Hello, Cookie Connection members! I'm going to keep it brief this week, if that's all right with you. Between my competition wrap-up (the big winner reveal is slated for July 30) and all of the unexpected contractors and cleanup I've had to deal with this week (I discovered a flood in my basement work area when I returned home from vacation last week 🙁), I am truly about to unravel. I haven't even gotten bids back for the bulk of the repairs, so I'm afraid the sad saga will continue for at least a few more weeks.
Anywho, enough about me, this week's hot list* is an eclectic mashup of new and old (honored set #10 dates back to 2012!), current Cookie Connection challenge and other collaboration entries, baby and birthday tributes, and so much more! There's even a nod to the Olympics, which got me thinking about a spur-of the-moment challenge for all of you (read about it at the very end)! Onward now to this week's honorees . . .
#1: Prudence by Susie Jacobs [EDITOR'S NOTE: Made for an online collaboration, this hand-modeled chocolate extravaganza is something else! Way to go, @Susie Jacobs, for landing at the top of this week's list! ~JMU]
#2: Letters from Hawaii by The Baroque Baker [EDITOR'S NOTE: Special congrats to @The Baroque Baker for earning this week's cover spot! I love the color combination she used in this very lovely interpretation of @Manu biscotti decorati's techniques showcased in our ongoing Watch-Learn-Create challenge. Remember: This challenge closes on August 4, so there's still time to create an entry, learn a lot, and possibly win one of the randomly drawn prizes! ~JMU]
#3: Guacamole by Yazz Ross
#4: We Can Bearly Wait by Tina at Sugar Wishes
#5: Isomalt Butterfly Suncatcher by iSugarfy (aka swissophie)
#6: Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Cookies Fantastique
#7: Clematis by Zeena [EDITOR'S NOTE: Another awesome Watch-Learn-Create Challenge #57 entry! Actually, I think this gorgeous clematis cookie is @Zeena's third challenge entry, but, frankly, I've lost count! She's so prolific; it's hard to keep up! ~JMU]
#8: Baby Nicole's Cookies by Silviya Mihailova
#9: Birthday Cake by Judit Tarsoly
And, last but not least, that 2012 Olympics set that got my wheels turning . . .
#10: Olympic Ring Cookies by Beat & Bake Biscuits
Given the strength of these cookie designs, it's clear that all of our honorees went the extra mile. And let's not forget about the persistence and focus it takes to pull off sets like these . . . yes, indeed, it's not much of a stretch to liken cookie decorating to long-distance running and other endurance sports, and cookie decorators to athletes. It takes years of training and conditioning to decorate cookies well, and often Herculean powers to make it from cookie concept across the finish line!
So with the 2024 Olympics just kicking off in Paris, I present you all with an impromptu and informal challenge: flex your cookie decorating "muscles" by designing an Olympics- or a sports-themed cookie set over the next couple of weeks; then post it to our "Sports/Dance Cookies" clip set. If I get enough submissions in one month's time, I may just do a special Olympics Spotlight! No obligation, of course; I just thought a little change-up of usual Cookie Connection protocol would be fun! 😀 Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
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