I have this thing where, while I’m decorating a cake, I think it’s the worst cake in the whole world and people are going to be disappointed, and it didn’t live up to my plan of how it was going to look. This not a “fishing for compliments” thing either, it’s real. My family rolls their eyes. I made this hydrangea cake yesterday for a friend and hated everything about it— the color palette, the way I put all the blues on one side and the pinks on the other, the ugly leaves… this morning I took it out of the fridge and I like it. But last night was genuine despair. After all these years I need to learn to tell myself that it’s all fine. Wondering if anyone else gets this?
by dupareilaumeme_
28 Comments
Seek therapy. Ask yourself, what does the cake think of its maker? Does the cake hate you back? In this pondering, you shall know– pain.
Totally. There’s always a moment when I think it’s terrible and I’m in way over my head. But when I walk away for a bit and look at it with fresh eyes, I can see it’s fine.
This is beautiful……SO well done! But yes I question myself on a regular bases when making my cakes! I did tonight when making a cake! This is stunning though! Well done!
This is perfection.
Ailton??? How on earth do you pronounce that?
Gorgeous cake, though!!!!!
10000%. Most of the time I hate them till the finishing touch. And I always “finish” and am still missing something, luckily my husband has been trained long enough and he can walk in and point out exactly what finishing touches I need. This on it was the “bubbles” added. It was so negative and I hated it at the “finish” till he told me to add bubbles lol.
https://preview.redd.it/t29a5swmiere1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ac0cd741a0a74ee6f4296899d8ec89f5d5731cd
I quit decorating cakes because of the feeling that it wasn’t good enough. When I look back at the pictures now, I know they were. It brought out the worst perfectionist in me.
I think it’s normal to lose objectivity when working on a piece of art. The last record I worked on, I was convinced that it was a complete failure. Later on, I realized that we’d grown leaps and bounds and it was the strongest work we’d done yet. Beautiful cake, by the way.
Gorgeous. So clean and sharp
Not *once* in my whole baking experience have I *ever* trusted the process. I doubt right up to the first bite.
There is a moment with every cake where I ask , wtf did I do and wtf am I going to do 🤷🏻♀️ it’s part of the process . Walking away for a bit helps me …some …and…Gorgeous florals ☺️
All the time. Sometimes, I even like them when they’re done. We are our own worse critics.
This cake is beautiful. But is this a cake for a 5 year old little boy?
Every single time. My dad used to always be so verbally critical of his own food. It always drove me crazy because it was always so good! Why couldn’t he see how much people enjoyed it!
I know that I do it verbally and mentally, hating and disparaging my own cooking, even when others like it (Or pretend to like it, as my mental illness tries to convince me.)
And now my son does it when he’s baking cookies. It’s heartbreaking to see this fucked up family tradition be passed down to the next generation. 💔
love it
If I don’t hate it for a time while making it did I really make it?
I literally dream of being able to make a cake look this beautiful.
It’s gorgeous!
Yes, but wow this cake is so beautiful! You’re so talented!
I’ve never seen hydrangeas on a cake—this is outstanding!
And yes, we are our own worst critics. Try calling out your critical thoughts and ask whether you would ever say that to someone you love and care about who was working hard on a project. If you wouldn’t, explore why it is apparently acceptable to talk to yourself like that.
For sure. Even when done I see all the ways it could have been better
I think this is true fire every are. I have a million hobbies (thanks ADHD) and there is a “trust the pricess” moment to all of them, from sewing, to baking, from watercolor to woodworking.
It’s all part of being a perfectionist. It’s even worse because we envision something so awesome, but disappointing when it doesn’t come out how we want it. Either way, your cake came out BEAUTIFUL!!
no reason to hate, it is lovely in all stages
I know you aren’t fishing for compliments but it’s absolutely beautiful and perfect!!
Nearly every time I make a cake or cookie set. I’ve had to learn that it’s just a natural part of my process and to push through it/trust myself, because 99.9% of the time, it comes out fine.
You’re crazy, that is gorgeous!
The petalwork on those hydrangea is amazing. Beautiful detail. That five year old with that r/tragedeigh for a name won’t appreciate it, but I do.
Very nice