Royal Icing Shock of Wheat

Here's an alternative to all the usual autumn icons (pumpkins, leaves, etc): a shock of wheat. All you'll need is yellow stiff consistency royal icing, oval tip #55, round tip #2, a flower nail, a Styrofoam brick to rest the nail in, a glue stick, parchment paper squares, and a dusting pouch filled with a 50/50 blend of cornstarch and powdered sugar. Start by sticking a parchment square to the flower nail with a dab from the glue stick. 

 Use the #2 tip to pipe a cluster of lines about 1.5" long. Curve the outer lines inward in the middle to give the cluster a "waist."

 Pipe a few lines across the middle to "bind" the cluster at its narrowest point.

 Switch to the #55 tip and pipe the heads of wheat. Pulse the tip in and out to create texture. When the icing is dry, peel away the parchment square, and use this to decorate any tiny dessert (especially one containing wheat!).