Julia continues her latest botanical series with these cookies inspired by the very beauties climbing her own garden arbor. (Or we should say “arbors”; she grows many varieties of clematis!) This edible variety is made entirely of royal icing transfers, some contoured and others stenciled, like the delicate trellis in the background. After drying, each piece is individually airbrushed and then assembled together on the cookie to create this masterpiece. A labor of love, no doubt, but definitely a project anyone can do with Julia’s detailed step-by-step instructions.
After two years of running her annual cookie art competition online due to COVID, Julia returns with her judging team to That Takes the Cake (TTTC) Show in Round Rock, Texas in March 2023. Julia couldn’t be more excited to see your entries in person! With the competition just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to register and start planning your entries.
The theme is International Holidays, which provides plenty of opportunity for creative expression and fun. And, as in 2022, there are two skill level classifications (Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced/Master) in both 2-D Cookies and 3-D Cookies to allow cookiers of all experience levels to participate. Prizes are currently ringing in at about $11,000, but Julia hopes they will be as grand – or grander – than the $20,000 that was awarded in 2022!
To see all of the rules and to register, please visit the TTTC site by clicking on “MORE INFO HERE”. And to see last year’s winners, check out the 2022 winner reveal post on Julia’s blog.
Following an unwelcome COVID-induced break in travel and in-person classes, Julia is thrilled to be on the class circuit again in 2023! She’s teaching at most of the major cake shows in the US and also traveling as far afield as Brazil. Of course, she’ll try to keep up a steady stream of Zoom classes and online events too.
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
Japan Salonaise Association, Japan and Other Asian Markets
That Takes the Cake Show, Round Rock Sports Center, Round Rock, Texas
SoFlo Cake & Candy Expo, Miami Airport Convention Center, Miami, Florida
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© 2022 Julia M. Usher, LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Literally! With my in-depth heart box tutorial, you can have this stunning heart cookie and later eat it too! From now until Valentine’s Day (midnight CT), get 25% off this 3-D cookie lesson using code HEARTBOX25 at checkout.
Originally recorded as a Facebook Live for the prestigious Cake International, this tutorial includes over two hours of instruction (complete with live student Q&A) and an extensive 20-page class handout with recipes, inspiration images, sources, and technique tips. Happy (early) Valentine’s Day, and live sweetly! – Julia
