She's Tops When it Comes to Decorating Cakes: Julie Orr Lucero

When people talk about dough and salt you expect them to be good cooks. Well, Julie Lucero is that, but has also taken those basics a creative step further and has been making “salt dough” ornaments since 1990. Those who have attended the “Tree for All” at the Blanding Wellness Center or booths at the 4th of July or 24th in Monticello over the years, have probably seen and bought some of her products. Many of her creations feature carefully made and painted Nativity scenes, often with southwestern design. Sometimes the holy family is in a hogan, or by it.

Julie has always had a creative talent which was encouraged by her high school art teachers in the ‘70’s. When Julie first began painting, she primarily did ornaments for Christmas trees, but 15 years ago she started using clay to make cake toppers for wedding cakes and other celebrations. She has made nearly 50 such intricate creations. One of the hardest ones was for a military wedding, with the groom dressed in his uniform. She replicated every one of his medals in minutia!

Another very difficult topper was one that featured a bride with long curly hair, which she was also able to recreate. Sometimes the bridal toppers were a secret for the couple, whose parents or friends send a photo of what they wanted for the special occasion. These were always a wonderful surprise! Her weddings creations were featured in Bridal Fair Magazine after they saw her creations at the Salt Palace. The cake design for Austin and Valerie Howe’s wedding was a zebra print, other bride dresses were made to look like intricate embroidery.

The subject of her creations has expanded from weddings to prom dates, birthdays, holidays and even Dean Lyman’s hunting success! One cover picture for Fire Mountain Gems in 2014 featured a cake with detailed replicas of all kinds of expensive gems all made by Creative Clays (her web site.) She learned that skill at a workshop in Logan where they taught her to use oil paints sprayed with polyurethane to replicate the “real deal.”

She continues to make magnets and other salt clay miniatures such as the Eagle Dance and hogans which are primarily sold at the Bluff Fort. She also has painted many large pictures of San Juan County and the Navajo culture as well as decorative walls in her own home and for others. She is a genius at replicating and capturing the uniqueness of any occasion. If you can describe it or show it, Julie can recreate it in miniature.