Two of my most-asked questions are: 1) what did my first ever cookies look like? and 2) do I sell my cookies?
To the first question: You can check out this post here for the very first cookies I ever made from 2010 to the beginning of 2017 (before The Graceful Baker® was born).
To the second question: today, I do not sell cookies. But, I did start out my cookie journey selling cookies. After The Graceful Baker® was born in April 2017, but before I became known as the (unofficial) Cookie Video Queen (around the end of 2018), I dipped my toes into taking orders and creating cookies for events (while still making cookies for friends and family).
So, here is a post dedicated to just that year of cookies! It's always fun to see the evolution of skill and style (and at the end I share my very first cookie videos).
Buckle up for ALL OF THE PHOTOS 🥳
My Very First Cookie Orders in 2017
For my first ever order, I made cookies for a spirit day at a local school (my very first order for a dear friend and colleague whom I lovingly dubbed my "cookie patron"--she was my biggest supporter from day one and placed the most orders for my cookies):
I made cookies for a fundraising event (my first time color matching a brand and doing a logo...WOW was this a stressful order with very long days and lots of tears...and I'm pretty sure there were around 100 cookies for this!):
For my mom's birthday (I started to get smarter with my cookies...the same color palette/icing as I used for the fundraising event):
For a bridal shower (also an order for the friend of a dear friend and colleague):
For a colleague's last day:
For a visit to my aunt's house (I still loved any excuse to experiment with new designs):
For teacher appreciation at a local school (my first repeat customer and my first order where I delivered my cookies in nice boxes):
For wedding favors (when I learned just how much more stressful orders for weddings are!):
For the 2 year anniversary of a local business (when I learned the pressure of accurately representing the vision of a a business owner):
For a book club (matching the imagery from the book):
For a Christmas party (complete creative freedom, but a huge order!):
For my family's Christmas dinner place cards (for a hot second I thought I had a real future in making personalized dinner place cards):
And for Cookies and Carols 2017 -- one of my favorite sets every that I will be forever bummed never made it into videos (maybe I will have to remake these??):
And of course I needed to make a sugar cookie option for the Christmas party (design courtesy of Sweet Sugarbelle):
My First Cookie Videos
It was during Christmas 2017 that I made my FIRST ever cookie videos.
I'm honestly not sure what inspired me to do this! I would imagine I saw some on Instagram and thought to myself: I can do that! This was at a time when videos on Instagram were still square and most people were just holding their camera with one hand while decorating with the other.
For this one my sister held the camera:
And for this one I held the camera with my left hand and decorated with my right hand (it's both challenging and easier than it sounds!):
The Cookie Orders Continued in 2018
Even after I started making cookie videos, I continued to sell my cookies in various capacities. While my heart was in the videos, the increased exposure gave me opportunities to sell my cookies that I didn't have before.
My cousin's baby shower:
The opening of my best friend's business (making logos are HARD):
Spirit day at the school I worked for:
Favors for guests at a concert:
For my family reunion:
Samples I made for my first order for a stranger's daughter's birthday party (that ended in the person ghosting me...oh the joys of taking orders!):
Cookies ordered by a cake artist to complement the cake at a sweet sixteen:
Cookies for a painting party:
My First (And Only) Pop-Up Shops
After taking orders for a bit, I decided to venture into pop-up shops when a local business approached me.
I preferred pop-up shops because I had more creative freedom to do the designs I wanted. But, the most nerve-wracking part was how many cookies to make. Will they sell out? What if I'm left with a bunch of cookies that I don't know what to do with?
(Spoiler alert: I didn't sell all my cookies both times which was both heartbreaking in the moment and a great lesson.)
I did my very first pop-up shop in November 2018:
That was such a success that I did a second pop-up shop in December 2018 (I also took pre-orders from colleagues for these cookies--I MUCH prefer pre-orders because you know exactly how many cookies to make instead of having to guess):
My Takeaways from Selling Cookies
I'm very grateful for this time when I was able to experiment with taking orders for different kinds of events.
And honestly... I learned quite quickly that I didn't like taking orders and selling cookies. Decorating with royal icing is already stressful enough, but add the layer of it being for someone else AND paid... the stress level is through the roof!
I was also still pretty new to cookie decorating, so it took me a lot longer to do everything than it does now. I had many, many long days and late nights of decorating and a LOT of tears.
I was still working my full-time job, so I did cookies evenings after work (after ⅚pm) and weekends. Sometimes I would spend my entire weekend (12 hour+ days) doing cookies.
I had never been the kind of person that loved to work that much, but I had finally found something that I loved: cookie decorating.
There was one catch though: I did NOT love taking orders and selling cookies. It quickly took the joy out of something that once brought me so much joy.
I thought for sure I'd never have a future with cookies. That is, until I starting posting cookie decorating videos on Instagram...
Coming soon: a post about why I finally quit my job to be a full-time cookie artist and content creator!
Love seeing your journey as an artist!
Thank you!! So glad it's interesting 🙂
I love your journey so far! I like how honest you are about not liking the selling process. That’s how I ended up feeling when I became a full time florist. It ended up being a job instead of something that used to bring me joy. It’s refreshing to hear your similar experience with cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Yes!! I have tremendous respect for those that sell cookies. I just knew it wasn't for me...
I enjoy reading about your journey. I don't sell, I am a hobby baker cause I don't want the stress. I bake only for family!
That's the best to me!
The Cookies for Carols are beautiful and the painting party ones are so cute! Can definitely see where working with a limited palette lets you do more with less.
Yessss I'm all about enabling constraints 😉
I've really enjoyed reading your story so far. I've been following you on IG since the early days, but I love this in-depth look into your cookie history!
That's so interesting that you dislike taking orders that much. I'm the opposite - I'm better at replicating than creating from nothing, so I like that every customer gives me their vision and direction, but also that every order I do is unique so I don't get bored.
that's fascinating!!! I can totally see how taking orders could be more peaceful in a way. I guess I already put enough pressure on myself I don't need the added layer of someone paying for it lol
Grace thank you taking the time to share your cookie journey. I always love hearing the stories behind the faces. Your story with all of its ups and downs, like all of ours, is just lovely and has created something so beautiful. Cheers to you and your journey!
Latoya!! Thank you so much for always being such a big supporter of my journey! Means so much 🙂
I found myself repeatedly looking through the photos of your cookies, Grace! I just really love your decorating style.
Wow! I love all the pictures of your gorgeous cookies. And appreciate the journey that led up to being a content creator instead of producing cookies from orders. I’ll have to go back and look at this again!
Ok that Christmas set with Trees and Stars is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for being open and sharing your cookie story.
Thank you!! I love that set so much!
@Kim, and @thisisthegracefulbaker, I agree!!! What a beautiful set
You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your journey! My first cookies were from your videos.
Ahhh that makes me so happy to hear!!
Wow I really enjoyed reading about your journey can’t wait to read about it some more 😍
Thank you so much for following along Adriana!!
I have loved watching your videos on IG and now appreciate learning your how and why. I have been learning and gain confidence from your videos...I'm a grandma hoping to make cute cookies for the grand kiddos! Your designs are inspirational and I can't wait for your November sale, I'm going to try your Christmas beginner set!
thank you so much for the support!!! Your grandkids are lucky ones 😉
I’m loving reading and seeing your story. It’s inspiring and encouraging. Especially seeing the photos and craters on your early cookies 💕😊 thank you for being willing to share where you have come from as a decorator and your honesty. It’s hard and discouraging at first so your blog has inspired me
oh my goodness of course!! we are all start somewhere 🙂 it took my literally years and years to get to where I am today!
So many learning experiences. Glad you were finally about to find what works best for you!
me tooooo 🙂
Glad you are so honest and upfront about your journey. I think a lot of cookiers feel the same way. I do not enjoy taking custom orders and don't take that many to begin with. However, I am thinking of just focusing on presales, pop up shops and Farmers Markets. I get so stressed with custom orders especially when you don't get creative freedom. I am so glad I have a secure full-time job in healthcare and can keep this cookie business as a side hustle. I really find that for me to stay passionate about cookies, it has to be part-time and an "escape" from my full-time job! Not an added pressure! LOL!!!
yesss fully support the presales/pop up/farmers market route!! more control over what/how much you make. and I TOTALLY get the need to keep it as an escape 🙂 that was me for a really long time until I realized what direction I could take it!
I enjoyed reading about your cookie journey: I agree that taking orders and hoping to please the client takes a lot of the joy out of creating cookie art. I’m fairly “new” to cookie art (am coming from 30 years as a cake decorator). One of the main “pros” for cookie-ing versus cake-ing is that cookies have a longer shelf life; however, the icing consistency issue can be very frustrating! In a recent video, you had an interesting cookie cutter: “Teaching is a work of 🩷”…love it! Where can I find that cutter?
Best wishes for continued success!
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(USMA stands for United States Military Academy)
it's here! I used the large size: http://www.etsy.com/listing/589707218
I did it‼️‼️‼️. It’s true, your recipe says they won’t spread ( I was doubtful) and they DIDN’T‼️‼️‼️‼️. Now I can finally start decorating 💙
TY😊
Oh I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!!!