Here's my first try of workshop 1, I put in an example of smoke so we can drool till we get particles in vue. videodv.

Interesting and creative. I'd like to see where you take this picture next (or where it takes you) in later renders. The bottom ice cube is great looking.

The ice cubes are a mixed mat of the light glass + snow with a perlin noise on the distrbution map. It needs more work on the glass as I am not happy with that so I think I will work from there and see where I end up. I think I might put the eco dome (thats on the postcard in the sky if thats allowed!). Many thanks for your kind words. videodv.

The light hits that bottom icecube really nice. I found working with this that the ice and class really is effected by background and atmosphere. Like the design on the cloth to.

Messing with the refractive index and reflectivity of the glass can make it look more real. Good start here. A particle system would be yummy.