Gingerbread Ladies

I had so much fun with this project.  There was significant trial and error in coming up with the appropriately sized contours to pair together.  My original idea was to use the bottom part of a hemisphere for the brims - a technique Julia has used in various applicaitons.  I knew that a proper and clean alignment was going to be difficult so I decided to just stack the cookies instead.  It made it so much easier and stable. All of the pieces were dipped in royal icing.

The attachment seam is covered with royal icing transfers, fondant ribbons and direct piping.

The underside of each hat has a liner of either rolled modeling chocolate, stenciled fondant or direct paint.

The same is true for the inside of the head. In a couple of the heads, I airbrushed the fondant with a stencil of pink flamingos.  It amused me to know end to think of gingerbread ladies with heads full of pink flamingos!

The hat both removes easily and stays in place, which makes it easy to fill those heads with chocolates, truffles or all sorts of treats. 

Thank you so much Julia @Julia M. Usher and Manu @Manu biscotti decorati for creating such a fun challenge.  It really helped pull me out of the creative funk I had sadly been wallowing in!  Many, many thanks!!

These cookies are super darling!  

These are beautiful cookies Lisa @LisaF. Love the flowers. Your work is so neat too.

Such a great idea Lisa,they are so cute,really nice work dear 👏

OMG, can we just talk about how cute and ingenious these ladies are?!! I am so impressed! It's clear how thoughtful you were about placement of design elements and seams, and concealing seams in the overall design. Truly well done!

Oh, Lisa @LisaF, this is so creative! Thank you for explaining which of Julia’s techniques has inspired you and how you adjusted your creative process. The bonnets are so cute and I like the idea that each “lady” is a sort of cookie box, that  can be filled with treats. I loved the idea to think about decorating also the underside of each hat and the inside of each head.

Love them!!

@ZeeKee posted:

These cookies are super darling!  

Thank you so much!

@Zeena posted:

These are beautiful cookies Lisa @LisaF. Love the flowers. Your work is so neat too.

Thank you for your kind words Zeena!❤️

@Petra Florean posted:

Such a great idea Lisa,they are so cute,really nice work dear 👏

Thank you so much Petra.😘

@Julia M. Usher posted:

OMG, can we just talk about how cute and ingenious these ladies are?!! I am so impressed! It's clear how thoughtful you were about placement of design elements and seams, and concealing seams in the overall design. Truly well done!

Thank you so much Julia.  You have been such an inspiration for being more mindful and improving my attention to detail.  You are always helpfully specific about what things may be terribly problematic versus what can be easily covered up.  I really loved the last two online classes. Even if I was too grumpy in Dessert Drama to finish my piece.  😂I have been obsessed with using the airbrushed line for something.  It looks like elegant pottery in that project but it also reminded me of potential fabric.  That project was also a reminder of the various uses for shallower hemispheres.  You have demonstrated so many techniques, with limitless applications.  I'm terribly grateful.❤️

@Manu biscotti decorati posted:

Oh, Lisa @LisaF, this is so creative! Thank you for explaining which of Julia’s techniques has inspired you and how you adjusted your creative process. The bonnets are so cute and I like the idea that each “lady” is a sort of cookie box, that  can be filled with treats. I loved the idea to think about decorating also the underside of each hat and the inside of each head.

Thank you so much Manu.  I wanted to be able to do something that could contain treats.  Usually when I attempt these things, however, the final result is so shakily  held together that I can't risk it.  I know that would have happened if I had used the partial hemisphere for the brim instead of the uncut piece.  Admittedly, I am a bit obsessed with the partial hemisphere that Julia uses but I am equally obsessed with her airbrushing stencils on fondant to cover surfaces!  When it all started to come together and I was able to duplicate it, I was beyond thrilled!! I kept screaming, "Oh my God! I think this is going to work!!!"  Thank you so much for this challenge.

@Aproned Artist posted:

Love them!!

Thank you so much Samantha!

I absolutely love your bonnets Lisa @LisaF!! Your floral decorations on each "hat" is really colorful and adds another aspect to the realism of your work . You did a wonderful job making these. What a fun idea to create a decorated "lining" to the inside to your hats. Super creative idea to use modeling chocolate and rolled fondant for these extra touches. Simply wonderful my dear, dear friend ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

So darling! Brilliant! 😍

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

I absolutely love your bonnets Lisa @LisaF!! Your floral decorations on each "hat" is really colorful and adds another aspect to the realism of your work . You did a wonderful job making these. What a fun idea to create a decorated "lining" to the inside to your hats. Super creative idea to use modeling chocolate and rolled fondant for these extra touches. Simply wonderful my dear, dear friend ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Thank you so much for your kind words Carol. I really had so much fun with this.❤️😘😘

@Evelindecora posted:

So darling! Brilliant! 😍

Thank you so much my friend ❤️

I love how you stacked the cookies - it's a very smart idea (work smart, not hard, LOL). The fondant and royal icing decorations cover the seams perfectly, and make the hats look beautiful. I also love the decorative elements underneath the cookies!

@Sweet Prodigy posted:

I love how you stacked the cookies - it's a very smart idea (work smart, not hard, LOL). The fondant and royal icing decorations cover the seams perfectly, and make the hats look beautiful. I also love the decorative elements underneath the cookies!

Thank you so much Christine. I did think of you with this challenge. As I was brainstorming ideas, my thoughts kept returning to various contoured flower containers.😂 I heard your voice each time and, after the third or fourth flower container idea I thought ‘Christine may be on to something.’ Then I went back to the drawing board. 😝😘😁

These are wonderful.

@Tina at Sugar Wishes posted:

These are wonderful.

Thank you for your kind words Tina.  I had a lot of fun with this one.

Cuties!

@Rosanna posted:

Cuties!

Thank you Rosanna!