So I'm about to take the brave step into the new world of gumpaste flowers... some of yours are so gorgeous, I only hope I can get that good at it someday! But as I'm researching, I'm seeing a lot of instructions for wiring flowers. Do I have to wire them all, even if I will be sticking them on the side of a cake or between tiers? I'm not sure I like the idea of sticking wire into cake!! How do you all do this?

some flowers need to be constructed on a center that is on a wire. The centers are stable, and will hold the flower in place. the wire can be wrapped and inserted into the cake, or you can use straws or flower picks to hold the flowers.

there are some flowers that can be done without wires. roses, if you get the hang of it, daisies, and several flat flowers. There are books that show flowers with no wires.

Thanks! I'll have to keep searching for some instructions on the "no wire" flowers!!

If you want to make flowers that need a center on a wire, you can use a cocktail stick or a long thin skewer instead, which is safe to insert into the cake. You don't have to wire all flowers. Wire if you plan to arrange them into a spray, or need to wire individual petals for support. You don't need to wire frangipanis, for instance. If you are sticking them on a cake or between tiers, you can just attach them to the cake with royal icing, and there is no reason to put a wire.

Thats me...I got the hang of making the flowers, but wiring them really is not up my alley. Gotta practice...

Wiring flower petals gives you the ability to move or bend them a bit for a more natural look. A flower without wires and dried in a former is going to stay in that shape, while pretty they sometimes look rather stiff. Wiring is very easy, but what is needed to do it is a ridged non stick cel board. You roll a sausage of gumpaste, lay it sideways over the ridges on the board and press it gently all the way across, then roll from the center up and again from the center down, also side to side until it is the thickness you want. Pick the paste up and turn it over so the ridge lines are vertical. Now lay your petal cutters on the ridge lines so the ridge goes exactly in the middle of the petal from bottom to top. Cut out the petals, dip a floral wire in gum glue (I generally use #30 gauge wire) feed the wire into the petal ridge from the bottom and up about 2/3rds of the way to the top. Pinch the paste at the bottom of the petal where it meets the wire to secure it. Lay the petals ridge side up in a silicone veiner and press gently with a small piece of thin packing foam or even a wadded up paper towel. Thin the edges of the petal on a foam cel mat with a metal ball tool. Ruffle the edges if required for the flower you are making. Stick the wired petals into a block of styrofoam to dry. Wrap the wire stems with floral tape, color the petals with petal dust and then steam over a pan of water to set the color and add some shine. Stick back in foam till dry and then tape the petals together with a dried gumpaste center on wire for the finished flower. You can arrange and move the petals after it has been taped together.
Here is a link to a ridged cel board. It has a smooth side for rolling out flat gumpaste, the other side is ridged for wired petals and leaves.
Scroll down to celboard2
http://www.globalsugarart.com/customer/home.php?cat=677&page=2

Thanks everybody!! So helpful! Now I just need to find the time to practice...