About

My journey

My mother was from the “domestic housewife” generation. She was young and inexperienced but intelligent and tenacious. She taught herself how to sew, cook , bake and everything in-between. I remember as a wee spry, helping my mother decorate sugar cookies for family at Christmas. Although mine were terrible, I’m sure, I remember loving every minute of it. Especially the eating part! As i grew, so did my love and talent for the art. It wasn’t long before I took it over for the holiday. Cookies weren’t the only thing we offered as a gift. We also made fudge, magic cookie bars and a plethora of other yummy treats.

This experience helped plant the seed and the need to create love, joy and art through baking. Like my mother, I started teaching myself how to do other items like breads, pastas and cakes. My Aunt gave me a Joy of Cooking cookbook one year for Christmas. That cookbook became my teacher and my best friend. I considered it the bible over all the other cookbooks I had at the time. I was so upset when the binding finally came apart and the pages wouldn’t stay put anymore. I felt like I needed to have a funeral for that beloved book! Invite people over. Talk about how much I loved it and how it helped me become the person I am today. Ha, Ha, Ha! Just kidding! But I do miss the original. I had that book so long that I couldn’t replace it with a newer version of that copy. Even though I eventually bought the updated version , some of the recipes I loved were no longer available. Sigh. Time to move on. I still have the new version, encase you’re wondering. But with the help of the internet now, especially Pinterest, I don’t use it as a go-to anymore. It’s more of a sentimental piece of art resting neatly in my kitchen.

Years later, I became a cosmetologist as an adult instead of going into culinary. I was always messing with my hair and nails and baking was a hobby. So it made sense at the time. Until the day came when my dad needed extra care due to the advancement of his dementia. He moved in and I retired from the business after 26 years to stay home and take care of him. I have absolutely no regrets for that decision and would do it again! That’s when I started my my cottage baking business. Sher’s Sugar Shack was born and ready to run! My only regret is not starting my cottage business years earlier. You’d think that the stars aligned and all was good in the world. But, it was in 2020. (You know where I’m going with this). Talk about bad timing. Getting product that I needed shipped or even going to the store was a real challenge. I pushed on despite the challenges and put all my effort into my Facebook page. I’d bake for close friends and post it on Facebook but it was the pandemic. It took two years before the business really went anywhere. My dad also passed away during this time so needless to say, I was deeply mourning over the loss. I love my daddy!

When the pandemic was finally over, so I joined our local farmer’s market. This is when the business exploded! I got noticed and started doing large orders for the local college as well as other large businesses. As well as taking other orders from clients who started with me during the pandemic. They’re loyal and I received several referrals as a result. It became too much with the market added in so I stopped and concentrated only on my clients. It was going really well and I was happy. But, as life would have it, the stars realigned and it was time to move out of state. I’m talking all the way across the country. We sold our house and moved to Kentucky and never looked back. We do miss our family and friends we left behind, as well as the clients, but it was time. You know the saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans”. So true!

So here I am in Kentucky, starting from scratch. It’s time for markets again to get me noticed. Which means, baking constantly and trying new recipes to find what works up here. It’s a lot of work as y’all well know but it’s paying off. I’m starting to get noticed and my followers are growing. I have experience now and the confidence to back me up so it won’t take too long. All the pictures on my Facebook and Instagram pages doesn’t hurt either. Wink wink. As before, I will push on and welcome the new chapter in my life. After all, everything happens for a reason.

The move has welcomed new opportunities, though, like this blog. I’ve had many people ask me if I taught classes or was interested in doing so in the future. If so, sign me up! My plan (there I go again) is to write instructional and informative blogs with the goal to help others.

My goal

My goal is to take everything I learned over the last 40 years (eh-em. I’m showing my age here) about what worked and what didn’t. All the rewards, disappointments, and yes, mistakes I’ve made. It really isn’t a mistake if it leads to higher learning and opens paths for new growth, by the way. I will post my favorite recipes that have proven to be winners for me. As well as tips and tricks from starting a cottage business, working the farmer’s market and how to promote yourself. I’m a professional cake artist and cookie artist with years of experience. I will do my very best to help you sharpen your skills and help you grow and succeed. Especially if you’re just starting out in this business. I’m not perfect and will never pretend to be. I just love what I do and I can’t see myself doing anything else. It’s time for me to “pay it forward”.