There are some incredibly talented bakers and cake decorators in a group I run on Facebook called ‘Hello Cuppies Baking Buddies‘ (cheesy name, I know). Wanting to help share their talent was how these Meet the Baker blog posts started last year. Every person/baker has their own story to tell and they also offer some really useful advice too. It’s incredibly inspiring and I love reading about other people’s backgrounds and reasons for doing what they do.
Michelle from Brown Bear Bakery kicked off as the first interviewee back in December. Then I had Dani from Blue Door Bakery in January. This month we have the lovely Leisa from Cakes By Leisa who is based in my my most favourite part of the world… Yorkshire! 😉
Cakes by Leisa – It’s not very original, at the time I didn’t really think it would go anywhere so didn’t bother thinking of anything different, now I wish I had!!
I was made redundant when I was pregnant with my now 4-year-old, I had a year’s maternity leave then decided to give it a go, I went to loads of classes and learnt as much as possible and I’ve been going properly for just over 2 years.
I am located in West Yorkshire but cover all of Yorkshire and sometimes further afield for wedding cakes.
It is my full time job. Previously I worked for a debt collectors as a receptionist
Making sugar flowers!!! I could literally just do that all the time and id be happy!
I think it was a giant cupcake for someone I used to work with.
I get inspiration from lots of things…flowers mainly.
At the moment its s’mores but it changes weekly. I just like all cake!
Profroster! Its a game changer!
Hopefully with a busy wedding diary and still improving and learning as much as possible!
Least favourite is actually baking the cakes, I could do without that. My favourite part is making sugar flowers.
I buy the majority of bits from my local cake supply shop, The Bakers Cupboard in Batley and then online from Cake Stuff.
Self-promotion and marketing. I didn’t think I’d be that good at that part of it but I seem to be doing OK. Social media has probably been the most important tool in moving my business forward.
Just learn as much as you can, whether
My favourites are Dominique at Poppy Pickerings and Suzanne at the Frostery.
Two of my local cake friends are Vicky from Strawberry Fields Bakes and Emma from the Cake Illustrator.
It’s hard to narrow it down, but one I was most proud of is a 7 tier wedding cake that I recently delivered 4 hours away to London!
Luckily not too many but I think everyone has at least one!!!
I would eventually like to open my own studio away from home for caking and teaching.
I play cornet in a brass band in my ‘spare‘ time.
I’m scared of escalators, most people are scared of lifts but I’d choose that any day over an escalator.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CakesbyLeisa/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cakes_by_leisa/
Website – https://www.cakesbyleisa.com/