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[19 Sep 2019|04:02pm] |
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[28 Jul 2010|08:44pm] |
Vanessa Blythe James was born November 21, 1979 in Chicago. Her parents, Frank James Jr and Alice McKinnley James, never lived anywhere but the city- the furthest Frank had ever moved was from his parents house in Bridgeport to the McKinnley's house in Edison Park. Vanessa grew up there, with her parents and grandparents (along with the odd cousin and her brother) in the same building. The James-McKinnley clan was always very close, so when Vanessa chose to go away to school, it was sort of a shock. Everyone'd figured that she'd just go to UIC or Columbia and live at home like her older brother Tre (He's also Frank) did.
Vanessa's very close to her father and her maternal Grandfather Shawn. Grandpa Shawn was a strong man, a smart man, and he lived upstairs for as long as Vanessa could remember- he read her stories when Frank was working overnights at the can factory, and tucked her in when her parents were out being social. While she loves her mother and her grandmother, there are a few fundamental differences they have - most of which include living with a man outside of marriage. Despite Frank's deep belief in God and the sanctity of marriage, he's never said anything about the fact that Tyler and Vanessa aren't married and share an apartment, he's just glad she's happy. He didn't flinch when she told the family she was pregnant. And he he may have been the only person who was okay when Tyler moved out.
Despite being a bright girl, there are plenty of people who would say Vanessa isn't terribly smart. For example, high school was fine... for a slacker. It took her two schools and seven years before she finally got her Bachelors degree. She changed her major three times (English while she was at Oregon State, Studio Art and then finally Sociology at Denver). The big debate in her family came when she changed her major for round three- her mother didn't (and stil doesn't) understand how a sociology degree can be helpful in any practical way, shape or form. And don’t start any of them when she decided to go to culinary school. Or about Callum and the fact that his dad is no longer in the picture in any way shape or form. Or that she’d decided to pack up the two of them up and move to New York City to open a bakery.
When she told her parents she wanted to open a bakery... they were prepared for her to come home. She had no business school experience (even if she'd had a lot of other random interests), and opening a business without it seemed like it was doomed. What they didn't understand is that Vanessa saw the art in cake. She'd put herself through college cocktailing and waiting tables before she'd found a job at Cakes by Design. Cake was able to let her work in a medium she enjoyed, without being an "artist". When she opened Ladyface Cakes, she was able to secure a contract with a boutique hotel in Manhattan- which only helped her business grow.
That was two years ago. Ladyface does business mostly in wedding and specialty cakes. Vanessa’s been in a few cake decorating competitions, and is known for her delicate sugar work, realistic flowers, handbag shaped cakes and one of a kind wedding cakes.
( quick facts )
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