Cookie Connection Team Live Chat: Part 1

September 28, 201410:00 AM11:15 AM CDT

Cookie Connection Team Live Chat: Part 1

Hi, everyone! We've got an unusually great chat this week insofar as you have not one, but three chances to chat one-on-one with talented cookiers! Today we've got Cookie Connection's tutorial team with us, which includes Kari Arroyo, Lucy Samuels and Melissa Lacasse!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:00 AM

Since we have so many guests this week, our chat rules have been modified a bit to make it easier for us to handle the potentially large question flow. Those rules are . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator10:00 AM

. . . 1. Please address EACH of your questions to a specific contributor whenever you can, and please also indicate the person to whom you are addressing the question at the beginning of your question . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator10:00 AM

. . . 2. If you have not directed a question to a specific contributor, the question may be randomly assigned to one contributor to answer so this chat doesn't get extraordinarily long. But when you really want to hear from all three ladies, I'll make sure that happens . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator10:00 AM

. . . And last, but not least: 3. Questions may not be answered in the order received. In the event that we get a lot from one person (which we have this time), we may space out questions to allow a mixture of voices on the chat at all times. That said, we'll do our very best to get to every question, so please refrain from entering questions twice.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:00 AM

Ready? We'll start on some of the advance questions first, though I may reserve some for later in the chat . . . I'll also be sure to let you know when we're ready for more live questions. We have A LOT already in the queue!

Joanie10:01 AM

Kari - When you make your cookies that are all squares and rectangles that all fit together like a puzzle, do you start with a rectangular piece of dough and use cookie cutters to cut? I'm wondering how you do that. Thank you so much. Love ALL your cookies.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:01 AM

Joanie - Thanks for your question! When I make 'tiles' that all fit together, I start off with just regular rolled out dough. I have a handful of rectangle/square cookie cutters that I cut the dough with. Sometimes, I have an elaborate plan, other times I make a bunch of shapes and fit them together after they are baked. I do tend to re-cut the shapes after they are pulled from the over, helping them keep their sharp edges. Here is an example of a set that I made recently. I made a bunch of shapes and then pieced them together. Thanks for your question!

Joanie10:01 AM

MELISSA - Your cookies are all fantastic and I love looking at them all the time. I'm a hobby baker and would love to see a tutorial on how you make your plaque cookie with the rose buds on them. Even the flooded part...did you paint on them after they dried or did you use wet-on-wet? They are beautiful. Thank you for always sharing with us.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:02 AM

Joanie: Thanks for your question! For that particular set, the base of the cookie was flooded and dried, before I painted on the background. I used 3 different Americolor gels right from the bottle with a slightly damp paintbrush to do so. The rosebuds were piped on with a thicker consistency icing in a softer shade than they appear. Once fully dry, I painted them with Americolor gel and damp brush (like before) to get a more detailed effect.

donaharrisburg10:02 AM

ASSIGNED TO ALL: Did you attend schools to learn cookie decorating?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:02 AM

Hi, DONA. I've never had formal tuition in cookie decorating, just books, Youtube, reading blogs and lots and lots of practice. Once you get the feel of what RI can do on a bit of cookie, you can head off in your own direction, and the experimentation never ends! I do bake for sale from home, but I try to get a balance between that and creating designs for my blog, Cookie Connection, and to satisfy my own desire to create new designs.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:03 AM

To donaharrisburg - I did not attend a school or have any type of training. Everything that I've learned, I learned from reading tutorials and (a lot) of trial and error!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:03 AM

Dona: I have never had any formal training for decorating cookies. The basics came from a "cookie decorating kit" I received years ago, and now comes with experimentation and the inspiration from other decorators out there.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:03 AM

I sense a theme of a lot of experimentation here!

Joanie10:03 AM

Lucy - I see you are in the UK. I am in the states but have family in the UK. I'm a hobby baker and would love to send my family over there some of my cookies. My question is - do you think cookies in the UK taste the same as in the states? I would hate to send them some and they not like them. I'm just wondering if they prefer maybe a less sweet cookie, or a harder or softer one. Any advice would be appreciated. I know they will be nice and tell me they love them, but I really want them to love them. Thank you so much. Love all your cookies and want to thank you for sharing all your knowledge.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:04 AM

Ooh - good question. I always like to understand cross-country similarities and differences.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:04 AM

Hi Joanie. My husband and I like very different cookies - he likes my old crunchier recipe, I prefer my new 'shortbread-y' one! There's no telling what other people's preferences are, you just have to take a chance! I've only tried a few of other people's cookies, including one US lady, and they were totally different! That said, I get the impression that the US preferred cookie is perhaps thicker, softer and sweeter, but that's very much a generalisation, and every cookier will be producing different cookies. I decided (against my husband's advice!) that I would simply work out what I like (less sweet, but soft cookie, and richer, slightly saltier RI), and develop my cookie and RI recipes in that direction!

donaharrisburg10:05 AM

ASSIGNED TO ALL: Do all of you have your own businesses or do you do this for fun? Do you have a home-based business or one outside of the house?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:06 AM

To donaharrisburg: I used to sell a lot of baked goods, from my home, under the food cottage law. But in December, I officially stopped taking 'orders'. Now, I just make cookies for friends! It's a lot less pressure and a lot of fun!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:06 AM

Dona: I make cookies for both a creative outlet and soon, I hope, for business once again. We moved recently, so I have to get some licensing in order with a rented kitchen space before I can be "official"!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:07 AM

Lucy - do you have a response to this one? I think I've lost it in the thick of things. I know you bake for sale though.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:08 AM

We'll move on 'til Lucy can answer that . . . still more questions in the queue.

donaharrisburg10:08 AM

ASSIGNED TO LUCY - How do you store your cookie cutters to keep them organized?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:08 AM

DONA - I store my cutters in plastic chests of drawers on wheels, all out of order, muddled up, and I spend far too much time rummaging for what I need! I need a system, but I can't mentally get past working out whether fir trees go in 'Christmas' or 'plants and flowers' so I ignore the problem.

Liesbet10:09 AM

FOR KARI/LUCY: Thank you to all three ladies and Julia, for amazing cookies, inspiration and help through their blogs. This question is for Kari or Lucy as it applies to both. When I went through your FB photos to check for this question, I saw that in the beginning you started with cookies decorated according to the cookie cutter (a flower cutter for a flower, an owl cutter for an owl), but these days your cookies are made on more general shapes and decorated irrespective almost of the shape. Was this evolution a conscious one, what prompted it and how did this process happen? thanks, Liesbet

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:09 AM

Dona - I do bake for sale, and that in itself is also fun - I find that I'm constantly challenged by the themes that customers want, that I probably wouldn't either have thought of, or wouldn't attempt!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:09 AM

Thanks, L!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:09 AM

Thanks, Liesbet!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:09 AM

The other "L" was for "Lucy"

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:10 AM

For Liesbet - GREAT question! I think that, for me, it evolved slowly as I began to be more comfortable/confident with my cookie decorating skills. And my ability to design my OWN cookies as opposed to using someone else's design. I think that when you start to think outside the cookie cutter, your designs are limitless and tend to be more unique!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:10 AM

I agree.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:10 AM

Hi Liesbet, you're quite right in my case that my cookie shapes and designs have evolved away from specific cutter shapes. I'm aware that this has happened, but it wasn't conscious to start with. As time goes by, so many new requests for designs come from customers, and there often isn't a cutter to match the design. In addition, as my desire to experiment with technique and design evolved, I started to feel a little restricted by the shapes of the cutters. That said, when I get the chance, I do enjoy the process of outlining and flooding more interesting shapes!

donaharrisburg10:10 AM

ASSIGNED TO LUCY - Does anything you see inspire you to create your designs? Does your design determine which size cookie cutter you will use?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:11 AM

DONA - I don't have a single method for coming up with a design - often I have a starting point from a customer, and I will gather all manner of images from the internet, other cookies, and sketching. Sometimes I start with a cutter, and will trace it many times and try out drawings inside the shape. Other times I sketch ideas, and work out what cutter will fits afterwards. Sometimes the whole thing happens in my head while I'm falling asleep!

Nicole B10:11 AM

I have (2) questions, hope it's ok to post together. Not sure which of the ladies are painters, but I am hoping to find out how to do hand painting on cookies. The question is this...is there anything I can mix with my gels to make the finish look more glossy instead of a matte appearance? Also, I noticed that I get some small spots that look like the color is eating the icing. Should I assume that is from not wiping away extra paint before taking a stroke? Thank you!!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:12 AM

Hi Nicole. When I have painted I've found that too much liquid 'eats' into the icing, and it's best to create thin layers with very little solvent (whether it's water or alcohol), and allow them to dry and build the colour up that way. I've not yet found a way to allow them to be glossy as well as thoroughly dry and not sticky, except by highlighting particular areas with a metallic lustre (eg pupils in eyes).

Julia M. UsherModerator10:13 AM

Kari/Melissa - do you have any thoughts on adding gloss? Maybe corn syrup over the paint - or has this caused smearing for you? Kari, I'm pretty sure you tested that as part of a recent tutorial, right?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:14 AM

Sorry - just inserted a live question out of turn . . .

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:14 AM

Yes - I would not recommend painting the entire cookie with a corn syrup glaze! Altered the taste and never fully dried.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:14 AM

The gloss with corn syrup did not work for me and ended up being very sticky and never drying. Thanks, Kari, for giving it a go for me!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:14 AM

What about over small painted areas? OK?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:15 AM

I've glossed on dry royal icing with no trouble. The gloss has stayed a little tacky but not too bad.

donaharrisburg10:15 AM

ASSIGNED TO LUCY: Where do you work and how do you control for humidity? Do you use a small table fan, a small heater, or light fan to dry your flood royal icing? Should the environment be a particular room temperature for royal icing to flood and dry evenly?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:16 AM

This is the last of the advance questions, BTW.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:16 AM

I know people that have had luck with it but I have not been able to get it to dry hard enough to package.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:16 AM

I rarely package mine, so that's probably the difference.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:16 AM

DONA - I do all my baking and mixing icing in my kitchen, and all my decorating at a desk overlooking the garden where the light is bright and I have plenty of space around me. I have a bad back so I always take frequent breaks, and this usually involves a walk around the garden looking at everything I've neglected to do! The temperature and humidity are always just as they come, I don't have air conditioning (heat is rarely a problem in the UK!), but I do have central heating which can make the air dryer - usually a positive thing. If it's humid, I prepare for longer drying times and likelihood of cratering by making greater use of my dehydrator. I've not experienced any extreme here that has made using RI impossible.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:17 AM

OK, onto live questions. Hang on . . . things are really going to start rocking.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:17 AM

ASSIGNED TO ALL: I'm curious what type of cookies you find the most challenging to create. Ditto for most challenging customers to satisfy.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:18 AM

For Lauren – I find the most challenging cookies to make are the sets based on themes that I am not familiar with! Since I do not take orders anymore, I tend to run into less of those sets these days.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:18 AM

Lauren, sometimes it’s just a new design that is the most challenging for me. I never know if it’s going to work out like I plan until I try it. Hopefully I will be happily satisfied, and the people I am creating them for will be as well! Specifically speaking, any lettering that I have to pipe on a cookie gives me the jitters!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:19 AM

Lauren . For me the most challenging are the themes I’m not familiar with, or are not my ‘thing’. Eg sport. It’s way out of my comfort zone. Also where there are very specific request, or lists of characters, where there's not much flexibility to create. It’s easier to flip your question on its head and say that the easiest customers are the ones that leave me free reign with designs!

Liesbet10:19 AM

Kari and Lucy, would you say you were artistic before starting cookies? or did your talent grow 'out of the blue'?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:19 AM

I'm going to ask the above question of Melissa too!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:20 AM

Liesbet – I loved art in high school. But I felt that I needed to get a career that would be more financially sound – so I went in to nursing. After that, there was little/no time for art or anything creative. It wasn’t until my kids were a bit older and I stopped nursing that I kind of fell back into it.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:20 AM

Liesbet. I went to art college following school, but switched to nursing, for the exact same reason as Kari, and dropped art altogether for twenty years. I didn’t expect cookies to take me back into it, but they really have, in a big way! And in some ways, I’m learning more now about the creative process than I did at college!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:21 AM

Melissa, and you? Where does your artistic talent come from?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:21 AM

Did not know about your parallel career paths, YGY and HC (Lucy).

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:21 AM

Being artistic for me has morphed from dance to gardening to cookies. I love to bake, so it all seemed to fall into place rather easily!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:22 AM

Art class as a child was always my favorite as well!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:22 AM

OK, gang, bring on the questions! We're answering faster than we're getting them!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:23 AM

OK, I'll ask a few of you all? For those of you watching this chat who have read the various tutorials we've posted onsite . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator10:24 AM

. . . what feedback or wants/desires do you have for the tutorial team? Any specific techniques you'd like to see, for instance?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:24 AM

Anyone?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:25 AM

OK, I see more questions - we'll move onto those in the meantime.

My Nana's Nibbles10:25 AM

I struggle with wet on wet and would love to see more.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:25 AM

Thanks, Nana!

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:25 AM

How do you handle character cookie requests? Have you had issues with copyrights?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:25 AM

I'm assigning the above question to all. Questioners, please assign questions when you can.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:26 AM

Lauren – I do not take orders for character cookies so I don’t tend to worry about the copyright issues.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:26 AM

I try an avoid character cookies when I can. Not just for copyright issues, but because without a Kopykake projector, they are just too hard for me to make them look right! If the character is necessary, I look for other themes to design around.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:26 AM

Lauren, that’s a really big question. The law is different in different countries. I’ve just looked into Peter Pan, and found that the book is in public domain here, so I can use the character and the early illustrations. But it’s still in copyright until 2023 in the US. I think each person has to make their own mind up, and be aware of the potential consequences where they live. I’ve decided to try and cut back where possible, and use public domain inspiration.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:26 AM

For My Nana's Nibbles - I love wet on wet! I'll put it on my 'tutorials to do' list!

Marge10:27 AM

ASSIGNED TO MELISSA: Any tips for smooth flooding? I'm either too thick or too thin!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:27 AM

Anyone else - feel free to chime in too.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:28 AM

Marge, I tend to use a slightly thicker flood these days, and shake the cookie gently until it smooths out, with or without an outline. About 10 or 15 second RI. Then I have to pop bubbles! I never manage to make my RI without bubbles.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:29 AM

I'm with HC on that. I also use a toothpick to pop bubbles and push the icing around as needed.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:29 AM

I think flooding consistencies just come with practice. I’m still tweaking as I go, with more or less water, or meringue powder amounts...

My Nana's Nibbles10:29 AM

Adressed to all 3. Do you currently own a KopyKake and if so how often and how do you use it?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:30 AM

My Nana’s Nibbles – I do own a KK. As far as how often I use it, depends on what I’m working on. I haven’t used it at all this week but I plan on using it next week. For writing, I have to use it!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:30 AM

Marge, I don't have a KK. I use the camera lucida ipad app. It's a little tricky to get used to, but you do get used to it. I can't pipe directly from it, but use a scribe tool to get the main outlines I need, then go by eye from there. I use it quite frequently.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:30 AM

No KK yet, but it's on my list for Christmas!

Marge10:30 AM

Do you know the Camera Lucida app? It's inexpensive download onto phone of iPad and very cool..

Julia M. UsherModerator10:31 AM

I think Lucy just answered this one . . . but does anyone else have anything to add?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:31 AM

Marge, that's the one I use! :-)

Julia M. UsherModerator10:31 AM

Here's the perennial question . . .

Lets Talk Cookies Michael McIntyre10:31 AM

Question to all: pricing - how do you make customers understand why they're paying more than at a grocery store? thanks.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:31 AM

I do not have the app but it sounds very cool!

Marge10:31 AM

thanks, I'll try that...10-15 second RI

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:33 AM

I think that the key is to build a customer base that views your cookies as more than 'cookies'. They are edible art and should be priced as such. I know that building that customer base is difficult and takes time but you need to stay true to that. Otherwise, you'll get burned out.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:33 AM

I think you just have to put your price out there, and they will accept it or not. I have struggled with this in the past, but I realized that if they appreciate what you do and the quality of the work, they will return! Don't see yourself short!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:33 AM

Michael, I find pricing has been a constant process of adjustment and experimentation, and that my customers have therefore adjusted gradually too. I have a lot of repeat customers, who seem to understand. That said, I still don't think I'm at minimum wage yet, for most of my orders! I think it helps when I post tutorials, or 'in progress' shots, as that shows the level of work involved.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:34 AM

Agree with all said - never sell yourself short and constantly educate the customers. A customer on which you lose money is not a good customer.

Bakerloo Station10:34 AM

Do any of you have degrees or backgrounds in the fine arts? And do you think it would be helpful for those of us without art backgrounds to take some basic art courses? With all of the copyright issues floating around now, I'd prefer to make more of my own original designs, but I find that I just do know enough of the basics of drawing, etc. to do that.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:35 AM

Bakerloo - I believe the ladies answered the first question a while back. Lucy has a degree, don't think the others do, right? Thoughts though on the merit of taking art courses?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:35 AM

I think if it's something that you'd enjoy, sure! Necessary though? No. I only have a nursing degree!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:36 AM

I don’t think an art course would hurt…in fact, maybe I should take one too! You can never stop learning and it sounds like fun!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:37 AM

Sorry - chiming in, I'm in Melissa's camp - I just have engineering and business degrees. Thinking an art course might spur more creativity - cause me to look at things a different way. Changing things up is always a good thing.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:37 AM

ASSIGNED TO ALL: Any tips on finding better precision in your decorating? I'm good at marbling and texture but my attempts at precise lettering and geometry end up looking messy.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:37 AM

I have an art college qualification (one year post school), and my humanities degree with art history has defnitely given me a sense of what's 'out there' in terms of artistic possibiities (and of much more use than the year in art college!), but in all honesty think it's been the practice of having to create designs based on customers' needs that has taught me the most. That and constantly experimenting with technique and viewing what others are doing. And when it comes to drawing and creating designs - just keep a sketch book and constantly practice!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:39 AM

Love your marbling, BTW, Lauren. It's definitely a signature style for you - I can spot your cookies a mile away!

Bakerloo Station10:39 AM

As a former lawyer, I feel I have a better handle on the copyright laws than the drawing bit LOL.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:39 AM

Thanks, Julia!!!

donaharrisburg10:39 AM

hello everyone

donaharrisburg10:39 AM

sorry time got away from me

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:39 AM

Lauren, I would say just keep practicing and trying new techniques that interest you. For example, I have been inspired by MANY decorators who paint to attempt it, even though it's not my thing. It can be very rewarding to branch out!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:40 AM

For Lauren - I do also think that it's all about practice.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:40 AM

No problem, Dona. The ladies answered many of your advance questions early in the chat.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:41 AM

Lauren, regarding precision, I find working with the icing rather than against it - find out what it wants to do, how it flows (or doesn't!) and how you can use that to your advantage is the key. Quick example - piping a corner, I do one straight line and stop. Then I start again at the new angle. I don't try to 'turn' the corner (unless I want it rounded). And the scribe tool is your friend! I use that all the time to remove peaks, to smooth corners, and even to tease lines into their 'proper' place.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:41 AM

For Lauren - I think using the right tools and icing makes a big difference with precision/fine detail. Fine tips, icing with no grittiness to plug tips, etc. Then I always steady the tip with my non-piping hand.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:41 AM

I second the scribe tool!

Emily O'Donnell10:42 AM

For everyone: do you know if Google images are copyrighted? I tend to have customers send me images they have searched and sent me from google images. I didn't really think about it until all the talk on the character cookies surfaced. Thanks

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:42 AM

I think it was LilaLoa (correct me if I'm wrong!) who suggested piping all the straight parts of letters, letting it crust a little, then piping the connecting bits, helps stop 'melding' of letters into blob.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:43 AM

For Emily - I think that it depends on the image!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:43 AM

Emily, like I had mentioned before, I feel you can tweak the image they are asking for and make it your own without issue. The customer would just have to be on board with what they would be getting.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:43 AM

Quick answer to Emily and then we'll move on - yes, they very well could be. You should always get permission from the creator of an image before you copy it.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:43 AM

Posting a comment now related to an earlier question to viewers about new tutorials they'd like to see . . .

My Nana's Nibbles10:44 AM

Lucy, your Olaf tutorial was brilliant. Would love to see you do another tutorial on the layering steps to make a flat image pop.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:44 AM

Back to the Kopykake subject . . .

My Nana's Nibbles10:44 AM

i use camera Lucida too but wonder if a Kopykake would be a good investment for a hobbyist.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:44 AM

Emily, I believe the image copyright rests with the owner of the image. In the UK, that's up to 70 years after the creator's death (that's a LONG time!). The answer then could be unique to that picture, and not depend on where they'd got it from.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:44 AM

Lucy is right.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:44 AM

My Nana's Nibbles, thank you! I shall bear that in mind for future tutorials!

donaharrisburg10:45 AM

ok ty ill scroll thanks

Julia M. UsherModerator10:46 AM

All ladies: Thoughts on Kopykake investment? Worth it, if you have one?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

Yes. Love mine.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

I would like to know this myself...

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

Dear Santa,

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

What percentage would you say you use it?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

MJ would like a KK for Christmas...

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:46 AM

One more quick point about copyright - there are a lot of websites out there dedicated to collating works in the public domain, which are free for anyone to use, or copy, however they like. There's a lot of great material and inspiration out there,and it's fairly easy to find.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:46 AM

HA!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:47 AM

I think some people prefer it to Camera Lucida, because it allows for more hand clearance for piping.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:47 AM

I couldn't work easily with Camera Lucida; I have a Kopykake but I rarely use it. I don't do characters though. Won't go there.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:48 AM

I'm comfortable with my ipad, though it's tricky, because the app cost one hundredth the cost of a KK. But I do occasionally yearn for the ease of KK. I'm guessing it would be very helpful if you have to do large numbers of identical images?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:48 AM

Lucy - can you share one of those links here? Would be helpful if you can find one.

Bakerloo Station10:48 AM

LUCY: Do you Camera Lucida people have some sort of stand for your iPad?

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:49 AM

Thanks, yes, my letters are definitely blobby. I'll try that.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:49 AM

Wikimedia Commons is a great source of public domain images.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:49 AM

Thanks, Lauren.

donaharrisburg10:49 AM

I didn't see an olaf tutorial

Julia M. UsherModerator10:49 AM

I think it's on Lucy's blog, Dona.

donaharrisburg10:49 AM

i don't have one not sure about getting one or an air brush

donaharrisburg10:50 AM

lol dear santa

Julia M. UsherModerator10:51 AM

Lucy - did you see the question to you about whether you have a stand for your iPad when using Camera Lucida?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:51 AM

I'll try!

donaharrisburg10:52 AM

is a kk the same as usong projector

Julia M. UsherModerator10:52 AM

Quick answer to Dona: Yes, the Kopykake is an image projector used for tracing.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:52 AM

Sorry my connetion to CC went down! Here is an example of children's literature in the public domain (please be aware though that it can differ from country to country)

My Nana's Nibbles10:52 AM

Dear Santa...thank you

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:53 AM

Sorry, here's the link. https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/public-domain

Lets Talk Cookies Michael McIntyre10:53 AM

Can I say I just got my KK best thing I did Im not good at free hand anymore.The KK has been a blessing. If you search the web, there are good deals out there.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:53 AM

Bakerloo Station, I have a tall vase, which I balance it on!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:53 AM

Thanks, Lucy! Sorry - I bombarded you with requests all at once.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:53 AM

Not a question but chiming in on the art course subject, the best art class I ever took was Color 101 which taught the properties of color, mixing primaries into secondaries and tertiaries, and what goes with what.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:54 AM

Thanks, Lauren.

Marta Torres - Royal Icing Cookie Art10:54 AM

Hello everyone, I don't have a specific question but just would like to congratulate each one of you for posting and giving tips on our/mine majors concerns. I'm always learning from you all. Many happy cookies histories. Love from a cookie decorator by accident.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:54 AM

Love to you, Marta!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:54 AM

The Cookie Lab-what a wonderful accident! You are amazing!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:54 AM

Thank you Marta!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:54 AM

Thanks Marta!!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:54 AM

Another response to the Camera Lucida stand question . . .

My Nana's Nibbles10:54 AM

We built a stand.

Bakerloo Station10:54 AM

I totally want to see a pic of that high-tech "vase" stand, Lucy!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:55 AM

Me too!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:55 AM

Nana's Nibbles - would also love to see your stand!

My Nana's Nibbles10:55 AM

Addressed to all 3. To quick icing do you prefer a space heater or food dehydrator?

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:55 AM

Space heater. But I do not have a dehydrator so I cannot compare...

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:56 AM

I do not have a dehydrator, so I use a small space heater fan to quick crust the icing, placing the cookies in front of it for only 10 minutes or so. I really helps to stop the craters for me! If it’s wet on wet, I will sometime place them in front of a dehumidifier for an hour or so, especially if it’s very humid.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:56 AM

I have one somewhere I think but will have to upload it later due to its size!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:56 AM

FYI - You may have noticed - I just extended the chat time a little in order to get through the couple of remaining question in the queue.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:56 AM

But I do have a hard stop at 11:15 pm central. So last call for questions.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:56 AM

I love my dehydrator, it's a useful space saver as well as an actual fan!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:56 AM

I love my dehydrator too.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:57 AM

I just got a dehydrator. I'm having issues with my icing cracking when I pull the cookie from it. ???

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:57 AM

Lauren that sounds like your icing has crusted but not hardened, and movement of the softer cookie underneath is cracking it?

Julia M. UsherModerator10:58 AM

Lauren - that's likely because the cookie is soft and bent a little. Remove them from the rack with a spatula, or remove the entire rack and let them cool more before moving - or better yet, both.

Lauren Dorsee Dillon10:58 AM

Yes

My Nana's Nibbles10:58 AM

I've posted a few pictures on my page with necessary parts and size. Several fellow cookiers have asked.

Julia M. UsherModerator10:58 AM

Nana's Nibbles - can you share a link here?

Betty Hyde Sislo10:58 AM

When making small designs on cookies, how do you keep the icing from caving in?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest10:58 AM

I shall pop over to your page, My Nana's Nibbles. I could definitely do with an improvement on my vase!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:58 AM

Assigning above to all.

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest10:59 AM

I use thicker icing and the space heater!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest10:59 AM

Again, I use the small space heater for that. Seems to do the trick for me!

Julia M. UsherModerator10:59 AM

OK, we have three questions remaining in the queue. I believe that's all we'll have time to take, so please sit tight as we answer those. Thanks.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:00 AM

Betty, definitely a fan or heater of some sort, as it crusts the surface and strengthens it to withstand the drawing away of moisture into the drier icing or biscuit underneath.

Bakerloo Station11:00 AM

Because of the 2 times I tried that Camera Lucida app, I am batting 500 in times where my iPhone was dropped on the cookie!

Julia M. UsherModerator11:00 AM

LOL (though I really am sorry about those damaged cookies)

My Nana's Nibbles11:00 AM

My Nana's Nibbles on Facebook.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:00 AM

I'll post my vase picture on here, Bakerloo Station, so you can see how precarious it is. I am just waiting for the day when the whole thing collapses!

Julia M. UsherModerator11:01 AM

Back to the topic of drying in a dehydrator . . .

Lauren Dorsee Dillon11:01 AM

How long should I put it in the dehydrator to dry?

Bakerloo Station11:01 AM

Great. I just got a heat sealer this week, and now I need a KK AND a dehydrator. This is the most expensive live chat I have ever attended.

Julia M. UsherModerator11:01 AM

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:02 AM

Lauren, I think that depends on how thick your icing is, how humid the weather is (but you're in the desert right?) and so on. Quick answer, longer than you are, if you're getting cracking!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:02 AM

Still cheaper than a new iPhone though right? I ruined a phone dropping it in icing once!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:02 AM

Bakerloo Station, do you have an airbrush yet? :-)

Julia M. UsherModerator11:03 AM

Lauren - I just quick-set the top crust of icing in the dehydrator. Though timing depends on the size and shape that is getting dried - usually no more than 10-15 minutes though.

My Nana's Nibbles11:03 AM

Which is why I built a stand. Lol. No issues and cost was well under $20

Betty Hyde Sislo11:03 AM

Thank you girls! I love looking at and being inspired by your work

Julia M. UsherModerator11:04 AM

Two more questions for all . . .

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:04 AM

Thanks Betty!

BAKRGAL aka Barb Florin11:04 AM

Good morning (or whatever;-) ladies. I'm a huge fan of all three of you. I'm interested in your thoughts on using other people's work as inspiration. One doesn't necessarily want to just straight up copy, but I see so much out there that I want to try. How do you "make it your own"?

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:04 AM

Bakrgal, I think you just try a design with the intention of making it yours…adding a twist here or there. You’re style will come through, especially when it’s finished and you think, “I love it!”.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:06 AM

Bakrgal, there are no 'unique' pieces of art without influence from somewhere in existence. It's what artists have always done, and always will! If you're not sure, turn the question around and see if you think you'd mind if the original had been your work!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:06 AM

BAKRGAL - I agree with Melissa. Just adding your own style/techniques that you love to it will make it 'yours'.

Bel's Bakes11:06 AM

Jst a quick question if there's still time: Was wondering if anyone has experience decorating with impression cookie cutter. I hv a hard time decorating them. I don't knw the best way to approach this kind of cookie decorating as it is my first time. Thank u!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:06 AM

For what it's worth, when I see people have used my cookies as a basis for their work, I feel really honoured and pleased :-)

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:07 AM

I agree with Lucy!

Julia M. UsherModerator11:07 AM

Bel - just to be sure we understand your question . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator11:07 AM

Do you have trouble cutting/getting the impression with the cutter or . . .

Julia M. UsherModerator11:08 AM

. . . decorating after the cookie is cut and embossed?

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:08 AM

I have a few cutters like that too, but haven’t used them yet. I think it would be a great guide when icing the design by following the impressions.

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:08 AM

If I am understanding your question right!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:08 AM

Bel - I dislike those cutters. Never have been able to figure out how to use them!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:09 AM

You could always try thinning down RI enough to paint with it, so that the impressions and mouldings don't get obscured.

Julia M. UsherModerator11:09 AM

Bel - Classic Cookies by Parr, here on Cookie Connection, does a lot of work with embossed cookies using suncatchers to create the impressions. Her cookies always look great - you might want to check with her.

Julia M. UsherModerator11:10 AM

She does thin out her icing to paint with it, as Lucy described.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:10 AM

Or try piping the lines first, then flooding each area seperately (like a 'stained glass' effect)?

Bel's Bakes11:10 AM

After baking the cookies, I don't knw how to decorate them because once I ice them, the impression kind of dissappears and I can't see the lines to do the finer piping details

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:11 AM

Maybe a different cookie recipe? One that doesn't spread too much?

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:11 AM

If you want raised lines afterwards, try piping the impressions first in your flood colour, then flooding each area, that way you'll still see where the lines are?

Julia M. UsherModerator11:11 AM

Got it, Bel! Thanks. I hope we've answered this question somewhat.

Julia M. UsherModerator11:12 AM

With three minutes to go, I just wanted to wrap up by thanking our fabulous guests. I am deeply indebted to all three of them for the amazing and generous contributions they make to this site each month. They make me proud!

Bel's Bakes11:12 AM

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clearer! The baking part is good. I mean the impression after baking is still clear. Jst don't knw how to go around decorating it. But thanks for the tips!!!

Lauren Dorsee Dillon11:12 AM

Thanks, Everyone! This was fun!

BAKRGAL aka Barb Florin11:12 AM

Thanks all!!!

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:13 AM

Thanks everyone for chiming in today! This has been so much fun! One last comment...because there is SO MUCH quality cookie work out there, it is easy for me to miss great stuff. Would you all let me know if there is someone's work that you find interesting and want to know more about? I’d love to interview them for you!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:13 AM

Thanks to everyone for the questions!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:13 AM

Thank you Julia, this has been a lot of fun! (Even when I lost my connection back there for a couple of minutes!)

Julia M. UsherModerator11:13 AM

Don't forget our next live chat on 10/11 with Rebecca Weld and mystery guest!

Yankee Girl YummiesFeatured Guest11:13 AM

Lucy, MJ and I did as well...

Melissa Joy Fanciful CookiesFeatured Guest11:14 AM

Can't wait for that! Thanks ladies!

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:14 AM

Glad it wasn't just me :-)

Julia M. UsherModerator11:14 AM

Thanks, Melissa for that reminder. Yes, please send any of us feedback at any time!

Fierce confections11:14 AM

Thank you ladies! I learned a lot!

Lets Talk Cookies Michael McIntyre11:14 AM

Off to dough rolling thanks.

Bakerloo Station11:14 AM

I think you can press on a warm, just-baked cookie with one of those cutters, Bel, to make deeper impressions that you may be able to see after base flooding.

Lucy (Honeycat Cookies)Featured Guest11:14 AM

Good idea Bakerloo station!