With many cookiers owning dozens – even hundreds – of cookie cutters, losing track of the identity of one or two is bound to happen. And, trying to decipher those "mystery" cutters can be a challenge all on its own. Fortunately, our Practice Bakes Perfect challenge entrants have shown...
It's not autumn without some mum cookies! In fact, I've got one mum project for each year all the way back to 2017, when I shared how to decorate a potted mum in Step 2 of this Cookie Connection tutorial...
I'm back after two weeks off (phew, what a crazy couple of weeks), and, boy, do I have a fun-filled cookie roundup for you tonight! Since our latest mystery shape challenge is about to come to a close, it's no surprise that...
Hi, everyone! My apologies for taking so long to interview our August site artist Zeena Mohammad! I’ve been dying to get to know her better myself, so I’m quite relieved that my schedule has calmed enough to allow me to get her interview questions drafted and posted. As you may recall...
The judges and I are getting SO excited to see all of your cookie creations! But don’t forget: both 2-D and 3-D entries to Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ are due in about one week, on October 15 at 5 pm CDT, to be exact...
Guess what, everyone?! The Bake Fest is back, and so am I! I am beyond excited, because I will be teaching another...
You may have caught this awesome news already in my September stencil release post, but, if not, let me break it to you first, here and now...
Hello, competitors and soon-to-be competitors! In case you missed last week's announcement on my Facebook page, here’s the recording of my final competition live Q&A on Saturday, September 25 with the wonderful Ginny Levack...
Hi, competitors! This week, I introduce you to the illustrious judges of Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ - three out of four of them at least! In the following video, judges Sandie Beltran, Stephanie Kappel, and Laura Saporiti tell you a bit about their competition and judging experience, as well as...
This week, we hear from last year’s first-place winner in the 3-D cookie category and one of this year’s judges, Laura Saporiti! Here, Laura shares with you lessons learned from her many years of competing - specifically what she most values...
Hi, all! Here is a recording of my second Facebook Live Competition Q&A that took place today (Saturday, September 4)! In it, I provide some exciting updates about...
Hi, registered and potential competitors in Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™! I will be stepping out live again on Saturday, September 4 (9 am CT) to alert you to some changes in...
This month I have for you some colorful leaf cookies, inspired by macramé feathers. Macramé feathers pop up very often in my Instagram feed, and, since I appreciate leaf shapes more than usual during the fall season, I was inspired to...
In case you missed the choice tidbit that I slipped into my earlier post this week with Stacy Frank's video, here it is again! Drum roll, please...
So, one thing I've been doing, whilst revamping websites and prepping for a big cookie course, is biking! This week, I logged 110 miles, and, just today, I managed 29 - all in prep for what I had hoped would be a fall biking trip to Croatia with my college roomies. But...
In this short video, Thomas Blake Hogan, three-time winner of Julia M. Usher's Cookie Art Competition™, gives SIX great reasons to enter the special 2021 virtual edition. And I give you number SEVEN...
Hi, all. I wanted to alert all competitors to two clarifications made to the 2-D Cookie Definition over the last two days. These changes have been...
My July tutorial is all about practicing the piping of sunflowers on cookies! I will also be using different types of straws in creative ways: first, a paper one to make the flower-decorating easier, and then stainless steel ones for the display. On a side note...
As you sit poolside sipping a summer cocktail and basking in the sun, fall may not be calling you just yet. But, I assure you, with the way time flies, it will be soon! So, to get you geared up for that active autumn cookie season, I've got a charming fall-themed stencil design to help make easy work of those upcoming orders. It features...
Hi, everyone! In case you missed today's live competition Q&A on my Facebook page, the recording is below. First, thanks to all who...
Hi, all! Thanks for allowing me a brief reprieve from Spotlights last weekend. I am still deeply under water with my workload, and anticipate being that way through the end of October, so I ask for continued patience. While there was a...
Mark your calendars, cookiers! If you're interested in registering for my cookie competition, but unsure of some of the rules or what you might get out of the experience, then...
Which 21 companies raised more than $13,000 in prizes for Julia's 2021 competition? Find out, and then give them your love...
Welcome to Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #47! There are many people who have a cookie business - or would like to have a cookie business - so, in the spirit of cookie entrepreneurship, this next challenge is all about creating the perfect customer order! The "event" will be...
Woo hoo! The cookie competition of the year is nearly here! Registration for Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ opens in less than two days, on July 12, 5 pm CDT! At that time, you'll receive...
Woo hoo! I’m back with another Cookier Close-up! I beg your pardon for being so tardy with these interviews (this month’s Q&A is with our April site artist!). My excuse...
Happy weekend, everyone! This week's Spotlight is a textural triumph, as many of the honorees also happen to be entrants in our ongoing Practice Bakes Perfect Imprinted Icing challenge! In fact, three (yes, three!) of...
This cookie project is meant for a dad who plays or loves to watch tennis (or for anyone who does). I used the Needlepoint Mat from SugarVeil® to make...
This week's Spotlight affirms that we're in yet another ambiguous cookie zone, where themes straddle different seasons, holidays, and occasions. Here, we've got cookies that reflect back on...
Every week we get a delivery of produce from a small, local farm. The box is filled with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, but the exact contents are always a surprise. When my kids are...
As I mentioned in last month's fairy princess release, I'm departing a bit from my usual seasonal releases, and adding a few more event-related and on-trend themes to my stencil mix. No unicorns or llamas though, I promise! There's a...
Hmmm . . . who are those mystery judges of my competition, you ask? I’m sorry if I’ve come across as unusually secretive or slow to reveal, but going virtual with Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ has introduced some new twists that have taken some time to sort through. One of those twists came with...
One of the things I love most about the cookie community is how cookiers are always coming up with new and creative ways to take cookie decorating to the next level. There have been so many...
Great news! Many of our Cookie Connection contributors (and yours truly) were recently interviewed for and just featured in this weekend piece for Canada's National Post by cookie enthusiast Natalie Jesionka. As the title suggests...
Yes, it’s Cookier Close-up time again! These interviews are indeed one of my favorite parts of this site. It’s so interesting and rewarding for me to connect with fascinating cookiers from far and wide. In this Close-up, we’re getting to know our March 2021 site artist...
Hi, all! I would very much appreciate if everyone - those who have entered our challenges and those who have not - would answer my Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge Feedback Survey. The goal of these challenges has always been to...
Hello, everyone! As you may have heard, I have decided to take my cookie art competition fully virtual this year. When the That Takes the Cake show was canceled in February due to the pandemic, I knew my show had to go on, and...
My husband gifts me a new orchid every year for our wedding anniversary. Needless to say, I’ve amassed quite a collection. This time of year as I...
It dawned on me recently - thanks to an astute question by a member - that I'd forgotten how to follow another member on this site. And so, I thought I'd figure it out and fill you in, as following others is a great way to...
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting our January 2021 site artist (and the subject of this Close-up) at CookieCon in Reno back in 2019, the year she left that show with not one, but THREE cookie decorating prizes! Yes, this month’s featured artist is...
As has been the pattern since the inception of Cookie Connection, we've predictably hopped, skipped, and jumped from Valentine's Day right into Easter. So, seeing as we have a...
Spring is quickly approaching, so here’s a 3-D flower cookie to get you in the mood! It's decorated using the felt technique, because it's February and still cold, and because this technique is...
After last week's polar vortex fiasco, I'm hopping as fast as I can into spring - and so is this month's Dynamic Duos™ design! The design, called "Hopping Into Spring" (of course, what else?!), is more...
Valentine's Day has got to be one of the greatest cookie holidays (if not THE greatest), so I suppose it should come as no surprise that there are still a lot of heart-shaped and love-themed cookies hitting this week's hot list. Our Spotlight also has...
I mean, honestly, what else could I feature on this eve before Valentine's Day but hearts, roses, and chocolate?! Nothing, right?! That being said, tonight's hot list showcases...
This month's project tutorial features a 3-D driftwood tree cookie, intended to be a table display for an occasion at home. If you plan to transport it, I recommend...
Another Cookier Close-up! Woo hoo! Sorry for the brief hiatus, but I had a super busy December with virtual classes and events, and it took me a little while to re-group after all of that! Anywho, I’m back, and I’m sure you’re going to love reading this up-close-and-personal interview as much as I loved conducting it. It’s with...
This month's release is called "Chinese New Year," but I consider it more of an East-meets-West way of ushering in 2021. While its background of plum blossoms and auspicious messages of "Love", "Luck", "Hope", and "Peace" are...
Hi, all! It's that time again when we celebrate the ten top-trending cookies on the site this past week! Since it's nearly Sunday (yikes!), I'm going to keep this Saturday Spotlight intro brief and...
Hi, everyone! Alas, with Dotty - our past survey writer - having recently moved on to bigger and better things, I have assumed the hat of Chief Site Survey Writer once again. But, I am...
