Live Chat with Sonja Galmad (aka swissophie)
Hi, Sonja! It's so wonderful to have you chatting with us today. First, super congrats on your Cake Masters Magazine nomination for their Cookie Award. (That's news to both of us since scheduling this chat!) See, I knew you were a rising cookie star! 
Hi, Sonja! Congratulations on your Cake Masters nomination; it's definitely well deserved! Most of us start off our cookie decorating careers doing a lot of basic marbling and really shaky piping, slowly developing our icing skills by decorating many cookies over a long period of time. Looking at your work, it seems you skipped that step. 
How were you able to skillfully create such detailed work using advanced techniques straight out of the gate?
How were you able to skillfully create such detailed work using advanced techniques straight out of the gate?
Cookie Celebration - Thanks so much, Diane! Am so happy you're here. And the admiration is totally mutual !
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Glad you like it, Diane (Cookie Celebration) . Thanks!
. Thanks!
Sweet Prodigy – Christine - ruffles… thanks for the compliment ! I got this picture of a butterfly with ruffled wings in my head (out of the blue someday), but didn’t really know how to go about it, since I don’t use tips except for roses. So I looked at pictures of real and drawn ruffles. How to accomplish the effect with royal icing just came in a quiet moment, as it usually does with me. The rest was just trying and practicing.
! I got this picture of a butterfly with ruffled wings in my head (out of the blue someday), but didn’t really know how to go about it, since I don’t use tips except for roses. So I looked at pictures of real and drawn ruffles. How to accomplish the effect with royal icing just came in a quiet moment, as it usually does with me. The rest was just trying and practicing.
Cookie Celebration - Yes, knitting was a favorite pastime as teenager. Now it's cookie decoration .
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It's more lucrative than selling detailed cookies!
It took some time to get to do that video, and I only did it, because people really wanted to know, and I wanted to give back some to the community .
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Sweet Prodigy - Thank you !
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Manu - Used to be. I haven't knitted for a long time. In Florida there was no need for warm clothing .
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Cookie Celebration - Your cookies would certainly be great for a children's book !
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Ha Ha! I will do a video. Just me piping lines - Soon!
Sweet Prodigy - Am looking so forward to that !
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Cookie Celebration - I started with gingerbread houses and used gelatine sheets for windows, so had some experience with it before .
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Cookie Celebration - Yes, my mom .
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Cookie Celebration - I love doing mandalas for the repetitiveness of design details. It makes for great relaxed sessions. Just made a few so far. My cookie portfolio is still very small .
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Cookie Celebration - Well, yes, next to my hubby, she's my biggest fan .
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Are you going to the awards ceremony, and, most importantly, what are you going to wear? 
Julia - I rather celebrate in small circles .
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Small circles can be found among the many....
Cookie Celebration - I'd make a small circle with you anytime, Diane !
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Cookie Celebration - Alright, Diane ! Would love to get to know you personally!
! Would love to get to know you personally!
Julia - Except for the cross there was never a need to count. I just let loose, and see to it that it all comes together somehow ... it's not very scientific . I make a lot of little mistakes, like stitches don't really line up, but I think they are not very obvious.
. I make a lot of little mistakes, like stitches don't really line up, but I think they are not very obvious.
Sweet Prodigy - The cows are still alive... still in one of the moving boxes .
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Sometimes I will interject a related question before jumping to a new one!
Manu - It was quite difficult as gelatine sheets tend to crack easily. But patience helps .
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Manu - Haha, I'll send you one for free !
! Thank you Sonja... one day if you will have time and I'll send you one of mine
Manu - We'll do that !!
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Yes, my inspiration was Julia's videos as well . Thanks so much for sharing your know-how so freely, Julia. It definitely has changed my quality of life .
. Thanks so much for sharing your know-how so freely, Julia. It definitely has changed my quality of life .
Oh, thanks so much. I enjoy teaching more than anything!
Thank you so much for having me, Julia, and again for all that you do for us cookiers !
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And thanks to everyone for your kind questions !!!
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Gingerbreadgrandma - Thanks for stopping by !
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This chat has ended.
