I’ve not featured any Business Mums on the blog for a while so I thought I’d restart… this time I’ll be featuring Mums who have started their businesses in the last year to try and give them a bit of exposure! First up is the lovely Emma from The Fondant Faery who started her business in May 2012! Emma is kindly offering 10% off her amazing cake toppers when you mention this blog feature (valid until March) – Also check out the end of the post for a yummy giveaway!
Who are you?
Emma Strachan
The Fondant Faery
@Em_and_Lola or @fondantfaery
www.facebook.com/
What do you do?
I make bespoke cakes, cupcakes & cake toppers using the finest ingredients possible, organic, free range, fair trade & local where possible.
I work accommodating people’s budgets so can make the whole cake & topper for people or just the cake toppers that they can place on their own cakes.
A lot of my postal orders are for the fondant toppers.
When did you establish your business?
May 2012
What made you start your own business?
Was looking for a part time job to fit in with my daughter.
Unfortunately the only part time jobs were over 5 days a week but that made my childcare costs unaffordable. I’m a single mum so couldn’t work evenings or weekends.
It was also important to me that I got to spend time with Lola, I didn’t want the childminder spending more time with her than I did.
Have always been a baker but my cake decorating started when making Lola’s 1st birthday cake. I thoroughly enjoyed the process & started making cakes for friends & family. I was told by quite a few people that I should consider it as a career.
With no jobs around, becoming self employed & making cakes seemed the obvious thing to do.
What do you love about working for yourself?
I love being my own boss, (always had issues with authority!)
like being in control of what hours I work.
Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
The pressure of having to earn the money, no holiday pay, no sick days!!
Although most of the time I enjoy the peace & quiet of my job, I do sometimes miss the social side of working with other people.
Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
I would have started sooner!
What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
Go for it, better to try & risk failure rather than regret not trying.
Emma has kindly offered to giveaway a box of 6 cupcakes to one of my lucky readers.
You could choose from…
I’d choose the chocolate cupcakes
@caro_mad x
i think the lemon ones look and sound lush so it would have to be them for me 🙂
i would love the mojito ones
the Mojito ones, yummy!!
I think I would go for the vanilla cupcakes.. unlike what I’ve been reading in the fifty shades books, there’s definitely nothing boring about them!! 🙂
Ooo, the vanilla ones!
I’d choose the lemon cupcakes x
Lemon cupcakes
I know its predictable but I would choose the chocolate as they are my favourite and my little boys would also be able to enjoy one too.
I’d love to enter but is this just for mainland UK? I’m in Northern Ireland.
You should be ok hon x
lemon cupcakes
Lovely prize! I’d probably pick the chocolate cupcakes 🙂 x
Lemon cupcakes
They look amazing! I’m a chocaholic so it would be chocolate cupcakes all the way
Chocolate and Baileys!
Mojito cupcakes, I love the cocktail, so I would love to try the cupcake version! 🙂 x
Lemon
Lemon cupcakes! Yum! (:
chocolate and baileys yummy. x
Ooh id have to go for chocolate and baileys – 2 of my fave things in life combined 🙂
Definitely the Mojito one’s – yum yum !
Good Luck Emma! Your toppers are fab x x
Arghh I don’t know. Lemon or the Mojitos. Or both. Let me have both.
definitely the chocolate and baileys
The kids would eat any chocolate cupcake. Thanks.
Oooooh Chocolate & Baileys! Yum x
chocolate & baileys cupcakes
Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments x
Chocolate & Baileys – sound lovely! 🙂
Thanks!
Simon.
They all look fantastic, well done you! I’d love the 6 chocolate & baileys cupcakes!! Yummy! x
I think the chocolate & Baileys would have to be my favourite.
I WOULD LOVE TO TRY THE MOJITO ONES BUT THEY ALL LOOK FANTASTIC.
Delicious !!!! Particuarly love the Bumble Bee cupcakes soo cute !
They all sound great but would choose either vanilla or lemon.
6 Mojito cupcakes !! omg my fav drink xx
I’d choose lemon.
What amazing cupcakes!! Such skill. I’d have to choose the 6 chocolate & baileys cupcakes, therefore I wouldn’t have to share as partner doesn’t like Baileys! Greedy, hehe!
chocolate & baileys cupcakes – sound heavenly
Beautifully designed cakes, especially like the owl ones. Delicious flavours and a very generous giveaway.
The mojito ones – they sound lush!
6 Mojito cupcakes!!! YUMMO
They all sound delicious but I am going to have to go for Chocolate yum:)
@lcaraher
These look delicious!
Difficult decision, but if pushed (!) I would chose the chocolate & baileys cupcakes. They sound delicious!
6 Mojito cupcakes
I love Mojito cocktails in the summer, and am desperately missing the sunshine, so would definitely choose Mojito cakes. They sound deliciously different!
(Am also loving your designs and so wish I was as handy as you!)
Mmm The Lemon cupcakes sound delicious
the chocolate and baileys cupcakes sound soo good!
Oohh lemon please x
yummy – baileys and chocolate – sounds divine
They all look fab, lemon cup cakes for me!
They all sound yummy but I would choose chocolate.
Lemon cupcakes for me 🙂
Ooh, they look delish and LOVE the cute owl ^_^
I’d struggle to decide and then pick chocolate 🙂
Oh it would have to be Chocolate & Baileys
Ooh mojito is tempting but my love for lemon wins!
chocolate and baileys would b lush!! x
Chocolates and Baileys sound delicious!
Chocolate/Baileys Cupcakes deffo!!
lemon cupcakes
I would love to try the Lemon.
I would choose the vanilla cupcakes.
I think I’d plump for the Mojito!
I think the chocolate cupcakes would be gorgeous and would love to win these x
Chocolate and Baileys sounds delicious!
If I was lucky enough to win …. oh, they’re all tempting, could I have two of each! Sorry for being difficult but I’d choose the chocolate & baileys cupcakes, they sound scrumptious – would I have to share them?
The cupcakes look amazing! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
these look yummy! lemon is my fav!
the vanilla ones but the lemon ones sound lovely too
chocolate & baileys cupcakes
I would give up my New Year’s resolutions for the Chocolate and Baileys cupcakes, they sound delicious.
The Mojito sounds nice
Chocolate – there’s no nicer cake than a choccie cake – om nom! x
definitely Baileys, sound yummy
They all sound fab, but I would choose the chocolate & baileys cupcakes as they manage to combine my favourite indulgences in one cupcake!
Mmm chocolate and baileys together in a cake – can’t go wrong
Lemon Cup Cakes
Chocolate and Baileys. A little bit of Xmas in January!
These are absolutely gorgeous! Such a talent 🙂 x
I would love to try them all, but have to say lemon cupcakes are my absolute favourite thing on the planet
My Daughters are very good cake makers but im sad to say they didnt get it from me. Unfortunately they live 270 miles from me so i dont get chance to taste their lovely cakes. I would love to try yours, thank you for the competition.
Chocolate and Baily’s for me!
O my these are stunning and look very yummy 🙂 Would love to try the choc cupcakes yummm 🙂
Xx
yummy scrummy! it must be lemon cupcakes for me x
lemon ones sound lovely
chocolate and baileys please
choc and baileys please
The lemon sound fab
Would have to be chocolate, mine always turn out heavy and dry.
Forgot to mention chocolate & baileys cupcakes all the way – combination of 2 of my favourite things x
i would choose 6 chocolate cup cakes
They look fantastic and delicious, a real inspiration
Chocolate & Bailey’s
Ooh yummy chocolate ones I think please
I would have to choose either Mojito or chocolate. Sound amazing!
Chocolate & baileys cupcakes sound so yummy
Cholcolate or vanilla for me! They all look fab mind!
What gorgeous cup cakes – I love the ones with the bumble bees on! Lovely for the Spring – for Mother’s day! I would choose vanilla cupcakes if I won!
nice
chocolat and Bailey x
They looks so Yummy. I would choose 6 lemon Cupcakes.
Oh wow, boozy cupcakes! I’d go for the Mojito ones 🙂
Mojito cupcakes – My favourite cocktail xx
All look & sound yummy! I’d choose baileys & chocolate I think 🙂
6 chocolate & baileys cupcakes just so the adults could enjoy them this time 😉 Awww poor kids! x
These look divine!!! I would love the chocolate or lemon ones – ooooh, decisions….
For me it would have to be lemon cupcakes.
Yum! The chocolate and Baileys sound delicious!!
I would chose chocolate and baileys!
@Dorothee77
Mmmmm baileys ones! Yummy
I think I’d choose Mojito and host a girly night in !!!
Lemon sounds lovely although I think there will also be votes for chocolate from members of this household.
Mmmm Chocolate & Baileys in a cake – what’s not to like?
I love the cake with the hedgehog on 🙂
WoW! yummy lemon ones!!
Chocolate, nothing better than a spot of chocolate, what a fab business idea, I wish Emma much success xx
yummy, i would chose vanilla x
Chocolate and baileys sound delicious!!
ooo yummy would have to be chock and baileys 🙂
its got to be the chocolate ones!
Mojito cup cakes sound fab and would be the perfect gift for my friend to show her that she’s loved 🙂
Oh it’d have to be the Lemon Cupcakes.
They look fantastic!!
I like the sound of the 6 Mojito cupcakes 🙂
chocolate & baileys cupcakes!
6 Mojito cupcakes would be lovely, never had this sort of cake before. Sound gorgeous x
chocolate & baileys cupcakes
OMG I love cake I would choose 6 vanilla or chocolate or lemon cupcakes 🙂
I can’t decide between the mojito or the Baileys and chocolate – if I win I’ll make a decision :o)
To be honest any would go down a treat in our household, my two daughters would love the chocolate ones, my husband would enjoy the Mojito & lemon ones and I would enjoy the Baileys & chocolate combo aswell as the vanilla ones
mojito ones sound fab
Mmm chocolate and baileys sounds good to me x
I’d choose the chocolate & baileys cupcakes – they sound gorgeous!
Amazing Giveaway!! WOW!
I would love to try the Lemon or the Chocolate!!
x
Emma’s work looks delightful! The cupcakes all sound yummy – I think I’d love to try the Mojito ones please 🙂
Chocolate and Baileys,mmmmmmmm!! 🙂
These are fab Emma. All the cupcake combinations sound yummy. Working and being a full time mum is demanding but it has many wonderful rewards x
Mojito sounds different …I like different!! ;o)
I think they are probably my favourite, closely followed by Chocolate & Baileys or the Piña Colada Cupcakes 🙂
Chocolates and Baileys all the way 😉 Well done, they look so good!
Thank you Josepha 🙂
Wow these look amazing! Lemon cupcakes all the way!
Thanks Emma 🙂
Has to be said mojito ones sound awesome (as a new mum that can’t drink much it’s a good excuse for a cocktail and cake!) good luck with your business x