I love to make hydrangeas, but they never stay very secure. I make the petal and a ball for the center with a wire, and thread the flower onto the center with egg white, and hang them upside down to dry. When I try to wire bunches together, they come apart, and I have to use royal icing to secure the centers back together with the petal, just wondering what I am doing wrong, any hints for better results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeLpLROfPFY&feature=related

Try drying a small bit of the paste the night before and then thread the petals threw the center as normal. Then make sure you pinch the paste to the wire on the bottom. I also use gum glue which is tylose and water for attaching my gumpaste.

yeah... make the centers ahead of time... then use your tylose glue... very sparingly (sp?) I mean a little tiny bit of glue.... also when you thin the flower... don't thin the middle too mcuh... leave it more meaty...

BTW: I have 200 to do.... on my 47th already wanna help? hehehehe

Great hints everyone, next time i'll let the centers dry first and pinch, I don't usually do that, I think I'm thinning the middle too much too, they are too fragile. And wow, 200, I thought my 20 were alot, with the hassles I've been having with them. I'd love to help and then I could watch how you do it.

I used some melted chocolate in the same color as the gum paste in center then placed wired hydrangea center through. It really sturdied up the hydrangea center and was barely noticable since same color.