Emsworth woman spreads joy with baked treats

• What has the effect of the pandemic been on you as a small business owner?

Prior to Covid-19, biscuit making was more of a side hustle; a paying hobby. I lost my main job when the lockdown started, but thankfully the biscuits really took off. People were looking for personalised gifts to send to friends and family as a pick-me-up and to say ‘we’re thinking of you.’ I also make and deliver afternoon teas. With people unable to host parties this proved to be a popular alternative during the first lockdown, especially in summertime.

• You get asked to make biscuits for all sorts of occasions and celebrations. What have been your most memorable commissions?

During the first lockdown I was asked to bake biscuits of various themes and designs and to deliver them to several households in Emsworth. The sender wanted them sent anonymously, knowing that each household was on the same WhatsApp group of friends and that they would all post about their gifts, which they did, eventually deducing the identity of the mystery biscuit sender. That was a fun morale-booster to be involved in. Other memorable commissions are big birthdays. Next week I’m making biscuits for a lady who is turning 100. Others have reflected the recipient’s interests, be it cricket, theatre or dogs – you name it, I’ve probably baked it!

• I gather that your business began from making biscuits for your own wedding. Can you tell us more?

I started out on my biscuit journey when I made butterfly iced biscuits for my wedding favours, and then when my son was little I’d bake with him. It grew from there. Wedding bakes are always popular. Some are used as place name settings, others as ‘save the date’ notifications. I also incorporate wording on biscuits, so people receive little edible bespoke messages, these make a sweet (literally) change from sending flowers.

• How do you come up with designs?

There are never enough hours in the day to create all the biscuit designs that I’d like to. I get constant inspiration from everywhere and everything – hummingbirds in nature to the engineering of the Eiffel Tower. Time flies by when I’m decorating and icing biscuits and it’s not unusual to find me burning the midnight oil or up, probably before the lark, as dawn breaks.

• We’re approaching the festive season. Does being immersed in Christmas orders turn you into a Grinch?

No! My favourite time of year is Christmas and the run up to it. As soon as Halloween is over it’s straight into festive bakes; from pre-orders of tins of advent biscuits through to all the Christmas orders like edible baubles and biscuit snowmen, penguins and Christmas jumpers, many of them personalised with the family’s names. I love it! I have Christmas songs playing while I bake and ice. Then it’s a case of eat, sleep and repeat.

• Where can we find more information?

www.lovesnowberry.co.uk and on Facebook and Instagram: @lovesnowberry

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