Silly Geese & Sweet Style: A Q&A with Elle from Kisses from Blair

Geese in bow ties, cornflower blues, and a whole lot of charm—Elle from Kisses from Blair gives us a peek behind her rolling pin in this month's Sweet Spotlight. Her latest cookie set, featuring a new collection from Stamp & Impress, is full of fun details and vintage flair.

 

What was your inspiration behind the ‘Silly Goose on the Loose’ set?

I’ve always had a soft spot for geese and ducks—which is funny, considering I have a bit of a bird phobia! But there’s something about illustrations and images of them that just feels comforting to me. I think there’s nostalgia wrapped up in it -  going back to my childhood and the vintage touches in my mum’s and nan’s homes growing up which is very 80s and 90s charm. One of my most treasured keepsakes is a Mother Goose cross-stitch my nan bought for my nursery when I was a baby. That’s also in soft blues actually! So there’s a lot of love and sweet memories wrapped up in geese for me.

How did you decide on the colour palette — and what made you choose a split complementary scheme?

I wanted to mix things up from the typical pastel pinks and greens we often see. Being a boy mum, I loved the idea of bringing in blue— which while traditionally seen as a boy colour, I think it works beautifully for girls too. The cornflower blue and clay combo felt soft, a bit rustic, and gave off those cosy 80s and 90s country charm vibes. It’s the kind of palette that’s pretty, versatile and a hit with a lot people.

Do you have a favourite cookie from the set? Tell us why!

Ooh that’s a tough one! I think the Silly Goose on the Loose is up there as one of my favourites. I loved being creative with it—layering Carlie’s check plate with the text and adding a little moulding for texture. But what really makes it special to me is this running joke we have with my son George where I ask, “Is George a silly goose?” and he always replies, “No, I’m Georgie Bisset!” It cracks me up every time! So now that cookie reminds me of him—it’s playful, childlike, and perfect for a 1^st birthday party.

But then of course I love the geese with their bows. When Carlie and I were chatting about the collection, I knew I wanted to skip the usual long neck bows and give the goose a bow tie instead—something with a bit more of a boyish vibe. I think we got the balance just right across the set: some geese are super sweet with bonnets and big bows, and others have that little twist that makes them feel more versatile and gender neutral.

How do you approach styling and packaging your sets to make them feel extra special?

I’m obsessed with tulle—love, love, love it! I know a lot of people go for ribbons, but tulle just brings that extra volume and a touch of glam. It adds height and drama to a cookie box, so the handover to client feels really impressive. Sometimes I’ll weave a bit of ribbon through as well, but those thin tulle strips are my go-to.

I also love the greaseproof papers from Sweetly Sealed Studios. The designs are so pretty, stylish and varied, and they can instantly pull a whole look together. The quality is amazing too—they don’t just look stunning, they hold up really well.

And of course, I can’t go past the cookie backer cards with toppers! I love working with Emily on custom designs that tie into a set —it’s such a sweet way to finish a look to make the whole package feel thoughtful and polished.

Basically, I don’t think anyone in the market is doing what Emily is doing. Emily just understands how we want to elevate our packaging but don’t want cliché sayings or designs. Everything Emily touches is elegant and brings an effortless style.

What advice would you give to bakers wanting to build their own signature cookie style?

Finding your style takes time—and that’s totally okay! In the beginning of your cookie decorating journey I think it can feel a bit overwhelming. There are so many incredible cookie artists out there, and it’s easy to stick to colour schemes you’ve seen and loved. I did the same—drawing inspiration from others while I found my feet.

It wasn’t until about 10 or 11 months in, about Easter this year, that I felt it really clicked for me. I realised I naturally gravitated towards certain colours—like that beautiful denim or Wedgewood blue, or earthy tones like blush, clay (my absolute fave!), sand, sage and olive. I discovered I prefer working with one or two main colours, and then playing with different shades of those colours across a set to create depth.

A tip I picked up from Kim at Sugar Shack Hull has stuck with me—she adds a tiny bit of the same colour (latte, in her case) to all her mixes to help everything feel cohesive. I used her a lot when I first started, as it really ties a set together. I still use it on some occasions but I think that is where I evolved to find my signature cookie style, to use shades of one colour. I was looking for that harmony I think.

So my advice? Try everything and soon you’ll start to notice what colours and techniques you love working with. And give yourself time. Your signature style won’t appear overnight—but it will come.

 

If you would like to feature one of your own cookie sets or collections, please get in touch with me via Instagram.