ADVENTURES
OF AN
ENTRPRENEUR
MY STORIES
MY STORIES
"Happy Bride, Happy Baker"
"Happy Bride, Happy Baker"
Being a part of a couple’s marriage celebration is so special. This is an extraordinary life event for them, and I always feel honoured to be involved in this milestone of their lives by creating a dessert that is not only delicious, but sentimental and memorable.
Being a part of a couple’s marriage celebration is so special. This is an extraordinary life event for them, and I always feel honoured to be involved in this milestone of their lives by creating a dessert that is not only delicious, but sentimental and memorable.
I have received many thank you cards, notes, and gracious appreciation from my clients over the years. The delight and happiness that my work has provided for others has been my motivation to build a business around my gifts and artistic skills.
I have received many thank you cards, notes, and gracious appreciation from my clients over the years. The delight and happiness that my work has provided for others has been my motivation to build a business around my gifts and artistic skills.
One of my very proud moments as a baker was with a bride in 2014. I was assembling a 4 tiered birch bark cake on site, at a gorgeous private wedding venue: The Iron Horse Ranch in Bethany, Ontario. The ceremony was being held at the grounds there, as well as the reception. Since the couple arrived early to the venue for photos, the bride came to the upstairs level of the barn to see the reception space fully decorated.
One of my very proud moments as a baker was with a bride in 2014. I was assembling a 4 tiered birch bark cake on site, at a gorgeous private wedding venue: The Iron Horse Ranch in Bethany, Ontario. The ceremony was being held at the grounds there, as well as the reception. Since the couple arrived early to the venue for photos, the bride came to the upstairs level of the barn to see the reception space fully decorated.
Immediately, she spotted me putting the final touches on her cake. Her mouth grew into a wide smile and she was beaming with joy as she hurried towards me at the sight of this masterpiece. She gave me a great big hug and acclaimed that she was so happy with it and it was exactly as she had imagined!
Immediately, she spotted me putting the final touches on her cake. Her mouth grew into a wide smile and she was beaming with joy as she hurried towards me at the sight of this masterpiece. She gave me a great big hug and acclaimed that she was so happy with it and it was exactly as she had imagined!
They say that when you marry, "Happy wife = Happy life."
They say that when you marry, "Happy wife = Happy life."
To fellow cake artists out there, I say: "Happy bride = Happy baker. "
To fellow cake artists out there, I say: "Happy bride = Happy baker. "
"DIY". All of it."
"DIY". All of it."
I love these photos. Yes, they're bad quality. Yes, they look like nonsense unless you know what's going on. But, this is what love actually looks like.
I love these photos. Yes, they're bad quality. Yes, they look like nonsense unless you know what's going on. But, this is what love actually looks like.
A few days before Yum Yum Cakes was headed to advertise at a bridal show, my mum and little sister helped me with a project.
A few days before Yum Yum Cakes was headed to advertise at a bridal show, my mum and little sister helped me with a project.
I wanted to use display towers for my show cakes. Most vendors use 8-foot tables to display their products, and I thought towers would make me stand out in a big crowd and add style to my business look. But, I had no idea where to find the towers I envisioned. In a small town like Peterborough, rental companies were out of the question.
I wanted to use display towers for my show cakes. Most vendors use 8-foot tables to display their products, and I thought towers would make me stand out in a big crowd and add style to my business look. But, I had no idea where to find the towers I envisioned. In a small town like Peterborough, rental companies were out of the question.
I wondered even if I could find the right thing to enhance my booth's aesthetic, would I be able to afford it?
I wondered even if I could find the right thing to enhance my booth's aesthetic, would I be able to afford it?
It was one day when my mom went to a department store closing sale at Sears and she came home excited to announce that she had found just the thing! Now you should know, Michele Graham is an expert bargain hunter with vision for just about any fixer-upper project. I remember her telling me “It’s going to be a definite showstopper”. The next day we went to pick them up: two Estelle Lauder perfume towers. She helped me disassemble and spray paint heavily over the sides of the towers which had magnetic/stick on fronts. Using a blush pink and robins-egg blue colour palate, we turned them into something entirely new that reflected my brand.
It was one day when my mom went to a department store closing sale at Sears and she came home excited to announce that she had found just the thing! Now you should know, Michele Graham is an expert bargain hunter with vision for just about any fixer-upper project. I remember her telling me “It’s going to be a definite showstopper”. The next day we went to pick them up: two Estelle Lauder perfume towers. She helped me disassemble and spray paint heavily over the sides of the towers which had magnetic/stick on fronts. Using a blush pink and robins-egg blue colour palate, we turned them into something entirely new that reflected my brand.
The greater challenge was, living in Canada. It was a freezing January winter so we couldn’t spray-paint comfortably outdoors, but we also didn’t want to stink up the house or our garage.
The greater challenge was, living in Canada. It was a freezing January winter so we couldn’t spray-paint comfortably outdoors, but we also didn’t want to stink up the house or our garage.
Through the connection of a family friend, we managed to secure space to work on the towers in an old barn loft. My mother and sister stayed late, two or three nights in a row working on this for me. It was very stuffy and dusty up in the loft, and there were no railings closing-off the upper story, so you just had to take one step backwards in the wrong direction before you might tumble down a steep and narrow staircase.
Through the connection of a family friend, we managed to secure space to work on the towers in an old barn loft. My mother and sister stayed late, two or three nights in a row working on this for me. It was very stuffy and dusty up in the loft, and there were no railings closing-off the upper story, so you just had to take one step backwards in the wrong direction before you might tumble down a steep and narrow staircase.
On the last day we went to spray-paint, I was coming from a formal event in a fancy dress and had no change of work clothes. I didn’t want to ruin my dress, but all we had for garments was a few dusty bed sheets that we used to transport the metal and glass pieces of the tower. (See my “Roman Toga” look above. Comical, I must admit.) Thank god we were in the middle of nowhere, with nobody to see us. You know, some of these situations take a bit of explaining if an outsider walks in half way through. Creativity usually does.
On the last day we went to spray-paint, I was coming from a formal event in a fancy dress and had no change of work clothes. I didn’t want to ruin my dress, but all we had for garments was a few dusty bed sheets that we used to transport the metal and glass pieces of the tower. (See my “Roman Toga” look above. Comical, I must admit.) Thank god we were in the middle of nowhere, with nobody to see us. You know, some of these situations take a bit of explaining if an outsider walks in half way through. Creativity usually does.
Results
Results
It was a laughable and long process, but this meant so much to me and the results were seriously beautiful. People see the final products, but they have no idea about the dirty work that must be done behind the scenes. This is what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. You’ve got to do it yourself, and you’ve got to want to do it. But at the same time, you’ve got to take all the help you can get. The amount of crazy things my family has gone through to ensure that my business succeeded are innumerable. Somehow though, it always comes together.
It was a laughable and long process, but this meant so much to me and the results were seriously beautiful. People see the final products, but they have no idea about the dirty work that must be done behind the scenes. This is what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. You’ve got to do it yourself, and you’ve got to want to do it. But at the same time, you’ve got to take all the help you can get. The amount of crazy things my family has gone through to ensure that my business succeeded are innumerable. Somehow though, it always comes together.
You have to make a mess first to make something beautiful.
You have to make a mess first to make something beautiful.
INSPIRED BY ENTREPRENEURS
INSPIRED BY ENTREPRENEURS
Christina Tosi
Christina Tosi
Founder of Milk Bar
MORE INFO COMING SOON! CHECK BACK HERE IN MAY
Michele Graham
Michele Graham
Home-renovator, talented seamstress, accountant, mother of six children, and creative business woman.
MORE INFO COMING SOON! CHECK BACK HERE IN MAY
Michelle Romano
Michelle Romano
Dragon's Den tech-savy businesswoman, Michelle Romano gives inspiring advice for entrepreneurs.
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Bobbette & Belle
Bobbette & Belle
Allyson Bobbette and Sarah Bell present a chic, flowery, and rustic twist on traditional french pastisserie.
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Auberge du Pommier
Auberge du Pommier
Classic French Fine Dining in the heart of Toronto by Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality. A favourite date night!
MORE INFO COMING SOON! CHECK BACK HERE IN MAY