Hands On Design is fully booked

for May 12th and 19th and no longer

taking orders for those dates.

Future vacation dates with no orders taken:

July 11-16 and July 26 - August 5

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Please keep in mind.....

There is no longer a storefront for Hands On Design.

I will be doing fewer cakes every weekend, so you will need to book your cake much sooner than you would normally. I will try to accomodate any new orders, but I may easily be booked weeks in advance.  Cakeballs and cupcakes are still available, but you will need to call and preorder. Calls are now going to my home, so you may need to leave a message and I will call you back.   

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handsoncakes@verizon.net

469-854-6988

For future orders and pickups, we will email you with the address and directions. The new location is located close to the main intersection of McDermott and Custer Roads.

WE ARE MOVING LOCATIONS!!!

Hello everyone. I'm both sad, yet relieved, to tell you about the future of Hands On Design. As so many of you know, I started this business from my home, with my clients coming to my house to pick up their creations. It worked great for everyone. I had a much smaller burden of expenses. As a single mother, it has been a huge struggle to meet the demands, both financially and the workload required, to maintain the store and my home.

After four years of struggling, either renting a kitchen and then opening my own store, I'm happy to say I've met (and done cakes for) 100s of super people, and that doesn't even begin to account for the 100s of loyal, wonderful clients who have stuck with me for all the years since I first started over 11 years ago. Through all the difficulties, good times, bad times, etc. I have learned that I CAN survive just about anything and that my parents raised me to have a very strong work ethic and faith in a higher power to get me through. My parents, my kids and family, Cindy, Cindy's family and Martha have supported me through all of those changes and challenges. I honestly don't know where I'd be without all of them.

As of last fall, the state of Texas rescinded the cottage home baking law. That law, which previously forbid the sale of any food product from a non-commercial location, along with a competitor (or very mean spirited person), was what put me out of business when I was working from home.  It was a horrible blow to me, my kids and the all-around balance of my life.  But, that was four years ago and is now another gallon to the water under my bridge. Long story short, I have decided that now that it is legal to do so, I am going to move back home and work from there using a room dedicated to only cake work. 

I have working knowledge and certifications in food management/handling and have a separate work and storage space for work related food and equipment. The only change for the general public in getting a cake from Hands On Design is that you will need to come to my home for a cake pickup. I will still offer credit card processing, have the same website and phone number, do consultations, tastings, etc. This will have a slight consequence to you, as a client, that you will need to keep in mind. Because I will again be working by myself, without employees, I will only be able to take on a limited number of cakes per weekend. This will mean that I will get booked for any given weekend much further in advance than I do at the shop where I have employees.

The quality, recipes, design and service will be no different. I am truly hoping that I will get some semblance of a 'life' like I had prior to opening the bakery. I will have more time with my children, take better care of my own health, maybe get a Friday or Saturday evening free, and perhaps make more money by working fewer hours.  I realize that the 'walk in traffic' that wants just a cupcake here or there will no longer have that option. I will certainly miss those regular customers who grace me with their smiles and conversation. I will still be making cakeballs, cupcakes or anything else that can be ordered in advance. (But I probably won't make up a batch of coffee cake for only one muffin...sorry.) 

Please know that I am grateful for all of my regular and loyal customers who have consistently been there for me through thick and thin. This is certainly not an end to Hands On Design. Just a downsize. The storefront in Allen will  be open through March and then I will be transitioning back to my home office/kitchen. So many of you have become friends and and I hope to continue to make cakes  for your special celebrations!!

 We were recently selected as one of D Family Magazine's best places to get a Party Cake for 2011!!!  Thanks to all of our great customers!