Ongoing Challenge No. 58
“Chocolates & Bonbons”
By Lilli Berry
Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and what does that mean to me? Love? Sure, if chocolate is love. Chocolate is definitely my love language. And bonbons. And chocolate covered strawberries. Apparently, I’m not alone either. Last year, 58 million pounds of chocolate was sold for Valentine’s day, that included 36 million heart-shaped boxes of little chocolate covered bonbon treats.
Bonbons are little bite sized chocolate wrapped gifts themselves, with candied fillings, nougats, fruits, and nuts, originally made for French royalty; now enjoyed by everyone world wide. In 1861, Richard Cadbury (yes, of that Cadbury Chocolate) started selling his chocolates in a fancy heart-shaped painted box, making it instantly one of the most iconic symbols of Valentine’s Day.
Image from a YouTube video by Lilah Ann Beads
Notice how the petite confections are decorated–and it’s not just to make them pretty. Each company has it’s own markings to tell you what’s inside. They can consist of white squiggles, tricolor stripes, hearts, flowers, lattice, sprinkles, cocoa/sugar dusted, or plain. Plus brightly colored candy coated bonbons are popular now, as well.
Chocolates and Bonbons are easily translated into pretty lampwork beads or sculptures. Find some glass in delicious chocolate browns, Valentine’s reds, pinks, and whites, and make some basic shapes of flat bottomed squares, rounds, rectangles, and hearts. Now use stringers to make the delicate, dainty decorations on the top. Or use frits or enamels to look like sprinkles. You can use these examples of bonbons, search on the internet for ideas, or just do what I plan to do: go get myself the biggest box of Peterbrooke Chocolates that they sell! (For visuals, of course!) Lol. Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Torching!!
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