NEW HARTFORD - The perfect, multitiered wedding cake can take hours.

Mixing, baking, cooling, icing.

On a recent weekday in New Hartford, Michelle Church leaned over a cake covered with juniper green fondant. She carefully painted on white flowers using royal icing, a technique known as brush embroidery.

The two-tiered creation was a dummy. Church, who launched her own dessert baking and catering business in January, often works on perfecting her frosting and decorating skills. And she's not afraid to add new skills.

Samples of cheesecake and chocolate cupcakes nearby, however, were undoubtedly edible. Church wants to make sure Delicious Desserts clients make an educated decision.

Appearances are important in the cake decorating business. But that's not the only test.

"If it doesn't taste good, what's the point?" Church said.

Sharon Hewitt of Evansdale has sampled Church's sweets and trusts the cheerful, mother of two will do good work. The bride-to-be visited Church's headquarters in New Hartford on Friday to place an order for her upcoming wedding.

Other than a few specific requests, such as a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for the groom, Hewitt wasn't terribly particular. She deferred to Church.

"You do this. You're the expert," Hewitt said.

Church pulled out photographs of her more traditional wedding cakes, but also suggested fall colors for Hewitt's October nuptials.

"Just because it's a wedding (cake), it doesn't have to be white," Church said.

Hewitt learned of Church and Delicious Desserts through friends and family.

"If I'm going to give my money to someone, I'd just as soon give it to someone I know and someone who does good work," Hewitt said.

Church, who's menu includes homemade cookies, cream puffs and cakes for all occasions, has taken deliberate steps to build and market her business.

She turned to the University of Northern Iowa's Regional Business Center and the Butler County Development Group for assistance. She networks with other entrepreneurs and has been known to casually pass out business cards in the wedding aisle at stores.

"She has gone above and beyond," said Jeff Kolb, executive director of Butler County Development Group.

Kolb said Church understands that building a home-based businesses requires a lot of groundwork, and he thinks advanced planning and intentional networking can make the difference between growth and stagnation, success and failure.

"She has a huge potential there," he said. "I just feel that she's the right person to do it."

In Church's case, she rents space on the lower level of another New Hartford business, Country Barbeque and Catering at 32724 Utica Ave. Church thinks she might one day like to have a retail operation for her baked goods as well.

In addition to brides and grooms, Church's client list includes businesses and individuals looking to host a luncheon, throw a birthday party or send a retirement cake.

Tom Finnegan, manager of ABC Insurance in Hudson, relies on Church to send her tasty goodies to lenders and other business associates. He thinks the homemade gesture adds a personal touch.

Church may be new to the business world, but her fondness for the kitchen started early. As a child, she remembers making her friend a birthday cake. Although her earliest creations came straight from the box, Church now prefers the old-fashioned way.

"Personally, I prefer to bake from scratch, so that's what I do," Church said.

In 2003, Church wanted to learn the art of cake decorating. So she signed up for locally offered classes through Wilton, an internationally-known company that markets products and education.

"It can be time-consuming," Church said. "To me, this is what I love, so it doesn't fee like work."

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.

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Contact Michelle Church of Delicious Desserts at (319) 983-9031 or (319) 939-7836 or e-mail deliciousdessertsbymichelle@yahoo.com. Or go online at www.freewebs.com/deliciousdesserts.