I live in the tropics and I got tired of even my stiffest gumpaste wilting after a while, so I thought I'd try pastillage. My first attempt was a dismal failure - I waited too long to use it (days as opposed to hours) and I tinted it with water-based coloring, having skipped over the part of the recipe that said not to do that. And black no less, so I used LOTS of coloring. But I decided to try again for another cake and it was wonderful! I cut some extra pieces to experiment on, too. I tinted these with candy colorings (too light for what I needed) then I sprayed them with Wilton Color Mist colors (not enough variety for what I wanted) and I finally painted them with luster dusts dissolved in alcohol and got what I wanted. But the interesting thing is that ALL these coloring methods worked great and didn't weaken the pastillage. The only problem with this stuff is that it's not particularly sculptable (or if it is, would somebody please let me know how to do it?). I rolled it out flat and cut some shapes and I can see it working in a cornstarch-dusted mold. But the nice thing is that once it's dry, it's hard as a rock. So, okay, my peonies will still wilt at an outdoor function, but any beach chairs, tables and other things that can be cut out of flat pieces will be MINE to do with as I please - mwahaha!
Marianna
"I know my own mind...and it's around here somewhere!"
"I know my own mind...and it's around here somewhere!"
Marianna
"I know my own mind...and it's around here somewhere!"
"I know my own mind...and it's around here somewhere!"
