Community Highlights: Meet Jovella Vanison of Thank Heaven Sweets

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jovella Vanison.

Hi Jovella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thank Heaven Sweets is the culmination of my darkest personal moments and a desire to never give up. Being kicked out of my mother’s house at a young age, I moved back in with my family in Indiana. Looking for guidance, I found my oldest child’s father and became pregnant. I had a beautiful baby girl but wasn’t quite ready to be a mother. I moved back in with my mother in Atlanta where I reconnected with my son’s father. While pregnant with my son, I wasn’t able to work, so I relied on my child’s father to provide leaving us homeless. We moved to Pennsylvania for a better opportunity because Atlanta at the time wasn’t the place where I saw myself settling down and starting my family. My son was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita and never came home from the hospital. He was given six months to live, but he blessed my life for five loving years. Being torn from my home and having to leave my daughter to care for Ja’Khi, I fell into a dark depression. This caused a strain on the relationship between his father and me; we never recovered. I began to walk a very self-destructive path of coping with my grief and my anger. Having moved back to Atlanta and surrounding myself with family, I realized I needed to be more present for my daughter Sariah. At a family function, I baked a Butterfinger Poke Cake that everyone told me was amazing. It felt good to hear good things about something that I had created. I baked the cake for a pot-luck and it was the hit of the party. Shortly after, one of my co-workers ordered the cake for her birthday. Thank Heaven Sweets was salvation to a soul that was on the verge of destruction. Ja’Khi was my “Sweet” heart and I Thank Heaven for his existence.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting with one cake type and mastering that was easy. The challenge came when I was tasked with baking what I had never baked before; layer cakes! Not only was it a challenge to my baking skill, but it was also a challenge to my creativity. Having watched hours upon hours of youtube videos, Netflix food shows, and countless other outlets that would help hone my skills, not everything was as easy as they made it look. Throwing away mistake after mistake and having to remake was not only frustrating, it was expensive. Being a single mother and having to come up with the funds to purchase products to maximize profitability was something that I had to learn fast. Another challenge that I faced was creating a pricing structure so that I did not overcharge my clients while not short-changing myself either. Now I’ve learned how to price my goods, acquired all of the necessary tools, increased my skill set, and produced a quality product that looked worth purchasing, I can say that I’m on the road to a brighter future with Thank Heaven Sweets.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is baking and I specialize in cakes, cupcakes, and treats. I’m known for my world-famous Strawberry Crunch Cake (you should try one). I’m most proud of my growth and the thing that sets me apart from others is my passion to put my love for my son into every product that I bake. I’d like for your readers to know that I’m an extremely dedicated baker and I take pride in every step of my process. I do events such as weddings, receptions, birthdays, anniversaries, and baby showers.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am available between the hours of 8 am to 6 pm Tuesday thru Sunday at www.thankheavensweets.com. I take calls and emails until 8 pm.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thankheavensweets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thankheavensweets/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100027918235774

Image Credits
Thank Heaven Sweets