Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaeti Adney.
Hi Kaeti, 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?
I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I spent majority of my life there until recently moving to Florida amidst the pandemic in 2020 with my husband and three children. I went to school and graduated from OU with a nursing degree and have been a nurse since 2016. Alongside my career in helping people as a nurse I also love to create art for people as well! I have many artistic hobbies but I started dabbling in cake baking though in 2011, baking for family and friends when I could and that’s what started my interest in more elaborate decorated treats. My interest in decorated sugar cookies began in 2015 when I made a batch for my daughter’s birthday and they were a hit! Life of course became busy and I didn’t make any cookies for a while but my desire to create art stayed through the years. Once we were settled into our new state in Florida, I wanted to make a cookie set and that set off a chain of events. I decided I wanted to create a business out of it, as I was continuing to create different unique batches of cookies that made people happy and completed their event they envisioned, it is also an artistic outlet that is fulfilling and makes me happy too. Word of mouth has been such a great form to grow my business. My family, friends, and more importantly my husband has been the greatest support system. My mom and husband have always told me I should be an illustrator for children’s books, but here I am today, I’ve found that through decorated sugar cookies, I have edible art with icing as my medium!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There is definitely a learning curve in the baking world, but I am patient although I have the tendency to knit-pick my own work because I love perfection. I have picked up tips and tricks along the way but mainly, I work for myself and I love it! I had to learn how much time an order will take me to complete and be ready for the customer. Staying self-disciplined with time is something always on my mind with work so I don’t ever run into a time constraint with an order. I will continue to learn and grow my business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Cookie Menagerie?
The Cookie Menagerie is decorated sugar cookies and that is what I specialize in. I tend to do a lot of baby showers and I do create intricate cookies for each set that I make. I am most proud of my growing abilities. I do surprise myself when I am able to execute something I’ve created in my mind onto a sugar cookie. My goal as a business is to create different types of cookies outside of my normal sugar cookie to offer. A big project my husband and I have been planning is a goal to open a mobile cookie storefront that would be available at farmer’s markets and around the community!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I value the community’s support when I am a recommended baker through local Facebook groups looking for someone to create a set of cookies. I am available on most social media and can be followed on Instagram and Facebook. I do have a website www.thecookiemenagerie.com and email thecookiemenagerie@gmail.com that I can be reached for any order inquires.
Contact Info:
- Email: Thecookiemenagerie@gmail.com
- Website: www.thecookiemenagerie.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/thecookiemenagerie
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/thecookiemenagerie
