A kind doorman welcomed me to the pop-up’s opening reception with a pack of Haribo Gold-Bears, and then I stepped into a vibrant, colorfully decorated room that would excite any Candy Addict®.

Again, I walked right into another piece of candy art—a rose portrait that appeared to be made of a variety of candies bordered by different milk and dark chocolates. There were also large, bright portraits made of gummy bears. Turns out, the candies are actually hand-cast in homemade molds by artist/sculptor/innovator Kevin Champeny. With a background in sculpting and prototypes, Kevin works with Jellio to design a range of pieces that include GummiLights and the Candelier, made from hand-strung acrylic gummi bears. Speaking with Kevin, I could see his deep level of passion for what he does for Jellio. He even shared with me his portfolio—that reaches far beyond candy creations.

Candy art aside, Jellio showcases a range of home decor products that will brighten up any room. Jellio is the brainchild of Mario Marsicano. An avid toy collector with a background in advertising, Mario got his start by simply creating storage spaces for his toys. He began storing them in clear cubes that could be used as tables, and his friends started asking him how they could get their hands on one. And he’s come a long way since toy storage.

Jellio’s signature item is the GummiLight. The battery-powered lights come in a variety of colors and are made of rubber, so you don’t have to worry about them breaking if they get knocked over. The GummiLight has recently been redesigned to be brighter, more lightweight and offered at a lower price point than its predecessor.

Another gummy-inspired piece is the GummiToy. Similar to a rubber duck, the bear-shaped toys are sold in packs of five, and are a must-have for any gummy-lover. Gummy-lovers will also appreciate the GummiKing, a 4-foot-tall bear that can bring happiness to any room.

If you prefer furniture inspired by ice cream and cupcakes, Jellio has that, too. Made from a polyurethane shell, topped with a molded rubber cushion, the Cupcake Seat is the perfect seat, ottoman and conversation piece. If you’re more partial to ice cream, Jellio also offers Ice Cream Cone Barstools.

The pop-up shop also spotlights GummiWear, a new line of apparel that includes t-shirts, hats and hoodies.

Whether you’re looking to add some spunk to a kid’s room or just bring out the kid in you, Jellio products are worth checking out. Anyone in the New York City area can check out the pop-up shop at 14 Wooster Street on Friday, May 18, 20012 until 5 pm and Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10 am to 5 pm.

• Jellio Website
• Jellio at Candy Addict®

Maybe it’s already abundantly clear to your family and friends that you’re a Candy Addict®. Maybe you’re already lucky enough to receive assorted boxes of bonbons for National Gumdrop Day, National Taffy Day, and National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day. (Those are real holidays, by the way, celebrated on February 15, May 23, and December 16, respectively.) But maybe you’d like to kick it up a notch and make sure that no one in your life has any doubts about your greatest affection.

If so, nothing says, “I love you” like a new pair of candy-themed socks! Sock Dreams sells these adorable chocolate socks for $10. I received the socks as a gift, cleverly wrapped around a pound of chocolate. And when I made my stylish debut at work, I had people stopping me all day to make comments about them…which I can only hope means that my my coworkers will begin deluging my desk with all the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Milky Ways, and Snickers leftover from their own chocolate indulgences.

• Chocolate socks at Sock Dreams

In case there was ever a doubt, now it’s official since it’s on a t-shirt. Fun size candy is not more fun.

• Less Candy Is Not Fun Tshirt

As a woman, I just enjoy shoe shopping. What could possibly be better than that? How about shopping for chocolate shoes? I’m talking about solid chocolate edible shoes. Gayle Harte is a chocolate fashionista and artist. Besides creating cool animal shaped chocolates (like sharks and tigers), she has created a collection of chocolate shoes that would never last in my closet.

The shoes range in style and colors from golf shoes to a special Royal Wedding shoe made in honor of Kate & William’s wedding. Each shoe is solid chocolate and weighs between 4 ounces and 14.5 ounces. Most are 7 inches long and almost 6 inches tall. They are amazing little edible works of art. I know some people would say they’d never eat them because they’re so pretty. Not me, I’d eat one in a heartbeat.

• Gayle’s Chocolate Shoes

Unless you’ve been living under a Pop Rock, you’ve heard the pop tunes of Katy Perry — maybe on your radio or maybe your kids have been singing about “California Gurls” or “E.T.” On the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Katy Perry has donned a Hershey’s Kiss bra. I’m sure there are some folks in Pennsylvania thanking the artist for putting their chocolaty treats on the minds of tweenyboppers all over the planet.

• Rolling Stone

• Hershey’s

• Buy Hershey Kisses

We’ve all seen Ring Pops: those sweet lollipops made into the shape of huge faceted gemstones that we slip on our fingers in order to eat them. Well, now I’ve seen it all. Check out the “Bling” pops that Bazooka, the maker of Ring Pops, is sending to the Dallas Mavericks. These are Swarovski crystal encrusted Ring Pops in the Mavericks signature colors.

Here’s what Bazooka had to say:

“Bazooka Candy Brands, the iconic confectionary company and manufacturer of Ring Pops, believes that the Dallas Mavericks should be rewarded for all their hard work and their NBA finals win. That’s why they’ll be stepping in and saving the day, creating Swarovski-encrusted Ring Pops in the team colors of Blue and White for the team to wear to celebrate their feat. The Ring Pops will be shipped to the team shortly. “

I don’t know if any of the Mavericks will, but being a Candy Addict, I’d probably one of the only people in the world to actually eat this special Ring Pop, if they sent me one.

• Yahoo Sports story
• Bazooka (Ring Pops) Website
• Buy Ring Pops Online

Do you love candy so much you would wear it? Any chocoholic jewelry-lover would be enchanted by these chocolate earrings by jewelry designer Wendy Mahr. The Edible Jewelry Collection also offers a chocolate ring, chocolate pendant, and a cluster of chocolates on a necklace. All of the chocolate jewelry is adorned with edible gold leaf flakes.

They’ve been tested in the blazing Miami sun, and they didn’t melt! They stay nice until you, or someone who thinks they’re sexy, takes a bite! Keep them in their adorable box that they arrive in between wears and away from the heat, and you can wear them several times! They’re a great conversation starter!

After you eat the jewelry, you can send it back to have the chocolate replaced with long-lasting pearls or other stones.

• Edible Chocolate Jewelry

I am not what most people would call fashionable. From my short stature to my complete disdain for makeup to a wardrobe described by former neighbors as “like a cartoon character,” I’m probably one of the least chic people you’ll ever meet. But I’m a complete Candy Addict, and am intrigued by pretty much anything new and different that happens in the world of sugary goodness. So when I was given the opportunity to review a lollipop that serves double-duty as a fashion accessory, I wasn’t about to say no.

Judging from its website, the Sugar Company looks to be one of those brands that’s more about style than substance. Most of the products on offer are cleverly packaged, overpriced versions of old standbys easily found in your nearest mall. Chocolate-covered gummi bears, saltwater taffy, licorice mix… solid, dependable candies to be sure, but nothing really unique to the company.

The Sugar Factory’s Couture Pops, though, are their real claim to fame. Comprised of interchangeable, bejeweled sticks and color-coordinated candy heads, these just might be the coolest candy fashion statements on the market right now. They even come with ringing celebrity endorsements. Yep! Britney Spears, the Pussycat Dolls, and Kim Kardashian are all big fans of the customizable lollipops.

Even I had to admit that the concept’s pretty cute. When I was twelve, I probably would have loved to carry around a Couture Pop. At $25 apiece, while the lollipop may be expensive for a candy, you have to admit – it’s pretty cheap for an accessory!

My Couture Pop was blue raspberry, with a coordinated scepter adorned with crystals in turquoise and green. Its candy head comes enclosed in a plastic snapcase, the better for storing your half-eaten lollipop while on the go. Useful for anyone; extremely so for club-savvy hotties who need to keep their pops fresh and juicy between flirtations with one guy and the next.

As far as I was concerned, if the lollipop was as tasty as it was pretty, there’d be no need for the plastic snapcase. I’d suck it happily until nothing remained but the bejeweled stick and attached “screw” at the Pop’s center. In the end, my lollipop’s taste didn’t rival its presentation, but it wasn’t half bad, either.

As the Pop made its way over my tongue, I realized this is pretty high-quality candy. It’s very thick, without being too syrupy, and tastes enough like blue raspberry that fans of the flavor won’t feel too ripped off. I don’t know if this is the case with all of Sugar Factory’s flavors, but the brand’s candymakers seem to know what they’re doing in this case, so I wouldn’t doubt it. The pop is amply sized; about the size of a large super-ball or a standard clown nose. It took me over an hour of licking to reach the lollipop’s base. I can see how that snapcase comes in handy! If you need a solid sugar fix over a lengthy period, this might just be the lollipop for you.

So, if you appreciate the taste of a well-made, suckable ball of flavored sugar, you’ll probably find one for a far better price at your local novelty shop or candy store. But, if you like your candy to come with fashion sense and a dose of Hollywood glamor, you just might want to visit The Sugar Factory today and buy a Couture Pop. Make sure to buy a few different sticks and different colored candy heads while you’re at it – the better to coordinate with different outfits!

• Sugar Factory Website

Cadence: Why candy art? How did you get started on this path?

Vanessa: I paint candy because I love it. I have been a Candy Addict since I was old enough to taste. I started painting candy in 2005 when I had to choose a single subject that would serve as a source of inspiration for an entire year. I switched topics several times before deciding that the only thing I never seem to get enough of or get tired of is candy. Three years later candy still serves as an endless source of inspiration for me.

V: All my candy paintings are oil on canvas. The creation process varies from piece to piece. Sometimes it involves building, sketching, or photography but regardless of the main method there is always lots of sampling.

V: I can be inspired by almost anything: colors, patterns, the beauty of candy, and all the emotional and psychological issues from my life.

C: I hear you’ve branched out and have created some wearable candy art. Please tell us about the Stride Rite project – how that came about and what you did for them.

V: I originally applied to a Stride Rite job listing for animal artwork because I am always trying to pick up freelance work. I made it down to the final round of candidates for the project but they went with another artist and gave me the “Maybe we’ll call you in the future” spiel. When they called me 5 months later for a candy shoe project I was ecstatic. I painted five sets of candy for them and they used them to generate three super sweet shoe designs for kids. It was a dream come true!

C: How can people learn more about your art?

V: I’ve had shows at everywhere from candy and ice cream shops to galleries. All of the shows are listed on my website. If anyone is interested in any of my artwork I ask that they email me directly. I will be happy to answer any questions anyone has about the artwork or pricing.

• Vanessa St. Laurent’s Website

Buy Vanessa’s Stride Rite Shoes Online:

• Lolli Clog
• Lolli Ballet
• Lolli Ballet (for toddlers)

As a true Candy Addict, I like to make sure I have candy on me everywhere I go. I usually have some snack size bars stashed in my desk drawer at work, some candies hanging out at the bottom of my purse, and a few sweets stashed in my glove compartment. And now, thanks to the help of Aquolina’s Chocolovers perfume, I can literally keep the sweet scent of chocolate on me at all times.

I bought my first bottle of Chocolovers last spring, en route to the All Candy Expo. I was at Sephora (where the perfume is sold) picking up a few things for my trip when I encountered the adorable, heart covered bottle. I’m not going to lie to you guys – I saw the word “choco” on the bottle and bought it without even smelling it. I can’t help it!

When I finally put the perfume on, I was pleasantly surprised; unlike some fake-chocolate scents that smell bitter or burnt, Chocolovers has a lovely scent that is reminiscent of chocolate Tootsie Pops, with a hint of lemon and a touch of spice. I remember telling Caitlin and Brian that I was wearing it as we headed toward the convention center to join the All Candy Expo fun, and both of them said, “I knew I smelled candy somewhere!”

If chocolate scents aren’t your thing, Aquolina also has a “Pink Sugar” line, which is extremely sweet and has a cotton candy-esque aroma. Both scents extend beyond perfume, with body scrub, “hair perfume,” and shower oils also available. The Chocolovers and Pink Sugar lines are designed for people who just want to have a little fun with their scents, and would make excellent gifts for the Candy Addicts in your life.

• Aquolina at Sephora

Buy Aquolina Chocolovers Online:

• at Amazon.com