Skip to main content

2018 Cookiers' Choice Awards: An Important Announcement!

 

Hi, everyone! I'll cut to the chase . . . After much long and very hard deliberation, I've decided to shutter the Cookiers' Choice Awards, at least for the foreseeable future. For five amazing years, we've celebrated the incredible cookie contributions of our community through this awards program. I am quite proud of the visibility that this program has given to our honored cookie decorators as well as to the cookie community at large. I am also quite thankful to the many people who served as judges over the years, donating their precious time to the painstakingly difficult evaluation process. And, last but not least, I remain beyond-wowed by the talented people we have recognized since this program's inception.

However, over the last year or so, the input from our community to the nominations process - the cornerstone of the program and why it's called "Cookiers' Choice" - has been waning. It's hard to interpret this trend as anything other than diminished interest in the program, though for reasons I don't fully understand. Simultaneously, interest in my cookie competition at OSSAS (now at the Show Me Sweets convention in my home state of Missouri) has been growing faster than I imagined and requiring more and more of my limited resources. In response to both of these trends, I thought it would be most prudent for me to focus my scarce time and dollars on the program that seems to have the greatest traction.

In 2019, I plan to take my competition at its new Show Me Sweets home to even higher levels - with world-class judges, more robust feedback to entrants, double the prize money, and, if all my secret plans come to fruition, a possible huge surprise for all. But, most important, my hope is to continue a legacy of celebrating the incredible and original work of this community, and to lift others up by inspiring them, through the thrill and challenge of competition, to create, learn, and grow!

If anyone has any questions about this decision, please leave them in the comments below or email me at sweetlife@juliausher.com. Again, thanks to all who contributed to the Cookiers' Choice Awards in various ways over the years, and thank you all in advance for understanding this change of direction.

Competition Graphic Border

And, on that note, I hope all of you will "meet me in St. Louis" at the Show Me Sweets convention on July 13-14, 2019! More information about entering my competition there can be found here. It's got both 2-D and 3-D categories. Plus, $3000 in prizes and immeasurable recognition are up for grabs! 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Julia M Usher's Cookie Art Competition Graphic: Courtesy of Julia M Usher and the Show Me Sweets Convention

Add Comment

Comments (13)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

Manu posted:

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

I agree 100% with what @Manu biscotti decorati says. I also wish you all the best at Show Me Sweet dear @Julia M. Usher and I will never thank you enough for all you have done for me in this past five years through your website. I’ve been finalist, winner and then judge at Cookier’s Choice Awards, this meant a lot to me. Now I am a full time cookie decorating teacher also thanks to you, all the features at Saturday Spotlights (48!) and two awards has given me the fuel to beleive in myself and try to do always better and better. Cookie Connection is and will always be the ‘bible of cookie decorating’ with or without awards, we all appreciate the daily care and positive energy you put in your creature, THANK YOU! 

 

The  cookie art shown here has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and new artist are posting every week.  It’s a perfect place for cookiers, for information, for exposure, for learning and for friendship ! I thank you for giving us a place to hang our aprons. 

As for the awards, I’m a bit surprised, it’s a coveted title and I’m surprised more people were not involved in the past year-I don’t know why- there is no site like this for us and no greater recognition in our achievements as cookiers than holding that title! 

Again thank you for all you have done and continue to do!  But I’m am sorry to see that part of CC go.  

 

Evelindecora posted:
Manu posted:

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

I agree 100% with what @Manu biscotti decorati says. I also wish you all the best at Show Me Sweet dear @Julia M. Usher and I will never thank you enough for all you have done for me in this past five years through your website. I’ve been finalist, winner and then judge at Cookier’s Choice Awards, this meant a lot to me. Now I am a full time cookie decorating teacher also thanks to you, all the features at Saturday Spotlights (48!) and two awards has given me the fuel to beleive in myself and try to do always better and better. Cookie Connection is and will always be the ‘bible of cookie decorating’ with or without awards, we all appreciate the daily care and positive energy you put in your creature, THANK YOU! 

Thank you for contributing so wonderfully to the site; without members such as you who are so prolific and talented, this space wouldn’t be nearly as inspirational. It also thrills me to no end to hear that this site helped fuel some of your tremendous success. Thank you again for those kind words!!

Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:

 

The  cookie art shown here has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and new artist are posting every week.  It’s a perfect place for cookiers, for information, for exposure, for learning and for friendship ! I thank you for giving us a place to hang our aprons. 

As for the awards, I’m a bit surprised, it’s a coveted title and I’m surprised more people were not involved in the past year-I don’t know why- there is no site like this for us and no greater recognition in our achievements as cookiers than holding that title! 

Again thank you for all you have done and continue to do!  But I’m am sorry to see that part of CC go.  

 

I am very sad to see it go too, but the participation level in nominations and the amount of work required to administer it have been very mismatched. If I should hear an outcry that this program needs to come back, then I’ll certainly reconsider. One option might be running it every other year, though that might present challenges in maintaining people’s interest too . . .

Cookiers and cookie artists from around the world will sure miss the award, but we have this wonderful site to learn and grow. I've learned so much in the last months I've been part of this wonderful community, I cannot thank you enough Julia!

Evelindecora posted:
Manu posted:

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

I agree 100% with what @Manu biscotti decorati says. I also wish you all the best at Show Me Sweet dear @Julia M. Usher and I will never thank you enough for all you have done for me in this past five years through your website. I’ve been finalist, winner and then judge at Cookier’s Choice Awards, this meant a lot to me. Now I am a full time cookie decorating teacher also thanks to you, all the features at Saturday Spotlights (48!) and two awards has given me the fuel to beleive in myself and try to do always better and better. Cookie Connection is and will always be the ‘bible of cookie decorating’ with or without awards, we all appreciate the daily care and positive energy you put in your creature, THANK YOU! 

Evelyn so very well expressed!!!!! I couldn’t agree with you more! 

I feel my visibility as a cookier was greatly helped by my participation on CC. This site also motivated me to be better, helped me learn more and try harder!  The best thing that came out of CC are lifetime friendships!

Thete is nothing on the internet like CC!!! 

Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:
Evelindecora posted:
Manu posted:

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

I agree 100% with what @Manu biscotti decorati says. I also wish you all the best at Show Me Sweet dear @Julia M. Usher and I will never thank you enough for all you have done for me in this past five years through your website. I’ve been finalist, winner and then judge at Cookier’s Choice Awards, this meant a lot to me. Now I am a full time cookie decorating teacher also thanks to you, all the features at Saturday Spotlights (48!) and two awards has given me the fuel to beleive in myself and try to do always better and better. Cookie Connection is and will always be the ‘bible of cookie decorating’ with or without awards, we all appreciate the daily care and positive energy you put in your creature, THANK YOU! 

Evelyn so very well expressed!!!!! I couldn’t agree with you more! 

I feel my visibility as a cookier was greatly helped by my participation on CC. This site also motivated me to be better, helped me learn more and try harder!  The best thing that came out of CC are lifetime friendships!

Thete is nothing on the internet like CC!!! 

Thanks so much! Though rest assured, everyone, Cookie Connection is staying around for a while!  I'm just reevaluating the mix of things that I/we do to ensure that each feature/activity is high impact and sustainable for me to fund and support.

Gracias de corazón por todo lo que haces Julia, mantener viva esta tradición es muy lindo y también muy trabajoso y por ello te admiro, la calidad de tus trabajos y de los que aquí se muestran a nivel mundial son una maravilla y de mucho garbo, éxitos al infinito en este show y en todos los próximos eventos. Gracias de nuevo y gracias a todo las galleteras de cookie connection por mostrar sus increíbles y estupendas obras.💕 

Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:
Evelindecora posted:
Manu posted:

The Cookiers’ Choice Award has been fun! Thank you, Julia, for organizing and sponsoring this during these past five years. 

All the best on your competition at Show Me Sweets. The theme is so inspiring and I so am looking forward to see what the participant will come up to in both categories! 

I agree 100% with what @Manu biscotti decorati says. I also wish you all the best at Show Me Sweet dear @Julia M. Usher and I will never thank you enough for all you have done for me in this past five years through your website. I’ve been finalist, winner and then judge at Cookier’s Choice Awards, this meant a lot to me. Now I am a full time cookie decorating teacher also thanks to you, all the features at Saturday Spotlights (48!) and two awards has given me the fuel to beleive in myself and try to do always better and better. Cookie Connection is and will always be the ‘bible of cookie decorating’ with or without awards, we all appreciate the daily care and positive energy you put in your creature, THANK YOU! 

Evelyn so very well expressed!!!!! I couldn’t agree with you more! 

I feel my visibility as a cookier was greatly helped by my participation on CC. This site also motivated me to be better, helped me learn more and try harder!  The best thing that came out of CC are lifetime friendships!

Thete is nothing on the internet like CC!!! 

Of course @Tina at Sugar Wishes I have forgotten to give thanks for this to CC! This site was born to be a cookie community and it immediately reached its goal, since the first months of our activity this place has become our second home. I’ve found here friends for life, supporters and students coming from all over the world and this magic goes on happening every single day. Long life and best wishes to CC and our precious frendships! 

Bice Beatriz Loffa posted:

Gracias de corazón por todo lo que haces Julia, mantener viva esta tradición es muy lindo y también muy trabajoso y por ello te admiro, la calidad de tus trabajos y de los que aquí se muestran a nivel mundial son una maravilla y de mucho garbo, éxitos al infinito en este show y en todos los próximos eventos. Gracias de nuevo y gracias a todo las galleteras de cookie connection por mostrar sus increíbles y estupendas obras.💕 

Muchas gracias! 

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×