“That’s beautiful! Can we eat it?”

This question echos through every Christmas in my memory. Mom made so many gingerbread houses. After oooohing and aaahhhing, each family would ask the same question.

“Of course you can,” Mom would gush modestly, “Enjoy!”

Why Blog About Gingerbread Houses?

My mother’s gingerbread artistry graced our home for decades, and I still consider making gingerbread houses one of my favorite parts of Christmas. As a child, I snipped photos of gingerbread houses from magazines and pasted them into notebooks. Now I marvel over (and Pin) the masterpieces that so many generous sugar artists share on the Internet.

I think about gingerbread houses often. Too often, if you ask my family. I browse the web for new ideas. I google contest names to see the entries. I make houses for gifts and fundraisers throughout the year. I periodically find myself with a gingerbread idea and struggle to find a suitable recipient.

“I wish I could come over and see how you do this,” people say, but of course the magic happens in many steps over a number of days.

Only moments ago (pause to wipe flour from forehead) I finished writing a book about gingerbread houses. Though the book itself has been swaddled in brown paper, tied with a red string, and sent merrily off to the publisher, my mind still teems with ideas. Our living room teems with boxes of leftover candy. Though The Family points out that leftover candy beats leftover meatloaf, you can imagine the scene.

So,

Armed with a list of potential projects and a cornucopia of sweets, I’m off on a mission to share what I’ve learned with all of the other gingerbread nuts out there.

Plan for The Gingerbread Journal

The Gingerbread Journal will inspire your imagination with creative designs, dazzle you with gorgeous photos, respect your time with concise instructions, and share amazing gingerbread creations from across the globe.

Share Photos of My Gingerbread Houses

I can’t wait to post photos of new ideas! Until then, I’ll put photos from Holidays Past in the gallery.

Share Gingerbread House Tutorials

I want to lead you through the steps of creating your own sweet masterpiece. I’ll also link you up with tutorials and templates from other gingerbread builders.

Share New Designs for Christmas and Other Holidays

Although Christmas is the traditional time for gingerbread, cookie houses bring just as much joy in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. If you’re like me, you can carve out more time then anyway. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the Fourth of July, Halloween, and birthday celebrations are all great times for gingerbread.

Provide Quick Access to the Gingerbread Creations of Others

The Gingerbread Journal will introduce you to some pretty amazing sugar artists who generously post photos of their own gingerbread gems. There is so much talent, creativity, and skill on display. These bakers have websites and blogs that will knock your gumdrops off!

I’ll also share the fruits of my Pinterest passion with thousands of links to gingerbread houses of every size, shape, and season. 56 boards (and counting) organize photos by the type of design — gingerbread bird houses, gingerbread cuckoo clocks, and lighted gingerbread houses to name just a few.

Introduce My Book

I’ve always had a hard time keeping secrets, and A Year of Gingerbread Houses is no exception. It will be on booksellers’ shelves (storefront and online) in September. An editor at Lark Crafts (a division of Sterling Publishing which is a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble) noticed my work on Flickr. She asked me to write a book! Isn’t that incredible?

If you love gingerbread, you’ve come to the right place.

Kristine