Project Textile: Cookies for F. Schumacher & Co.
The Ask
Schumacher Textile Pattern Hand-Painted on a Cookie
Interior design textiles meet hand-painted cookies.
When Schumacher asked if I could re-create a block print pattern on cookies, I was honored and intrigued.
Patterns designed for wallpaper & upholstery on cookies? Count me in!
Behind the Scenes
The pattern I was asked to re-create was originally designed by block print artist Molly Mahon. If you’re not familiar with the art of block printing, a quick overview is that the artist carves the pattern in to blocks of wood (or linoleum) and then uses those blocks to stamp the pattern onto their desired medium (paper, fabric, etc.)
This method makes a lot of sense when you’re designing something that repeats a lot, like wallpaper. For hand-painting cookies, however, it meant I had my work cut out for me.
My practice page painting the block print pattern with watercolors on paper & the image of the pattern on the screen
The dahlia inspired design I was asked to re-create was meticulous. So I started by studying the pattern and finding where it repeats, where the different colored dahlias overlap, and how the negative space was just as important to the design as the colored print.
Blue Color Mixing Palette to color match the Schumacher pattern
If you’ve been around here for more than a minute, you’ve probably picked up on my love of details.
Because this was such a detailed pattern, I started by sketching each style of dahlia onto post it notes. Some dahlias were more circular with geometric petals while others were more organic in shape.
Once I worked out how each dahlia translated into brush strokes, I selected 4 different sections of the pattern to create on cookies. Each selection highlighted a different color dahlia in the pattern.
After a getting a feel for the pattern on paper, it was time to put brush to cookie!
Because the pattern is only shades of blue, it was important to color match the shades as close as possible. To achieve the colors I wanted, the colors on my palette this day were blues, black, orange, and green. (If you’re not familiar with color theory, orange was used to mute or dull the blue because if you mix the two together they make grey.)
Once the colors were mixed, it was hours of peacefully painting one stroke at a time until each cookie was filled with dahlias and dots.
Painting Molly Mahon’s Dahlia Block Print Pattern on Cookies for Schumacher Design Showroom in Chicago
The Delivery
After days of baking and painting, it time to load the cookies in the car and deliver them to the Schumacher showroom in The Merchandise Mart.
The Results
The cookies were included in Schumacher gift bags for attendees at the Design Chicago conference for Interior Designers. But the best part? Hearing from the block print artist herself!
Her stamp of approval on my cookie re-creation was truly the cherry on top!
“These are amazing!!””
Artist Molly Mahon’s nod of approval on the cookie version of her block print pattern
Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together
If you’ve got a launch, event, or idea that deserves something a little extra special, I’d love to dream it up with you.
Fill out my inquiry form and let’s make something unforgettable
