Today we’d like to introduce you to Novella Jenkins.
Novella, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all began with the undying urge to bake. Literally. Around the latter part or December 2017, I would always start making plans to celebrate my birthday which is in January. Now, I’m not much of a go out and celebrate type. I usually stick to a “Girl’s Night In” with my friends and overindulge in pizza, cake and pretty much everything we don’t need. I kept mentioning to my best friend how I wanted to make my own cake this year instead of our usual ice cream cake from Randalls. At first, I blew the thought off as nothing more than just that. A thought… But with each passing day, the urge grew stronger. It went from just mentioning to my best friend, to mentioning it to family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. After about two or so weeks of being possessed by thoughts of cake, I finally began researching what I needed to achieve this task. Everything from the materials needed to actually make a cake to the baking tools I’d need. Now, I’ve always been around baking. My grandparents and my father were always in the kitchen whipping up delicious treats for myself and my siblings but there was never a desire to do anything more than just eat them. After the new year arrived, I found my way to the nearest cake supply store, All Occasion Cake Supply. The owner, whose name I cannot recall, was extremely helpful in showing me the few supplies I would need to get started. I wanted to make a test cake before my actual birthday but working full time got the best of me and had put off my plans until the week of my birthday. I had taken a few vacation days just so I could focus on this cake. Crazy, right? Vacation just for cake. I had spent a few of those days searching through YouTube tutorials just so I wouldn’t be walking into this cake thing blindly. I searched specifically for Hennessy infused cakes because that’s what was trending at the time and I just had to have one for my birthday. I found an excellent tutorial to help guide me on this journey. I woke up early the morning of January 20, 2018 and began baking. I knew I’d have no trouble with this part because I’d learned much about baking from my grandparents and my dad but I only had a desire to eat the desserts when I was much younger. It was the decorating that had me nervous. After baking and making my buttercream, I began to decorate following the tutorial I’d found on YouTube. To my surprise, the decorating came to me just as naturally as the baking did. I placed the cake inside of a cake box and waited anxiously for my friends to come over that evening. Once they arrived, I could not wait to show them the cake I had made. I knew it wasn’t perfect, but it was better than I could’ve expected. Their reactions confirmed that. With one of my friends even stating “This looks like you bought it from a bakery!” And at that moment, a baker was born. I posted my cake on Facebook and it was met with rave reviews. After my birthday cake, I was hooked on baking and cake decorating. My birthday cake was followed by a cute little Valentine’s Day cake for my fiance and myself. That cake was followed with two of my friends asking for cakes for their birthdays in March, as well as my oldest daughter requesting a cake for her birthday. Then my eldest sister and niece wanting cakes for their birthdays in April. I was just a hobby baker at the time because I worked full time for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and had 3 small children. There was just simply not enough time except for maybe a cake here and there. After having done several cakes for family and friends and having them post photos and rave about their cakes on social media. I started getting inquiries for custom cakes from everyone, even people I didn’t know. And despite having told myself that I can’t operate a small business, work full time and still be mom and fiancee… In May 2018, Crowning Glory Cake Studio was born. Believe it or not, just as the urge to bake came over me and would even find me in my dreams, as did the name. I can remember dreaming of gold crowns one night and woke up uttering the words “Crowning Glory”. I hopped on Google to see if the phrase meant anything or if anything in particular was tied to it and I found the definition to be “the best and most notable aspect of something” and that’s how I like to think of my cakes and creations. The best of best and I strive to produce nothing less than that. I am completely self taught, no formal training. I have amassed my skill set through YouTube tutorials and the advice, tips and tricks of other bakers that were willing to help and I’m still learning, growing and developing daily. I’m going on two amazing years in business. After three years with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, not enough time to bake and the desire to just follow my dreams… I took a leap of faith in January 2020, left a job that paid the bills but left me extremely unhappy and decided that I’d spend the rest of my days baking my heart away. I’ve never been more happy than I am doing what I do now. I like to think that a bit more joy needed to be brought to the world and I was given a talent and divinely assigned to do so through the form of cakes and pastries. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing my customers happy. The smiles captured as customers are posing next to their cakes. The laughter and joyful sounds that fill the rooms as the first slice of cake is cut. The “Oohs and Ahhs” as cakes are unboxed and unveiled to customers. I live for the reactions of the kids and the hugs and high fives I get for bringing their favorite characters to life in cake form. They dream it, I can do it. No challenge is too big, no cake is too small. I LOVE what I do and I’m up for the task of bringing awesome and delicious confections to the great City of Houston until there’s not an ounce of life left in me!
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has definitely not been a smooth one. I became so terribly overwhelmed with work, home life and stress that I contemplated just giving up baking and my business altogether back in December 2019. That decision was met with great backlash by friends, family and even a few of my customers that have been with me since the beginning. I can recall several times where I broke down until one day I finally snapped. I lost it. It became incredibly mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting juggling so many things at once. I just couldn’t bear all the weight that was being put on me. I stressed about the need to work but hating my job. 16 hour work days and only having the 8 hours in between the end of one shift and the start of another to follow my dreams. Often times, this meant neglecting sleep. There were often many sleepless days because there was just too much to do. I called it quits and stopped baking completely in December 2019. I finally had time to rest but dreaded it because I had to let go of something that I loved just to obtain it. I found myself just as, if not more upset, than I had been trying to balance it all. That decision was cut short when I was given the opportunity to make a cake for a lead scientist at NASA that was retiring in January. I would’ve been crazy to pass up that opportunity. I wiped those tears, pulled myself out of that slump and got right back to work. I couldn’t let the joy of baking go.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Crowning Glory Cake Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a baker. I specialize in custom cakes. I am able to create many types but nowadays, I’m leaning more into 3D/Photorealistic cakes. I’ve done several already but I’m still learning.
I’m most proud of the quality of product I produce for my customers.
I believe what sets me apart is my loyalty and service to my customers. Without them, Crowning Glory Cake Studio doesn’t exist. Yes, I love baking. I’d continue doing it with or without my business but I also believe I was divinely assigned to share my talents and joy of baking with the world.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
It’s Houston. There’s only one thing we all like least about our city. The traffic. Other than that, this city is amazing. Full of diversity, opportunity, love and adventure. This city made me and has allowed me to share Crowning Glory Cake Studio with its residents.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Crowning Glory Cake Studio
- Instagram: @CrowningGloryCakeStudio
- Email: crowningglorycakestudio@gmail.com
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