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

Curries & Ornaments

Our Menu:

Rita made curried vegetables, cornbread, and brown rice and Joan made sausage & kale soup, homemade bread, and a (dairy-free - thanks!) Thai surprise for me.  Yum, WAW is as much about the food and friends as it is about the painting!  And while, unfortunately, I couldn't try it, Al brought TWO amazing flans over - all the other girls were raving!  (Thanks Al!)

Our painters this week: Al (the only guy to have painted at a WAW - and he's done it twice!), Alex (that's me!), Audrey, Gina, Jen, Joan (pronounced "Jo-Anne"), Lauren, and Rita!

Rita had the genius idea to use the glass ornaments I had in my supply closet for a year or two (ha!) to each paint our own ornaments and then have a grab bag of sorts so we each have our own, original, WAW 2011 ornament!

(Audrey's and Lauren's!)

I love that everyone had such a different style (and thank you Audrey for coordinating the grab bag and writing out the numbers - how fun!).  I actually put the paint inside mine and swirled it around a bit, leaving some glass clear so you could see the inside as well.  Then the other girls perfected the art by putting the paint in the extra ornaments and doing a first for WAW - a "WAW Art Wiggle Work-out!"  (Thanks Lauren for that awesome name.)  **TUTORIAL ALERT**  Basically use the most liquid fluid acrylics, pour a little at a time in to the ornament, cover the hole, and SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!  (Joan even put a cranberry in hers to really move the paint around - great idea!  *Note: If you try this at home, don't forget to take it out after!*)  It's a lot of fun to watch and I think they end-up looking like huge marbles, just very lightweight!

 WAW!

(In the bowl, Mine, Rita's, and Laur's second!)

(Joan's really looked like a marble.  And she painted "Merry" on the outside - beautiful!)

Lauren told us about "Canvas and Cocktails" in Denver, CO.  A friend of hers surprised her with the event when she was there one weekend and she did a Mimosa one.  Basically, we ALL want to do it and we already started to mentally plan a trip.  It is extremely reasonable!  Classes are usually $35 or $40 and Tuesdays - Saturdays from 11 am - 5 pm you can pay $25 (including materials - a 16x20 canvas!) and paint with a bar at your side in their Open Studios.  Yes, I want one.  I want a Canvas and Cocktails.  (They are on Facebook and Twitter too.)

[I forgot to mention it last week, but Lauren is also the proud owner of Hope Clips, LLC.  I'm mad that I forgot to tell you because it is SO AMAZING!  Actually, a few of the girls bought some more this week - hehe, they are addicting and because they are hand-beaded in South Africa, you always fall in love with another one!  HOPE stands for "Helping Other People Everyday" and it is truly wonderful what it supports - Fair Trade AND Hopes and Dreams International.  You can shop online HERE and she's also on Facebook and Twitter.  Not only are they beautiful (I have four and still want more), but they are really comfortable.  My Dentists' office always loves them because you can lie back without any pain!  Go Hope Clips!]

We also talked about my terrible taste in movies (I'm happy, so I don't care - hehehe) and about some great book called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" which I had never heard of.

It sounds amazing - I'm adding it to my Wish List!  We talked about Malcolm Gladwell again and a few of his books and Al told us about shopping at the outlets recently.  He was shocked to see a certain store with a $600+ suit jacket that said "Made in China."  I told them all about how outlets use different manufacturers than their main stores, usually.  (I think I actually learned that from Consumer Reports rather than Parsons!)  So even if that particular store used Italy for their stores' manufacturing, they might use China or India for their outlets so that production costs are cheaper.  Before that article and my fashion design degree, I always thought outlets just carried the "leftovers" and it seems that everyone else thought that too!

We also had a laugh about the things "that don't make it to the blog."  If you are reading this and wondering what we're talking about - then it is time to start your own version of WAW (or Canvas and Cocktails)!  It's SO simple!  Just grab your friends and some wine and juice, get cooking, and find some art supplies!  (Even a paper and pencil/pen/markers/highlighters/anything will do!)  It's all about reconnecting face-to-face with our friends and family and feeling alive.

I'll leave you with my favorite view:

Happy FRIDAY readers!
<3 Alex


PS: Our Etsy Shop will be updated with the newest paintings by Monday!  (Thank you Gina for taking the photos for Etsy this week and Rita for writing the descriptions!!!)

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

Our Etsy Shop!

 

Puttanesca and Kars

If you know Italian and Albanian (respectively), then I'm terribly sorry if the title of this post offended you.  We were just as shocked last night to find out what both stood for!  I'll let you google them if you are so inclined...

Regardless, the Puttanesca Joan made was delicious!  She really is a terrific cook, we are all so spoiled.  She also made a delicious iceberg lettuce salad with bacon, peas, and scallions plus a dressing of balsamic vinegar/olive oil/maple syrup - yum!  And her homemade bread, of course.  Well, you know I'm the sober blogger - my pregnant bump calls for juice and water in lieu of the beautiful wines - but I think the girls went through three bottles of wine!  That's what happens when you are having fun!  Our decided theme this week was snowmen...which Joan has a collection of about 500 or 1000 it seems, so we had plenty of inspiration.

 (Rita painting in the foreground and Denise in the back...snowmen everywhere!)

(Denise's "Squareman" up close!)

We had a full discussion between the kitchen and dining room painting areas (MEN, take notes here): girls LIKE gifts!  Any small thing, wrapped or not, that just shows you care.  Yes, we LOVE it!  Unexpected is always best.  Not a holiday, not for a specific celebration...just because.  And then reap your rewards!  ;)  Of course, we talked about all the gifts we have received from men (and no, a Thank-You Card is NOT a gift.).  Chocolates from Cheshire's very own Cocoa Shak?  Yes, definitely an awesome gift.  We should know, Joan spoils us with them nearly every week!  They even have dairy free peanut butter cups.  My hubby is a fan.

We like supporting those that support us - and chocolate always does.

Meanwhile, in the dining room:

 (Joan painting "Rainman.")

 (Gina's neat palette and beautiful tree...very Anthropologie!)

(Audrey - she did two, including that adorable ornament!)

Can you believe all the beautiful snowmen fine art going on?  In the dining room they were discussing engagement rings from Sirius Diamonds, since they are "mined, designed, cut & polished by Canadians in Canada...wonderful to hear!  In the kitchen we were commenting on the snowmen in Joan's collection.  It may not be very PC, but I think you can handle it.

*

Wine Art Girl 1: "Why can't we have Asian snowmen?  It's so sexist...I mean racist."

Wine Art Girl 2: "Because snow is white."

*

This, of course, sparked a debate.  Have you ever seen a painting or picture of a different color or race of snowman?  I remember seeing food dye used on a few one year, but they were red and green!  It does seem interesting that there is only one race of snow-people.  Thoughts?

Regardless of what our paintings look like, by the end of the night we are always screaming "I love it" about everyone elses and "I hate it" about our own.  The thing is, we all do it with smiles, and we all realize that we are here because of how much we love this weeknight...every week...just being with each other.  Or as Jen said: "I love how they look better when they are all together."  She's so right.

Happy Friday painters, drinkers, and slow food-ers!

<3 the Wine Art Girls

PS: We are on Etsy and Twitter AND now Facebook!  Connect with us - share your thoughts - join the movement.  xoxo

Etsy is Up-To-Date!

Enjoy!

<3 Alex

PS: Use the code 1ReadYourBlog to receive 5% off your purchase!

Baby Brain

I guess that I had major baby brain on Wednesday night...twofold, now that I think about it.  (I'll explain; I'm 16 weeks pregnant - hence me being the "Sober Blogger" - and one of my best friends had a baby on Tuesday that I got to meet and hold on Wednesday!)  Anyhow, I forgot to take notes during the evening or even photos of the food!  Later that evening when just Joan and I were left and we were finishing the clean-up, I suddenly realized and started to rack my brain and write down our conversations...so here goes my attempt!

Another successful evening, painting- and "freeing" -wise!  Denise completed her second painting (ever), Gina began her first, and Al (the first guy to actually paint at a WAW) completed his first (ever)!  I don't think Al was too pleased with my Disney Movie Playlist, but he got a dose of what WAW's are all about; being yourself!  (He also got to hear our terrible...I mean...lovely voices singing "Sisters" from the movie "White Christmas.")

That's Jen painting away and Al moving quickly, haha.  

We had a really wonderful discussion about Ally's Law.  I recently (and finally) got around to reading one of my Glamours from a month or so ago, and was happy to see that it was the issue including the "Top 10 College Women."  (Ahh, reminiscing about Maya Shankar, a friend of mine, when she was featured as "The Scientist" in 2006.)  Ally Bain was featured as this years' "Activist" and the law she has already had passed in a few states to enable people with Krohn's Disease and other gastrointestinal disorders to use restrooms wherever they may need them.  (Click here for the Glamour link and here for more on Ally's Law.)  Since I know a few people with such issues, I know how important her work is.  Al, being an EMT, also agrees and said that he had a friend with "the card" that you keep in your wallet to show employees, so that you may use the bathroom - AMAZING!

Here are our pallets (paper plates, not very glamorous, but very effective!).  We also use up the leftover paint to prepare blank canvases for art!

I still can't stop thinking about beautiful newborn Reid Hudson K.  Awww, his little eyes when they peeked at me and his tiny yawn and toes, but long, dark hair!  (Luke and Dana made it look like a little mohawk - adorable.)  I'm so distracted by his cuteness in my memory!  Thankfully, being extremely happy is highly conducive to painting and painting leads to happiness, so I was all smiles and couldn't have had a better WAW.  Here are our paintings!  (Some are already listed on our Etsy!  The rest will be up on Monday.)

(Clockwise from top left: Group, Joan, Rita, Jen, Gina, Alex, Group)  See, we started a new thing where we also use up our leftover paint by having "group" canvases...it's so fun to see what each person adds to it!  (Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of Al's before he left and Denise's snowman was already displayed elsewhere, but you can see it on Etsy by Monday!)

See you next week!

<3 Alex

PS: Do you want to see us do a specific type of painting?  You can see that this week we did a Christmas theme!  Let me know my commenting or sending me an email at WineArtWednesdays [at] gmail [dot] com !!!

Poltics NOT ALLOWED

We have simply discovered that politics should not be discussed at Wine Art Wednesdays.  And that we have to stick to our rule: you can't come if you don't paint.  Tony, Dennis, that means you are officially uninvited!  Right, now that the nastiness is done, it was another brilliant Wine Art Wednesday!

It was our largest group yet: 7 women (and 2 uninvited men, of course).  We ate Joan's delicious Beef stew and homemade bread (5 ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup or weird preservatives!):

Followed by a healthy sing-a-long to the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack as we started to prepare our canvases.  The discussion toggled from how to make soup for 50 people/day for three straight days (easy if you have a large le creuset and Joan's stew talent - yum!)  Or there are a few stores nearby that you could just buy their largest containers in quantity if you can't make it...you'd think Costco could fulfill this challenge, but none of us can think of a soup there that we love enough.  Any suggestions?

Already, Jen was painting at her amazing speed again:

Can you believe it?  She, of course, finished two again!  (Both of which I want.)  Then we were off to discussing ... so many wonderful things that I can't seem to remember!  Okay, the terrible truth is that I left the list at Joan's.  When she gets a chance, she's going to call me and read it off so I can finish the blog post.  What you probably care about more are the finished works!  So here they are:

(Our Etsy - link and photos at top left of blog - will be updated in the next few days!)

Happy friends, happy hearts!

<3 Alex

PS: Good luck with your Thanksgiving meals and plans!  We've just discussed ours.  That reminds me: we will not be having a W.A.W. the night before Thanksgiving.  We will be pouring our art in to our dishes for Thursday - happy cooking!

In the dark?

Source: dornob.com via Bianca on Pinterest

Due to the massive power outages in the Northeast this week, we were unable to have a Wine Art Wednesday - our apologies.  (But believe us, we are probably more sad than you!)  Jen and I were supposed to Skype for it, since it was a rather busy week for everyone, but without power, what could we do?  I spent my time heating my house with pots of water on the stove.  When they boiled, I poured them in to our porcelain tub in the bathroom and re-filled the pot!  3-4 hours for a warm bath will certainly make you appreciate electricity when it's back.  I'm happy for the boost in productivity in my own business, now that I know how good I had it!  (And if I had a few of the candles above, I wouldn't have had to restart reading the Harry Potter series...I would have been way too busy staring at them as they burned!)

Hope everyone has their power back and is warm & safe!

~ Alex