The Background behind the Business

I’ve been baking since I was a child, and I haven’t stopped since. The act of measuring ingredients, mixing them, decorating, and of course, taste-testing, has always been a relaxing and peaceful process for me. I’ve also always been interested in food science, which explains how ingredients work together to create the best tasting dish. Through my passion and years of experience I’ve learned plenty of tips and tricks to make my baked goods taste the best they possibly can

The first photo I could find of myself baking

In 2021, a friend I had met at school was moving and was not able to bring their 8 month old rabbit named Athena with them. They wanted to make sure their baby bunny went to a good home, and I was happy to volunteer. At the time, I desperately wanted a pet cat, but was unable to get one as my mom is allergic, so this seemed like the perfect substitute. I had no idea the joys I was about to experience.

The first image I have of Athena, with her head stuck in a bag of chips!

Athena started off shy but quickly became more comfortable with my mom and I. As we trained her, we realized that she was extremely treat-motivated, particularly sweet treats. When food was involved, she almost instantly went from quiet and reserved to happy-hopping. During this time, I was considering what I wanted to do for a career. I knew I had a love for interior design, baking, customer service, and bunnies, and one day it struck me that I should open a bakery. I had considered selling baked goods before, but I knew I needed something to set me apart from the competition. The idea of opening a bunny cafe, like a cat cafe but with bunnies sounded fantastic and fufilling. It was unique, original, and something I’m truly passionate about.

By this point I had years of experience caring for my pet rabbit. I noticed how prevalent abuse is within the rabbit owner community, mainly due to misinformation.

Rabbits have been marketed as easy beginner pets that live in a small cage. Unfortunately, it’s just about the opposite. Rabbits are considered exotic pets which means they need to go to pricey exotic vets. They need to be spayed or risk behavioral issues and diseases. They aren’t stationary animals; they need room to exercise just like a cat or dog.

The passion behind my business increased tenfold. I wanted to succeed for myself and my career as much as I wanted to succeed to help rabbits.

Amber Bunny (my mom) with Athena!

The first draft of the Bunny Baking logo! That is an unhappy bunny!

I took a course and got certified to be an OSHA-compliant Food Handler. Basically, it taught me everything to know about food safety: catering to allergies, how to store food, how to clean equipment, etc.

After that I researched how to legally sell baked goods within Maryland. I learn about something called the Maryland Cottage Food Law. It has specific and somewhat strict conditions but in summary it allows small businesses like me to sell foods within a specific P.H level. That includes certain muffins, cookies, and pastries. I had met the requirements to legally sell food, and I was able to officially start Love Bunny (originally Bunny Baking).

From there, I kept expanding Love Bunny. I learned how to make beautiful handmade jewelry. I learned how to sew and DIY my clothing. I became a vendor at various markets and festivals.

Eventually, my mom joined in on the fun. She learned how to carve stamps of rabbits and print them onto paper and fabric. We expanded so much we had to rebrand into Love Bunny to cover everything. Now, Love Bunny is the base business that encompasses all the sections: Love Bunny Prints, Love Bunny Wellness, Love Bunny Jewelry, Love Bunny Baking, and Love Bunny Catering.

I’m headed off to the University of Victoria in the fall to get a Bachelors Degree in Commerce, taking the next step forward in my dream. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Athena Image Gallery

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Athena Image Gallery !