent on thought process than making the cake.

It is difficult to know what you are paying for, so this is in a way to help make you realise, where you may see a simple bear, pig etc...break it down into pieces and stages, then look at all the shapes and colours.

This is what I do to make your models this is the fun and frustrating part. I want to see the end result, but have to make items in stages, with colour matches also.

Off I go to make a standing stoat, with a snake belt that is so skinny...but, requires three colours and a s catch...with a sword in the belt and a swishy tail in a pose with hands on hips.

Baking dreams come true...
Ale

Hiya,

In the age of technology, where do you stand?
How much do you text or email?

I find it all a bit much at times, too many devices, too little baking time :)

However in the same vein, the devices I have help. At present I am typing on my lap top, which means I am at least sitting in the living room and half listening to one of my favourite films, which I know word for word.

I try not to text my customers and use it to make calls only, this means I can happily ignore it whenever possible on days off. I do have an answer machine and contact people as soon as I possibly can. I also have caller ID, which again helps to switch off in the evening.

Working from home for me will always have more bonuses to outweigh the negatives, but there are times when it takes more time.

I find emails one of the most instant and easier way to contact customers, as they do me, however sometimes I have over 20 emails for a basic cake order. The time to answer these isn't taken into account for your cake. This is when I wish a simple phone call or consultation would have been made, sometimes ideas flow, changes are made, and descriptions can be explained over the phone/in person than by emails.

It is as much me as the customer, as every last detail for your cake from flavour, to collection times are important to me and also in making the cake to your design. I still prefer some leaway.

I had a cake last week ordered Monday night for delivery Weds morning. I was able to do this cake, even on this tight schedule. What made it difficult was the numerous emails... some were for payment, some to check the delivery. Then to change the delivery to collection, then to change it back to delivery, but earlier, which wasn't possible in the time frame. Email at 11 p.m. don't expect an answer...

If it is urgent, please phone me. I am baking...I am model making, I do check emails, but mostly in the morning, a quick lunch break and check and in the evening. I am professional, but family time and breathing space from cake making is needed. It is tiring to stand for 7+ hours a day.

Besides a quick call, or consultation gives me a better feel for your personality and I can come up with designs.

Baking dreams come true...
Alex