Cherry Blossom Radish

How to choose radishes for carving.

1. Slice at least ten thin slices from some radishes. Half of them should be slightly smaller than the others as they will go on the inside of the carving.
2. Keep them in water so they stay fresh for later.
3. Cut a segment out of a new radish as shown. Cut it so that it will be able to hold one of the larger slices cut out earlier.
4. Cut another segment from the radish next to the one already cut.
5. Cut a further three segments out so that you end up with five segments cut out that go all the way round the radish.
6. Next cut out a further five segments that make a circle inside the first set of segments. Each new segment should be positioned in between two of the outer circle of segments and leave behind a red triangle of radish skin that sits in between two of the outer segments.
7. Cut off the end of the radish while leaving your previous cuts intact.
8. Cut out a circular groove inside the surrounding the central piece to separate it from the outer layers.
9. Cut out a slice across the central piece near one side of it to make a small petal. One end of the slice can break the outside of the central piece the other end should stop before reaches the outside of the central piece. Further round the central piece cut another slice out from the outside back towards the previous cut. Continue round the central piece like that to make the central petals.
10. Take one of the larger thin slices you made earlier from the water and insert it into one of the outer grooves.
11. Insert a further four large slices into the other grooves.
12. Insert five of the smaller slices made earlier into the inner groove.
13. The finished carving.