Royal Icing Wooden Shoes

OK; I know this project doesn't look a whole lot like what it's supposed to be, but I really wanted to pipe some approximation of wooden shoes to accompany yesterday's tulip. And can you believe there aren't a whole lot of hits when you do a Google image search for "royal icing wooden shoes"? ;) So, here's what I came up with. All you'll need are parchment paper squares, brown stiff consistency royal icing, round tips #12 and #3, and a dusting pouch filled with a 50/50 mix of cornstarch and powdered sugar. You'll have an easier time of piping them the same size if they're next to each other on the same parchment square. Start by holding the #12 tip at a 45 degree angle and just above the surface. Pipe a 1/2" long strip, then stop pressure and pull the tip up and away to form a peak. Touch a fingertip to the dusting pouch and use it to refine the peak, if need be. 

 Next, pipe the "insoles." Hold the tip just above the surface and directly behind the shapes you just piped, squeeze a small amount of icing out, and pull the tip away. Tap this part flat with a fingertip.

 Switch to the #3 tip, and pipe a line around the insoles to connect them to the front of the shoes. Touch your fingertip to the dusting pouch and use it to blend the tips of the line to the front.

 Pipe one more line with the #3 tip to give the shoes a more defined "heel."

 It occurs to me now that on the subject of footwear, I should stick to piping what I know…which would be 4" platforms from Hot Topic. Another post for another day! Until then, tot ziens! (Dutch for "See you later")