I am a chocoholic creating chocolate themed jewellery as I explore Canadian chocolate one bar and bonbon at a time

Bonbon with cacao bean in it next to a bronze cacao bean necklace.

Recent blogs

Masks for the Chocolate Lover

Handmade face masks for chocoholics and chocoholics screen printed with chocolate inspired designs. Stay safe during covid by wearing a mask. Hand sewn, hand printed, shipped worldwide.

by canadianchocoholic July 28, 2020July 28, 2020

Lilacs

It’s lilac season and I am determined to enjoy the lilacs year round. This year I made lilac almond scones, lilac sugar, lilac honey, lilac syrup and lilac bath soak. Also a soon to come lilac cacao nib scone. I love lilacs and want to enjoy them the whole year though.

by canadianchocoholic May 28, 2020

DIY Chocolate Tasting

Make a DIY chocolate tasting to send in the mail to a friend. A fantastic way to share chocolate, brighten a friends day, educate someone about chocolate, and give a smile. This simple DIY chocolate tasting is easy to put together and doesn’t take much time.

by canadianchocoholic May 19, 2020May 29, 2020

canadianchocoholic

. 🌈 #tttt_rainbow . 🧡 A collection of some c

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🌈 #tttt_rainbow
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🧡 A collection of some cheery, orange chocolate related things.
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🔶 Orange makes me happy and feeds my creative soul.
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🍫 Plus chocolate! I do love the orange wrappers and packaging.
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#tttt_orange #iloveorange #orange #readcacao #beantobarchocolate #craftchocolate #artisanchocolate #canadianchocolate #cheeful #happy #creative #artist #peace

. 🍫 Cacao Pods grow in many colours. . 🧡 My

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🍫 Cacao Pods grow in many colours.
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🧡 My favourite coloured pods are the orange ones. I'm sure you're not surprised.
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🔶 I ordered this wooden carving of a cacao pod to display with my cacao pod necklaces. It helps people to see where chocolate comes from and what it looks like as it grows. I also use this when I do chocolate tastings.
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🌏 It isn't the only cacao pod I have. I have another that is a dried cacao pod that looks quite different.
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❔ Have you seen real cacao pods?
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#chocolate #tttt_orange #orange #peace #cacaopod #cacaopodjewellery #canadianchocoholicjewellery #cacaopodjewelry #metalsmith #chocolatetastings #ottawachocolatetastings #art #ottawafoodie #ottawafoodies #foodieottawa #craftchocolate #beantobarchocolate #happy

.⁠ 🌈 Orange is my favourite colour. It has b

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🌈 Orange is my favourite colour. It has been for as long as I can remember. It is a colour that makes me happy. ⁠
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🍫 I totally gravitate towards orange packaging on chocolate bars, yet I am not a huge fan of chocolate and oranges combined.⁠
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🧡 I love orange. There is orange throughout our home. I have orange pops all over to make me smile.⁠
🧡 I have a very bright orange desk where I love to do computer work, create fun things, write letters, or taste chocolate.⁠
🧡My love of orange is neverending. Be prepared for my feed to be mostly orange this week, because I just can’t resist sharing all my orange with you.⁠
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🌎 Join in with chocolate people from around the globe to post on Tangential Tasting Twin Tuesday (#tttt_ insert colour of the week here) to highlight craft chocolate, artisan chocolate, bonbons and other colourful things as we collectively explore the chocolate rainbow #tttt_rainbow.⁠
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❔ What is your favourite colour?
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☮ #peace⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #tttt_orange #orange #myhappypace #orangedesk #iloveorange #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow #beantobarchocolate #artisanchocolate #ilovecolour #orangehair #happy #love⁠

.⁠ 🔶 The holidays are coming, so are new item

. 🌈 #tttt_rainbow . 🍫 Yes, it’s true, I’ve b

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🌈 #tttt_rainbow
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🍫 Yes, it's true, I've been snacking on m&ms lately.
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🔶 That's a sign that I've been working at my jeweller’s bench, creating. It's one of my favourite places to be. I look forward to sharing some new pieces with you in time for the holidays.
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🌏 #tttt is a hashtag many in the chocolate community use to share chocolate the whole world over. Feel free to join us as we explore the rainbow of chocolate. Everyone is welcome to play along, chocolate eaters, chocolate makers, chocolatiers, chocoholics, chocolate artists, pastry chefs using chocolate, anyone who eats any chocolate at all is welcome to join and post. Be sure to check out #tttt_rainbow to see what others are snacking on.⁠
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#chocolate #chocoholic #canadianchocoholicjewellery #metalsmith #maker #jewelry #holidaysarecoming #chocolatecommunity #sharingchocolate #instachocolate #womeninchocolate #joinus #chocolateart #rainbow #rainbowofchocolate #edibleart #chefs #chocolatemakers #chocolates #growingcommunity #share #learn #grow #peace

.⁠ 🌈 Red, there are so many shades of red.⁠

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🌈 Red, there are so many shades of red.⁠
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🍫 Here are a few of my favourite red chocolate things.⁠
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📷Swipe to see a few of these bars closer. As well as a look at all things red.
❤ A jar of chocolate covered cherries from @somachocolatemaker .⁠
❤ A bar from @palettedebine with a pop of red.⁠
❤ Winter Warmer from @sirenechocolate in its beautiful red packaging.⁠
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🙂 Have you seen all the #tttt_red posts? It’s never too late to join in and share something about red and chocolate. Really it can be anything, my first red post was about my red couch and chocolate. Tuesday we move to orange!!!!! ⁠
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☮ #peace⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #tttt_red #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow #red #canadianchocolate #tttt #eatgoodchocolate #beantobarchocolate #confections #cherries #singleoriginchocolate #winterwarmer #enjoychocolate⁠

.⁠ 🍫 A plate of chocolate always brightens my

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🍫 A plate of chocolate always brightens my day.⁠
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❤ My orange desk and some flower petals help too.⁠
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❔What brightened your day today?⁠
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#chocolateplate #chocolateflight #flowers #aroma #worksnack #customchocolatetastings #ottawachocolatetastings #ottawafoodie #ottawagiftideas #chocolatetasting #canadianchocolate #foodie #beantobarchocolate #orange #love #joy #peace⁠

.⁠ 🍫 These bronze cacao beans arrived a while

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🍫 These bronze cacao beans arrived a while ago from the casting company I work with.⁠
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🚛 Casting is the only part of making these beans I do not do myself. I know how to cast, and even worked at a casting company just after graduating from my goldsmithing program, however, it isn’t cost effective for me to own and run a kiln, plus, the other equipment needed for this process.⁠
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❤ I finally had time to work on them. That means: sawing, filing, sanding, disking, inspecting, polishing, patinating, inspecting again, and stringing each cacao bean one by one. (FYI - turning these cacao beans from a bronze colour to a brown colour is a VERY stinky process, and I prefer to do so outside.)⁠
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🔶 Some of these beauties are hitting the shop next week, some are already spoken for. Stay tuned for more details and a photo of the finished pieces.⁠
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☮ #peace⁠
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.#chocolate #ilovechocolate #canadianchocoholicjewellery #chocolatejewellery #cacaobean #bronze #bronzecacaobean #handmade #handmadeincanada #goldsmith #silversmith #chocolatelove #creative #supportsmallbusiness #artist #womeninchocolate #chocolateart #create #maker #jewellery #jewelry #peace

. ❤️ Are you seeing red today? . 🍫 Chocolat

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❤️ Are you seeing red today?
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🍫 Chocolate lovers from around the globe are joining in and posting today about #tttt_red as part of the chocolate rainbow theme.
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♦️ Red for me is a cozy colour. Warm. Inviting. This red couch in our living room is where I often enjoy my morning drinking chocolate. It is one of my favourite places to start the day with chocolate, often times followed by reading a book about chocolate.
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🛋️ I didn't set out to buy a red couch and love seat. Yet I have loved this set for years. We actually had it delivered to our tiny apartment in Winnipeg, 2 days before the apartment was packed up and we moved to Vancouver Island. There it lived in our first house together, being a cozy place for new friends to visit with us.
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🙂 From BC, back across the country to Ottawa, first in our again tiny apartment, and now in our beautiful home. It still welcomes all for cozy visits and warm cups of cacao.
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☮️ #peace
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#chocolate #tttt_rainbow #instachocolate #red #seeingred #couch #redcouch #brightred #cozy #drinkingchocolate #morningritual #cozycouch #welcoming #friends #family #hotchocolate #tree #trees #birds #livingspace #winnipeg #courtenay #bc #ottawa #love

. 🍫 A year ago I was on a chocolate adventure.

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🍫 A year ago I was on a chocolate adventure.
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🙂 I was in Toronto, judging the International Chocolate Awards. Tasting fabulous chocolate and bonbons from all over this wonderful country. What a great experience.
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❤️ I had a week in Toronto ahead of me, full of delicious bites of chocolate, stops at chocolate shops, walks in the big city, and time spent making new chocolate friends.
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☮️ #peace
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#chocolate #chocolateadventure #chocolatetravel #canadianchocolate #internationalchocolateawards #judgingchocolate #newfriends #toronto #chocolatefriends #explorechocolate #chocolatebars #bonbons #cacaopod #jewellery #canadianchocoholicjewellery #joy #myhappyplace

.⁠ ☮ #peace⁠ .⁠ 🍫 Wishing you all a wee

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☮ #peace⁠
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🍫 Wishing you all a week full of delicious bites of chocolate and virtual hugs.⁠
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🎨 I think I am in love with the canvas I printed last week, now I just have to find the courage to cut it up and create something with it.⁠
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#chocolate #art #artandchocolate #create #screenprinting #cacaopods #holidayprep #maker #randomprint #handprinted #silkscreen #cacao #love⁠

. 💗 Pink – A glimpse into the pink bars in my c

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💗 Pink - A glimpse into the pink bars in my chocolate stash.
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🌈 #tttt_rainbow #tttt_pink
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🍫 A pile of all things pink to round up the first week of the rainbow. Watch for red coming tomorrow!
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#chocolate #chocolatecommuntiy #pink #chocolaterainbow #exploreflavour #chocolatestash

.⁠ 🍫 Forest & Sea⁠ .⁠ 🌲Yep, that is th

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🍫 Forest & Sea⁠
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🌲Yep, that is the name of this chocolate bar from @kasamachocolate
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🌊 I love how they have combined these flavours, and the story behind the bar💕.⁠
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❤ I do love, and miss, the west coast, and this bar makes me think of hikes among the huge trees followed by walks at the ocean's edge.⁠
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☮ #peace.
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#chocolate #forestandsea #beantobarchocolate #canadianchocolate #madeinbc #madeinvancouver #bc #westcoast #explorewithflavour #explorechocolate #craftchocolate #artisanchocolate #memories #rainforest #beaches #rosemary #seasalt #rosemaryseasalt #adventure #love

.⁠ 🍫 #masksforchocoholics ⁠ .⁠ ❤ I am a

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🍫 #masksforchocoholics ⁠
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❤ I am a maker, an artist, and a creative being. I love using my hands to make something.⁠
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🙂 These masks are handmade by me, with a bit of help from my partner, and I do hope you enjoy your purchase, that it keeps you and others safe and that you love wearing it as much as I enjoyed creating it. PS - there is love in each mask I create.⁠
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🎨 When I say it is hand made with love it is. Here is why:
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❤️I choose the fabric based on feel, texture (knit) and quality.⁠
❤️I sanitize my hands each time I handle and work with the masks (hubby does too).⁠
❤️Our home is pet and smoke free, eliminating many allergens.⁠
❤️I cut the fabric when you order a mask, just for you.⁠
❤️We print that fabric together with the design and colour of ink you chose. If I don’t like it once it dries I start again. If the placement of our print is a little off we start again.⁠
❤️My partner irons each mask twice, once after the print has dried for 24 hours, once after I have sewn the mask together.⁠
❤️I sew the inside and the outside of each mask, then I sew them together. If something isn’t quite right, I rip out the stitches or start again. You’re wearing this on your face, I want it to be perfect.⁠
❤️I sew some more. Some ironing happens again.⁠
❤Hubby cuts the strings from a ‘t-shirt’ type of fabric. It’s stretchy, I intentionally don’t stretch it to its fullest. I leave that for you to do, so it fits you better. I thread the strings and tuck them into the mask.⁠
❤️I put the mask in a Ziploc bag before putting it in the envelope to mail to you. I wish I didn’t need to, but in our covid era it’s a step towards keeping it safe on its journey to you.⁠
❤️I package every order and triple check the address to be sure that it gets to you safely.⁠
❤️One of us walks to the post office to mail it out, as soon as possible, so it arrives in your mailbox ASAP.⁠
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☮ That, friends is how I add love to each mask I make, and I always hope you #staysafe and #wearamask when needed. #peace⁠

.⁠ 🌈 Eat the rainbow. The chocolate rainbow!

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🌈 Eat the rainbow. The chocolate rainbow! #tttt_rainbow is going to be a fun exploration of colour.⁠
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🍫 Today I have chosen to use the brightest and pinkest box on my shelf as we start exploring the rainbow of chocolate with PINK #tttt_pink. This hot pink box is from @the_chocolatelab in Calgary, and once held a lovely bunch of colourful bonbons.⁠
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❤ It may be empty now, but bonbons from The Chocolate Lab in Calgary always make me smile as I enjoy their beauty.⁠
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📷 Check my stories to see other photos of bonbons from @the_chocolatelab.⁠
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🌎 #tttt is a hashtag many in the chocolate community use to share cool chocolate the whole world over. Feel free to join us as we explore the rainbow of chocolate. Everyone is welcome to play along, chocolate eaters, chocolate makers, chocolatiers, chocoholics, chocolate artists, pastry chefs using chocolate, anyone who eats any chocolate at all is welcome to join and post. Be sure to check out #tttt_rainbow to see what others are snacking on.⁠
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☮ #peace⁠
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#chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow #chocolatemaker #chocolatier #pastychef #artist #chocoholic #everyone #joinus #ilovechocolate #instachocolate #colour #colours #calgary #bonbons #beautyinchocolate #beauty #diversity #chocolatecommunity #chocolateart⁠

. 🍫 Bright cheery chocolate on this rainy day i

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🍫 Bright cheery chocolate on this rainy day in Ottawa.
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🙂 What a lovely long weekend we had. Lazy. Relaxed. Crafty. Full of chats with friends, crafty projects, and delicious chocolate, in this case @sirenechocolate
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☀️ Hopefully you had a great weekend full of sun!
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❔ How did you enjoy the long weekend?
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#peace #canadianchocolate #chocolate #caramelizedwhitechocolate #whitechocolate #craftchocolate #longweekendvibes #longweekend #sunshine #yellow #screenprinting #cacaolove #happymonday

.⁠ 🍫 Chocolate can have so many flavours and

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🍫 Chocolate can have so many flavours and aromas!⁠
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❤ I had so much fun prepping this plate of smells for Sophia's aroma class yesterday.⁠
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🙂 It was so interesting to learn more about aroma, combining aromas, and being playful! I always love learning more about flavour, aroma, and chocolate, how they can bring up memories from the past or create new special moments.⁠
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❔It gave me ideas for future pairings with chocolate.⁠
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#peace #chocolate #learning #chocolatelearning #chocolateeducation #chocolatepairings #aroma #aromaclass #aromaset #smell #memories #ottawachocolatetastings #explorearoma #beplayful #enjoy #chcolatepairing #chocolateottawa #playwithyourfood #ilovechocolate #craftchocolate #everythinghasastory #love⁠

.⁠ ❄ Is it too early to start thinking about t

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❄ Is it too early to start thinking about the holidays?⁠
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🍫 Chocolate always plays a key role in my holidays. Usually I have an advent calendar that has chocolate in it.⁠
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🎨 This year I think I am on my way to making my own bags to put that chocolate in. I have been playing with the scraps of material leftover from making #masksforchocoholics. I needed to find a use for the bits and pieces. I try my very best not to waste anything, and I have no idea what else can be done with tiny bits of fabric. I am also possibly working on a quilt with the bigger scraps.⁠
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✌ What do you think I should do with these little bags, or the other fabric scraps I have left?⁠
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#chocolate #chocoholic #cacaopods #screenprinted #maskmaking #handsewnmasks #lowwaste #reuse #repurpose #reduce #create #makeart #fabricart #scrapfabric #fabricscraps #sewing #littlebags #adventcalendar #fabricart #holidaysarecoming #madein613 #ottawaart #fibreart #joy #love #peace⁠

.⁠ 🍫 Hello, it’s me, Cyndi. I’ve noticed

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🍫 Hello, it’s me, Cyndi. I’ve noticed a few new faces around here, and I’m so happy you’re following along on my creative chocolate journey. Here is a bit about me - I am a lot of things, some of them include: a chocoholic, a partner, a creative soul, a maker, a dental assistant, a goldsmith, a sewer of masks, a screen printer, a chocolate eater, a chocolate taster, a chocolate educator, a foodie, a book lover, a swimmer, and a smiley person. ⁠
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❤ Tell me something about you, or ask me something about myself, let’s get to know each other.⁠
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✌ PS – I love hearing from you, drop me a DM if you want to chat or just say hi.⁠
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#chocoholic #chocolate #peace #cacaopod #cacaolove #sterlingsilvercacaopod #lostwaxcasting #masksforchocoholics #maskmaking #swim #enjoychocolate #gettingtoknowyou #goldsmith #canadian #instachocolate #chocolateadventure #cacao #chocolatemask #smile

.⁠ ❔ Back to my original question, Does size m

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❔ Back to my original question, Does size matter?⁠
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🍫 Yes and no. If you are buying just based on size remember what it looks like can be different from what is inside. The bar on the right has the smallest amount of chocolate in it – 60 grams, the two middle bars are both the same at 70 grams, and the one on the right, looks small, but it’s actually 90 grams.⁠
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🛒 Buying chocolate is sometimes hard. Especially for any new to craft chocolate folks. Be sure to take a look at the size when you buy to avoid disappoint when you open the package. I have been known to buy a bar for its pretty packaging, not caring what is inside, and that is totally okay, however, sometimes, I want a lot of chocolate.⁠
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👉 Swipe to see all seven of these bars in order of chocolate inside them.⁠
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💲 Should we also talk a bit about prices of craft chocolate? Let me know in the comments if that is something you’d like to see.⁠
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#chocolate #canadianchocoholic @etatdechoc #craftchocolate #doessizematter #sizematters #whatsinawrapper #chocolateshopping #ilovechocolate #eatingchocolate #artisanchocolate #beantobarchocolate #tastingchocolate #instachocolate #size #chocolatebar #peace⁠

.⁠ 🍫 Z is for Zen, so let us all relax and no

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🍫 Z is for Zen, so let us all relax and not worry about things we cannot change.⁠
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❤ Let us open our hearts and minds and enjoy chocolate.⁠
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🙂 I love to enjoy a piece of chocolate when I am feeling all Zen after some yoga. I savour and enjoy the piece slowly, allowing it to melt in my mouth. It allows me to linger on my yoga mat a bit more, plus, I find I notice flavours and textures a bit more when I am all mellow and mindful.⁠
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☮ What brings you to a Zen state? (We can all use a little extra Zen these days.)⁠
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#chocolate #chocoholic #canadianchocoholic #tttt #tttt_z #z #zen #tastingtuesday #yoga #mindfulness #findyourzen #zenstate #tastingchocolate #yogaandchocolate #mala #cacaowoodbeads #handmademala #darkchocolate #savour #enjoy #relax #letgo #peace⁠

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