The world of chocolate

Here's a small selection of designer chocolate from all around the world:

(Image from 100% chocolate factory in Tokyo)

(MastBrothers Chocolate via www.lushlee.com)

(Chocolate from Eugene & Louise Bakery)

Chocolate from xocoa-bcn

(Chocolate with humour from Bloomsberry)

(Chocolate for Museum of Modern Art Stockholm designed by Edholm Ullenius)

(Mazet Chocolate from France)

(Amedei is considered to be the 'world's best chocolate' from Tuscany)

(Co Couture via the coolist)

(Original Beans Chocolate via the coolist)

(Divine Chocolate via the coolist)

(Fat Pig Chocolate via the coolist)

(Kanella Chocolate via the coolist)

(Chocolate from Max Brenner)

French Flair

A couple of years ago, I received a beautiful package in the mail from a client as a thank you present. Inside the package was a white calico bag tied with french lavender which contained a wooden box of delicious artisan chocolates from ZChocolat.

The chocolates are handmade by world champion French chocolatier Pascal Caffet with all natural ingredients and no preservatives. Such a wonderful and special present to give and to receive. You can also customise the box/ chocolates as well to make it your own and they can ship all over the world.

(images from zchocolat)

You can never have too much chocolate!

Inspired by last week's cakes for M's birthday, I thought I would continue the sweet theme this week into chocolate!! Chocoholics Unite!! Has anyone else noticed how designer chic and artisan chocolate has gone? Distinctive Style, striking colours and fabulous packaging are key.

Here is Chocolate Research Facility whom I discovered in Singapore last year.

More like a laboratory than a chocolatier!

There are over 100 chocolate flavours!

Nut Series

Alcohol Series

Images from Chocolate Research Facility

Cake Heaven!

It was M's birthday last week so I got a selection of the most amazing cakes you've ever seen from renowned patisserie Adriano Zumbo for dessert. It was a really great way to finish a meal getting to try a little taste of everything.

TOFFEE APPLE ECLAIR: Pate a choux sable, shortbread creme patisserie, apple tartin puree dipped in toffee

4 Times the Vitamin C: Blackcurrant jelly, blackcurrant marshmallow, vanilla violet mousse, pistachio feuilletine, pistachio dacquoise & blackcurrant glacage

CHARLIE'S HOMEMADE GINGER FEAR: Ginger beer gel, ginger pudding soaked in coconut syrup, chocolate ginger foam eggs, ginger crunch, ginger chantilly & passionfruit bavarois

WHAT A GREAT PEAR OF...: Almond creme, pear vanilla creme patisserie, pate a choux sable, pear gel, almond crunch & almond struesel

WHEELY WEMON: Lemon agar agar, Kalamansi creme legere, lemon dacquoise, lemon meringue batons, lemon puree & Kalamansi curd (Gluten Free)

ROSES ARE RED MANDIES ARE ORANGE: Biscuit macaron, rose creme brulee, mandarin curd, mandarin creme legere (Gluten Free)

SHABALICIOUS: Caramel crunch, caramel sponge, caramel cheesecake, caramel chew & caramel cream cheese mousse

Work up to my ears!

Apologies for the lack of posts - I am busy, busy, busy working on different projects. On good days, I am a great multi tasker and on other days I am a definite parallel processor where I get nothing done. This is the arrival of some samples from a European porcelain maker whom I am working with on a new collection!! More later.....

Anniversary!

A year ago in Canada, my partner Matthew and I got married at Lake Louise. To celebrate our year anniversary, we spent a lovely afternoon by Sydney Harbour visiting the Sydney Biennale at the MCA, dinner at Quay Restaurant and a night at the Park Hyatt. Married life is great.

What a better way to celebrate - Krug and roses!

View from our hotel room

Sculpture outside Museum of Contemporary Art

Quay is one of Australia's best restaurants

'Sea Pearls' of tuna and dashi jelly with abalone and oyster cream

Chocolate Dessert

Light show on the Sydney Opera House

Cloning

There are some days when I just wish I could clone myself - I have so much work to do in the next 2 months that it is becoming quite overwhelming. A new tabletop range, new card range, new commissions & paintings......did I tell you I'm also moving to Asia and have to sell/ pack up the house & studio?

The only problem I can think of with this is that 'we' are all feeling inspired and ready to work!

Painting by Yue Min Jun.

Artistic Influences 2

Here's some more 'blasts from the past'.

Ken Done - the iconic Australian Artist who really captured our 

'quintessential Australian lifestyle'

Image from Ken Done

Kaffe Fassett - his use of colour and knitwear is amazing even though

it would not be something I would wear!

Image from craftcast.com

Jean Michel Basquiat - I love his work 

(and secretly would love to be able to paint naive and childlike again)!!

Image from anthagonics.files.wordpress.com

Issey Miyake - his fashion and philosophy to his 'art' was inspiring

to me when I studied textile design.

Image Issey Miyake

Another Japanese designer Kenzo

Image from www.smh.com.au

Artistic Influences

This week's theme was kick started yesterday by artist Sandra Boynton. It's all about re-visiting artists/ designers whom I think had a profound influence on my artistic career growing up as a child from school to college. It's a weird, eclectic group of people but I think that there is a common theme of colour and quirkiness. Much like my work today.


Who were your favourite artists/ designers when you were growing up?

Here's some of mine:

Versace - I loved all his over the top prints and colours. His designs celebrated pattern, glitz and opulence (much like the 90's I think).

Image from Zone7Style

I loved Benetton not only for their wonderful coloured knitwear but also their thought provoking advertisements.

Image from http://rozeanafonseca.wordpress.com

I loved all the impressionists, in particular Monet and Pissaro. 

Image from www.intermonet.com

Japanese Woodcuts - can you see a theme happening here?