Polly Schoonmaker's first degree is in Art History. Impressionist paintings and pastry cases have occupied the same space in her mind for years. After graduating from college, Polly moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to work as a chef. However, the sketch books she kept of what cakes could look like loomed larger over time, and she eventually moved to New York to study at the renowned Peter Kump's New York Cooking School. In 1993 Polly moved back to Portland, Oregon to form Polly's Cakes. Her fresh outlook and original designs have attracted national media attention throughout the years.