January 2022

I’m back - finally! My apologies for getting this interview turned around so slowly. It's been a challenging year so far with many disruptions in what I thought were well-laid plans. Anywho, on to more interesting stuff! How many of you are...

Hi, everyone! Thanks for cutting me a break last weekend and allowing me to get by without a Spotlight. Class weekends (like last weekend) are always super busy for me because I . . .

It’s so exciting for me to see this new series of 3-D cookie courses from Japan Salonaise Association (aka JSA) unfold! As you may remember from one of my recent posts, I’ve had the...

From Paris with love! In my dreams, that is . . . I’m actually sitting in my basement kitchen-slash-office in Missouri as I type this release post! LOL! Anywho, I’m back with a new stencil design after taking a month off, and...

So, as you've probably heard by now, Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ is going virtual AGAIN in 2022! While I am tremendously saddened that That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show, the usual host of my usually in-person competition, has cancelled this year's February event in Austin, "the show must go on" as...

Hi, cookie competitors and sponsors! As you may have already heard, the That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show in Austin, where my competition was slated to be hosted on February 26-27, canceled yesterday amidst growing concerns about the Omicron variant, people's safety, and diminished attendance at the physical show. While this announcement is extremely disappointing to me, you, and so many others...

Hello and welcome to a very special Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #50! In recognition of this extraordinary milestone, I thought it only fitting that we mark the occasion by giving you an opportunity to participate in not one – but 50 different challenges! This means you have...

Hi, everyone! I posted the following comments as a footnote to the recently released Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #49 recap. They're pretty important, so I wanted to be sure everyone sees them and takes a moment to respond. The future of Cookie Connection and our challenges depends on your input...

One of the things I love most about these challenges is seeing such diversity in our entrants' styles and the techniques that they use. And this challenge was certainly no exception! Your theme choices showed...

Déjà vu?! Yep! As you may know, the 2021 virtual edition of Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ just concluded and it’s already returning to its usual in-person format at That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show on February 26/27, 2022 in Round Rock, Texas. I am...

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2022 with a bang! Not only are there so many outstanding cookies on this week's hot list, but...