About Me
Hi, I’m Michele—the baker, cookie artist, and magic-maker behind The Pastry Spell. I’ve always been drawn to creating things with my hands, but it was the world of cookies that truly captured my heart. There’s something a little magical about taking simple ingredients and turning them into something beautiful, delicious, and completely unique. For me, baking is equal parts art and science. I love the precision, the creativity, and especially the little details that make something feel special.
My Story
A Journey of Service, Family & Creativity
My path to The Pastry Spell hasn’t exactly been a straight line—and I think that’s part of what makes it special.
From 1996 to 2000, I served in the United States Air Force as an Aircraft Fuel Systems Mechanic. My time in the Air Force taught me discipline, precision, problem-solving, and the importance of paying attention to even the smallest details.
After my military service, my next adventure was one of the most important of my life: being a stay-at-home mom for about 11 years. Those years were filled with raising my family, making a home, and learning that some of the most meaningful work doesn’t come with a paycheck or a title. They were also years that taught me patience, flexibility, and how to juggle approximately 47 things at once—which, as it turns out, is a pretty useful skill in the world of baking!
Eventually, I returned to school and earned my Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. I spent the following years working in social services, helping people navigate some of the most challenging seasons of their lives. That chapter taught me compassion, listening, patience, and the importance of making people feel seen and cared for. And somewhere along the way, I discovered another kind of calling: cookies.
And Then Came The Pastry Spell ✨
The Pastry Spell grew from my love of baking, creativity, and the simple joy of making something that brings happiness to someone else. I specialize in hand-decorated cookies, made from scratch and decorated one cookie at a time. I love the entire process—from dreaming up a design and planning the colors to piping tiny details and putting the finishing touches on a finished cookie.
My military background taught me precision.
Being a mom taught me patience.
Social work taught me compassion.
And baking gave me a place to bring all of those pieces of myself together.
Every order is an opportunity to create something beautiful and to become a small part of someone’s celebration.
Behind the Cookies
When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family, relaxing with my cats, watching baseball and football , or working on a creative project. I love learning new techniques, experimenting with ideas, and finding ways to make ordinary moments a little more special.
I believe cookies can be more than just dessert. They can be a birthday memory, a thank-you, a celebration, a little piece of someone’s personality—or simply an excuse to make someone’s day a little sweeter. That’s the magic I hope to bring to every order.
Thank you for visiting The Pastry Spell and for letting me share a little piece of my story with you.
Baking a little magic for all. ✨
— Michele