Michigan ICES Chapter

NEWSLETTER

Spring 2009

 

                                                  Rep’s Letter

 

Its almost time for our Spring DOS and I couldn’t be more excited.  Our theme is Movie Madness and we’ve been working for months to make this a really special weekend.  This event will be a little different than most; we are using a hall instead of a hotel.  Not only is this saving us money, but it gives us so much more opportunity.  Without the restrictions of the hotel, I’m able to provide a lot more for us. 

 

We will be working on a group cake at the Spring DOS to take to convention in July.  This also serves as a hands-on learning project.  An assembly team will be putting all our pieces together after hours.  Our finished cake will make its grand entrance on Sunday followed by a group portrait with our cake. We will also be sponsoring classes Saturday morning before the start of the DOS, so make sure to check out the class descriptions in this newsletter and sign up on the registration form.  This is going to be a full weekend, so start making your plans to be a part of it. 

 

I’m thrilled to announce that our next Mini-Class event will be held on March 20-22, 2010 at the Doubletree/Dearborn in Detroit.  This is the same facility that we used for the last mini-classes.  It’s a beautiful hotel and we are thrilled and very fortunate to be able to use it again.  As with everything else in this economy, hotel prices have skyrocketed.  A very, very special thank you to our past Rep., Sue Czak for working with the hotel for a good six months to make this work for us.  The rest of the details for the event are still in the planning stages.  As soon as all the instructors are confirmed, we will post the information on our web site, www.michiganices.org and the next newsletter.

 

The hotel has allowed us to use the elevated area in the lobby to hold our cake competition during our mini-class event.  Our competition co-directors are Michaelle Stidham and Laura Amedeo.  They are working hard to make this an outstanding event.  That information will be available when the plans are finalized.  It may seem like a long time away, but these things always seem to sneak up on us.  There will be divisions for every level of decorator and everyone is encouraged to take part. 

 

Special congratulation to Michigan member Dianne Gruenberg for her feature article on twilling in the December issue of American Cake Decorating magazine.  This is certainly not her first article to be published, but it still makes us proud.  In the meantime, keep warm and I look foreword to seeing everyone in March.

 


Gary Silverthorn

Michigan ICES Rep.

 

 

 

How to Contact your Officers...

 

Gary Silverthorn,

State Representative ~

Ph: 810-966-4910

garysilverthorn@att.net

 

Carol Lowe, Alt Rep. ~

Ph: 248-852-1250

(sugarsongs@comcast.net)

 

Sherry Niemi Alt Rep. ~

Ph: 517-789-8543

(sherry@withicingontop.com)

 

Michaelle Stidham,Alt Rep

Ph: 248-334-3681

(grammystidham@comcast.net)

 

Linda Phillips, Alt Rep. ~

Ph: 313-917-7312

(mslindascakes@yahoo.com)

 

Janis Standish, Treasurer ~

Ph: 248-399-5288

(janis5288@wowway.com)

 

Jennifer Dontz, Secretary ~

Ph: 231-723-5774     (cakebabe1@aol.com)

 

 

 

PICNIC

 

We will be having our Michigan ICES Family Picnic on Sunday July 19, 2009.  At the

River Woods Park, Auburn Hills, MI.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


 

Spring DOS 2009

 

“MOVIE MADNESS”

March 28 and 29, 2009

Arbela Township Hall

8935 Birch Run Rd,

Millington, (Birch Run), 48746

 

Fall DOS 2009

 

“CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE!”

October 17 & 18, 2009

Arbela Township Hall

 8935 Birch Run Rd,

Millington, (Birch Run), 48746

 

 

 

Great Lakes Mini-Classes

And Cake Competition

 

March 20-22, 2010

Doubletree-Dearborn

5801 Southfield Service Drive

Detroit, Michigan 48228

 

34th Annual ICES Convention

 

July 30-August 2, 2009

St. Charles, Illinois

 Registration begins March 1, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sympathies and Prayers

 

Longtime Michigan ICES member Gretel Steckler lost her son, Roddy after a long illness.  Our hearts go out to Gretel and her family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

 

 

Charter member Jack Bristol passed away

January 17th.  Jack was a very talented

and sharing cake decorator.

He had been retired for a number of years.

 

 

  Jennifer Dontz’s husband was diagnosed

with cancer.  Please pray for his recovery.

 

 

 

Michigan ICES Directory

 

Many members have requested that we publish a directory in our newsletter. 

This is something we have done in the past.  It’s a nice way to stay in contact with our

fellow members.

If you wish NOT to be included, simply notify

Gary Silverthorn at: garysilverthorn@att.net; Ph: 810-966-4910 or

Pat Ware at: warehouse@tds.net;

Ph: 989-795-2432

or in person at the Spring DOS.

 

 

 

Roommates and/or Driving Buddies for Convention

 

If you are planning to go to the ICES convention this year in St. Charles, Illinois, sharing a room or a ride with a fellow member can save a lot of money.  E-mail Gary Silverthorn at garysilverthorn@att.net and your contact information will be forwarded onto other roommates or carpool seekers.  Registration for the Convention begins on March 1, 2009 on line at ICES.org.  If you haven’t been to convention before, it’s a great opportunity to see what it’s all about without spending a fortune.  We are fortunate to be so close this year.  Saving money where you can will give you more to spend on all those wonderful tools in the vendor room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE for Spring DOS Registration Form

 

 

 

Spring Days of Sharing Information

 


“Movie Madness”

 

March 28 -29, 2009

Arbela Township Hall

8935 Birch Run Rd

Millington (Birch Run), Michigan

 

Lights! Camera! Action! Everyone loves movies.  The theme for our Spring Days of Sharing will be “Movie Madness”.  Think stars, popcorn, movie genres; there really are a lot of ways to use Hollywood themes on your cakes and sugar projects. 

The weekend will be loaded with fun demos and activities, vendors, auctions and a few surprises. 

We will also have the opportunity to do a hands-on project to use on our chapter cake for the convention.

We are sponsoring classes on Saturday morning before the start of the DOS, so be

sure to check them out as well.  If you come early or stay late, this area has a lot to offer. 

The hall is located half way between Prime Outlets in Birch Run and Frankenmuth.

The host hotel is the Comfort Inn in Birch Run.  It’s a very nice hotel and they offer a continental breakfast with your stay.  It’s located right off I-75.  They will honor the price of $89.99 for Friday, Saturday or Sunday night.  There are several hotels in that area if you choose to shop around, however if you decide to stay at the Comfort Inn, you need to have your reservations in by March 13, 2009 to reserve this rate. 

Mention Michigan ICES when you make your reservations for this pricing.

 

Directions and Hotel

 

Take I-75 to exit #136.  The hotel is right at the exit.  The hall is 6 miles east of the expressway on Birch Run Road.

It takes about 10 minutes to get there.  The hall is on the south side of the road.  It’s very easy to find.

 

Comfort Inn

11911 Dixie Highway

Birch Run, MI 48415

989-624-7777

 

Saturday Night Festivities include Convention Cake

 

Come one, come all as we join together to create what is sure to be a stunning masterpiece display for the ICES convention!  During our spring DOS, you will find Saturday evening events a little different than normal.  We will have several class stations set up around the hall with each station having an 'instructor' and you will have the opportunity to assist in making the decorations for a portion of the cake.  A sample of stations include: covering a cake with fondant, making gum paste flowers, leaves, snowflakes, and rocks/stones just to mention a few! 

This will be a great opportunity to learn many things in a short span of time while spending time with cake buddies.

The convention cake will represent the four seasons in Michigan.  You are free to pick and choose what you would like to work on like a class or you may just observe like a demo.  This is an excellent way to learn a new skill and have fun too.  At the end of the evening, an assembly team will stay late and put the cake together and have it ready to be presented Sunday during our DOS.  We will take a group photo with the entire membership to display with our cake at convention in St. Charles, Illinois this July.

Come be part of the fun and discover what our group can do as a team!

 

 

Pot Luck Saturday at Spring DOS

 

We are starting our weekend off with a pot-luck dinner on Saturday evening.  Cakes aren’t the only thing our members are talented with.  Bring a dish to share or a dessert for Sunday.  Everyone sharing will have their names put in a special drawing.  We have kitchen privileges, so if you need some prep space or plugs, we are good to go. Please mark registration form.

 

 


Can Food Drive

 

Our motto is caring and sharing.  In that spirit, we will be collecting canned and dry food goods or donations of money (for every dollar donated, $14 worth of food can be purchased) to donate to people in need. The donations will be given to the Michigan Food Bank.  If you wish to participate, just bring your donations with you to the Spring DOS.

 

 

 

CLICK HERE for Spring DOS Registration Form

 

(*Minutes and Treasurer’s report omitted… please refer to your newsletter for this information.)

 

 

 

 

Agenda Spring Days of Sharing

 

“Movie Madness”

 

March 28th and 29th, 2009

 

Saturday Evening

 

  4:30-5:30 pm              Set-up and vendor set-up

    5:30-6:00 pm            Registration/shopping

6:00-6:45 pm   Potluck Dinner

6:45-7:00 pm       Break / Shopping

7:00-9:00 pm             Convention Cake

Divide into groups to make a cake to represent Michigan at Convention

9:00-??? pm                Cake assembly team finish cake

 

Sunday

 

8:30-9:00 am       Registration/Sign-in

9:00-9:30 am       Business Meeting

9:30-9:45am     Break/ Shopping

9:45-10:30am               Demo - Dianne Gruenberg

                                         “Blazing Saddles”

10:30-10:50am  Presentation of the Convention Cake

 

10:50-11:00 am     Break/Shopping

11:00-11:45 pm     Demo – Laura Amedeo

                                   “Gumpaste Film Strips”

11:45-12:00 pm             Cake Movie Trivia Game

12:00-12:45 pm                                               Catered Lunch

  12:45-1:00 pm                                              Announcements                              

1:00-1:45 pm         Demo – Gretel Steckler

                       “Movie Award Cake”

1:45-2:00 pm         Break / Shopping

   2:00-3:00 pm         Quick-Fire Demonstrations

                        A: Sherry Niemi: “Red Carpet Couture Shoes”

                    B: Linda Phillips: “Movie Candy Bouquet”

                    C: Judy Logan: “Yellow Brick Road Cupcakes”

D: Carol Lillieberg: “TBA”

                    E: Pat Ware: “Edible Images Techniques”

3:00-3:15pm          Break / Shopping         

3:15-4:00      Demo – Carol Lowe

                                   “Popcorn Bag Cake”

4:00-?          Auction/Raffle/Thank You’s        

                        Have a safe trip home!

 

 

*** Classes ~ Classes ~ Classes ***

 

Classes at the Arbela Township Hall  Saturday morning and afternoon

All classes cost $40.00 each.

Lunch will be provided  for all students before or after your class.

 

Fondant Fabric Effects: Carol Lowe - learn stenciling, pleating and ruffles.  Some tools will be provided for class use; and you will each receive a stencil that you may take home.  List of required tools listed below.

March 28, 2009 ~ 10:00am-12:00pm

 

Oriental Stringwork: Gary Silverthorn – Cover a 6” cake dummy with rolled fondant.  Decorate with upside down royal icing stringwork and simple fondant flowers. This technique is stunning and much easier than you think. 

All supplies included.

March 28, 2009 ~ 10:00am-12:00pm

 

Gumpaste Quilling Designs: Dianne Gruenberg – A step up from basic and Quilled 3-D flowers. Quilling looks difficult, but is so exciting and very easy. Made with a new narrow stripper that will make your patterns look really delicate.  All supplies included.

March 28, 2009 ~ 1:00-3:00

 

Gelatin Butterflies and Lilies: Michaelle Stidham & Diane Simmons  -  Complete a butterfly and flower in class to take home.  All supplies included

March 28, 2009 ~ 1:00-3:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE for Spring DOS Registration Form

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Supply List for Fondant Fabric Effects Class:

 

     8” round cake dummy or real cake (your choice) covered in fondant on a 12” foiled covered board

(Your cake must be covered before class, there is not time in class to cover cake).

 

Large rolling pin

Fondant (1pkg) Wilton ready made fondant   

Ball tool

Pizza cutter

Small scissors

Palette knife (artist tool-NOT spatula)

Small artist paintbrush for gluing

Vinyl place mat (smooth surface)

Pasta machine without motor (to reduce noise)

Ruler

Cornstarch Puff (1/4 c. cornstarch in toe of  a NEW

nylon knee high stocking and knot the stocking to close)

2 or 3 different petal dusts in complimentary colors

Dusting brushes – one for each color

Garrett Frill Cutter – if you have it or we can share

Turntable (optional)

12” box to take home project

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE for Spring DOS Registration Form

 

 

Family Project

 

Gummy Bears Recipe

 

These make great snacks and gifts.

It is a really simple kid pleasing recipe. These taste exactly like the store bought ready made Gummy bear (critters). When using sugar-free they are perfect for a diabetic diet, cuts down the calories considerably.  An easy delicious treat!!!  Great for Easter.

 

1 (3 ounce) box Jell-o® gelatin, any flavor regular or sugar-free

7 envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup water

 

Directions:

 

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan until the mixture resembles play dough.

Place the pan over med-low heat and stir constantly until melted.

Once completely melted, pour into plastic miniature bear molds, or other small candy type molds* and place in freezer for 5-10 min.

When very firm, remove from molds. www.recipezaar.com

* Try using lollipop molds, or very small ice cube trays or shaped ice cube trays.

Gummy tapeworms: Drape a big sheet of aluminum foil over cooling rack or oven rack. Push the aluminum foil down into the gaps, leaving strip like molds.

 

 

Stacked Cake Outline

 

Copy, enlarge to the size wanted.

Draw your cake design for your cake orders.

 


 

 

 


SHARING

 

Ohio DOS

 

Saturday & Sunday, April 25th/26th

Located in Columbus, Ohio

Saturday will feature a day full of classes,

with regular DOS events

& demo's on Sunday.

For more info, visit their website:

www.geocities.com/caketalkoh

 

 

 

Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate

 

Sunday, February 22, 2009

1:30pm to 3:30pm

Kellogg hotel and Conference Center

(Michigan State University,

East Lansing)

Sample chocolate confections from our regions leading restaurateurs and chocolatiers.

Watch professional chefs demonstrate gourmet chocolate techniques.Tickets are $30 for the general public or $75 Premier Chocolatier ticket includes membership.

For ticket information,

call (517) 432-4000.

 

 

Mid Michigan Sugar Artists Demo Day

& 2 Day Class with Sharon Zambito

 

Demo Day - Sunday, Feb 22nd

(registration still open at early bird rates if rc’d by 2/16)

2 Day Class - Mon & Tues following Demo Day

for full event info please visit www.midmichigansugarartists.com

or call Diane Simmons

(517) 990-0880 M-F 9-5:30