Baking AND art? Where do I sign?
Being a private contractor in recent years has certainly been challenging. I worked very hard for my education. How discouraging it was to have someone deem the reward for my years of toil as "non-essential."
Out of work - and with no end in sight - I needed to find a raft to buoy my sinking ship. I began taking baked goods (especially decorated sugar cookies!) to various gatherings in my area. Soon I had regular orders coming in, and I hoped to turn my little cookie gig into a legitimate business.
It all started with sweet intentions.
So it begins
After watching hours and hOuRs and *HOURS* of cookie decorating videos, my hands were itching to give it a shot. Annnnnd my first attempt looked exactly as you'd expect. [Let's just say that my little fall themed cutouts at least sort of looked like leaves and squirrels and acorns.] My second attempt - Santa faces - showed improvement. My third set - Frosty the Snowman - improved still more. Then I got a surprise!
Husband support
Because my birthday falls in December, my husband hides my gift under the Christmas tree among the other presents. (I love that because each usually surrounds one central theme, and I enjoy trying to guess which comes first in the line up.) He handed me a small box on the day of containing a sheet of paper and several cookie cutters. The paper inside was a receipt detailing an online class event.
From class to business
The day finally came. I had my laptop sitting at the ready much too long in advance (like the little old men who arrive a day early for their appointments). My pre-baked cookies and filled piping bags were all prepared. I was all systems go.
The class was awesome - SO incredibly helpful for a novice like me! After that, I was more confident in branching out more independently with larger quantities of cookies and more difficult decorating techniques. Here we are a few years later.
Very grateful
Conditioning my mind for the business side of the bakery has been an uphill battle. If I never see a cost of goods formula again, it will be too soon. [Commence uncontrollable weeping.] BUT, you can't run a business well if you don't understand how it should operate. I'm extremely thankful for everyone who's offered a helping hand along the way.
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There really is nothing better than having a sweet treat on a happy day, especially when it's been lovingly curated with you in mind. I am so very grateful to God for providing another opportunity for me to work and serve in this small way. It seems such a little thing that brings so much joy to so many people. Won't you let me bake for you?
"those were some of my favorite iced cookies i've ever had."
—kaelah g. / Columbia, SC