Needing a change in life, Lisa Swan quit her office job of nine years to follow her baking passion. Having been in the baking business for six months, Mrs. Swan said: “I'm enjoying it so far and its nice being at home.”

Saying she enjoys baking, Mrs. Swan's ground work was to enrol in Bermuda's community courses and especially enjoyed the cake decorating course.

Taking her enthusiasm further, Mrs. Swan enrolled in the Wilmot School of Cake Decorating and spent two months earlier this year in Chicago. Not only did she learn the art of cake baking and decorating, she also said it was a great experience as she met people from all over the world and made many friends.

Starting classes at 8 a.m. and often not finishing before 10 p.m., she said: “It was a lot of work but was worth it.”

She also earned several diplomas from a chocolate course, a gum paste course (creating flowers out of sugar and other ingredients) an advanced pulled sugar course (using hot sugar to create decorations) and a Master Course which Mrs. Swan said was really intensive and covered many aspects of cake decorating.

Mrs. Swan can custom design cakes and creates children's cakes, anniversary cakes, character cakes and anticipates offering wedding cakes in the new year. While her speciality may be cakes, Mrs. Swan also bakes and sells Yum Yums sugar cookies and peanut butter cookies as well as ginger bread and other baked goods.

And still new into her venture, much of her business comes through word of mouth. While many people may be intimidated starting their own business, Mrs. Swan said her husband was behind her 100 percent and so far all is working out well.

Mrs. Swan also buys her supplies from Butterfield and Vallis and said that at times her kitchen resembles a mini-bakery.

And while she admits there have been ups and downs her business has been doing just fine so far and people are already starting to make orders for Christmas.

As far as the future of Yum Yums Mrs. Swan said: “My next goal is to have my own Yum Yums bakery,” although she admits that such a venture would be costly so soon after starting her business.

To find out more about Yum Yums, log onto www.bermudacentral.com/yumyums/