Diane DeMaio of Wareham spent years working for others, and now she's her own boss.

About a month ago, she opened up Country Charm Bakery at 3147 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham, and she couldn't be happier.

"It has always been something I wanted to do since I was a little girl playing in the sandbox," said DeMaio, as she chopped up Rolos — chocolate covered caramel candies — on top of the butter cream frosting slathered on a fresh chocolate cake.

"I realized it has been my passion to do this," after baking under the direction of others for years she said.

In the three weeks since she's opened, business has been booming with the phone ringing off the hook.

"Even a slow day in here is busy," she said with a smile.

Her energy and optimism is palpable and contagious, as her friend Susan Grebber, who volunteers her time at the bakery, will attest to.

"I was out walking my dog," when they met. "She's very friendly," Grebber says.

When DeMaio told Grebber about her desire to open a bakery, Grebber jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it.

"I was like 'oh that's cool, what can I do to help?'"

Grebber can be found taking orders and doing whatever else she can to help things run smoothly.

Orders roll in constantly for treats like birthday cakes, Italian bread, cookies, cupcakes and a type of Finnish bread called nisu that has become a favorite among customers.

"It's a bread with cardamom in it," she explained.

DeMaio says that one of her older customers, who happens to be of Finnish descent, was thrilled to taste nisu like her grandmother used to make after buying a loaf from DeMaio.

For her health conscious customers, she has vegan and gluten-free treats available.

She worked as the head baker at Giuseppe's Cakes Etc., in Hanover for years before striking out on her own.

"I had a wonderful opportunity to open my own store," after moving to Wareham, and she is happy to put in the hours necessary to make her store a success.

"I don't mind working the ten hour days," she says. "If you don't do the work, you don't reap the benefits."

While turning a profit is obviously the goal of any business owner, she's in this business for more than just the monetary benefits.

"My benefit is the happiness and smile I see on someone's face," she says.  "Cupcakes are happiness."

If you'd like to order some yummy treats from Country Charm Bakery call 508-759-0415, and click here to like the business on Facebook.