SweetGems

Cake; everybody loves cake. No matter how much we (we in general, not me) profess to love clean-eating, low-carb or paleo, we’ll always find room, or excuses, for cake. So in saying that, let us introduce you to Gemma Walmsley, the legend behind SweetGems custom cakes and baking – because life is too short to not eat cake.
Hey Gemma, thank you for talking to Forte. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and how you got started?
Well, I am currently studying food and nutrition science at Deakin. I was injured a few years ago and I started baking lots and it eventually grew into a business. I really love to cook and bake, and even throughout school all my subjects were based around food. I have actually auditioned for MasterChef previously for a couple seasons and made it to the short list of the top few hundred in Australia.
Your cakes are amazing, are you a self-taught cake artist or did you study all of these skills?
I am completely self-taught! I usually just watch videos on Instagram and YouTube and then attempt them and surprise myself with the outcome. I grew up with a Mum and Nonna who also love to cook and bake, so I was forever in the kitchen helping them and learning from them. I also love Pinterest and I am forever getting ideas from there.
What can people order off you?
I offer custom cakes, cupcakes, fondant cookies, fried donuts, macarons, and OTT (OVER THE TOP) gift boxes. My gift boxes contain a mix of cupcakes, brownies, macarons as well as lollies and chocolates of your choice, and they can all be made to suit your flavour and colour preferences.

What sets you apart from other cake businesses?
I have a slightly different range than some others, like my fried donuts. I always try and find something that will fit into the customers idea or style and make it as perfect as possible for them. I really love the look on a customer’s face when I open up the cake box and they can finally see what I have created for them.
What is the most challenging thing about making cakes?
When things don’t work how I want them too and how they’re intended. The time that they take can sometimes be a challenge, but it’s worth it when you get the end result.
How can people go about ordering from you?
They can head to my website and fill out a contact form, and then ill respond and we can begin to work together to create something great for your event. People can also message my Facebook page with any enquiries.
What is your favourite thing to make?
I have a lot. I really like doing cupcakes because their delicious and there is a lot of opportunities to make so many different designs. I love being able to try new designs and flavours. My all-time favourite flavours would have to be a chocolate mudcake with a salted caramel sauce and a vanilla cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream
You can find SweetGems online at www.sweetgems.com.au, on Facebook and on Instagram (@sweetgems_)
Written by Chloe Cicero