Meet RaFayele O’Banner Bostick | Cake Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with RaFayele O’Banner Bostick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi RaFayele, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always loved cake! Since I was a little girl a cake from one of my favorite elementary teachers, Mrs. Lester, was always on my wish list. When it was time to plan my wedding, I knew who I wanted my baker to be. I thought all wedding cakes were the same…tiered white and basic. Then she asked me one question, “What do you have in mind?” From there I began searching online looking for the right cake but I couldn’t find the one cake that had it all. So I sketched my own cake design and she delivered! She designed my son’s 1st few birthday cakes but moving away from home made it harder to get those delicious cakes. Left with limited options I did the next best thing…..I took some classes and started baking for my own family events. Soon I started getting requests from members outside of my family and I knew then that I’d tapped into one of my passions and I was actually good at it! Orders started coming in before I had a name.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started baking for family and friends and then overnight I started getting requests from people outside of my family and friends. It was just a hobby at first and then I realized that my cakes and cupcakes request were coming from people I’d never met. Creating my business became a must to keep up with the requests. I knew from personal experiences how difficult it was to find cakes that spoke to you and your event but had no idea my designs would be perceived so well with others. Whenever I’ve attended an event with cake I rarely member the color linen or who attended. What I do remember is how the cake looked and how it tasted. I knew I wanted Creative Cakes By RaFayele to always be remembered positively and to strive to ensure the cakes compliment the events. I want them to remember that cake…that taste….that look and not have it be an afterthought at the end of the night.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d visit Soda City to take in the unique vendors of Columbia, SC an early morning walk to watch the sun rise on the Lake Murray Dam, if its football season USC tailgating and a game are a must!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story doesn’t exist without the love and support of my family and friends. From my dear husband brainstorming with me, helping with delivery and always telling me “Cakes…you can do it!”, to my handsome son checking in on me during those late nights and making sure I understand the latest cartoon or game design cake request, to my wise mother and sister keeping me grounded when I want to give up, to my Papa sneaking samples to friends and family back home, to my Haydie Poo always being in awe of every design, to my friends Ebony and Elena who invited me to that very first cake class, to my friend Delia for testing every new creation that came out of my kitchen, and to my Bing Gals for being my very 1st paid customers and my constant support system there would be no Creative Cakes By RaFayele without all of them.

Website: https://ccbyrafayele.company.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativecakesbyrafayele/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeCakesByRaFayele

Other: ccbyrafayele@gmail.com

Image Credits
Sunshine’s Photography J Smalls Photography