I have been around the confectionery arts all my life. My grandparents, Wilbur and Mildred Brand started Country Kitchen in 1960 to supply cake decorators with quality products. The business grew and they began selling candy making, cookie making and wedding supplies. Country Kitchen is still in the family, owned by my mom, sister and I. My husband and brother-in-law are also hugely involved in the business. I have my own line of tools for cookie and cake decorating. My products are sold worldwide. Visit www.autumncarpenter.com to see my line.

From the time I was little I have enjoyed “messing” around in the field. In 1991, I began working full time at Country Kitchen making displays of cakes, cookies and candies and also as their wedding consultant. I became especially interested in cookies when I was flipping through Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookie Magazine in 1993 and came across an article about a family who gets together every year and paints gorgeous cookies for Christmas. I absolutely loved the technique they had used and HAD to try it myself. Once I tried it, I was hooked. For the next several months, I was painting cookies daily! The following fall, I decided to teach a class showing this as well as many other decorating technique for cookies. It was a great success and I have taught one every year since, with many of the same students attending every year.

I teach annually at the I.C.E.S. (International Cake Exploration Societé ) I look forward every year when I.C.E.S holds their annual convention. It’s so exciting to see others so enthusiastic about the confectionery arts! I have also traveled to several states, sharing the craft of cookie decorating and other confectionary arts.

In 1995, I married Bruce Carpenter. Two years later I had twin boys, Isaac and Austin. In September of 1999, I had a baby girl, Sydney. In April of 2003, Simon-our youngest son came along. I love baking cookies with my kids, and I hope their passion for the arts is someday as great as mine.