Have you missed me? I have been noticably absent from my own blog and yours, not because I have been away anywhere wonderful and exotic, but because I have been very busy. Busier than usual... busy making changes... and cakes!
A couple of months ago I found myself doing a bit of soul searching and knew that I was ready for some change in my life. I took an on-line course with "Do What You Love for Life" which gave me the push to actually do just that... to do what I really love doing and that is baking.
I'm not completely giving up with textiles as I have teaching committments that run throughout next year and beyond, but as a rule I am not taking on any new classes. I will remain a member of Prism and with a bit of luck I'll have more time to stitch the things I want rather than endless teaching samples. Time for my own work.
But this week I have taken the plunge and launched my new baking busines "Apricot and Fig" supplying fresh baked cakes, desserts and savoury bakes. It is something I've thought about for many years but the fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of giving up on something I am already known for and successful at, has held me back. Taking the on line course was a huge factor in pushing me in this direction, wonderful for making me confront those fears and realise they existed only in my head. I would definitely recommend it. There are other reasons for me wanting to make changes too but this is not the time nor place.
So this week, not ony have I been sorting out paperwork, filling in forms for the local authority, getting things printed etc. I have also made a batch of gluten free macaroons, some millionaire's shortbread, several pots of damson jelly (my prize winning recipe!), a large gluten free chocolate cake, a 50th birthday cake, a banana cake, a lemon tart (I'll own up... two lemon tarts because the first one leaked everywhere and collapsed) and twenty four mini savoury cheesecakes... And I also spent a day with the ladies of Tunbridge Wells Embroiderer's Guild teaching them how to make these books.
Didn't they do well!
There is little doubt that I will miss my days of teaching... we laughed, had fun and there was the satisfaction of seeing everyone go away with a finished item and new skills.
But I'm also very excited about my new venture... cake anyone?
Starting my own baking business also ticks another sixty by sixty box too!
Hope it's a wonderful success. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on taking the leap. Once I finish my PhD I have no idea what I will do. I have too many ideas and not enough time to do it all, but I guess you will identify with that. All the best for the future.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your plans, your cakes look delicious
ReplyDeleteVery best wishes for your new venture , I am sure it will be a great success .
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and best wishes for your new venture. I am sure all your customers will be delighted with whatever you bake for them. Everything always looks delicious and perfect.
ReplyDeleteWow! That sounds very exciting.Your cakes always look gorgeous. I'm sure it will be a success.
ReplyDeleteWell done and good luck!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your baking adventure - I think I would be having nightmares contemplating it as my baking is pretty limited but you do such a fab job with all that you do, I am sure it will be a success. x Jo
ReplyDeleteGood for you Gina! It's a good idea to keep up with some of your teaching too, so that there is something of a transition with one activity gradually taking over from the other. Wishing you all the best, I'm sure it will work out just fine!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it all. It comes across as a passion of yours and that is an excellent way to live life. I too am working on the 60 list. Different time scale to you. I am enjoying adding to the list as I do new things rather than setting out a list.
ReplyDeleteThe workshop was great (I've made another 2 books since Saturday including 3.5 x 4cms!)your teaching will be missed but I wish you the very best of luck with the new venture. I can vouch for the deliciousness of your cakes!
ReplyDeleteExciting stuff indeed! Well done you for taking the plunge and very best wishes for your new business.
ReplyDeleteFantastic Gina! I am wishing you luck with your new business. You have so much talent you probably don't need it :-) xx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Gina, delighted to hear of your new venture! :)
ReplyDeleteV x
amazing! good luckxx
ReplyDeleteGood for you! That's the thing I most enjoy, too - but unfortunately I don't think I'm anywhere near as good as you are! Wishing you every success.
ReplyDeleteOh well done! I hope it goes well for you. I look forward to hearing about the brilliant cakes and more coming from your Apricot and Fig baking business!
ReplyDeleteSandy in Bracknell
How exciting! Wishing you all the very best for your new venture.
ReplyDeleteperhaps one day a baking workshop?
ReplyDeleteThe baking will be an undoubted success.
I wish you power and strength to get thru the icky admin stuff (and the whatever lurking in the sidelines)
Hope your new venture is a huge success but I will miss your mini tutorials, I have learnt a lot from you and ventured into things I may never have tried before.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! I hope that it will be a great success and that you will enjoy it a great deal!!! Happy Baking!! xx
ReplyDeleteFantastic news Gina!
ReplyDeleteYour baking has been getting better and better... I had a feeling you were hatching a plan xx
Go Gina. That's great to read. I'm all for new beginnings, especially doing what you love. Moving from teaching in schools to learning in museums has taken ages. But I'm now happy to have a proper (part-time) job too. At the Imperial War Museum. I start on Monday. Sorry this is not meant to be 'all about me'. So big cheer for career/job/life/running your own business changes. X
ReplyDeleteWishing you good luck with your new venture. Your cakes look marvellous. :-)
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very best of luck in your new venture. X
ReplyDeleteHi Gina!
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you!
Your cakes look delicious so I'm not worried about you succeeding while doing what you really love.
Take care of yourself
Arlette
Wishing you lots of success with your baking business! Your cakes look most scrumptious!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteWell done Gina for taking the plunge! That's such exciting news! You definitely have a talent for cakes so I'm certain that your new business will be a big success and I truly hope a very enjoyable venture for you too.
ReplyDeleteAll the very best for your new venture. I just wished I lived nearer (I like cake) Vera.
ReplyDeleteWhat marvellous news, you are bound to be a success! Good luck anyway. x
ReplyDeleteOooh, how exciting Gina! I know you'll do well -- your cakes and goodies always look divine. Good Luck!!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Gina, with your exciting new enterprise. I wish you every success.
ReplyDeleteIts great you are following your heart Gina. Good luck with your new venture and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to do a workshop with you a few moons ago. Those books look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, now that you've properly taken the plunge - and 'come out' on here! Though I still think 'Bake Well Tarte' would have suited you!
ReplyDeleteLots of love and good wishes for the future, I just wished I liked cake ...... xx
It goes without saying that I wish you the best of success with this move. It should have come as no surprise as a constant theme in my comments has always been about the amount of cake you make! Go for it girl. You will be the best. xx
ReplyDeleteSo pleased for you, well done for making a dream happen. Those gluten free bakes sound good!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Gina!! Oh, I'm so glad you've taken the plunge and started on something completely different! As I've followed your blog and seen all these amazing cakes and treats you create, I kept thinking how professional it all looked, and obviously it is something you love to do with the care you put into it. I'm so happy for you to have braved that step into a new venture. Good luck with everything, but seriously, I doubt you need my good wishes with all the orders that you seem to have already ;) All these photos look amazing. I didn't double check, but you probably know Hazel of Cupcakery? She did the same thing with the custom orders of cakes etc.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week Gina, and thank you for sharing your amazing news!!
Wendy xox
How exciting! Your cakes look absolutely fabulous so I'm sure you'll have lots of success with your new business x
ReplyDeletewishing you all the best!! success and happiness.
ReplyDeleteJust catching up with your exciting news! So thrilled for you. May your buns always rise, your icing shine and your biscuits crunch. Love your spiders web millionaires shortbread - what a signature bake!
ReplyDeleteOh how exciting. I feel sure that Apricot and Fig will be a fabulous success ... my mouth always waters looking at your bakes!
ReplyDeleteI missed this blog Gina and have only just caught up. Congratulations and very best wishes on your new venture. Your cakes always look amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have been away from the blogasphere for a bit and so was just catching up when i saw this post. Huge congratulations. It takes a great deal of courage to change your life - but following your heart is never the wrong choice! The best of luck and I look forward to finding out how to order a cake :)
ReplyDeleteSarah xx