You are going through the same thing I'm going through 
- I've been practicing for several weeks now. Here are some tips a few of the experts on CC have given me (even following these I find that at least one out of three of the strings will break and need to be redone):
- your icing should be made with egg whites for strength (one book I have suggests adding a tiny bit of glycerin for stretch - I have not done this)
- ditto on the nylon trick from the previous poster; saves the frustration of clogged tips
- keep the icing as fresh as possible; use parchment bags with only a few tablespoons of icing in each bag
- mix your icing slowly in your mixer (or by hand) - goal is to incorporate as little air as possible
- use seamless tips (e.g. PME or Berkenal)
- keep a fine, damp paintbrush at hand to push down dots
- one of the CC experts described the icing consistency to me a 'rubber band' quality, which has helped alot!
I'm taking two stringwork classes this weekend - so if I have anymore tips I try to remember to PM you. I think the key to this is patience, trial and error, and it is most likely not mastered in a day or two.
Good luck.
ETA - you may want to search CC for members that have stringwork you admire and email them for advice. I got some great replies doing this.
Thanks so much. I'm so jealous that you are going to a class for this...
My main problem is when piping the wings (I guess that is that they are called) I can't get the strings to be the same length.
I guess practice makes perfect.
Please PM me if you learn anymore tips. Thanks!!
Never mind the PMing... Post anything you learn in that class this weekend on here!!! String work still scares me...lol 
I'm sure there are many of us that would love any insight into making it work...
Thanks!
Pat
Never mind the PMing... Post anything you learn in that class this weekend on here!!! String work still scares me...lol
I'm sure there are many of us that would love any insight into making it work...Thanks!
Pat
Ditto that!
I bought one of those plastic garland marker thingys and had a hard time getting the string to land exactly on the holes the marker left. I had all these little holes showing. Yuck!
Well I have taken 3 classes with Geraldine Randlesome (her class was packed this weekend, but I got into Collette Peters! But I bet some others who go it will post!!) AND I have yet to do it, I practice then stick the dummies in the dishwasher so no one sees the disaster! Sooo I may not be able to post here, except to say...Royal with egg whites and well needed with your spatula, then strained through a nylon in parchment, I also practice with Bekenal tips, they are very nice-but pricey so I keep them in a special place! My official advice is this...Drink a bottle of whine, get a stool and relax then pipe away 
GOOD LUCK! I bet a ton of people are in the same boat as you dear with the OSSAS approaching
OOPS...I have a one year old-Let me edit that to say drink a bottle of WINE, not whine! LOL!
Laughing... 
With string work...I think that you got it correct the first time...whine...giggle... 
Hehehe,
Pat
I did a small cake with stringwork just a couple of weeks ago. I just used my regular BC. If you're doing like 3 loops of strings inside each other, I found quite by accident that doing the lowest (longest) loop first, then placing the next one inside that loop, then the smallest one inside that, it's easier. It's like putting the frame on,then filling in the frame. I was amazed at what a difference it made in making my loops/strings uniform.
Let gravity do some of the work to place the string/loop. I used to move my arm to make the loop/string, then someone told me to connect the first point ... squeeze and let gravity pull the loop down the desired length .... the connect the 2nd point. Takes a little practice to get them even every time, but after just a few, you're in the rhythm.
I luv the Australian stringwork look! Tried it once and hid it away until I can get MUCH better at it!
Snowshoe are you taking the classes at Cake camp? I'm taking an Australian stringwork class there with Kathy Scott...I'm so excited
Just hoping I have no trouble getting my covered dummy thru security at the airport
Yep - I'll see you in Kathy's class (I'm also taking the one with Geraldine). I'll be the one looking completely confused, lost, and itching to get back to the poker and blackjack tables 
- I still need to cover all my dummies for the weekend (and pack everything, make GP flowers for the corsage class, etc... ).
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