Diane Shavkin's Profile


 

 
My mother, Jean, was noted for her beautiful, decorated cakes and cupcakes.  It seemed that she was the only mother who could decorate those pretty cakes.  What did she use?  The star tip!  All her flowers were with the star tip!

I wanted to be able to decorate like mom, so I made my first decorated cake.  It took me 4 hours to decorate an 8" Birthday cake with star drops and leaves.  I was so proud.

In 1967, I received a set of cake decorating tips and bags along with the Wilton yearbook.  It was so exciting to see those decorated cakes and sugar molded items.  A few years later, I was entering my first cake show with a sugar molded, candle centerpiece.  I was up against two displays of gum paste dolls.  That was my very first contact with gum paste and pastillage.

My idol became Meechie Noone of Maryland, whose woodland plaque and miniatures impressed me tremendously.  That's when I began to hand mold and win blue ribbons for my work. 

In 1981, Betty Van Norstrand of NY, encouraged me to enter the NYC culinary show.  I was awarded first place and "Felicitations of the Jury" for my "Calendar of Memories".  Each month  featured gum paste miniatures on plaques that were painted to resemble wood.

I innovated the technique of wood effects using a ceramic texturing brush. In 1982, after entering contests for 9 years, I won "Best of Show" for my magic show featuring the "Floating Lady"  The magician and his family were dressed up with the magician having a ruffled shirt.  There was a woodland scene with trees and hand molded animals.  There was a curtain behind the magician that amazed the judges because I had the hem turned up and made simulated stitches with a sharp-pointed, pin-like tool.  The lady actually appeared as though she was floating in mid air.

In 1983 after seeing my the woodland effects and gum paste miniatures at the ICES Convention in Kentucky, I was invited to the Louisiana ICES Day of Sharing.  Since that was my first year as the NYS ICES Rep, it was an opportunity to learn about organizing a Day of Sharing.  In April of 1984, the first NY Weekend of Sharing was held in the Hughsonville church.  This was the first Weekend of Sharing for ICES.  ICES States and Countries were having Days of Sharing at that time.

Since those days, I have served on the ICES (International Cake Exploration Societe) Board of Directors for 6 years and have been NY Rep for 5 years.  It was a wonderful experience in ICES for me.  I had the opportunity to make up the "Nominations/Elections" working binder and setup and organize two committees:  "Ways & Means" and "Newsletter Resource and Liaison".  I had fun coming up with ideas to help the ICES organization to grow.  I was the originator for the "Vendor/Author Ads Special" for those who have a booth at that year's convention.  With approval from the ICES President, in 1993, I set the ground work for the "Meet the Candidates" so that the ICES members would have a chance to see who the candidates are prior to the voting.  It was exciting for my, "How to do a Day of Sharing" committee and I to be so well received with our presentation at the 1996 ICES midyear meeting in Florida.  That marked the beginning of mid year meetings with educational presentations.

It is fun to meet new cake decorating enthusiasts and share knowledge that I have gained during my years in cake decorating and candy making.  I worked in candy molding and painting for twenty-two years.  I have demonstrated my 3-D painting in chocolate at ICES conventions and Days of Sharing.  I enjoyed coming up with the idea of "Diane's Embroidery" which consists of "Pop up Flowers" and "Puffed Embroidery" effects. 

On August 8, 1998, I was awarded the Wilbur Brand Memorial Service Award at the ICES convention in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Annual Banquet.  What an honor and thrill that was for me and my friends.  No one can win an award of this level without the support, love, and service so many people have given me over the years.  This is the reason why this award means so very much to me - It represents all my friends and members of ICES. 

I am very lucky to have such wonderful support especially from my husband, Steve.  Without his guidance and caring, I would not have been able to give the talents and skills that the Lord has bestowed upon me.   

Steven and I have two wonderful daughters, Jill and April; two handsome grandsons, Eric and Adam, a great son-in-law, Rob, and Meg, April's partner, who is a very lovely woman.

I love to share cake decorating knowledge; travel to teach; do demonstrations at  sugar art cake shows; conventions and events; judge cake shows and surf the net for books and products to offer for sale on my site and at events; and travel judge cake shows.  It is such fun meeting new people and sharing the talents the Lord has bestowed upon me.  Have fun and enjoy my web site, "The Wonderful World of Sugar Art".

 
 
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