I need some idea help, please!

My husband's company has some people visiting from India and I want to make him some decorated cookies to take in. I thought it would be nice to decorate them in some kind of "Indian theme," but I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas for the decoration. I want to be sure it's something I can do (I'm not a good artist), but also want to be sure it isn't anything offensive. They are from Bangalore, if that helps at all.

Any ideas?

thanks in advance!!

All I could think of was those beautiful Mendhi type designs. One was on the home page yesterday, and there's an awesome one in someone's avatar. She was busy on the Weird Bakery thread these last few days.

Hope someone else can be of more help!

If you can't think of a good Indian cookie idea you could do the opposite, like "welcome to Maryland" and make cookies decorated like some local landmarks.

Maybe the Taj Mahal, the flag of India, an elephant the the Indian style blanket on it. I love Bizatchgirl's idea! That would be just lovely! I would try looking up "India clip art" on the internet. I only had time to do a quick search, but here is a link to some to start with, if it helps:

http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=india+clip+art&sa=N&start=0&ndsp=21

Once you find the theme, then I would google that word specifically with "clip art" attached. Have fun! These will be really nice!

Actually, if Honeydukes sees this, you will be all set! She is a wealth of great ideas!

I have a pic of some Indian elephants that I made in my photos. I used fondant, but they could easily be done with royal icing. I found the idea in a Lindy Smith cookie book I have...Bake Me I'm Yours, Cookie. HTH

Have you tried stenciling?

These would be great to do.


http://www.culinarystencils.com/product/C395

thanks everyone, for your suggestions.

I also thought of the beautiful Mehndi designs, but as I researched them I saw that they are for women for weddings, and that didn't seem quite appropriate....

I had thought of elephants, but wasn't sure if that was too "kitchy" - I don't want to offend anyone with something that I think would be representative, but would be offensive to someone from that country. Is anyone out there from India that could tell me what they think?


thanks!

I would make indian dresses with all their beautiful colours and a little gold.

o m g gorgeous

http://www.flickr.com/photos/icingdreams/2705162787/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/icingdreams/2049711906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/icingdreams/1878679546/


http://snarkychef.vox.com/library/photo/6a00ccff987a596ea5011017add24e860e.html

thanks, everyone!

My sister-in-law has several friends who are Indian, so she's going to check with them to be sure the elephants wouldn't be offensive in any way.

Thanks for the wonderful links and suggestions!

I'm sure that whatever you come up with will be wonderful...I have faith in you! Just don't forget to post pictures!

thanks again for your suggestions everyone! I decided to do some elephants and then also some paisley designs in "henna' coloring in case anyone didn't want to eat an elephant. I posted a pic of a few samples of both in my pictures, but here's one of the elephants. thanks again - I really appreciate the ideas and support!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the cookies. Other than that, I'm speechless.

I'm glad you made the paisley design cookies, too, because it's going to be hard for them to eat those elephants...way-y-y too cute! Those are some amazing cookies!

OMG !! They are amazing !!!

Your elephants are absolutely stunning, out of this world gorgeous!!
and so colourful as well........well done!!

Hi... I hope im not too late in posting this... Im Indian... I really liked ure cookies but I think if i was visiting someone, Id prefer getting something thts unique to Maryland... I really liked the welcome to Maryland idea n including some of the main attractions of the place....

HTH.....

Thank you so much for your nice comments! I was really feeling nervous about these!

My husband said that everyone loved them - they even took pictures of the cookies with their cell phones! No one was offended at all by the designs and a couple of people took an elephant and a paisley, because they wanted to save the elephants as souvenirs! - How crazy is that?!?!