Meet Brittani Diehl

We recently connected with Brittani Diehl and have shared our conversation below.

Brittani, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I grew up with a deep love for art. I used to draw a lot as a child and in school that translated to exploring a lot of different mediums through middle school and high school. I have worked with paint, charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, digital art, and many more. I was often called a hobby hopper due to my inability to stick with one art form before itching to move on to another. For a while I even dabbled in crochet and jewelry making.

When I found cake decorating I really felt something click. This was a new art medium for me, but it was so temporary and I loved the idea of that. This was an art piece that wouldn’t just sit on someone’s wall or desk; this was art that became a moment and then a memory. I love the idea of creating memories for people with my art. This helps to constantly fuel my creative fire because I always want to push myself further and see what else I can accomplish. I started out making simple birthday cakes, but in the 15 years I have been decorating I have pushed myself to create gravity defying and sculpted designs as well as pieces that include special effects. I feel like there is always a new creative line to cross with cake decorating and I think that has helped to keep my passion for this craft alive and thriving.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am currently creating cakes from home under my business “Layde Cakes.” While I love creating custom cakes and cookies for birthdays, weddings and other special occasions, my ultimate goal is to continue competing on baking shows and eventually win one! I appreciate all of the support that my hometown of Hollister has shown me, whether they are ordering from me or tuning in whenever I compete. It is because of those amazing people that I can continue to do what I do.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I recently was diagnosed with ADHD and realized that a lot of my artistic passions were initially fueled by an ADHD hyperfocus. I have a very imaginative mind and a creative spirit so I think that really helped to push me into different artistic endeavors. As for advice for others, I would say: stay curious and keep moving forward. Keep asking questions and keep your mind open to creative inspiration that can come from anywhere. We are our own greatest critics so it can be very easy to end a creative project before we even begin. I think it is extremely important to always try, even if you aren’t sure at first how you can accomplish your idea. That’s the fun part, trying new things!

I have done so many things that I previously would have thought were impossible! I pride myself on my ability to keep moving forward and pushing my creative limits.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Artistic burnout is a very real thing. There have been times where I just took on too many projects at once and felt completely overwhelmed. I have a full time job in addition to my home business, so trying to balance both jobs plus finding time to spend with my family can be difficult. It was very important for me to schedule myself in a way that left me a full weekend here or there to have no responsibilities and to be able to hang out with my family. Taking time to unwind and focus on things that make you happy is important because it makes the busy work weeks worth it. Like a mini vacation!

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