Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Lung.
Hi Ariel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My cookie journey started the summer of 2011. I was about to start high school, my aunt and uncle were hosting their baby shower. I wanted to do something nice for them and contribute to the party so my mom had suggested making some cookies. I agreed. How hard would it be to make cookies anyway, right? It was my first time baking anything and in my good intentions to make something special, I burnt all the cookies. Yeah, I burnt all the cookies. Although they were a bit crunchy, had make-shift royal icing running down the sides, and were loaded with sprinkles, they didn’t taste all that bad. My family and friends pushed me to try again so I did. I did research on different sugar cookie recipes and perfected my own signature sugar cookie recipe and royal icing technique. It wasn’t until after high school that I started to dedicated more time to my craft where I decided to take it to the next level by starting my Instagram page in 2016, where my user name was “Ariel’s Cookies. I was a full-time art student working towards my bachelor’s in fine art and making cookies on the side. I started to brainstorm some business names and came up with “The Cookie Den”, and it stuck. Flash forward to today, I am a graphic designer by day and cookie artist by night.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am the type of person that loves to help in any way I can. As a one-woman show, this comes with its challenges and leads to putting too much on my plate. I am blessed to be able to decide on how many orders I take on. However, it isn’t easy for me to tell clients “no”. Learning to set boundaries for myself when it comes to my business has been the biggest obstacle I have had to face and continues to be a challenge, but it’s all about taking baby steps.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
“I am for an art that has no limit”- Claes Oldenburg, “I Am For an Art…”, 1961 I truly believe cookies have no limit. I specialize in creating custom cookies for any occasion. I use my fine art/graphic design background to create one-of-a-kind cookies for each client. Creating custom cookies are little labors of love and while sometimes it can take up to 8+ hours to decorate one cookie, I am most proud to be able to produce a product that not only looks good but tastes good!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Last year, I invested in a 3D printer and taught myself how to 3D print my own cookie cutters! This tool has allowed me to design and create unique shapes for each order that comes my way. Giving the phrase “cookie-cutter”, of lacking individuality a whole new meaning.
Pricing:
- $45 per dozen – 1-3 basic shapes, 3 colors max, up to 3 different designs, simple designs/details
- $55 per dozen — 1-6 shapes, 6 colors max, can include lettering, florals, simple logos, gold + silver accents, etc.
- $65 per dozen — 1-10 shapes, 10 colors max, elaborate designs such as customized shapes/cookie designs, lettering, multi-layer icing designs, gold + silver accents, florals, faces, characters, etc.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @thecookieden
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecookieden
