Skip to main content

Saturday Spotlight: Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #15 Recap

 

Welcome to our Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #15 Recap. Spring has finally sprung! Hopefully, you are recovered from both your Easter baking and spring-breaking, and are ready for a whirlwind tour of the amazing Instanbul-inspired cookies that I am about to present to you. Their incredible uniqueness and beauty have made me want to return to Istanbul now, more than ever!

But first, there are prizes to award! The randomly chosen winner of Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #15 will receive a grab bag of mystery cookie loot generously donated by Cookie Connection's own Julia M. Usher, and also this super-fun kissy face plush emoji pillow from plushmoji.com

kissy-face-emoji-pillow_2048x2048

[EDITOR'S NOTE: As it turns out, this big emoji pillow spawned two cute-as-a-button baby pillows since Christine wrote this post, so I've thrown them into the grab bag of goodies, along with a panoply of Sweet Elite Tools' line of celebrity decorator tools, including texture mats, snap-together letter embossers, a plaque cutter set, and kids' birthday cutters. Some sundries from my recent travels - stencils, wand cutters, and such - round out the mix shown in the sneak peek-photo below.]

Loot2

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Now, back to Christine for the big reveal . . .]

And the winner is . . . Maggie Morrison! Congratulations, Maggie! Not only was Maggie our randomly chosen prize winner, but Maggie also had a gorgeous challenge entry. I adore her color palette and her combination of watercolor-painted and piped elements in her set below.

Peacock Mosaic by Maggie MorrisonIMG_2451

And with that, let's turn to our other spotlighted artists, in no particular order. . .

Looking up at the Dome by ManuLooking up at the Dome... Arches and Semi-Domes ManuThere are just not enough superlatives to describe this work of art by Manu. The handpainted details are so refined and exquisite. (I highly encourage you to look at the additional detail photos in the comments under this entry - you will be amazed.) The colors are just magnificent. I also love how deftly Manu deconstructed a very complex 3-D structure - the dome of the Blue Mosque - and created a 2-D puzzle. Absolutely brilliant!

Floral Tile Design by Manu Floral Tile Design ManuManu does it AGAIN! I love how Manu pulled the leaf, flower, and vine elements from the original Turkish tiles and created these hand-cut cookie tile elements, which she was then able to arrange in a variety of different patterns. You can see photos of her other stunning arrangements in the comments here.

Cookie Tiles by Yankee Girl YummiesTilesDespite the fact that these patterns and colors are pulled right from the challenge inspiration photos, there is no doubt that this brilliant tile/puzzle set was created by Yankee Girl Yummies. And that was exactly what this challenge was about - taking inspiration from Instanbul and creating something entirely your own.

Creator, Savior, and Friend by Kim Damonistanbul 002-1
I am still amazed every time I see this entry. I cannot believe that Kim made an entire mosaic of Jesus out of sugar nonpareils! Nor have I quite figured out how she did it (do tell, Kim!). Way to think outside the box!

Turkish Tile-Inspired Fashion Cookies by Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.DSC07148
These cookies by Ryoko are truly inspired. She did, in cookie form, exactly what every good fashion designer does - "recycle" colors and patterns from other art genres to create textiles and clothing. Not only are these colors and patterns beautiful overall, but specifically, I think Ryoko did an amazing job of carrying the pattern across those skirt pleats. Wow!

Easter Puzzle by KSipesKSipes - Istanbul Inspiration
This puzzle is just a captivating entry. It is a feast for the eyes on so many levels. At first glance, it looks like a single blue tile mosaic in a quatrefoil-inspired shape. But, upon closer examination, you can see the hidden Easter shapes - bunnies and carrots, flowers, and hearts. And then, upon even closer inspection, you see the millions of tiny patterns and details. Inspired, indeed.

Mosaic Cross-Piping by Sweet Prodigycc. practice bakes perfectLet me start by saying this string work is some of the best I have seen anywhere. Ever. That it was also done in the color palette and patterns of Turkish tiles is astounding. File this one under "mad piping skills".

 Istanbul Inspiration by Cookie CelebrationIstanbul Inspiration [Cookie Celebration)This entry is another example of a set that was so obviously inspired by the challenge photos and yet also bore the unmistakable mark of the cookie artist. Here, Diane masterfully recreates a Turkish tile pattern, while at the same time adding all of the little dots, dashes, and details that are a hallmark of her own work. Plus, adding that center wafer paper flower as a nod to the Practice Bakes Perfect mixed media challenge was icing on the cake!

Religious Istanbul by Olesia Gul20160326_144701_499x364
Leave it to a native of Istanbul (rumor has it that Olesia actually gets to live in our beloved Istanbul) to come up with such an exquisite set of Turkish-inspired cookies! The colors are gorgeous (that deep gold is so striking), and the piping is impeccable. I am seriously wowed by the painting on that center cookie. Truly captivating!

Turkish Coffee by Noaaimage-11My hat's off to Noaa for submitting not one, but FIVE separate entries for Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #15! They were all fabulous, but I was especially drawn to this set because some of my own fondest memories of Istanbul involve sitting in a café having delicious coffee (or tea!) and these divine sesame rolls (think of flat, dense bagel-like things covered in sesame). The handpainted "china" pattern on the cup is just lovely!

And with that, we bring Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #15 to a close. May I offer a big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and everyone who followed the challenge. You all made so many supportive, encouraging, wonderful comments on all of the posts. Stay tuned for the next challenge, which will post on or about April 11. Until then, walk between the raindrops, and be sure to take some time to smell the flowers and eat the cookies!

Christine Donnelly began her professional baking career at 16, when she was hired on the spot at her local bakery to work the counter and decorate cakes. After detours to college and law school, she worked as a trial lawyer in Chicago for many years, ultimately leaving that career to become a stay-at-home mother to her two children. In her “retirement,” she continued to bake at home, at last finding her preferred artistic medium in decorated cookies. In February 2013, Bakerloo Station was born with a presence on both Facebook and Instagram. Christine makes cookies to balance her left brain, to inspire and share creative ideas, and to feed those needs that only art can satisfy. 

Photo credit: Christine Donnelly

NotePractice Bakes Perfect is a bimonthly Cookie Connection blog feature written by Christine Donnelly that poses inspiration or challenges to get you to stretch as a cookie artist - for practice, for prizes, and for fun! Its content expresses the views of the author and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. Catch up on all of Christine's past Cookie Connection posts here.

 
 

Attachments

Images (13)
  • Plush Emoji Pillow Prize: Photo Courtesy of plushmoji.com
  • Cookie Loot: Photo by Julia M Usher
  • Peacock Mosaic: By Maggie Morrison
  • Looking up at the Dome: By Manu
  • Floral Tile Design: By Manu
  • Cookie Tiles: By Yankee Girl Yummies
  • Creator, Savior, and Friend: By Kim Damon
  • Turkish Tile-Inspired Fashion Cookies: By Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.
  • Easter Puzzle: By KSipes
  • Mosaic Cross-Piping: By Sweet Prodigy
  • Istanbul Inspiration: By Cookie Celebration
  • Religious Istanbul: By Olesia Gul
  • Turkish Coffee: By Noaa

Add Comment

Comments (27)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

Awesome work, everyone! Also, a huge shout-out to Christine for being so thoughtful, creative, and diligent with these challenges. She is a tremendous boon to this site, and I am eternally grateful for her great attitude and hard work. 

Congrats to everyone, there are so many incredible sets in this challenge, I am mightily impressed!

I had severe problems getting inspiration this time. Everytime I tried, all that came were memories of my honeymoon in Turkey - and those consist mainly of debris, rain, and obtrusive vendors *lol*

I am more than happy to see my cookies here with outstandingly beautiful cookies. Thank you, Christine for the challenges that make me really try what I have never done before.   And thank you Julia, Cookie Connection is the site I see first every morning.  Everyday I can see cookies I have never seen.   

What a great honor and a surprise to scroll down and see that two of my entries were spotlighted!
Thank you so much, Christine, your challenge not only was inspiring but refreshed memories of my trip to Istanbul. Thank you for your rewarding nice words presenting my sets.
Thanks to Julia's Cookie Connection, as part of my work is also the result of the techniques I learn, and the inspiration I get , from the beautiful cookies shared everyday here by fellows members.
Congrats to everyone who entered this challenge, it is amazing to see in how many different ways each one of us has got inspired.

There we so many amazing entries in this challenge,  it's an honor to have been featured alongside such talented artists! Congrats to everyone whose work was featured.

Thank you, Christine for all the work you put into these challenges. And thank you,  Julia for creating a forum that allows cookie artists to share their passion with fellow cookiers around the world! 

Thanks, I'm so excited to see my cookies here. First when I saw the challenge I knew that I'm going to do more than one entrie. I love Istanbul so much, my father was born there, it's Made me excited. All the entires are fabulous, thanks again.

Julia M. Usher posted:

Awesome work, everyone! Also, a huge shout-out to Christine for being so thoughtful, creative, and diligent with these challenges. She is a tremendous boon to this site, and I am eternally grateful for her great attitude and hard work. 

I agree! Christine does such a great job with these challenges.  I can hardly wait for each of the challenges to be announced.  They are so clever and her synopsis of each of the entries is fun to read!

Last edited by Julia M. Usher
Manu posted:

What a great honor and a surprise to scroll down and see that two of my entries were spotlighted!
Thank you so much, Christine, your challenge not only was inspiring but refreshed memories of my trip to Istanbul. Thank you for your rewarding nice words presenting my sets.
Thanks to Julia's Cookie Connection, as part of my work is also the result of the techniques I learn, and the inspiration I get , from the beautiful cookies shared everyday here by fellows members.
Congrats to everyone who entered this challenge, it is amazing to see in how many different ways each one of us has got inspired.

Your work is "off the charts" SPECTACULAR!!  I just adore each of your entries and can't stop staring at them. Great job!!

Cookie Celebration posted:
Manu posted:

What a great honor and a surprise to scroll down and see that two of my entries were spotlighted!
Thank you so much, Christine, your challenge not only was inspiring but refreshed memories of my trip to Istanbul. Thank you for your rewarding nice words presenting my sets.
Thanks to Julia's Cookie Connection, as part of my work is also the result of the techniques I learn, and the inspiration I get , from the beautiful cookies shared everyday here by fellows members.
Congrats to everyone who entered this challenge, it is amazing to see in how many different ways each one of us has got inspired.

Your work is "off the charts" SPECTACULAR!!  I just adore each of your entries and can't stop staring at them. Great job!!

Thank you so much, Diane! I love your colorful cookies and your tutorials. You inspired my featured cookie in the previous Challenge#14 and you keep inspiring me with your beautiful artwork.

Ryoko ~Cookie Ave. posted:

I am more than happy to see my cookies here with outstandingly beautiful cookies. Thank you, Christine for the challenges that make me really try what I have never done before.   And thank you Julia, Cookie Connection is the site I see first every morning.  Everyday I can see cookies I have never seen.   

Cookie Celebration posted:
Julia M. Usher posted:

Awesome work, everyone! Also, a huge shout-out to Christine for being so thoughtful, creative, and diligent with these challenges. She is a tremendous boon to this site, and I am eternally grateful for her great attitude and hard work. 

I agree! Christine does such a great job with these challenges.  I can hardly wait for each of the challenges to be announced.  They are so clever and her synopsis of each of the entries is fun to read!

Thanks so much, Diane.  

Awww... Thanks for those lovely words, Julia. It is a joy to see the amazing works of art people come up with, challenge after challenge.  So, thank you, Julia, for providing such a brilliant forum for sharing and encouraging each other's passion for art. I'd also like to thank my fellow Cookie Connection contributors who help me to sort through all of the amazing challenge entries and provide incredibly helpful and insightful comments.  And finally, thank you, fellow cookie artists, you never cease to amaze and inspire me.  These challenges would be nothing without your participation and support.  THANK YOU all!  

Christine has asked how I was able to reproduce the cookie image of Jesus out of the nonpareils, so here's a quick recap. Like most cookies, my goal is often not the outcome I end up with. I was going to do this image in Pointillism. I printed out the image below and had a prepared canvas (cookie) but while I was getting my supplies ready, I saw my container of candy sprinkles had spilled. One look at the mess transformed my vision and I knew what I had to do. I began by folding the photocopied image  in half and in half again (horizontally and vertically) thereby finding my center and making a grid. I then began in the middle and worked my way out. I used artistic licence with colors to get more out of my color choices and mute the effect a color like hot-pink would have (by adding red and orange to it). I then altered the design as I went with the color selection of what I had to work with and what seemed balanced for the piece (with lights and darks). Hope that helps. It was totally a labor of love.  

Attachments

Images (1)
  • This
Last edited by Julia M. Usher
Maggie Morrison posted:

Thank you so much--I'm so excited to receive the cookie 'loot'. It's such an honour to be featured alongside such amazing work--so inspiring!  

Great - please email me your address as soon as you can. I'm hoping to get the package in the mail tomorrow before I leave town for two weeks. But if we miss each other now, I'll mail it after I get back on the 15th. Thanks!

Kim Damon posted:

Christine has asked how I was able to reproduce the cookie image of Jesus out of the nonpareils, so here's a quick recap. Like most cookies, my goal is often not the outcome I end up with. I was going to do this image in Pointillism. I printed out the image below and had a prepared canvas (cookie) but while I was getting my supplies ready, I saw my container of candy sprinkles had spilled. One look at the mess transformed my vision and I knew what I had to do. I began by folding the photocopied image  in half and in half again (horizontally and vertically) thereby finding my center and making a grid. I then began in the middle and worked my way out. I used artistic licence with colors to get more out of my color choices and mute the effect a color like hot-pink would have (by adding red and orange to it). I then altered the design as I went with the color selection of what I had to work with and what seemed balanced for the piece (with lights and darks). Hope that helps. It was totally a labor of love.  

On an even more micro level... How did you pick up and properly place all of those tiny nonpareils???

Bakerloo Station posted:
Kim Damon posted:

Christine has asked how I was able to reproduce the cookie image of Jesus out of the nonpareils, so here's a quick recap. Like most cookies, my goal is often not the outcome I end up with. I was going to do this image in Pointillism. I printed out the image below and had a prepared canvas (cookie) but while I was getting my supplies ready, I saw my container of candy sprinkles had spilled. One look at the mess transformed my vision and I knew what I had to do. I began by folding the photocopied image  in half and in half again (horizontally and vertically) thereby finding my center and making a grid. I then began in the middle and worked my way out. I used artistic licence with colors to get more out of my color choices and mute the effect a color like hot-pink would have (by adding red and orange to it). I then altered the design as I went with the color selection of what I had to work with and what seemed balanced for the piece (with lights and darks). Hope that helps. It was totally a labor of love.  

On an even more micro level... How did you pick up and properly place all of those tiny nonpareils???

Oh, OK! So you know static is the enemy of these tiny fellas. And water can be too. But both are also the friends you need. I found the back end of a paintbrush was perfect to pick up the sprinkle I wanted if it was slightly "wet" with a mixture of RI and water. I kept a little "puddle" or rather wet spot and added to it as needed. I would sort of "fish" for the one I wanted, then remove the few "tag-alongs" and then place the desired one in place on a wet-ed spot on the cookie (also watered down RI). Those were my tools. And patience. Lots of patience. Both mine, and my hubby while  used  a Friday night and the better part of a Saturday to accomplish it.

Kim Damon posted:
Bakerloo Station posted:
Kim Damon posted:

Christine has asked how I was able to reproduce the cookie image of Jesus out of the nonpareils, so here's a quick recap. Like most cookies, my goal is often not the outcome I end up with. I was going to do this image in Pointillism. I printed out the image below and had a prepared canvas (cookie) but while I was getting my supplies ready, I saw my container of candy sprinkles had spilled. One look at the mess transformed my vision and I knew what I had to do. I began by folding the photocopied image  in half and in half again (horizontally and vertically) thereby finding my center and making a grid. I then began in the middle and worked my way out. I used artistic licence with colors to get more out of my color choices and mute the effect a color like hot-pink would have (by adding red and orange to it). I then altered the design as I went with the color selection of what I had to work with and what seemed balanced for the piece (with lights and darks). Hope that helps. It was totally a labor of love.  

On an even more micro level... How did you pick up and properly place all of those tiny nonpareils???

Oh, OK! So you know static is the enemy of these tiny fellas. And water can be too. But both are also the friends you need. I found the back end of a paintbrush was perfect to pick up the sprinkle I wanted if it was slightly "wet" with a mixture of RI and water. I kept a little "puddle" or rather wet spot and added to it as needed. I would sort of "fish" for the one I wanted, then remove the few "tag-alongs" and then place the desired one in place on a wet-ed spot on the cookie (also watered down RI). Those were my tools. And patience. Lots of patience. Both mine, and my hubby while  used  a Friday night and the better part of a Saturday to accomplish it.

Amazing!  I can only imagine the amount of patience that that process took!

Shannon @ Twelve Eleven Bakery posted:

I found this to be a true challenge and I just could not find my way in it. Every piece is beautifully done. Congratulations to all the winners!

I struggled with this challenge too, Shannon, and I am the one who wrote it!  I hope you will be inspired next time and participate. xoxo  

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