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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

Underwater Ephemera

Made for a cookie class taught on board a cookie cruise, these mixed-media mermaid-themed cookies are truly a wonder to behold! By skillfully layering everything from isomalt “sea glass” and molded cookies to fondant appliqués and royal icing transfers, Julia

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Julia M. Usher

Plenty of Fish in the Sea

Yes, and there are plenty of ways to configure mixed-media cookies like these! Julia typically makes lots of each design element in advance and then tests them in different arrangements before committing anything to cookies with royal icing. To learn

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Julia M. Usher

Sunken Treasure

Molded cookie gears, isomalt “sea glass”, royal icing “sea creatures”, chocolate “rocks”, and demerara sugar “sand” are among the edible treasures to be found at the base of Julia’s mixed-media mermaid cookies. Leave it to Julia to turn an eclectic

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Julia M. Usher

Tiny Trio

These three brown boxes in Julia’s Heart Box Brigade series are rather small (about four inches across), but perfectly sized for truffles and other Valentine’s candies. To learn how to make these party favors with vintage magazine clippings, jewelry, and

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Julia M. Usher

Beauty on the Box

One of Julia’s faves in her Heart Box Brigade series, this beauty on the box dazzles in her red rhinestone headdress made with a vintage pin. To see how Julia crafted another box style to use as a Valentine’s Day

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Julia M. Usher

Egg Hunt

Featuring a big bunny amidst clover and decorated Easter eggs, Julia’s Egg Hunt Dynamic Duos™ stencil release is a veritable springtime delight. To learn more or to purchase, visit Julia’s stencil partner Confection Couture Stencils’ site. To catch the complete

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Julia M. Usher

Big and Beautiful

These two oversized Easter egg cookies capture just about every element in both sets of Julia’s Egg Hunt Dynamic Duos™ stencil release. They’ve got bunnies and a plethora of eggs from the background set as well as Easter greetings from

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Julia M. Usher

Cozy Christmas Fireplace Redux

Here’s a slightly closer look at the many details that made up Julia’s over-the-top holiday fireplace vignette. It’s all cookie and royal icing with some touches of edible paper (for the pictures) and fondant (for the bows, mantel runner, and

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Julia M. Usher

Christmas Mantel

Julia is a self-proclaimed more-is-more person. And this cookie fireplace mantel is a prime example of what she means by that! She didn’t leave out a single detail! First, that fireplace! She constructed it with a combination of embossed and

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Julia M. Usher

View from on High

This top-down view of Julia’s Christmas fireplace scene demonstrates the care that Julia takes to make sure her 3-D cookies view well from all vantage points. Even the very top of the mantel looks great with its molded cookie frames,

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Julia M. Usher

Treats for Santa

More glorious details from Julia’s 3-D Christmas fireplace scene – and these treats are all for Santa! The plate is a stamped fondant appliqué set atop a tiny royal icing transfer. Likewise, the meringues, carrot, and cookies are royal icing

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Julia M. Usher

Crushing on Chrysanthemums

With an elegant background pattern, a single larger-than-life chrysanthemum, and four romantic messages and frames, Julia’s Chrysanthemum Dynamic Duos™ stencil sets have all the elements needed to style your own vintage valentine cookies! (Note: The background stencil on the cookie

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Julia M. Usher

Switcheroo

Just for fun, Julia changed up the background stencil on this heart cookie, replacing the one in her Chrysanthemum Dynamic Duos™ background set with the one in her Save the Date Prettier Plaques™ set. What a sweet switcheroo! To learn

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Julia M. Usher

Thank You!

Made with the Thank You set from Julia’s original Prettier Plaques™ stencil series, these springtime cookies are perfect for Mother’s Day, a special birthday, or just as a thank-you as their namesake message suggests. Note: Julia’s Prettier Plaques™ are all

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Julia M. Usher

Vintage Bon Voyage

Crafted with Julia’s Vintage Bon Voyage Prettier Plaques™ set, these cookies make great gifts for anyone embarking on journey, be it for fun or because of a life change. Julia made these cookies look extra vintage by topping them with

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Julia M. Usher

Noble Needlepoint Redux

As if one needlepoint box wasn’t a big enough labor of love, Julia had to make two! For those starting out with needlepoint, simple geometric patterns, like those on the box to the right, are the easiest to do. For

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