Main Menu

▼

30 August 2011

Little Cakes, Big Changes

I feel like this post is long overdue.  Not sure where to start, but here it is anyways! Last Spring, I announced that our family was going to move out of state. The timing was perfect: I was extremely overworked and sleep deprived (moving would give me the chance to rest!), both kids would start school (first grade and kindergarten), we would be able to afford our dream house and best of all, have real winters!

So I made plans to move out of my commercial space, broke the (very hard to announce) news to my employees and clients, lined up the moving company and found to perfect neighborhood for our family to move to. 



But life being what it is, the move did not happened as planned. It did not happened at all. My husband just could not see the picture of our lives over there coming together. He was very nervous, felt like we would be putting our family at risk. I was heartbroken to see that dream go, but at the same time relieved that I could keep Blue Cupcake alive, and keep doing what I adore.




At the same time, I had learned enough during the past three years to know that things could not go back to what they were. I remembered reading this post from a fellow mom-baker-business-owner about how overwhelming it is to manage the business and family life. Every sentence describes what my life was, week after week. Yes, I was that mom too. And it was not okay.




So after taking some time off this summer, doing a lot of thinking, and missing my passion for baking and decorating, I decided to accept orders again. But the conditions are now very different: it is just me, in a much smaller space, doing only a few orders every week, and taking my time to make them as perfect as I can, because I LOVE IT!

And on the other side I get to drive my kids to school every day, meet again with friends I haven't seen in a few years and make new ones, visit my family on the East coast, volunteer at the school garden, cook for my family, enjoy time with my husband, be a healthy person again, be a family again. And I LOVE IT!

To my dear clients, thank you so much for your understanding. And to my readers, thank you so much for stopping by every week. THANK YOU!!!


at

15 comments:

  1. Alicia MAugust 30, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Julie, you have truly been an inspiration to me! I first spotted your blog while searching for inspiration for an upcoming project back when you had announced that you would be moving to Colorado, which is where I live. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see that you would be in my area and I might have the opportunity to meet you and try some of your tasty and beautiful work! As sad as I am that you won't be living here, I am so very happy that you are continuing to blog and share your wonderful art with everyone. I so appreciate the work that you do and that you are still continuing with your family as your highest priority. I am sure that there are many others that share my appreciation for what you do, so thank you for your inspirational work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. FarrahAugust 30, 2011 at 3:14 AM

    Best of Luck Julie. Must have been a very hard decision to make. I share your site with everyone I know and they all say the same thing...WOW! You are a great talent and I hope you'll continue posting your work for all to see. (maybe even post a few tutorials on how you do some of this amazing stuff.)
    Thank you for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    Well, good for you! It is refreshing to read about your decision as I battle the same life-managing problems here in Canada. I know it is better to produce fine work for a few clients, than to strain oneself to satisfy the masses. Now if only I could follow that advice! I have always LOVED your work! I hope you continue to post as often as you can!

    ReplyDelete
  4. carrieAugust 30, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Julie,
    Women's decisions are never easy, that's why we are women. I applaud your decision to find the balance of family, friends, and still doing what you love. It is not easy, I'm struggling with that as well. You have a true talent as an artist and after seeing your work over the last four years, I know whatever path you end up on will benefit everyone in your life. Good Luck!

    P.S. How do I become one of those few clients a week? :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    Julie!
    I love your honesty and integrity. Being a working mom is a challenge. I used to ask myself if I could have it all....not easy to do, but with the right goals in place, you can have it all and you can be the mom, wife, friend, daughter, person that you want to be.
    I'm happy to hear that Blue Cupcake lives! Your creations are spectacular and we (the people) are delighted!!!

    All of my love and support.
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Maricel Q.August 30, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    Julie,
    I am so thrilled that you came to a decision that would not only support your passion, but embrace the chance to spend more time with your children. I met you with my friend Lisa at your last day at the Century City Farmer's Market. I know that the Farmer's Market is probably not in your new schedule, but I am thrilled to know that I may one day have the chance to order from you! In the meantime, thank you so much for updating us and inspiring us with your talent. I look forward to your updates! Maricel

    ReplyDelete
  7. inhyderabadshopAugust 30, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Awesome cakes to see in the site, the variety Giraffe cakes are very funny to see in the site and the production is great to see, I really appreciate the blog and visitors should visit like this blogs to the better and easy shopping......
    inhyderabadshop
    inhyderabadshop@gmail.com
    http://www.inhyderabadmall.com/Cakes/

    ReplyDelete
  8. CarrieAugust 31, 2011 at 4:07 AM

    HOORAY! I am so so so happy and excited for you. I know it must have taken a lot of courage to make a decision like that and I respect that (I have already respected you for years.) Congratulations my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SweetThingsTOSeptember 2, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    What a nice balance you have - looking forward to seeing more of your designs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. signs plaquesSeptember 9, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    With those thousands of designs you can choose from, you can't really make a good choice. Every cake, as long as it is made with love, will always be delicious and beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Marj JenkinsSeptember 9, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Good luck with this new chapter in your life! I work full time and make cakes in my "spare" time in between the activities of my three kids... although the idea of any of my time being "spare" just cracks me up! I never regret telling someone that I can't make a cake for them because I am doing something with one of my children. I love checking out your bog and look forward to reading more of your posts. All the best, Marj

    ReplyDelete
  12. CherylSeptember 13, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    This is my first visit to your blog.
    One observation... You must not love to pipe words on cake either. Whew! That makes me feel better. (Everyone said it was beautiful, but I was not happy with the script.)
    Second... Balancing cake and family makes me feel like I am running faster than I have strength. (I have 7.) Large mixers and high volume has always appealed to me. But, reading what is written by those who have done it makes me feel like keeping my volume small and fun is okay.
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Madison October 10, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    You have such amazing talent! And I think it is so wonderful that you are able to still be involved in your passion, but still be with your family as much as you want to as well. I love looking at your blog and seeing your amazing cakes!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Coco Cake LandOctober 12, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Hi Julie... you can never give up what you do -- you're too talented! Thank you for sharing this story. I have definitely learned to find the balance between my caking life and regular life. I am happy you have found that balance...!

    All the best!

    Lyndsay :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousOctober 15, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    Julie,

    You've brought happiness to so many people! I know how hard you work, so I'm very happy to hear that you took some time off this summer. You are such an amazing baker with a heart of gold. I wish you nothing but happiness for you and your family!

    ReplyDelete