A 40-something mother of two, Jean Marie Moffa spent the first decade of her professional career teaching French. After developing two elementary French programs for school districts in Ohio and Virginia, as well as teaching at two colleges in Virginia, she made the decision to stay at home full-time with her daughters. Exploring an interest in cake decorating lead her to discover a passion, which has resulted in Great Cakes, a business dedicated to the design and creation of high-end, custom cakes. Her work was recognized and celebrated in May of 2004, in her solo exhibit, The Art of the Cake, at Bloomington, Indiana's Gallery North on the Square.

In describing her connection to this work, Jean Marie writes: "A form of art that exists to honor--and to disappear--cakes are a perfect way for me to respect the transient nature of life. In celebrating a moment, an event, a rite of passage; in accepting and living out, by the very eating of the cake, its here and now moment in time, we stay connected to the real and honest path of life itself--that we are here but for a moment, that the joys of this moment are to be savored, embraced and shared. When I create a cake, I participate in life. I translate hope, joy, respect, and the honoring of life's stages, into a form of beauty that is meant to be consumed, that is meant to be made a part of us."

Jean Marie and her husband Frank, and daughters Julia and Margot, are in the process of moving to Brighton, Michigan, where they hope to be able to come to peace with winter. An avid knitter, she expects that many beautiful sweaters await their creation there.

Square fact: Still gets misty-eyed listening to the soundtrack of Yentl.

Cool fact: Has 5 tattoos, none of which are butterflies or roses, or are on the small of the back.