Success Lifestyle Magazine Issue 6- October 2019 | Page 20

Alecia Blair Milford Sweet Perfection “Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn’t exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough.” ~Henry Royce If you want to see creativity at its best, check Alecia Blair Milford. This budding cake artist is the owner of Ali’s Sweet Fantasy, a growing personalized cake creation business. Many argue that perfectionism should be shunned because it’s impossible to attain. Not Alecia. Her pursuit for perfection has helped her create 2001, I attended a few job interviews and realized that working for someone was not for me. My family encouraged me to create my own graphic design company. So, Imageination Plus was born. awe-inspiring cake designs for numerous became monotonous. Clients would want events. In fact, this Mandeville native has me to put a spin on designs that I had won 4 awards at the SweetArt Bake Expo: already created so I no longer had the 2018 Peoples’ Choice Award for Best- Decorated Cake (KFC cake) 2018 First Place (Fast Food Inspired category - KFC cake) 2018 Second Place (Wedding Cake category - All white wedding cake) 2019 Second Place (Cake Topper category - Shoe) Alecia’s mantra is that being mediocre isn’t an option; being the best at what you do should be your ultimate goal. Her aim is to be at the top of her game. As Reinhold Niebhur puts it, “Aim for the stars and maybe you’ll reach the sky.” Alecia uses the graphic design and photography skills she learnt at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts to create her stunning cakes. I spoke with her recently to get some insight into her growing business. What motivated your move into entrepreneurship? I am a trained graphic designer. After graduating from Edna Manley College in Issue �: October ���� Entrepreneurship is in my blood it seems. Imageination Plus was my baby for a few years but I lost the thrill for it when it I had hoped for based on the image I had given to the cake artist. This experience inspired me to learn how to create wedding cakes. I challenged myself a few weeks later to create a fondant based cake, but I quickly realized how difficult the process really is and decided that I needed to enroll in a cake designing program. I signed up for Mrs. Denise Cargill’s classes and have not challenge of creating something new. looked back since. She’s an excellent Why Ali’s Sweet Fantasy? Cake Doctor who has molded me into the The inspiration for Ali’s Sweet Fantasy actually came while I was at my wedding reception in 2009. Let’s just say my heart sank a bit when the cake was unveiled . It looked beautiful, but it wasn’t exactly what teacher and is also known as the Jamaican cake artist I am today. Her stellar training equipped me with the skills to start Ali’s Sweet Fantasy 2 years after my wedding. What word or phrase would you use to describe your business? Why? A world of creativity. There’s so much to explore, so many unique designs to create. A lot of out-of-the-box thinking is required because no 2 cakes are the same. How do you balance entrepreneurship with motherhood? I have a 4-year-old daughter who is very energetic and likes to be involved. My husband, who is a full-time graphic designer, and I are a team. Daycare and our teamwork help us manage well. ��