Gingerbread Boy and Girl (Sri Lankan)

I wanted to dress these gingerbread cookies in Sri Lankan style. I wanted to make the boy’s clothes to resemble the batik cloth of Sri Lanka, so I used painted lines and patterns from Sugarveil icing. The girl is wearing a traditional cloth skirt and a jacket. Usually one side of the skirt has a few pleats on the top. The flowers are made of fondant and I wanted it to resemble frangipani which is widely used in all religious and festive occasions. Wearing pearl necklace and earrings are common too. I used lace to as trim on the blouse and skirt.

(For some reason my Sugar Veil lace was brittle when it was ready to use. Any suggestions what could have gone wrong)

@Zeena posted:

I wanted to dress these gingerbread cookies in Sri Lankan style. I wanted to make the boy’s clothes to resemble the batik cloth of Sri Lanka, so I used painted lines and patterns from Sugarveil icing. The girl is wearing a traditional cloth skirt and a jacket. Usually one side of the skirt has a few pleats on the top. The flowers are made of fondant and I wanted it to resemble frangipani which is widely used in all religious and festive occasions. Wearing pearl necklace and earrings are common too. I used lace to as trim on the blouse and skirt.

(For some reason my Sugar Veil lace was brittle when it was ready to use. Any suggestions what could have gone wrong)

I love how you always share bits of your culture in your entries! Such sweet cookies too!

As for your SugarVeil issue, SugarVeil is mostly sugar and therefore is quite vulnerable to changes in humidity (over-drying or too much moisture). If you had trouble pulling it from the mat without it breaking, then you over-dried it. If it cracked some time after removing it from the mat, then it continued to dry once removed (the drier the ambient conditions, the faster it will get brittle). I always store my pulled SugarVeil in resealable baggies if I am not going to use it right away; that way, it stays flexible longer. Brittle SugarVeil pieces (if out of the mat) can be softened by setting them on parchment paper on top of a barely damp towel; the lace will slowly absorb the moisture and get pliable again. (Or you can wipe the lace with a damp cloth, but do so carefully if it was already pulled from the mat. It's safer/easier to wipe the lace when still in the mat.) Conversely, under humid conditions, SugarVeil will take longer to dry, and once-firm SugarVeil pieces can get soft again and/or wilt.

Such cute idea for the Challenge! Love the colors of Sri Lankan style and your implementation dear Zeena!! @Zeena ❤️

@Julia M. Usher posted:

I love how you always share bits of your culture in your entries! Such sweet cookies too!

As for your SugarVeil issue, SugarVeil is mostly sugar and therefore is quite vulnerable to changes in humidity (over-drying or too much moisture). If you had trouble pulling it from the mat without it breaking, then you over-dried it. If it cracked some time after removing it from the mat, then it continued to dry once removed (the drier the ambient conditions, the faster it will get brittle). I always store my pulled SugarVeil in resealable baggies if I am not going to use it right away; that way, it stays flexible longer. Brittle SugarVeil pieces (if out of the mat) can be softened by setting them on parchment paper on top of a barely damp towel; the lace will slowly absorb the moisture and get pliable again. (Or you can wipe the lace with a damp cloth, but do so carefully if it was already pulled from the mat. It's safer/easier to wipe the lace when still in the mat.) Conversely, under humid conditions, SugarVeil will take longer to dry, and once-firm SugarVeil pieces can get soft again and/or wilt.

That's very interesting, Julia. This year it was exactly the opposite for me than for Zeena. The sugar peak was still flexible after days and it's true that we had humidity over 63% because outside it was freezing cold and clammy and at some point the cold would creep through the walls. We don't have dehumidifiers or air conditioning. I also didn't know that once dried tips can be made soft again. Very good information!! Thank you Julia!   @Julia M. Usher

@Julia M. Usher posted:

I love how you always share bits of your culture in your entries! Such sweet cookies too!

As for your SugarVeil issue, SugarVeil is mostly sugar and therefore is quite vulnerable to changes in humidity (over-drying or too much moisture). If you had trouble pulling it from the mat without it breaking, then you over-dried it. If it cracked some time after removing it from the mat, then it continued to dry once removed (the drier the ambient conditions, the faster it will get brittle). I always store my pulled SugarVeil in resealable baggies if I am not going to use it right away; that way, it stays flexible longer. Brittle SugarVeil pieces (if out of the mat) can be softened by setting them on parchment paper on top of a barely damp towel; the lace will slowly absorb the moisture and get pliable again. (Or you can wipe the lace with a damp cloth, but do so carefully if it was already pulled from the mat. It's safer/easier to wipe the lace when still in the mat.) Conversely, under humid conditions, SugarVeil will take longer to dry, and once-firm SugarVeil pieces can get soft again and/or wilt.

Thank you Julia @Julia M. Usher for the valuable tips.

Very cool

Thank you so much for sharing your culture in such a beautiful way! ♥️

My dear Zeena @Zeena, you always amaze me with how many challenge entries you submit!! And they are all uniquely decorated. I always appreciate learning more about your roots in Sri Lanka!!! These are wonderful my dear friend ❤️❤️❤️

@LisaF posted:

Very cool

Thank you dear Lisa.

@Heather Bruce Sosa posted:

Thank you so much for sharing your culture in such a beautiful way! ♥️

Thank you dear Heather.

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

My dear Zeena @Zeena, you always amaze me with how many challenge entries you submit!! And they are all uniquely decorated. I always appreciate learning more about your roots in Sri Lanka!!! These are wonderful my dear friend ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you dear Carol for your kind words.

What a pretty entry, Zeena, and what a nice idea! I loved to read about every single detail on your cookies. Thank you for participating!

How cute!

@Manu biscotti decorati posted:

What a pretty entry, Zeena, and what a nice idea! I loved to read about every single detail on your cookies. Thank you for participating!

Thank you Manu.

@Evelindecora posted:

How cute!

Thank you Evelin.

Very very cute! Love the concept! What sugar lace did you use?