Indy 500 Cookie

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It's May in Indianapolis and that means one thing....Race time!!

 and it's not just any race it's the 96th running of 

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing!

For the yearly gathering at the track that my brother attends, the 500 consists of 3 days of camping out at the track with multiple RV's, a live band, lots of good family and friends, and plenty of beverages...This year my brother thought a cookie would be a nice addition to the party and I was more than happy to oblige. The only requirement was the RV so it was specific to the event and the title 'The Greatest Spectacle', the rest of the design was pretty easy!  There is nothing more iconic than the pagoda at the IMS and nothing more exciting than the cars. A simple checkered flag border and the 2012 Indy 500 (cookie) is in the books.

Fred's 60's Birthday Cookies

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It's race time in Indy and that's OK by me...I love making cars on cookies!! Especially really cool looking cars like this one. These were special cookies since the recipient was the owner of this specific car that won the 1997 Indy 500!!! Needless to say this car needed to be perfect because if anyone would know if it wasn't it would be him! The race car cookie was a special cookie commemorating his big win and his years of memories at the track and with that car. 

The second cookie is more about his life now and the things he enjoys doing today. Hanging out at the lake, traveling around in his RV with is 3 dogs, and cruising on one of his multiple custom 3 wheeled motorcycles. The two flags helped me incorporate some of the things he is involved in while keeping relevant with the design. Layout wise I cannot help but find flaws in this cookie as a designer, but I really enjoyed creating all the elements and finding a way to make them all coexist on the same cookie without making it too disjointed. 

All in all, Fred was quite surprised and according to the person who ordered them for the occasion he was 'so impressed and pleased'. Nothing makes all the work I put into my cookies from design to creation more worth it than hearing from someone who hasn't seen or had my cookies and hearing how much they enjoyed it. 

Gavin's Batman Cookie

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I have two young nephews and another infant niece and nephew, so I'm well versed in the world of cartoons and children's videos that are available, but I must say Batman isn't a character that I have ever paid much attention to. If When I design a Cars Cookie or a Toy Story Cookie, I've seen those movies enough times to tell you everything about it so designing a cookie is no big deal and usually comes fairly easily
...making it is another story, but I digress :) 

When Gavin's Grandmother asked me to make a Batman (and Robin) Cookie,  I didn't realize how many different Batman images there were through all the years and how much he has changed since the beginning. So what version of Batman was little Gavin into? These are the things that run through my head as I try to design the best cookie I can for each order. I decided that even though the logos have changed somewhat they would be very recognizable for everyone and would make a cool looking cookie.

I'm not sure if it's the nature of the Batman symbol itself, but once I put it down as the central element of the cookie, the rest of the cookie was rather difficult to design and the other elements a bit hard to place. Despite the initial difficulties, I think the cookie itself turned out well. I like the bold graphic nature of it and the way all the elements came together in the end. Maybe a bit mature looking for a 3 year old, but definitely recognizable as a Batman cookie.  I love the yellow border around this cookie. Its was probably the most time consuming element, but in the end it was worth it for the way it made the other graphics really stand out. 

From what I hear, Gavin had a great birthday party and all the Batmen and Batgirls really enjoyed the cookie.

Nursing School Graduation Cookie

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This was a pretty special cookie. The first cookie I ever made to sell to someone other than a family member was the Colt's Birthday Cookie. It was for my co-worker's sister Amber on her 29th birthday. Well, this cookie was for my now ex co-worker who contacted me to make another cookie for Amber, but this time it was to celebrate her graduation from the Ivy Tech School of Nursing. To get a repeat order is one thing, but it has been quite sometime since I've been in contact with this co-worker and for him to remember and seek me out for this occasion was very special for me.

I designed the central element with the nursing cross, Ivy Tech logo, and graduation cap originally when I sketched out the cookie. Beyond that, I had a rough idea of the other elements I wanted to showcase like the stethoscope and the nurses badge, but the rest came rather organically filling in the necessary space in the cookie. 

In that same method of creating new elements relative to the already existing designs, I came up with this border in response to the large and graphic central element. It wasn't something I had planned on having as such a large focus of the cookie, but the way it contrasts and compliments the central element make it one of my favorite elements on this cookie. I think this border really makes the cookie stand out and gives it a nice clean finish. I did take the liberty of continuing the design along the side by adding a heartbeat line for good measure and to bring home the nursing theme.

I was assured by my co-worker that the cookie was as good if not better than they remembered and that everyone there couldn't stop talking about it. Most importantly, I have some new clients from that order alone and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunities and help I have received from my co-worker in helping me get these cookies going!