April was an exciting month for Darling Confections.  I had the opportunity to travel and learn some fascinating new skills and I can't wait to use them.  What do you think?

Boy, do I remember this day. The end result is lovely but there was a lot of hustle that took place behind the scenes. As a vendor, or anyone providing a service, it's our job to make sure the client doesn't need to stress or be concerned about anything. Their job is to enjoy themselves, especially on a wedding day.

When I arrived to the event space, I was the only vendor on time. But when I got into the space, nothing was setup, the room was bare. The food truck was parking as I arrived but I believe this was also the event planner who was responsible for tables and chairs, decor, setup, e.t.c. I waited to give them time to bring things in so when they had a min I could figure out what was going on.

At this point, the mother of the bride comes out, she's looking at the time because wedding is starting soon and it looks chaotic in the reception space. The wedding was to be indoors in the same space as the reception. Guests were arriving, the mother's in a frenzy because she didn't want their guests to see the room in progress and they had no where to sit. In dealing with clients for their events, I tried calming mom down and reassured her that everything will be taken care of and it will come together on time.

Before I sent mom off, I asked her to ask the building management if her guests could sit outside. I think it had also rained a bit that morning or literally rained lightly for a few mins. Nonetheless, building management sent staff off to wipe the chairs down because guests had started to arrive and were literally waiting in a line to be seated. You'll see from the pictures the venue had a lovely garden. They may have even discussed having the ceremony outside. At this point, mom felt a little relieved. I told her to finish getting dressed and her makeup done and not to worry.

By now, tables and chairs were being put down. I asked the coordinator where the cake table was to be and asked for table linen so I could set up. I begin setting up, then twice in haste because they weren't thinking clearly, I was told the table needed to be moved. For me to set up, I had to pin point an area because once set up, we can't keep moving things back n forth, just bananas. Anyhow I setup first so I could help the other vendors.

Now that my job was done, I kicked in to help out because I gave mom my word everything will come together. Now I'm placing table cloths on the tables, literally taking table runners out the package (so they had wrinkles) setting up center pieces, etc.

There was another vendor, family member I think, she had a table adjacent to mine where she was setting up favors and candy. From what I recall, she was either pregnant or just had a baby and the newborn was with her so her husband had to kick in to help her out. He was so overwhelmed. So I jump in to help them setup. I'm like 'What do you have, how do you want to setup??' The wife is yelling she needs a hot glue gun because she needs to piece things together. I'm like guess what, I have a glue gun! I let her do what she's doing, the husband doesn't know what to do so I'm getting their table set up. That guy was so grateful for my help.

Now "mind you, I could've decided that none of what I did to help out was my responsibility, setup the cake table and left. But I didn't. And I didn't get paid extra either. The mother of the bride wanted to send me extra money as a tip, I declined. And you think the other vendors gave me a piece of their earnings?!? Of course not!

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”Galatians 6:9-10 ESV

I have been in business over 10 years now. Although I may not be where I want to be, I'm still working to get there. It's only through God that I'm still going. It may not be how I've visioned it but the fact that Darling Confections is still here is me reaping seeds I've sown.

I must say, I often don't have favorites, but looking back on this cake, definitely on my list.

The client was the grandmother of the recipient. I believe this was his 18th birthday and he was going off to pursue studying art in college.

As a fellow Artist myself I was proud to take on this order. For his birthday, he wanted a cake in the shape of an artist palette.

Everything was handmade and I took my time doing so.

I made sugar cookies for the canvases.

Overall, I was more than pleased with this cake and more importantly, the client.

Lately, it seems the days are getting shorter, time is passing by, more work to be done, not enough of me to go around...

I was speaking with my aunt last night, we discussed the progression in technology and how it's changed people. We talked about people going mad and social behaviors. I partly blame social media and reality tv.

Record companies and producers now look to Sound Cloud for aspiring music artists, comedians, radio personalities, etc. (You have to have sold or have a following for so many tracks.) Modeling agencies and advertising companies look to Instsgram for models (you have to have so many followers). YouTube has also made it easy for everyone to create their own media content, persons who want to have their own talk show, go into film, e.t.c.

A few days ago, I had the lovely opportunity to see Carol Burnett (a legend) live on stage. She spoke about a time she was younger breaking into showbusiness. I guess time came around for something big she auditioned for or her first audition. She said she didn't get the part, another (later) big actress did. She said the only thing that kept her going is she said to herself "it's her time...my time will come but it's her time" That resonated with me. Lately, when starting this diary, you see I've written about being discouraged, comparing ourselves to others, trying to thrive in a growing field of Everyone practicing any and everything. Obviously, Ms. Carol's words stuck with me because I've often had to tell myself 'it's not my time, yet'. But in a growing world of DIY'rs and people turning any and everything into a business, not because it's a passion but simply because they feel they can, when is it My time and will that time come? How long do I keep telling myself that, what's my motivation? What's my motivation to continue to pursue my passion or my God given talent when the consumer population is diluted because of an over- saturation in the market?

This past weekend, I had to do a consult with a client for treats for her to give to her clients for Mother's Day. This meant the entire week I had to prep creating sketches, baking, making different flavor combinations for petit fours and chocolate bon bons, a lot of work basically. I was going through body aches, tiredness, getting house work done, work, life! I didn't have the energy and I found myself again asking, 'What's my motivation?' Why am I working so hard at this? Then I had to think of my client that chose me from other bakers or crafts to create something for her. And for her to give away as gifts to her clients. So I pressed because even if it's just prep work or 1 client, that 1 client sees the value in what I do and that should be enough.

-Jacqui

Yesterday started off with a friend of mine from another state sending me some picture of a cake that had now through social media made its way across the states, maybe even global. I did the research and learned the Baker is in my city.

​I'd already started off the week in a pool of despair, now this. But I'm continuously reminding myself, I need to stay the course.

​This morning I received this notification of this photo in my memories. This cake was done last year today. As I began going through the photos to share, I began recollecting on that order. This was a year into Covid19 lockdown and I had steady work. The only thing that came to mind is 'God is yet still faithful'.

Today I struggled with hope for the future. Hope for myself and hope for the business... If I can be totally honest, when I look at others around me prospering, I wonder will my business ever make it to the next level.  There's an influx of cake designers daily, DIYers with thousands of followers on social media. I wonder if the dreams and plans for my life will ever come true or even if it's OK to dream.  I believe I've been lied to all my life, teachers, mentors, all telling you to dream big. What is there to dream if there isn't any support, any action behind it??

But then as I was prepared to plunge deeper into despair, someone reminded me of all I have to be grateful for.  And all the many things I can still be hopeful for.  And all of a sudden the sun shone through. My mom always tells me when I'm in this place to just look back. Look through my body of work. To see how far I've come and where I've yet to go.

It's easy to compare ourselves to others, to measure our success against theirs. To put value on success based on another. When I come out of that headspace, being in despair, I'm always reminded of a scripture in the Bible. I'm paraphrasing: Truly God is good to Israel...But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of them when I saw their prosperity. - Psalm 73 
I almost always immediately fall into a state of repentance and remember to focus on my journey and be grateful.

I had so much fun creating this cake and if felt so much better to be able to freely give it to someone. 

I'd seen so many of my peers in the cake community creating these cakes, and I absolutely love the Minions! This was just one of those cakes I wanted to make for the sake of creating it. Then I got even more excited sitting one day, and the Lord gave me an idea to create the cake in a way I hadn't seen. He reminded me I had the resources and practice lol. Again, it's always the simple things for me.

All in all, I enjoyed taking my time to create him. Before I put the cake together I wanted to have my recipient in mind first. Upon asking an friend of mine if his boys liked the Minions, he informed me they loved them and that his eldest son's birthday was actually in 2 days.

Perfect!! I now had someone to give the cake to, and even better, a little boy celebrating his birthday! I was ecstatic, everything worked itself out. And I had the pleasure of creating this little fellow and giving which was a gift to me. 

As I've worked on my journey perfecting the sugar rose, I figured I had to have something to tie it all together. I was inspired to incorporate a couple of tiers of techniques or methods I'd wanted to try but hadn't had the opportunity yet for a client. There are a few things I want to tweak, but in my anxiousness, I wanted to complete it as well, as it was taking me so darn long to complete...and I'm still at it lol.

I began working from the middle lol with my sugar flowers (which I may add takes time and patience!). I had no planning going into it so I wasn't strategic in the placement of the flowers (one of the things I learned as I got into it that I definitely need to change). Now I think I'm terrified to take it apart as I'm concerned about breakage, Yikes!

I then worked up from there. I wanted to create ombre patterns and do a bit of hand painting. Of course then I had to add pearls (just for me) because I'm a pearl wearing type of girl :-) And as you may know I love shabby chic. So is this cake necessarily shabby chic??...no, but it incorporates the elements of it, in a modern sort of way I'd say.

Then onto the bottom layers, which I absolutely love. I've always wanted to stack a cake tier on top of smaller multi tiers, and I did! I thought of having these tiers stand alone as they're so darn cute. More ombre, roses and hand painting...so darling! I now want to do more of the ombre's, hand painting, roses, Aye Yi Yi!!

I got to explore some techniques and create something I adorn. Working towards my dream cake *insert dreamy eyes here* lol. Until then, 

Last week I wanted to create a series of cakes full of ruffles. Not sure if it was because of all the Valentine's cakes I was working on but I was feeling a little girly (tee he he). So I took my time and got to work! 

Hope you like them!

Just Darling!!
Thanx for looking!

Earlier today I posted a screen shot of some roses I found searching Google.

That particular set of images captured my interest as they are so beautiful. I figured I'd use these as models to practice creating realistic sugar roses. If you're following me on Facebook you may remember a few months back I set out to focus on creating life-like sugar roses, then eventually other assortments of flowers.


Today began Day 1 of the roses in the screen shot:

Now on to the others!
Hope you like it. Thanx for looking!