That said, our talented September site artist hardly needs a welcome, as she's one of the longest standing members of our happy cookie community, and her imprint is all over this site. But, here's a huge shout-out to @Manu biscotti decorati anyway! Site Art Stylist @Icingsugarkeks (aka Gabi) and I selected Manu's leaves (made for one of her previous Made by Manu tutorials) because they are so finely piped, and so expertly convey the essence of autumn, which I am eager to see soon (says me, who can't stand the summer heat, especially when it tops 90°F as it did today!). But I digress . . . Congrats to Manu, and thanks to Gabi for applying her graphic design talents to making Manu's cookies fit the peculiar parameters of our site banner and backdrop! A shout-out too to @Ryoko ~Cookie Ave. whose “MANU” cookies make a cameo appearance in the banner. They were part of a birthday gift that Ryoko made for Manu a few years ago, so they add even more meaning to that graphic!
Here's a closer view of Manu's cookies, which are currently sitting cozily in these special areas of the site:
As you may have noticed, Manu took a brief hiatus from her tutorials and challenges on this site, but she returns with a fresh tutorial in September and a new challenge later this fall! I can't wait. I'm sure many of you have been holding your breath in anticipation of her new work too!
Since Manu is so well known to all of us (and since I am still working on the Cookier Close-up interview for @Dita, our June site artist!), I will refer you to Manu's earlier interview with me, her Made by Manu tutorial series, the Watch-Learn-Create challenges that she hosts, and her bio below for more information about her and her very interesting cookie journey. Again, my sincerest thanks to Manu for beautifying our site in SO many ways for SO many years!
Manuela Pezzopane, affectionately called Manu by her friends and family, is the author of the blog feature Made by Manu, where each month she shares the method behind a magical cookie of her own making. In March 2022, Manu also assumed the role of host of our rebranded and reformatted Cookie Connection Challenges: Watch-Learn-Create Series, which debuted in a virtual video format in July 2022. A fan of everything handmade, Manu professes to have tried every possible hobby. However, it wasn’t until the end of 2014, when an American friend invited her to a Christmas cookie exchange, that she first discovered decorated cookies. In 2015, after watching Julia M. Usher's videos and signing up on Cookie Connection, Manu finally attempted her own designs. Since then, cookie decorating has become Manu’s passion, and her mesmerizing video shorts have earned her a large and loyal following throughout the global cookie community. Manu harks from Rome, Italy, where she currently resides. You can email Manu at manubiscottidecorati@gmail.com, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or, once again, explore her past challenges and large library of Made by Manu tutorials here on Cookie Connection.
All cookies and photos by Manu Pezzopane, except for “MANU” photo and cookies by Ryoko Hayashi.
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 all of 2024, thanks to @Icingsugarkeks, but she is currently at work on material for 2025. So don't hesitate to submit your cookies at any time. 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.
