Wiring And Dusting - Gumpaste Flowers
Decorating By TexasSugar Updated 20 Aug 2007 , 12:40am by cheftracy
This summer at the ICES convention I went to several different gumpaste flower demo's. I learned, like with most things, there are many different ways to do the flowers. So I'm wondering what do all of you do?
What are the pros/cons to dusting your flowers while the paste is still wet vs when it is dry?
What are the pros/cons to inserting the wire just a little into the petal and all the way?
What are the pros/cons to taping the petals together before they are dry?
How do you know what gauge wire to use for the flowers?
Hi TexasSugar,
Great questions!
This summer at the ICES convention I went to several different gumpaste flower demo's. I learned, like with most things, there are many different ways to do the flowers. So I'm wondering what do all of you do?
What are the pros/cons to dusting your flowers while the paste is still wet vs when it is dry?
Dust adheres better to damp paste. It hardly adheres at all to dry paste; hence need to steaming/re-dusting if done on dry paste.
What are the pros/cons to inserting the wire just a little into the petal and all the way?
Just a little wire - it is less visible in thin petals. This is what I prefer.
Sticking petals in all the way - more support for heavy petals, but will show through if paste is thin. Visible wires in flowers loses points in competition work.
What are the pros/cons to taping the petals together before they are dry?
Pro - Petals can fit together nicely and the finished flower looks more real. Cons - petal can get damaged around the wire ; with most pastes, petal must be completely dry before wiring together.
How do you know what gauge wire to use for the flowers?
The thinnest wire you can get away with - ie, that will support the weight of the petal or finished flower. Thicker gauge for buds, as they need to support the weight of the whole flower, plus won't be seen anyway. I usually go with 28 or 30g, try to make the petals very thin and light so don't need a thick wire for support.
What are the pros/cons to dusting your flowers while the paste is still wet vs when it is dry?
If the paste is still wet you can damage the petal. I wait until they are dry. I start with a base color then hi and low light with dust after they are dry.
What are the pros/cons to inserting the wire just a little into the petal and all the way?
If you don't insert the wire into the paste far enough, the petal or leaf will break off more easily. However you don't want it to be noticeable, practice makes perfect.
What are the pros/cons to taping the petals together before they are dry?
I have never tried taping together before everything was dry. I imagine it would be hard to shape the petals how you want them if they are all together before they are dry. I am thinking about the lily where you want the petals directed in certain ways.
How do you know what gauge wire to use for the flowers?
I use the thinnest I can, but again trial and error here as well. If the flower droops its head then you know to try a heavier gauge. Leaves typically are on really thin wire, flowers on heavier.
HTH
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