you did great. my first one isn't what I would call the best but everyone at work loved it. I think it's just a practice makes perfect thing.

Perhaps if you had used a star tip, it would have been more "forgiving" in the sense of not showing every small imperfection. I bought the wilton booklet "the uses of the most popular decorating tips" and they show scroll work using star tips (accented with royal icing flowers). In fact, on page 37, they show how to use pattern presses with star tips. You'd probably like that!

forgot to say: I actually think you did a great job and it looks much better than you think. we are always our worst critics. This is a stylish cake.