**A passion for baking led me on a creative journey, running a bespoke cupcake and cake-decorating business.**

It wasn’t my intention to start a cake-decorating business; it seemed to evolve on its own.

My passion for baking began early. I recall being as young as nine, making a black forest cake for my mum’s birthday all on my own. As I grew older, this extended to friends’ and work colleagues’ birthdays, giving me an exciting opportunity to experiment with new recipes and decorating techniques. I began supplying cupcakes to my friend's hair salon on her fancy-dress days, where each client received a cupcake decorated to match the month's theme. From there, her clients began asking me to make cupcakes or cakes for their special events.

Soon I had orders every weekend, and I knew I had to create some structure and formalise this hobby into a business. But what to call my little business… I wanted the name to capture the old-fashioned charm of baking. So began “Just Peachy Cupcakes and Cakes”.

Just Peachy Logo

I was so proud that my first logo was designed by my younger brother.

While the artistic nature of baking and decorating came naturally, I faced a steep learning curve as I became a sole trader. Single-handedly responsible for all facets of the business, marketing, web design, social media, business administration, BAS, stock control, quoting, invoicing, bookkeeping, client liaison, and deliveries. Given the nature of creating orders for weekend events, I worked long hours seven days a week. Sometimes getting as little as 1 hour of sleep on Friday night (or Saturday mornings, I should say). I relished the challenge of new, more elaborate designs, and soon outgrew my humble kitchen. I was honoured to use the professional kitchen of a well-known restaurant in Townsville and began supplying cupcakes to cafes around town.

For me, clear communication during the client liaison stage is the secret ingredient to creating a cake that delivers the wow factor and suits the event perfectly. I loved sitting down and hearing all about the client’s vision, from the overall theme and colour palette to the tiny details that matter most. This is also when I confirm the practical details, such as flavours, guest numbers, dietary needs, the venue address, delivery time, and the setup plan. To ensure the cake not only looks perfect but also arrives on time, in the right place, and feeds everyone comfortably. When I kept the conversation open and honest, it meant fewer surprises, less stress for the client, and a cake that became a truly special part of their day.

Looking back on this chapter of my life, I see how vital strong organisation and time management are, alongside clear communication and the ability to think outside the box. Juggling designs, timelines, client expectations, and last‑minute changes from extreme weather typical of North Queensland pushed me to stay calm, creative, and prepared, and those skills have carried over into every other area of my life. While I was genuinely sad to close the door on Just Peachy, I am incredibly grateful for everything it taught me, and for the lifelong connections I made along the way.