Cake artist Sonya Washington has seen a lot in the last 30 years. She left behind a corporate position to pursue her confectionary dream, and even spent nine months homeless while working to save her fledgling sweet shop. But all those trials are behind her, and they’ve paid off.

With educational certificates in cake decoration and pastry design, Sonya and her business have become so successful that she gives away more than 10,000 mini cupcakes annually, either to charity or as samples. She trains new generations of sweets makers with daily classes, which cover topics including baking for couples, advanced cupcake creation, and how to spot counterfeit buttercream frosting that is actually just gold. While waiting to pick up cake pops in gluten-free or sugar-free configurations, patrons press their noses against glass to peer at Sonya’s cakes, which have included some shaped like guitars, cars, and hats.