NordicWare does the cutest exclusive pans for Williams-Sonoma! They carry bundt-style pans that look like a stadium and a sand castle, shaped pumpkins and a standing snowman (the halves assemble after baking).

The embarrasing part for me is that I have so many second-hand Wilton shaped and character pans they're in 30-gallon bags in storage. There should be a 12-step program for compulsive bakers. (:

Then as your lawyer, I advise you to avoid the Williams-Sonoma catalog until the urge to bake cakes passes. (:

Oh, I already have elementary shapes for cake pans: rounds, squares, sheets (rectangles) and an assortment of Wilton shaped and character pans.

I just like the idea of being able to make a detailed train without the time spent assembling fine details with cake scraps.

We probably have a moratorium on buying /more/ cake pans until we have a larger kitchen because I'm a primary baker in the house.

Do not tempt Happy Fun Ball.

If I were still living in the Denver metro area I'd offer to hook you up with all kinds of crazy confectionery goodness. I grew up trying to sneak cake scraps and the ends of frosting bags from my mom, who made cakes on the side. Now I have attending a Wilton Master Course on my future goals list and I think making royal icing flowers is fun. I blame it all on my mother, of course. (:

Nordicware's shaped pans are a great way to get a lot of bang for your cake buck. I keep one of their more ornate bundt pans around for the times I get a last-minute call for a cake because they look fabulous sans frosting, just lightly dusted with confectioner's sugar.