Madeira Decoration™ Author's Techniques

The name of this technique, which we could designate as "higher art" in decoration, is derived from a traditional type of embroidery, whose basis are simple but also very rich ornaments assembled from round or drop-shaped holes.

Transferred to gingerbread (perníčky), it gives it an unusual charm, and it's only up to your creative intention and artistic feeling to what extent you use it and how demanding patterns you create. Its greatest advantage is that even with very simple or spatially more modest patterns, it guarantees unusual decorativeness.

At the same time, however, it requires considerable care in execution and also adherence to the procedure, in this case especially technological breaks between individual decorating steps.

The greatest advantage of Madeira decoration is that even with very simple or spatially more modest patterns, it guarantees unusual decorativeness.

We start with the contours of the pattern, where we mainly ensure the regularity and neatness of individual holes and drops. The space between them is then filled with diluted icing, which we allow to dry well. Only then do we finish the Madeira by complementing the hole pattern with three-dimensional elements of white embroidery.

You must therefore count on greater time demands and keep in mind that with this decoration, you really can't rush anything. However, your reward for patience will be truly luxurious "perníčky."

Inspiration 

You can add a special touch to any gingerbread (perníčky) shape or motif with Madeira, and thematically, this decoration is essentially unlimited. It suits spring as well as Christmas "perníčky," flat as well as three-dimensional compositions.