waysideviolet - cozy, lovely things

Warning this post might make you dream of sugarplums! Because The Cupcake Mint is probably one of the most delicious shop on Etsy. I especially love all the Christmasy sweets that Shannon has in the shop right now!

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Oh hello there, my name is Shannon. I’m a cute happy vegan full of energy and love for all things beautiful and delicious. I’m continuously curious about the world around me and consider myself an explorer of the world, the mind, your backyard, you name it, just about anything fascinates me. I work non stop, I might even work in my sleep! Now only if I could bake in my sleep.. wait that might be dangerous.. nevermind!

Q. How did you begin making such lovely things?
I hail from a long line of ladies that have an insatiable sweet tooth. We’re all talented with flour and sugar. We cannot make our own pasta sauce but we can make the best apple pie you’ve ever had. Honestly, I began baking a ton when I went vegan, about 5 or 6 years ago. I was in college at the time so I’d bake at least one different batch of cupcakes a week, experimenting with flours and egg substitutes and a large collection of flavor extracts. In college I studied photography and I was convinced I just would bake to create something beautiful so that I could photograph it. My roommates never complained, they always had dessert!

Q. Your shop looks delicious! What is your creative process like?
One thing I learned from my mother is to never hold back when it comes to flavor. I like my flavor to hit me hard. Put down the teaspoon and give me the tablespoon of nutmeg, please. I love science and art. In baking there is both of these things. I understand the science of my recipes. If something isn’t right I can troubleshoot them. So I have my base recipes that work within and perfect. Once I pass that phase, its no holds barred! I’ve been known to just pour the bottle of extract in the batter until its right or tap the bottle of cinnamon into the cookie dough until it literally changes the color of the dough. This is sometimes a bad idea, but I like to keep things interesting around here and its almost always never boring in my kitchen.

Q. What’s a normal day in your life like?
Bake bake bake bake bake ingredient run (really just an excuse to go to whole foods) bake bake bake bake bake.. Oops confectioner’s sugar bag had a hole in it AHH! Clean clean clean clean clean clean clean clean. Bake Mix Scoop Clean Bake Mix Scoop Clean Cool Clean Clean Bake Bake Bake Bake. Decorate, Photograph! Write, package, answer convos, usps.com, SLEEP! Post office run in the AM & then I do it all over again :)

Q. What inspires you most of all?
Children, animals, and the elderly. Anyone with that undying curiosity for the world around them and anyone that is 100% present in every moment of their lives. Life is too short to live in your mind!

The Giveaway: four delicious gingerbread men cream sandwiches!

To enter simply visit thecupcakemint and leave a comment here about your favorite item.

The giveaway will be open until December 24th. Good luck!

Tags: etsy interview, the cupcake mint