Meet Katelyn Kucirek | Cake Designer + Sugar Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katelyn Kucirek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katelyn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had wanted to start my own business for several years before I finally took the leap. A big part of that decision was the desire for creative control. Working for other bakeries, I was often unable to create the type of cakes that I had longed to work on because the design was already determined. As I progressed in my skills I was left feeling unfulfilled, like I wasn’t challenging myself to grow as an artist or as a designer and that started to stifle my passion. That, along with burnout from the grueling hours, left me realizing I needed to make a change. I knew that working for myself was the only way that I could truly challenge myself and become the artist that I had always longed to be. Not only could I continue to make & decorate cakes, which I loved, but I could also design them! I could experiment with new designs and new techniques and I could also experiment with recipes. I could curate a product from the inside out – from ingredients and flavor pairings to design details and edible mediums. I could create entire dessert collections and try my hand at anything I found exciting or interesting. I knew I would find a whole new level of fulfillment & pride from starting my own business and that prospect was exhilarating!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a cake designer & sugar artist. In short, I create edible art that not only serves as a stunning centerpiece, but is also mouthwateringly delicious! What sets me apart from many other designers and bakeries is that I am a trained pastry chef as well as a professional decorator/designer.

In addition creating cakes, which is my primary passion, I also curate dessert collections composed of individual desserts such as cakepops, dessert shooters, tarts, truffles, confections, and more. Everything I make is baked from scratch which adds a lot of integrity to my product and allows me to control the flavor as well as the design.

In addition to my traditional buttercream cakes, I also work with other mediums as well. I started my career as a fondant artist, creating all of the fondant elements for all of the cakes in our weekly production. This included fondant figures, flowers, toppers, plaques, etc. In working for myself I have expanded the mediums I work with to include rice paper, wafer paper, chocolate, modelling paste, and more! If I see something online that inspires me, I teach myself how to do it. It is really important for me to approach my work with creative curiosity so that I can continue growing and evolving and elevating my work.

A huge source of inspiration is admiring the work of other cake artists online. I am endlessly inspired by the artists and trends I see overseas in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and I am excited to bring some of those trends to my clients here in South Florida. Experimenting with new designs and finding techniques that I love is extremely fulfilling!

Through experimentation and exploration I have been able to discover more about myself as a designer and the type of work that I most enjoy creating. It is important to me that I stay true to myself as a designer because that is when I create my best work and when I feel the most fulfilled. I have admired this approach by many of the artists who’s journeys I have followed and it has proven to be incredibly beneficial for me as well.

It hasn’t always been a linear journey, there have been ups and downs as with anything in life, but I have learned to trust myself and to continue pursuing the things that drive me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in South Florida, there is never a shortage of amazing places to visit! Some of my favorite spots are beachside. In high school, I spent a lot of time in Delray walking up and down the Ave, so that area still holds a special place in my heart. There are so many amazing restaurants and bars to check out, and I love attending the farmer’s markets, parades, and all of the other events held on the Ave throughout the year.

Another spot I frequent is the pier at Pompano Beach. Over the last couple of years they have completely overhauled the area and now it features a beautiful pier with gorgeous views as well as some awesome places to eat and drink. A couple of favorites for my friends & I are the Pompano Beach House and Lucky Fish. Both have great food, tasty drinks, and beachside views.

Two other places I’ve enjoyed checking out are Cyth & Co. in Oakland Park which has a really cool, artsy aesthetic as well as delicious brunch options, and The Wharf Ft. Lauderdale which has a great outdoor area where you can have a few drinks and catch up with friends.

I would also recommend to someone visiting the area to check out any markets or events that are going on; whether it’s an art festival in Delray, the Sunny Side Up Market in Ft. Lauderdale, or any of the various concerts or festivals going on from West Palm to Miami, there is never a shortage of places to see or people to meet, and that’s just one of the amazing things about SoFlo!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who have supported me & encouraged me, I don’t even know where to begin! First and foremost would be my fiancé, Fernando, who believed in me long before I even did! I don’t know that I would have been brave enough to take this leap without his constant support and encouragement. He’s the level head I need to reassure me that everything will be ok and that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined. I also owe a million thanks to my close friends and family who have been with me through all the highs & lows of my journey and have been an endless source of encouragement and love. They continue to lift me up through all my hardships and celebrate all my successes. So, thank you to my Brat Pack and all the others who serve as my cheerleading squad each and every day.

Another person who deserves recognition is my former head chef, Sabrina, who took a chance on me several years ago and gave me my first real decorating job. At that point I was still self-taught, but she saw something in me and gave me my first opportunity to pursue my dream. She was my mentor during a very formative time and taught me so much about design basics. I look back on that experience and can’t believe how much I was able to grow due to her amazing mentorship. She also brought a kindness & a softness to an industry that can be very rough, and that continues to inspire me to be the kind of boss she was.
I have also received a lot of support from the many talented vendors I collaborate with. They opened me up to a side of the event industry that I didn’t even know existed and they continue to inspire me everyday. Their friendship and collaborative energy has been a huge driving force for me, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

Finally, I found a lot of courage through reading Glennon Doyle’s books “Untamed” & “Love Warrior”. She taught me that I can always strive for more and that I can do hard things.

Website: https://shop.bakesy.app/b/petal-pear

Email: hello@petalandpeardesign.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petal_and_pear/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petalandpear

Other: IG: @petal_and_pear FB: @petalandpear Google: https://g.co/kgs/sxZxvE

Image Credits
Lena Howard Photography/Content Wayfarer, LV Photography, Halle Alessia Photography, Melanie Zehner Photography