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Before we unveil our site artist, another HUGE thank-you to Gabi, aka @Icingsugarkeks! Like last month, she found some awesome cookie art on the site and turned it into this month's banner and backdrop. It's very July-appropriate, don't you think?! And the banner rotates once again! Yippee!

july_banner_animjuly01

Of course, HUGE congrats as well to the cookie artist behind these festive Fourth of July pieces, who is none other than . . . @Cookies Fantastique, aka Carol Mattison! Carol has been a Cookie Connection member since January 2014, and has ever since brightened our lives with her beautiful work and incredibly generous support. Nary a day passes that she doesn't leave several thoughtful and encouraging comments under others' posts. So, in short, this tribute to our remarkable Carol is looooong overdue!

As usual, I've asked Carol to do an in-depth Cookier Close-up interview with me (one of the perks of being a featured site artist), which should post in August after our previously slated Close-up with @Sweet Prodigy. 'Til then, please check out her bio and other social media links below.

Carol Head Shot - USE THISCROPPEDCarol Mattison, aka @Cookies Fantastique, initially began decorating cookies as a way to distract herself from a life-changing event. Literally overnight she went from having a demanding career in marketing and advertising, playing tennis in her free time, traveling, and always being on the move to never being able to walk normally again. In time, and with the encouragement from family and friends, she came to the realization that she needed to find something fun to replace her previously active lifestyle. She was drawn into cookie decorating when she volunteered to make finger desserts for a niece’s wedding. Cookies!

She threw herself into watching cookie decorating videos by well known artists: Julia M. Usher, Montreal Confections (Marlyn Birmingham), and SweetAmbs (Amber Spiegel). She read everything she could get her hands on. And she kept practicing, practicing, and more practicing . . . clearly, she was hooked!

Carol quickly got requests for special event cookies. She became a very busy cookier. She created a Facebook business page, and Cookies Fantastique was born! As a self-taught cookie decorator, she continues to challenge herself to improve her skills and increase her knowledge of various techniques.

One of Carol’s greatest joys comes from encouraging other cookie decorators! She knows that people often need a simple kind word to make their day brighter. This is Carol’s way to “pay it forward” in thankfulness to the many people who have helped her for many years.  

To see more of Carol's cookie work, please visit her Cookie Connection portfolio and Facebook and Instagram pages. And be sure to stay tuned for her in-depth Cookier Close-up interview, which, again, is coming in about a month!

Cookie and Photo Credits: Carol Mattison

Interested in seeing your name in lights and having your cookies featured on Cookie Connection?! I thought so! I would love to see your cookie art here too! I am COMPLETELY OUT OF SITE ART from now until eternity, so please consider contributing as early as NOW, for posting in August 2020!

It's easy to submit! Just 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!

Thanks in advance for considering a contribution to the site!

** BONUS! **
@Icingsugarkeks has generously volunteered to help any member who needs assistance formatting his/her work for these submissions, so please don't hesitate to seek her out. If interested, please leave her a private message or a comment below.

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Images (3)
  • July 2020 Site Banner: Cookies and Photo by Carol Mattison; Graphic Design by Gabi and Pretty Sweet Designs
  • July 2020 Site Background: Cookies and Photos by Carol Mattison; Graphic Design by Gabi
  • Carol Mattison: Photo Courtesy of Carol Mattison
Last edited by Julia M. Usher
Original Post

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Oh my cookie friend Carol,
I have to agree with Julia and Tina! You are long "overdue" and one of the kindest most encouraging members !!  It hits it perfectly! You often have doubts yourself, but always have only good words ready for others !! I am therefore particularly pleased and honored to have had made your banner for this month... Your cookies are always a dream !!! Believe in yourself Carol, you are a fantastic, creative, talented, lovable and simply unique lady and cookie friend !!! 1000 Hugs to you Carol !!!
😘❤️❤️❤️  @Cookies Fantastique

Oh my cookie friend Carol,
I have to agree with Julia and Tina! You are long "overdue" and one of the kindest most encouraging members !!  It hits it perfectly! You often have doubts yourself, but always have only good words ready for others !! I am therefore particularly pleased and honored to have had made your banner for this month... Your cookies are always a dream !!! Believe in yourself Carol, you are a fantastic, creative, talented, lovable and simply unique lady and cookie friend !!! 1000 Hugs to you Carol !!!
😘❤️❤️❤️  @Cookies Fantastique

Couldn't agree more with all you said!

Having a hard time seeing very clearly right now...thank you all for your kind words! I love being a member of CC. You ALL bring so much joy to my life through your incredible art and thoughtful comments.

Julia, @Julia M. Usher, I have the greatest admiration and respect for you. You graciously give of yourself every single day. Thank YOU for being the lovely woman you are ❤️.

Dear Gabi, @Icingsugarkeks, thank you my sweet cookie friend for your hard work in creating the banner art! Your kindness, friendship and encouragement mean so much to me. You have made my cookies look beautiful here ❤️.

Having a hard time seeing very clearly right now...thank you all for your kind words! I love being a member of CC. You ALL bring so much joy to my life through your incredible art and thoughtful comments.

Julia, @Julia M. Usher, I have the greatest admiration and respect for you. You graciously give of yourself every single day. Thank YOU for being the lovely woman you are ❤️.

Dear Gabi, @Icingsugarkeks, thank you my sweet cookie friend for your hard work in creating the banner art! Your kindness, friendship and encouragement mean so much to me. You have made my cookies look beautiful here ❤️.

Awww, I'm now the one who's having trouble seeing clearly! 😘 

Thank you for your amazingly generous words. And, congrats! I truly mean it when I say this feature was long overdue - you've been lighting up everyone's lives on this site for so long! We cherish you!

Awww, I'm now the one who's having trouble seeing clearly! 😘 

Thank you for your amazingly generous words. And, congrats! I truly mean it when I say this feature was long overdue - you've been lighting up everyone's lives on this site for so long! We cherish you!

That's sooo tru!!!

Having a hard time seeing very clearly right now...thank you all for your kind words! I love being a member of CC. You ALL bring so much joy to my life through your incredible art and thoughtful comments.

Julia, @Julia M. Usher, I have the greatest admiration and respect for you. You graciously give of yourself every single day. Thank YOU for being the lovely woman you are ❤️.

Dear Gabi, @Icingsugarkeks, thank you my sweet cookie friend for your hard work in creating the banner art! Your kindness, friendship and encouragement mean so much to me. You have made my cookies look beautiful here ❤️.

Thank you so soooooo much my dear cookie friend, but this month's honor is yours alone !!! Enjoy it, Carol !!  @Cookies Fantastique

Awww, I'm now the one who's having trouble seeing clearly! 😘 

Thank you for your amazingly generous words. And, congrats! I truly mean it when I say this feature was long overdue - you've been lighting up everyone's lives on this site for so long! We cherish you!

Thank you so very much for these sweet words, Julia!! @Julia M. Usher CC brings so much joy to my life. I care very deeply about every member here. Such talent, generosity and kindness!!! What's not to love?!

How spectacular cookie set for July dear Carol,you are very creative talented and especially kind and nice person❤️Great July's banner dear Gabi,thank you ladies!

Happy July 

You are always so very sweet and kind dear Petra @Petra Florean! Whenever I see that you have posted some new artwork I smile . Your creativity is amazing ❤️

You are always so thoughtful and encouraging, Carol. ☺ And this is such perfect site art for July's banner. Your cookies are always nothing short of spectacular. 🎆💖 @Cookies Fantastique

Christine...what can I say?! You are amazingly talented and your work continually blows me away with its creativity and perfection @Sweet Prodigy ❤️. You are always so kind and thoughtful to everyone. I know all the artists on CC share my thoughts and feelings about you my dear cookie friend ❤️. Hugs...

Excellent job Carol! You are one of the kindest most encouraging members of the cookie community. ❤️ 
Happy July to all! 

Dear Tina...I'm always excited to see what you've come up with whenever you post new cookies . I know they'll be amazing, beautiful and so creative @Tina at Sugar Wishes. Thank you for your kindness to me! You are beyond thoughtful with your sweet comments to everyone. How I'd love to meet you in person. Since that's probably not very likely we'll just have to Zoom again. Yay!!! Be safe and well my friend ❤️. Hugs...

These cookies are phenomenal Carol @Cookies Fantastique.    I'm having a tough time picking my favorite.  So many techniques, all done superbly.  Thank you as well for all of your support and encouragement to everyone.  ❤️😘

@LisaF posted:

These cookies are phenomenal Carol @Cookies Fantastique.    I'm having a tough time picking my favorite.  So many techniques, all done superbly.  Thank you as well for all of your support and encouragement to everyone.  ❤️😘

Thanks so much for your kind words dear Lisa @LisaF! You're always so sweet ❤️

@Kanch J posted:

Such a wonderful cookie set dear Carol ❤ 🇺🇲 @Cookies Fantastique. So perfect!

And wonderful site art dear Gabi ❤@Icingsugarkeks

Congratulations to both of you!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

 

 

Thank you so very much for your sweet words @Kanch J!! You are always so kind. I love seeing your work here...so creative my dear cookie friend ❤️

Beautiful banner and backdrop, Carol.  It is nice to see pretty things whenever I come to Cookie Connection.  ❤️🤍💙
I am really looking forward to your close-up

Thank you very much dear Ryoko @Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.! Your work is always a new and exciting feast for the eyes . I love your creative ideas and how you transfer those ideas into beautiful cookie art. Hugs...❤️❤️

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