In the summer of 1981, while talking with her customers and students, Marilyn found an interest to converse with the other cake decorators. She asked a few friends to get together and form a cake decorators' club, which shortly became THE CAKE DECORATORS OF TIDEWATER. The purpose of the club is to promote the art and enjoyment of cake decorating through demonstration, exchanging recipes and group discussions. This is a sharing group. Members enjoy sharing their ideas and talents with each other.

    In 1983, the club sponsored a cake show at Greenbrier Mall. It was a success and gave the club a goal of sponsoring future cake shows. In 1985, the club wanted a bigger show, but needed money. A decision was made to make and sell decorated Easter Eggs. This was a huge success. To encourage decorators to enter cakes into the Cake Show, we offered a $100 cash prize to be drawn from the entry forms of the contestants.

    By 1990 Cake Decorators of Tidewater became a charitable organization and a corporation, changing the name to THE CAKE DECORATORS OF TIDEWATER, INC. A portion of profits made by selling Easter Eggs is donated to the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters, as well as furnishing seed money for the cake shows. Other purposes for which this Corporation is organized are exclusively for pleasure, recreation, promotion of the art of cake decorating throughout the Tidewater area, educating the public and the members in various aspects of cake decorating.

     Our meetings consist of a short business meeting, a demonstration, discussions, and refreshments. The demonstrations are usually presented by members, although we have had guest demonstrators. Some of the demonstrations include gum paste flowers, candy making and molding, hand molded butter cream roses, petit fours, picture painting with run sugar, air-brushing, and cute little figures made from ice cream cones. Sometimes, we even have a "demo" on a favorite recipe that a member wishes to share, such as Croissants (we even got to eat them!)