Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Ono Jones.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My husband gifted me a cake decorating class for Mother’s Day in 2007. I was surrounded by people who wanted to learn how to make beautiful buttercream roses and tiered wedding cakes. I had a different vision: to enter the Tennessee Valley Fair’s cake decorating contest with something horror themed. I dreamed of a skeleton head on top of a pile of catacomb bones. I wanted the judges and onlookers to be horrified! I almost thought, “Will I get kicked out for this?” However, the judges loved it, and I won a ribbon! That was the start of my yearly cake decorating hobby–every year making something more gruesome and disgusting for the Tennessee Valley Fair. Baking was the only thing that kept me from pursuing cake decorating full time. Fast-forward to 2022, I am still not a fan of baking. I am the head decorator at Common Bond in Houston, TX. I leave the baking up to our talented pastry chef!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The most challenging part of my career was going on Food Network’s Halloween Wars. It was 2014 and I was a hobby baker/decorator at the time. I had no real bakery experience before going on the show. When I got on set, I saw familiar faces from other TV competitions and my heart was beating out of my chest. I wanted to run away and hop on a flight back to Knoxville! I had never made a cake bigger than 3 tiers before the show–and here I was on a 12-foot ladder decorating a 9-foot-tall cake! I was the underdog, for sure! I am glad I didn’t run away! We took home the $50,000 prize!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love a good horror-themed cake! I was the makeup manager for a haunted house for many years–so, I think Halloween has always been a reoccurring theme in everything I do. However, when I’m not making spooky cakes, I manage the custom design cake team at Common Bond. We have a lot of high-profile clients and I love being able to flex my sculpting skills when I can! We have made cakes for Cirque Du Soliel, Machine Gun Kelly, Rob Zombie and Kid Rock just to name a few. I have so many favorite cakes–however, the realistic cake series we made for influencer Kristy Sarah has been my favorite–especially the chicken wings.
What sets me apart from other cake decorators in my attention to detail. I am a perfectionist. If there is something I don’t like about a cake, I will start all over again until I get it right. I am not afraid to push the boundaries of cake decorating.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is making art that makes people feel something. Happiness, joy, shock, horror–as long as it evokes emotion. There is nothing better than seeing someone look at the cake you’ve made, and they can’t figure out if it’s cake or not. I love teaching and sharing my techniques and knowledge with other decorators, as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.commonbondcafe.com/wedding-cakes/
- Instagram: @sonojones | @commonbondcakes | @commonbondbistroandbakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahOnoJones/
Image Credits
Sarah Linginfelter Photography
Brianna Leigh Photo
