Guess What I Did On My Summer Vacation
Decorating By -K8memphis Updated 4 Aug 2009 , 2:18pm by -K8memphis
I tried for the Sugar Artist Certification here at ICES.
That was yesterday not to mention the preceding seven months of planning and practicing and teaching myself sugar work.
Ruth Rickey has everyones' photos posted on her Facebook page.
God how together is she?
She is also located at www.RuthSweeteJustice.com--so if you have an interest you can find the cakes there--there's some beautiful work.
Mine is the shoe sculpture, the angel baby sugar sculpture (have mercy), the three tier with the butterfly on top and the baby's breath, and then the Monet.
These were all completed in eight hours. o. m. g.
I am currently laying lfat on my back fixing to watch Mam Mia on HBO in the hotel room--we got bumped up to a suite--it is a killer room! Love this resort!
Anyhow, pray that I make it--we find out Saturday at the banquet.
Take Care, CakeBuddies
Thank you! I couldn't find the pictures either--but then I asked to 'be a friend' of Ruth's on facebook and she replied right away and I got to see the photos!
Mine are the last one page one and the first three on page two.
So I will post when I get home and otherwise people will probably be posting pics from the whole show anyhow.
Ordeal yes it is! Ordeal on steroids--or maybe I shoulda tanked up on some steroids. It was an a$$ whoopin' for sure!
Hope I make it.....fingers crossed!
I added Ruth as a friend, too, so that I could view your pictures... 
they are really great, k8!
and you did them all in 8 hours???
Way to go, I'm sure you are very proud 
and you did them all in 8 hours???
Thank you, Becky
It's more that I completed them in eight hours.
The flowers, most of the picture frame, and two of the cake tiers were done in advance. Then I completed the Lambeth on the frame demoed the flowers and made a matching tier on the cake.
Everything else was done within the eight hours
I can't imagine working under that pressure! I wish you the best! Hopefully you'll have great news this weekend!
and you did them all in 8 hours???
Thank you, Becky
It's more that I completed them in eight hours.
The flowers, most of the picture frame, and two of the cake tiers were done in advance. Then I completed the Lambeth on the frame demoed the flowers and made a matching tier on the cake.
Everything else was done within the eight hours
Wow I bet that was some major experience and FUN! I just realized after finding her website, she is in OKC. 
I didn't know of her until now. But I'll be checking out her classes. I only live about 25 mins from the academy. I added her to my facebook but hasn't approved yet. I can't wait to see your cakes Memphis!!!
Chippi
I can't imagine working under that pressure! I wish you the best! Hopefully you'll have great news this weekend!
I can barely believe I did it. Thanks, Cakebuddy.
But I'll just put all my apples out there in the basket~
I 'm totally going for the Master Sugar Artist Certification.
But yeah I've kept myself under excruciating pressure since January.
Thanks, Chippi.
I would not charcterize it as fun exactly. There were spectators and there were experts circling constantly adjudicating everything. It was intense and it was good but because you are onthe chopping block like that it's fishbowl crazy.
I had a friend at the ICES banquet and she said 7 of the 11 that tried out made it and I wasn't one of them.
I haven't been notified by anyone officially--I'm not sure why it takes so long to find out.
So, oh well, I tried.
Blown and cast sugar baby resting on angel wings
My Monet with Lambeth accent on picture frame.
Chocolate & coconut baby's breath 3-tier with sugar peel butterfly--and this has pearls piped with the right consistency royal icing so the pointy tip sinks down and there's gum arabic in the royal so in one squeeze of the piping bag there's a pearl made.
My sculpted shoe
I know I could have been more organized and more exact in what I did.
I was expecting plain table tops and the tables were regular skirted table clothed convention tables--a little awkward for me. But make no mistake I clearly needed to be more organized.
Eight hours is a crunch pit to get this all accomplished. It was said the work should be somewhere between competition level and a real life order for a customer done in real time. I had to have been close. I might try next year because my sister lives in S. Cal--ICES is in San Diego next year I believe.
I know I got the skillz I just gotta get my sh*t together. 
Amazing work - thanks for posting the pics for us. So sorry you didn't get the cute li'l hat 
. It is a trying ordeal, and the judges are tough. I'm sure the effort strengthened your already terrific skills and toughened your resolve, so you still won
I adore your antique shoe, it's fabulous! You did a great job on everything! You know how it goes, sometimes it's just the judges. But look at it this way, you have been 'baptized by fire' and know what to expect in the next 'go-round.' Go get 'em K8, you can do it!
Remember, the only losers are the ones who give up. Hugs!
Thanks guys.
I do love my shoe--the toe curls up like on a real shoe--the white lining shows from behind the button flaps--it's patent leather and matte leather. The hankie is dotted swiss with an embossed/embroidered-look corner--the sole is foam core covered in chocolate.
On the up side I know sugar work now & have the blisters to prove it.
Wow... you did a wonderful job!!! Now that you've been through the testing I'm sure you'll have better news next year.. it's always easier to prepare when you know exactly what to expect to work though! You do such beautiful work- you should be so proud of your efforts!!!!!
I had a friend at the ICES banquet and she said 7 of the 11 that tried out made it and I wasn't one of them.
I haven't been notified by anyone officially--I'm not sure why it takes so long to find out.
So, oh well, I tried.
I have one question.....WHY?? Your work was fantastic!!!...to say the least!! I only wish I could do so well !!!
Thank you guys so much-~~Y'all don't even know!
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