Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliemar CH.
Juliemar, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up I loved watching shows on Food Network related to cooking and baking. Shows like Cupcake Wars, Chopped, Barefoot Contessa and Cake Boss always peaked my interest. During the summer when school was out, my sister and I would stay inside, as strictly instructed by my parents, and watch these shows all day. It was truly a core memory and one that I cherish. My parents are great cooks but baking has never really been a thing in my family. As such, I always had an interest to bake in the back of my mind but never really gave it a try. This changed when the pandemic occurred in 2020. In the midst of the pandemic, I was kicked out of my college dorm and had to move back home to Orlando. As many of us can relate, I had a lot more time on my hands to experiment with hobbies. This was the perfect time for me to finally give baking a try. The first cake I made was for mother’s day and, if you could see, it very obviously was made by a beginner. Regardless, I had fun making it and was eager to learn more skills. Through YouTube videos, baking textbooks and recipe books, I slowly got better and refined my skills. I started taking orders from family and friends and later from other clients in the Orlando area. This led to me making my own Instagram account to post my creations. I truly thank my friends who encouraged me to do so and were so supportive. Today, I am temporarily living in New Mexico for graduate school and have not been baking as much. However, when I have time, I do still bake and post on my account. I look forward to baking more after I graduate and move back to Florida!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest challenge throughout my baking experience was when I was actively taking orders. I am happiest when I can bake without having the pressure of having to properly fulfill someone’s order. These concerns were mostly in my head as the cakes turned out fine but they put me under a lot of pressure. I wanted to make sure the client was getting the best quality taste and cake design they requested. I often would stay up late to fulfill orders when multiple cakes were needed on the same day. I would accept custom cake orders, which likely added to the stress, as I had never done the cake designs requested. After returning to college, I stopped taking orders as I had a tiny apartment and limited time due to school and work. Although it was challenging to make custom cake orders, I learned a lot about cake decorating and am still proud of myself for doing it. Perhaps in the future I would be more open to it if I had a set menu and selection of cake designs.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Outside of baking, I am currently a graduate student studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Specifically, my research focuses on avian ecology within the Chihuahuan Desert. Aside from baking, I have always been passionate about wildlife and ecology. This mostly stemmed from growing up around unique environments within Florida and Puerto Rico. Trips to beaches, wetlands, and springs fueled my desire to somehow contribute to protecting the environment and wildlife. Recently, I made a cake that featured both of my passions with Chihuahuan Desert plant and animal features such as ocotillo, the Organ mountains and birds. Although these two aspects of my professional and personal life are very different, I am proud of them both and feel fortunate to participate in work that makes me feel like I am making this world a better place, even if it is minimal. I am sure there are many other avian researchers who also love to bake and incorporate aspects of their professional life into their creative work. I look forward to creating cakes in the future that highlight my passion for wildlife and potentially bring awareness to the species or ecosystems featured on my cakes. Even if it simply means that someone in Florida now knows what an ocotillo is and how beautiful the desert is.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am fortunate to have a strong support system and community who are my greatest cheerleaders. Often, when I doubt myself or my skills, they remind me of what I am capable of when I need it most. My sister, parents, friends and partner are always the first ones to like, share and show support on my baking Instagram. This was especially meaningful to me when I first started my account and had very little followers. Their genuine desire to share my creative work with their own communities meant a lot to me and helped grow my page to the almost 500 followers I have today. This may not seem like very many followers to some but I am proud of it. I like to envision what 500 people looks like and remind myself that I do have an audience that is worth sharing my creations with. I would love to see that community grow but am also happy with what I have at the moment. Without the support from my loved ones, I would not have ever made my baking account or had the confidence to share my work with the internet.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jukiebakes/
