Let's Promote and Support The International Cake Exploration Societe' (ICES)

The International Cake Exploration Societe' (ICES) was founded in 1975 by Betty Jo Steinman of Michigan. Her dream was to have a "caring and sharing" organization for cake decorators; namely, the housewife who decorates at home for fun and pleasure, to be able to obtain the cake decorating information and knowledge that was not readily obtained.

I became a member of the organization in 1982 and gave myself whole heartily to support and promote and be a part of the ICES' growth. I became a NYS Alternate Rep in 1982 at the Rochester, MN ICES Show and Convention and the NYS Rep the following year. I have served a total of 5 years as NYS ICES Rep and 2, 3-year terms as a Board of Director. Due to the extent of my involvement, support, promotion, dedication, commitment and involvement of the ICES organization, I was awarded the "Wilbur Brand Memorial Service Award" for excellent in service. That was a great honor to me and represented all the people who gave me support and got me to that point in serving the ICES organization.

ICES is a not-for-profit organization that gives scholarships to worthy recipients each year. The Hall of Fame has one or two inductees each year who have sufficiently contributed to the sugar art; namely cake decorating.

There is a newsletter that for the members that is published and sent out 11 times a year; one for each month. The newsletter is a valuable tool for the member due to its contents of information and resources.

An annual convention is held each year in a deciding place by the ICES Board of Directors which is taken from the bids that are submitted by the State or Country wanting the convention and show in their state/country. In 2009, the Convention was held in St. Charles, IL; in 2010, the Convention will be held in San Diego, California and in 2011, the Convention will be held in South Carolina. For more information about this wonderful organization for the sugar artist and for those interested in the sugar art, please visit the web site: www.ices.org

Not a member, yet? Now, is the time to join.
Not been to a convention, yet? Now, is the time to plan.
Attending the convention in 2010? Now, is the time to think about the display to bring to share at the ICES convention in San Diego.
Need cake decorating supplies?
Oh, ICES vendors have lots of great and new products!
Want to learn something new or what you have a desire to learn? There are plenty of demonstrations and hands on classes.
Want to support and promote the organization? Just go to the website and see who to contact for posters and brochures.

Hope you join or renew your membership and plan on going to the ICES Show and Convention in San Diego, California in 2010! I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Diane's Attached Ruffles Technique

Way back when, when the cake decorating was in its early stages of being known in regard to rolled fondant and gum paste flowers, the technique of ruffling was done with a wooden tool and onto the side of the palm of the hand or anywhere on the hand that would work. The foam pad was not in existence, either. Well, I thought I was the only person in the world that just could NOT get a ruffle effect as I saw seeing in books and by teachers and decorators. Good grief was I NOT good at that at all!

Finally, as I have already mentioned, the foot tool was my baby! Now, I could make ruffles. I did not even have to mess around with attaching them to whatever I wanted them to be attached to. I was in my glory. At the 2007 ICES Show and Convention in Orlando, Florida, a lady came up to my vendor booth and wanted that tool that her friend said makes great ruffles. It was the foot tool. She was really wanting to see the tool and see how the ruffles were made. She was thrilled! Now, I know for sure that I "wasn't the only decorator in the world that could not do proper ruffling". After that, another lady came to my booth wanting, what else? The foot tool for ruffling!

The ruffles on the baby blanket are great because the piece of fondant or gum paste can get the impressions of a knitted or crocheted look and then have the foot tool go right over the indentations and smooth them out with the foot tool when the ruffles are created. If you would like the rope impression roller and any of the mats that I have available, please go to my web site and email me. You will be thrilled at what you, now, can accomplish.

Little circle can be cut out of fondant and have the attached ruffle created around it. Bow loops and tails can have impressions on them and have a ruffle created around the edges. Baby bibs, hearts, dresses, the bride's dresses, fondant strip borders and so many other cake emblishments can, now, have attached ruffles made so much more easily to enhance the fondant out. It's all done with this fabulous and amazing technique using the foot tool!

For more pictures using this technique for ruffles, please visit my web site: www.shavkin.com. Right on the index page are a variety of my bows with those attached ruffled edges.



Judy Smith of Nebraska totally flipped out, when I was there a couple of weeks, ago, and was intrigued when she saw that done on one of my wedding cake fondant cookie cutter cutouts. She was amazed that the ruffles were not added and liked the neat look.

Winter Scene Cake with Wood Grain Effects

The wood grain effect using the wire brush that I introduced to cake decorating in 1982 at the ICES Show and Convention in Rochester, MN was used on the rolled-fondant covered cake. I then proceeded to use my 3-D scenery methods and techniques, including some hand molding to make the wintery scene on the cake.

The New York State shaped wood-grained plaque has miniatures created right from the plaque as well as hand molded and added to the scene which shows things in New York State. I worked on the left hand side for Niagra Falls and continued creating until I finally got to the point for the Hudson River.

The wood grained plaque with the hand molded mouse in the garden was so much fun to make. Some of the areas where the miniature flowers are took 2 hours to make.

I love creating this type of sugar art and would love to travel to once, again, teach my hand sculptured creations in gum paste. I try to keep my classes within the budget of my students.