Social Media, Obama Help Turn Designer Into Cake Baker

by hollyoleary | January 29, 2009 at 01:31 pm

936 views | 58 Recommendations | 20 comments

I recently left my full time job as a graphic designer to embark on a freelance career in the same field. In the last few months work has become a little sparse. After making a celebratory Obama cake in anticipation of his victory on election day, I posted an image of the cake on Facebook. A friend saw (and loved) the cake, requesting one for an Inauguration Day celebration. She was willing to pay. Needless to say, I was thrilled. Approaching this as a tiny opportunity to make a little additional cash, I posted a rather haphazard comment back on Facebook and Twitter that I was “taking cake orders” . As a result, I made eight cakes of various sizes in several days, each emblazoned with an Obama logo and various patriotic frippery. By the checks that were written and exclamations of tastiness I witnessed, it was clear...my clients were happy and sated!

One could say this was all chance, however, I cannot deny the influence that Facebook, Twitter and the excitement over our new administration have had on my brief, but tremendous, success. Thanks to these these movements (and a love of squeezing colored butter cream through a swirly pastry tip), I am now taking steps to license my home kitchen and fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a more serious cake baker. What remains to be seen is whether or not this serendipitous occassion will grow to pad my wallet as I navigate our tricky economic times. Will it fall as flat as an under-whipped genois or will it rise into the future like a never-fail chocolate cake from the backside of the Hershey's cocoa can, ultimately spreading HOPE through crumbs, frosting and the power of social networking?

For those of you obsessed and highly entertained with cake photos, go to http://www.yeswecake.com for many more. Longue vie à gâteau!!

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Jarrett Martineau

at 14:11 on January 29th, 2009

Obama cakes to the rescue! Well done.

hollyoleary

at 14:33 on January 29th, 2009

Thanks! That makes me smile a big cakey smile!!

Amy Judd

at 14:58 on January 29th, 2009

This is great - and amazing cakes!

lefty_liberated

at 16:17 on January 29th, 2009

keep up the good work!

Alison J. L.

at 17:04 on January 29th, 2009

This says "Obama" in Korean. The baker here was more than happy to do it, once he understood what I was wanting.

Alison J. L. has contributed a photo to this story.

this dreamer girl

at 17:23 on January 29th, 2009

I was going to get some snacks at the Grocery, as I was picked as one of the 18,000 volunteers (out of 80,000 applicants) for the Inauguration Day festivities and we were going to have a long day. Needed to get some sustenance for the next days events. Walking in in a good mood, excited to be a part of this historic day.. I walked in (actually I think I skipped in) and right there was a table FULL of of Obama cakes.. Well.. you know I had to take a picture or two... I thought it was funny.. hilarious actually that there were cakes there with the Presidents face.. thinking... How far will some go to support the incoming administration??

Now I know!!

this dreamer girl has contributed a photo to this story.

thehardyclan

at 17:51 on January 29th, 2009

From Buskin Bakery in Cincinnati Ohio

thehardyclan has contributed a photo to this story.

carleeacheson

at 18:14 on January 29th, 2009

I was in Washington D.C during the time of the Inaugaration. And was just amazed by how many different things you could purchase that had "Obama" on it. And this just topped it off, so I decided to photograph it along with other things I photographed along the way. You can check out my other photos on Http://omegaphotography.synthasite.com

carleeacheson has contributed a photo to this story.

BobbiTG4M

at 18:43 on January 29th, 2009

I looove this story! I too had a similar situation, thanks to Obama.

I was so inspired during his campaign, I started writing and collecting photo's. Before long I had a book. What started out as a little children's book morphed into a hard cover Special Edition Collectors book, Lessons We Learned From Obama, 135 pages in all black with over 270 high quality color photographs from photographers around the world of Obama and his campaign. My first book, and considering I have five children-- I would have thought this was impossible a few months ago. I got my first copy in the mail....and it is so beautiful! So, I made the matching book set, Lunch With Michelle in all white. Who knows what will be next, maybe I have a little cake while I am reading. Yum.

Bobbi Miller-Moro

baker2

at 19:13 on January 29th, 2009

A simple pound cake - with flags - that went to work for the team to eat while we watched the inauguration online.

baker2 has contributed a photo to this story.

exposedplanet

at 19:44 on January 29th, 2009

Just added my Obama Cupcakes picture. Read the blogpost on WorldOnaBike.com about the elction day in Seattle, where we took this and other images. Was great to be here when it all happened!

Cheers, Harry

jonbreisnes

at 22:09 on January 29th, 2009

Two celebrations. One for the election, one for the inauguration.

jonbreisnes has contributed a photo to this story.

Cosmojojo

at 00:25 on January 30th, 2009

I came home after an inauguration party to find this Obama cupcake waiting for me, a present from my mom, to celebrate a great day!

Cosmojojo has contributed a photo to this story.

corduroya

at 04:35 on January 30th, 2009

After the 2004 election, I felt incredibly disappointed with the state of the country with Bush's reelection and decided to move abroad to gather my thoughts on my place in the world. I moved to Ireland for a year, and then on to England.

When I moved abroad, I got a great mixture of mostly negative feelings about America and Americans. When Obama began his campaign for Presidency, the international community seemed to change their thoughts on the US and Americans in general.

The day my absentee ballot arrived in the mail, I felt like I could finally make a difference. On election night, I baked some cookies. And on the inauguration day, I felt the need to celebrate with baked goods again!

Obama has inspired people to make a difference in the world. Because I'm from Hawaii, it is great to see my fellow Hawaiians excited about the local boy on his way to the White House.

Hip-hip-hooray for political baking!

corduroya has contributed a photo to this story.

Nora Kravec (not verified)

at 04:57 on January 30th, 2009

Here's a photo of my Obama cake!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11046826@N02/1384696564/

hollyoleary

at 08:45 on January 30th, 2009

So many fantastic baked goods! You all are amazing. I can't believe the variety and creativity. Barack would be very proud. Thanks so much for sharing and keep on backing.

-hollyo'

Grace Uy

at 17:40 on January 30th, 2009

This photo is a tribute to Barack. :) These cupcakes were on sale during his inauguration day.

Grace Uy has contributed a photo to this story.

elleinthecity

at 08:13 on January 31st, 2009

Cake from the Riviera Bakehouse in Ardsley NY created especially for the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama.

elleinthecity has contributed a photo to this story.

ObamaInterpreter2009

at 17:01 on January 31st, 2009

These are from the Smithsonian's Museum of American History, taken the day before the inauguration. I didn't try one... Honestly, the best cupcake I've ever eaten (even better than NYC's Magnolia Bakery) was the day prior, from U Street's "cakelove". It was also an inauguration cupcake, called the "44". It was white on white, with a salted caramel drizzle. I even went back later that evening, but they were out... Fabulous. My mouth waters just writing about it!

ObamaInterpreter2009 has contributed a photo to this story.