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!

Cookies For the Moms

So this weekend is the most important holiday of the year.  Mother's Day.  I don't know about you, but I am darn lucky in the mom department.  So I sent my mom and mother-in-law cookies to let them know that I am thinking of them while I bake away the days!  

My mom really taught me everything I know in the kitchen.  In some way, her little lessons led to bigger and bigger things.  It started with her making the dough and rolling it out.  I would choose the cookie cutters and cut the dough, she would bake them.  She taught me how to get the most cookies each time she rolled the dough.  And then she made the frosting and left me to it.  I think it's safe to say I evolved over the years, but would I be doing this everyday if my mom hadn't given me the green light in the kitchen?

My inspiration this year was this card I found.  I love the pink and orange, and thought I could practice my brush embroidery that I learned from Ali Bee at Spring Fling. I also made more of SugarBelles marigolds because I am hoping to get better at it!  I took a picture of the cookies all plattered, and then gingerly wrapped them to mail.  I did a lot of little sizes because they are the perfect size for a nibble.

So to my moms, and all the mothers out there,  I hope you have a great Mother's Day!  Both my kids will be home, and that is all this mom needs.