Cold craft for Royal Show

A South American craft, introduced in the 1970s and taken up in many other countries, cold porcelain creates long-lasting flower displays.

A floral display is made from a paste using cornflour, wood glue and oil. The paste is made in a microwave or on the top of a cooker and air dried. It is put into a mould and can be painted.

Ms Tyrer is from Chile, where cold porcelain was very popular.

Despite not trying cold porcelain in Chile, she became interested in the craft through a friend.

"Once in Australia I started making my flowers in small sizes and creating brooches that I would sell at a pharmacy in Sydney," Ms Tyrer said.

"I spent long hours making these flowers, while listening to talk back radio to get used to the Australian accent."

Ms Tyrer was a dentist in Chile and had to re-train when she came to Australia.

"I needed some way to keep my hands working on fine and fiddly things," she said.

"This cold porcelain proved quite good.

"In Australia, I learnt clay sculpture, painting, felting and spinning, while always coming back to the flowers.

"I dreamt of the day I could teach people how to make these flowers."

Ms Tyrer has been teaching cold porcelain to a group of women at Murray Arts and Crafts.

Visit coldporcelainflowers.com.au.