Happy Birthday to Cookie Connection!

It's hard to believe, but, seven years ago, I launched Cookie Connection. Wow, how time flies! Thanks to everyone who has so generously contributed to making the site such a warm, inviting, and informative space over time. Hopefully there will be many more years to come!

Below is what I posted to Facebook on June 8, 2013, when the site launched. As you can see below, it took a community to launch the site, just as it takes a community to keep it going. I hope the site has stayed true to its objectives. Please let me know if there are new things, or things you'd like to see done differently, as the site heads into its eighth year!

From Facebook, June 8, 2013:

"TA DA! INTRODUCING COOKIE CONNECTION - the once-top secret project I've been working on! Read on for details . . .

So what exactly is Cookie Connection? It's an online cookie community - a special place to learn, share, and celebrate the art of cookie decorating.

Cookie Connection is my small attempt to bring the passionate world of cookiers closer together by placing photos, blogs, videos, chats, tutorials, and other resources all in one spot. What Cookie Connection will become is really up to all of us. I’ll seed it with content (cookier interviews, contests, tutorials, live chats, etc.) from time to time. But I really want it to be a place for our community to freely give of itself and to get increased acknowledgement and exposure for all of the brilliant work it is doing.

I hope you’ll jump right in, share your cookie stuff, and spread the word to any and all who you think will enjoy!

Special thanks to Fancy Flours, Designer Stencils, and BRP Box Shop for their contributions to the site. Also, special appreciation to Ali's Sweet Tooth (for the original idea), Pretty Sweet Designs (for the graphic design), and the team of Lucky Penny, Bakeskool, CookieCrazie & Cookies With A Mission, Glorious Treats, Arty McGoo, SweetAmbs, Sweetopia, and Karen's Cookies for getting on the site early to help work out the kinks." ~JMU

Thank you for creating this wonderful website!

@Econlady posted:

Thank you for creating this wonderful website!

Thank YOU for being such an involved and helpful member!

@Julia M. Usher posted:

Thank YOU for being such an involved and helpful member!

Thank you, but I enjoy being involved.

Seven years? I can hardly believe it, Julia. CC has blossomed into a unique community of thousands of cookiers worldwide that share a passion for the artistry of decorating cookies. It isn't just about loving to make pretty cookies (although that's an important part of decorating), but it's also about striving to reach the next level of creating SPECTACULAR cookies and cookie projects that WOW.

Julia, your brainchild, Cookie Connection, @Julia M. Usher is (for me) a safe place to challenge myself to make ever more artistic and technically "perfect" cookies...hoping for that spectacular result. LOL.

With the support of tutorials, seeing the incredible cookie artistry of others, participating in the challenges to develop and improve techniques, encouragement from others, etc. we all are beneficiaries of the welcoming and warm community that is Cookie Connection.

Congratulations, Julia, Happy Birthday and THANK YOU for the tireless work you invest in CC ❤️

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

Seven years? I can hardly believe it, Julia. CC has blossomed into a unique community of thousands of cookiers worldwide that share a passion for the artistry of decorating cookies. It isn't just about loving to make pretty cookies (although that's an important part of decorating), but it's also about striving to reach the next level of creating SPECTACULAR cookies and cookie projects that WOW.

Julia, your brainchild, Cookie Connection, @Julia M. Usher is (for me) a safe place to challenge myself to make ever more artistic and technically "perfect" cookies...hoping for that spectacular result. LOL.

With the support of tutorials, seeing the incredible cookie artistry of others, participating in the challenges to develop and improve techniques, encouragement from others, etc. we all are beneficiaries of the welcoming and warm community that is Cookie Connection.

Congratulations, Julia, Happy Birthday and THANK YOU for the tireless work you invest in CC ❤️

Thank YOU, Carol, for being such an exuberant member! I can always count on you to have a beautiful, encouraging remark for me or others. I so appreciate your generosity in this way!

Happy birthday Cookie Connection!!!

I have joined on 12-5-2013! Still remember that post on Facebook, and from that day it has become a pleasant daily routine to jump in posting, liking, commenting, reading and seeing what’s up in the cookie world! I always say this is a second family to me, a place where learning and sharing new techniques and trends but mostly where meeting amazing persons; I discovered that cookie friends are the best! I cannot count all my tears of joy for Awards, Spotlights and tons of Love and Support I received during these seven years and all the times I entered a Challenge and punctually did something wrong 😂

I kept you busy Julia, I know, but you must know that Cookie Connection is part of my life and sweet cookie adventure so you’ll have to be patient with me for many more years ahead! A special thanks to you and all contributors also that have done this place the most interesting and alive cookie community in the universe! I wish you all the best, Happy birthday with all my heart ♥️

WOW!

Happy Birthday ....I have followed the site for many years but only just joined a few days ago.  As a retired cake decorator I only got into ' cookie '  decorating when I bought  two books by Julia m usher. 

Cookie Swap and ultimate cookies.  Thank you Julia....most of my cookie technical skills come from these two books..and now my  I T skill have improved I ready to join this lovely community and learn more. 😃

Happy Birthday Cookie Connection....... I am very happy to be able to share your joy and experiences on cookies on this site. It's  also a place of growth for personal stories that I have been able to read in various posts. Many congrats  @Julia M. Usher and many congrats Cookie Connection!! 

@Evelindecora posted:

Happy birthday Cookie Connection!!!

I have joined on 12-5-2013! Still remember that post on Facebook, and from that day it has become a pleasant daily routine to jump in posting, liking, commenting, reading and seeing what’s up in the cookie world! I always say this is a second family to me, a place where learning and sharing new techniques and trends but mostly where meeting amazing persons; I discovered that cookie friends are the best! I cannot count all my tears of joy for Awards, Spotlights and tons of Love and Support I received during these seven years and all the times I entered a Challenge and punctually did something wrong 😂

I kept you busy Julia, I know, but you must know that Cookie Connection is part of my life and sweet cookie adventure so you’ll have to be patient with me for many more years ahead! A special thanks to you and all contributors also that have done this place the most interesting and alive cookie community in the universe! I wish you all the best, Happy birthday with all my heart ♥️

It's been an absolute joy to see your beautiful cookies on the site for almost seven years. And to know you, as artist and friend, just as long! I hope we can meet in person again one day soon - perhaps to share a coffee and cookies without wearing masks.  XO

@Dolce Flo posted:

Happy Birthday Cookie Connection....... I am very happy to be able to share your joy and experiences on cookies on this site. It's  also a place of growth for personal stories that I have been able to read in various posts. Many congrats  @Julia M. Usher and many congrats Cookie Connection!! 

Thank you; it is wonderful to have your glorious creations shared on the site. So thank YOU too for beautifying our site.

@Jean Adams posted:

Happy Birthday ....I have followed the site for many years but only just joined a few days ago.  As a retired cake decorator I only got into ' cookie '  decorating when I bought  two books by Julia m usher. 

Cookie Swap and ultimate cookies.  Thank you Julia....most of my cookie technical skills come from these two books..and now my  I T skill have improved I ready to join this lovely community and learn more. 😃

Yay - I am SO glad you finally joined and posted. I am thrilled to have you here! 

@Econlady posted:

Thank you, but I enjoy being involved.

I can tell! I love how you comment on nearly every question in every forum post! Thanks, especially, for tending to that area of the site and keeping it active.

Wow. I can’t believe it’s only been seven years. You have accomplished so much. It truly is an amazing and valuable resource. Particularly intimes like these, it proves the importance of connection. Each time I visit I am inspired and amazed. I also learn and gain confidence. This combination is no easy task.
I’m looking forward to participating more now that a new normal for me is setting in. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

Oh dear Julia, that's so nice to read !!!! That gives me goose bumps! Your "little try", as you call it, has become a great, great success !!! THE success in the cookie world !!!!  Thank you so much for this very informative and beautiful website !!! And so many Thanks for all your work! I love this website!!! I really have to read all the posts here in peace and quiet. That is so interesting !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOKIE CONNECTION !!!   @Julia M. Usher

How amazing!! Congratulations!! The site has for sure helped me to grow! I remember my first challenge, the amount of pressure, the research I did, and the excitement! I was a rookie! Been part of this group and another private group on Facebook helped me and a dear friend to create a space for the Brazilian cookie Community. Yesterday we launched the Brazilian Society of Cookie Artists, to help Brazil grow a bit! It's a facebook group. Thank you very much for everything, You, Julia, are my mentor, my inspiration, my guide through my cookie journey! ❤️

Thank you for all of your hard work to make this happen and to have a space for creators of all levels and skill sets

@LisaF posted:

Wow. I can’t believe it’s only been seven years. You have accomplished so much. It truly is an amazing and valuable resource. Particularly intimes like these, it proves the importance of connection. Each time I visit I am inspired and amazed. I also learn and gain confidence. This combination is no easy task.
I’m looking forward to participating more now that a new normal for me is setting in. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

Thank you! So glad to hear all of this, particularly that it's been a stabilizing and valuable resource at this tough time.

@sylviawilson posted:

Thank you for all of your hard work to make this happen and to have a space for creators of all levels and skill sets

You are welcome! Thank you for participating here. A community like this is only as strong as the skills, insight, and time that we all bring to it.

@Icingsugarkeks posted:

Oh dear Julia, that's so nice to read !!!! That gives me goose bumps! Your "little try", as you call it, has become a great, great success !!! THE success in the cookie world !!!!  Thank you so much for this very informative and beautiful website !!! And so many Thanks for all your work! I love this website!!! I really have to read all the posts here in peace and quiet. That is so interesting !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOKIE CONNECTION !!!   @Julia M. Usher

Happy birthday to ALL OF US! Everyone here contributes to making Cookie Connection a vital and fresh space! Thank YOU!

@Elke Hoelzle posted:

How amazing!! Congratulations!! The site has for sure helped me to grow! I remember my first challenge, the amount of pressure, the research I did, and the excitement! I was a rookie! Been part of this group and another private group on Facebook helped me and a dear friend to create a space for the Brazilian cookie Community. Yesterday we launched the Brazilian Society of Cookie Artists, to help Brazil grow a bit! It's a facebook group. Thank you very much for everything, You, Julia, are my mentor, my inspiration, my guide through my cookie journey! ❤️

 

Thank you, and good luck with your new Facebook group!!

@Julia M. Usher posted:

It's been an absolute joy to see your beautiful cookies on the site for almost seven years. And to know you, as artist and friend, just as long! I hope we can meet in person again one day soon - perhaps to share a coffee and cookies without wearing masks.  XO

Absolutely @Julia M. Usher!!! Just written in my to-do list ❤️

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOKIE CONNECTION!

As I recall 28 May 2018 I joined this beautiful community and from the day one with the help of many tutorials, Inspirarion from other amazing artists' creations and participating in PBP challenges I improved my cookie skills a lot.

This is an amazing place with many resources and full of wonderful, friendly souls, like a happy giant family. I'm so glad to be a part of the community.

I congratulate and thank Julia @Julia M. Usher from bottom of my heart, a wonderful and  precious spirit behind the scene. I wish nothing but best of luck to the community and all cookiers.❤️❤️❤️

@Kanch J posted:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOKIE CONNECTION!

As I recall 28 May 2018 I joined this beautiful community and from the day one with the help of many tutorials, Inspirarion from other amazing artists' creations and participating in PBP challenges I improved my cookie skills a lot.

This is an amazing place with many resources and full of wonderful, friendly souls, like a happy giant family. I'm so glad to be a part of the community.

I congratulate and thank Julia @Julia M. Usher from bottom of my heart, a wonderful and  precious spirit behind the scene. I wish nothing but best of luck to the community and all cookiers.❤️❤️❤️

Aww, so sweet! It's been such a joy to have you here for the last two years! ❤️

I am proud to know that I have been here since the very first day! 
When faced with huge life changes I found comfort, friendship and a source of knowledge here which helped shape these past 7 years of my life. 
Some of my closest friends I’ve developed because of CC.
I have watched the level of cookie creations spiral and the amount of cookiers worldwide expand and your site has been home base for most of us. 
It has been fun watching my own work develop over the years with help from the CC challenges, with all the knowledge I have absorbed from the wealth of chats, blogs and videos here to explore and mostly the encouragement I received from so many wonderful cookiers over the years and from you  ❤️!

Mostly I have seen the countless hours you have given of yourself to maintain this site to perfection and I want to thank you! None of it has gone unnoticed!

So Happy Birthday Cookie Connection! 🎈🎂

@Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:

I am proud to know that I have been here since the very first day! 
When faced with huge life changes I found comfort, friendship and a source of knowledge here which helped shape these past 7 years of my life. 
Some of my closest friends I’ve developed because of CC.
I have watched the level of cookie creations spiral and the amount of cookiers worldwide expand and your site has been home base for most of us. 
It has been fun watching my own work develop over the years with help from the CC challenges, with all the knowledge I have absorbed from the wealth of chats, blogs and videos here to explore and mostly the encouragement I received from so many wonderful cookiers over the years and from you  ❤️!

Mostly I have seen the countless hours you have given of yourself to maintain this site to perfection and I want to thank you! None of it has gone unnoticed!

So Happy Birthday Cookie Connection! 🎈🎂

Awww, thanks so much, Tina - for everything, from your role as chat coordinator at the beginning to participating so fully in the site all along. It's been a joy to have you on board and to get to know you!!

Congratulations Cookie connections 

I've gained so many inspirations from this site. I wish this place will continue to encourage everyone of us for many more years.

@Joanna Manuel posted:

Congratulations Cookie connections 

I've gained so many inspirations from this site. I wish this place will continue to encourage everyone of us for many more years.

Oh, so great to hear that the site has been a source of inspiration to you! That makes all the long hours and hard work on it worthwhile!

Felicidades!!

Muchas gracias por crea Cookie Conection, Es fantastica!!!!

@ElenaC3 posted:

Felicidades!!

Muchas gracias por crea Cookie Conection, Es fantastica!!!!

 

You are very welcome!