We didn't have class last week because my teacher was on her way into the hospital to have her baby.

I had my supplies all ready to go, but I was thankful to have an unexpected night off. 

I was also thankful I was too lazy this weekend to do anything with the royal icing I had made, because, as it turns out, my teacher did not have her baby.

I got a text message last night asking if I'd be willing to come to class tonight.

Of course I can't pass up an opportunity to play with royal icing.

Besides, we were learning the more complicated flowers and how to finish the roses we weren't allowed to finish in the last class.

So I made some really pretty flowers.

And brought them home.

Except I forgot how I had packed the Lily and this is how it looked by the time it made it home.

Lesson Learned: Take an empty egg crate to class to bring flowers home.

These little violets were my favorite. 

Perhaps it's because I'm a Sigma Kappa and violets are our national flower.

Completed roses.  I would have made more, but had to share my icing with the other people in class. 

The buttercups turned out okay, but I'm not a fan of this flower.  I think it looks decent from a top view, but I don't like the side view.  Side note, the teacher kept saying you had to build up the middle and I couldn't stop singing "Build me up Buttercup". 

Now you can have that song stuck in your head.

You're welcome :)

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It's already been a rainy and windy morning here in RVA.  

I should take this opportunity to do an amazing blog post. 

But sitting around doing nothing makes me sleepy.

Besides, it's a perfect day for reading a book or watching a movie. 

So the post today is simple.

I just ordered a new neat item for my cookies. 

Disco Dust = Edible glitter

Recently, I've really had to focus on my time management skills.  I've always been able to pride myself on those skills (ask my Mom and she may tell you otherwise).  I know my tasks and I set timelines and I  accomplish what needs to be done. 

The farther into this cookie obsession I go, the more those skills have been slipping.  Mostly, this is due to my poor decision making skills when it comes to creative options.  I hem and haw over making a creative choice.  I was finding when I allowed myself a certain amount of time to decorate cookies (i.e. good time management skills), I spent most of my time trying to figure out how to decorate a cookie and my timeline was shot to you know what.  (I feel this has been a running theme on this blog.) 

So, I made some time the other night, knowing what a busy week I was about to have, and got some paper, a pencil, and my colored pencils.  I sat down and went to work.  I traced the cookie cutters I used onto the paper.  This allowed me to have the correct proportion size for my design.  Throwing away a piece of paper and resketching is so much easier than scraping icing off a cookie and beginning the icing process all over again. 

I've tried having my design concepts in mind before, but actually sketching it out, I had never done.  I saved so much time during my allotted decorating time.  I was actually able to get some decorating finished!  In fact, I was able to finish 20 cookies in 2 days (from scratch to delivered), 30 cookies in 5 days (from scratch to delivered), and 15 cookies in 4 days (from scratch to packaged).  I was impressed with this time frame and it helped me realize how all those professional cookiers I admire so much are able to get cookies completed in such a short amount of time.  Atleast, it seems like they have a brand new cookie design daily. 



Not only does sketching out the designs beforehand help with time management, it also helps with spacing issues while you're decorating.  I can look at the sketch and know exactly where (or where not) to begin writing a word or starting a design.

If you ever try decorating cookies, take my advice and do a little planning and a little sketching. 



Last week in class we finally got to work with royal icing.  I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to finally work with a medium I was familiar with.  (shame on me for ending a sentence in a preposition).

We were first instructed to begin our roses.  Unfortunately, we were never allowed to finish them.

 (That's the lesson for the next class.) 

What a waste of royal icing. 

Some of them looked okay.  Some of them definitely needed worked on.

We also learned how to make rose buds.  IMO,  these flowers are ridiculous.  I think they look silly.  But then again, that could have just been my technique (or lack there of). 

Now the primroses and apple blossoms were my favorite.  They were super easy and super quick to make, once I got the hang of it.  Now I just need to make a cake to stick these on! 

(look at that, another preposition ending)

Okay, now for the shameless plug thing.

Recently, I've been getting more and more inquiries about making cookies for people, pricing, and other details.  I tend to direct people to this blog.  At this point, I am still working on basic techniques, mastering icing consistency, and design concepts.  I happily accept most all opportunities to enhance my skills, which is why I need you!  I can't practice, practice, practice if I don't have events to make cookies for.  (woohoo preposition !) What I have decided, is, if someone is interested in having cookies made, then I will do everything to meet their needs.  I love a challenge.  As we get closer to the holiday season (and football season), I may have to say no to some requests depending on time constraints, but as I said, I will do my best.  Also,  I have not sold many batches, mainly because I've just made cookies for family and close friends.  The cookies I have sold were priced at $2 . 00/cookie.  I am more than willing to adjust the price of the cookie depending on design difficulty and number of cookies.  Both of those affect the time it takes to make the cookies.  It's hard to put a price on time, but I feel $2 . 00 is fair for both myself and the person buying them.  Also, the amount of cookies needed does not phase me.  I am open to making many, many cookies at one time (if designs are somewhat simple). 

Anyway, I guess that's my PSA for the day.

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Recently a pledge sister of mine from my sorority (Sigma Kappa) was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 

You can imagine how shocked we were.

She had the tiniest, tiniest chance of getting Breast Cancer at 26 years old.

Visit her blog if you get the chance.

Two of my other sorority sisters and myself decided to put together a little care package for Vanessa, her hubby and her kids. 

We included some adorable personalized pails and gifts for her girls, some beautiful stationery for Vanessa and some cookies for the whole family (mostly her husband!). 

First I made my icing.  I kept it simple and stuck to pink and white. 

I made a flood icing in both colors and a piping icing in both colors.



W is for Will.

I had the opportunity to make some adorable lime, white and navy blue cookies for a baby shower this weekend.  My sorority sister, Betsey, is about to have her second baby, a little boy who will be named Will.

His room is ADORABLE.  Looks like it was ripped straight out of a magazine.  It's being done in those 3 colors and alligators.

I loved making these cookies for the second time.  I did better on the technique and application of the white squares.