Okay, I don't know if I have pms or what but I am freaking out today. I have been working really hard on developing a portfolio of my cookies because I am planning on starting "the business" next month (I have to take the servsafe course and get my license). I have not been really thrilled with the quality of my work (I am not looking for compliments, really!) I notice the smallest detail (like a bump here and there or a squiggly line). I mean they are hand decorated cookies, right? If they were perfect a machine would be cranking them out for 25 cents. I feel that if a person is going to pay the price that I am going to charge them for these cookies they should be near pefect. I guess that they really can't be or I wouldn't be human (although I don't feel human today - my poor kids when they get home from school and have to deal with their grouchy mommy). Just wanted to hear from some of you about you idea of how perfect our cookies should be if we are selling them.
Thanks for letting me vent!!
Suki
Your cookies look great! I wouldn't worry about it so much. I already had some of your pictures in my favorite photos before this. They can't be identical everytime, and that is sometimes the funnest part.
I'm working on a portfolio as well! Last night I make 7 or 8 different shaped cookies, and I'll probably decorate them this weekend just to take picutures of.
My cookies aren't always perfect, and I really don't think people care that much. They are usually too impressed by how good they taste!
Good luck with the business.
Your cookies look great!
I know what you mean about the "perfect" cookie.
I think about all the bumps and the not so perfect swirls. We are our own worst critic. I don't think the average customer is going to notice those little imperfections.
If you start searching online for all the websites out there selling cookies, you will find all levels of skill. And their businesses seem to be successful.
First off Peeverly, I looked at your gallery and your cookies are lovely you have nothing to fear.
So now I have to say, ".......if you are stressing this much about the quality of your decorating, what is it going to be like when you do open the business?"
It is great to be concerned with quality but not to the point of obsessing over bumps and squiggly lines. Maybe a nice warm bubble bath, a good Jazz CD, scented candles with yummy glass of wine would help you "unstress" and it would be better for your health too and most certainly if you are PMS-ing! 
IMO ya got to learn to relax, before you have real painful business issues to stress over....... 
PS: PM me if you want the name of good Jazz CD or Bottle of Wine cuz I love to relax
Thank you all for your kind words. Yes, I do have to think about this business thing because obviously I am high strung 
. I am very stressed this week because of a lot of things - some good (like I am going to hawaii next friday!!) - some not so good but that is for another forum! Anyway, I did a couple of sample cookies that were really hard and I found that I can duplicate them reasonably. I probably am my worst critic. Thanks again (I'm sure tomorrow will be a better day)
P.S. I'll post soon pictures of my newest cookies.
We are always our own worst critics, like you said.
Your cookies look AWESOME! Do not even worry. The important thing is that you are making each one as perfect as you can, and letting everyone eat the rest. 
You have to remember, most people (besides the cake and cookie hobbyists) can not make a cookie look even near as good as you can, that is why they are PAYING you for them.
They truly look great, and you should feel really good about your talent/work!
Lindsay
Congratulations on starting your new business - how exciting!
Your cookies are really cute and well done. I think you have nothing to worry about in terms of 'perfection'.
Only one thing I would recommend and it has nothing to do with your cookies, is take great pictures. Maybe there are some members here who have tips. One I can offer is experiment without the flash - it sometimes washes out your pics or makes things look too shiny.
You will do well, I'm sure. Your cookies are wonderful. Good luck!!!
peeverly..your cookies look great. i also had some in my favorites.
i am the same way. i know where every mistake is where something didn't quite turn out the way i pictured. but just like others have told me you're probably the only one who notices. plus that's a lot of stress putting together a portfolio. i've been working on mine for a year now, and i still feel like i need more. good luck on the business! i've got 2 months left until my pastry certificate, then i can start.
Peeverly, your cookies are fantastic!
I do the same thing, I'm just starting out and I think everything I do is "not good enough". Then I look at other cookies on here, and I think "jeez, I'll NEVER be that good!"
There's a flower & star cookie bouquet in my photos (just for a friend), and I thought the stars were the goofiest, tacky things that I ever did - but those were favored by folks at her office over the flowers!
Once, I made a pan of chocolate chip cookies (to be cut out later into hearts) and I was scared of overbaking, so I took them out too soon. I gave them to my roomate with the warning that they were "half-baked". He took them to work with him (to my horror), and everyone keeps asking him to get me to make more!
You have nothing to worry about - your cookies are beautiful... I would take tiptop's advice and relax her way... just wait until after you get the cookies out of the oven!
Thank you all again for all your kind words. I feel like I was fishing for compliments (I do appreciate your positive feedback) but I was really just venting (you know those days when you doubt everything you do - like are my cookies good enough?(hence the post!) to am I a good parent???). I think it is just part of my winning personality!! Thanks again. I am going to continue to get my license and I'll go from there. If I find that this business is too touch for me then I'll just scale back. Anyone out there who went into business then changed their mind because of the immense work and stress? Just wondering.
THANKS!! YOU ARE ALL GREAT!! I'M SOOOOO GLAD I FOUND THIS FORUM!
I agree with the others-your cookies look great. I go thru the same kind of things. I had an extremely busy week( too busy) and this kind of stresses me out because I don't feel as if I am doing my best work. (You know the quality vs. quantity thing) I have been in the process of getting my license for awhile now, and I think the main reason I hold off, is because of weeks like this. As long as I am just "word of mouth", I feel I can control how much I do. I think I have a lot of anxiety of taking the leap and becoming an official business. I am trying to work thru it though because I love doing the cookies and it can be quite profitable.
I know you're not looking for compliments but those cookies are very well-decorated.
I think the little imperfections are what make HAND-decorated cookies valuable. They are made by hand and by an imperfect hand, but are still appealing to the eye.
I think your portfolio will turn out great! 
Hi Peeverly, I just looked at your cookies and I want you to know that I recognized some of them right away as some of my personal favorties that I have seen here on CC. I especially like your snowmen and gingerbread people.
I know exactly how you feel. When I look at the cookies that I did when I first started - I can't believe people bought them! Every season, I look at what I did the prior season and throw away several designs or improve upon ideas I had started. Some people think I'm outright crazy for this - creating more work than is necessary (I disagree w/them). You have to be happy with what you currently have to offer, but allow your work to continue to develop over time. You will continue to come across tools and knowledge that will allow you to execute things better like you'd like to. And your skills will continue to advance. I guess what I'm getting at (sorry for behind so long-winded - just had my am coffee), is that the creative process is an evolution. Don't be too hard on yourself during the interim stages, or you'll just end up frustrated and discouraged. No artist starts out on day one (or day 1000 for that matter) making what they could create after a lifetime of experience.
On a final note, what struck me most when I first saw your cookies is that several of your designs looked truly original to me. That proves that you are a real artist at what you do. Does every cookie in your portfolio need to scream originality? I don't think so at all, but I think there should be enough so that people will begin to know you for your unique creations and 'style.'
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