Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Thomas.
Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for baking started when I was a young girl. I used to make and decorate a homemade cake for my birthday every year. Then as an adult, when my son was born, I created a cake for his birthday every year, continuing my tradition. As my life got busier with work and having more children, I stopped baking and decorating cakes all together. Finally, after almost ten years of honorable service in the Air Force, I separated from the military in September 2014. My husband and I agreed that I would be a stay-at-home mom. During my time at home, I almost immediately started baking again after a roughly three year hiatus. I baked treats and sweets for all our family gatherings. One day I randomly decided to posted a picture on Facebook of some desserts I had created for a family gathering. Not long after that post I began receiving requests for custom cakes and cupcakes. Being a licensed Texas attorney, I had to research to find out if I could, in fact, sell home-baked goods. It turned out that I could sell home baked goods in Texas with a few restrictions of what items I could sell and the most requested restriction of NO SHIPPING. However, even with these restrictions, my business has flourished. Along the way, I tried my hand at cookie decorating and added that to my list of services offered. Decorating cookies quickly became one of my most favorite past times and I absolutely love the feeling that each cookie is its own canvas for me to create a small masterpiece.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! I had absolutely no knowledge of the baking industry at all. I am still learning more about the industry daily. Taking the certifications to properly handle food was required and most of it I already knew, however that did not prepare or educate me for the running of the actual business itself. I had no idea how the price cookies or cakes in the beginning and I suffered for it greatly! I severely undercharged my goods and services. Most of the time it felt as though I was working for $2/hour, and after looking back over the data, I was! I was always extremely tired and really had nothing to show for all of my hard work. I’ve since learned more about pricing and how to truly value my work. I am more than just a baker, I am a cake and cookie artist. Another challenge was the engineering part of actually putting together and stabilizing tiered cakes. I am a completely self-taught baker, so the idea of making a tiered cake, traveling with a tiered cake, using fondant, etc. all made me nervous. However, I enjoy tackling new challenges and after doing so I’ve learned a lot! I’ve had a few disasters,; maybe three out of the hundreds of cakes that I’ve created. However, I’m happy to say that I’ve never made the same mistake twice and none of the “disasters” were “total disasters” fortunately, they were all salvagable. Customers have always been very kind to me during my learning process, and I definitely appreciate that! One of the most important things that I’ve learned is time management. Everything doesn’t have to be done in one day. And the truth is, everything can’t be completed in one day. Decorating cakes and cookies is a process and by being able to have and keep a schedule for creating each cake and/or cookie I am better able to have a normal work and life balance. In the beginning, I was doing everything in one day, the day it was due, and I was quickly becoming burnt out. Also, by completing everything the day it was due, I gave myself no room for error which was a big mistake. Now, after implementing a time management schedule I’m able to get some rest very night which is highly important and I’m also able to make sure I’m giving my very best to each and every customer.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Legally Sweet Treats & Confections – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in custom treats and sweets for any and all occasions. So, I create custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, dessert table treats, etc. I am affectionately known as the “cookie lady” and I don’t mind that at all! Decorated cookies are my specialty and I love creating them the most out of everything else that I create. I am a very detail oriented person and it shows in my cookie art. I canand often love to recreate a lot of fine details in cookies. I love for my cookies art to resemble as close as possible a realistic version of what is being recreated. It definitely makes me happy when people are blown away by the level of detail I am able to place on a 3 inch cookie.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity of the city of Houston. There is something here for everyone and I love that! I can also get acquainted with so many different cultural activities and events. The one thing I like least about Houston is the traffic. As much as I like to get out, depending on where I have to travel I may just change my mind and stay inside all to avoid traffic and crowds! But Houston still has a lot to offer a person like me who likes quaint and intimate social gatherings, so I’m sticking around for a while for sure.
Pricing:
- Custom Decorated Cookies start at $40/dozen.
- Custom Cakes pricing varies; please contact me for pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.legallysweettreats.com
- Phone: 281-849-9861
- Email: info@legallysweettreats.com
- Instagram: @legallysweettreats
- Facebook: @legallysweettreatsconfections
Image Credit:
Daryl Hamilton (professional photos)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
