MY CAKE TO SHARE: In my head i am working on my cake sharing pieces.  I hope my hands get to carry them out before Monday.

HINTS FOR THE TRIP: Packing all the clothes for a week, demo equipment and then carrying sugar pieces on the plane will make an interesting trip for us. We have 5 going from Lubbock and 1 meeting us in Dallas from Austin.  All but one will have sugar pieces carefully boxed and we will be searching for safe places on the planes for them.  If you are flying with sugar pieces be sure and leave a window in your box for people to see what you have in your box.  I tape several layers of saran wrap very tightly over those windows.  They will be careful of your sugar art if they can see it and besides that it does give you a chance to tell them about ices.  I had a friend one time who said that ices was a very well kept secret among cake  decorators.  That if word got out just how neat our conventions are that we would explode as an organization.  There is so much to see and do that you really don’t have time to eat or sleep.

KBius: pwd and dol, do you get compensated for these demo's, or it may not be my business?
CCChefDol: KB, no prob...I have gotten a front row seat to the demo of my choice but no money
CCChefDol: KB...this is a sharing show...'we' make the show happen...all of us

FIRST TIMERS: If you are a first timer be sure and pack several pencils and a notebook so that you can make legible notes about things you want to remember.  You will be brain dead by the time you get back home and  notes will help you retain those things you want to remember.  By ‘legible’ i mean - be sure and write enough down to know what you want to remember.  Just a word or two will not be enough to jog your memory when your brain is in overload.

Don’t be afraid to talk to the "big name" people you meet. Everyone at an ices convention is there for the same thing.  To learn new icing techniques,  make new friends, and share what they know with others. Be sure and take lots of film, batteries and your camera.

Every year I take several rolls of film and then those of us who go from this area compare our  pictures.  I would swear that some of the cake pictures they have i did not see at the show.   With around 1000 sugar pieces to see you just can’t remember all of them.  LOL

VOLUNTEERING (…OR IS IT JUST PLAIN ‘FUN’ LOL): They have a committee called manpower at ices.  If any of us have some time we can volunteer to be a helper manpower will need us.  You see ices is a volunteer run convention - and they need all of us to help for it to run smoothly.  They need ticket takers, door watchers, demo assistants, people to help keep an eye on the cakes and the people in the cake room.

Icing Wiz: I volunteered in cake hospital last year it was fun

CAKES CAKES CAKES! There will be so many unbelievably beautiful sugar pieces and it is really hard to keep little fingers and big fingers from causing damage to those pieces.  There are lots of jobs that need volunteers and besides that it is a great way to get acquainted with more people.

THEN THERE ARE THE DEMO TABLES: Each demonstrator is asked to bring a finished sugar piece to put on this table so that all of those wanting to see demonstrations will know what they techniques they will be seeing in that demo.  One of the first places i usually go is to tables to see what looks really new and interesting.  Make a note of  these who is going to demonstrate that and go get in line to try to get a ticket for that particular demo. Now if there are no more tickets left for that demo don’t despair. Go to the room where that demo will take place.  There are nearly always people who get tickets and then don’t show up.  If there are empty seats in the demo the person at the door will let people in to fill those minutes before it begins to make sure you don’t loose your seat.

Now those of you who can’t go to convention and are a part of our chat  seats during the last five minutes just before it starts.  That means if you have a ticket for a demo you better be in your seat about 10 community - you can be there live next week.

AOL WOW!!!!!!!!!! Dolores and i will be in a demo room with others of our online buddies face to face and telling you all about things that are happening  there. We will give you the lowdown on who is there some of the fun new things we have already seen.   We want you to be a part of making this a great chat.  We hope to have lots of people in that room who just want to know what we do in the chat hour.  How you ask questions? What we talk about?  How to find us?   We also want your input just as usual.   Problems you need resolved.  Questions about techniques and etc.  Please be there to help us make this a fun hour next week. An awesome thing.

THINGS TO BUY! I try to buy my new books there and get them. I wish you could all be there.  1000+ cake decorators at a convention is autographed by the authors.

CCChefDol: they are putting us in a room for 300 people for our chat next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pippingirl: ohmigod - that's a lot of people in one chat
CCChefPwd: That is a little scary
Icing Wiz: willl there be that many computers?
CCChefDol: I have 2 laptops...not enough...but need a phone line for every one of them
Gigimama: I sure wish I could go!  Maybe next year.....
CCChefPwd: LOL  Icing - just Dol and I will be online I think.
Pippingirl: will they put is in "rows"?
CCChefDol: right Pwd, just us and a room full wanting to share their advice...can't type fast enough
CCChefDol: Maybe we can take notes from people and we send the idea over

CALENDAR: By the way i think i can tell you about a neat new thing that will be available at convention.  There will be a calendar put out this year for 1999 with cakes done by lots of neat people such as Colette peters, Nicholas lodge, norm Davis, Rosemary Watson, Adrian Westrope and Pat Trunkfield and several others. They even asked me to participate in this.  I was absolutely thrilled and honored to be asked with this elite group of decorators.  I can hardly
Wait to see these calendars myself.  We will find out for you where you can order one for your own personal copy and try to have this info for you next week.

CCChefDol: That calendar is going to be a REAL good one!
Gigimama: Neat!  Will those not attending be able to order the calendar?
L2jlu2: how will be able to buy this calendar?
CCChefDol: hi all newcomers...we are having a scheduled cake decoratin
CCChefDol: chat
CCChefPwd: I hope we will be able to have that info for you next week
Icing Wiz: Yeah I want a calendar
Chef Nana1: me too
CCChefDol: Be sure to get that calendar!

Dolores and I will try to learn lots of new things so we can pass them on to you in the future.   Sharing, sharing and more sharing for a whole weekend.  Heaven on earth for those who love the sugar arts.   Ends Earlene’s Part.

INTERNET: This must be the biggest cake happening ever! I think we would all have to agree that cake decorating is evolving very fast on the web. Many decorators have made a web site or are longing to do so soon. I do have a tip sheet for this if anyone needs one. It is not a bit hard to do through AOL. Check my web site and others for LINKS. Links will help you find all of us faster. You just need Netscape 4 with Composer (download it), to make the page, then upload it on AOL just like you do other files.

PICTURES ON THE WEB: From comments I've been reading, many cake decorators don't realize they can send each other pictures over the web. The picture will probably be scanned as a TIF format. Then you use a graphics program to 'convert' it to GIF or JPG format. Paint is the best for the cheapest price.
   You should make it a habit to save pattern drawings in GIF and color picture in JPG format. Reason...the files will be the smallest they can be.
   Earlene and I can email these back and forth on AOL between a her Mac and my PC.
   If you don't have a scanner, maybe you have a friend with one. It takes only minutes to scan in one of your cakes and put it on a disk to transfer to your computer and send.
   On AOL, just upload them into our Cooking Libraries (Keyword 'Cooking Club' and find 'Cooking Libraries' here).
   OR - EMAIL THEM: Pictures need to be in GIF or JPG format for everyone to open them. On AOL you can only email a picture by 'attaching' it. But with Netscape you can send and receive pictures right in your email notes (as long as they are GIF or JPG formats).

MAKING WEB SITES:
Chef Nana1: what if you have explorer
CCChefPwd: I have Netscape and don't ever use it.
CCChefDol: You can download Netscape
CCChefDol: But I think Explorer MAY do it - I just don't know
CCChefDol: ...can use AOL anyhow Gigi said
Chef Nana1: will I lose explorer or have both?
CCChefDol: have both...don't change your default
CCChefPwd: Neat - on the pictures
Icing Wiz: tell me what scanner do you have?
CCChefDol: I have both loaded
CCChefDol: I have a HP 4c...old...You should get a one-pass scanner
Gigimama: It was at my hubbies, work.  Very high quality, but I don't know which one
Icing Wiz: how do you know if something is JPG format does your scanner tell you?
Gigimama: Icing, with the scanner we used, you select which format you want, don't know about others
CCChefDol: FYI: Scanners usually scan a picture into ONLY ‘TIF’ format. Then you must use some conversion software to change it into a format which can be sent over the web. You CAN send TIF files between each other JUST on AOL, if you both have AOL. But for others, we must convert them. Paint is real good and you can try before you buy…download it anytime. Each version is different. I don’t care for the latest one. I think the one I like is Version 4.

ICES: ...all I can think of right now LOL. If you've been to any of our chats lately, you already know how hard Earlene and I are working to get ready to go to the big ICES show and convention. It isn't easy. I think I even panic when I read what all Earlene still has to do, let alone myself. We must take a week off, plan the demo we're doing at ICES (and hand-outs which are required for demonstrators at ICES), get our display cake ready and pack.  I can hardly wait to see Earlene and all my other ICES friends again. Its been 3 years since I've gone to the show. Its so exciting.

We must literally plan all year for this event. It takes time to save enough money and plan a magnificent cake to share... among other things. All moneys are not due at the same time, so this helps. Many people have been working all year to make this a fun event. There is always a show committee. These people have been working for 3-4 years. We always volunteer to help out so that there are plenty of people to help get everything done. Besides, this is fun! We are really 'in the thick of it' when we are helping out. Some people even volunteer to work the video camera in demos. They sure get to see more demos. LOL Right up close where we all wish we were. : )

ADDITIONAL ICES INFO:
WHEN: This year's ICES show is next week Thursday through Sunday in St. Paul MN. If you are not a registered conventioneer, you can still get in to view the cakes and take pictures of them. You won't be allowed into other events unless you have first paid the convention fee. I think it is around $100.00...worth every cent! You are allowed to pay at the door.

My castle cake is just about finished. I'll make sure I get some pictures for you. I plan on giving out the directions for doing it at the chat we are having next Thursday LIVE at ICES. This cake is going to be real when I make it for the bride who designed it late in August. She'd always wanted a fairy tail wedding and she IS going to get that with her castle wedding cake.

I.C.E.S.: I thought I'd give you some information on what ICES is in case you don't know. This is brief. If you have questions or want to join, please got to the ICES web site at http://www.ices.org -or- to my web site at http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html and to Message Board. Here you will find ICES on the list of topics.

In 1976, the International Cake Exploration Societe was founded in Monroe, Michigan, at the National EXPLO Cake Show sponsored by Betty Jo Steinman. The Board of Directors and Executive Officers are elected by the membership at the annual l.C.E.S. Show and Convention. Representatives are elected or appointed each year to help spread the Sharing and Caring of cake decorating around the world. Each state and/or country has their own local chapter of l.C.E.S. Members reside in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and around the world. Meetings, get-togethers, and "Days of Sharing" are held throughout the year.

Cake decorators who have contributed significantly to this art form through their own professional expertise and/or teaching abilities are honored in the l.C.E.S. Hall of Fame. I.C.E.S. promotes the art of cake decorating by awarding one or more annual scholarships to the applicants deemed most likely to develop and promote this art form.

The l.C.E.S. Newsletter is published eleven times a year to keep members informed of cake shows, classes, I.C.E.S. events and cake decorating ideas. Members are encouraged to share recipes, hints, patterns, and photos associated with the art of cake decorating.

'OPEN MIKE' TIME - WE WOULD LIKE IT IF YOU WOULD ADD YOUR INPUT, PLEASE...any questions concerning ICES? Now is the time to ask. If you need to know about dress for events or anything else, let us know.

CHAMPAGNE CAKE
Pippingirl: I have a question about Champagne Cake. I was just wondering if the alcohol can be used in place of some of the liquid in the batter. And does the carb. change the cake texture?
CCChefDol: Well, we sure will fill you all in on the goings on...count on it : )
Contrerasq: I have used stabilized whipped cream and like the taste but not the consistency
Icing Wiz: I have never made it just have a recipe for it

FROZEN BUTTERCREAM
Pippingirl: I have another question regarding the "frozen buttercream" technique on the Cake Decorating Magazine web page. Where in the heck can I find the glass?
Pippingirl: It's so easy and looks great - but I can't find the glass
CCChefDol: what kind of 'glass'?
Pippingirl: you tape your design on the back of a large, freezer-capable sheet of glass...and put wax paper on the front pipe and color the design on the wax paper... then freeze for about 30 minutes. Flip it over onto the cake and peel off the wax paper. Looks beautiful and so easy - but I can't find the glass!
MISTWI: Pipp couldn't u use plexiglass?
Pippingirl: well, you need something heavy enough to support the icing design.  (it looked pretty thick)
ShariE1071: Pippin: maybe glass from a frame?
CCChefDol: Piping gel peels right off parchment when dry - I do know that
Pippingirl: and it has to be able to put in the freezer without cracking. No - you just use buttercream. That's why I like it. I thought of picture-frame glass...but I don't think it's thick enough
CCChefPwd: How about Plexiglass Pipping
Pippingirl: Where can I get a nice thick sheet of plexiglass? It doesn't have to be big - well, at least as big as the design you want to do
CCChefPwd: Any glass shop probably will have some 1/4"

KBius: I need any advice possible for cakes im doing with pictures of buildings
CCChefDol: KB...buildings...I'm building a castle cake right now, for ICES
Thinkchoc: Dol, how is your castle cake coming along?
CCChefDol: Think...it is almost done now....BIG
KBius: Dol, will your castle be upright or flat on a cake
CCChefDol: KB...upright...about 3-4 feet high in all
Pippingirl: ohmigod, Dol - that sounds incredible
CCChefDol: Pippin...its okay but I sure could use another week on it
Pippingirl: another week?  How long have you been working on it?
CCChefDol: all month LOL
CCChefDol: Pippin...don't be, you haven;t seen it. It doesn't suit me at all
MISTWI: Dol  are u going to have a picture on your website so we can see it?
Pippingirl: please
KBius: yea, trying new things since I found this site
CCChefDol: Oh but of course...This is a very versatile cake anyone can do...small or larger etc too.
CCChefDol: Just so you know how to construct wedding cakes you can make it
CCChefDol: If you can't ice smooth, make it 'stucco' by using a damp sponge on the icing
Pippingirl: well...I have done wedding cakes but I'm still a beginner
KBius: not the same
Pippingirl: I just mastered buttercream & royal icing roses...I have a long
way to go

ICES:
Contrerasq: Where is the ICES convention this year?
CCChefDol: Cont...St Paul MN
CCChefPwd: Minnesota
CCChefDol: Starts next Thursday
CCChefDol: Icing Whiz too, even though she can't go...she works all year...and many others
Icing Wiz: I tell everyone but I am the only member in Naples
Icing Wiz: and don't forget comfortable shoes
CCChefPwd: Yes Icing Wiz - comfortable shoes is the most important thing you can pack
CCChefDol: right on the comfy shoes
Cake Wmn: don't forget lots of film!
Icing Wiz: yes Pwd I went thru 7 rolls last year
CCChefDol: I usually buy 10 rolls of 36 pictures...may have 1-2 left
CCChefDol: Afterwards I make a scrap book
CCChefPwd: I have lots of those scrap books
Icing Wiz: I found a Mickey Mouse album for last years pictures
MISTWI: where will convention be next year?
Cake Wmn: Mist - It will be in Kansas City MO

CCChefPwd: ICES helps keep the excitement going.  Other than that I think it helps to be a little crazy.
KBius: dol and pwd, you both seem so excited about cakes, after al the years you've been involved in cakes. How do you keep so excited?
KBius: really, i should be excited for years then
CCChefPwd: Wrong?   Not wrong that just helps us keep our sense of humor
CCChefDol: ...Pwd...I knew something was wrong with me LOL
KBius: really, i should be excited for years then
CCChefPwd: Wrong?   Not wrong that just helps us keep our sense of humor

Icing Wiz: last year was my first convention was that close to what other states do?
CCChefPwd: Every year is different and yet similar in some ways.

WILTON 99 YEARBOOK
Contrerasq: The 99 yearbook is great!!! Great Fondant ideas in the yearbook
Chef Nana1: I have it. when will the pattern book be out?
CCChefDol: ...all shops should have it by now
L2jlu2: Dolores, are you going to price cakes in the 1999 Wilton book?
CCChefDol: L2, thats a good 'winter' project...maybe we can do sooner. Pwd is best at that

GELATIN FLOWERS
SDcaker: Anyone know where I can get a july issue of Sugarcraft with the gelatin flowers on the front
KBius: Sugarcraft a magazine?
(I think that was in the latest ICES newsletter, JUST HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO SEND THAT TO HER.) Dolores

HERLAN ROCCA PEDRASA
Em1walt3: local cake dec supply store is having a guest teacher, anyone heard of him? Herlan Rocca Pedrasa from Argentina - doing gumpaste class. I got advertisement from the cake shop about it.
Icing Wiz: I haven't heard of him Em
CCChefPwd: What about him Em
Em1walt3: apparently, it says in the ad, that Herlan pedrasa is going to MN first then down here
CCChefPwd: Herlon is a very talented decorator - I helps to understand Spanish. His English is pretty broken
Em1walt3: how about Maria Pomponi?
Icing Wiz: I live in Naples did you come to my day of sharing last month Em?
Em1walt3: He is giving gumpaste classes Aug 18-22 at $45 per class, is it worth it?
CCChefPwd: A t that price - you bet. He is a talented decorator but I don't know how he is as a teacher
Icing Wiz: I know of some greAt teachers in Miami Em and Ft. Lauderdale
Em1walt3: did not get to go to day of sharing, sorry.
Icing Wiz: there is a shop in Kendall Marivi's have you been there Em?

ITALIAN CREAM CAKE
LgntCakes: Does anyone have a good recipe for an Italian Cream Cake?
CCChefPwd: I have one Lgnt - E-Mail me and I will send it to you.
CCChefDol: Lgnt...I posted some on my message board and are listed in my archive
LgntCakes: Dol - I'm barely computer literate, how do I get them from you?
CCChefPwd: Go to her web page or mine -  I know I gave that recipe in a chat in the last few months
CCChefDol: Lgnt...go to http://w3.one.net/mboard/message.htm - They are there
CCChefDol: Just open the one where the cake is and print it out. I made a note of the cake on the list
L2jlu2: does anyone have the recipe for Italian buttercream, and do you have to keep the cake in the firdge after frosting?
Icing Wiz: Italian meringue buttercream?
L2jlu2: yes, sheila i would like to try it. is it safe even though it has egg whites
Icing Wiz: I can find that for you Lourdes
Em1walt3: living in Miami, understanding spanglish is not a problem
Contrerasq: w/buttercream consistency?

NOW THEY WANT THIS TELEVISED LOL
LgntCakes: By the way, I'm insanely jealous of all of you who are conventioneering!
LgntCakes: I think we should have the convention televised and piped in on the food channel!
Pippingirl: I'll second that, Lgnt!
CCChefPwd: Insanely - I would be to if I was in your shoes.
CCChefDol: Lgnt...if there was a way I'd see that we could ALL go
CCChefPwd: I thought I couldn't go one year and the week before convention my husband picked my chin up off of the floor and told me to get a plane ticket and go.
CCChefPwd: I am doing a groom's cake class here in October and I have a friend who is a professional vidiographer - We are planning on putting that class on tape so you can learn at home
Pippingirl: somebody should talk to those people at the Cooking Channel
MBF821: I just got here. Do we know where the Thursday meeting is at ICES?
LgntCakes: Did anyone see the recent appearance of Colette Peters on the NBC Katie Couric show? ..or the appearance on Channel 7 early AM news of the Cake Diva?
CCChefDol: No, Colette told us she'd be on...don't have cable
L2jlu2: no, Lgnt when was Colette on?
Chef Nana1: Ices on TV?  That's a great idea!! especially for those of us who will probably never get there.. I'm scared of planes!!!
Pippingirl: there really should be a show on the cooking channel
LgntCakes: It was about 2 weeks ago during the week.  Incidentally, the most
recent issue of Pastry Arts and Design features half a dozen cake decorators -  including Colette and Steve Klc, Jan Kish, Ellen Baumwoll
L2jlu2: Lgnt- I have been looking for this mag, do you have subscription info?
LgntCakes: Not handy, but it's published by the same folks as Chocolatier. Found it at Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Contrerasq: Does anyone have an icing recipe that is light like stabilized whipped cream but
CCChefDol: Cont...like grocery stores use?
Pippingirl: there must be a dozen different stir fry shows...several barbecue
ones...but no cake show?
CCChefDol: I have a recipe on my icing recipes page...Meringue with glucose. Fun and good too

ICES TAGS FOR COMPUTERIZED DECORATORS:
CCChefDol: I'm putting the AOL tag on tomorrow so those not on AOL can know about our chat at the show
CCChefPwd: I will have about 100 tags already made up.  Just find me and we will write your screen name on your tag so we can recognize each other.
(Its ON…right at the bottom of my http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html page…I printed that out, laminated it and glued a pin on the back.)
Icing Wiz: I like that idea Pwd I hope they do that next year
CCChefDol: Are they laminated Pwd?
CCChefPwd: Yes they are laminated and have a pin attached to them also
CCChefDol: Oh great Pwd...you are SO efficient
CCChefPwd: Just doing my job partner

ARCHIVES:
Pippingirl: I've been reading the archives on Dolores'...my husband had to drag me from the computer and I'm going to check out the others now, too
CCChefDol: Pippin LOL...lots of goodies...also the AOL past chats are great. I've learned a lot from these postings
Em1walt3: me too
KBius: me three
Pippingirl: I've been so inspired...I'm not getting a lot of writing done because I'm thinking cakes!
CCChefDol: I've learned some things too!
Chef Nana1: me four LOL
Icing Wiz: just wait Pippin till' everything looks like it could be a cake!

CCChefPwd: I just sent Dee a new picture for August of the cake with all the GP flowers http://members.aol.com/pwdsugar/index.html
Pippingirl: ohgod...I think I've reached that point...I've started saving stationary and cards I find that I think I can copy artwork off of
CCChefDol: wait until you all see that picture! Hope I can get it up tomorrow
ShariE1071: Pippin: I save my baby's picture books that are beyond repair so I can trace them :)
Pippingirl: that's a great idea - but I've got no babies
Icing Wiz: that's a good idea Shari coloring books are good for color flow
KBius: I have my own supply of coloring books
Pippingirl: of course, I bug my husband to bring home books I can use (he works in a used bookstore). Right now he's looking for Dr. Seuss for me. A friend requested a Cat in the Hat cake
ShariE1071: not coloring books, actual books that he reads :)
CCChefDol: Pippin ...be sure to check out how I do pattern transfer if you haven't...so easy and precise
ShariE1071: Pippin: what Dr Seuss do you need?
Icing Wiz: Oh Pippin I would go nuts I always wanted to be a librarian I did through high school that was always
ShariE1071: I have a steady supply, having a toddler :)
Pippingirl: when I visit his store he has to chase me out of the cooking section  LOL
Icing Wiz: we have a huge Barnes and Nobles that i love to just browse through. My favorite class in high school was working in the school library
Pippingirl: I've "borrowed" several cake decorating books already
Em1walt3: I use the library
Icing Wiz: my son and I used to go to the library every week but since he started working he doesn't
Icing Wiz: have time
CCChefDol: Did they think of any new ones Carol?
Em1walt3: I am looking for more technical books, all those fluffy picture books are fine but they really do not help me.  I mean cake dec books
Pippingirl: I go the little library we have here in Hollywood just to look through the children's section but the Dr. Suess books are always checked out.
Gotta find a pic of the Cat!
Icing Wiz: also napkins can be traced with color flow
Pippingirl: Icing - I never would have thought of using napkins!
ShariE1071: and have you tried looking on web pages for a picture of the Cat?
Em1walt3: paper plates
CCChefDol: even tablecloths
Tha503: I just bought 6 books of copyright free designs from Michael’s
Pippingirl: I can't print them out
CCChefDol: Pippin...just press the PRINT icon
Tha503: they were on the clearance rack 2-3 dollars apiece
Pippingirl: I'm working with an ancient HP DeskJet, folks
CCChefDol: Pippin, can you save to disk?
Pippingirl: anything I print off the web looks horrible
Em1walt3: go to Kinko’s
CCChefPwd: Great hint Dol - People don't know they can just print off things on the web
Pippingirl: Shari - I can't download pictures
ShariE1071: what about doing a right-click and "save as"?

Thursday August 6th, 1998, 9:00 PM ET (8PM at the ICES show!) - in the Kitchen Conference Room Cake Decorating Chat hosted by CCChefDol and CCChefPwd: "LIVE from the ICES convention. Meeting our online chat friends face to face. Visit us in person, in the chat room and see how we do it!"