Hi there...
I'm still very new to all this and we practiced in class making the Mum with BC. They were fine, I even came home and made a cake that weekend and used the BC to practice more for colors before mixing the royal icing that next week.
Now I'm trying to use the Royal icing for that Basket Weave cake for Couse II finale and my Mums are just melting almost as soon as I pipe the petals. I know ADD more powdered sugar to make it thicker you'll say. I've done this, and I used the mixer so it was thoroughly mixed, not by hand. It's soooo stiff but apparently not stiff enough as they are still wilting. Does anyone have any suggestions or should I just let the royal icing sit and try again tomorrow and add again more powdered sugar. Thanks... - Paula
could you still have had traces of grease from the BC on your bowl, mixer or spatula that would break down the royal icing? If all that was completely grease free, maybe more meringue powder.
Oh, also your tips and bags - can't have any grease at all
I had this problem in course 2. You need to clean them with vinegar. In my mixing bowl I soaked my couplers and tips in a half vinegar and half water solution. And if you are using the reusable wilton bags they need cleaned as well. So I always bought the disposible ones so I knew they were clean. Then I rinsed them off and let them dry. The trace amounts of grease really kills the royal icing. I hope this helps you 
I have noticed that the mums seem to be much more sensitive to the consistency of the RI than the other Course 2 flowers (except maybe the Victorian rose). I find that for mums I have to beat for the full 10 minutes. If I try to skimp even a little, the mums wilt.
I think you have a good idea to wait until tomorrow, and then whip it again with a little more confectioner's sugar. That did the trick for me last time.
RP
chrysanthimums, and I bet it is grease and be sure to beat he entire 10 minutes
if I had read the forum question properly I should have known 
.....was my dads fav flower.... but thanks again for taking time out to answer dumbos like me..... 
Thanks ladies. I'll try again today. I've been really really careful and bought a new spatula just for the royal icing for the purpose of the no grease. I have a stainless mixing bowl cleaned thoroughly with hot soapy water and I did run it through the dishwasher to be sure with the sanatize mode. I'm using the parchment bags and I'll soak my tips in the vinegar too. I'll let you know how it goes. I made such pretty pansy's and violets and the leaves and thought I'd go back and do up some mums... very disappointing evening. Today will be better I hope. I had done some roses and they wilted but I knew that my icing consistency was not thick enough on them and I was just 'trying them out' in the royal. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again. - Paula
PS - I Love this site!!!
I just did a dummycake (in my gallery) of basket weave and had a bunch of mums I made with royal icing. for the life of me I can't roses to come out looking good but my mums are the best. I make my RI so thick my hand get sore from squeezing-maybe just try making it a tad thicker-good luck
OK, I trashed that batch and I'm trying another one. I added Meringe (spell?) and more powdered suger but it was so thick I couldn't squeeze it out the bag. Ugh. I'll try another brand new batch. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. I guess this just takes a few tries to get it right. I also know I didn't quite mix that batch for 10 minutes either. As they say,.. try try again,.. or practice makes perfect! Thanks all.
- Paula
I agree with all the suggestions listed above.
If I might make one more suggestion -- my WMI taught us that if we are going to use RI frequently (which I do lately) then we should consider purchasing a separate set of most used tips, bags, coupler, and brush for when using RI. That way there is no possible contamination from grease. I went a step further recently and purchased a separate bowl for the KA, just for doing RI and meringue. Having the separate tools has worked for me.
Theresa 
Hi ladies... I finally got to remake my RI and it turned out much better. I honestly don't know what was wrong. I did mix for the full 10 min though this time and I know that had to help. I'll post some photos as soon as DH get's back from conference with the camera! They look great! Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
- Paula
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