Hey Everyone!!
I just wanted to say that I had a blast at the Convention!!!!! 
This was my first time I've been & I was totally thrilled with everything!!! I met alot of CCers!!! twindees, imartsy, sugar art, blakecakes, tiggy2, alvin... gosh I can't remember the other ones. I wrote their names down somewhere... when I find it I'll share that! Mac, Trudy (not a CC member but probably will be soon LOL), & I went together! We hung out with imartsy, sugarart & twindees, then with tiggy for dinner one night! I love those girls!!!! We also saw TexasSugar again. We had an excellent time sharing tips & just getting to know one another!
I also met Kerry Vincent, Colette Peters, Norma Davis, Zane Beg, Nicholas Lodge, Ruth Rickey, Linda Shank, Geraldine Randlesome, Roland Winbeckler, B. Keith Ryder, Shelia Brooks, ohhhhhhh my gosh the list goes on & on!! I have to say that I enjoyed Norm Davis the best! He is so down to earth & full of stories & tips! Kerry was a character too! 
We ate cake every day!!! Betty Crocker had a Hospitality Room where everyone gets together to eat cake, drink coffee & rest!
If you are not an ICES member I strongly urge you to join!!!!!!! I loved it!! The convention is in Orlando next year!!!!! Then there is Charlotte, NC. San Deigo, Calif, Chicago, IL. Can't remember in which order they are. I think 2010 is San Deigo. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. 
I had a blast & I know everyone that I talked to did too!!!! I'll be posting a slide show on my myspace after I get some much needed rest! Didn't get much there at all!!
Can't wait to see the others posts!!! To Twindees, SugarArt, imartsy I had a blast with you girls!!!!!!!! So honored to hang out with ya'll!! Twindees... I hope you finally got home!!
I loved Nebraska!!! No bugs, it was cool, no humidity!!!!!! The food was good (especially the desserts 
)!!! We landed in Longview, TX & oh my gosh we were hit with that humidity really quick!! 
I didn't miss that while in Nebraska!
Mac & Trudy gosh we had fun didn't we!!!!!!!!!! 
I love you gals!! 
I hope everyone else will post about their time there too!! I think that will let everyone see how fun it is to go to these ICES Conventions! Maybe we'll get some new members... hint, hint!!!!!! So please go to ICES.org & join... ok... that's my plug for ICES
Can't wait to hear the great stories!!
I'm so glad to hear you all had a blast TC! Can't wait to see some pictures but I'm sure you're exhausted.
I have to join. I want to go next year since it will be much closer (Orlando). I do plan on going to the GA Chapter on Aug. 12 in Savannah. Bronwen will be there which is exciting.
Have a good night!
Excellent Tamera!! ICES is a great organization!! I hope to see you in Orlando!! My DH has already said it is a GO for us!!!!!! We are going to Disney World!!! Yeah!!! I brought home a little over $100 from Omaha & it's going straight into the Orlando fund!!!
I just got back today. I am very glad to be home, but I did have a blast at convention. This was my first year, so I didn't know what to expect, but it was great. It was so humid and hot there, I'm glad to be out of Omaha! LOL
I did take 2 hands on classes, they were a lot of fun. I took lots of demos, learned some new stuff. Met lots of cool people. Had a hilarious time at the banquet. Overall, had a wonderful time (the flight home was the suck though). Next is Mid-year in Chicago (for those who have to go), then Orlando! I'm bringing my family to that one. And San Diego will be awesome, it's about time it heads back to the west coast!
I just got back today. I am very glad to be home, but I did have a blast at convention. This was my first year, so I didn't know what to expect, but it was great. It was so humid and hot there, I'm glad to be out of Omaha! LOL
I did take 2 hands on classes, they were a lot of fun. I took lots of demos, learned some new stuff. Met lots of cool people. Had a hilarious time at the banquet. Overall, had a wonderful time (the flight home was the suck though). Next is Mid-year in Chicago (for those who have to go), then Orlando! I'm bringing my family to that one. And San Diego will be awesome, it's about time it heads back to the west coast!
Where in the world are you from to say it was humid & hot there? I'm so curious to know. I'm from Louisiana & I loved the climate there!! I thought it was nice & cool & you could actually breathe! LOL When we got to Dallas Airport the hot/humidity hit us & I knew we were back in the south!
Tiggy, where were you on Sat?? I thought you were gonna call me. Wish you would have came! Sorry if I missed you~ It was a pleasure to have met you! Wish we had more time though 
Hope we weren't too wild & crazy! LOL~
I second all that TC said.
Woo--took a shopping list and didn't stick to it AT ALL!!!
Imartsy--I know you didn't gain an ounce--you were still running or at least walking fast on Saturday!
SweetArt--you are just as your name said...sweet. I am very impressed with your talent and dedication to your family AND decorating.
Twindees--luv ya, girl! You are crazy and SO much fun. Hope you finally made it home. I know your babies were glad to see you.
Tiggy2--glad you joined us for dinner at Michael's and I'm glad I only had one Pina Colada
Now my new slogan--Disney or Bust!
I was there on Sat. but by the time I got done going throught the cake room, watching a couple of demos and shopping I was worn out so DH took me out to dinner. He was actually upset because I didn't buy more.....go figure. After I spent a fortune on Roland's air brush I thought I better not go wild. DH is wanting to go to Disney World so maybe I can talk him into going next year (I'll start saving now).
While we were waiting for waiting for everything to close down so I could get my cakes my dad asked me if there was anything else I wanted. I said of course there was, but I can't have everything I wanted. He told he had money if I needed it, and I was like but I don't think you want to pay for what I want. In the end I did run in and get two last minute items or rather items at two last minutes stops at booths.
I'm pretty happy with what I got, now I just have to make time to actually use them. I ended up with alot of flower cutters and things for making flowers.
Of course I had a few things in my 'list' that I didn't get and ended up with many things that weren't on the list at all. So I didn't do well with my list either Mac. I am going to have to try those petite four molds out soon.
For those that I met, it was great meeting you. Part of the fun of the convention is meeting people you 'know' and making friends with some you don't. There are several people that I have met at past conventions that I just can't wait to see when I go to the conventions.
I enjoyed it and will be saving money for the 2009 convention. I'm skipping next year to go a Nic Lodge class, but if all goes well I'll be at the 2009 one.
It is an awsome airbrush! I can't believe all the stuff that comes with it and can't wait to try it. I've never used one before so it may take awhile to actually get something that looks like it should. I was really impressed with how close you can get to the cake with it without blowing a hole in the icing. Maybe this time next year I'll have something that resembles what it should LOL.
The cakes & such wilted because someone turned up the temp on the A/C. They ladies in the cake room were complaining that is was too cold so the hotel turned the air up causing humidity to enter in the cake room. They did turn it back down but it was too late. Alot of cakes including Mac's wilted. Her cowboy boot sagged big time It was really sad! One awesome thing.. the photographer saw what was going on so he printed out the pics he took when you first bring your cake to be displayed & layed the before next to the cakes that had humidity damage. What a very kind thing to do! So people could see the "before" humidity.
tiggy we were probably in that vender room while you were there & just missed each other. We spent hours in there! Oh well next year! We're definetly going!! I wanted that airbrush system too!! I'm sure it was much better then his hands on class. I was very disappointed with it. I won't be taking any more hands on classes. Especially if they won't have big screens so everyone can see.
The highest I spent was $139 & that was for the stree-free cake support system!!!!!! Yep, Earlene Moore's invention! CarolAnn is going to ring my neck!!! LOL!! She wantd one so bad. I think they go for alot more any other time. So I got a great deal! I also got that cast iron turn table from Fat Daddio's!! I love it!! It's heavy but I love it.
I bought lots of flower molds & lots of tools. If I don't have the airbrush system by next years convention that's what I'll be getting.
TexasSugar... well what did Daddy get you? We wanta know!
Yes.... DISNEY OR BUST!!!!!!!!!
OHHHH I almost forgot.... Ya'll look for the Sept or Oct Mailbox News Magazine.... My dear friend MAC's beautiful Texas cake that was at the convention will be on the front page!!!!!!! Mailbox news chose her cake a few weeks ago for cake of the month! The editor/photographer told us to look for it. She couldn't remember if it was Sept or Oct. So go buy it, go look!! Maybe you could get Mac's autograph next year in Orlando!!!!
oh I wish I was able to go my home town is omaha, nebraska, I grew up there and the majority of my family still lives there, money has been to incredibly tight though .... I miss it! Sounds like you all had a blast!
Hey everyone!!!
Yep I did do a LOT of running - and shoving food or cake in my face and then running again. I didn't want to miss a demo! I signed up for a lot more when I got there - that was something I didn't know - that you could sign up for more demos once you got there. You're limited to I think 8 when you originally sign up.
I think I might take more hands on in the future. Mine was pretty good - we did the miniature wedding cakes w/ Kathy Scott. She's funny. I wanted her petit four molds, but they had run out....
I also thought about the stress free cake support system - it looks so awesome but people I talked to said it was hard to get the pieces back and that you would have to charge people for "renting" it - and I know my little ole friends and family aren't going to give me an extra $100 or so to cover that.... even if I would give it back to them - that would be a tough sell. So I'm still going to have to figure out dowel rods and stuff like that At least until I get some customers w/ $$$
I wanted an airbrush but I don't know how much I'd use it - I can see using it with stencils and I'd love that - but I also thought about maybe getting the Wilton spray cans of color and trying that with stencils first. And of course you can color your whole cake with it..... but I just don't know... so I didn't get it.
I am thinking of getting an edible image printer though - I think I'd use that.
I got a ton of stuff from Global Sugar art like embossers & cutters and a book. It was hard to make decisions on shopping - there was so much there!! I steered clear of the flower cutters and stuff though b/c I just know that no one I know is going to pay me for all the time that it takes to make those flowers. Oooh I did buy some dusts and some Americolors and I had such a blast. The demos were cool to watch - I took lots and lots of notes!!! Norm Davis was a real hoot and so was Dominick (although I can't remember his last name - he did the make your own molds stuff).
BTW, my bag was "inspected" at the airport - there was a little note in it. I'm sure it's b/c of the make your own mold stuff I bought - someone mentioned it did kinda look like bomb making material.... oops!! Oh well, the airline didn't take anything from it, so I guess they figured out it was harmless.
Coming back on the plane sucked - 2 hour delay in Omaha (tiny airport!!!) and then a 30 minute delay in Chicago..... but oh well.
I don't know if I'll make it to Orlando - but Chicago - well I'll have to see if maybe I could stay with family or something - or at least I might be able to visit with some family. That would be great.
I didn't enjoy the breakfast or the banquet.... I could've skipped those and slept in or done something else the night of the banquet - although I've heard the food has been better before. The breakfast was just weird - a roasted tomato, asparagus, scrambled eggs (prob. egg substitute), and potatoes..... I've never had a breakfast like that in my life. The banquet food wasn't spectacular either which disappointed me a bit b/c we did pay I think $50 to go to it. They did have Omaha fillet mignon - so if you enjoy that, you might have enjoyed the dinner more.
Overall it was a blast and I can't wait to go again - even if I don't make it to Orlando, I'll be sure to make it to Chicago!!! (and hopefully I'll be able to share a room with someone - that ended up being pretty expensive!)
TC--
Not to be picky (ya know I love ya)...but the stress-free cake support system was developed by Arlene Haas. She and her husband talked with you at their booth and their daugther checked you out.
Earlene was one of the first to recommend them and then she started carrying them in her online store.
Arlene did give a get show discount on a starter set (dang, I should have gotten another set). The hardest decision was what size of legs to get.
TC--
Not to be picky (ya know I love ya)...but the stress-free cake support system was developed by Arlene Haas. She and her husband talked with you at their booth and their daugther checked you out.
Earlene was one of the first to recommend them and then she started carrying them in her online store.
Arlene did give a get show discount on a starter set (dang, I should have gotten another set). The hardest decision was what size of legs to get.
Thanks for setting me straight woman! I got the names mixed up! LOL!!
I agree with you Ashley about the breakfast & banquet. Boring! & the food was horrible. I can't eat steak so I didn't get to enjoy that. The rest of the food had no taste, especially the butterscotch dessert. YUCK! I did like the eggs but nothing else Next year I won't attend the breakfast or banquet even though it will be included in your ticket. ICES has to include them from now on because that money goes to the hotel/convention center. They gotta make more money you know! I'm a little afraid of not going though. I figure since Disney is used to doing food that it might be really good! LOL! We'll see.
I haven't stepped on the scales yet.... I'm scared to!! I think I might have gained a few pounds but then again maybe I didn't. We did walk out booties off!! I had so much chocolate while I was there that I'm having withdrawals!!
Where's Misty? She hasn't posted yet. Neither has Cameal. Ya'll post! I can't wait to hear from ya'll again!
Wow you all had so much fun..Thant Great..I'm going to start saving for disney world
TexasSugar... well what did Daddy get you? We wanta know!
I got some more Crystal Colors then went back for the Hydranga cutter and veiner at Nic's booth. I wanted the sunflower too, but opted for just the hydranga one.
... Next year I won't attend the breakfast or banquet even though it will be included in your ticket. ICES has to include them from now on because that money goes to the hotel/convention center...
I was happy to see that they were seperate when registering this year. While the food isn't the best we are talking about mass produced food for over 1000 people at a time.
If they don't give the option of not buying the banquet ticket next year you can always sale it at the convention by putting a note on the bulliten board. I sold mine last year for $50.
I like the breakfast to visit with people when you aren't running around. And while the business meeting is boring, I do find it interesting to see what issues the organization is dealing with, you know?
I've been to the banquets and have skipped them, just depends on what else is going on. If there is a group of people I want to sit with them it can make them more fun.
I'm here! Sorry, things have been soooo busy since getting back. After leaving the house to my husband and 3 small kids for 5 days, you can imagine the chaos I came home to. The house was a mess, there was no food, the bills weren't paid, the mail wasn't even touched, none of my business calls had been returned, etc.
Anyways, I had a blast!
I kept so busy running from here to there and barely having enough time to see and do everything, let alone eat, that I lost 2 1/2 pounds!
My one main complaint about ICES is that the demo descriptions are too vague. I was disappointed in 10 of my 13 classes. "If I knew then what I know now", I would have chosen very differently. For future reference, if you look at a course and think, "I know how to do that, but want to know more, or maybe they can show me so neat tips or tricks.", then don't sign-up for that course. If you see a course and think, "I don't know much about that, but I want to learn it.", then that's the class for you. Many classes seemed very entry level. I understand that in an hour, there isn't much time to go in depth, but the descriptions should have at least been clearer that they'd just be doing some very basic stuff.
The food was terrible at the breakfast and banquet, but the company was great! It was almost embarrassing that in a city that is know for having some of the best steak anywhere, the steak they served had as much flavor as cardboard box. 
It was very tender and moist though! 
So if you go to either, go for the company and don't expect much from the mass produced food.
The shopping was great! To have so many cake toys all in one place and not have to pay shipping was amazing! 
I was in heaven! I think the best deal I got was on the petal and luster dusts and the end of the last day. I can't wait until I have time to play with all my new toys. I would have bought more if things had been marked down as much as it had been said they would. Maybe it changed for this year, but there weren't that many clearance deals at the end.
It was wonderful to meet all the CCer's and to get to know each other. You all were so much fun! It's was so nice to talk to people that were as obsessed and understanding about cake as I am. I loved being in such good company! 
I meant that the banquet was fun, but the food was ok. I sent my steak back to get it cooked, I don't like my food to moo at me. It would have been better if there was steak sauce, but it wasn't horrible. I got cheesecake, not the butterscotch thing, which I heard was not so great, so I was happy with the cheesecake. I obviously don't post tons, so I wouldn't know if I met any of you or not, however, I was also in Kathy Scott's mini wedding cake class. I had to leave my stuff in the hotel room though, not enough hands to take the stuff on the plane. I was fairly happy with my demos, only 3 or so were poor, but it was because like previously said, I already knew what they were doing but was hoping for another way or new tips and there were none. I met so many people that were wonderful, that alone made the trip worth it. I've got lots of new ideas, and new toys. I am very excited for next year. Oh, the breakfast was yuck, so that was disappointing. I don't know how breakfast can be screwed up, but oh well. My banquet table was the one with the screaming woman, if you heard her, lol. That was so hilarious, we were laughing so hard.
Hey Luckylurker - where did you sit? I was in the mini wedding cake class too! Did I say that already?
SweetArt, your homecoming sounds a lot like mine. I was so upset and hurt b/c the house was such a mess...... how hard would it be to clean a few things up?? We want to move and to sell our house - well my husband has a LOT of work to do... I try to keep my stuff pretty cleaned up and organized so I've got some stuff - but it's not all over the place...... hope you were able to clean yours up fairly easily.
It was a great time - I don't know that I'll be going to Orlando - but I know I'll be going to Chicago - can't wait!!!!
I guess I was lucky because my house was nice & neat! I threatened everyone before I left! If they didn't want the wrath of Mom they had better keep the house clean! They did!
Ohhh the screaming woman!! The one that won something? I can't remember what it was. A scholarship I thinK?? Gosh, she was so excited! Good for her!!
Not to be mean but I gotta argue the bit about food... If your in the food biz then you should be able to do it for 5 or 5000 & it should be the same. I think anyone on Foodtv or in catering would say that. I've been in & out of the food biz for years & there is no excuse for bad food. The eggs were ok to me but not great. The asparagus was too hard, the potatoes were dry & too hard. The steak was mooing, the carrots were too hard, the beans were too hard, the potatoes tasted like they were from a box (where was the cheddar?), the cheese was ok, the crackers were soggy, the bread was hard (not that I can eat bread LOL). The only thing I enjoyed was the salad. The dessert sucked. All I tasted was whipped cream. That's just IMHO And where was the ICED TEA?? We finally figured out that you had to ask for it!
Now the food downtown was EXCELLENT!!!!!!!! So Nebraska does know how to cook!! Spaghetti Works seemed to be the fav for most of the people I met. Didn't ya'll just love that salad bar? That was a cute idea!
I took Kathy Scott's class too Lurky. I was on the left side of the room in front... I think! I bought her petit fours & her round minature cake molds. Also those applicators! Can't wait to use them! Are you saying you left stuff you bought in your room?? Did you have it shipped to you or what? I can't believe you left it! You should have called us in Rm 6030 we'd have packed it for you. We're good at that aren't we Mac!!
Did anyone take the Ladies Shoes & Handbag class?? I did & loved it! BUT I can't remember how to make that rose! If anyone remembers could you possibily make a tutorial. I'm gonna sit down & try to figure it out but I doubt I can!
My favorite class was Geraldine Randlesome's Floating Stringwork class. That was excellent!! It was everything I had expected & more! I talked to her on Sunday & she went into further detail & hopes that she can teach more next year. I'll be signed up for that class for sure!
OK... I think I've taken up enough CC space so I better get. I didn't mean anything mean by my opinions on the food so I hope noone takes it that way.
My one main complaint about ICES is that the demo descriptions are too vague. I was disappointed in 10 of my 13 classes. "If I knew then what I know now", I would have chosen very differently. For future reference, if you look at a course and think, "I know how to do that, but want to know more, or maybe they can show me so neat tips or tricks.", then don't sign-up for that course. If you see a course and think, "I don't know much about that, but I want to learn it.", then that's the class for you. Many classes seemed very entry level. I understand that in an hour, there isn't much time to go in depth, but the descriptions should have at least been clearer that they'd just be doing some very basic stuff.
For the Texas convention they had pictures online of the things that would be covered in the demo. I thought that was a good idea and hope someone takes the time in the future to do that agian.
I do agree that some of the demo's descriptions didn't tell you much. I did (and do suggest) that people check out the demo display room to see the cakes as they are put out. Of course there weren't alot in there, but after seeing some I decided I wanted to do those demo's and after seeing some I decided I didn't want to do those demo's.
I was majorly unhappy with one of my 14 demo's, but only because it was a teddy bear, just that and she used a mold for the head. I thought she could have offered something more with it. There was another that the description did not fit the demo, and I wrote my thoughts on the comment cards. It wasn't that it was a bad demo, just not what I expected by the title. I had a few that I wasn't that thrilled with the demo's but that was cause of other things like they did more showing then explaining or they didn't work where you could see them in the camera. I did take the book and make notes besides the different demos that I took. I noted if I liked the person that did it or not.
There are several that I will sign up for based on names. Kelly Lance is one of those, as well as Norm Davis and I will do another Nic Lodge one in the future. There were a couple that I had wished would have demo'ed this year that didn't, so maybe they will be back in the future.
If I learn a few new tricks in the demo I'm happy. If I get a couple new ideas I'm happy. If they didn't bore me or make me watch the clock I was happy.
While I was at the convention I made notes and I plan to write ICES a letter with my thoughts and suggestions. I suggest everyone else do the same, as that is the only way they will know that maybe they could do certain things differently/better.
I'm a pretty easy going person so I don't have alot of complaints for them, just thoughts and ideas that maybe they will listen to or keep in mind for the future.
I would have bought more if things had been marked down as much as it had been said they would. Maybe it changed for this year, but there weren't that many clearance deals at the end.
I was surprised there wasn't more marked down either. My guess is that it may have had to do with numberof people at the convention. There was around 900 less people registered for this convention than there was last year. Less people means less money for them, so if they marked alot of things down after not making alot to begin with they may have ended up losing money. I didn't see a whole lot of sold out items either and in past convention there were things you couldn't get after the first day because everyone bought it up.
Cake stuff sure is expensive isn't it? Those people are really proud of their products and want a pretty penny for them. But of course we shell it out, so....
No, I didn't leave stuff I bought in the hotel room, just my mini cake I made, and the doll that I modeled (from the modeling class). I also LOVED the floating collar class, that one was one of my favorites. Did you like Kelly Lance's class? She is from my state, and she is awesome, so I hope you did. I was seriously disappointed with the food because they knew how many people to expect, but it was still not prepared very well. Overall, the Hilton's prices for food outside the banquet, and service, was very bad. If you ate at the restaurant there, it was good food (mostly), just poor selection and poor service. In the Old Market though, it was pretty good. I ate at Spaghetti Works twice (cause that's where everyone kept going). But at the banquet, the lady who screamed (her name is Angela), screamed because it is a WA tradition, lol. I got to hear the whole story because they were at my table. It made the banquet for me. Also, if you heard the rep. oath part, that was me. My table was heckling me, so I yelled it. Oh, we had moldy rolls at our table, so I sent them back. We also had to ask for the vinaigrette dressing (as well as ice tea).
Yeah I wasn't really impressed with the Hilton. For what they were charging for the room I thought it was ridiculous to charge $10 a day for Internet or $10 a day for using the gym. Of course, I didn't pay either. The staff was very nice - but the prices were ridiculous. And they charged $1.07 for a LOCAL call that lasted less than 2 minutes! Craziness.
Ooh I want to hear about the floating stringwork & collar class! What can you tell us? Share the secrets!
I took pics of the floating string work, I'll post them when I get a chance.
No, I didn't take Kelly Lance's class. What did she teach?
I remember you from doing the oath! LOL!! You were the only one we heard. We were at table 26 kinda to the side of you but in front of you.
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