Wow, this place is looking different...I'm gone on holiday for 2 weeks and log in and I thought I had the wrong site for a minute with all this blue. The font is harder to read I'm finding..

My computer has a sense of humour! Its been playing silly buggers with me after neglecting it for two weeks... every site I've gone into so far has something weird happening in it. I hit the refresh Key and the site went back to normal again... See Galactor you haven't won yet! I'm not loosing it after all!!!

I'm glad it's all working for you now, Ebony!

Glad things are working out for you Ebony ... And welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your two week holiday.

Welcome back, Ebony! It could be that the site has missed your presence, like we did!! Hope you had a wonderful time during your vacation!

Good to have you back, Ebony!!

Welcome back, Ebony! I've had that happen to me too, on odd occasions, that when I first come to this site, it's all blue, but it always corrects if I refresh the page.

Thats the first time its happened to me! I think thats why it threw me for a six. I haven't been around due to holidays and cake orders. Next week I have an order for a "Harry Potter" cake! That will be fun to make.

Ooo, I bet that would be awesome to see. Me and the kids love watching cake boss and ace of cakes.

I'll be making it next week, when its done I'll post a photo for you.

Great I can't wait to see it.

Looking forward to it!

It's great to hear that your business is going well, Ebony! I too look forward to see the photo!

I'll be starting it in the next few days... This is for you Gatchamarie. The wedding cake I finished for a couple. The event is today...

I'm not able to see the pic, Ebony! I was so looking forward to! Did you try to use the "Edit Attachment" function, because if that's the case, I think that function is still not working yet! I'm using Photobucket when I need to send pics! Hope to see it soon!

I think you're right, Marie. I can't see the picture either. Ebony, you'll need to host the picture somewhere (such as Photobucket) and link the image here, since attachments aren't working.

I thought it was just my computer playing up again, its still doing it every now and then... http://cakesandart.blogspot.com/ I'm posting all of my cake pics here Gatchamarie, it gets updated once a week.

Oh Ebony...those cakes are gorgeous! Wish I lived close by so I could order from you!

Ebony those are beautiful. I especially love the orchid one. Like Springie, I wish I lived closer to you so I could have you decorate a cake for me.

Those are just beautiful, Ebony! You really have a talent!

Those are just wonderful, Ebony! I can see that you're refining your technique with every cake you make, especially where flowers are concerned! Those white, gum paste roses are exquisite! I like your style ... simple and elegant! I'll surely take a peek, every now and then, at your blog! It's a great idea! I don't have one, as I'm more used to clients coming to my house, from every part of the country, and view my portfolio personally, since we live in such a small island! I have almost filled a whole album, by now! And, to be really honest, I've found it more convenient for me as, due to the fact that, again, in such a small country, we have only a few, very competitive artists in this field, it's an easy thing to have your ideas stolen by others, especially when they're exclusive creations from the very scratch, and especially when people, here, do not hesitate that much to do so! Sharing them with you is another thing, though! Thanks for sharing yours!

Gatchamarie- It happens here too don't worry. The thing I need to do is watermark some of my cakes and prevent downloads. But the truth is people can still copy things. The only real protection is copyright, but then change it by 10% and you don't have a leg to stand on with it. I'm finding potential clients like going to the blog rather coming to my house. I'm doing a paper portfolio as well. The blog started from one client wanting to see several cakes, I was sick of the constant attaching of pictures to emails and losing track, and she had no time to come to the house so I made the blog up quickly. I'm only putting more recent ones up, some of my older cakes aren't that good. I do have one with Australian wildlife flowers on it, but I have to scan in the photo. Some our local flowers can look very dramatic on a cake... Waratah is beautiful just on its own with its bright reds and green leaves. There is a lot of people around who make cakes in Sydney, but like anything else creative I feel people have to like your style too. I'm not worried about competition, I'm just getting on with the business, plus I've found some other blogs of local cake designers who are supportive of others in the business here. Some cake artists won't carve cakes and I love doing it... so there's room for all. A small Island might be different though...

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne Gatchamarie- It happens here too don't worry. The thing I need to do is watermark some of my cakes and prevent downloads. But the truth is people can still copy things. The only real protection is copyright, but then change it by 10% and you don't have a leg to stand on with it.

Not sure about in Australia, but in the US, most intellectual property is automatically copyrighted, no need to apply for it like one would do a patent. Since you don't release your recipes from you blogs, competitors may try to steal your ideas, but they won't be able to recreate your cakes.

Ebony, your cakes are beautiful and I'm sure they're yummy, too, but I'd hate to cut them up.

Oh wow Ebony those are gorgeous and so nummy looking. I'm like Becky too, I'd be afraid to cut them and ruin the beautiful cake. I love the one with the teddy bear with the flowing ribbon. However I think my favorite is Ribbon and Roses, absolutely breathtaking. Thank you for sharing.

Awe, thanks for all the lovely compliments... Cakes are to be eaten, part of the fun! As for the copyright thing, you have to pay in Australia for the copyright symbol which is basically placing copyright on an item. Patents are different, and more expensive.

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne A small Island might be different though...

It is different, especially when there's an increasing number of artists who want to cater for the same, small amount of very demanding persons who have the trend of browsing through all the best options before deciding. Competitiveness arises ... it's kind of the survival of the fittest! I try to give my best in quality also, though, as you can find many artists who do a great job where decoration is concerned, but do not tend to fuss a lot about the taste, and texture, of their cakes. For now, I'm surviving, also due to the fact that I always try to keep my prices as reasonable as can be. Amethyst, you're right in saying that any creation is difficult to recreate ... LOL not even I myself can do the same cake ordered for the second time, or third, etc, exactly as the first time! But, you don't know how far people can go in order to always have the better, here! There was even once when a certain lady called me and asked whether she can borrow my photos, and keep them for a while ... just like that, without even thinking of ordering! I've edited this post because I wished to add that, notwithstanding the circumstances I've written above, I'm one artist who minds my own business, and would never think to copy anything from others! First, out of respect, and because it's against my nature, second because I find it more challenging, and satisfying, to create something totally original, from the very scratch!

The thing you probably run into, which happens often with me is that people will see it somewhere else and then want that particular cake- but you make it. I always point out that its an art, custom made item. The idea can be there but it will not turn out exactly like it. Then after that they think about it and 9/10 will make changes to it anyway. They just like the idea because there are a lot of people who can't visual things or have much in the way of creative instincts. I offer a few suggestions that will improve it.... Then it ends up looking nothing like someone elses work and becomes an original. Which makes me happy, because I'm not into copying... I love my cakes to taste as good as it looks. (My friends have been giving me feedback on carrot cake samples at the moment... I've altered a recipe. But won't offer it to customers until its really outstanding... A few more alterations and it will taste amazing...) That where Artist Guilds come in handy. (I've been part of the Doll Artisan Guild, and they were so encouraging for businesses,) Instead of everyone getting competitive it creates an enviroment where they work together instead for the good of the art and business making it stronger... Do you have a Cake Artist guild in Malta Gatchamarie???? I'll scan in some of my Australian wildflowers when i find the photo's. I'm making some more soon for a design I have in mind for a cake.

Oh, wow, Ebony..... *sigh* I always get so envious when I see talent like yours and Marie's! Seeing such amazing skill makes me wish I could do something similiar.... But not to be, sad to say - probably for the best considering the trouble I have reigning in my sense of humour... LOL Gorgeous stuff, seriously.

Awe Green... thanks. I've been thinking about a Gatch cake design of late... that would be fun! I might just make it...just because...but I'd then want to cut it up for people who love BOTP/Gatchaman. Sigh... Don't worry, my sense of humour comes into it too... I've just been commissioned to make a Harley Davidson style cake... I'm so tempted to put a girl with flowing green on it! Wouldn't the Swan love a Harley...I bet she would.

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne That where Artist Guilds come in handy. (I've been part of the Doll Artisan Guild, and they were so encouraging for businesses,) Instead of everyone getting competitive it creates an enviroment where they work together instead for the good of the art and business making it stronger... Do you have a Cake Artist guild in Malta Gatchamarie????

To be totally honest, I don't know exactly, as I've always opted for more academical subjects, and I've never searched well down that route! But, I'm sure that it exists, as our culture encourages a lot of artisans! There are a lot of courses available around, and we have a special culinary school, of high standard, in which one can also specialise in his own field. Moreover, regular competitions of various categories are held. My advantage is that of taking my dad's creative genes, who was a painter during his good, old times. I've learnt what I know by reading related books, taking part into competitions, and by practice ... it's now more than fifteen years that I've started this activity as a hobby, and I've also created my own style. I've also attended some art lessons when I was very young, but not enough to specialise. I'm very thankful that, after I've found myself not being able to pursue my banking career any more, in order to take care of my kids by myself, I was able to turn this into an almost full-time job! I agree with you, when you said that cakes must taste as good as they look ... that's also my motto! And, it's great to share opinions, and experiences, with a geniune artist like yourself!

Originally posted by green But not to be, sad to say - probably for the best considering the trouble I have reigning in my sense of humour... LOL

Ebony is right ... there's nothing wrong to introduce one's sense of humour in what has to be created! It makes it more interesting! I wouldn't have done one I've showed you (I don't think I have to specify which one!), and others similar, or with a more relaxed theme, if I weren't able to introduce mine! I cannot tell you how much my husband and I laugh whenever I'm making such humoristic cakes, which are often related to my clients' stories!

Originally posted by gatchamarie

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne That where Artist Guilds come in handy. (I've been part of the Doll Artisan Guild, and they were so encouraging for businesses,) Instead of everyone getting competitive it creates an enviroment where they work together instead for the good of the art and business making it stronger... Do you have a Cake Artist guild in Malta Gatchamarie????

To be totally honest, I don't know exactly, as I've always opted for more academical subjects, and I've never searched well down that route! But, I'm sure that it exists, as our culture encourages a lot of artisans! There are a lot of courses available around, and we have a special culinary school, of high standard, in which one can also specialise in his own field. Moreover, regular competitions of various categories are held. My advantage is that of taking my dad's creative genes, who was a painter during his good, old times. I've learnt what I know by reading related books, taking part into competitions, and by practice ... it's now more than fifteen years that I've started this activity as a hobby, and I've also created my own style. I've also attended some art lessons when I was very young, but not enough to specialise. I'm very thankful that, after I've found myself not being able to pursue my banking career any more, in order to take care of my kids by myself, I was able to turn this into an almost full-time job! I agree with you, when you said that cakes must taste as good as they look ... that's also my motto! And, it's great to share opinions, and experiences, with a geniune artist like yourself!

Guilds- are more support, setting standards, porper practices- rather than just academic. (Though at times they do offer day classes on subjects.) They're not just about education. I'm looking into the local artists guilds at the moment because I can network through them too.