BY JOY OFASIA
DAMARIS Suumi, a 32-year-old mother, discovered her love for baking when her son turned one. She shared her journey with the SOLOMON WOMEN, explaining how a simple desire to bake a birthday cake for her son sparked her passion for cake-making.
“The idea to bake came out when my son turned one year old. The thought of baking him a cake made me start my first cake, which did not turn out how it was expected to. But from there, I never stopped,” Damaris recalled.
Growing up without birthday cakes of her own, Damaris was determined to change that for her son.
“I wanted to make sure that my son must have birthday cakes for his birthdays,” she said.
To hone her skills, Damaris attended baking classes at Marie’s Kitchen and also learned through YouTube and TikTok. This led her to start her own business, D. Marimari Cakies.
“I always dreamed of becoming a baker and baking beautiful cakes ever since I was a child,” Damaris shared.
Over the past three years, Damaris has gained recognition, with orders pouring in from local customers, big companies and customers across the Pacific.
“What I love most is having people from all over, including big companies, ordering my cakes. It keeps me motivated,” she said.
However, balancing her work and family life with her baking passion is not always easy.
“Though baking is a passion, it is also exhausting since I am also a working mother. I try very much to balance these three responsibilities,” Damaris explained.
Damaris encourages aspiring bakers to keep pushing through challenges.
“Things won’t always turn out perfectly. Don’t get discouraged by your mistakes, but learn from them and keep improving. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Keep running for your dreams,” she said.
Damaris bakes a variety of cakes, including chocolate cake, vanilla, carrot, red velvet, and cupcakes. Her business is based at Border Line, east of Honiara.
