We recently connected with Stacey Semexan and have shared our conversation below.

Stacey , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started my journey with a cake decorating class at Jo-Ann fabrics and it was such a great introduction to baking for someone who had zero experience. I dabbled with the decorating over the next few years before I had the confidence to pursue it as a business. Looking, back I wish I had taken more classes and practiced more consistently to perfect my skillset sooner. I cannot overemphasize the importance of practicing because it teaches you so much outside of the technique. You learn just as much from the failure points as the successes, but that only happens if you put the skills to work. One of my greatest challenges was finding the time to do what I love, but I have learned that you have to make time for it even if it is only 10 minutes here and there. Over time it adds up and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve.

My best advice for new bakers is to practice as much as possible and take classes to help you learn new skills.

Stacey , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello my name is Stacey and I am cake designer and treat maker! I stumbled into cake decorating 15 years ago and it has evolved into a beautiful journey of sweets that I never imagined. I love creating custom cakes and sweets that are unique for each client and adding beautiful details to each piece. In addition to creating custom orders, I discovered a passion for teaching others to bake and decorate cakes & sweets in the last few years, and now include private and group classes for novice bakers. My journey was riddled with trial and error, many failures and lots of frustration as I tried to learn the techniques and tricks to creating beautiful cakes. It is so rewarding to help other bakers build their skillset and watch them find their light bulb moments as they learn new techniques.

It is so amazing to look back at my work from when I first started to see how much I have grown. The best part is that the journey never ends. There is so much to learn which makes this a life-long journey and teaching others what I am learning along the way. I’m so grateful to be a part of the baking community and love that this craft has helped me grow both personally and professionally over the years.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There is so much beauty in the creative process and I love that I start with bare ingredients and transform them into unique edible art pieces. Whether I am creating something custom for a client or myself, the energy and the effort are the same. My end goal is always to create something delicious and delightful to the eyes, with a great customer experience. I truly love what I do and my mind is always filled with new ideas, flavors and designs that there isn’t enough time to make them all.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my work are the stories customers take the time to share with me after they have received their order. It’s so easy to say “it’s just a cake or cookies”, but when I hear about how special it made them feel, or how their order created a special memory, or met a special dietary need that limited their options, then I am reminded that this is such a blessing and I’m so grateful for this gift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sweetstacecakes.com
• Instagram: [email protected]
• Twitter: [email protected]