Menu
How a Gap Year and a Movie Changed Everything
Everything started the summer I was taking a year off from art school at Parsons. I had no clue what I’d do with an art degree if I finished the program and was totally lost and looking for direction (and who isn’t at 19).
The Moment I Knew
After watching Julie and Julia my ever-supportive boyfriend bought me a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and I started baking from it. I found a passion but didn’t see myself working in a sweaty, high-pressure kitchen and still had art on the mind. That’s when I saw an episode of Sweet Genius with Ron Ben-Israel and everything fell into place. The second I saw his cakes in the background while pastry chefs created edible pieces of art I thought, that’s what I’ll do.
My Journey building Finespun Cakes & Pastries
After graduating from the Patisserie program at Le Cordon Bleu, I struggled for a while to find a job, and spent my time trying to learn more from books and online about cake artistry. I was trying to build my business with zero experience, and happened to bring some treats to a Women in Food event at the kitchen I was renting. There, I met Bonnie Gordon who owned the former Bonnie Gordon College, and after chatting for the better part of an evening about all things cake, she offered me an internship.
This was the kick start I couldn’t have dreamt of. Interning there I learned so much, met so many inspiring cake decorators, and got my first wedding magazine feature (link) (I still remember jumping up and down with excitement after receiving that call).
I grew Finespun Cakes & Pastries in the background of bakery jobs for 3 years before taking the plunge and going full time.
Where Finespun Cakes & Pastries is Now
After a few years of building my business while using hourly commercial kitchens (I had to box my cakes up and wrap them in big bags to keep them away from the catered food, not to mention no a/c!) I was sick of it and just jumped (or cliff dived?) into renting and renovating a commercial space to call my own. I thought it would be quick and easy (ha) but after months of figuring things out as I went along, Finespun Cakes & Pastries now has a home!
Having this space to call my own means that I have the time and energy to create beautiful pieces for my clients making sure quality is the first priority, and I’m able to teach skills that I’m dying to share with other sugar artists.
Now that I’m not worried about if there will be enough room in the fridge this week or if it’ll be too hot in the kitchen, I have the mental bandwidth to be creative and expand my business and even hire team members to help.
I can’t wait to create an unforgettable cake for your wedding, birthday, or other big milestone, adorned with sugar flowers, piping, or whatever other beautiful decorations you choose.
And if you’ve always had a love of hand crafting beautiful things and baking I hope you’ll join me for a hands-on workshop at my studio!
Don’t forget to follow along on all my caking adventures, I’d love to have you!
All my best,
–Alexandria
