From Childcare Worker to Award-Winning Cake Decorator

What first started off as a hobby may soon turn into a change of careers for Castro Valley resident Misti Short.

This 26-year veteran childcare worker won first place Sunday in the intermediate division for her cakes, sugar art, "Best in Show" and "Peoples' Choice" in the Contra Costa Cake and Sugar Art Society's (CCCSAS) Sixth Annual Show Competition in Concord.

"That was a huge accomplishment for an amateur," she said. "That means my cake was picked by the people over the professional cakes! How exciting is that?!"

Last year, there was no limit to how many cakes that could be entered. Her Rapunzel cake had won "Peoples' Choice" and first place in her division.

This year, CCCSAS only allowed competitors to enter one cake into the competition. However, all year long Short planned to make four seperate cakes: a dragon, a ship, a wedding cake and a safari cake. After not being able to decide on just one, she created a four-in-one cake that included herself making the very four cakes she had initially planned on making. If you look closely in the photo above, you'll see a tiny "Misti" building the cake itself.

Molding dream into reality

Two years ago, she convinced her husband, Brian, to take a cake decorating class with her at Michael's in San Leandro.

"While in the first class, I whispered into my husband's ear and said: I think I'm good at this," said Short. "... and he said: 'I think so too!'" 

After that first class, Short went home and made a triple chocolate cookies-and-cream ice cream cake shaped as the Oakland Raiders logo for friends. They were floored over its taste and appearance.

From then on, she was hooked.

She went on to make a bassinet cake (pictured above) after using only a few techniques she learned from the class. She mostly self-taught by searching for tips, tricks and techniques online.

She claims this obsession with cake decorating is constantly on her mind.

"Sometimes I get an idea in my head about a cake and I can't sleep,  unless I get up and draw my idea. I have so much in me I just need the excuse and opportunity to make my creations."

In January 2011, she took her passion for cake decorating a tier higher by flying out to Chicago for a master course in cake decoration. It was there where she got to learn a lot on piping and sugar flowers.

"My goal is to share my talent, work very hard and compete against some amazing talent and just hope for the best," said Short.

She also hopes to soon share her cakes with others by opening up a cake shop in San Leandro. She was unable to give much detail on the business because it is still in the works. Short hopes it will open by the end of 2012.

"This is a perfect example of why one should continually try new things," Short said. "You never know where you might find a new talent!"

Want to see more of Misti Short's cakes? Click here for her Facebook page.

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