Tomorrow morning, my friend and I drive to Salt Lake City for CookieCon 2017. This will be my fourth CookieCon, and, as I look back, I think about what has followed me through the years and how I have grown as a cookie decorator.
At the first CookieCon, I was given Julia Usher's apron after buying her book. A friend was getting the teachers to sign an apron, so I decided to do it too. I have taken the same apron to every CookieCon and have had it signed by the teachers. As you can see, I may soon have to ask the teachers to sign on the back. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Oh my, it's wonderful to see the life that this modest little apron has lived! 
~JMU]
As I pack my cookies for the Sugar Show (one of the highlights of CookieCon, where everyone shares their cookie art), I think about the cookies I took to the first CookieCon. I thought I was such a good decorator, and then I later realized how much I didn't know. I have used CookieCon as a vehicle to learn new things. My cookies will not win awards, but I will certainly have fun challenging myself!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Ooh, you tease us! I was hoping to see your entire Sugar Show entry! Even from this glimpse, it looks impressive. I hope it travels with you safely! ~JMU]
This CookieCon, I am going to be a correspondent for Cookie Connection, and I'm looking forward to talking to students, teachers, and vendors, and letting you know about all of these people who share my love of cookies. If you'd like me to ask certain questions of these folks, please don't hesitate to leave those questions in the comments below, or under my recent forum post on the same topic. Thank you!
Kate Sullivan, aka Econlady, is a retired economist who started cookie decorating over a decade ago when her seven-year-old daughter wanted to take a cookie decorating class. While her daughter lost interest, Kate continued to explore cookie decorating, always looking for new ideas and techniques. Kate’s cookies have been featured on a trading card at CookieCon 2015 (pictured left) and also in Cookie Connection’s Practice Bake Perfect Challenge #14. A year ago, Kate took over as Newsletter Editor of the National Cookie Cutter Collectors Club, where her decorated cookies are showcased on the cover of each newsletter. Kate is a long-time veteran of CookieCon, having attended since the very beginning, so she is sure to bring us the up-to-the-minute CookieCon inside scoop.
Photo and cookie credit: Kate Sullivan
Note: This article expresses the views of the author, and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. To read more CookieCon 2017 updates from our special Cookie Connection Correspondents Team, click here, and for CookieCon event photos, click here.
Comments (10)