Baking a name for herself
A Whanganui cake baker is making a name for herself through the novelty business she developed to help her autistic son.
When Stacey Williams started Staceys Cakes four years ago, she had recently left the Defence Force and was branching out, trying cakemaking courses to add to the catering skills she learnt in the army.
At the same time her autistic son, Matthew Smith, was growing up and looking for more independence.
Williams found making intricately detailed cake sculptures was a muchneeded creative outlet. Having a home-based business let her do that and gave her son a safe space to sample working life.
In the end, Smith decided he didn’t want to work with his mum, but Williams hopes to soon give other people with disabilities or special needs the same opportunity.
Staceys Cakes has a growing reputation for creatively themed cakes featuring dragons and cartoon and video game characters. But it’s her depictions of everyday objects, such as books and handbags, or in one case a crate of Tui-shaped chocolate, that really blow people’s minds.
‘‘My aim is to trick the eye so people have to look carefully [to realise it’s a cake].’’
Williams’ creations can take up to 10 hours each to sculpt and add the fine and fiddly details with fondant icing and modelling chocolate, so she sometimes finds herself completely booked for a month or two.
Williams plans to hire people in a similar situation as her son and expand into a shop in central Whanganui over the next year.
Many people with a disability or special needs wanted to and could work, but had found it hard to find an employer who could accommodate their needs, she said.
Staceys Cakes is also now getting international attention after featuring in a competition run by Amazingcakeideas.com, a popular centre for cake makers.
‘‘It’s heartwarming to know your hard work is being recognised, not just in New Zealand, but globally.’’
Bakers can’t enter themselves and Williams was surprised to be nominated for a birthday cake commission, based on the popular game Fortnite, by a fellow cake maker.
Williams’ creation is provisionally placed as a runner-up, from almost 100 international nominees.
‘‘I’m trying to act cool and calm, waiting for the official results. But I don’t think I’m pulling it off.’’