ROAD TRIP...............We loaded up the truck full of ice beer mugs and carving blocks and headed to the ROT RALLY in Austin, Texas for a show and sales at Cafe Habana on 6th street. Daughter Cheyne who manages the restaurant on South Congress, stepped up to manage the special event on 6th. Crowds were entertained with live bands on one stage and live ice sculpture on the other. Life sized choppers capped the evenings entertainment and the public was then able to pose with them for pictures..............way cooool..........
Erika Maanke with Elegant Events contacted the Iceworks to bring her ideas to life for the Freidlander wedding reception held at the Houston Museum of Art. The 10' x 14' reception desk was covered with plywood and reinforced. The display included special bowls and trays for shrimp and crab, display areas for shrimp shooters and champagne and glasses.The center was crowned with assorted pillars holding groups of votive candles. Mark Miller's fabulous staff adorned not only all the tables and walls with gorgeous flowers, but also the center of the ice display. Harry Rice's group draped the display in cream colored satin as the crowning touch.
Carol's wonderful mini quilt blocks have been traveling not only across the states but across Europe as well. The former dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth is her latest admirer...
Check out these great display pieces for seafood etc. The corner trough and oval footed bowl !
We've had a busy end to the season at the ranch. Crane Valve had an amazing quarter and celebrated with a whole roast hog and all the goodys prepared by the staff here. Chad and Kristen Kirby tied the knot in Mexico but held a reception at the Silver Star Ranch for all their friends with a Hawaii theme decorated by Kristen, her mom, Paulette Kirby and company.... It was beautiful. The faculty from our neighbor " Lone Star Elementary " celebrated the end of the year with a bash here at the ranch.........what happens at the ranch, stays at the ranch....
Michelle Beckwith and the crew at the San Luis called on the Iceworks to create a replica of the new Destroyer " USS Kidd " recently comissioned in Galveston........and Miss Texas held her wedding reception at the Galveston Convention Center ( owned and operated by the San Luis Resort ) and a crown topping an arch with the couple's monogram and ( 2 ) shot slides for martini's on each side.
Linda West and Melange asked us to create a dinosaur shot slide for her latest gala at the Museum of Science; driver Gabe Simons said it was incredible to deliver a T- Rex ice sculpture under the bones of a real T-Rex he enjoyed as a young child.
Tommy Bahama's introduced it's new line of premium rums and the Iceworks created replica ice bottles to serve this smooth libation to an exhuberant crowd.
Master Ice artist T. Jay Maclaskey showcased his talents at this year's Ben E. Keith show. In the ACF sanctioned culinary competition he was awarded a gold medal for his "Rocky Mountain Hunter"; a sculpture in ice and a silver medal for his tallow sculpture, "Dance with Dolfins".
It's rodeo time again and Team Iceworks swung into action for teams in both Houston and Montgomery County cook-offs. Shot slides not only jump start the party but also help convey the theme....
Way to go Vince..... We are so happy to be able to support the rising star Vince Young again in his success. A celebration at club Hush on " Rookie of the Year " honors needed the right touch in ice.
Master Chef Fritz Gitchner sketched his vision of the ultimate sushi bar in ice.....and voila!!!
Beyonce Knowles shared both her birthday and the launch of her new cd " B-Day " with a simulcast from her concert in Japan to " The Warehouse " in Houston. IceWorks created a life- sized Beyonce in ice to stand in for her............
While local chefs were in competition in a hot food challenge, the IceWorks dazzled the crowds at the Glazier Food Show at the George Brown Convention Center with performance sculpture throughout the day. Thanks to all who stopped to watch or say hello..........
Our daughter Chase was in her first full-fledged art show at the Blue Genie in Austin this past Christmas...... her items flew off the shelves causing her to spend some late nights trying to replenish inventory.....Way to go Chase.............
The Professional Chefs of Houston and Chef Mike Mathews of Bentwater C.C. asked Jay to cook BBQ for their first fund raising golf tournment. Michael McBride of the Grape Stomp Cookers gaciously lent his fabulous barbecue pit and then worked overnight with Jay to prepare traditional BBQ brisket, smoked ribeyes and pecan grilled chicken. After a successful fundraising golf tournament the two fed the hungry chefs and sponsors who'd spent the day on the links and they proved to be a very appreciative crowd.
You may have heard of some of the wonderful ice sculpture events that Absolut Vodka has hosted around the world. When they came to Houston for this year's Essence Festival, they called on IceWorks to create three incredible, regulation-size ice pool tables on which celebrities and guests actually shot pool with clear acrylic pool balls!!. This amazing festival which brought millions of dollars and an endless list of VIP's to Houston was a reward to this city for it's generosity and compassion to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to Pam Johnson of Notable Events in Chicago and Absolut Spirits for giving us this amazing opportunity.
Jonothan of Club Touch wanted to create an incredible "over-the-top" birthday party for his brother. Right in the middle of this amazing event (that looked like a Hollywood premier!!), Jay was commissioned to carve a life-size Harley Davidson...complete with chainsaws, chisels and snow flying. After all the guests had posed on the bike for photographs, Jay couldn't resist the opportunity himself. ;-) Thanks Jonothan...it was a blast!!!
Cheyne Maclaskey has been charged with re-opening and managing the cafe Habana in Austin's South Capitol area. They opened strong and well organized; and she has them running like a well oiled machine. .....no surprise to anyone who knows Cheyne. She's not quite 5 feet tall and she only weighs 92 pounds, but she's fierce!
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When Capital One needed an extra special centerpiece for their table at this years President's Ball for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Emily O'Shaunessy called the Iceworks to create a 57 Chevy montage. We combined the 57 Chevy logo, a route 66 sign and a flaming guitar which depicted the theme (and the era) perfectly.
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Quiltmaker...
Carol (who usually functions as Jay's muse and the unsung "engine" that runs IceWorks) is an artist in her own right. Her award-winning quilt "Thank God We Were Cowboys, At Least For a While" will be on display at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo representing the Tomball, Magnolia, Montgomery Go Texan Committee. UPDATE!! Carol's quilt won first place in her division at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and won First Place over all and a gold medal at the Montgomery County Fair!!
Carol; our award winning quilter again brought home ribbons and prize money for the Montgomery County fair for her American Pie quilt.......
Frozen Fireworks
Anyone interested in a snowball battle for a party or as a fundraiser can call Carol at (936) 443-8121. We'll soon have our website up at FrozenFireworks.com!! We'll create an event for you that your guests will never forget!
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