We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Dugger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.
Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I made my first ever decorated sugar cookie in October of 2020. I was bored and needed a hobby. I had been watching YouTube tutorials and IG reels and thought to myself, “I could totally do that!”. And so I did. I researched what ingredients and tools I needed and just went for it.
I will say that my first batch wasn’t too bad! But I still had so much to learn. So I just started practicing and learning everything I could about royal icing and how to use it as an artistic medium.
And all of a sudden I had this thing that I loved and that I was good at. It was exciting. It was like this secret part of my brain had been unlocked. All of this untapped creativity that I had tucked away my whole life just came pouring out.
I taught myself food science and color theory. I learned about different art styles and techniques. I wanted to learn how to do it all. And I still do. I never stop trying new things. I push myself with every order I take. And I think that’s so important. That willingness to want to better yourself. I never look at a skill and think, “oh I can’t do that!”. It’s always, “I can’t wait to learn how to do that”. And that’s a really important lesson that I’ve learned on my cookie journey. Don’t ever underestimate yourself.
Rebecca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Rebecca DuBose Dugger. I’m 40 years old and live in Mandeville, Louisiana- a suburb of New Orleans. I’m a wife and mother of two. I’ve worked in the service industry my whole life managing restaurants and coffee shops.
I started making cookies for fun and it quickly turned into a business, “The DociaMack” which I named after my grandparents.
I make custom cookies for birthday parties, baby showers and weddings. I love getting to create something special for my clients for the most important moments in their lives.
I teach beginner level and advanced level cookie decorating classes in person as well as virtual classes. I’m also teaching at CookieCon, which is a cookie decorating convention. I competed on the Food Network’s “Halloween Cookie Challenge” in 2022 and won $10,000.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My cookie journey has taught me so much about myself. I’ve proven that I can do anything I set my mind to. That I have something worth sharing with the world. And now my goal is to share all the knowledge I’ve gained with others in the cookie community. If I can help anyone else learn a new skill, better themselves or find a creative outlet then I’ll be happy. So I plan to continue to create and teach and hopefully inspire.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Encourage your children to participate in the arts. Visual arts. Music. Theatre. Dance. Fashion. Makeup. Take them to museums and the theatre. Let them paint. Sing with them. Dance with them. Foster their creativity. They are our future artists and creative people appreciate and support other creatives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheDociaMack
- Facebook: The DociaMack
