You've probably already spotted our adorable wintry site art for this month! It's delightful just as originally decorated by return site artist @mintlemonade (cookie crumbs), aka Noriko Forster. But the added wing-waving and snow falling in the banner (thanks to Site Art Stylist Gabi, aka @Icingsugarkeks) takes it over the top! I love every bit of it, don't you? It just warms my heart!
Noriko needs little introduction, as she's known the world over for her meticulous (and very tiny) piping and picture-perfect icing - not to mention her ultra-sophisticated color choices. She's also been a Cookie Connection site artist more than once, most recently in 2017, if I am not mistaken. But, if you haven't yet had the good fortune of meeting Noriko, I leave you with her bio below and her previous Cookier Close-up interview so you can get acquainted.
Other great news: Noriko will be participating in a very special Cookie Connection activity later this month, so please stay tuned!
Again, many thanks to Noriko for lending her work to beautify the site this month, and to Gabi for adding her signature flair to the graphics!
Noriko Forster (aka mintlemonade aka cookie crumbs) started her cookie decorating journey in spring 2012 when she happened upon a book about cookie decorating in a local shop. She was so intrigued that she decided she would cover a store-bought cake with cookies for her elder daughter's birthday to make the cake extra special for her. Noriko guessed that cookie decorating would be much simpler than making a fancy cake, but she found it actually wasn’t so easy!
Nevertheless, Noriko's decorating skills and reputation for making beautiful colors and flowers grew fast! By the end of 2013, Noriko was teaching cookie decorating classes out of her home, while also editing language-learning books and Japanese translations of English books as her primary job. By 2016, Noriko's cookie class work ended up occupying more time than her book editing job. She taught six classes a month on average (!), which she admits was a bit too much for her. Now, at the end of 2023, Noriko estimates that she's taught cookie decorating to more than 1,000 students!
On a more personal note, Noriko lives in Tokyo, is married to an Aussie, and is the mother of two girls, ages 17 and 19. She studied modern American literature at university and, upon graduation, worked for a book editing company and then a publisher. After becoming a mother, she began editing as a freelancer. She enjoys being a stay-at-home mom, working at home when her schedule permits, and reading British and American novels when she's not decorating cookies.
To learn more about Noriko's cookie work, please visit her Cookie Connection portfolio and Instagram page.
All cookies and photos by Noriko Forster.
Last but not least, for those of you who are wondering how to get featured, it's easy! Simply read these posts here and here. Remember: Site artists not only get their work featured prominently for a full month, but they also get profiled in a forum post like this one and in an in-depth Cookier Close-up interview. All considered, it's a lot of great free PR in exchange for photo sharing! When preparing your site art, please bear in mind that I already have artwork through much of 2024, thanks to @Icingsugarkeks, but she is still working on selections for June and November 2024, as well as for 2025. So don't hesitate to submit your cookies for those months. Please also remember that Icingsugarkeks is available to help you get your photos in the right format, so feel free to contact her if you need assistance! You can send her a PM right here on Cookie Connection by clicking on her name (in pink) above.
