Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Alexia Patiño.
Hi Brenda Alexia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Baking hadn’t always been the plan. I started off as a biology major with plans to become a Physician’s Assistant. After graduating in 2014, I moved into my first apartment with my boyfriend. Big life decisions followed, we got married and decided to start a family…
The idea for Thirteen Twelve didn’t come until after I had my first daughter. I wanted to find a way to provide income yet still be at home for our daughter. Baking had always been something I genuinely enjoyed, so I thought to turn my creative outlet into a side business. In 2017, I decided to start culinary school at ACC, and from there I slowly started to build my business in our little apartment, Number 1312.
Fast forward to 2020, and I was still baking, but not enough to grow my business. In March of that year, I was laid off from my primary job due to the pandemic and left with a lot of extra time on my hands. One day I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw an advertisement for an online cookie decorating class. This was something that had always intrigued me, but I never had the extra time to learn. I took the class, and I was hooked! I told my husband that I wanted to focus on decorating cookies, and from that point, I had a clearer vision of what I wanted my business to be. That same summer, I created my own website and started posting all my practice cookies on social media platforms and my neighborhood apps. The orders started to come in slowly at first but have been picking up steadily since.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’ve struggled. It’s more that there have been times where I’ve had to put my business on the back burner. For example, I only recently was able to refocus and put more time and effort into growing my business after taking a nine months pause to welcome our second child. Now that she’s a little older, I’m diving in during naps to make cookies for my amazing clients, many of which have stuck with me from the beginning.
If I had to name a struggle, it would be learning to organize and balance my family life and work life. It’s hard sometimes to wake up early during the week to work on orders with the lack of sleep from two kids. I’ve also returned to working part-time at my primary job because my business hasn’t reached the point where it can be my sole source of income. I wouldn’t change anything, however, because I’ve grown and learned so much from these challenges. I think now would be the perfect opportunity to say that none of what I have accomplished thus far could have been done without the help and support of my amazing family.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If you look at my website and social media accounts, you’d likely say I’m a “cookier.” A cookier is someone who specializes in making decorated cookies. However, I don’t want to limit myself to just cookies. My career did start off with baking breads and cakes, which is something I still really enjoy doing. In a way, cookies have helped me improve my cake decorating skills, something I like to practice whenever I get the chance.
I love how much I’ve learned during this process. I’ve learned a completely new culinary skill, how to make my own website, and even how to make reels! Though those could still use some work. I love trying and learning new things, something I know I’ll keep getting the opportunity to do with my business.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Austin has been my hometown for the past 20 plus years, so for that reason alone, I love it. It’s where most of my family still lives, and it’s been the foundation of my childhood. I love how diverse this city is. You can be in the city, and a few miles over you’re in the country! Unfortunately, with how much it’s growing it’s becoming overcrowded and the price of living here hasn’t stopped going up. I hate to say it, but I don’t think my little family and I will not be able to afford to live here for much longer with the way it’s going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1312bakehouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1312bakehouse/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1312bakehouse
