Cake Decorating

During my most recent move I acquired a number of things from my childhood that had been sitting unused in my parents' house.  Among them were cake decorating supplies.  After continuing to sit unused (though in my apartment), the tools finally cried out loud enough for me to take pity on them.  Actually, I was asked to duplicate a cake I'd made a few weeks ago, and decided that we all could do with a bit more festiveness than that provided by plain white icing (albeit cream cheese).  Combine that thought with an unusually free weekend, and I suddenly found myself at the hobby store buying glycerin, meringue powder, and clear vanilla flavoring, and contemplating signing up for a four-week class in cake decorating.  I shall chronicle my escapades here.

Attempt 1: Royal Icing Pumpkins, to top squares of Pumpkin Bars

P.S.  Also, an unrelated shout-out to Smitten Kitchen's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls. I've made them twice in the last couple weeks, but unfortunately didn't get to take a picture before they were devoured!  The dough recipe works well in a bread-machine; just put things in in the standard order--liquids/eggs/salt/flour/sugar/spices/yeast.