Its spring and the wildflowers are in bloom!
I am making a number of flowers in this post. First is Lavender.
Using a small calyx cutter for the daisy, cut purple gumpaste three times and then cut the calyx in half, making six flower.
Thinning the four little petals then apply gum glue to the flat bottom, gently wrap one around a 32 gauge wire.
Repeat this process with all six petals.
Next is the shasta daisy.
(I often make centers for flowers when I have a small amount of gumpaste in a partial color, so that I never have waste. I can then make a flower on a quick turn-a-round as the centers are fully dried and will support the flower petals.)
This is a center pistol mat from Cel-Cakes in the UK. I choose the size pistol needed and fill it with gumpaste.
Using a spatula and working from the center to the outer edge, remove the extra gumpaste.
As the pistols are very thin and delicate I use a hat pin to help remove it from the form.
A center is then inserted. I generally add two pistols for a full effect.
The outer petals of the daisy are then cut. Here I place the cutter face side up. Rolling the paste very thin and lay it over the cutter
Using the rolling pin gently roll over the surface of the cutter to get a clean cut.
Gently pull the extra paste away from the cut flower.
Again using a hat pin, pull the petals away from the edge of the cutter and insert your finished center. I like movement in the flower so I dry the first row of petals on Cel-Cake flower forms for about 20 minutes before adding a second row of petals. Remember to off-set the second row of petals for a full effect.
The wildflowers are ready for the cake. Lavender, Violets, Thistle, Cherry blossoms, Black eyed Susan, and Daisies.
