Pages

Friday, December 21, 2012

Interview with a Local Baker--My Sister

Today I have the honor of interviewing my younger sister, Melanie. She’s an amazing sister, best friend, and baker! She sells her awesome homebaked goods from home, and goes by the name of Melrose Baking & Party Decor. Plus she’s super, super talented at what she does. She makes everything from cupcakes, cake pops, chocolate dipped pretzel sticks and SO much more—and she’s self-taught. I’ve watched her grow as a baker and seller, and I love to see how her pastries taste and look better and better as time goes by. I remember when she first started this sweet business venture—she was always so nervous and had a shaky hand while piping the cupcakes for her first clients but now I can see her confidence and it even shoes in her work. It’s truly impeccable and I’m so proud of her! I’m also a little jealous that she’s doing something so cool at such a young age—I wish I’d of thought of creating my own business when I was that young, hehe. 
Isn't she so good at what she does?! She makes taking pictures so much fun because all of her creations are either super adorable or beautiful. My camera definitely loves her sweet treats, hehe. If you’d like to take a look at her Facebook; or, her website (for local ordering) you can click here and here. Now I’d like to ask her a few questions:  

1.    Tell everyone a little bit about yourself:
Well for starters my name is Melanie. I’m twenty-three years young, and the one woman
squad behind Melrose Baking & Party Décor. I’m a recent college graduate and I obtained my AA degree, in Psychology, about a year ago. It was in my break from school when I came upon the world of baking, I truly feel as if I woke up one day with the passion and talent for baking.

2.    What is your favorite thing about baking?

My favorite thing about baking is seeing my vision come to light. I can spend days even weeks planning out ideas in my head of how I would like to execute ideas for a specific order. I learned a tip from my sister, Nicole, to always draw and write down ideas on paper to help organize my thoughts. It’s with that tip I create each and every sweet treat at Melrose Baking & Party Décor. Another part of the baking process I enjoy is icing my cupcakes it's almost therapeutic for me to mix together simple ingredients and watch it create a silky, cloud like icing, as I pipe each cupcake I can feel myself become completely relaxed and in the zone…Cupcake zone ;)

3.    What are you favorite tools to use?
Does my hand count as a tool? Lol, If so my hands are my favorite tool--with them I’m able to create edible art. I hand roll each Cake Pop to perfection and do tons of intricate work with chocolate and fondant, all to create amazing treats. Another one of my absolute favorite baking items is my set of jumbo piping tips with them I can create amazing bakery style cupcakes.

4.    When did you realize you wanted to sell baked goods?
I realized I wanted to sell baked goods when I begin getting good feedback from my
family and friends, everyone loved the taste and overall look of my sweet treats. It was actually my sister Nicole who encouraged me a year ago to create a Facebook page showcasing my treats and the rest was history :-)

5.    What are you future plans for this business?
To be honest I haven’t really set out a solid future plan regarding my small business, I’m just enjoying the passion and talent God has given me at this moment in time. But I have thought of having my own bakery or even my own catering company for desserts or even my own Cake Pop food truck.

6.    Who is your favorite sister? Lol is this a trick question? Well I don’t have a favorite sister; I have a special bond with both my sisters, Nicole and Angie. They're both my go to gals, my besties for life :-)

     Thank you for stopping by for another blog post! Feel free to check out her websites!

22 comments:

  1. Great interview, your sister is super talented. I love those snowmen. I'd love to be able to bake that perfectly - I'm horrible and even tried an "easy" cake pop recipe that I managed to mess up! It's truly an art :) Beautiful photos, too by the way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Yes she is, I'm so proud of her + those snowmen are super adorable right? I love them--too bad they're gonna get eaten' hahaha

      Delete
  2. The cupackes and cakes are increadibly cute!!♥♥
    You know I just love her creativity. The snowman ahh :))

    Good luck to her ((:

    xx Barbora♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those goodies look so good! Your sister has the skills haha and it's so inspiring to see her have her own business at 23. Good for her!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know right?! I wish I'd of thought of bloggin' and running a small business at that age. It would have saved me a lot of soul searching.

      Delete
  4. Nicole,
    Talent runs in the family, because your lil sis is amazing! Love those snowman cakepops. I've made cakepops, but I never get too fancy because I'm scared I'll mess them up. These are awesome! The cupcakes look delish too! And Melanie is lucky to have you for a sister to encourage her to pursue her passion for baking. =0)
    Happy Holidays,
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Kim! I love to help bring out the creativity that I know is in everyone. I remember when I first started my business I used to tell her to do the same, and she always said, "Oh, but I'm not creative like you", and I said, "Yes you are! You've just never tried to be before--so how do you know that?" So, she gave it a go with baking and the rest was history!

      Delete
  5. So TALENT is a common gene in your family:)
    SIMPLY SPLENDID!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Her baked goods are so gorgeous and I bet just as delicious! She is so young, it's so admirable!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You my gosh you have no idea how good they were. My favorite was the caramel cupcakes...mmmmm

      Delete
  7. Ohhh my gosh, you're guys are one crafty family! Your sister has some major talent, those look beauuutiful. I'd love to be a baker, just too bad all my treats come out of the oven looking like a 5 year old made them =P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, your funny. Her first treats looks funny too but I told her to keep on keepin' on because even I needed practice before I got good at what I do.

      Delete
  8. Wow! Those Cupcakes look delish :) those snowman look adorable, it takes great skill to decorate little baked goods. Well done to your sis for following her passion.
    Catriona
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does take great skill--you're so right. I don't I'd be able to make these, heheh. They look so hard and time consuming.

      Delete
  9. The gingerbread cakepops are so cute!! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! When I saw them I was so shocked at they're beauty.

      Delete
  10. Who is your favourite sister?? That one was EVIL!!! :))))
    Her sweets look wonderful :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG I'm totally in love with your Christmas desserts shots! those snowman and gingerbreadman are beyond adorable!!
    would you like to follow each other?
    A
    xx
    http://epiquemoi.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. And also I wish your sister all the best - a good talent deserves something better and bigger and recognised by people who appreciates their efforts :)

    ReplyDelete