What a week it has been! With all of the disturbing headlines, I have found myself in constant need of some sort of respite. Aren't we the lucky ones to have this site and this community?! Cookie Connection has provided the perfect place for me to settle my mind.
And, what a week we have had on this site as well! This latest hot list* is so extraordinarily diverse. A huge thank-you to everyone who has posted and provided feedback on the posts. I wish I had a witty phrase to sum up this Spotlight. But, alas, I can only say that it has brought considerable joy. A sugary treat for all of us!
#1: Betta by yokko (This stunner has so much depth. It really reminds me of a glass creation from Murano. Incredible, @yokko.)
#2: Collaboration Dedicated to Nicholas Lodge by Petra Florean (These sleek orchids juxtaposed with @Petra Florean's signature textured background are quite a feast for the eyes.)
#3: Purple, My Favorite Color! by Cookies Fantastique (Carol's gift for a friend is so richly layered and well-executed that Julia and I decided to use it for the cover image. Congratulations, @Cookies Fantastique!)
#4: Baby Girl by Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek (The sweet details on this set are really something, don't you think?! Great work, @Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek.)
#5: Christmas Minis by Vero (Very Vero) (It's never too early to plan for Christmas! Thanks for the fun reminder, @Vero (Very Vero).)
#6: Convite Casamento aka Wedding Invitation by Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek (This set marks @Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek's second appearance in this week's Spotlight. Hurrah!)
#7: Pumpkin Patch by Maggy Morales (@Maggy Morales does it again! This gorgeous set appeared in last week's Spotlight as well! I think the reason is quite obvious!)
#8: Mi Corazón by Petra Florean (Another second-time honoree this week! Way to go, @Petra Florean! Your lavishly textured mixed media work can be spotted a mile away!)
#9: Petals and Prosecco Bridal Set by Cajun Home Sweets (The colors used in this set are divine. Check out the pattern on the dress too. Amazing work, @Cajun Home Sweets!)
#10: Teacher's Day by Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek (Incredible, @Cláudia Dmytriw Pichek! It's not every day that someone racks up three mentions in a single Spotlight!)
How was that for a delicious transport to the land of sugar and spice and everything nice?! (Oops, I'm a holiday or two ahead of us! 
) No matter . . . it's true, and there's plenty more sweetness on the rest of the site too. Not only does Cookie Connection have a constant stream of gorgeous cookie clips, it also has interesting blogs and helpful forums. Speaking of which . . .
Check out Julia's interview with our October 2023 site artist, @Di Art Sweets. And while on the subject of site art - a special shout-out to @Icingsugarkeks for her assistance with the graphics. The adorable winking acorns along the top banner are just what I need each time I visit this site. Don't tell anyone, but I usually wink back!
Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful week ahead.
[IMPORTANT EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks again for the great roundup, @LisaF! While I have the chance, I just want to insert a few housekeeping notes for everyone. First, don't forget to nominate your favorite sugar artists, products, shows, teachers, and more in the 2023 Cake Masters Magazine Awards. If I can be so bold . . . wouldn't it be great to see a Cookie Connection tutorialist up for Best Teacher? What a wonderful way to thank our contributors who put so much of themselves into this site each month. Or what about your fave member as Best Cookie Artist? Or, this may be a stretch, but what about Cookie Connection for the Best Product Award? After all, this site is a tool that's relied on day in and day out by so many cookiers!
On another note, our next challenge is being filmed by Manu on October 21, but will likely not post until I return from Cake International, around November 17. I apologize for the delay. Many things have conspired against Manu and me, preventing us from getting it out sooner, not the least of which is me still working on a new affiliate system that I aim to launch along with this challenge. Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! ~JMU]
So that no one has an unfair advantage in making it onto a hot list, the algorithm is secret even to site administrators. Only our platform developers know the code, which has been exhaustively tested by those developers and Cookie Connection staff.
All photos shown here are the courtesy (and copyright) of the designers listed.
To check out our other hot lists, at any time of day, visit our Hot Spot, also found in the site's main navigation line.
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Lisa Foss is a hobbyist cookie decorator. After careers in corporate communications and freelance writing, she focused her attention on the nonprofit sector. She spent more than a decade at various soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and prison reentry programs throughout New York City. Lisa’s cookie journey began in 2011 when she started making gingerbread houses. After getting a handle on construction, she focused on improving her decorating skills through books, videos, and online tutorials. This exploration brought her to Cookie Connection, which has provided her with an incredible community to learn from and grow with. Though she enjoys making cookies for family and friends, Lisa’s main focus is cookies for charity.
For more information about Lisa and her work, please check out her Facebook and Instagram pages.
Byline photo credit: Shutterstock
Note: Saturday Spotlight is a weekly Cookie Connection blog feature written alternately by Lisa Foss and Julia M. Usher. Its primary intent is to cast a spotlight on the week's top-trending cookie posts, as determined automatically by the site algorithms described above. This article expresses the views of the author, and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. To see all of Cookie Connection's past Saturday Spotlights, click here.
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