Why did you gave up?? what did it look like??
Personnally I think thin icing (try to mix with piping gel) and a clean damp brush helps a lot...
When I did my mother's day display cake I had hard time with it, but I ajusted my icing consistency and got better result with more water on my brush...
The result here 
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_1329764.html
Hope it helps you
I'm not an expert on this subject, but I just piped this cake with royal icing and took a wet paint brush and pulled the icing inward. I worked on small areas at a time. I was very happy with the results 
Jen
Wow guys! Those are some truly beautiful cakes. Now I'm really inspired to try this again. I think I must have done two things wrong. I know I was working with too large of an area at a time and my icing was drying out. But looking at your cakes, I think I was using to fine of a line and didn't have enough icing to spread.
Thanks for the pics and help!
Tammy
Can I ask if you draw on the cake first, or is it all freehand design??? Thats the problem i am having. My flowers do not look cnsistent and uniform, and the shapes are not right.
It really all depends what I am working on, whether I do freehand or draw on the cake. If I draw on the cake, I tend to use a pin to etch the design or make a paper template and trace that. I think with this cake I just winged it....
If anyone has questions, I'm happy to try and help! You can e-mail me, too
Jen
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