Sugar Flower Skills: The Cake Decorator's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Exquisite Lifelike Flowers

I believe that I have finally acquired all of Alan's Books. Each book provides beautiful photographs. Also with great care, process and description of technique are pictured to help the reader learn how to execute the lessons. Twenty five different types of flowers are taught in this comprehensive book. Sections on gum paste skills, tools, materials, color theory, making your own veiners, how to use cutters and creating templates offer a broad base of education in which to springboard into the actual doing....of making sugar flowers. There was a comment by another reader regarding the absence of description on length of wire to cut. Let common sense be your guide. You need enough wire sticking out of the paste to attach it to a stem..so at least 1/2 inch and if it is a very tiny part..perhaps 1/4 inch will do. Alan has no idea where you plan to use the flower or how..it's purely up to you and your artistry to decide how long to make your wire. I've had tremendous success in creating flowers from this book and many of his others with no formal training and only a moderate amount of practice. You will be making sugar flowers in a matter of a few days, once you have collected your tools, supplies, and simply begin to work through a lesson. Being prepared is foremost in the likelihood of your early success. On page 96 there is a tutorial for creating those luscious tiny orchids that we all so admire in elaborate table decorations and high end weddings and in sprays for bridal bouquets. This is not the most complicated orchid tutorial I have mastered. It is fairly simple to execute and delivers a truly beautiful flower that when combined with multiple blooms on a wand of flowers creates dynamic visual impact! I've included a photo...and this was the first time I created these with no history of practice. Also the photo of the Lily of the Vally was a first try. You'll love the book!

My wife has been encouraging me to do gum paste flower making and of the number of books I have at home, only a few were considered. She pointed me to this book and on a whim bought it. I'm glad I did. After going through the pages I felt that the flowers detailed in the book were created very realistically. Step by step instructions were very clear and concise. Materials used to make the flowers were listed for each type of flower being made. There is even a chapter on the basics with the tools listed that you need.An example of the author's style was creating a rose. His method of doing them is totally different from the standard way of making them, that they look more realistic and beautiful then what I have seen from other decorators in youtube.com videos and the books my wife currently has at home. It also means that they are a bit harder to create, but experienced decorators should have no problem with the instructions.Considering the price, I am happy to add this book to my wife's collection of cake decorating books, and will try my beginner skills out.

This is a really beautiful and well done book on making sugar flowers. There is a lot of basic information as well as step by step instructions for a large variety of common and not-so-common flowers. The pictures and written instructions are very clear, enough so that even a beginner like me could follow the steps. But even an experienced sugar flower maker would likely find some flowers not commonly seen in books. My only complaint is the extensive list of materials and supplies needed for most of the flowers. Some require as many as 5 or 6 different gauges of wire and 8 or 10 different colors of petal dust. But I do like that petal and leaf templates are provided in case one does not have cutters available. All in all, a great book and I won’t hesitate to purchase more of Alan Dunn’s books.

I have been making sugar flowers for a couple of years but only in my downtime. This author has a gift and technique of making and arranging these. I have a few of his books and have read them all with enthusiasm..

I have all of Alan's books and this is one of my favorites. I love the new format and the simple to follow pictures of each step, Alan is truly an amazing artist and instructor. His flowers are so detailed and Alan's instructions make it easier for all of us to make life like flowers. I have been proviledged to study with Alan in London, and watched as he made the cover Hibiscus for this book. I highly recommend this and other books by Alan. You will not be disappointed.

Good illustrations and easy steps. beautiful results and good photography. But still don't plan to open the book and start off expecting to be perfect. You must practice, practice, practice, well in advance of your event and realize that others don't know about any mistakes that you make. Be creative, but do follow the basics, don't rush and get flustered, don't skip steps, just follow the book, relax and PRACTICE!!! Oh! and don't substitute tools or supplies --- they know what works and what doesn't!!

I had just finished a cake decorating class. This has a lot of different kinds of flowers to work with. Good directions.

I'm happy with this transaction. I was hoping for more detailed information, but I'm a novice with sugar paste. It does have nice images and information.

Es excelente producto

Reasonable price , very good informative book,lots to learn and create

Um ótimo livro, muitas explicações e muitas flores, lindo, bem colorido , lindas fotografias, a capa é ótima , bem resistente...🙂

Le livre (en anglais, est-ce besoin de le préciser) est tout simplement hallucinant ! Les descriptions techniques sont suffisantes et l'anglais ne pose pas de problème.Les réalisations sont époustouflantes, dignes des plus grands concours, mais finalement le livre parvient à démystifier le sujet et, loin de vous intimider, vous emmène à faire vos propres réalisations. Le livre est à conseiller pour tous les niveaux, même complet débutant jusqu'au professionnel et rien que pour cela je félicite l'auteur.Un must à garder et à offrir.PS : format, papier, techniques, couleur d'impression : parfait.

Mein zweites Buch von Alan Dunn. Sehr zu empfehlen - jedoch sollte man kein absoluter Neuling sein und Englisch gut verstehen. Die Anleitungen mit Bildern sind sehr deutlich.