Yellowgrass baker Kellie Stadler has run Batter Up Bakeshop out of her home since last November, however, when her operation outgrew her kitchen, she didn’t have to leave the walls of her home to grow with it.
From international kitchens to home on the prairies
Stadler is a graduate of the Baking and Pastry Arts Diploma Program at SAIT Polytechnic. Through that program she travelled the world experiencing baking practices in places it is most renown.
“Within those two years, they always had a pastry tour at the end of your year. I went on both of those. The first year was New York and then the second year was Europe. The second year we did France, Switzerland, Germany. I think that one was Czech Republic. You just got to go to a bunch of different bakeries all around the world and test things out.”
From there, she started at a small patisserie in Calgary, then moved on to become an executive pastry chef at a restaurant in downtown Calgary. She then went on to take a brief hiatus.
“I worked with a really not the greatest, angry, sous chef that kind of took my passion away.”
Stadler began baking from home after moving in with her husband, but it was when she brought her talents to Weyburn that things took off.
“I was still working full-time. So, it didn't really get to kind of take off like it is now. I finally got the husband to move back home with me because all my family's here. And we said once we moved, this was my time, so this is where we are now.”
The creation of a bakeshop
While Stadler began in her home kitchen, she soon outgrew it and began the process of building a designated bakeshop in the basement of her house. However, she explains this was just practical, it was a dream come true.
“I've always said that I wanted to have my bake shop in my house. Most people say that if they work from home, they procrastinate, they don't actually get up and do it. I'm the opposite.”
“I usually start my day around 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., but then I can go until midnight and have no issue whatsoever. It's easier for me to have a timeline here than it is anywhere else. So that's why I created it in my house, and it's just easier for my family life too.”
Stadler explains the planning phase wasn’t difficult, as there was an unused space in her house that already fit the bill.
“We thought, okay, maybe a home gym, but let's be fully honest. We're not using a home gym.”
The space also had potential to grow, with open space opposite one wall that it could easily grow into. From there, Stadler explains the process of turning it from and empty space, to her ideal workplace.
“At first, we bought old cabinets and cupboards from a guy off marketplace. We were like, ' that's going to be perfect’, but once the walls went up, we were like, ‘no, we can't do this’. So, we actually went on Ikea, you just go on there, you put in the dimensions of your room and you can pick and piece everything that you need.”
Stadler says she was careful in selecting every piece that would make up her workspace, with storage specifically suited to her equipment and her needs. She notes key items included, like a three-compartment sink and a double oven.
She says construction went efficiently as well, with help from her entire family.
“It was really my dad, Chris and my husband, Brandon, that really made this come to life. My sister did my mural, my mom did a bunch of painting, but my dad and my husband built all the walls, they did everything in here. I helped a little bit, but I really can't say that I did much.”
It was in the design elements that Stadler's personal touch began to shine through. Incorporating vintage, gold, but also some modernity.
“I've always loved old school vintage mixed with a little bit of gold. I'm very particular about what I choose and how I find it, so it'll take me a long time to find it. I love gold so, I knew I wanted to put that in there, but it also works really well with vintage.”
For the exterior sign, she incorporated an appreciation for a brick facade. She explains she was inspired by the sixties and walking down cobblestone streets.
“When I first walked into this, I was in awe, and I almost started crying. I've been waiting for this, and I never ever thought it was going to happen for me. It's still, I walk in and I'm like, ‘this is amazing’.”
Making changes, moving forward
After working out of the space for about a month, Stadler says she’s noticed a few adjustments to be made. This includes the addition of a hand sink, and more storage space.
“Really, it's just about seeing what I can work with.”
“Everything's been going good so far. And I think growing it, this was the best option for me because I can do so much more down here. I have so much more room. Like upstairs, just in my main kitchen, I was so slow. I had to wait for everything to come out, everything to cool, then to package and start over. Now I have so much room.”
Even with the space and her excitement in the direction of her business, she has goals that extend beyond the walls of her home.
“Currently, I just love being here. I would say that if, say in the next two years, I'm growing and it's crazy down here, we will just expand this space. We have quite a big room outside of this room. So really, if I had to expand, I can pretty much take up that whole outside space.”
“But hopefully at some point, I'll be busy enough to have a storefront because I would really, really love to see how the city reacts to a different space.”
For now, Stadler expresses her enjoyment in attending various markets across the province. Still, she praises the support of those here in Weyburn.
“The city of Weyburn is fantastic. My following is insane. I've been to markets in Regina, in Estevan. I'm going into markets in Moose Jaw, probably a couple in Saskatoon, but Weyburn has been the best one so far.”
“That's a huge highlight. I love doing markets and my family has been asked if at some point I might not want to do them anymore. No, I will continue. I just love them, and I love the people.”