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Need one of Julia’s foolproof recipes? Some stunning cookie decorating ideas? Or a quick fix on Julia’s latest news and events? Well then, you’re in the right place! Here, you can stay up-to-the-minute current on everything that’s happening in Julia’s kitchen and studio – and in that always-churning mind of hers! IMPORTANT: Julia is still formatting blog entries prior to 2021 to conform to the new site layout. Please don’t be surprised if some back entries look a little wacky, and please be patient as she edits them over time.
Julia M. Usher

Woodland Wonder

It’s a wonder that Julia fit all of these details on this cookie napkin ring, which is no more than two inches in diameter! In her mini woodland arrangement on top, she’s got airbrushed and contoured royal icing leaves, a

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Julia M. Usher

Foot Fetish

Julia often likes to give her cookie boxes a lift (literally!) by mounting them on cookie feet. The addition of a little height can make a big statement, as this box and its feet (one shown here) so clearly demonstrate.

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Julia M. Usher

Beautiful Base

On the concept that a well-designed 3-D cookie should look good from bottom to top . . . here you have another prime example of that! This base of Julia’s 3-D folk art bird’s nest cookie is nothing short of

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Julia M. Usher

Boo to You

Ghosts abound in this haunted graveyard scene made with Julia’s Boo to You Dynamic Duos™ sets. But they’re not your typical ghosts. Julia’s clever use of royal icing transfers and a technique she calls over-stenciling make them appear as if

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Julia M. Usher

Beach Cabana

How fun are these beach cabana cookies made with Julia’s Dynamic Duos™ sets of the same name?! Perched upright in demerara sugar “sand”, they make an eye-catching summertime display. To learn more or to purchase, visit Julia’s stencil partner Confection

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Julia M. Usher

Live Sweetly

Julia took inspiration from her own catchphrase “live sweetly” when creating this Dynamic Duos™ design for a little girl’s baking-themed bat mitzvah. Featuring a bakery awning and shelves that can be outfitted with so many different treats, these cookies are

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Julia M. Usher

First in Series

Julia went haywire crafting costume jewelry wreaths during Christmas 2018. The sparkly tinsel and baubles were just so irresistibly festive! Here’s the first in her series of four styles (hereafter affectionately referred to as the Gleam Team). All were made

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Julia M. Usher

A Win for the Pin

Yep, that vintage rhinestone pin really draws one in, despite all the other lavish details on this combo wreath-and-party favor. To note: Each of the elements on this wreath was no more than $10, but the sum total can get

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Julia M. Usher

Seeing Red?

Guests won’t be seeing red (in the idiomatic sense, that is) when they get these wreaths. Au contraire – they’ll be giddy with glee to take home one of these gems from Julia’s 2018 Gleam Team wreath series. Great for

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Julia M. Usher

Forget Me Not

No worries! No one could possibly forget these gorgeous mixed media cookies made with Julia’s Forget Me Not Dynamic Duos™ stencil sets. Richly and intricately layered, they look like vintage valentines. To learn more or to purchase, visit Julia’s stencil

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Julia M. Usher

Ring in the New Year

And what more festive way to do this than with Julia’s stencil design that features the ball dropping on Times Square?! Called Ring in the New Year, this Dynamic Duos™ release was first issued in 2018 (for 2019), but the

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Julia M. Usher

Along Came a Spider

Perhaps Julia’s all-time favorite Halloween design, her Along Came a Spider Dynamic Duos™ sets look striking in just one or two colors. And the fewer the colors, the faster to airbrush. Another huge plus. To learn more or to purchase,

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Julia M. Usher

Time for Tea

Believe it or not, this fancy teapot is all cookie and royal icing! Comprised of 16 cookies, it surely takes some time to make, but it is clearly worth the effort. Find out how Julia made it by watching her

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Julia M. Usher

Bottom Line

The bottom line: Julia’s 3-D teapot cookie was designed to look good no matter one’s approach to it! Just look here are its base! The embossed and contoured cookie makes an elegant riser, and the royal icing transfers and precision-piping

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Julia M. Usher

Fancy Sugar Bowls

Designed to go with Julia’s teapot cookie, these elaborate 3-D sugar bowls are as sweet as can be. To see how Julia made these cookies, check out her YouTube video.

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Julia M. Usher

School Rules

Your kids might just believe that school rules if you pack their lunchboxes with these too-cool cookies. Made with Julia’s School Rules Dynamic Duos™ sets, they feature globes, stacked books, plenty of apples for the teacher, and four different messages

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Live sweetly, Julia