We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Dolan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Cookies are complex. It’s not like baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Sugar art is temperamental. From the bake of the cookie to icing colors and consistency. It requires time for planning, designing, and execution. I usually require a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Practice, practice, practice. I started creating in June of this year (2020) and I’ve already learned so much. Honestly, I believe you never stop learning in this industry and if you do, that’s when you go kind of stale and your abilities will plateau. The challenges are what make the success feel so rewarding once you’ve completed a set. There are so many creative techniques out there and it’s excited to learn about them all. I’m a total perfectionist and sometimes I have to remind myself that these are cookies. Ha!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Where do I start?! LA is so diverse and there’s really something for everyone. Malibu or any other LA beach is a must! Even on a gloomy day, it’s worth a visit. Maybe lunch in Redondo Beach or Hermosa and then a walk to check out all the fun, family owned boutiques. I love Long Beach. There’s a little family owned Mexican restaurant called Enrique’s that I always try to visit. You can really taste the love they put into their food. Steering away from the beach, Descanso Gardens is a beautiful place to go. Wide open spaces to walk and free your mind. They do a beautiful job with the property. Dinner at CF Food Kitchen is always a go to.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my husband. There is no way I could have done this without his support. Since I work fulltime and have a toddler, there is no way I could take on this business without his help. Secondly, the amazing community of cookie artists that I’ve discovered on social media. They are so supportive and willing to jump in if I’m struggling to troubleshoot a problem.

Website: sweetasamother.com
Instagram: @sweetasamother
Facebook: @sweetasamothercookies

Image Credits
BurgundyBlue

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