Happy New Year 2013

It is a brand new year which always means brand new adventures. 

I have been absent from my blog for some time trying to keep up with all this technology we have at our fingertips. I have to admit I am not as advanced as I should be but enough for the moment.

I look forward to sharing new flowers I have been making and creating a few tutorials to share with those who ask if I have any.

So far this year which is only a week into it I have made just one Fuschia flower. I have wanting to make it for ever now and just decided to go for it. I hope to make several more and create a nice small arrangement to display.

I plan on offering classes this year and will post the list by the end of the month.

 I offer private classes as well. 

Are those leaves "Really" made of sugar???

Finally..

I completed the gumpaste leaves I wrote about. 

I get Super excited and impatient wanting to see how they turn out.

Gumpaste foilage Palm Leaves, Eucalyptus, Croton

I created an assembly line sort of to make them

I colored all the paste needed for all the leaves

Next, made all of them and left to dry

    Getting closer to finishing!!!

Finally got to assemble all of them..

Whew!!!!!!!!!!! that was a lot of FUN work and I am pleased with how they turned out. I now know some new leaves I can use for arrangements. Yes, I think I want to find a few more to learn.

Gumpaste Palm Leaves

Gumpaste Eucalyptus

Gumpaste Croton

In need of new leaves

When looking for new flowers to create when I am out

 I overlook the leaves. 

I am very aware of the different leaves in floral arrangements. BUT... I just don't think about them when creating flowers and I end up adding the same leaves I always use.

 I am in need some new fresh ideas...

Photos of my first choices...

 Silver Dollar Eucalyptus 

Palm Leaves..

Bettleweed leaf. Love the jagged edges

Yes, today I finished the last of my first choices in gumpaste and will post them tomorrow. The Beetleweed I already used in an arrangement and the other two are being included in my current arrangement..

Please stayed tuned for the photos..

Busy creating while away....

I have been away from my blog for over a month

In the past month or so I have been very busy creating new flowers and coming up with new ideas. I seem to have a list as long as I am tall of all the flowers I want to make. But the problem has always been what to make next.

So many flowers to make so very little time it seems. 

On my list to make are Sweet Peas. I had made them once when I first learned sugar flowers many years ago. I don't have them now or any photos of them. But, I do remember I made them pink. So, of course I decided when I make them they will be pink.

 

Photo of real sweet Pea's for a design idea

 

I love how delicate and intricate they look to make. Just after making my first one I discovered they aren't difficult at all but I can say they are a bit time consuming. I always tend to choose flowers that are small and require a several to create an arrangement. Not by choice it just happens that way.

So, I looked up several on the computer to get the details needed for the flower plus to see the leaves that go along with them. I didn't remember they had tendrils which really add to the arrangement and really help them look more realistic.

Here are my Pink Sweet Peas that I just created.

Sweet Peas in gumpaste

The Modern Flower

How to make your own Modern Flower

Supplies needed

Tear Drop cutter

Wires

Ball tool or celpin

Foam pad

Apply crate or similar

 

Technique:

Cut out tear drop shape

Insert Wire

With ball tool or celpin using foam pad or palm of your hand

     -Gently roll tool of your choice around in a circle over the entire petal to hallow it out slighlty so it curves.

Lay in apple crate or similar with a nice curve and let dry.

I make petals in odd numbers per layer.

Continue as large as you want the flower with any size petals

You can use each size or skip one for a more dramatic look and less petals

Just keep in mind the larger they are the heavier they are and a bit more tricky to wire 

Use the right size gauge wire (strong enough to hold the petal)