For those of you who don't make your own gumpaste flowers and would like a source for buying quality blossoms here is a beautiful website on Long Island.
http://www.sugarflorals.com/
WOW!! He's really good!!! Did you see those Birds of Paradise???
Boy Stewart, I thought Scott Woolley was good, but man, you take the cake!! (Pardon the pun 
) Your sunflower looks like it's actually growing right outside my window!! Amazing! Tell us about your training -- how long have you been doing this and how did you learn?
High praise indeed! Thank you so much. I have to say...I love Scott's work. I would love to take classes with him, but they are way too expensive for me...as are Nick Lodge's. Also, wasn't crazy about Scott's book. As with many books, the directions look great until you actually try to figure out what the heck they're saying.
Personally, I learn best by watching someone, and having them watch me.
I studied with Christina Bisbee here on Long Island. She is awesome! She works in a cake and candy supply store here on Long Island...The Chocolate Duck.....a family run business which offers classes. She is very talented and VERY patient. Over the past 3 years, I've taken 7 different classes with her.
Whatever I didn't learn with Chrissie....I learned on my own from books....lots of books and also buying flowers, pulling them apart, and figuring out how to duplicate each part.
That's very cool. That's how Sylvia Weinstock learned as well, pulling apart flowers and recreating them. Good for you!! I must say your Bird of Paradise reminds me of the days when I was a florist -- we'd kill to get flowers that nice in the shop! 
Well kiddo..you are good!!!
Take a bow!!
Glad to know you are a visual learner, like I am. Books do help but love DVD better.
That's funny...I went looking for decent birds of paradise to try to figure them out, but no florist had ones that weren't dying. Not many books have instructions for them. The first book I found that had them was Scott Wooley's book, but I couldn't really understand the directions.
I found a good representation in Alan Dunn's Exotic Sugar Flowers book.
your cakes are very pretty too!...
i LOVE the white monogram cake...BEAUTIFUL!!!
and the sunflower is just perfect...it looks real.
great job!
I'm rather new to the wonderful world of gumpaste flowers myself, being self-taught via Scott's DVDs and a number of books, with the help of my oh-so-patient cake teacher Karen. I have a few of Nick Lodges DVDs and books as well. I just make a batch of gumpaste and play. When the flower is to my liking, and I can do it over and over with the same basic result, then I'm happy!
That's funny...I went looking for decent birds of paradise to try to figure them out, but no florist had ones that weren't dying. Not many books have instructions for them. The first book I found that had them was Scott Wooley's book, but I couldn't really understand the directions.
I found a good representation in Alan Dunn's Exotic Sugar Flowers book.
I love Alan Dunns books and work. Jeeze Stewart my daughter has a huge bush of Bird of paradise in her front year that blooms almost year round, I could have sent you some.
Sorry, I thought you were looking where you can get nice sugar flowers to buy... Hello, Stewart!
Welcome to CC.
Tell me, where are you on LI? I lived in Deepdale for a while, just off the LIE in Little Neck. I still have family there and in New Hyde Park. Your area code tells me you are not too far away.
When you went to find the birds of paradise, did you ljust ook on the Island, or did you go down to the flower district in the City? I have bought great ones there in the past. Not always from the same vendor, though.
Nice meeting you!
Theresa 
Just wonderful flowers Stewart. Tell me, are you able to ship? They seem too fragile.
Keep up the good work, we all really appreciate seeing it!
Wow Stewart! your flowers are amazing!!! I'd love to take a gumpaste class - heck I'd love to take any class LOL. If you don't mind, where is the Chocolate Duck? I'm from LI too, but way out east...
Beautiful work! I was wondering if you could recommend a good (easy!) book for a beginner. Maybe one that isnt super duper expensive either? I havent tried making any sugar flowers yet. You said a lot of the books were confusing and I dont want to get overly frustrated at first. Thanks!
Hi all....
I would like to thank you ALL for your kind words about my work.
I have tried to answer everyone who had questions via PM...but I would like to answer some common ones here....
Shipping.....depends on the exact project. Some pieces will ship well....others will not. The flowers are very fragile. If anyone has any experience with shipping custom made gumpaste flowers...I'd love to hear from you. I'm experimenting right now. I'll keep y'all posted.
Prices.....prices for my work vary. I don't usually list prices. I price by each job. In general....one flower is $10.00....but it depends on the flower...some are quite a bit more, some less...
Flower type, coloring, size, number of blooms, number of stems, time involved, etc....all shape the price. And of course...the cake decorator's budget is most important. I like someone to give me a budget. I will then come up with a beautiful piece to fit the need.
Classes..... I do offer private instruction.
Best books for beginners/not too expensive.......I guess that depends on each person's own learning preferences and what someone's budget is.
It can be daunting finding just the right material without spending too much money. It tends to be an expensive craft.
I highly recommend Jill Maytham's CD...'Sugar Flowers'. See http://www.jemcutters.com The CD gives the best illustrations (drawn not live) and the JEM cutter sets have many many many cutters all in a few boxes.
Sorry it took awhile to get back to you today...but my clothes drier broke this morning sending me into shopping warrior mode. Found the part at Sears Service Center....then shopped for other stuff while I was in the panic mode. Now if I can only put the drier back together....
Best regards to all...
Looking forward to forumming with you all..
Stewart
www.sugarflorals.com
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