Phew, it's hard to believe we're already one month into 2016. But we are - and it's all very exciting, because I have another stupendous banner and backdrop for us to enjoy throughout the month of February.
Perhaps you were expecting to see pink and red hearts in a typical Valentine's theme? Well, as you've probably figured out by now, the cookiers here on Cookie Connection are far from typical, and this month's featured artist, Marie Elgaard (aka Lille Kage Hus) from Randers, Denmark, is no exception!
Marie definitely took me by surprise with this unique cat-and-mask combo in our recent Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #13, but I was so taken with the story behind it (and its striking execution, of course) that I decided it should win our February honors. And so here it is, now gracing the site! (BTW, the cats, masks, and twigs are all motifs associated with Festelavn, Denmark's famed carnival celebrated in February on either the Sunday or Monday before Ash Wednesday. Read more about Festelavn and Marie's winning challenge entry here.)
As a reminder, each of our monthly site art winners will be featured in an in-depth Cookier Close-up interview! Marie's interview will post in the first week or so of this month, so stay tuned. She'll be shedding some light on what it takes to start a cookie business in Denmark and how Danish cookie baking and decorating preferences compare to those in other parts of the world.
Also, if you missed Challenge #13, but would like your own cookie art to be considered for use on the site after our challenge winners have run their course (by the end of 2016), I would love to see it at any time. Guidelines for submitting cookie art can be found here.
