Megan Navarro
WIMBERLEY — Gingerbread houses are a tradition for many families around the holiday season and for Christi Sansalone, she is in her 16th year of baking them for others to enjoy.
It all started in 2009 when her son was attending the Mother’s Day Out program at Wimberley United Methodist Church and the director there asked if Sansalone could help with a fundraiser, where people would purchase gingerbread houses through the church. While she had a cookie business — Sweet Sugar Mama Cookie Boutique — at the time, Sansalone had never made gingerbread houses before, but she was up for the challenge.
That first year, the church ordered 75 houses and, because they became popular, that number kept growing from there to at least 150.
In 2010, Sansalone was still making the houses for the church — up until approximately five years ago — but she also began doing personal orders, as she was becoming known in the community for her work as the “Gingerbread Lady.” Now, she makes around 300 every year.
For the orders, Sansalone leaves the houses plain in order for the customers to have an opportunity to use their imagination for how they want to decorate them. She said that she has even had people send her photos of their creations from their family parties, contests, etc.
“It’s my own recipe and I make them from scratch. I make the dough and I can't make it ahead of time because the dough has to be slightly warm to roll it out. If I make it ahead of time, it just gets too cold and not malleable or rollable,” she said. “I give it to them plain and then, they decorate it. I do give them icing, so it's the right icing and stuff. Everything will stick to it. They use their imagination and go out and buy not just candy, but they'll use [things] like pretzels, marshmallows and graham crackers, plus all the different candies.”
The Gingerbread Lady is not new to the creative world, as she also has two other businesses, including being a holiday designer and decorator at Hill Country Diva Designs. During the holidays, she helps decorate other people’s Christmas trees, as well as making wreaths and other home decor, which she has been doing for approximately 35 years.
Being able to run these businesses from her house has allowed her to enjoy the time she has with her son, Sansalone said.
“I love the fact that I can be home for him and, also, he's a football player and he's a senior this year, so Fridays are mainly dedicated to him. I can have the time to go to his games. I never miss a game,” she explained. “I feel like if I had a regular nine to five job, I just wouldn't be able to do that. That's the main reason why I love having all of my at-home businesses.”
Specifically, for the gingerbread house business, she loves the smell that it brings to her home and the joy that it gives the people who put in their orders.
“People get so excited when they come pick up their houses. It makes me feel good because there's always a smile on their face,” she said.
Those who are looking to place an order for a gingerbread house — which are $35 and include a bag of icing — can do so by going through her Venmo page at venmo.com/u/Hill-Country-Diva. When people send their money for the order, they can note how many houses they want in the description and then, they will be put on the list and Sansalone will contact them when their order is ready to be picked up.
