The Tailgating Crafter

I knew that'd get your attention.  Years ago when Lori and I did the craft/sewing show circuit for our very cool sewing DVDs, we would often hang out with Donna.  At one particular show, she and her hubby had a cooler in tow.  Being the Southern girl I am, I dubbed them the tailgating crafters.  They were actually very smart.  Fruit, yummy sandwiches, water...not really the type of food you would find at these venues, and a vast improvement over the Pronto Pups, the tankards of soda, and fresh fried churro.  So when Donna said her mom was turning 70, I was happy to pitch in on the celebration!  We happily outwitted the US Post Office as the cookies arrived unscathed!



I made these cookies in all the electric colors by Americolor, and knew I was going to do a little brush embroidery.  After returning from Cookie Con, you kind of get all these techniques in the front of your brain.  However, as I was planning the same look as I did here, I realized it needed a little (a lot) of improvement!)  I actually have the very first brush embroidery cookies I did at Spring Fling....way back in 2012, certainly not edible, actually a little petrified!  But I love the technique, and as I was reading my blog list I hit Glorious Treats.  I love this gal, Glory has been at every cookie convention.  She is a real person, wife, mother, blogger.  Now a published author, and still as nice as always.  Well she put up some brush embroidery.  No leaves, but big flowers, colorful cookies, and I totally copied her.  Really, is there a better form of flattery?  I think my favorite thing about Glory is that she knows how to edit, keeps it clean and simple, and honestly, most cookie people I know should follow suit, myself included!  I like her soft pastel backgrounds better, but mine went with the other big flowers and polka dots I made.  So, Happy Birthday Judy! (And thanks Glory!  and I love, love, love my book!)



I also baked up some doctor cookies for my adorable, and very accomplished niece who just had Match Day, so now knows where she will do her pediatric residency.  Her beau is doing his urology residency in the same city.... and these were a vast improvement over my last doctor cookies.  I am not an artist, I just give it the old college try, and certainly practice makes me much better!  I love the little aspirin, and I made hers orange...but yes, I know, kids shouldn't take aspirin!



Finally, I helped out a school class who wanted to have a baby shower for a teacher.  So a platter of rattles and onesies were in order!  It's a girl!  And don't you love the old saying...Sugar and Spice and Everything nice, that's what little girls are made of.  So sweet and old fashioned.  I am certain someone will have to explain that cookie to the kids, or maybe someone will Google it!

see my pearl chevrons???  oh stencils are where it's at!

More fun cookies in the works, all that Cookie Con inspiration!  And...I bought an airbrush.  So lots of practice cookies for some lucky friends!  What are you waiting for?  Get in there and bake!