chocolatecreative up and coming events

Monday 22 November 2010

chocolatecreative will be taking part in some shows, fairs and Xmas pop up shops, over November and December. If you happen to be in London around these dates, I hope you come along, to one of the following events, specially if you are looking to buy gorgeous presents, I guarantee you won't leave empty handed. Most of the designers/makers sell products handmade and produced in the UK. It would be a great opportunity to get unique presents as there hundreds of amazing designers on display and I will have the chance to see you all before I go home for Xmas!! I have a few free tickets for the made in Clerkenwell, if you would like to come along, email me your postal address and I will send them today!!

Made in Clerkenwell: Winter Open Studios at Craft Central 25-28 Nov 2010
Venue: (I will be in the 4th floor), Craft Central, 33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS
Opening Times-Dates: Special Launch Night on Thurs 25 Nov, 5-8pm (Warm your cockles with festive Kopparberg cider and enjoy a Love Brownie!)
Late Night Shopping on Fri 26 Nov, 12noon-8pm
Avoid the High Street crowds on Sat 27 & Sun 28 Nov, 12noon-6pm
http://www.craftcentral.org.uk/

East London Design Show 2-5 December 2010
(Stand 30), Shoreditch Town Hall,
380 Old Street,
London EC1V 9LT
Opening Times
Friday 3rd December late shopping
Time Out shopping evening, Ticket includes a free glass of wine or beer (from 5pm) 12pm - 8pm
Saturday 4th December 10am - 6pm
Sunday 5th December 10am - 6pm
http://www.eastlondondesignshow.co.uk/

Xmas pop-up shop at my home/studio
11-12 December, 11am-7pm
As part of the Hidden Art Open Studios, chocolate creative will be opening the door of her Studio/Home in collaboration with other designers to welcome people to their Xmas pop-up shop. This is a unique opportunity to buy direct from the designers. Work on display range from gorgeous handmade eco home wares, such as cushions, mugs, prints, tea towels; to soft toys, jewellery, art, etc…Hot drinks and tasty treats available. Come along for a cosy and relaxed shopping experience. Prices start from £5 upwards.
http://www.hiddenart.com/events/open-studios-2010/listings/chocolatecreative/

Designers featuring their work: chocolatecreative, Kate Clarke Lodon, Louise Williams
Xiang Zeng, Marian Lynch and kate Read.

eco tote bag give away

ECO TOTE BAGS GIVE AWAY

Fancy one of chocolatecreative eco TOTE bags? All you have to do to enter this competition is to leave a comment in this post with your email saying which design do you like the best and why. There are 4 different designs, Pink sofa, Pink chair, Yellow chair, Love message and Deer cameos. They are made of organic cotton and fold small, perfect to keep in your handbag for the extra shopping. I will announce the winner on the the 6th of December. Good luck!!

Crafting away at Drink shop and do shop

Hello dear all, how are things out there?? I hope very well, I have missed blogging very much, but things are getting very hectic at chocolate creative. I am preapring for two up coming shows happening in December, (I will post about them soon), making sure I have enough stock, designing and preparing the stand, printing, sewing, labeling, packing etc...So I am really sorry I have not been around that much, as there are so many things I want to blog about it...

Blogs are happening everywhere, who doesn't have a blog these days?? A couples of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a London based bloggers event organised by Lynne from tea for joy and Ellie from HomeshoppingSpy blogs, at the SHOP DRINK AND DO shop. It was so much fun, met and learned about many new bloggers and blogs, drunk tea and got to make a scarf from an old T-Shirt. Amity from the Etsy UK team set up a craft table where we all gathered and made our designs. I keep seeing more and more spaces where you can eat, network, and attend a craft workshop, I totally LOVE this spaces, I wish I could have my own little cafe, shop, studio, maybe one day...

(Photos: Amity Etsy UK)


DRINK SHOP & DO SHOP
This new shop is a great example of the space I would love to have one day, DRINK SHOP & DO is a shop and cafe bar selling products from emerging designers alongside vintage furniture and home wares. Totally recommend a visit, you won't leave empty handed.
(photos: DRINK SHOP & DO)

Red heart cross stitch cushion being featured

Thursday 11 November 2010

Thanks to Rebecca for letting me know about my Red heart cross stitch cushion being featured in the Christmas issue (190) of Cross Stitch Collection magazine which is on sale now. It makes me very happy to see my products being featured in magazines and blogs, sites etc...specially, since this design has been done in collaboration with my dear and talented mama!
NICE weekend to all of you, this is what I will be doing... sleep a lot, eat not so much, work a bit, walk in the park, and spend time with my dear friends!!

Magical Dartmoor

When I was a little girl I used to believe in fairies and gnomes, I honestly thought they existed in far places, that they lived in beautiful and magical forests, I couldn't see how they could live in my island, as we hardly had any green areas, or forests near by, so I guessed, that is why I could never see them at all. When I was looking at this gorgeous photos that my friend Piero Pierini, took of Dartmoor National park, in the center of Devon, England, the first thought that came to my mind was my memories of fairies and gnomes, I am pretty sure they live there, hidden in beautiful little houses living in harmony...That is why I am planning to go soon, maybe I will finally get to see them!!!

Before and after £10 chairs

There is nothing I like more than decorating my house, browsing flea markets, junk shops, looking for old pieces of furniture than has seen better days and bringing them to life, moving things around, etc...A while ago I found these 4 old chairs for £10, they are very comfortable, all they needed, was a good clean and a bit of love, so I decided to paint hem in black, why black?? because I seem to be going mad about B&W interiors, with natural wood and vintage finds!!

Beautiful shelves and work space inspiration

I have been looking for this kind of shelves for quite sometime, to put all my gorgeous vintage paper finds, prints, drawing etc...I know I have seen them in Ikea, but could not get them last time due to my prompt need of leaving the Ikea's building the sooner the better, (some of my friends don't get this feeling as they love going). I so much dislike being there, thousands of people, huge space filled with hundred of stuff, long endless corridors, even bigger warehouse too much for me!! But after seeing this gorgeous use of this simple shelves that Desiree from Vosges Paris blog has done, I may have to consider another trip to tedious ikea!!
I am in LOVE with her work space, industrial desk, W&B color scheme, and touch of vintage. Thanks Desiree for letting me show your place, her blog is well worth a visit for decorating ideas and inspiration. So, tell me, do you like or hate Ikea??

Moody interiors by Andrea Ferrari

Friday 5 November 2010

Good morning all, nice day where you are? I hope so, it is quite grey but mild in London, not so bad. Perhaps that is why I feel so in tune with these dark moody interiors that photographer Andrea Ferrari has captured so well, the first photos are from a house in Milan and the last two from another house in Bruges. Lately I have been very drawn into dark colors, I just painted my living room wall in black, I love different tones of warm greys combined with old frames and natural wood, my next job would be to paint my house's corridor in dark grey, but that job has to wait till next Spring!!

I am off later on to a networking party organised by Etsy UK in London, very excited!!! I hope you all get to relax and spend some good quality time with your loved ones, have a great weekend!!!

Where chocolate creative happens...

Wednesday 3 November 2010

As some of you may know, I run chocolate creative from home, I do all the work involved in the running of the business from here. I should not say it but sometimes I start the working day in my pyjama, wrap some breakfast, do some Pilates exercises and jump on the computer, the day goes by so quickly, that sometimes gets to lunch time and I am still in the same clothes!

I have a small studio upstairs, with almost all I need to produce my work, but sometimes gets a bit claustrophobic, due to the amounts of hours I spend in it, so I have decided to set a desk in the living room, where I can do mainly admin, emailing, updating shops, blogging, etc...specially in the evening, (days are becoming very short), when I feel like watching a bit of TV, but can still keep working, play with Missi, have dinner and last collapts in my comfy sofa!!

Piero took these beautiful photos of my new working space, I LOVE it!!