Inspired through Inspiring Others... An Easter Cookie Story!

Although I've been busy creating cookies the past few weeks, I did

not cut, roll, bake or decorate one Easter cookie of my own this year!

Which, if you've been reading for a while and remember this post and

this post, you know is quite unusual for me... Especially since I own the

most perfect Easter cookie cutter set ever made and love to use it!

Nevertheless, although I didn't create Easter cookies of my own this year, I'm

delighted for the privilege of introducing you to a few people who are very special

to me that did! First, we have long-time reader and my dear friend, Leah... Who

surprised me with photos of this lovely vintage Easter egg cookie collection she

created using the same vintage Marth by Mail Egg Cookie Cutters I have!

Now, Leah and I are both fans of Julia Usher and follow Julia's blog too. So,

when Julia wrote this post about rubber-stamping cookies I was intrigued...

Meaning, I was too intimidated to try! But not Leah! Leah jumped right in...

Putting together the supplies she needed to get right to work! Just

look at all of these beautifully stamp-decorated cookies Leah created!

I especially love the soft colors she chose and the style of the bead decoration Leah

used to outline her cookies. The elegant cream-tone color combination makes for

a delicate vintage Victorian look! I think Leah's cookies are stunning, don't you?

Of course, Leah being her sweet self, she was quick to point out what

she said were flaws in her stamping... She called this trio her sweet misfits!

Of course, I reminded Leah there are no misfits, only cookies voted most likely to be

eaten first... ha! Besides, the beauty of stamping cookies is that missing outlines can

easily be sketched in with edible markers or covered embellished with icing! So

what about you? Are you as inspired by Leah to rubber-stamp cookies as I am? Ever

since I saw Leah's cookies, I've been looking at rubber stamps in a whole new way!

Honestly, I don't know how Leah's able to create cookies at all... Because

if her sweet Oscar-kitty were mine, I'd have difficultly leaving his side!

Inspiring each other... That's what this cookie thing is all about! Which brings

me to the next introduction I feel honored to make to you... You see, a few days

ago, I received the following e-mail from one of my readers and Oui, Sugar!

customers, Teri from Happy Valley, Oregon: Hi, Janet! Well cookie decorating

party #2 is in the books with my some of my adult cousins (after hosting at

Christmas they begged for an Easter session as well). What fun we have

decorating cookies inspired by your beauties! Your royal icing recipe is the

best -- fresh lemon juice makes all the difference as you say! Here are a couple

photos of our fun - both orders of your fabulous icing bottles were put to

great use! Our cookies pale in greatness to yours but we know you will be proud

of our efforts! Thanks for inspiring so many people across this beautiful nation,

Janet! Have a very Blessed Easter! Teri  - Wow! I have to tell you, there are days

when I think no one reads... So why bother writing? Then, I hear from readers like

Leah and Teri and not only do I find myself inspired by what they're doing with

their cookies, I begin to believe this blog is contributing and worth continuing

after all! I must also admit that seeing my Oui, Sugar! Decorating Kit and

those decorating squeeze bottles I love so much in action on Teri's table

makes me feel quite proud of the work I put into my Oui, Sugar! store too. So,

without further delay, please join me in sending some big cookie-decorating

love to three out of the seven members of Teri's family that made up this

Easter cookie party! Clockwise from top we have: Teri's cousin Joanne, her

sister Traci and cousin Mary. Hello, ladies - We all love your cookies!

I see perfectly baked cookies by Teri's sister, Toni! And Sanding Sugar,

sprinkles and royal icing decorating techniques that were executed perfectly

to create darling Easter cookies I know Teri's whole family will be delighted

to discover tucked into their Easter baskets this Easter Sunday weekend!

In Teri's e-mail she said she knew I would be proud of their cookies

and I am... More than they know! I say, Bravo! and, Well Done!

to sisters, Teri, Toni, Traci and their sweet cousins, Joanne and Mary!

xo