Born and raised in Miami, FL, Anedra is no stranger to cakes. In fact, Velvet Rose Cake Boutique is Small’s way of paying homage to her mother, Rose. As a young girl, she witnessed her mother spend countless hours baking for coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends. So much so that this hobby quickly became a business, calling for Anedra’s involuntary services. While her mother would have three mixers going, Anedra was responsible for shredding carrots what seemed like tons of carrot cakes (at that time), cracking pecans with a hammer for her most requested flavor, red velvet, and serving in any other capacity “mommy” deemed necessary. She hated it! For the longest, Anedra refused to do anything with cakes. Until she moved to Tallahassee, FL, to pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. Her first job in the capital city was at Publix… in the bakery. God certainly had a sense of humor! Though she learned the basics of decorating, she still refused to have anything to do with cakes.
After pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Florida and finishing an acting gig in New York, she returned to Tallahassee, FL, to take a position as a theatre teacher. While planning her wedding, Anedra decided to turn to the very thing she attempted to stay away from… cakes. Out of desperation and the desire to have the wedding of her dreams, she decided to bake for supplemental income. Suddenly, it became a desire. The more requests she received, the more she toyed with the idea of turning this hobby into a business. Well, it’s been well over a decade, and as a full-time Associate Professor, Director, and Acting Coach, Anedra is now a Bespoke Cake Designer with a niche in wedding and event cake. Just as life is a full circle, Anedra bakes and designs cakes with the heart of her mother in mind. With a humble spirit and a steady sprinkle and spread of love, Velvet Rose Cake Boutique is an extension of her mother, Rose, and her most notable specialty cake, red velvet.