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

.⁠ 🍫 Chocolate is a big part of my life. One

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🍫 Chocolate is a big part of my life. One day, my love of chocolate and my passion for Goldsmithing melded into an idea. When I shared the idea with my friends at QANTU, they offered their beautiful Chuncho cacao beans as the muse. This piece is the result.⁠
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🔶 This single cacao bean, grown in Peru, has half its husk on and half its husk off, displaying its two beautiful textures. Showing how amazing and unique it is inside and out.⁠
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👩‍🏭 This little bean took many tries to get right, but now, you too can have this sterling silver cacao bean necklace. There were only 100 made, so it is a limited edition, it also comes packaged with a bar of chocolate made with the same beans.⁠
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🌏 10% of profits for this piece have and will be donated back to the cacao producers of this bean.⁠
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🤐 You can also order these zippered pouches on my site as well, or get them in a gift bundle together. Perfect for #chocolategifts⁠.
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#chocolate #cacaolove #ilovechocolate #canadianchocoholicjewellery #chocolatejewellery #cacaobean #silver #silvercacaobean #handmade #handmadeincanada #goldsmith #silversmith #chocolatelove #creative #artist #chocolateaccessory #supportsmallbusiness#womeninchocolate #chocolateart #maker #madeincanada #canadianchocolate #canadian #chocolategiftguide #holidaygifts #chocolategifts #peace
@qantu_chocolat

.⁠ 🌈 This week the colour of the chocolate ra

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🌈 This week the colour of the chocolate rainbow we are exploring is brown.⁠
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🍫 Brown kinda overpowers all other colours in the chocolate world. There are so many brown chocolates out there; milk chocolate, dark milk chocolate, dark chocolate. So. Much. Brown.⁠
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❤ As boring a colour as brown is, no one is complaining that chocolate is brown. In fact, most people love chocolate.⁠
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🌲 This year for Advent I made my own calendar. I made these bags with scraps and off cuts of fabric from making #masksforchocoholics and zippered pouches. They look pretty cool hanging on my mantle and are full of delicious chocolate. A bite for each day until Christmas.⁠
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🍁 When filling these I started with Canadian bean to bar chocolate. I was pleasantly surprised to find I had chocolate from 22 different Canadian chocolate makers in my stash. I have a few orders on the way to fill those other three. So this year it is a Canadian Chocolate Advent Calendar. I'm excited for the surprises it holds each day.⁠
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🎁 I wrapped up a piece of each chocolate and numbered it and made a key, and then my partner chose the bags (there were more than 25), put the chocolate inside, and hung them up. Each day I will choose one bag randomly, I'm not to big on order, and enjoy the chocolate inside it.⁠
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🍫 This is a great way to use up the chocolate you have on hand!⁠
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❔ Which would you choose first?⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #tttt_brown #brown #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #beantobarchocolate #beantobar #chocolate #chocoholic #canadianchocoholic @kasamachocolate #singleoriginchocolate #papuanewguinea #canadianchocolate #adventcalendar

. ❄️ It's December 1st, and along with Advent

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❄️ It's December 1st, and along with Advent Calendars, it's time to decorate our spaces for the holidays.
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🍫 Obviously I have some chocolate themed ornaments at my house.... Maybe enough for the whole tree, I'll let you know after I decorate it. I pulled out these boxes and am hoping to get the tree decorated today.
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🎨 I have some DIY chocolate decorations coming your way over the next few weeks. In case you want to celebrate chocolate and reuse some of the chocolate things you have around.
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🌲Happy Holidays! Should I put a sneak peek in my stories?
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🌍 Where in the world are you? Are you expecting a white or a warm Christmas?
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#chocolate #ornaments #holidays #christmas #handmadeornaments #christmasornaments #reuse #upcycle #craft #chocolatedecorations #forthetree #ornament #garland #christmastree #makeityourself #chocolatewrappers #chocolatestash #createwithcanadianchocoholic

.⁠ ✌ Hello! I'm Cyndi, artist, chocoholic, go

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✌ Hello! I'm Cyndi, artist, chocoholic, goldsmith, dental assistant, illustrator(still feels strange and new @chocolatenotebook), friend and drinking chocolate lover.⁠
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🍫 Let's play a game, two truths and a lie. Can you guess which is the lie?⁠
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❔ I started making jewellery at the age of 8 at the local wading pool.⁠
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❔ I took dance for 10 years, competing at a national level.⁠
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❔ I can play 5 different musical instruments.⁠
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📩 Send me a DM with 2 truths and a lie and see if I can guess, or play below in the comments.⁠
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PS - This was taken on Nov 8th, I was wearing a tank top!!⁠
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#aboutme #chocolatefriends #friendswithchocolate #share #chocolatecommunity #chocolatearoundtheworld #2truth1lie #chocoholic #artist #maker #musician #dancer #jewellery #chocolatejewellery #chocolatejewelry silvercacaopod #tttt_silver #cacaopod #sterlingsilver

.⁠ 🍫 Inspired by nibs I created this design o

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🍫 Inspired by nibs I created this design one day after seeing a pile of @hummingbirdchocolate nibs on my kitchen counter and admiring all their unique shapes and textures. ⁠
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🔶 They reminded me of raw diamonds, it was then I knew they should be highlighted. These nibs are cast sterling silver to create this lovely set, with various finishes on the silver created by the actual nibs.⁠
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❤ Nibs, the diamonds of the chocolate world. ⁠
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🌲 These are one of two new pieces of jewellery I made for the holidays. They are available in a gift bundle that includes an I Love Chocolate screen printed tote.⁠
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📦 If you are thinking about this as a gift for the Holidays I urge you to order before December 3rd. Best to have a little extra time for shipping this year.⁠
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❔ Have you seen raw diamonds?⁠
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☮ #peace⁠
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#tttt_silver #tttt_rainbow #chocolategifts #giftsforchocolatelovers #cacao #handmade #smallbusiness #shopsmall #womeninchocolate ⁠#chocolate #ilovechocolate #canadianchocoholicjewellery #chocolatejewellery #cacaonibs #nibs #cocoanibs #silver #silvercacaobean #handmade #handmadeincanada #goldsmith #silversmith #chocolatelove #artist #supportsmallbusiness #chocolateart #maker #peace

.⁠ 🍫📓 The Chocolate Notebook has been on m

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🍫📓 The Chocolate Notebook has been on my desk for months.⁠
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❤ It's been in my heart and my head over these last few months. You all have been in my heart and head too. Together @chocolatedriven, @laurenonthewknd and I have reimagined and reworked The Chocolate Notebook so that the second edition is a great resource that works for YOU!⁠
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🔶 I am so excited to share it with you and I hope you love it as much as Anelisa, Lauren, and I do. There was a lot of thought put into it, tons of details (you all know I am all about the details right?) and a whole lot of chocolate snacks involved in the creation of this.⁠
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🙂 Follow along on @chocolatenotebook to stay up-to-date on all we share, plus watch Anelisa live today at 2pm EST as she shows off the printed version.⁠
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❔Do you have any questions about The Chocolate Notebook? PS check out my TCN highlight for more info.⁠
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#chocolate #chocolatenotebook #calendar #agenda #notebook #journeywithus #chocolatejourney #beantobarchocolate #youryearinchocolate #create #share #illustrate #books #learn #grow #chocolatefriends #chocolatecommunity #womeninchocolate #peace

. 🍫 Throwback to this amazing tasting with @cho

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🍫 Throwback to this amazing tasting with @chocolatenoise and @Lydgatefarms earlier this year.
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💻 It was so much fun to do a zoom chocolate tasting!
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🍫 I still don't know what was better, the palm blossom honey bar or the Cacao nectar jelly.
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❔ Do you enjoy bars with alternative sweeteners?
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#chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocoholic #beantobarchocolate #beantobar #chocolatetasting #zoontasting #zoomchocolatetasting #sharingchocolate #cacaojelly #sweetners #palmblossomhoney #hawaii #stayhomeeatchocolate #peace

.⁠ 🍫 Cacao pods, where chocolate begins.⁠ .

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🍫 Cacao pods, where chocolate begins.⁠
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❤ You all love this print that I designed! I am so happy to share it with you! These pods were doodles that were scanned and digitized and then repeated until I found the perfect mix to create a simple and fun pattern.⁠
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🙂 I've heard from you that you'd like the option to order a zippered pouch on its own. So I just added a few to my online shop! These pouches are perfect for your chocolate stash, pencils, or the @chocolatenotebook, which FYI has this pattern in black and white on the cover.⁠
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🛒Click the photo to shop my online store and find gifts for all the chocolate lovers in your life.⁠
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☮ #peace⁠
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#fabricdesign #spoonflowermaker #cotton #cacaopods #blackandwhite #orange #chocolatestash #zipperedpouch #handmade #chocolateaccessories #cacaopod #chocolate #chocoholic #sewist #artist #makersgonnamake #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness #holidayshoping #chocolategifts #womeninchocolate

.⁠ 🔶Silver. It is one of my favourite colour

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🔶Silver. It is one of my favourite colours.⁠
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🍫 This sterling silver cacao pod was the first piece of chocolate inspired wearable art I created.⁠
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👩‍🎨 It is my favourite as each of these pods is unique and one-of-a-kind. The beans/seeds in each vary, the size and shape vary, the line varies, the angle in which they hang are all a tiny bit different. While they are all the ‘same’ piece they are all very different.⁠
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🙂 Plus, these are made using a piercing technique. What does that mean? In this case it is using a teeny tiny saw to cut out the pod’s shape, the pod’s line and the beans/seeds inside each pod. This piece is one of the most labour intensive pieces of jewellery that I currently make. Each pod has spent a lot of time in my hands to reach its full potential. Piercing is one of my favourite techniques, one of the first I learned in an evening class before I studied Jewellery Arts full time. Working with such a small saw blade is tricky business, and sometimes ends up with broken blades, but it is always fun. ⁠
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🎨 Sitting down at my work bench and transforming a piece of sterling silver into a work of art is one of my favouite ways to spend time. ⁠
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🛒 This piece is a limited edition and is currently available in a gift bundle for the holidays at a great price. Find it in the I Love Cacao Pods bundle. ❤🍫⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #tttt_silver #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #rainbow #silver #sterlingsilver #cacao #chocolatejewellery #chocoholic #canadianchocoholicjewellery #cacaopod #handmade #goldsmith #supportsmallbusiness #metalsmith #silversmith #jewellery #beantobar #beantobarchocolate #artisanchocolate #limitededition #imadethese #hardwork #courage #love #peace

.⁠ 🌈 Sneaking in with a little bit of grey fo

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🌈 Sneaking in with a little bit of grey for the end of #tttt_grey week.⁠
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🍫 This @letterpresschocolate Tranquilidad bar was lovely! Made from wild cacao, it’s creamy taste and smooth texture were a delight. But the design of the bar was so detailed and amazing, be sure to swipe to the second photo to look at all the details on it.⁠
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⚫ The stones on this packaging are a nice shade of grey, which ties into the Grey theme of the week. Lilla @littlebeetle_chocolates in Vienna talked about stones earlier this week which prompted me to find this bar. She mentioned collecting stones, which made me think about all the trips to the beach we took in BC and how my partner would search for a heart shaped stone each time we visited. I had quite the collection then, some of which made the move with us here and are still treasured memories.⁠
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🛍 I purchased this from @etatdechocmtl recently in case you are looking for it.⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #grey #gray #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow #stones #collections #meaning #memories #stories #heartshapedstones #wildcacao #tranquilidad #beantobar #cacao #heirloomcacao #heirloomcacaopreservation #darkchocolate #craftchocolate ⁠

. 🍫 It's snowing here tonight, so a cup of warm

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🍫 It's snowing here tonight, so a cup of warm drinking chocolate is in my mind.
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🙂 This is a super simple and totally easy way to make drinking chocolate. I made this one a few days ago. Here's how!
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☕ Find a small mug. Add a piece of a chocolate bar to the mug.
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💦 Boil some water. Pour the water in the mug to just cover the chocolate.
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⏳ Wait a minute or three for the chocolate to soften.
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🌪️ Use a frother (a fork will also do) to whisk the chocolate and water together.
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☕ Enjoy a beautiful mug of drinking chocolate.
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🍫 I tend to make a tiny cup, think espresso size, just a little. It's a decadent and simple way to enjoy a few sips of delicious chocolate on a chilly day.
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❔ What is your favourite way to enjoy drinking chocolate?
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🙂 Save this post so it's easy to find next time you want to make some drinking chocolate.

.⁠ 🍫 Cacao Flowers Everywhere⁠ .⁠ ❤ I l

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🍫 Cacao Flowers Everywhere⁠
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❤ I love flowers and this bundle celebrates the cacao flower and all its beauty.⁠
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🔶 Included are: a hand sewn mini tote bag, with flat bottom, 2 masks (one pink, one blue), a screen printed notebook with blank pages, 2 note cards and 2 tea towels.⁠
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🌺 Cacao Flowers Everywhere and on everything. ⁠
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❔ Do you love flowers? ⁠
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#cacaoflower #cacao #fabric #spoonflowermaker #pink #totebag #cacaoflowers #pinkflowers #holidaygifts #christmasgifts #blue #fabriclove #chocolategifts #giftsforchocolatelovers #chocolate #cacao #handmade #smallbusiness #shopsmall #womeninchocolate #peace

.⁠ 🌺 Cacao Flower Love⁠ .⁠ 🍫 This pret

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🌺 Cacao Flower Love⁠
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🍫 This pretty in pink cacao flower tote is just so darling.⁠
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🔶 This is a mini tote, it measures 28cm by 23.5cm without the strap. I designed it so that it's the perfect size for going to chocolate shows and filling up with bars, or to put all the things you'd need for a chocolate tasting with your bestie on a picnic.⁠
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🙂 Or you could easily use it as a lunch bag, if you still get to go to the office. I imagine many of you are working from home these days.⁠
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❔ What would you put in here?⁠

.⁠ 🍫 Recently I had the pleasure of trying @f

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🍫 Recently I had the pleasure of trying @fuwanchocolate
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🙂 I have heard quite a bit about this chocolate but had been unable to get my hands on it in Canada. I was so excited to see that @etatdechocmtl is now carrying it.⁠
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❤ I ordered 2 bars, but so far have only opened this one. A 70% Taiwan #9 Ping Tung Double Ferment Rough Ground Chocolate. This bar has an interesting texture due to the rough grind technique used. I find the flavours interesting and the bar quite complex, likely due to the double ferment.⁠
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🌏 Fu Wan makes their bars from Tree to Bar in Taiwan. I look forward to trying more of their bars.⁠
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❔ Did you know that chocolate is fermented? Have you ever had rough ground chocolate?⁠
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#chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocoholic #beantobarchocolate #beantobar⁠
#singleorigin #singleoriginchocolate⁠
#foodie #instafoodie #canadianfoodie #instachocolate #peace

.⁠ 🍫 The stages of cacao. Flowers, Pods and

.⁠ 🌺 I heard from many of you when I started

⁠ 🌈 Grey. I enjoy grey. It’s neutral and

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🌈 Grey. I enjoy grey. It’s neutral and all colours can go with it. We have grey walls within our home to balance out some of the bright colour I am drawn to.⁠
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🍫 There aren’t too many grey chocolate bars, or chocolate packaging, but these are a few things hubby pulled out of my office/chocolate stash today (he’s an amazing helper, also I don’t think he knew quite how much chocolate is in the house😊). Erable from @chocolatsmonarque, Sapin from @palettedebine, and Ucayali River from @patriechoco, alongside a bag I print and sew to put jewellery in, and some stickers that I use for sealing envelopes when I ship items to you.⁠
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☁ Grey is the right word for today, The sky is grey and cloudy, snow flurries have been on and off, and my head is also feeling grey as I’ve been struggling with a migraine these part few days. I hope your day has been brighter and more colourful than mine.⁠
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PS – I cannot think about grey without thinking of my youngest nephew, Gray, whose first name was my grandma’s maiden name. ⁠
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#tttt_rainbow #tttt_grey #grey #gray #chocolaterainbow #chocolate #ilovechocolate #chocolatecommunity #craftchocolate #rainbow ⁠#beantobarchocolate #canadianchocolate #fir #maple #inbetween #greydays #cloudy #orange #canadianchocoholicjewellery #peace

🍫 Recently Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate #gifted

🍫 Recently Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate #gifted me some chocolate. ⁠
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🙂 I was excited to see all the treats they sent. I’ve had the chance to try them all and I still can’t decide which one I like best. It may be this Orange Bourbon Pecan 65% dark chocolate bar. I think….⁠
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☕ It could also be the 72% single origin Belize drinking chocolate, which is so lovely and thick when mixed with milk and frothed up.⁠
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❤ All the products they sent are delicious, the 55% Ginger Snap Milk Chocolate bar reminding me of cookies, the Whiskey coming through nicely working with the chocolate, and the Peppermint Drinking Chocolate is clearly my partner’s fav.⁠
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🎨 The detail loving artist within me oohs and awes over the intricate and beautiful design of these bars.⁠
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🛒 If you’re looking for @dicktaylorchocolate here in Canada I’d suggest checking out Jojo Coco in Ottawa, E’tat de choc in Montreal and Origins Chocolate Bar in BC.⁠
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@chocpodsquad #chocpodsquad #dicktaylorchocolate #gingersnaps #whiskey #singleoriginchocolate #beantobarchocolate #orangechocolate #iloveorange #orange #bourbon #pecan #drinkingchocolate #europeanstyledrinkingchocolate #hotchocolate #chocolateshot #peppermintdrinkingchocolate #peppermintchocolate #milkchocolate #darkchocolate #instachocolate #peace

. ⁠ 🧵 Sew… Designing fabric was not somethi

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🧵 Sew… Designing fabric was not something I saw coming.⁠
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🎨 As an artist, I am particular about all materials I use, in my jewellery, in my art, and now in my sewing. When I could not find what I wanted, I decided to design it.⁠
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🍫 Thus, my chocolate fabrics were created. I love each one in its own way. Today I am highlighting the fabric I designed using my cacao pod design. The cacao pod has been the most ordered design of #masksforchocoholics so it seemed a good design to start with.⁠
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👩‍🎨 Originally the pod was hand drawn for this design. Then I scanned it into the computer and digitized it to make a screen for silk screening. To make the fabric I took the digital copy and made it into a repeat, played around with it, added some full pods and a touch of colour (orange of course) and viola, a fabric. I had it printed through @spoonflower as their values aligned with mine. Then I waited. It felt like forever, but once the fabric arrived, I was in love.⁠
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🍫 You can find the cacao pod fabric used in several products in my shop. You can get a beautiful mask made with it – to keep you safe - or a zippered pouch – to keep your chocolate safe. Both made with love, care, and attention to detail.⁠
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📓 A bonus was having this design on hand when the team of @chocolatenotebook asked me about making a cover full of cacao pods, it was already done and was a great fit. So you can also find this on the second edition of The Chocolate Notebooks cover.⁠
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PS - I also designed the inner fabric.
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❔Where do you keep your chocolate stash?
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#create #art #holidays #holidayspirit #covidchristmas #christmas #peace #chocolate #ilovechocolate #ilovecreating #canadianchocoholic #canadianchocoholiccreates #cacaopods #giftsforchocoholics #designforfun #cacaopod #chocolatestash #fabricart #fabricdesign⁠ #spoonflowermaker

. ⁠ 🍫 A modern take on Cacao⁠ .⁠ 🔶 A f

.⁠ 🌲 Did you catch my stories today about Adv

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🌲 Did you catch my stories today about Advent Calendars? I’ve had a lot of questions about Chocolate Advent Calendars this year, so here are some ideas.⁠
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🍫 There are so many amazing choices when shopping for Advent Calendars. I know you see them around all the stores, but have you ever stopped to think about how this one purchase can benefit a small business?⁠
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🍫 Chocolate makers, chocolatiers, and chocolate artists offer such beautiful Advent Calendars, most of which are made with ethically sourced, fair trade and/or direct trade chocolate. As tempting as it is to buy the first one you see on the box store shelves, take a moment to investigate other options.⁠
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🙂 In my stories today I highlighted many Canadian Advent Calendars. There were more, but many small businesses have already sold out (which I love to hear!)⁠
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💲 The prices of these vary depending on what is being offered, so be sure to read all the info about the product to see all of its specifics. If you have questions, feel free to DM me.⁠
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🛍 If shopping for an Advent Calendar isn’t your thing, don’t worry, I have a few ideas for DIY calendars that I will post about soon.⁠
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❔ Did you order an Advent Calendar this year? I’d love to know what you chose.⁠
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#chocolate #ilovechocolate #fairtrade #ethicallysourced #directtrade #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness #womeninchocolate #adventcalendar #chocolateadventcalendar #decemeber #chocolateveryday #cacao #singleoriginchocolate #create #art #edibleart #holidays #holidayspirit #covidchristmas #christmas #peace⁠

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