Artfully Chocolate has merged its chocolate business (not including Artfully Paper) with Kingsbury Confections. The move was inspired by a great business relationship that developed between Eric Nelson (owner-Artfully Chocolate) and Rob Kingsbury (owner Kingsbury Confections) over the last year.

The merger includes closing the Kingsbury store on King Street in Old Town and moving the Del Ray Artfully chocolate store from 116 E Del Ray Avenue to 2003-A Mount Vernon Avenue, a more spacious store. The old location will be kept under a new name, Artfull Chef, for chocolate demonstrations, classes and sale of chocolate utensils and ingredients. They also have another store located at 1529-C 14th Street, NW in Washington DC.

The Artfully Chocolate and Kingsbury Chocolate stores are quite unique and fun. From the moment you enter any of their stores, you are surrounded by art and chocolate. Eric Nelson is an artist with a sweet tooth. He has a passion for both painting and chocolate – both do put a smile on your face. Most of his recent work at his Del Ray store is painted on Mylar shiney mirrors, utilizing translucent paints which provide for a vibrant and happy collection. Each store collection reflects its own city's glamour and character - the series in Del Ray has lots of flowers and gardens while the series in the DC store has lots of movie stars, such as Audrey Hepburn.

Artfully Chocolate has a unique selection of chocolates and cocoa drinks. In addition to making their own chocolate, they carry other chocolatiers such as Vosges - Chicago, Chocolaterie - Manassas, Robert’s Chocolate - Alexandria, Christopher’s confections – Alexandria and Jay’s Chocolate – DC. They also carry Dolcezza gelatos and sorbets.

While I was there, I learned about different and new chocolate trends such as spiced chocolate, which finds its origin back in the Amazons and Mexico. For example, they carry a Marsala dark chocolate infused with traditional Indian spices and bacon chocolates – yes, bacon! And by the way, I will probably go back to buy my wife a chocolate candle. You can get a Cassis, Latte, Saffron or Ginger chocolate candle. They smell delicious!

If you don’t have your sweet tooth today, you can also stop by for great paninis, smoothies, pastries or a fresh delicious quiche.

All the art on the wall and some of the painted furniture pieces are for sale. Eric has sold 70 art pieces in the last 2 years.

At Artfully Chocolate, you cannot go wrong; it is like going to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory...I mean Art Gallery.

Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections opens to the public sometimes this week.