Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Fabelo-Granadillo.
Hi Cristina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a wife, mother to four amazing daughters and baker/cake decorator by trade.
I started my baking journey as nothing more than just a hobby when I became a stay-at-home mother nearly eight years ago and quickly learned it was a field I wanted to passionately pursue. I am now the owner of Izzy Lysse Sweets, a home-based bakery affectionately named after my two eldest daughters (Isabel and Elysse). I absolutely love creating edible pieces of art that are as equally appealing to the taste buds as they are to the eye.
I’ve loved cooking and baking ever since I was a young child. I have countless memories of hours spent in the kitchen cooking several savory and sweet recipes from all types of cuisine but staying true to our roots, mostly Cuban-inspired dishes, alongside my mother, grandmother and even my now late great-grandmother as well. All of these beautiful, strong women have always been a source of inspiration for me and have taught me so much of what I know today, tips and tricks I still apply to my daily life, especially in the kitchen. I am forever grateful for the many wonderful role models I have been blessed to have throughout my life.
Once I discovered my love for cake decorating, I dove headfirst into researching mode. Finding out the proper way to open and run a successful in-home bakery. I spent hours upon hours reading everything from blogs to cookbooks, watching several hundreds of YouTube videos and cake decorating tutorials online. All while continuing to make cakes for family and friends as I practiced developing new flavors, styles and decorating concepts.
I have grown tremendously but love that this field challenges me to continue researching and learning new techniques with every new cake trend.
Fast forward eight years and thousands of dollars spent on the many ever-evolving cake decorating equipment, gadgets and tools, I stand here today proudly proclaiming myself to be a self-taught cake decorator and business owner.
I cannot imagine being where I am today without the love and support of my family, especially my husband, parents and siblings. I am eternally grateful for them all.
I hope to continue learning and growing, to always strive for more and be an inspiration to my family, particularly my own four daughters. To possibly one day have a brick-and-mortar, family-owned and operated bakery.. that would just be the “cherry on top” of this hypothetical cupcake!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d say an obstacle I’ve faced particularly in the beginning of my journey, was self-doubt. Underappreciating my work and not recognizing my progress and potential, which inevitably lead to undercharging for my time and effort. Through trial and error, I have educated myself on how to correctly price my creations. I feel blessed to have fortunately made loyal clients along my career that have watched my skill set grow over many years and to this day still value me as not only a cake artist but a person, as well!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Izzy Lysse Sweets?
At Izzy Lysse Sweets, every single order is thoughtfully designed and prepared especially for you.
I offer a variety of treats from cookies to cake pops but specialize in custom special occasion cakes and would be humbled to be a part of your next celebration.
For me, it’s never “just a cake” but rather a labor of love. I beam with excitement at the smiles and happiness my desserts bring to their recipients.
From the planning to the baking, to the (in most cases) days of prepping and decorating, to the moment I present you with your one-of-a-kind creation, I aim for excellence. To provide you with a delicious dessert and satisfying experience that will clearly speak for itself. I am painstakingly detail oriented and take great pride in my work to ensure you have a positive interaction and will not hesitate to quickly become a repeat customer.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
A piece of advice I’d offer to someone just starting out in this field would be to always believe in yourself. Thoroughly enjoy what you do, never stop learning and most importantly, value your time and dedication to this craft.
Pricing:
- Custom-designed cakes starting at $180 and up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.IzzyLysseSweets.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/IzzyLysseSweets
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/IzzyLysseSweets
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/PhhtJr
