EARLENE'S PART
Lets have a party - Dolores and I are celebrating the end of 3 years of cake decorating chats on AOL.  So I raise my diet coke to each of you who have attended these chats and helped us keep them fresh and interesting.  You are the reason we are here.

Now never fear we are not going away just moving over to another home.  Dolores has a link from her web page and everyone on the web will now be able to attend the chats along with you guys who have been with us the past three years.

I have loved being able to share with you.  Those of us who work from our homes sometimes feel the isolation that comes from that choice.  You have brought joy by seeing you use the information from the chats.  You have brought friendship by being there when I pick up the email and find a message or picture of a cake from you.
I have loved seeing the beautiful cakes that have come in files or embedded in an email.  So a great big thank you from me to you just for being my friend.

A big thank you to Dolores who has nursed several of us into this Internet world.  She is our guru and mentor.  Bless her heart she has been wonderfully supportive with her web site and in helping many of us a newbies learn about this Internet world.  Three cheers for Dolores and the wonderful sharing person she is.
Hip Hip hooray Dolores - thanks for being you

Now here is sending each of you a dozen chatty cookies and a cup of joy juice  for being the best chatty people in the world.

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful fourth of July holiday.  Bring on those red white and blue cupcakes.  Just ice the cupcakes in white and using a star stencil sprinkle red  or blue sugar or glitter in the star on top of the cupcake.  Easy and quick.

Stack several small round tiers for a firecracker.  Be sure and support those going up.  Or cut the round cakes in half and lay them down with the round side up for a half round firecracker with a fuse made with fondant or string licorice.

Flags can be starred in,  or if you want  a real time consuming project reproduce the declaration of independence in sugar on top of a cake.  No easy task.  I am sure many of you are dying to do that.  LOL

A picnic basket with a red and white checked cloth coming out of the basket.  Maybe filled with real fruit for a stunning centerpiece that can also be eaten to the surprise of your guests.
Maybe a sheet cake with the ants (sugar of course) having their own personal fourth of July party.  Don't you wish there were enough hours to do all the ideas that float through your brains.

Colette peters did a wedding cake that is one of my absolute favorites in her book "Colette's wedding cakes" on page 57.  That cake has appliquéd leaves and flowers over the entire surface of the tiered wedding cake.  Molded strawberries and little ants crawling up the side of the cake complete the decorations.  I love the whimsy of this cake and maybe someday someone will let me do that cake.

In that same book she also has an independence day wedding cake that is really a red, white and blue fourth of July design.  That one I don't particularly want to be asked to do for anyone.  But it is  a unique cake for someone interested in getting married on the 4th of July

I am excited about our chat night moving to Tuesday nights.  That will be a much better night for many of us who have such hectic weekend  schedules.  So I hope you will be able to move with us on july 6th.

This week I have a fun groom's cake going out.  This is the week for the castle cake.  I made the sides from gumpaste with royal stones  and have those all put together and finished.  The cakes are baked so all I have to do to finish this cake is to ice the cake with gray icing.  Airbrush the areas on the cake with dark gray  where the windows and door openings in the gumpaste will be.  Then just carefully lower the gumpaste casings around the cakes.  Add the turrets on the top and add the sugar rocks and etc around the bottom and the cake will be done.  I will be putting some pictures on my web site next week for you to see.   I love the way this cake is shaping up.  Such fun to do a new cake design and see it coming together in a neat way.
My grand daughter will be doing her version of the base cake for the ices convention.  She has a really fun plan for this cake.  She made a prototype last week of her groom to go on top of the castle.  Such fun to see her creative juices going.  Remember she is only twelve so this is quite an advanced project for her.  But she is really having fun with her idea.  I can hardly wait till she gets it done.  I will be the proud Grammy who is busting her buttons at convention.  :-)

Attention...........my web site will be moving soon so be sure and check it next week for the new address.  If everything goes well it should all be moved by Monday night.   I am counting on the web page address being much simpler for me to remember and hopefully easier for you to access.

The email address will also be changing.  Pwdsugar@door.net   is one new email address that is activated right now.

RED: The way I get a good vivid red is I use the brand Baker's Preferred food coloring. This brand is so potent that you actually need to stop 2 shades lighter than you want it so that when it darkens a little, making roses...it doesn't turn the edges of the petals black.

BLUE: You'll get a better blue if you start with ROYAL BLUE. Then add some red to that. You will have a better shade of blue this way. (This also goes for pastel blue).

I'm putting a cake in the newsletter this month with a flag on it. Maybe it will give you more ideas. I never do a cake just like the picture anyway...I always end up changing something. To find my newsletter go to http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html and find 'NEWSLETTERS' - it is not on yet but should be within this week if nothing else goes too wrong.

One thing I found out making the stripes on the flag is that you start and end with red as the top and bottom stripes. I use tip 46 for making the stripes. If you want a very large flag, try tip 48. It's hard to get the blue part just the right size. If you use tip 13 for the stars you may have room for 50 stars, depending on how big your flag is.

Another idea for the 4th is a firecracker cake. I'm sure you can find a firecracker online that you can duplicate if you need ideas. It is very simple. Maybe make some stars around it and lines.

From Dolores:
We are going to have our first chat from my web site on Tuesday, July 6th at 9PM EST. The topic is "LEGALITIES" To go to the new chat room, first go to http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html and see LIVE CHATS link there. You must make up a name and password. (Earlene & I will be using our own names). I think this is a good idea for all of us. Then when we go to ICES, we'll recognize each other by our real names. DO NOT use your same password used to get online!

On one week per month we'll have a structured chat topic where Earlene & I copy/paste information to you with a specific topic. Other weeks - Tuesdays at 9PM, there will be no special topic. Our August structured chat will not be the 1st Tuesday...as we will be gone to ICES. Earlene, did we decide on the 2nd Tuesday or the 3rd???

One thing, We can't log chats in our new room. I thought I'd try to copy/paste the whole thing to save it and see how that works. You can do this too. And you should. The chat room is not complicated. But it is better if you go there sometime and just 'play' to get familiar. You will see that you can block obnoxious people and even send pictures. I have it fixed so you can see who all is in the chat room too. Check us out!

NOTE: The chat schedule has changed. Please go to http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html for latest news and information.

Kakdecor8r:  i made a cute on with a slice of watermelon being carried off by "ants"
Pwd Sugar:  Cute Kak
Icing Wiz:  that does sound cute Kak
Bigsislkb:  Kak....you are so talented!!!
Kakdecor8r:  it wasn't too bad, airbrushed the backgrounds. This is truly a treasure, and the people here are all GEMS

Icing Wiz:  I connected with our new site for July cake chat
Dolores777:  this is it Icing...they gave us the boot
Kakdecor8r:  still think its the pits!!!
CakeTeachR:  stumbled upon this treasure and hear they're axing it
Dolores777:  yep...this is our last chat
Dolores777:  But not LAST...we are just moving on
CakeTeachR:  can anyone provide a link to the new site?
Dolores777:  I about died when she put us on Thursdays back 3 yrs ago
Dolores777:  Cake...go here: http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html
Ploeger642:  Tuesday is the best.  Will make it much more often.  Just glad I caught this one.
CakeTeachR:  wonderful! thanks
Ploeger642:  Thought GOOO was fooling me
GOOO8:  naah, I wouldn't have pulled your leg on something this important
Ploeger642:  Just where we can find a available place and worker bees.  Not ever my choice.

Icing Wiz:  I have something exciting to tell you all
Pwd Sugar:  Spill it Icing.....
Dolores777:  you're a grandma???
Icing Wiz:  I got a call 2 weeks ago from a guy about classes
Kakdecor8r:  you're pregnant!
Icing Wiz:  well it turned out he was Bakery Mgr at Albertsons. No Not prego, kids are now 17 and 20 ready for freedom anyway. We got to talking. I was offered $10.10 an hour insurance,401k,stock options etc so I quit all my leaning jobs
Dolores777:  right...not if she really was LOL
Dolores777:  WOW! Thats great Icing
Bigsislkb:  Hi Lolo
Pwd Sugar:  Congratulations Icing
Kakdecor8r:  great
Icing Wiz:  so I am head cake decorator now!
GOOO8:  yes she was quite excited about the new endeavor
Kakdecor8r:  wonderful!!!
Icing Wiz:  and it was thru my advertisement of classes that i teach and I would of never taught classes if I hadn't ever gone to an ICES meeting
Pwd Sugar:  Great news.  Good to hear that kind of news from you

COLOR IDEAS:
Pwd Sugar:  I add a little purple to the blue to make a richer blue
Kakdecor8r:  had good luck starting with a lemon yellow-adding pint to make a hot pink
Dolores777:  Pwd...I do that for pastel blue, right
Icing Wiz:  I love royal blue even when it is just light royal it is so pretty
Kakdecor8r:  then adding my red-isn't so bitter
Dolores777:  it can be tricky matching bridal colors
Pwd Sugar:  I start with bright orange and then add red for the same reason
Kakdecor8r:  get a really deep red that way
Dolores777:  great...shows there is more than one way...and that we must mix colors to get it
they made that red I use too red and it would cost too much to change the formula...the owner told me that this won't taste bad since you don't use so much

FIND THE CHATS
GOOO8:  can you comment again on where we can find the chats already listed in the future
Dolores777:  those chats are on my private web site...I never put anything good on aol will remain the same as always
Dolores777:  NEW CHAT ROOM, FIRST GO TO http://w3.one.net/~proicer/index.html
GOOO8:  okay; i would hate to lose that resource
Kakdecor8r:  is it the same site as the new kitchen on talk city?
Dolores777:  By all means it is NOT. That one would crash if all of us tried to get in there LOL.
Icing Wiz:  Yeah I did the whole password thing etc. But doesn't the way the word are weird?
Pwd Sugar:  I will be EarleneM on the new chat
Icing Wiz:  It isn't set up like this
Kakdecor8r:  talkcity is weird
Dolores777:  agree Kak...I looked at that and RAN away!
Dolores777:  intermute.com is where to get IMute

Icing Wiz:  Ok raise you hands now who here is going to convention?
Pwd Sugar:  Hand up
Kakdecor8r:  MEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Kakdecor8r:  opps hand up
TC135A:  I can't wait
Cake Wmn:  I AM!
Ploeger642:  me
Kakdecor8r:  me either
GOOO8:  me, too
Dolores777:  MEEEEEEEE going to ICES...la la la
Pwd Sugar:  I have that wedding with 750 servings and another cake the second week
Dolores777:  Oh Pwd...my schedule isn't anything like that bad!
Icing Wiz:  wait a minute you have to go Millie
Swtelegnt:  I'm Going
GOOO8:  oh no!!
Cake Wmn:  Millie, I may have to if I don't get the table decs done!
Icing Wiz:  well it looks like at least half of us here
Dolores777:  Millie...no ICES without YOU!!!
Kakdecor8r:  oh no Millie, you're getting a hug too!!!
Icing Wiz:  Hey Carolyn isn't here on our last night or Pj
MHohimer:  All of you be sure and go to the Picnic!!
MHohimer:  Carolyn is very busy tonight.
Dolores777:  How sad...bet she’s busy with cakes
MHohimer:  Yes she is.
Icing Wiz:  I guess I will go to picnic too
Kakdecor8r:  pj's on vacation
Ploeger642:  Dol & Powd - Can't you send something to Marsha Winbeckler to
put in newsletter like she did
Ploeger642:  beginning?
Pwd Sugar:  Goodnight TC    Glad you were here
Dolores777:  Bet no bad people will know
OnlineHost:  TC135A has left the room.
Icing Wiz:  That is a good idea Chris
Pwd Sugar:  Good Idea Ploeger
GOOO8:  chris  (what are your arrival and departures dates for ICES)
Ploeger642:  Still working on it.  Should now next week.  Everyone I was
flying with is driving now.
Kakdecor8r:  where are you coming from?
Icing Wiz:  What? Driving from Florida?
Dolores777:  I'll use the list Diane gave me and send as many as I can to let them know
Pwd Sugar:  We should E-mail Marsha of the new address and info.
Ploeger642:  I will put in FL newsletter but next one is not until Sept.
Icing Wiz:  They are crazy
Cake Wmn:  Hey everyone, if you have free time at convention, don't forget to volunteer with Manpower!
Dolores777:  we can try Pwd. I think we really should do this
Ploeger642:  They are all crazy but they are all doing it.  I don't mind
traveling alone.  Usually do
MHohimer:  We need all the help we can get.
Pwd Sugar:  Right cake wmn.  I think I am volunteered to the hilt right now.

Kakdecor8r:  hey I just found out about the handouts!!!! you shoulda told me sooner!!! now I'm really gonna be busy
Pwd Sugar:  kak - handouts are the ice breakers
Dolores777:  Kak...that’s a lot of fun, especially at first so you get to know people
GOOO8:  are these trinkets elaborate or simple little things
Kakdecor8r:  mari told me. this is my first time
Pwd Sugar:  Simple, small and light weight. Usually something fun or maybe something from your area.
GOOO8:  do they range from pasta, gumpaste type trinkets
Ploeger642:  Simple little things.  A Hershey kiss always works well. Chocolate in general.  Sugar highs!
Pwd Sugar:  One of my favorites in the past was the do nut seeds (Cheerios) with instructions for planting and harvesting
Dolores777:  right Pwd...doesn't need to cost a lot. I put a buckeye in a bag with directions for planting....people in CA didn't know what it was
CakeTeachR:  what's a buckeye?
Ploeger642:  I knew someone would ask
Kakdecor8r:  its an Ohio thing cake
Dolores777:  buckeye is a nut that grows on a big tree in Ohio re...Ohio Buckeyes

GOOO8:  so you definitely are driving Chris?
Ploeger642:  NOOOOOOO - I' m flying but waiting for their decisions before I made arrangements
Icing Wiz:  I drove with my husband to Ohio last year too long to drive for me takes up time too
Dolores777:  ...and came to see me too!
Icing Wiz:  That's right Dol the best part of the whole trip was meeting you!!!!
Dolores777:  Icing...that is so nice for you to say...loved it too
Dolores777:  we are driving but have to figure out what to do anyway...6 of us
Pwd Sugar:  See me to get your butterflies
Swtelegnt:  Always Do, cakewmn. And always will!!
Kakdecor8r:  she's getting a hug too
GOOO8:  what are your arrival dates Dee and Earlene?
Dolores777:  I am arriving Wednesday and leaving the following Monday after
Kakdecor8r:  I’m coming on Tuesday and leaving Monday, don't want to miss any of it want to stay forever!!!!
Pwd Sugar:  Kak - there are lots of things going on.
Kakdecor8r:  I don't want to miss anything

Icing Wiz:  How are you all bringing your displays? Do you think I can bubble wrap my cake then put in box with styrofoam peanuts?
Dolores777:  Icing...Nick packed our with toilet tissue...really
Ploeger642:  I'm being brave and shipping 1 piece just to see what happens
GOOO8:  Chris you take my breath away   :^)
Pwd Sugar:  That is brave Ploeger
Icing Wiz:  Do you think I can bring the box on plane or should I ship it?
Pwd Sugar:  Depends on how big it is Icing
Icing Wiz:  gosh so much has happened Cathy
Icing Wiz:  How many suitcases are we allowed these days on planes
Ploeger642:  If it's higher that 14" it won't go in overhead and you'll have to check it.  I took 2 ginger
bread pieces on last year
Pwd Sugar:  There is always the cake hospital in case of damage
Dolores777:  2 suitcases each and one carryon besides a BIG purse LOL
Icing Wiz:  So would a box be considered luggage?
Swtelegnt:  Icing, i always bring my displays on the plane with me, tried to send it once , and just pieces of my display.
Dolores777:  But most airlines are nice about our cakes...just don't depend on that
Icing Wiz:  Maybe I should call airlines and find out
Dolores777:  yes Icing...good idea But Icing...big planes have cubby holes
Kakdecor8r:  am gonna hold mine on my lap!!
Pwd Sugar:  I am driving with three people, four peoples cakes and demo stuff and luggage. Full before we even start packing.
Icing Wiz:  Yeah but I am doing two tiers
Kakdecor8r:  am hoping the royal icing will hold up

Swtelegnt:  Don't forget the bribes, for the airline crew!!!
Kakdecor8r:  i'm gonna wear a name tag with my aol name on it to ices
Icing Wiz:  well I am not using them!
Dolores777:  Northwestern was the only one I know of - made some people I know buy a seat for the cake
Ploeger642:  I heard that too Dol
Dolores777:  oh yeah...candy buckeyes would be perfect bribes
Kakdecor8r:  I’m coming on American. I'm gonna pass out cupcakes!!
Dolores777:  Pwd is good at charming them. They won't even realize she did it either LOL.
Pwd Sugar:  They won't let you fly with it on your lap.  It must go under the seat or overhead or you
will be escorted off of the plane.  Believe me I know from experience
CakeTeachR:  how rotten
Thinkchoc:  Pwd they actually took you off the plane?
Ploeger642:  You must bring bribes for luggage handlers etc.  We have a lot of stuff when we travel
Icing Wiz:  I think I am on TWA can't remember tickets have been in my purse ever since I bought them
Ploeger642:  I brought Rice Krispy treats last year and got away with LOTS
Kakdecor8r:  then I'm bring chocolate!!! that should get me a lot!!
Icing Wiz:  oh an d those new ones peanut butter covered with chocolate
GOOO8:  maybe I'll make up a big batch of fudge and individually wrap the pieces
Dolores777:  I put mine in the overhead once...sometimes on small planes these are smaller
Ploeger642:  Good idea GOOO
Kakdecor8r:  does anyone bring pictures of their cakes with them?
Swtelegnt:  I usually take chocolate, or petti-fours, they seem to work most of the time!
Ploeger642:  True Dol,  Had that happen once
Icing Wiz:  Janice I wish we were on same plane so we could go together
GOOO8:  bring them on Kak
Kakdecor8r:  ok, have an album

GOOO8:  I have two roommates I haven't met in person yet and they want us to bring pics
Ploeger642:  That's why I was waiting.  Last year I flew to Orlando and then I bunch of us could get a direct flight,  It was fun
Icing Wiz:  I have to get up at 5 am to get to my job on time so I am gonna go and hope to see y'all at new chat
Kakdecor8r:  I haven't even heard from my roomie yet
GOOO8:  Bring something to eat or drink in the room
Dolores777:  thanks MH...and thanks for keeping us so well informed on ICES
along the way too
Pwd Sugar:  Leaving here either on Monday or Tuesday morning early. It will take about 13 hours to drive plus potty stops, gas stops and eating. We should be able to drive it in one day
Kakdecor8r:  will sleep in the cake room if I have to!! or in someone's bathtub!!

Cake Wmn:  Dee,/pwd - are we having special tags at convention?
GOOO8:  i believe i have done that already as well
Kakdecor8r:  pj was supposed to be making them
Dolores777:  Yes...I think Pj was making them
Pwd Sugar:  We should all just put on a pink ribbon just to spot one another
Dolores777:  pink is fine...my color...painted the building pink for my shop even
Pwd Sugar:  Then we could get name tags or whatever later.
GOOO8:  so are we making a decision on this PINK RIBBONS???
Dolores777:  yes lets do pink...agreed???
Pwd Sugar:  Pink is a sugar color.  I think of cakes with pink roses and those were the most favorite
Ploeger642:  AGREED - PINK
GOOO8:  I'm fine with pink, too.
Dolores777:  pink okay...got to tell Pj now
Pwd Sugar:  So we all just put a pink ribbon on and then we can go from there.
Swtelegnt:  Pink works for me, but should we be specific about the shade(lith, dark,...)
Kakdecor8r:  wear a pink ribbon with your aol name written on it
Pwd Sugar:  If someone is making tags for us we can put those with the pink ribbons
Pwd Sugar:  But at least we can spot one another
Kakdecor8r:  ok, we'll do a baby pink, ok
NOTE: We really didn’t get this arranged early enough this year due to AOL dumping the chats at the worst time ever! But next year we will plan a lot farther ahead so everyone knows. A few of us DID get to meet at the hotel on Thursday evening after the picnic. Otherwise, we just found each other accidentally. A shame, but we’ll do better next year.

TSVCRAFT:  how did everyone learn to decorate? I am new to this
Kakdecor8r:  classes
GOOO8:  yes, classes
CakeTeachR:  from talented instructors
TSVCRAFT:  i subscribe to Cake Decorating Mag
Dolores777:  I learned so I could make cakes for my kids...taught myself then took classes
GOOO8:  then learned much more in depth from Earlene and Dolores
Swtelegnt:  Classes, clubs, demos!!!
Ploeger642:  From incredibly, caring, sharing teachers around the country. Most of us are new at it
TSVCRAFT:  are there any other mags or newsletters?
Swtelegnt:  Yes, all of the talented instructors, and Authors too!

OUR GOODBYES
Kakdecor8r:  have learned so much from my online friends too
Chermoose:  are there any tears in here tonight?
TSVCRAFT:  tears?
GOOO8:  you bet chermoose
GOOO8:  but tears of joy mostly  :^)
Ploeger642:  You guys - it's an opportunity to grow and get BETTER.  No tears.
Chermoose:  Gooo8, why so?
Dolores777:  No tears...we won't lose each other
Chermoose:  because you met us?
TSVCRAFT:  well goodnite all-when is the next chat? do you meet regularly?
Pwd Sugar:  years ago.
GOOO8:  TSV--I will email you a copy of this log.  It contains tonight's chat.
Dolores777:  next chat is July 6th at 9PM EST
TSVCRAFT:  ok-great! nice to meet you all-you are a friendly bunch! Have a great holiday!
Dolores777:  we'll meet every Tuesday but only structured chat once a month...you can all talk anytime ev
GOOO8:  come join us at the new chat site TSV
Dolores777:  TSV...you too...and everyone
Thinkchoc:  Got to go too, talk to you all  on the new chat!
TSVCRAFT:  I will be there! Can I invite some friends?
Ploeger642:  of course
GOOO8:  invite them all TS--
Dolores777:  of course TVS
TSVCRAFT:  great see ya all soon?
TSVCRAFT:  are there any other mags or newsletters I can subscribe to?
Chermoose:  where?

Ploeger642:  Are you an ICES member TSV
Dolores777:  TSV...on my web site there is a newsletter
TSVCRAFT:  no i am not
Dolores777:  and definitely ICES...www.ices.org
TSVCRAFT:  ok-great Dolores-thanks
Ploeger642:  That's the organization most of us belong to.
Dolores777:  also www.cakemag.com
Ploeger642:  Dol & Pwd you did great tonight for conversion.  I think D. Shavkin's email list might be a lifesaver to get the word out the rest of the way.  THANKS!!!!
GOOO8:  can't wait to see you again Chris
Dolores777:  Pl...that’s what I think too...will be a start to being sure people know
Kakdecor8r:  thanks for everything for the last time...
Dolores777:  I think most do know...we've told them often
Pwd Sugar:  Dee you need to tell them they will have to fill our the form again.
Ploeger642:  Me too GOOO -  I'm really looking forward to convention this year
Kakdecor8r:  you bet

GOOO8:  does the cake hospital have bags of icing for repairs or should I plan on that
Kakdecor8r:  oh yes, I was wondering that too. thanks sweetie
Ploeger642:  yes, royal, fondant, buttercream - everything
GOOO8:  figured they would but it's best not to ASSUME
Kakdecor8r:  think I'll bring some just in case
Kakdecor8r:  will keep in a ziplock bag
Dolores777:  The cake hospital will fix you up
Ploeger642:  Colors to mix, just about everything you can imagine
GOOO8:  FYI--I am not registered in the hotel under my name at this time but under my roommates. Her name is Michele Foster
Dolores777:  They borrowed my leftover buttercream last year even
Swtelegnt:  It's always a good idea to take a repair kit with you when you go anywhere with a cake
GOOO8:  just another thing to add to my list.
Dolores777:  okay GOOO...there will be a place for us to register our room number at ICES
GOOO8:  oh, that's good to know
Kakdecor8r:  am in some else's room too, goo
Ploeger642:  Don't worry - We'll find you.  At the Hospitality table there's a sign in book too.  It will
Pwd Sugar:  There is a book to sign in on your State's page so others from your state can find you
Kakdecor8r:  (i hope)
Dolores777:  I think so Kak
Ploeger642:  have my room info in it too
Swtelegnt:  you never know what is available, but I have to say the cake Hospital does a great job!
Dolores777:  we won't miss finding GOOO :D
GOOO8:  no doubt about it -- just listen with a southern ear
Kakdecor8r:  LOL
Swtelegnt:  Dol, That was me who borrowed all of your buttercream last year, for a fellow demonstrator. And We really want to tell you, Thank you again, you were a life saver!!!