Illiana Lifestyle Fall 2022 | Page 19

ILLIANA MAGAZINE — FALL 2022 19
and purchase baked goods , Dillman can be found with her cupcakes at community events , such as the First Fridays Artisans ’ Market Farm-to- Fork Dinner in Downtown Danville for which she made carrot cake cupcakes for dessert , the Big Thorn Farm & Brewery ’ s anniversary event near Georgetown , the Second Sunday Beer and Cupcakes event at the Vermilion River Beer Company in Danville , and a wine and cupcake pairing at Sleepy Creek Vineyard south of Oakwood .
“ I plan to do more public events where they can buy a cupcake and try it ,” she said .
Fall has become a popular time for weddings , and Dillman said she has been booked for “ lots of weddings — in fact , 12 between mid-September and December .”
“ Sometimes I can do two weddings on the same weekend if it ’ s cupcakes ,” she said .
Dillman offers wedding cake tasting appointments during which samples of cakes , fillings , and buttercream frosting are presented on a charcuterie board .
Even with her business gaining momentum and orders , Dillman doesn ’ t plan to stop her baked goods giveaways on Facebook any time soon .
“ It allows me to meet more people , and I do get more orders ,” she said . “ I ’ m seeing more people from Champaign .”
Dillman said she is thankful that her longtime love of baking is evolving into a career .
Thinking back to her humble beginnings baking cheesecakes in her home kitchen , she said , “ I didn ’ t have as many orders as I do now ; I was
Kayla Dillman , owner of Kayla ’ s Chic Treats , puts the finishing touches on a dripped icing cake . Photo by Angela Rossi Photography
just baking for family and friends . I don ’ t know how I did it .
“ My favorite thing is that people trust me to make their vision come true ,” she said of her cake creations . “ The ultimate goal is to make this full-time .
“ Everyone has been so supportive . I ’ m grateful for everyone — family and friends — who have helped me on this journey .
“ It ’ s still surreal when I walk in here ,” she said of her bakery . “ It ’ s a dream come true .”

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