Cake Shoe Diaries Welcomes Chrissie Boon

The Sugar Cove is excited to welcome Chrissie Boon from 'Too Nice to Slice', in the second instalment of the Cake Shoe Diaries, as Chrissie shares with us what ignited her passion for all things sugar. So cake shoes ready! Get set! Walk!

Growing up, I loved everything to do with arts and crafts. I was lucky enough to have two very creative parents. Mom, a creative grade school teacher, always had a unique project we could work on together. Dad was always in the workshop designing new toys. I think I was the only girl at school who knew what to do with a jigsaw (Dad and power tools would later come in handy more then I realized for cake construction).

Back in grade school, I remember our next door neighbour's husband lost his job. With my Mom’s love of baking and our neighbour’s wife not knowing how she would afford Christmas presents, my Mom suggested they bake and sell Christmas cookies. Using mom's favourite recipes, this became a yearly event and when I got to high school I started to take over the annual Christmas cookie baking. Today, I still do the Christmas cookies just like when Mom started them, using the exact same recipes she began with.

After highschool, I moved away to Ottawa to study and left baking behind (That doesn't mean my roommate and I didn't throw a cheesecake party or two though). While at home during summer break, I took a Wilton cake decorating course. I was hooked! I can't say my parents were thrilled when I told them I'd be quitting my psychology program to become a cake decorator. But as always, they stood behind me and helped make it work. From there, I took every class I could get my hands on: cake, pulled sugar, chocolate, gumpaste, anything confectionery interested me.

In the fall of 2005, my husband (then fiancé) and I started ‘Too Nice to Slice’ and by January 2006 we were on the hunt for a store front and commercial kitchen. By the spring we'd found the place and started the renovations. Amidst wedding preparations, our wedding day and raising our one year old we officially opened the doors in November 2006. Since that day things have only grown. Every new idea is a wonderful and exciting new challenge. My husband Justin is my strongest supporter and biggest fan. ‘Too Nice to Slice’ would not exist today without him. I cannot imagine running this business without my family and friends.

My favourite moments are meeting with a client and helping them design their dream cake. Watching them flip through my portfolio and seeing them imagine the possibilities is always so inspiring. Knowing I am about to be part of their special day is an honour every time. I especially love when clients come in with a theme in mind, but have no idea how it will translate into cake. Seeing their delight as you share ideas and they begin to envision their cake keeps me motivated every day. Better yet, hearing the words "I trust you" come from a client as they put their faith in me to create their cake gives me the push every day to give 110%.

The journey to get where I am has been exciting but I can't say it’s been easy every step of the way. It's definitely not the typical forty hour work week. Unfortunately, most of my days are spent at the shop and evenings working on sketches for clients or teaching classes. Every waking hour seems to be filled with things that need to be done: updating our cake online supply store, designing new cakes for a show or replying to emails. There is always something to do.

My family will always be what pulls me through. No matter what the situation, a wonderful new opportunity or all nighters at the shop, my husband and family have always been there. There is never a, “It can't be done” attitude, but a "What do we need to do to make it work?" Actually, that applies to most of my aspirations... opening a shop, raising a family, expanding the shop... all were met with the same "we'll make it work" attitude. With them as such an integral part of the business it also means they are my true test to know if I have done a cake right. Having my five year old daughter Emma and Justin walk into the kitchen unaware that a finished cake is sitting on the table is still nerve-racking for me. I stand outside the kitchen and listen for the reaction. The wonderful thing about children is that they are extremely honest. Emma and Justin have seen a lot of cakes. If I hear the squeal of "OH Mommy!!! It's B-E-A-Utiful!!" I know I've done my job.

Chrissie Boon
Too Nice to Slice
14 Hoffman Street, Unit 4 (behind the buddhist temple)
Kitchener, Ontario
519-576-3364

Click here to shop online or sign up for classes at Icing Inspirations (Located within Too Nice to Slice).

Click here to read more about Chrissie Boon and ‘Too Nice to Slice’ as featured in the Waterloo Record.