It's a Cherry Blossom Celebration!

http://www.cookiecrazie.com/2012/04/cherry-blossom-cookie-extravaganza.html

During the month of April, Pam of CookieCrazie posted a tutorial on Cherry Blossom cookies.  I really thought they were pretty and wanted to give her tutorial a try.  I got the perfect chance when I looked at the calendar and realized that after 3 long years of classes, our daughter-in-law was finishing her Administrative Type 75 program and another Masters.  Now, you might be asking, how do cherry blossoms become graduation cookies?  Wave the magic wand . . .

Throw in a diploma and Anna's monogram.

If you are putting them on a platter, listen to that Cookie Artisan inner voice and be sure to have a message cookie and do some planning. 

Ordinarily, that would be the end of it, but I also wanted these to be a gift from her girls.  We don't live close, so it was hard to make them part of the baking and decorating process, so I did the next best thing.

Kendra

Kylie

I brought some blank cookies and the food markers to the girls and let them loose.  Now, perhaps it would have been more eye appealing to limit their colors to my palette, but they are five and three.  More Colors = More Fun = More Love for Mom!  They were so pleased with the results.

Little Kylie almost blabbed our secret to her mom, but we were able to distract her.  We kept the cookies and made a special delivery the next morning to Anna's school.  The girls were so proud to take their special treat to mom.

A special hug goes out to all our children for being dedicated teachers.  We know how hard it is balance your professional and family commitments. 

Spring Fling 2012 . . . It's All About the Shoes!



Kay and May of Cookie Two Shoes

For those of you who were unable to attend the first ever (but not the last) Cookie Spring Fling, let me just begin by saying that it's all about the shoes!  Kay and May of Cookie Two Shoes http://www.cookietwoshoes.com/ are the dynamo's who turned this dream into a reality.  They should be hearing the thunderous applause from all around the cookie world for putting 424 pounds of powdered sugar, 380 cookies, and 64 cookiers together for a memorable three-day experience. They worked their little tails off getting sponsorships that kept costs to a minimum for participants.  They poured their heart and souls and husbands into this event.   I applaud their efforts, appreciate their hospitality, and in awe of their commitment. 

Can you believe our six fabulous instructors arrived thinking that some of the attendees would not know who they were?  Many of us followed their earliest photo's on Flickr and check their blog posts on a daily basis.  They were so generous in sharing their self-taught skills . . . wrapping a bullet of icing, using a stencil, arranging an attractive platter, packaging and photographing cookie creations, working with glaze icing, and applying "cookie think."  (Although, I may need to trade kids with Callye.  My family expects full bodies and faces when they request character cookies.)


Karen of Karen's Cookies  http://www.karenscookies.net/
Alison of Ali Bee's Bake Shop http://snargblog.blogspot.com/
Maryann of Cookie Artisan http://www.flickr.com/photos/34555769@N04/
Glory of Glorious Treats http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/
Pam of Cookie Crazie http://www.cookiecrazie.com/
Callye of Sweet Sugar Belle http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/

 
 Did we recognize them?  See for yourself . . .

Your would think that George Clooney had walked into the room when our six instructors posed with their new aprons.

Maryann was kind enough to arrange our Kentucky themed cookies into platters for a photo shoot.

Each participant was asked to create two Kentucky theme cookies.  The display was jaw-dropping beautiful as well as creative.  This group was very imaginative and has their own arsenal of piping skills.  Check out the work for yourself.

The blackberry fruit jar was selected by participants as the best entry.

Now that I have shown you the overall collection, I'll share the entries that Cookie Friend and I brought to the event.  Diane created a beautiful butterfly and a goldenrod cookie.  I went with the NCAA basketball collection.

As our instructors repeatedly advised, "Experiment and have fun and quit apologizing."  We all have our own styles and should be happy to strut our own stuff.  I was just happy to be with others for a few days who share my love of cookies.  Best of all, it was great gal pal time with the one who started this fabulous journey for me . . . Love you, Cookie Friend!

Donna and Diane in cookie heaven.

My husband is highly suspicious of Spring Fling.  I came home after four days with just four cookies (Can they be bronzed?) 

My first attempts at brush embroidery and stenciling.

He keeps asking what I learned and what I did for four days.  I had fun.  I also came away with the following . . .

1.  Despite their skill level, every instructor advised us that it isn't about being perfect.  It's more about learning how to be yourself, cover your mistakes, and have fun.

2.  It's ok to glob and spread rather than flood if that is what works for you.  Even the experts are self taught and have their own approaches to piping, icing consistency, etc.

3.  The cookie world is full of warm and fuzzy people.  We are blessed that so many talented individuals are sharing their techniques via blogs, tutorials, videos, etc.  Acknowledge their efforts when possible.  Leave a kind comment and link back whenever you use something they have posted.  They deserve credit for their creations as well as the financial payback for the countless hours they pour into their work.

Thank you for the hospitality and your hard work!

All good things must come to an end.  The attendees collected money and presented thank you gifts to our Dynamic Duo.  Forget Batman and Robin!  These twins are Wonder Women in pulling off an event that was as inspirational as it was instructional.  

Sisterly Love . . . Hugs, Hugs . . .

To all my sweet new cookie friends, stay in touch and share those photo's! 

Peace, Joy, Cookies!

Easter Parade



Wooly sheep are ready to do the bunny hop.  Do you prefer swirls or pearl sprinkles?

This little guy is hopping through the flower beds and leavng a very sweet footprint behind.

Girl bunny puzzles are off to join Kendra and Kylie.  Who wouldn't love that face?

Boy bunny puzzles were mailed to Ben and Jack.  Jack assembled.  Ben gobbled.

Bunnies are lined up for the holiday show and ready to kick up some fun.

The gang's all here.  Have an egg-cellent Easter!

Chicks Just Wanna Have Fun

I have so many Easter cookie cutters that I need to store them in one of my larger containers, and yet one of my favorite designs is the simple oval done as a little chick popping out of an egg.

It is simplicity at its best.  It makes me smile.  Isn't that what decorated sugar cookies are suppose to do? 

I added a few "Peeps" to the colorful collection and hopefully have a set of cookies that will make the grandkids smile.

Grandpa's Carrots

I've been decorating cookies for approximately three years. 
My husband has occasionally joked, "Want my help? or Which ones do you want me to frost?" 

I know my father-in-law was known to frost a few rabbits over the years when Grandma Carroll was running short on time before a holiday.  Perhaps my hubby wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.  Perhaps I subconsciously used Tom Sawyer trickery (persuading friends that painting the white picket fence was SO much fun).

This time when he offered to ice the carrots, I handed him the RI bottle.  After all, there is very little that can be done wrong with a carrot!  He did finish all of the greenery and knew that he should let it dry before continuing with the orange. 

When enough time passed, I called him back to the table and handed him the orange RI.  He diligently worked on six of them and decided it was time to go to bed.  (He has the same attention span as the grandkids.)

I packed up all of the cookies and put them away early in the morning.  He later asked if I took pictures.  He honestly looked disappointed when I told him that I had forgotten, so I unpacked some of the cookies and took a photo of "Gregg's first cookies".

So, Kendra, Kylie, Jack, and Ben, be sure to reach for the carrot cookies first and "oooh" and "ahhhh" at how cute they are . . . just for Grandpa!