The Challenge (08)
So by now you’ve all seen the Food Network Challenge… I want to first say thank you to all that have sent emails, blog comments, text messages and phone calls…sharing your support! I truly appreciate knowing that you are out there enjoying what I and Pink Cake Box produce!
After living the real life 8 hour challenge, and then watching it on tv…my comments are below 
1) I do realize there is no crying in cake But sometimes there is…
2) At the time, I made the decision to do as the client wanted…even though in theory she wasn’t a client…and it was a challenge….but in real life I always try to make the bride happy!
3) In the end, I was upset because I didn’t stay true to my work (i.e. it wasn’t as clean as I would like, nor was the color scheme very cohesive, etc) and the result was that my cake looked terrible…and the judges called me on it.
So that’s it in a nutshell. It was a great learning experience..I do feel I did a lot better in the 2nd one…and I can promise I don’t normally cry when I make wedding cakes. : )
Thanks again to my family and friends for sharing your warm wishes with me!!!
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Anne,
People are being way to hard on both of you. I thought the cake was okay and her design was good if you had a lot more time to do it. I am sorry that you feel bitter but its really not as bad as you think. You both worked hard. I thought you guys would still win in the end.
Tia
San Clemente
CA
Hi Anne!
I just started getting into cake decorating and have enjoyed all your beautiful creations. You are truly gifted! Just saw the Challenge and I thought you handled yourself wonderfully under such crazy conditions. You were the only one who really listened to your bride and created exactly what she wanted. That is a real testament to your customer service! Thanks for such a great website that a novice like me can refer to and learn from. You really inspire those of us who are just starting out. I always look forward to seeing your new, creative designs. I hope to someday be half the artist that you are!!
I also think you did a great job for your first challenge! You just got a bum deal with the bride. You’re techniques were fantastic for the planning and time allowed. So you have another challenge coming up? You’re awesome!!
I think you did a terrific job! I really enjoyed watching you on TV and look forward to your next challenge. You do amazing work and you handled yourself very well under strenuous conditions. Fortunately, I’m sure most of your clients are nothing like the bride from the challenge!! I’m expceting my 2nd child at the end of this week and can’t wait to use Pink Cake Box for his Baptism, 1st birthday, etc…
Dear Anne,
I am probably one of your biggest fans and you don’t even know me! I just wanted to give you a hug after the show! I agree with the other comments, you were the only competitor who was willing to try to incorporate the bride’s ideas for her wedding cake and for her to turn on you in the end was unacceptable. You were also the only newcomer to the show. I can’t imagine the pressure and stress you were going through and you handled yourself so professionally. I receive your newsletters about 3 times a week and am so impressed with your quality decorating. I have been cake decorating for about a year now so I research many, many cake websites and you are by far, my very favorite! (Plus my favorite color is Pink so when I found your website, I knew I would love your masterpieces!) I am so looking forward to seeing you in the next Challenge! My daughter Mikenzi who is 6 wanted me to write that she thought your cake was the best one and she was sorry you cried. You have quite a fan club in my family!
I wish they had offered the cake artists the 1K to leave their “brides” instead….your bridezilla was hard to watch! I love your work – can’t wait to have another awesome cake from you soon!
I watched the show last night, and all I can say is you handled Bridezilla very well. The other 3 competitors didn’t give their brides what they requested. While the one that won was a pretty cake, it was definitely not what the bride had imagined. I thought you should have been given alot more credit for following your brides thoughts. While she was definitely not someone I would ever want to have to please, you were very gracious to her. Your cakes are all out of this world. I love looking at this blog.
I just wanted to say that I am a huge fan of your cakes! They are so clean and perfect. I’m sorry the challenge was such a pain. Your work is amazing and I can’t wait to see more of it.
Dear Anne,
No doubt about it that your wedding cake would have won if you could have designed it the way you wanted to! I can’t wait to see your next challenge!
Joey Creamer, age 10 (Jodi Creamer’s son)
Hi Anne,
I had to comment on your blog since I just had a chance to watch the challenge on my DVR. You are a VERY talented designer and your creations are gorgeous. If you were making my wedding cake I would just say “work your magic Anne” and let you do the rest, that is how much faith I’d have in you. Bottom line is it was her design/idea and it was awful!!! As she realized that herself I think she started to turn on you! You were the only designer who took the bride’s ideas into consideration and in the end they “scolded” you for it. Don’t let this one get you down, you are amazing!!!! You worked with such confidence and grace under such stress. Chin up
Suzanne
I missed the challenge. Hopefully I can catch it on repeat. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Best Wishes,
Andria
We were so excited that the challenge finally came on! I think it was a terrible idea for a challenge, but I guess they have to keep trying new things to make the show, whatever. I still think your cake looked great and that your bride was a big horse’s rear end. I think your cakes are the best and we are looking forward to the next challenge!
You were great! It was fun seeing you in action. We all know your work is incredible and I know you will do great on the next challenge. Keep up the great work and keeping us inspired!
I found the show while flipping channels Sunday night. I first want to say that the bride was a “you know what!” I felt so bad for you. I agree with one of t he other posters that they should have offered the cake decorators the option to leave the bride.
I am lucky enough to get to see your awesome work all the time through your daily blog – and even luckier that I get to see some of it in person (while peeking in your window in town).
Can’t wait to see you rock the next challenge!
Anne,
I had been looking forward to seeing you on the Challenge since you announced your involvement a few months ago. (even set the DVR to record so I wouldn’t miss it!)
My family and I all cheered for you and applauded you for being the ONLY contestant to consider and provide the bride’s requests. You should be proud of yourself! We certainly are! And we look forward to seeing you competing in the next one! We’ll record it again and be cheering away!
Awesome Job! You have lots of fans!
-Jennifer (and family) in Utah