Upcycled Recycled great idea!!

What a brilliant idea!! Who said that a simple tupperware couldn't look this good!! This pendant light is made from a Tupperware Jell-O mold. Great design by Boots NGus.

Que idea más buena, quien dijo que un tupperware no podía convertirse en un objeto de deseo?. Esta lámapara esta hecha con un molde de tupperware para hacer gelatina, diseño de Boots NGus. Simplemente genial!!

Good afternoon Monday!!

Good afternoon Monday!! It is bank Holidays in the UK and in Spain as well, and I am catching up on so many things, blog, house, sleep, work.. .Las week was very busy work wise. As well as running Chocolate Creative I do graphic work for  a company and it has been quite mad. I am saying this so I can justify my luck of posting. So this weekend has been about treating myself to nice things. I wouldn't normally post about my life or activities outside Chocolate Creative here, but I felt the need to talk about a ballet piece I saw on friday at the Royal opera House. 'Chroma' by Wayne McGregor, is the most beautiful contemporary piece of dance I have ever seen. From minute one I was taken by it, the movements and music felt  surrealist and I never thought a human body could achieve such a degree of perfection! It left me as if I were dreaming and I went to bed feeling happy of having the opportunity to experience such a beauty. Thanks JUAN for inviting me!!

Buenas tardes Lunes!! Es día de fiesta en Londres y en España, (sino me equivoco), aquí estoy haciendo mil cosas, pues la semana pasada estuve muy ocupada con el trabajo, (además de Chocolate Creative, trabajo como diseñadora gráfica para una empresa), lo digo para excusar la falta de posting...No suelo hablar de mis cosas fuera de Chocolate Creative, pero me gustaría compartir con ustedes mi fin de semana. El Viernes fuí a ver un ballet al Royal opera House, una pieza del coreógrafo Wayne McGregor, llamada 'Chorma', posiblemente el mejor ballet contemporaneo que he visto hasta la fecha. Desde el principio me sentí cautivada por los movimientos y música tan surrealistas, de verdad que nunca imaginé que el cuerpo humano pudiese llegar a tal grado de perfección, sencillamente extraordinario!! Gracias JUAN por invitarme!!

...On Saturday I went to see 'Sex and the City 2' the movie, and had such a good time. I really wanted to make and effort and dress glamorous for the occasion but ended up going locally and in my most comfortable and ugly clothes I could possible choose haha... I still laugh and enjoyed it very much, in fact I LOVED IT!!
El Sábado fuí a ver la película 'Sex and the City 2', me encantó, pensé en ir vestida muy mona para la ocación, pero terminé yendo a mi cine local y con la ropa más fea y cómoda que tengo jaja...pero me lo pasé bomba!!

Sunday was about playing with my camera and trying to get some decent photos, but wasn't very inspired and didn't have much luck with it, so I may try some more later on...How was your weekend??
El Dómingo me quedé en casa probando mi cámara e intentando sacar algunas buenas fotos, pero no tuve mucho éxito, a ver si hoy me pongo un ratito, que tal vuestro fín de semana?

Photo by Chocolate Creative

I dream with a view like this

This is how I picture my dream house back in Gran Canaria. I would like to get a piece of land and build a very simple house full of big windows, and open to the nature. After being in London for 12 years and not being able to enjoy the SUN and the open space as much as I would like, when thinking of a place back in the islands, this is how I see myself living, a very simple life, with a garden, a few animals and of course my Internet connection!! Have a great weekend, SUN is out and feels very warm and pleasant, lets enjoy the simple things in life!!
Esta foto resume como me gustaria vivir cuando regrese a mi Gran Canaria querida,  quiero comprar un terrenito, y construir una casa muy sencilla, llena de ventanas muy grandes que abran la casa a la naturaleza. Despues de 12 anos en Londres, sin poder disfrutar del SOL y de la naturaleza, solo deseo, un lugar tranquilo, con un jardin, unos cuantos animales y por supuesto coneccion a Internet!! Que tengan un buen fin de semana, y disrfuten de las cosas sencillas de la vida, asi lo hare, el SOL esta luciendo y me siento llena de energia!!

Photo via Per Gunnarsson

Coming soon to the SHOP

I am a big fan of the 'yellow and black' combination, so I have created this variation of the Decayed Glamour collection in bright bold yellow, printed on vintage damask table cloths. This design will be available soon in the online shop.

Me gusta mucho la combinación de colores 'amarillo y negro', creo que se complementan muy bien. Hace tiempo quería hacer el modelo de la colección 'Decayed Glamour' en amarillo. Este color estará pronto disponible en la tienda.

Testing my new camera...

Just when I needed it the most my old camera decided to stop working, I guess she was tired of being used all the time...Not having a camera has proved difficult, you see, running a blog and being a designer who has to do a bit of everything, a camera is like a third hand to me, so after much consideration on what to get and how much money I could spent, I head to the shop with the firm idea of getting a reasonable cheap camera and left with the best and most expensive one of its range, how I managed to do this, is still a mystery to me. Here are some samples of my first photos taken with the new camera, I have to learn so much, and practice, practice, but I am quite happy with this images, what do you think?

Un día mi cámara de fotos decidió que no quería trabajar más y se me murio...asi que después de varios meses sin una, decidí ir a comprame una nueva, con la firme idea de comprar algo barato, y no se como salí de la tienda sin un duro y con la más cara de su serie, eso si con unos nervios por haber dejado tanto dinero detrás...Asi que hoy he estado provandola, tengo que aprender y practicar muchísimo, pero estas primera fotos me gustan lo suficiente como para pensar que hice bien en gastarme las perras y en confiar en mi elección, que feliz soy con mi nueva cámara!!! 

Have some fun at the Dress up Furzedown festival

On 5th June we wil have a free drop-in workshop at the Furzedown Project running from 3pm to 6pm. Local artists and crafters will be on hand to show you how to make bunting from recycled fabric, knitted graffiti and decorations from plastic bags for you to take away and decorate your home. Materials and tools are provided, but donations of plastic carrier bags and scrap fabric would be very welcome. All ages are welcome. This workshop is part of Makeover Moyser, an afternoon of fun and games along Moyser Road on 5th June.

Le Train Fantone latest print

Fanja from Le Train Fantone just let me know about this new print she has done for the 3rd issue of Papier-mache magazine. So cute and clever!!  

An afternoon with Lucius, Lumi and Lewis.

Papier-Mache magazine style

Grand creations from Grand Designs Live

Last week saw the closing of Grand Designs Live, a nine day event which has just taken place at the Excel centre in London. Grand Designs Live played host to a multitude of creative ideas and was the perfect place for a day (or nine days) of musings...whether you’re in the process of creating a dream home, or looking for inspiration and products to deck out your current one, the show was the perfect place to wander amongst the aisles of fitted, bespoke and handcrafted creations.
Our big love is for truly great interiors and hand crafted creations, so we were excited to discover the ‘Design Arcade’; an aisle dedicated to smaller design businesses and handmade products. We were thrilled to see some beautiful creations, from furniture, to fabrics and furnishing...here is our pick of the bunch!

Weave, Wood & Watson
We were impressed with the ‘Melbourne Grand’, a beautifully upholstered vintage chair. True craftsmen, Weave, Wood & Watson make organic, natural and antique upholstered furniture. We love the look and feel of their organic fabrics and natural, soft colour schemes

Studio at 37
Studio at 37 is made up of ceramicists Angela Pointon and Laura Masson. Angela’s ceramics are a collection of beautifully illustrated and lightly glazed porcelain ornaments, vases, cups and saucers. Her fine drawings are a perfect companion to Laura’s collection of block coloured porcelain shapes and ornaments. Designed with children in mind, her ceramics include a button collection, illustrated spinning tops, dice, pots, cups and building blocks.

Abigail Borg
I absolutely love Surface and pattern designer Abigale Borg’s collection of printed wallpaper. Her designs have been a massive hit; featuring in a multitude of top interior magazines as well as being stocked in Liberties of London. A perfect reminder of summertime, beauty and flowers in bloom- I’m definitely saving a bit of wall space.

The letter M
The letter M was one of my favourite exhibitors at the show. Promising to tell a story behind each design, M produces a range of fabric textiles and home accessories. Ideas, doodles and etchings, The Letter M encompasses a wonderful range of patterns printed on block coloured fabrics. Each with a story behind it, these fabrics and furnishings would be a perfect addition to any room.

Xiang Zeng
Inspired by the changeable nature of narrative and fairy tales, textile designer Xiang Zeng’s work comprises a fascinating collection of print and textile products. From cushions, to fabric bags, toy bears, to interactive magnetic wallpapers, Xiang’s illustrations are thought provoking, clever and absolutely gorgeous.

Underneath the Mango Tree
We love the ethic of Maura and Humphrey, the duo behind the inspirational company Underneath the Mango Tree. Together they work to produce Bespoke handcrafted hardwood furniture. Beautifully crafted, simple shapes make for a stunning collection of mango wood furniture. Crafted from sustainably sourced and fairly traded mango wood, Underneath the Mango Tree produces beautiful furniture, with a heart...designers which for us, push all the right buttons.

Kate Baxter
We loved interior designer, stylist and prolific blogger Kate Baxter’s fashion inspired room- set. From vintage to modern, old and new, Kate’s room- set was filled with beautiful fabrics, furniture and textile pieces, showcasing some of the best in British design.

 Lizzie reporting from The Grand Designs Live Show

Sunday afternoon inspiration...

Some inspiration from one of my favorites photographers Manolo Yllera.  

Cover me in Quilts

I went along to the V&A  last week and was inspired to see such an array of quilts. From traditional stitching, to silk screen printing, embroidery and woven patterns, the quilt exhibition is an absolute must-see.

I love Caren Garfen's beautifully detailed interpretations and stitching of  women's lifestyle magazines and household duties. Caren's textiles combine silk screen printing with meticulously detailed hand stitching.

Tracey Emin shares moments and memories with her quilt, ‘To meet my past’...

... and I love the spring- like colour scheme of Janey Forgan’s Liberty Jack.

Magical work by Alexander Korser-Robinson

Browsing the Smaller Magazine blog I found a link to Alexander Koser-Robinson's work, and couldn't resist to post about his amazing mix-media boxed constructions. I strongly recommend a visit to his website.

Chocolate Creative at Website Bakery

Good morning to all! Nice weekend? Mine was good, I was at Hilary's house during the East Dulwich festival, met nice people, ate cakes, bought some nice things for my friend's babies, ate more, drunk a lot of tea...Kimberly from Website bakery wrote to me to let me know about my work being included in her lovely website, an exhibition and inspiration showcase gallery that aggregates art, design, web design, illustration, handmade, products, etc. Curated by Kimberly Coles, Creative Director, Illustrator and Web Designer.  If you make nice things or are looking for some inspiration or great buys, pop around the site.

Buenos dias a todas/os que tal en fin de semana? Yo lo pase en el fesitval de East Dulwich, comiendo demasiados pasteles, amburguesas y bebiendo te...Anoche recibi un email de Kimberly diciendome que habia incluido Chocolate Creative en su pagina Website Bakery, un espacio dedicado a arte, ilustracion, artesania, diseno, etc...creado por Kimberly Coles,

I can't have enough of good interiors...

Photos via Mindre

Experimental ART e-course By Amelia Critchlow

WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND THE NATURAL ARTIST IN YOU?

SUMMER COURSE: starts: MONDAY 14th JUNE 2010 - 

ENROLMENT NOW OPEN!!! 

SPRING COURSE - SOLD OUT!

This is a 6 week course run by my dear friend Amelia Critchlow, starting on: MONDAY 14th JUNE 2010, exploring art methods in an experimental way. Cost: £60 ($92 US dollars with limited places to ensure individual attention.

This on-line course is designed for those who:

*have always fancied doing something artistic but for some reason or another haven't taken the first step

*Those who may already work in one medium but have the desire to launch out into something fresh

*who have an urge to be creative, but worry about going to physical classes for fear of having their abilities judged

*those interested in creative exploration and expression using art techniques

*those that want to meet with like-minded individuals and share an artistic journey from the comfort of their own home

"I want others to experience this wonderful class. If you are changing anything for the Summer I will take the course again. If not, I will be watching out for anything new you may be offering in the future.
Thanks again for all the inspiration."

          - Sherri Levek

"Amelia - you ROCK!"

          - Pat Chapman

More great words and cute drawings

Just what I need it to hear today, sometimes it is a bit difficult to stay motivated and focussed on your goals, they seem so far away...So this cute drawings by Corduroy has just help me to come back from my clouds and remind me that everything is possible if I really want it and work hard to get it!!

Hoy he estado un poco distraída, pensativa, cansada, Estos dibujos de Cordury me han ayudado ha volver a la realidad, estaba en las nubes...