This was interesting to see where the votes went and what others had to say in the “Other” category. This is only the 2^nd Challenge I’ve entered. I actually “stumbled” across this site only lately, about 3 weeks before Challenge 21 ended, so I entered. I haven’t really decorated cookies for over 30 years and had only recently decided I’d give it a try again. I work outside the home, full-time, and have many other obligations (particularly at this time of year), so there hasn’t been a lot of time for practicing this art. Therefore, just like some of the others, I am intimidated by the professional looking cookies I see and that these artists are able to put out so many in such a short period of time. I don’t own an air brush, or any stencils, or a dehydrator, and I have no financial backing except the little I can use from my paycheck, so even basic tools are difficult to gather. I have done the last 2 Challenges because that is what I decided to do, to really push myself, with techniques and trying to get my cookies to look more professional. I don’t put up the other cookies I do, because I feel they would be an “embarrassment” in comparison to the beauty that is created by the others. It isn’t that my Challenge cookies aren’t a little bit of an embarrassment, but I’m prepared for that when it’s only once every 6 weeks or so. It seems as if others feel the way I do – intimidated because we don’t feel our cookies “measure up” and don’t have the “fancy” equipment that might help us to compete on an equal footing -  and that’s why they have not entered the Challenges. I can definitely say, however, that I have only had positive responses from people so far and I thank the Cookie Connection community for that. So, while understanding the hesitancy, I do encourage others to try the Challenges – they really are rather fun – and it isn’t really a competition, except with yourself.

Nikki Carriere posted:

This was interesting to see where the votes went and what others had to say in the “Other” category. This is only the 2^nd Challenge I’ve entered. I actually “stumbled” across this site only lately, about 3 weeks before Challenge 21 ended, so I entered. I haven’t really decorated cookies for over 30 years and had only recently decided I’d give it a try again. I work outside the home, full-time, and have many other obligations (particularly at this time of year), so there hasn’t been a lot of time for practicing this art. Therefore, just like some of the others, I am intimidated by the professional looking cookies I see and that these artists are able to put out so many in such a short period of time. I don’t own an air brush, or any stencils, or a dehydrator, and I have no financial backing except the little I can use from my paycheck, so even basic tools are difficult to gather. I have done the last 2 Challenges because that is what I decided to do, to really push myself, with techniques and trying to get my cookies to look more professional. I don’t put up the other cookies I do, because I feel they would be an “embarrassment” in comparison to the beauty that is created by the others. It isn’t that my Challenge cookies aren’t a little bit of an embarrassment, but I’m prepared for that when it’s only once every 6 weeks or so. It seems as if others feel the way I do – intimidated because we don’t feel our cookies “measure up” and don’t have the “fancy” equipment that might help us to compete on an equal footing -  and that’s why they have not entered the Challenges. I can definitely say, however, that I have only had positive responses from people so far and I thank the Cookie Connection community for that. So, while understanding the hesitancy, I do encourage others to try the Challenges – they really are rather fun – and it isn’t really a competition, except with yourself.

Thank you so much for this excellent and candid feedback, Nikki. And thank you for participating in the challenges, despite the obstacles!

Bakerloo Station posted:

Nikki Carriere posted:

This was interesting to see where the votes went and what others had to say in the “Other” category. This is only the 2^nd Challenge I’ve entered. I actually “stumbled” across this site only lately, about 3 weeks before Challenge 21 ended, so I entered. I haven’t really decorated cookies for over 30 years and had only recently decided I’d give it a try again. I work outside the home, full-time, and have many other obligations (particularly at this time of year), so there hasn’t been a lot of time for practicing this art. Therefore, just like some of the others, I am intimidated by the professional looking cookies I see and that these artists are able to put out so many in such a short period of time. I don’t own an air brush, or any stencils, or a dehydrator, and I have no financial backing except the little I can use from my paycheck, so even basic tools are difficult to gather. I have done the last 2 Challenges because that is what I decided to do, to really push myself, with techniques and trying to get my cookies to look more professional. I don’t put up the other cookies I do, because I feel they would be an “embarrassment” in comparison to the beauty that is created by the others. It isn’t that my Challenge cookies aren’t a little bit of an embarrassment, but I’m prepared for that when it’s only once every 6 weeks or so. It seems as if others feel the way I do – intimidated because we don’t feel our cookies “measure up” and don’t have the “fancy” equipment that might help us to compete on an equal footing -  and that’s why they have not entered the Challenges. I can definitely say, however, that I have only had positive responses from people so far and I thank the Cookie Connection community for that. So, while understanding the hesitancy, I do encourage others to try the Challenges – they really are rather fun – and it isn’t really a competition, except with yourself.

Thank you so much for this excellent and candid feedback, Nikki. And thank you for participating in the challenges, despite the obstacles!

Agree - thanks for the super candid feedback and for just diving in and participating in the challenges. Having watched several cookiers' submissions to the challenges over time, I can say with certainty that skills only evolve by participating. Entering challenges is a great way to grow, and, if people take the further leap of asking other members or our contributors (who review the images for featuring in our Saturday Spotlight) for feedback and advice, the learning process can be accelerated. But, I also agree, it takes a certain amount of courage to step out there and share one's work publicly, be it in challenges or just on social media. There's always the fear that it won't be well received or won't stack up to others' work . . . but, at least here on Cookie Connection, you're sharing among friends who I've also found to be super supportive!