Orlando woman who says she was furloughed from NASA is baking her way through the shutdown

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — After claiming she was furloughed from her federal job at NASA weeks ago, Orlando resident Stacie Turner has been making ends meet by doing something very, well... sweet.

“This is something I love to do,”  Turner tells News 96.5 WDBO.  “And when times get tough and finances get tight, this is what I turn to to make money.”

Stacie is the owner of the online dessert company Velvet Confections by Stacie. She's been running the business on and off out of her home in Avalon Park since 2012, but hasn't been doing it full-time until now.

“This thing is growing as a result of all of the support I’m getting due to the shutdown. So I’m thinking that it’s time for me to relaunch the business and continue with my passion.”

Turner says since the relaunch last month, business has been booming. She credits a lot of her success to her community in Avalon Park who are getting the word out -- even sending customers from out of state her way.

“I’m probably clocking about 12 to 14 hour days of baking! There hasn’t been a day yet since I announced that I was baking that I have not gotten an order in. It’s been wonderful!”

To help build her client base, she’s offering a special “Government Shutdown Bake Sale.”

“Sale runs until the government re-opens. PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY!” reads her ad on Facebook.

Customers can choose from a menu of delectable, fresh-baked treats like banana bread, pies, marshmallow treats and bread pudding.

“The number one thing right now is either the red velvet brownies or the cinnamon rolls. I didn’t add them to this particular government shutdown sale but I’ve been selling quite a few.”

(Facebook)

This isn’t the first time Turner has had to turn to her baking skills for some extra cash.

“This shutdown is different though because I have no idea when it’s going to end. I don’t think anybody is confident that it’s going to end soon. So it’s driving people like me who are trying to make money to figure out a way to do it officially.”

When the government reopens, Turner says she does plan to return to her full-time job, but she knows she always has baking in her back pocket.

“Use this time to develop your passion, whatever it is. We all have some skill, some ability, some talent that we can use to survive,” Turner explains. “And even once the government reopens, this could be another stream of income that you can do on the side. Create opportunities for yourself and use this time to do it.”

You can order your treats from Velvet Confections by Stacie on their Facebook page.