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...

It’s once again Cookier Close-up time! Yay! I just love learning more about our fabulous Cookie Connection members! Today, we’re talking with a member who harks from one of the cities and countries where I’ve most frequently traveled to teach cookie decorating – Buenos Aires, Argentina! I absolutely love...

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 2o companies raised more than $13,000 in prizes for Julia's 2021 competition? Find out, and then give them your love...

How exciting! The cookie competition of the year is here in its brand new, shiny virtual format! Here is where you will find all of the information to help you register for and later submit your entry into the 2021 virtual edition of Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™...

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...

Hi, all! It's Saturday Spotlight time again! This week, we've got a few Fourth of July stragglers as well as a mixed bag of birthday, baby shower, portrait, and other cookies topping our hot list! It's always great fun to...

On this eve of Independence Day, it's only fitting that this week's top-trending cookie (and also our cover image) is a tribute to the beauty of the United States. Kudos to Zeena for the very clever concept of...

Aloe, beautiful cookiers! I told you my stencil releases were deviating from seasonal and going more trendy! While I'm a bit late to the boho macramé planter craze, there's no imminent threat of it disappearing any time soon. The look is just so darn cheerful and fun that it's sure to stick around for longer than most would predict. So, with that...

Hi, everyone! It's time to celebrate some very important people on the site! As you hopefully know by now, Cookie Connection stays the vibrant, enriching place that it is in large part because of the hard work and generosity of our contributors...

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 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...

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...

Hi, everyone! What a charming round-up of cookies I have for you on this lovely Saturday night! All of our Spotlightees, with two exceptions, are veteran honorees. Special congrats to...

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...

Hi, everyone! This week's Spotlight is a straight-up pure, unadulterated "top 10", yet, even so, Mothers' Day cookies clearly dominate it. With...

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...

I so often guide my stencil release designs by the upcoming season or holiday, but NOT with this release! Instead, I've decided to change things up and augment my stencil line with...

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...

With Mothers' Day just around the corner here in the US, it seems only fitting to highlight the top-trenders in this clip category tonight! And because we all know moms everywhere...