We don't get gumpaste in NZ, but I am making a shoe and some paintbrushes tomorrow and need something stronger than fondant- so I bought some tragacanth (sp?) does anyone know the ratio? And do I mix it with water to put into fondant???

Ilove making my own gumpaste...you should give it a try...its great to use!!! Nicholas Lodge has a great recipe on his web site.

I forgot to add gumpaste will dry harder and has a lot more flexability. Its also good to use 50/50 fondant /gumpaste for modelling

If you are using Nicholas Lodge's recipe you can substitute the same amount of Gum Tragacanth for the Tylose called for in the recipe.
http://www.nicholaslodge.com/gumpaste.htm

For a shoe and paintbrushes I would use straight gumpaste, if you are making a figurine you can use 50/50 paste, you get the smoothness of the fondant (What you call sugarpaste) and the faster drying time of the gumpaste. Others mold or model with straight fondant, but I find it too soft for me, maybe because I have warm hands. You can also knead in Tylose or Gum Trag. into the fondant for faster drying.