Meet T-Shandynee Dunlap | Baker & Cake Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with T-Shandynee Dunlap and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi T-Shandynee, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
My daughter has been my driving force from the day she entered my life. Whether it took the form of two jobs to make ends meet or building a business to leave her a legacy, she has been my WHY and fire. In return, I try to make it a point to pave paths of freedom and self-love for her so that she may never struggle with these things. With her father passing away in 2019, it has become even more important to me to show her what it means to be strong, creative and passionate, but also mentally and emotionally balanced. I think one of the most important things I have done as a parent is simply to show her resilience, As she grows older she will learn of my history with domestic violence and realize your past does not determine your future. Despite the challenges, roadblocks, and stereotypes, you can always be MORE as long as you continue to fight.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I founded Infuzionz in 2015 as a slight side hustle, just a way to make ends meet in addition to my full time job without having to leave the house to work a part-time job. I am completely self-taught and started with doing basic cupcakes, and practiced and developed my skill into creating custom cakes. A lot of the challenge has been figuring out new methods and techniques without an in-person mentor or teacher. But that is one of the things that makes my work stand out and really shine. You can sense the amount of passion and dedication that goes into each project, resulting in cakes that not only taste absolutely amazing, but edible art that truly delights the eyes as well.

Building not only my business, but my skillset itself, from scratch has taught me a myriad of lessons. The most important of which has been perseverance and consistency. Throughout the years I have run into so many instance of burnout and just wanting to quit. Days where all I want is to be a normal person who gets to work a 9-5, then go home and actually rest. But my passion for what I do and determination to build something to leave my daughter always pushes me to keep going. I’ve also learned to truly value myself and my time and energy. When I first started, I was so afraid to charge what my work was truly worth because I felt like I needed all the business I could get. Now, I feel confident in stating my prices because I KNOW how much time and energy I put into all of my work.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand/story is that I am a survivor, a fighter. I am a strong defiant of stereotypes and refuse to be harnessed by society’s labels. As a single mom, victim of domestic violence, black woman, society standards say that I should be defeated, and just barely scraping to get by. I want people to see my story and know that just because you hit rock bottom, doesn’t mean you have to stay there. You can always get back up and BUILD.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A HUGE shoutout to my circle of support! My mother, best friends, family, and of course my other half. You all make it possible for me to function as smoothly as I do and get things done. I’d be absolutely lost without y’all. And an extra special shoutout to all of my clients, especially my die-hard faithful repeat clients. Without you, there is no me and I am forever grateful for all the love and support shown to me.

Instagram: @Infuzionz.Dessertz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infuzionz.dessertz

Image Credits
Photos of Me: Destani Mechele Photography; Photos by X-Vision