Meet Katie McNabb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie McNabb.

Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If someone told me, four years ago, I’d be decorating cookies for a living, and I would have looked at them like they had a third leg growing from their head and I would follow up with, “There’s not an artistic bone in my body!” I’m so happy I was wrong! It all started about four years ago. I was a stay at home mom of two boys and we just started homeschooling. Now, if you were someone close to me, you’d NEVER expect that last sentence to be about me. My dreams and aspirations were far from a “stay at home” anything and homeschooling was a big fat “nope.” Alas, life happened and I found myself in the unfamiliar territory. It was a huge and abrupt adjustment to say the least. I needed something for myself- desperately! And since drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism is generally frowned upon 😉, I needed something else and needed it fast! Enter baking. I’ve always enjoyed baking, and I always wanted to try new techniques but never really had the time- until now. It became my escape, my therapy. I baked something new almost every day.

One day, I decided to buy a couple of piping tips for icing cupcakes. I looked up some videos on how to ice cupcakes and stumbled upon cookie decorating videos. I bet I watched hundreds of talented cookie artists lay down their amazing work on a humble sugar cookie. One day, I decided I’d give it a go. Like pretty much everything that looks easy, it was anything but! However, it fed my creative side along with my need to “conquer” something. It was incredibly satisfying to master a specific technique. I started decorating almost every day. I can’t tell you how many cookies I gave to my friends and neighbors. It was an ungodly amount! Like most bakers that end up going into business, it started with a couple of dozen people telling me to start selling. My reply was always, “No way! This is just a hobby, not a job.” But one day, on one of my Facebook posts, one of my husband’s colleagues asked if she could buy some for her mother-in-law. Something came over me and I said, “Yes.” The rest is history. I then created a website and started posting like a madwoman on Instagram. This was a year and a half ago.

Naturally, the business was slow-going in the beginning, but now I’m fully booked, sometimes a month or two out. It’s been such an incredible journey thus far, and I’ve been so fortunate to have the support and encouragement of my husband, Zach. He’s put up with a lot. Like A LOT, a lot – meltdowns, long hours, my crabbiness because of the long hours, all the heavy lifting at markets; seriously, I could go on and on! I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting so many “boss babes” that inspire me every day! Starting and running a business is hard, but having other women entrepreneurs that have your back is everything!! I had no idea how much I’d lean on them for support, especially through the “What in God’s name was I thinking?!” moments. There have been more “downs” than “ups” but one “up” is worth a dozen “downs” in this business. My clients are my “ups.” I’m so fortunate to be a part of their special and ultra-personal moments, whether that be a wedding, a gender reveal, or a 1st birthday. It’s an honor I take very seriously and my ultimate goal is to reflect that in my work. My hobby is now my work and I’m so blessed to love what I do! A massive thank you goes out to the St. Pete area!! I owe so much to the amazing people in our beautiful community! So much love .

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My biggest struggle is simply thinking I’m not good enough. I still sometimes suffer from imposter syndrome. Sure, there’s always someone better than me, but in the age of social media, particularly Instagram, it can be a constant reminder. I’m much better about disciplining myself to stay out of my own head, but I still fall victim every now and then. Those are usually the times when I need a breather from social media. I turn off all notifications for a couple days to get my head back on straight.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For a long time, I would always shy away from the word artist when it came to cookie decorating. Over time, I’ve learned to embrace it, but the imposter’s syndrome will show its face every now and then, and it’s a deep hole to get sucked into. Whenever I feel my confidence diminishing, I take a break from social media for a couple of days and that helps to clear my head and focus only on my work. After the short breather, I’m up and running again.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Jump in the deep end!! The great thing about cookie art is that it’s so accessible to most anyone who has an interest in it. The materials are few and fairly inexpensive. Grab a piping bag or two, a few piping tips, and you’re off to the races! And watch loads of videos!

Pricing:

• Custom Cookies start out at $50/dozen

Contact Info:

• Email: katie@sunnydaysweets.com
• Website: Www.Sunnydaysweets.Com
• Instagram: Www.Instagram.Com/sunnydaysweets/
• Facebook: Www.Facebook.Com/sunnydaysweetscookies/