About Us
I can remember from a very young age being in my grandfather’s kitchen just waiting for a lick of frosting from the beater. That velvety, smooth, creamy icing that was waiting to adorn a freshly baked red velvet cake seemed to call my name every time my grandfather was baking.
He baked all sorts of cakes. There was nothing like his vanilla pound cake coming out of the oven with a batch of my grandmother’s homemade vanilla pudding to go on top. Mmmmm. My mouth is watering now. He made red velvet cake, spice cake (Plum Nutty is my all time favorite), chocolate cake and many more. My grandmother made the cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and blondies. It was my job to help decorate the cookies and cupcakes. Nothing too fancy, just simple icing and sugar sprinkles.
I can remember a pumpkin shaped pan that my grandmother had and it was my first cake that I really decorated. I had played around with icing before, but this involved stars, borders and writing. This was fun, and I liked working with icing in this way.
Meanwhile, I had just graduated high school and had no clue as to what I would do for a living. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up and I was there. I was grown up. I had no plan. I worked fast food until I was hired as a receptionist at a real estate auction company. I was quickly bored and suddenly found myself bouncing from job to job looking for something to occupy my mind. I knew that I wanted to do something artistic. I loved to draw and create things. My mother is also artistic – she does amazing quilts. I get my creativity from her.
During this search, I married. My husband has been a real trooper through all of my job hunting experiences. He thought that I would never find something that fit me.
A local grocery store had an opening in their deli/bakery department and I applied because I was sure that I could decorate cakes for them. I was hired and I loved decorating cakes. What I didn’t love was prepping raw chickens for the rotisserie and prepping raw chicken pieces to be fried. I didn’t realize how much deli work would be involved in this position as well. So, it was back to the drawing board. After many years of unhappiness at many different jobs I became a stay at home mom. This was more like it. I was able to care for my family and I had time to experiment with baking and decorating cakes.
Three boys later I realized that what I had been looking for was under my nose all along. I loved to bake and decorate, and I loved the sense of family and togetherness. I enjoyed being able to create a one of a kind cake for someone to enjoy. Not only that, but I loved the memories of my grandparents kitchen while I was baking. I had been baking cakes for friends and family and it was growing into baking cakes for friends of friends and friends of family. It was finally clear that this was what I was meant to do. It just took me nearly 13 years to figure it out.
I am a member of ICES (International Cake Exploration Societé). It is a wonderful learning experience as many decorators from many places gather to share with each other. I’ve been to days of sharing with wonderful demonstrators who dedicate their time and talent to helping others learn the many facets of cake decorating.
I am so blessed that my grandparents allowed me in the kitchen while they were baking, especially my grandfather. I will never forget the aromas and the lessons taught to me - especially the one about not running through the house while there is a pound cake in the oven. I am so grateful to have learned so much, not only about baking, but about family and togetherness, which is why I bake cakes. It is for the love of it and knowing that the cake I bake will be enjoyed by you, your family and your friends.