I can say with all honesty that I never thought I'd be sharing what I'm about to share right now. I made an Avant Garde Cake... and it is on the cover of American Cake Decorating Magazine. ON THE COVER, ya'll!! Yes, I AM screaming!! Since Tuesday I've been screaming.
Many, many months ago (I'm thinking it was April 2015??), I was invited to be a part of this amazing collaboration: The Avant-Garde Cake Collaboration. I was honored beyond imagination just to be invited because there are some seriously amazing cake decorators in this group and I didn't feel like I was up to par.
But I took up the challenge and started making plans for my Avant-Garde Cake. Sadly, my plans didn't come together as I'd hoped and the vision I had in my mind didn't come to life. Let me explain.
I hadn't worked on it as much as I wanted ahead of time, and when it came down to the wire... I had tons of things on my plate and I was crazy-busy with holiday orders. So much so that I almost dropped out... but then I couldn't. I really, really wanted to stick with my commitment and be a part of this group.
With lots of determination... and eyes propped open with toothpicks, I stayed up til 3am on Christmas morning to finish my piece and meet the deadline. Whew!!
At the end of the night, I loved my cake. It was raw and edgy... organic and well... it was a new vision, but a good one. Nevertheless, I was still scared it wasn't even in the same ballpark with the other cakes being submitted. It wasn't my original design plan and put plainly, I thought it just wasn't good enough.
Anywho - I submitted my pics, took a deep breath, and just let it go. It was done and there was no more time to work on it even if I wanted to.
Since it was agreed ahead of time that the collaboration would be printed in the American Cake Decorating, we held our reveal to coordinate with the release of the Mar/April issue of the magazine. All I could do was wait.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday when Rebekah of Rebekah Naomi Cake Design (our fierce and fabulous leader for this collaboration) sent me a message that my cake had been chosen for the cover. Whaaa????? I literally screamed.
I think my reply was, "No freakin' WAY!!". I had already seen some of the other cakes in the collaboration and gosh... what an amazing, unexpected honor.
And then... as if it could get any better... I got an email from ACD with a link to my Closeup article on AmericanCakeDecorating.com!! {Of course, I'd love for you to click here and read about my cake and inspiration!! :)} Here's a little snippet:
I’ve always had a thing for a pretty red dress. When researching for a design, I didn’t focus on any particular dress for inspiration but rather looked at dozens (if not hundreds) of beautiful & unique dresses. There were two elements that seemed to draw my attention over and over again…
I couldn't believe it. And I still couldn't tell anybody... haha. Two more days to wait.... talk about torture. This is one of those 'once in a lifetime' deals for me and I could not sit still... I was just dancing with excitement! I wanted to tell everybody!!
But I didn't. I kept my secret (at least publicly - my family & close friends were immediately bombarded with my excitement) and finally... we all revealed last night. And it was a fantastic reveal experience! The whole thing began to sink in. WOW ya'll..... ME, I made a cake... that's in this gorgeous, unique group of cutting edge cakes.
And the sugar on top for me is that my cake... my cake ... it's on a COVER. Of a widely recognized cake decorating magazine. WHaaaaaaaTTT??? Yeah - still screaming.... hahahaha! I know - I'm so annoying. But this is just surreal.
Okay... it's very, very late on Sunday night and I really need to sleep. I'll leave you with one last photo... this is me, tired and without brushed hair... and the dumb grin I've been wearing for 5 days now 😉 When I got home from shopping today... I found a real-life copy of the magazine in my mailbox... WHOO-HOO!!!
All my love cakey friends!! All my love... xoxo
The primary medium for decorating this cake was wafer paper. See more of my wafer paper designs here:
Christine Stephens
I'm so excited for you! A well deserved Congratulations! Awesome work!
Tammy M
WOW! Your cake is BEAUTIFUL!! you have such an amazing talent for cake decorating so I am not surprised at all. I read and enjoy all your posts and feel as if I know you. I am so proud of you!...Good Job!.. YAY!
June
Just love this cake....such a pretty and darung design...
Shari Thorley
Major Congratulations!!!!!!!! Must have been hard to keep it silent.
GORGEOUS CAKE!!!!!!!!!!
Deb Rogers
CONGRATULATIONS, how AWESOME! I just subscribed last month and the mag is AMAZING. AND YOU'RE ON THE COVER! Woo hoo! Good for you, girl. 🙂
Susan Solognier
Congratulations, beautiful and edgy cake. Well deserved to be on the cover. Greetings from Aruba.
Lisa
That's Amazing!! Congrats!!
I have a question regarding 3d cakes...I just made a Rollerskate cake. However my vision didn't come together as I had Hoped or Planned!! The skates keep falling apart even with stabliziers! I have a great recipe for the cake I got from our local cake decorating supply store. But it just wouldn't keep in the carved state. So plan "B" lay the Dang thing on it's side on top of the sheet cake. Dummer!! I had such Great Plans for this one.. Can you tell me what the heck could have happened!! Thank you an again Congrats!!
Rose Atwater
I'm sorry - there are just so many different factors that could've come into play. The recipes you use, the structure, the humidity... there's no way I could begin to guess.
Catherine Bombere
Congratulations. Beautiful cake design.
Margaret
I can feel your excitement in every sentence. What a great honor for you. I am excited just to be one of your followers. what a great cake.
Tanesha
This is huge! You so deserve it. Congrats Rose!
Evelyn
So over the top happy for you!!!! Congratulations!!!
Tammy BIgelow
Congratulations Rose!!!! What a fabulous honor.
Your cakes are always beautiful and the
honor is well deserved!
Congratulations again!
Tammy
Kimberly Samuels
Congratulations on receiving this prestigious recognition! Your cake is beautiful!! Enjoy this moment. Your recipes have brought much joy to my family!!
Lisa F.
CONGRATULATIONS! Beautiful cake design. Love love love the colors and originality. You deserve all this and more for all your hard work and dedication and your willingness to help wholeheartedly all of us out here. Take care and enjoy!
Rae
Way to go Rose...heart felt congratulations to you and your extraordinary imagination...i value all your wisdom and tips you share along the way...you give us all hope in making magnificent cakes
Judy D
Congratulations, it is a really beautiful cake, love the colors. It is lovely to see something a little different from the norm. Can't wait to read the article.
Sandra Smiley
Congratulations, sweet girl!! Your cake is fantastic and perfectly illustrates the theme of the collaboration. This is an honor well deserved and you have every right to be jumping up and down squealing! I squealed a little bit for you, too, when I saw the cover!
Cynthia Walker
Absolutely beautiful!
Kate
Congratulations!!!! Your cake is gorgeous and so very unique!
Aisha
This is beyond great! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful job Rose!
The Partiologist
I am beyond thrilled for you and having your cake on the cover - that's epic!!!! I can't wait to check out all the other cakes, I can only imagine what beautiful creations I'm about to see! Congratulations!! BTW I love your cakey grin! 🙂
Liz
Congratulations, how amazing! Your cake is just stunning! The other cakes are incredible as well, and what an honor to have yours chosen for the cover!
Crystal Brown
Congratulations! I can relate to your Sunday look! Thank You for your blog and sharing all you cake info it has been so helpful and inspiring. Taking the time to share with us while busy with your business and Family is amazing. So soak up all the limelight you deserve it. Thanks again!
Bola
Congratulations Rose!!!! It is a recognition well deserved
Tami G
Congratulations, Rose! What an honor to be selected for the cover...I am so excited for you. You always do excellent work...I so enjoy your blog and seeing all of your creations. Thank you for sharing what you do with us...looking forward to more honors for your work!
maureen
well done well done well done !!!!!!!!!!!!
Jenny
Wow so exciting, congrats.. You deserve it.
I just love following you. Thank you sharing..
Julie
Aww, I don't know you personally, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer lady. Frame that magazine!
Lawannah
Screaming CONGRATULATIONS to you. Bask in the moment YOU deserve it. Im sure you put your heart and soul into this cake and God rewarded you... He sees and knows beyond anything we could imagine. I dont know you but I'm happy for you. Thanks for being unselfish with your talent by sharing with us. I appreciate it. You are my inspiration.
Rose Atwater
Thank you so much for your kindness Lawannah! xx
Gold
Congratulations Rose :). I am so proud of you. xxx
Rose Atwater
Thank you Gold!!
Khadija
Congratulations! That is such a huge accomplishment to be on the cover of any magazine but on ACD that's huge. Congratulations again and now I have to go buy the magazine 🙂
Rose Atwater
Awww - thank you so much Khadija!
Bethann Dubey
Just so Stunning!! love the flow and the textures .. fabulous!
Rose Atwater
Thank you so much!
Pat March
Wow! Beautiful cake, and congratulations! Well deserved!
Rose Atwater
Thanks so much!
Terry Hernandez
Congratulations! You deserve it.
Rose Atwater
Thanks a bunch!! xx