I couldn't afford to go this year (correct that: I wasn't about to nag DH for the money to go down to muggy hot Orlando in the middle of summer but more importantly, I didn't want to listen to him whine about watching DD for four days without help - 'cause I make this thing look too easy watching DD constantly )...

Now, NEXT year OTOH, you better believe I'm going to the convention!!! It's 5 hours from home. AND, I'm bring'n a flipp'n cake for the display room!

Last year I went to Omaha for the one-day shoppers pass and if you're an ICES member (even if you're not for that matter) they let you go to the Sunday Night of Sharing. I spent $600 in the span between 10AM and 5PM when the vendor area closed, then I went to the SNOS... That was SO MUCH FUN! Glenda Galvez was awesome to watch do a demo, then I got to play with Wedding Cake Design Pro with the tech support people there to learn the in's and outs (no selling, just playing with the program and answering questions)... There were a few others that I sat in on too... It was a HOOT!!! In the short span of time I was there I saw the human side of Kerry Vincent (what they DON'T show on Food Network is that she's rather encouraging to people), Noticed that Colette had lost A LOT of weight and told her so, I didn't have a chance to talk to Norm or his assistant, and meeting so many others.. And let's not forget getting a stockpile of dusts from ECG and realizing, I STILL don't have enough of them (I think I'm missing half-shades at this point LOL)...

Can't wait to go to IL next year!!!!!

ICES convention is a hoot. Didn't go this year either but told hubby I am going to the one in St Charles. I know I spend tons of money the year I went when it was in Nashville. There are things I still haven't used but dang I needed to have them. I got a full set of tips from Ateco for 19.00 with some tips that were just prototypes at the time. There were probably 60 tips in the case. You can really get a lot of stuff for some discounted prices.

Those that are close to Indiana check out the Indiana-Ices.org website for our upcoming weekend of sharing. It is in October and registration opens to the public either this week or next week. Norm Davis and Nick Lodge are going to be doing classes as well as Zane Beg and Stephen Stellingwerth. It will be Indiana's first weekend of sharing. It is going to be in Indianapolis around the airport. So heads up! Check us out!

Teri

I checked out the ICES09 web site and I have a couple questions. If I don't belong to ICES, could I get a one day pass for $50.00 - shop the vendor areas, see some cakes, then pay $5.00 for each demo I want to see? Or do I need to pay the registration fee to buy demo tickets? I just woke up and don't have any coffee in me yet, so nothing makes sense at this point.

Jocmom--
I believe that you can see the demos if you are not a member but you have to pay for the entire non-member price. Don't remember what it is.

Just have to email the convention people and ask that question. One reason for being an ICES member is the discount that you get for the convention.

You can pay $50 for the vendors room, $10 to view the cake room but you have to pay the registration fee to see the demos, I think.

Turtleshell Im sorry you got so sick..the day of the breakfast I couldnt go cause I had 2 weddings I was finishing the nite before and I was so beat I couldnt get up!... Sorry you got sick..
And is true some people were shoving like there was something bad happening.

All the stars were awesome people!
I did spent over $1000, I know, is sick..dammit i couldn't stop!

You are right Mac....to be in the demos you need to pay the whole thing, is just best to be a member!
Edna

I knooooow!!! I got pushed around a couple of times too but not even at the vendors area but at the vendors showcase! Nothing was for sale yet! And also, at the CalJava booth, one lady was so overly excited with the dusts being $2 each that she literally pushed me out, she didn't care, she wanted me out of her way! RUDE!!!!

Oh well, I also managed to spend a hefty amount of $$$ but oooohhh so much fun! I had a blast! I ordered LOTS of First Impressions about 15 (they ran out and will be shipped to my house, FREE shipping, woohoo!) I also got the new Americolor, gold, silver and pearl. And at KopyKake, I got the inks, markers and papers I needed for my printer! I got TONS of PME toys, I love love love PME! Also some SugarVeil, yeeeey, can't wait to give it a try! And some CelCakes goodies, TONS of dusts, CalJava and ECG. Also, with Serenatea, we got the 200+lbs of Fondex, great deal! And some amazing brushes, tons of cutters some Damask ones, amazing! Also Fat Daddios mini pans, Ateco cutters and all colors floral tape. Some of Lindy's cutters and a set of xacto tweezers. Oh also, some lace molds, amazing rollers! Oh and some mini cake circles. Oh and some cookie cutters with impressions mats! Too cute!

OK girls, what did you all get?!?!?! Too curious...

Edna, I also saw you with your pumps walking around... And Turtleshell, so sorry you got sick! I also had to leave early on Sunday, I had an emergency with my 5 year old boy...

CoutureCake you are so correct with your Kerry Vincent comment. I've always thought she was very rude from watching her on tv. However when I met her last year at the Bakers show in Vegas I was blown away! She was just so personable and shared so much information. I had a question on how to make gumpaste tulips and I really wanted to approach her. I was hesistant because I thought, oh boy, she's gonna blow me off. So as I caught her walking through the hallway I stepped up to her, asked and she just took her time to explain, she was so nice, so very nice!

[quote="The only parts of ICES I didn't like was when the venders doors were opened & when someone would be in MY[/b:a99989e7f1] assigned seat in the demo's. People were pushing shoving & even stepping on toes. I literally got knocked over (not to the floor) by 4 women! They ganged up & pushed their way through the crowds. I was very upset by the way people acted. All that over a cheap @$$ free impresssion mats. If you were the people who pushed & shoved... SHAME ON YOU!!! And to the people who sat in my seat & made me have to be in an uncomfortable place by telling you to move.. SHAME ON YOU!!! That isn't right! The seats are numbered for a reason. Nearly ever class I attended I had to make Someone move out of my seat. The nerve of some people. I'm sorry if I sound mean but I am super upset over this. I am writing ICES a letter to complain about this. If any of you experienced the same things I beg you to write ICES. Nothing will come of this if you don't voice your opinion."


I COMPLETELY agree that I was shocked by some of the behaviors I witnessed at this show. You would have thought they were giving away millions of dollars by the way people were shoving. Also for the seats in the demos I experienced that too.

ANother issue I have is the Master of Ceremonies person. I am not someone who is religous. I felt that religion was crammed down my throat by saying the Our Father/Lord's Prayer. I have no problems with people who are comfortable with religion in their lives as long as they don't put it on me. If they would have just asked blessing on the food, I could have let that go. We are an international organization and not everyone has christian beliefs. I actually ended up leaving banquet after I finished my dinner because religion makes me unconfortable and I felt it was forced on me.

Otherwise I had a blast meeting everyone and hanging out. Most of the demos were great. Some of the camera people need better training on how to shoot our demos. Spent way too much but LOVING all my new toys. Can't wait to work with Isomalt.

My first time and I loved it! Amazingly, I was under budget but bought so much stuff. That last shopping day, I literally shopped til I dropped - ask Monica or SweetArt. LOL I feel foolish now because Sugarshack's videos were on my wish list and I had no idea she was there!!! Where??? UGH! There was just so much to see, I saw something new every time I went through.

There were some pushers and rude folks but I think you'll have that anywhere, unfortunately. They didn't ruin my trip though and the good far outweighed those bad seeds. lol People just get too overzealous.

My favorite parts:

Norm's Henna class, it was a hot ticket, especially after his Hall of Fame win. I'm so glad I got in early. He is the most encouraging, helpful person. They called him the "yoda of the cake world" and it is so true. I love him! I had two other classes with him and Zane also.

I enjoyed Nick's exotic gumpaste flowers class also. He is an excellent instructor.

The food. We ate so much good stuff (away from convention) and so many tasty desserts at various restaurants.

Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba - just simply fantastic!

Meeting some great cakers! I want to thank Becky again for showing us around Disney, she is the sweetest person. Edna, sorry we didn't meet but I could've sworn I saw you at one point but you were gone in a flash - it was the heels!

I could've sworn others have shown their pictures from other cake conventions and shows. What is the protocol here? I guess I can ask Heath/Jackie. That last day they were only letting people in at certain times who HAD cameras. I thought that was what the waiver signing was for.

To YAY195, I belong to FLICES.org and the cake club of Orlando CAGO.us. We will be starting meetings again in September, since we were the ones involved in the Convention. Hope to see you there. I hope everyone had a Great Time at the Florida Convention!
Margaret

Hey Gals! I got back from Orlando, what a trip that convention was! I was a first timer, and man I was EXHAUSTED! I was so disturbed by the things that I saw there. I flew home wondering where is the caring and sharing? I DID meet some REALLY nice people, but the rude one's just really soured it for me! The line's that would start outside the doors, some of us would line up about 20 minutes before our demo (even with assigned seats) and people would just LITERALLY push you out of the way, I would tell them, hey there's assigned seats and they said "oh we get around that", and laugh! So I guess they just sit wherever they want then be asked to move?? I think ICES is really of a high school mentality sometimes, the popular people, the freshman and the seniors. Between being pushed and prodded in the cake room and the INSANE people in the vendor room, I would think twice about ever doing that again, but for the AWESOME stuff I learned. I am writing to ICES FOR SURE! I won a scholarship for $150 that I am using at Cake Camp in a few weeks. And I want to let them know, even the night of sharing, there was a blood bath for the demo flyers/handouts. Where is the courtesy and structure? It was a mob mentality and truly scary at moments!

You can by the DVD from www.stringerphotographyKY.com
He has pix of all the cakes, he was there until Sunday night taking more pix. I do no know how much he is charging for them.
Margaret

Well...I am first timer so they are giving all this awards and New comitee and all this stuff I dont know.. I was so lost!..

Edna, I am Megan that was with Jenn and that gang, now I know who you are on the boards.


[quote]"Cakinqueen - I completely get what you're saying about the praying. I do pray but do not align myself with any religion and I was sitting there wondering about those who were of various other religions and what they were thinking....especially since it is an "international" organization. Oh well, that's not a battle I want to pick, I can sit through a few minutes.
[quote]"

As for the praying thing, I am not trying to make a big issue out of it, it's just something that makes me uncomfy. As far as I understand, we pay him to come as MC and I am not sure that is money well spent.

I tend to agree with that.


Edna, I had no idea what was going on either. I did vote but all of the other stuff...I just wasn't too interested in at this point.

[quote="cakinqueen"]Edna, I am Megan that was with Jenn and that gang, now I know who you are on the boards.


[quote]"Cakinqueen - I completely get what you're saying about the praying. I do pray but do not align myself with any religion and I was sitting there wondering about those who were of various other religions and what they were thinking....especially since it is an "international" organization. Oh well, that's not a battle I want to pick, I can sit through a few minutes.

*waves to Megan*

I was a first timer and had a blast! Bought lots of great stuff and attended lots of fun demos! Met lots of new friends too!

I'd like to to say hi to turtleshell and her roomies and thank them for including me in their trip to Magic Kingdom - so much fun!!!

Sorry I didn't run into to you guys on Sunday - it was crazy! Trying to do 3 demos and last minute shopping and taking down my display!! Whew!

Hope to see you all next year!

Becky

Convention was so much fun this year. It was my first time to demo, and that was a hoot. I was demo-ing sugarpaste teacups.

The first time I ever saw a sugarpaste teacup was on the food network showing of the the Oklahoma show. I saw Kim Morrison's cake with the teacups and nearly fell out of my chair because I was in awe. I told my husband, "Someday I would like to be able to do THAT!"

So I am in the middle of my demo and look up and directly in the front of me on the second row was Kim Morrison! I was SOOO excited, and announced to the room that she was my very first inspiration to make a teacup. She was very kind and came to me after the demo and gave me a tips for a couple of tools that would make my sugarwork easier! That was one of my high moments at the convention .

Unfortunately, my lowest moment was when I came a few minutes after 7pm to pick up my teacups, someone else had done that already . I couldn't believe that they were missing . Oh well...glad I didn't have my real china cups on display with them. DisneyWorld would have had to go on lockdown and a room to room search would have ensued !! Hehehehe!

I was so honored to room with Denise Talbot, Jennifer Dontz, and Rebeccca Stewart. I am a big fan of all their work and it was so fun to get to share a room and we had lots of laughs.

Then I got to meet TonEdna, the glamour cake goddess (She is going to kill me ) and CakingQueen and Wjmonte--they were lovely too ! I have admired their work and I loved being able to put a face with the name! Edna really does run in heels---or glides , let's say---She is such a beauty, inside and out ! Got to have a few laughs with Sharon Z, (SugarShack), my cake hero .

So the good all outweighed the bad by far !! Wish I had gotten to meet my East Texas friends. Was so hoping to see you, but the convention was huge and I missed getting to see lots of friends !

I avoid the first few hours of the vendors like the plague . I experienced that at my first show in 2006 and vowed to never get run over again. No cake toy is worth that misery.
I don't understand the pushing and shoving at the demos since there really IS assigned seating. Next year we will all have to get together and form a human chain!!

Hugs to all my new and old cake friends! And for those rude people at convention. Next year we are going to kill you with kindness. And if that doesn't work, we will just shoot you! I borrowed that quote from our new ICES prez, Glenda Galvez!!

Jacque

I must also say as a first timer to ICES, and I only did the one day pass, that I too was VERY shocked at the rudeness and shoving to get to the vendors who were doing demos . Some vendors I didn't even get to get to the table to see their products. People here on CC are all so warm and friendly and helpful that I guess that is what I was expecting to see at the convention. Unfortunately since I didn't do the entire convention I didn't get to meet all you great CC'ers but am going to the one next year and hope to meet a lot of you in person.

I remember!! So glad to be able to put your face with your CC handle!!
Now remember... if you miss the breakfast, you will not be able to vote...and if you miss the banquet, then you will miss the election results.
After you have been to a couple of conventions, those meetings become more interesting because the faces and names are familiar. I remember how lost I felt in 2006. It is all so overwhelming!!

George is a preacher, but he is really a nice guy. I gave him a small magnet with an inspirational saying on it and told him he was an Honorary Texan for the Day. He gave me the biggest ol' hug and thanked me again the next day. He officiated the reps breakfast last convention, and whatever your religious beliefs, he can keep people awake! Hard to do at 7 am!

Which Disney cake did Becklynn bring? I was quite busy with ICES biz this year so I had to make a mad dash through the cake room. I thought that Edward and Tony Frys cake--the 3-d Wall-E cake---was da bomb!!

I think the reason that people still show up for convention year after year, in spite of the "glitches" ( that is my polite word ) is that you never fail to meet someone who does end up as a lifelong friend. That makes it all worthwhile![/quote]

We'll have to see if Becky posted her cake. I didn't get to see all of the cake room. I was rushing from demo to demo to cake room then to meet friends for fun so I never got to see all the cakes.

Your right... I need to vote! Can't be a member without voting. I for one love George to death. His brother used to preach at a church in my town. So George knows alot about my area. He doesn't forget a name either!

Omaha 07' was my first time. I loved it so much!! Hopefully I can save up enough money to afford 09' too. Your right about people becoming familar. I have met a lot of great friends through ICES! I just wished we could get a NorthWest, Louisiana chapter going! There are so many people up here that want to get involved.

I've posted my pics on myspace if ya'll want to go look at them.. here's the url..

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=47446108

I didn't get any pics of you Jaque