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Water Lilies | Manu
Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #27 - Circles - NON-ENTRY

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I have never made so many round cookies since I started cookie decorating. I made so many because I wanted to display my non-entry in layers and I needed to leave at least 12 cookies with edges clearly visible, per challenge requirements.

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My cookies range from a diameter of 2 in/ 5 cm to 4 in / 10 cm.
I relied too much on the fact that I baked almost perfect circle-shaped cookies, therefore I thought I’d just needed to pipe outline along the edge, without drawing any circle on the cookie. Although I felt I kept improving cookie by cookie (from the smaller ones in the middle onwards), the outcome wasn’t so perfect at the end and next time I will need to flood circles I will use a template. I personally found easier piping outling starting at 6 o’clock and proceeding anticlockwise, keeping the tip raised enough to have in sight the edge all the time.
I kept practicing with circles by piping all the lily pad transfers. I didn’t have clear in my mind how to arrange the final set so the leaf transfers gave me more versatility.
I can surely say that I developed that “muscle memory” mentioned by Christine @Bakerloo Station and now I can pipe and breath at the same time 😊

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The inspiration to make this set came from a recent trip to Vietnam. I took a lot of pictures of things that I would like to cookie-fy (one of them is already in my February tutorial) and the water lilies below are some of them (photos by Manu).

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I just needed an idea to make the set though, so when I read Christine’s article about the challenge and the requirements, immediately the set began to take shape in my mind, as every circle was a potential lily pad or flower. Thank you once again Christine!

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Moreover, among the pictures of Christine’s article there was the Autumn set by Samantha @Aproned Artist which reminded me about her tutorial. It came in handy, as I developed her technique to bend the leaves in a way I could build my water lily flowers. Thank you, Sam!

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The flowers are made of royal icing. The petals are royal icing transfers piped one by one and then glued to a royal icing center.

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Images (6)
  • Circle Cookies Flooded: Cookie and Photo by Manu
  • Water Lilies | Manu: Design, Cookies and Photo by Manu
  • Water Lilies: Photos by Manu
  • The idea for the design: Photo by Manu
  • Water Lilies Leaves: Design, Cookie and Photo by Manu
  • Royal Icing Water Lilies: Design and Photo by Manu
Last edited by Manu biscotti decorati
Heather Bruce Sosa posted:

Oh, so gorgeous! Those flowers are beautiful after your hard work! Congratulations, Manu💞

Thank you, Heather! It was fun to make them, though it took me more time than flooding all the circles! 🌸

WOW Manu, this set is brilliant, fantastic and so perfect and beautiful again. Can't stop looking at it. I think a tuto on how you made the flowers would be great. I also wanted to do a water lily set one day. Now you inspied me and I'll give it a try sooner or later. 

Last edited by carouselselsel

Hi Manu!   Great work as usual!  I'm envious of your trip to Vietnam, as that has been a place high on my list for quite a few years now, don't know whether we'll ever make it now alas. I can only imagine how much the beautiful country of Vietnam inspired you, bet you've got loads of wonderful memories of such a beautiful country?

Manu, that's why I am so proud of you, this set is sooooo perfect and so beautiful.   I am really happy to see your work.  I write you again, after I read what you wrote.  

Now I know how you made those beautiful cookies, Thank you for telling us how you did. 

Last edited by Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.
carouselselsel posted:

WOW Manu, this set is brilliant, fantastic and so perfect and beautiful again. Can't stop looking at it. I think a tuto on how you made the flowers would be great. I also wanted to do a water lily set one day. Now you inspied me and I'll give it a try sooner or later. 

Thank you, Zara, @carouselselsel!😊 Probably the flat lay doesn’t give enough justice to the flowers. I was glad to be able to make this set and to check it off my “to do list “ of cookies! Try to make one while you feel inspired. The challenge was out in perfect timing, with my memories still fresh. 

 

Last edited by Manu biscotti decorati
Carol-Anne posted:

Hi Manu!   Great work as usual!  I'm envious of your trip to Vietnam, as that has been a place high on my list for quite a few years now, don't know whether we'll ever make it now alas. I can only imagine how much the beautiful country of Vietnam inspired you, bet you've got loads of wonderful memories of such a beautiful country?

Thank you @Carol-Anne!😊 Yes, so many memories and there are still a few I woud like to try to express with cookies, while they are still vivid in my mind.

Ryoko ~Cookie Ave. posted:

Manu, that's why I am so proud of you, this set is sooooo perfect and so beautiful.   I am really happy to see your work.  I write you again, after I read what you wrote.  

Now I know how you made those beautiful cookies, Thank you for telling us how you did. 

Thank you, Ryoko! @Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.🌸 I was waiting for a second comment after you finished reading what I wrote, then I realized you have edited this one and added a line. Yes, royal icing transfers starting from Samantha ‘s @Aproned Artist’s tutorial.  It has been so much fun!

Last edited by Manu biscotti decorati
Aproned Artist posted:

So pretty, Manu. I love the flowers. I’ve been contemplating trying that out with a more succulent style plant, and now I know it works!

Thank you, Samantha @Aproned Artist!💕

Manu posted:
carouselselsel posted:

WOW Manu, this set is brilliant, fantastic and so perfect and beautiful again. Can't stop looking at it. I think a tuto on how you made the flowers would be great. I also wanted to do a water lily set one day. Now you inspied me and I'll give it a try sooner or later. 

Thank you, Zara, @carouselselsel!😊 Probably the flat lay doesn’t give enough justice to the flowers. I was glad to be able to make this set and to check it off my “to do list “ of cookies! Try to make one while you feel inspired. The challenge was out in perfect timing, with my memories still fresh. 

 

The photos in your comment show all the gorgeousness and beauty of this set! Amazing! I'm gonna try those RI transferes for sure.