Diane Elston

Chocolate Tasting With seventypercent.com

2010-01-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended a chocolate tasting event ran by seventypercent.com to help with research for my negotiated project at uni. The event was really useful in that it confirmed that there are groups that join together to enjoy really pure chocolate and enjoy discussing it. I also got to learn a lot about how to taste chocolate and that I should take time in this process by smelling it first and letting it melt on my tongue. I got to sample very expensive chocolates from companies such as AMEDEI and VALRHOMA which had very long lasting flavour notes and so possibly worth the extra cash. It was great to find out about the growing trends in chocolate and how people are now a succumbing to a small piece of excellent quality chocolate compared to a slab of cheap sugar loaded rubbish. London in particular has noticed trend with large department stores selling high quality bars with the regions the cocoa has grown in. London has also seen a growth in small chocolatiers opening their doors to this market.

Product and Furniture Studio

2010-01-21T06:18:00.001-08:00

Since I have come back from Christmas break I have a new passion for my studio and really enjoy working in it. I love it when its really quiet (as shown in photos above) as I can get on with loads of work, but also love it when its filled with all my classmates who are all very inspiring and lots of fun.

Cupcakes and Cocktails

2009-12-03T00:42:00.000-08:00

Whilst researching dining experiences for my new project. I came across this Cupcake and Cocktail combination served at The Mayfield Hotel in London.

Teasmade

2009-11-19T03:49:00.000-08:00

As part of my dissertation of looking at kitchen gadgetry I stumbled across the Teasmade. The first one was invented in 1905 and a modern version is still in production today. I picked up a Goblins Teasmade to test out on my mother to see if this gadget could actually improve daily life.

Lawn Mower Racing Summer 2009

2009-11-19T03:39:00.001-08:00

This is event that many of my friends find hard to believe is real. But it is very real and serious especially for my dad and his mates in my village in Devon.

The whole year leading up to the event is spent altering the lawn mowers, adding motorbike engines and tweaking suspension in many work sheds across the village. Yet still on race day many breakdown or don't even make it round one lap.

Renderings in Aircraft Interiors Magazine

2009-11-19T03:33:00.001-08:00

These are renderings of an Aircraft seat that JNDC were working on when I was on placement there. I got do the final presentation images of them which I then later fund featured in magazine Aircraft Interiors.

Paris Airshow 2009.

2009-11-19T03:26:00.000-08:00

This is an automated composite lay-up machine robot that caught my attention at the show. The way it pivots around at the ball is some how human like and a bit creeepy to watch. It got the attention of many passer bys especially when I jumped when it looked at me.

Biscuit factory - Newcastle

2009-11-19T03:19:00.000-08:00

Paid a visit to this old biscuit factory now turned gallery/shop when visiting my Auntie in Newcastle.

Makeshift Doorstop

2009-11-19T03:13:00.000-08:00

Not much to be said really, just found this an interesting use of things close to hand.

Kenwood Chef

2009-11-19T03:06:00.000-08:00

Whilst researching for my dissertation on kitchen gadgetry, I found this Kenwood Chef at my Aunties that was brought in the 70s by my Grandmother.

I think it is really lovely that unlike most kitchen gadgetry which has been disposed of this has been passed down like an heirloom instead.

Pottery Lessons

2009-11-19T02:49:00.000-08:00

Over the last year I took part in evening pottery lessons at Sutton college to learn hand built techniques.

These are some of my results from the last year. I learnt how to make pinch pots, plates from moulds, large coil pots, slab built vases and how to spin. Also I found out a lot of information about glazing and decorating techniques.