Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Ferguson.
Hi Rebecca, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always loved baking and cooking. I work as a full-time night shift nurse at SAMMC. One of the wives of my coworkers would make these really delicious sugar cookies with a soft sour cream frosting. They ended up moving away and we were having a bake sale at work, so I reached out to see if she would share her recipe. She told me sure and that it was just off of Pinterest. After making the cookies, I had another co-worker reach out to see if I could make 250 cookies for her daughter’s wedding. I told her I didn’t even have a stand mixer and that I didn’t think I could do that many. She then told me she would buy me one if I would do them for her. So, I did, but since it was soft icing, I couldn’t stack the cookies or package them up without the icing coming off. After seeing the beautiful setup she did at the wedding with my cookies, I was inspired to see if there was the frosting that hardens that you could stack cookies, etc. From there I just watched YouTube videos, and other “cookers” and self-taught myself. I also since then have changed my recipe and tweaked it to become my own. I now have started teaching cookie decorating classes, cookie baking classes, and royal icing classes out of my home. Here I am able to share tips and tricks with others. I love the feeling at the end of the class when they all say, “I can’t believe I made these!” I also have 3 individuals who have gone on to start their own businesses and it makes me feel so happy that I could be a part of their journey.
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?
There have been a lot of challenges in figuring out how to balance a full-time night shift job, 2 kids, a husband, and a side Hussle. I’ve spent lots of sleepless nights putting an order together I thought wouldn’t take as long. I’ve sat down to decorate a set before and then realized I didn’t bake enough and had to bake another batch of cookies at 2 am. I’ve learned a lot over the years with regards to new gadgets and gizmos that make things easier. I look back to when I would hand fold all of my piping bags with parchment paper and don’t know how I did that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I decorate sugar cookies. I’m known for my cookies not just looking good, but tasting wonderful as well. My cookies are not hard, they have a soft bite to them. When you open any box of my cookies, you can instantly smell the almond extract I use in them. I’m super proud of myself in that I never had a hobby, or felt as if I had an artistic/creative bone in my body until I started decorating cookies. I’m a very reserved person and don’t like to gush about myself or rave about my accomplishments. However, this is something I have to say I’m super proud of and when I finish designing a set, I can hardly believe sometimes that I made them. I have done sets for some famous or well-known people. One, in particular, was for two-time Survivor winner Sandra Diaz-Twine (Queen of Survivor).
People sometimes do not know how long it actually takes to do a dozen cookies. The cookies need to dry overnight before I can bag them all up because it takes a good 10-12 hours for them to fully dry. Decorating itself can sometimes take 6+ hours for just a dozen cookies. All of that does not include the organizing and planning for the set, baking the cookies, making the icing, and then packaging all the cookies individually.
I accept orders from 1-2 cookie sets all the way up to several dozen. Obviously with this only being a part-time job for me I need a good amount of notice if it’s a super large amount. I typically will block off a week or two before any major holiday for any personalized orders because I host pre-orders. With pre-orders, I will usually choose and make a few different selections (1 cookie, 2 cookie sets, or a platter) and post these options a few weeks before the holiday. This way I can anticipate how many I will need to make.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I have been asked about collaborating with mom’s groups, teacher groups, church groups, etc. to teach smaller decorating classes. I am open to doing these smaller cookie decorating classes for people. I’ve also made a few cookies for some cake bakers in the past that they add to their cakes as a decoration. Mostly just get on my pages and like my pictures and comment. I love to see everyone’s opinions and comments and make sure to always comment back.
I also recently acquired a new gadget. I call him my new employee. It’s an Eddie which is an edible printer that prints directly onto the cookie. I am able to take any picture or image and print it directly onto a cookie. I would love to start collaborating with more businesses and do logo cookies for them to help advertise their business and mine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/sweet_cookie_dreams
- Facebook: facebook.com/sweetcookiedreams
Image Credits
Erika Michelle Photography
