About serendipity, creating cakes…and finding my way
Hi, my name is Olivia Martel, but my friends call me ‘Liv, and I…‘Liv to bake.
At the age of 19, with almost two years of college under my belt, I still had no idea where I was heading. One thing was clear, though: I loved the arts. From music and singing to painting and sculpting to hair and makeup to creative writing, they all fascinated me. So deciding exactly what I was most passionate about and what to make a career of was like having to pick only one candy in the store: torture.
Who could have known the answer would come from a bright red corset with black embroidery mounted on a funky zebra base…all edible?
By the very early spring of 2011, I had discovered another art…culinary— more specifically, crafting funky cakes with the cool and colourful “material” known as fondant. My first experiment involved a basic chocolate cake, a simple marshmallow fondant and some swirl piping for a bit of playfulness.
No big deal, you say, but here’s the thing: with every tuck and pinch and trim of the fondant, and with every twist and turn and dip and dot in the piping, I forgot about everything else and floated into another world. There was only me and joy…and the sudden need to try it again. And that I did: kooky cupcakes, a three-tier Valentine’s Day cake for my friends and, then, cupcakes disguised as mini-burgers.
By May 2011, the reviews from friends and family gave me the courage to try my hand at something “big” for my best friend’s birthday. And so, after some 10 hours of fondant frenzy and piping pandemonium, came the bright red corset on the funky zebra base, an unforgettable smile on my friend’s face, a happy picture on Facebook…and close to 200 designer cake orders ever since.
I consider everything that’s happened to me with my cake business as serendipity times 100, one lovely, tasty, morale-boosting, smile-generating surprise and circumstance after another.
I owe so much to my friends and family and to all my customers to date…By giving me a chance, having confidence in me and showering me with kind words…and with oh so many referrals, they’ve allowed me to unlock my true passion and finally discover where I’m heading.
In every cake I have the honour of designing for them in the future, I promise to inject my heart and soul…and, for good measure, the sweet taste of serendipity.
Serendipity Cakes 
Good luck Olivia! I just know that you are destined to becoming BIG!!!!!!
Wow, Celia!! Thank you SO much! Means the world hearing that, especially coming from YOU!!
WOW Liv. Je suis tellement fière de toi!!!!!!! Bravo! You write as well as you bake! The futur holds great things for you darling. Je t’aime x
Ma belle Danika, MERCI!!! Je t’adore xxxx
OLIVIA; THAT IS SO BEAUTIFULLY PUT INTO WORDS. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD IN TORONTO. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND GO GET THEM GIRL. WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU. TAKE CARE. LOVE YOU AND VERY PROUD TO SAY , ” THAT’S MY COUSIN.”
Thank you SO much Therese!! You are way too kind!! Hope all is well xx
Wow, its amazing hoe through all of this you finally found what you want to do. Wishing you all the best with your great ans and looking forward to seeing you in the Big City. I know there’s a ton of people here just waiting to taste your amazing creations!
“Liv” your dream!
One definition I found for “Serendipity” is “a happy accident”. Now how cool is that in your case? A very fitting name for you and your story and of course your cakes! Keep on dreaming big, Liv! Life awaits you and all of your numerous & precious skills! Love you to bits!
That’s all I want xx 🙂
love you so much tante Denise! I’m glad you find the name as fitting as I do 😉 xx
I must admit, it is such a relief to finally KNOW what I want to do! Thank you so much Dom xxx
Congrats Liv , proud of you! Keep up the good work and never give up!:)
Je t”aime Mimsss! You have been by my side since FOREVER & I appreciate your support more than you’ll ever know! I love you xxx