Blog: Vertical

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

Live, Love, Bake

Yes, Julia completely subscribes to this mantra! And her Live Sweetly Dynamic Duos™ stencil release has plenty of other message options! Just scroll through this gallery to see. But before you leave, please take a moment to appreciate the teeny

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Julia M. Usher

Rock and Roll

Okay, just one more cookie that uses a message from Julia’s Live Sweetly message and frame set. However, we’re pausing here less for the message and more for that rolling pin, which completely rocks! Made by extruding marbled fondant and

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Julia M. Usher

Delicious Dimension

Crafted with Julia’s Live Sweetly Dynamic Duos™ stencil sets, this cookie is a prime example of how these stencils can be used on more than the cookie itself to add dimension. Here, Julia stenciled on a royal icing transfer to

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Julia M. Usher

Diminutive Details

Let’s pause for a sec just to admire the tiny details on this cookie made with Julia’s Live Sweetly Dynamic Duos™ stencil sets. The “egg yolk” is a royal icing transfer; the “flour” is powdered sugar attached with piping gel;

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Julia M. Usher

The Real Deal?

Wow, these royal icing pine cones look so darn real, don’t they?! Julia studied actual ones before setting out to make these, and that extra effort certainly made these sugar lookalikes true to life. Want to make your own? For

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Julia M. Usher

Purposeful Pine Cones

So what does one do with royal icing pine cones? When Julia first made these hyper realistic ones in 2019, she used them to adorn a lavish 3-D cookie candelabra, but they also make festive decorations, along with sugar holly

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Julia M. Usher

More Gleam Team

Here’s another wreath in Julia’s Gleam Team series, still in green but now with slightly more elegant styling. A perfect complement to her dining room! Julia most often hangs these wreaths off chair backs, as a way to beckon guests

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Julia M. Usher

Seeing Green

Let’s just zoom in here so you can appreciate all of the vintage baubles on this handcrafted holiday wreath favor! This elegant green style from Julia’s Gleam Team series was the perfect addition to her green and gold dining room.

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Julia M. Usher

Wintry Wonder

This silver and gold wreath from Julia’s 2018 Gleam Team series looks like it came right out of a magical winter wonderland. Julia’s favorite element on this piece is the clip-on glass bird ornament salvaged from her local antiques store.

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Julia M. Usher

Burgundy Beauty

This burgundy number in Julia’s 2018 Gleam Team wreath series sure is regal. Because these wreaths are so rich with varied textures, it’s important to weave a unifying color scheme throughout the piece to keep it looking eclectic but not

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Julia M. Usher

Be Mine

For sure! Who wouldn’t want this cookie to be theirs?! Crafted with Julia’s Forget Me Not Dynamic Duos™ stencils, this cookie has an especially lavish look thanks to Julia’s layering of royal icing and wafer paper hearts, piped roses, and

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Julia M. Usher

Be Mine Redux

Of course! Yet another cookie that everyone will covet. Made with both sets in Julia’s Forget Me Not Dynamic Duos™ two-set release, this heart boasts a single fondant message appliqué set atop the stenciled background pattern. To learn more or

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Julia M. Usher

Ruffled Regalia

Doesn’t this Valentine’s Day heart look absolutely regal with its gold-stenciled ruffle? Every element on this cookie, with the exception of the royal icing roses, was made with Julia’s Forget Me Not Dynamic Duos™ stencil sets. They allow a near-infinite

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Julia M. Usher

Rich with Roses

Even without any messages from Julia’s Forget Me Not Dynamic Duos™ sets, this cookie looks rich. And rich it is with royal icing roses and a large underlying floral fondant appliqué. To learn more or to purchase, visit Julia’s stencil

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Julia M. Usher

Christmas Candelabra

Yes, this Christmas candelabra is all cookie and icing – and a great example of how Julia loves to create multi-functional edible décor. At her holiday party, this project started the evening as the centerpiece and ended up as dessert!

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Julia M. Usher

Christmas Candelabra Redux

This overhead view of Julia’s cookie candelabra demonstrates, yet again, that a well-designed 3-D cookie project views beautifully from all angles. Just look at the stenciled pattern on top, not to mention the pine cone arrangement and the perfectly embossed

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Live sweetly, Julia