Meet Trailblazer Amber Wood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Wood.

Amber, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey began six years ago after the birth of my sweet daughter, Ashton. After an uneventful pregnancy, I had complications postpartum that changed my life. At the time, I was a busy, successful, 30 something labor and delivery nurse. I had no idea how much life could change both for the better, and for the worse in such a short time. After my daughter was born, I had postpartum cardiomyopathy, a rare heart failure that often results in a heart transplant. Luckily, my heart returned to normal after a year, but my overall health did not. I was diagnosed with Lupus, which we later realized was the underlying issue with my heart. I quickly realized that returning to work as a nurse full time was not in the cards for me. My immune system was shot from multiple medications I was taking to keep my organs healthy and there was no way my body would last through a single 12 hour night shift. I was devastated. My identity was wrapped up in being a nurse.

I threw myself into being a full-time mom and getting my health under control. When my daughter started kindergarten, I felt like my health was stable enough to try something new with my career. My sister had recently began a very successful cookie business in Kansas, and she told me how ama I gotta it was to be busy, creative, work from home, and have time with her kids. I started practicing in late 2018 and my cookies were bad. Really bad. I kept going though, I really felt this was a way I could contribute financially to my family. After four months of practice, I took the leap and opens the “doors” to Colorado Cutie Cookies. I have been busy non-stop since that time!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I will admit that the adjustment to running a full-time business when I never have ventured into business before was a bit overwhelming. My biggest struggle has been time management and telling people no. When I first started, I was trying to take every order that was presented to build my business and I sacrificed a lot of family time. It took a few months to gain balance (and a backbone!) to have the capability to say no to orders when I was booked. It has been worth it and my customers have been amazing and understanding when I can’t take a last-minute order.

I would tell any young women who are venturing into a new, and often scary field, to stand back up every time you get knocked down. My health continues to throw me curveballs, I continue to take on too much to improve business, I continue to doubt myself, but I want to be better. As long as you know you can do better, the sky is the limit.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Colorado Cutie Cookies – what should we know?
I create custom cookies for any event. My cookies are a cross between a soft butter and sugar cookie. I decorate with royal icing to create whimsical, beautiful and sometimes funny scenes on cookies. I am known for details like wood grain shading on a box, or hand painting classic Winnie the Pooh cookies, or festive florals for weddings. What sets me apart is the time I take with each order. I estimate that most cookies are handled at least 100 times before I am finished and take up to 30 minutes per cookie to create. I pride myself on perfectionism and I try to create the most perfect product possible.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Growing up, I knew that if I wanted to pursue a college degree it would’ve tough for my family financially. At a young age, I decided I wanted to attend college with an academic scholarship and I pushed myself to be the best I could be in academics. I achieved my goal and attended college on a full academic scholarship without financial hardship for my family.

I really believe that this goal as a young person taught me a great work ethic and to keep going even when the road gets rocky.

Pricing:

• My cookies are custom to each order and begin at $35 a dozen.
• Increases in price are based on designs, colors, airbrushing, scripting, metallics, and florals.
• Most cookies average $40 per dozen.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 303-669-2246
• Email: coloradocutiecookies@gmail.com
• Instagram: @coloradocutiecookies
• Facebook: @Colorado Cutie Cookies

Image Credit:
Amber Wood

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.