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...
This month’s tutorial is only about royal icing transfers. As a reminder, a royal icing transfer is a royal icing decoration that has been piped onto some substrate other than a cookie - usually acetate, parchment paper, or silicone. Once the icing has dried...
Merry Christmas, all! Next Saturday is Christmas and I'll have a house-load of guests, so this Spotlight is my final one before the New Year, and possibly my last opportunity to wish you a wonderful holiday season. I hope your Christmas is...
We’re in the thick of the holiday frenzy now. Logically, I should be choosing more streamlined cookie projects this time of year to free up time for holiday meal planning, decorating, and gift buying. Yet, I seem to...
I'm not wasting any time! LOL! Yes, it's hard to believe, as we just wrapped up the 2021 virtual edition, but it’s true! Reg is now open for next year's competition...
Hi, everyone! As you may know, I’ve been working rather covertly this past year on a special project. I've been dying to talk about it but was sworn to secrecy until it was finished! Well, today I can finally spill the beans, and I am so excited to share my news with you – particularly with my Japanese-speaking friends...
Hi, everyone! I’m back with a wonderful chat with our October site artist and cookie philanthropist Lisa Foss. As you may recall, Lisa’s luminous fall cookie leaves graced our banner and backdrop a few months back. Lucky us!...
'Tis the season for cookies! We have SOOO many festive Christmas cookies flooding the site right now that, even if you've just glanced at the home page photo feeds, there's no way they won't put you in the holiday spirit. Kudos to all who have been posting this delightful work - keep it up, please...
