Arlingham WI: Judy Merrett gives a fascinating talk and demonstration about cake decorating

THE business of the evening was led by Chris and we agreed to arranging a summer visit to Ashton Court.

Other activities on offer included a mosaic workshop, walks at Bisley and Toddington, a Shibori bead embroidery workshop and the snowdrop weekend at Colesbourne Park.

Our speaker this month was Judy Merrett, who gave us a fascinating talk and demonstration about cake decorating.

Judy makes edible flowers.

Using her botanical skills she pays great attention to detail, making flowers seem 'even better than the real thing'.

Amongst her arsenal of equipment is 26 gauge wire, cotton stamens, fine scissors, flower and leaf cutters, leaf and petal imprinting sheets, wire cutters, stemwrap tape, vegetable fat, cornflour, gin, edible glue, tiny rolling pins and modelling tools, paints and brushes.

Judy began by making a primrose, initially forming a 'Mexican hat' from flour paste, which she then rolled to the thickness of a petal, before cutting with a primrose cutter.

She then delicately stretched the petals on a sponge and inserted an open stamen attached to a fine wire stem.

The stem was glued into place (using edible glue).

A soft green coloured paste was used to form the calyx and then tape was wound round the stem to make the slightly hairy primrose stem.

The flower was then shaped and additional colour added using paint mixed with gin!

The result was a truly perfect primrose.

Judy also made a primrose leaf for us, cutting it and then rolling it over an imprint to get the correct texture, before adding detail and extra definition.

In true Blue Peter style Judy had made some of her primrose posy earlier, so she just needed to add the final flower and the posy was complete!

Judy then went onto make a forsythia flower, using a similar technique, but different cutters and shaping the flour paste quite differently.

She pays astonishing attention to detail at every point- the forsythia stamens are coloured by hand, and the calyx painted on.

Again, she had a complete stem she had made earlier with forsythia buds at different stages of opening.

The final flower Judy made was a cochlia orchid.

This was made beautifully paying much attention to detail, to get the shape, colouring and texture just right.

Watching Judy turning pieces of dough into beautiful flowers was a delight.

Whilst she was working the only sounds you could hear were the clock ticking and the sound of her brush working on the final touches of the orchid.

The January recipe competition was won by Bronwen, Linda and Jeanette.

The raffle was won by Bernie. Refreshments by Maureen and Chris were much appreciated.

Flowers were donated by Bernie and given to Heather.

Arlingham WI meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm in Arlingham Village Hall.

New members are most welcome- just come along on the night.