How to Ice-Dye: a Gypsy Theories Blog Post

With the upcoming Strawberry Festival and all the ice-dyeing I did to sell at our booth, I thought I should link to a tutorial post on Ice-Dyeing (or Snow-Dyeing) I wrote over on one of my other blogs; Gypsy Theories.  Here's the link if you are interested:

Snow Dyeing...

Here's some sneak peaks from that blog:

(Photos by Alex Whatton, 2014)

Hope you enjoy the post and we really hope to see you at the Cheshire, CT Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 14, 2014!  Click HERE for more information.

<3 Alex

PS: Here's a sneak peak for the Festival:

(Photo by Alex Whatton, 2014)

Happy 2nd Birthday Wine Art Wednesday!

It's hard to believe that the first official Wine Art happenings were two full years ago! The first paintings went up on Etsy in October 2011 and we had no idea then how successful things would get from there!

I remember the first time I heard about this concept from my mother who mentioned that Alex and Joan wanted to start a painting night at their house. I was skeptical at first thinking to myself that I barely knew how to paint, I didn't even like wine, and what if I felt like I didn't fit in with this group whose kids all grew up together and who had known each other for years? At the time, I was living between about three different houses while I struggled through my first job out of college and didn't have much of a sense of place or community. I didn't know how much I needed Wine Art at the time but boy did I ever need it!

Two years later I can't tell you how proud I feel when I paint something I really like and then someone buys it on Etsy. I always think "seriously someone wants to pay money for something I made???" Two years later I have a recycling bin to prove that I've gotten over my dislike of wine. Two years later I am eagerly awaiting next weekend when the WAW ladies come to my house! Birthdays are a great time to reflect on personal growth so I can't help but smile at how far Wine Art and the artists and cooks who take part have come from two years ago.

I think my experiences with this group of wonderful women is a great testament to the power of trying new things. My small fears were so easily forgotten as soon as I tasted Joan's amazing curry and was handed a glass of wine that I realized wasn't so bad after all! Many of us began as novice painters and felt so encouraged by the great painters and warm friends around us that pretty soon it stopped mattering because we were just having fun!

I've had plenty of experiences trying a new class or going out with co-workers that seemed to fall flat on their face. Each time I would come home defeated thinking that maybe staying in at night and watching TV is the way to go. What made Wine Art different than the other things I tried is that is almost came about as an intentional community. We all had enjoying the arts and eating artful food in common and the rest just fell into place! Why start a book club if you are snoozing after the first chapter? Why join a jogging club if you have to be dragged out the door each time it meets? Some easy advice on how to start or participate in a social group is to base it around something you love. Even if you start the endeavor with strangers, the shared passion and shared learning experience can be a great way to start friendships! I am so glad that two years ago I didn't let a couple things deter me from taking part in what has become one of the most enjoyable things I do. Now I can say I work a boring office job but in my spare time I'm a budding painter and a lady of Wine Art Wednesday!!

Please enjoy a few pictures from our September art market:

This fellow with a large nose and jaunty hat came from the produce stand next to us. I bet he will show up in a painting in the future!

Set-up time!

Oodles and oodles of art!

We learned a few valuable lessons like that this setup will act like a sail when the wind blows!

Plan B was much more stable!

colored pencil earrings

i think i will *mostly* let the photos speak for themselves, but i will definitely list our delicious menu!  (and yes, it included pez...)

 

 menu :

bellini's + wine

prosciutto-wrapped greens w/ a dressing

lamb coconut curry over rice

spicy daal w/ naan

roasted vegetables

handmade fried fishcakes

*various sauces + chutneys were passed*

carrot cake

(the ramekin contained a little dairy-free version that robin made for me and benj - so sweet of her and delicious, oh my gosh delicious!)

cola, raspberry-lemon, + strawberry PEZ

(because why not? and gabrielle visited the Pez Factory in Orange, CT, haha!)

. . . c o l o r e d   p e n c i l   e a r r i n g s . . .

 matboard lovingly cut and punched in pairs

 gina's creation begins

 gabrielle's whole process is a work of art

 robin's faces were showstoppers

 my photo does not do justice of jessica's ombre work

(see finished photos at bottom)

 joan's landscape on one side / faces on the other...i love seeing the inspiration next to the work

 denise's beautiful pair were inspired by venetian glass
. . .

and here they are!!!

 i am newly addicted

 (see what i mean about robin's faces?!)

 

another wildly successful wine art wednesday

a big thank you to rita for teaching the workshop and preparing all of the materials - it was a blast - and i'm terribly sorry about speaking over you that time, haha, what was going on?! and also to donna for hosting, all of the chefs and you girls for being you girls...i love you!

and in the conversation that i *can* repeat :

- check out quarterly.co because jessi is subscribed to cool hunting (and their website here) and just received an awesome bag in their latest shipment. donna has just subscribed to "food + home" and we are all excitedly waiting for their first shipment.

- the arts council of greater new haven is accepting submissions for their "to the t" exhibit

- and i know i missed a bunch of great conversation when i brought benj home for grandpa to babysit him, but maybe you girls can remind me in the comments.

i especially loved all of the new ideas flying around for what to do next.  we will never be at a loss for what to do and that makes me happier than anything else.

oh wine art, how i have missed you.  it was great to be back!

xoxo,

alex

p.s. : dear kind visitor, if you have made it this far, please let us know what you are enjoying (or not) in the comments below!  also, would you like us to sell hand-painted earrings on etsy?  thank you in advance!

Blue Chickens

Wine Art Wednesday... our weekly art/wine therapy session was in full swing with seven returning attendees: Joan, Naty, Audrey, Jen, Denise, Gina, (and me; Lauren) and we welcomed a first timer at this week's get together as well, Marjon. While a newbie to the group, she certainly was no newbie to art-- she is a great artist! Her website is www.babyroompaintings.com. Within minutes she was part of our family and was regaling us with stories of the Netherlands, where she is originally from. (Like indoor skiing and snowboarding facilities that are there! How cool!) When asked what brought her to live in the US, she explained that she was only intending to visit, but then fell in love, and now is married and living in Connecticut!  This sparked conversations about international living and we traded stories about the process of getting interviewed to prove you're really married when getting a green card in the US. In Marjon's case it was easy, she explained that she showed them e-mail history for years and countless pictures of their wedding and all their adventures together and explained that the interviewer basically took one glance at them and knew they were the real deal--haha!

For dinner, Naty prepared an amazing split pea soup and paella. My mouth is watering just remembering how good they both were! 

(Photos courtesy of Gina!)

On the topic of food, we talked about how they say you can change your tastes within 12 times of tasting something--So let's say for example if you originally don't like a food, it's said you can learn to like it if you continue to try it and each time tell yourself "yum! this is delicious!" This sparked stories of interesting foods we've eaten when traveling. Naty said she really enjoys eating authentic cuisine when traveling, and we all agreed. Naty and Marjon shared experiences of eating raw herring in the Netherlands.  Joan told us of blue chicken.... Apparently, a chicken whose skin is actually blue?! We had to look this up to see for ourselves:

 (taken from = http://www.eatingclubvancouver.com)

(Image courtesy of http://www.fowlvisions.com/)

We also talked about "aquavit"-- and thought it would be a good question to post on the blog. Does anyone out there know what "acquavit" is exactly? None of us knew!

Later in the evening, when Jen complimented my skirt, I started demo-ing how it actually could be worn as 4 different dresses, 3 different skirts, a shawl, a cape, etc.... the options are endless! I was actually wearing this amazing wrap by Angelrox, a designer in Brooklyn  (www.angelrox.com) 

Some quotes of the evening: "double fisting sangria" ... "mmmm beet water" .... "I don't have ice cream, but I have goat's milk or sour cream!"

xoxo,
Lauren

Chilli, Match.com, Gravity Still Works

(Note: My apologies!  I must have only hit "Preview" for the Friday post and not "Publish" since I'm having some technical difficulties with getting the photos from my camera to my computer this week.  Sorry for the delay in this weeks' post!!)

This week's Wine Art Wednesdays was a bit subdued due to all of the winter colds going around!  Luckily, Joan was able to cook a million and one things to make us all feel better...

Appetizers:

Roasted Mashed Turnips with Garlic to be spread on...

Homemade Bread

- (with Roasted Red Peppers on top, if you wished, as I did - YUM!)
Salad

Curried Shrimp (those went FAST!)

Mains:

Spicy Potato and Leek Soup

- (with more Curried Shrimp and Parsley to garnish)

Beans and Meat "Lick-Your-Lips" Chilli (and we all licked the bowls too!)

- (with Cheese and Hot Peppers to garnish)

Desserts:

Chocolates from...you guessed it!  CocoaShak!  (According to Facebook, they have just released a new Vegan Truffle - YAY!)

Wines:

You'd think that one week I would actually remember to write them down, but as I cannot actually drink them, I do tend to forget!  (I had delicious Apple Cider, if you wanted to know! ;)

 (red peppers nearly gone)

 (delicious salad)

(chilli)

We were a little "hodge-podged" with our theme this week.  It started off as a Valentine's week, but if you are an artist and have something on your mind, it's hard to not follow it!  So, you know how it goes.  Still, I think you will be please once our Etsy is updated.  I feel so lucky to get to paint with these Artists so often!  

The topics of note most certainly include Match.com profiles.  Did you know that some people actually COPY & PASTE other peoples' profiles in to their own?!  We were appalled to find out one of our girls was C&P-ed, though not shocked, we do think she is both a highly talented artist and writer after all...not to mention her profile is extremely witty and brilliant!  But, I am biased and I digress - call it Baby Brain.  At least Match lets you contact them to remove the copiers, but the nerve!

After one of the girls *slightly* missed her mouth when attempting to drink some water, we found out that Joan tried to disprove gravity in her teens.  She was lying in her bed reading a very good book and thought "why do I have to sit-up to drink my coke?  I'll just take a sip lying down!"  Well, after her coke was up her nose, in her ears and eyes, all over her face and pillow, and HEY, a little in her mouth, she realized why she had never seen someone else do it before.  I wish she remembered the book she was so enthralled in!

I remembered something about my first art class after reading over notes from one of the past month's WAW's that didn't actually get posted in to a blog (we slacked a bit and relaxed over the holidays - and we deserved it!).  Joan had said "When you paint yourself in to a problem, then you just paint yourself out.  This is art!"  We all love this quote - it's so true!  I remember my first art class because we were drawing elephants and I somehow got red paint on the foot.  The teacher said "paint her toenails red!"  I've never forgotten it and now I look at every "mistake" as a possibility for something I hadn't thought of when I began.  Art surely evolves from the moment it starts.

*I also want to know who uses those really long (1.5 feet or so) paintbrushes?  I always hit myself in the face - haha!*
 

We discussed how to tell if you are done with a painting.  The best quote?  "Drink Wine and Walk Away."  It seems you will know when you come back!  And another great one about WAW specifically: "This is Slow Food and Fast Art."  Yes, yes it is.

(girls at work...and play)

Welcome to 2012, friends!  We wish you a WONDERFUL one!

<3 Alex

 (some of these ones are not finished)

 (finished paintings)

BCards Have Arrived!

 
Oh Zazzle, I love you dearly - these are perfect!  (Girls, I'll give 'em out next time I see you!)

<3 Alex

Pulled Pork and Drunk History

Another Friday, another WAW passed!  This week we were at Rita's house for the first time and we had 9 women!  (Alex - that's me!, Audrey, Denise, Gabrielle - first time, Gina, Jen, Joan - pronounced JoAnne, Lauren - first time, and Rita!  We also realized that I've never mentioned that there are a few mother/daughters at our WAW...we're all one big family now, though!)  Okay, so we started off the meal with an appetizer from Cocoa Shak - yeah, I told you, we're big fans - chocolate and caramel covered apples:

OMG - amazing!  (And I don't care if I sound like a teenager when I say it!)  This photo was clearly taken after we had a bit of them - hahaha.  Hey, I'm pregnant, I could live on these...

Link Love: Cocoa Shak, Cheshire, CT

Rita cooked an amazing pulled-pork (hopefully a recipe will follow in the comments! ;), asian-flavored veggies, coleslaw, which I unfortunately didn't try since I'm dairy-free and forgot to ask what was in it (sorry Rita!), and fresh bread!

(Thank you Jen for being a lovely hand/plate model!)

And then amongst the paints and wine bottles you may be able to see some of the delicious desserts we were spoiled by!  (No, starting with chocolate/caramel apples was NOT enough!)  Al made us a delectable lemon cake and Lauren brought her warm cookie-brownies - oh wow, we eat well at WAW.

I was so sleepy from present-wrapping the night before that I forgot to take photos during the painting process, other than this "diffusing light test."  [Lauren saw a photo on Pinterest - basically, if your flashes are making your photos looks a bit yellow or have too strong of a shadow, you take a piece of paper (I used a standard white paper plate since it was handy) and hold it at an angle in front of the flash, but obviously not covering the lens.  I used about a 45 degree angle with the light hitting the ceiling.  Can you see the difference between the one on the left (a little yellow and some harsh shadows) and the one on the right (much softer, diffused light)?!  I am a huge fan of this new little trick!  (Here's an example I found on Pinterest - you can hold it though, like I did, if you don't have a fancy clip!)]

Source: itworksforbobbi.com via Melissa on Pinterest

 

It was another night of beautiful conversation (this is what WAW is all about!).  We talked about adopting cats and never knowing what happened to them before we loved them.  Lauren told us to always keep a gown and heels in our cars so that we are always ready for a night of spontaneity (yes, she really used them for a yacht dance randomly in Annapolis one lovely evening!).  We also wondered if Tony is pulling our legs by telling us that there used to be a "Barcelona Key-master" when he lived in Spain.  (Told via Joan.)  Apparently, he would take your apartment keys whilst you went out drinking so you didn't lose them.  He would walk around the city singing so that you could find him and get your keys when you wanted to go home again.  (Does anyone else remember this?!)  And then we have another joke that we loved:

**A mother was talking with me about the blog and labels and how it works in Google.  I was completely impressed by what she was asking and her complete understanding of it and apparently so was the rest of the table, including her daughter, who said: "What?  You've had some wine and now you understand the internet?"  Hehe - yes - then they proceeded to tell us about Drunk History.  Yes again!**

We also discussed favorite movies, which ranged from It's a Wonderful Life (Joan) to Wayne's World (Gabrielle) and so many more that I can't believe I forgot...  We watched a bit of Drunk History on YouTube and also cats attempting jumps they never make and babies-laughing-at-ripped-paper videos.  And then lastly we talked about how we can never come up with names for our paintings at the end of the night!

A few great quotes from Gina: "The worst drunk is a moving one" (after discussing a story from college when Lauren was trying to find me in Manhattan as I bar-hopped) and "not everything has to be grounded" (talking about how my spools are floating in my painting, but realizing that it is a great quote to think on...).  So true, so great, I love WAW.

We're hoping that you, lovely reader, are starting to understand exactly how a WAW works and can start one with your friends and family wherever you live!  If you do, please email a blog post and photos and we will feature you (and your art, especially if you would like to sell it anywhere) on our blog!  Our email is WineArtWednesdays[at]gmail.com.  Happy painting!

<3 the Wine Art Girls

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