“After the day I have had today…. I need this!”
“Have you ever said that?”
I am sure we all have, but the “this” is something that may surprise you. The “this” in our case is a “Paint Night” with your friends and family at a historic inn. At our last event, we had a magnificent time creating three different home décor items at the historic Wayside Inn in Middletown, Virginia. We were so privileged to experience four things that make for a perfect evening: an amazing atmosphere, great company, creation of stress relieving art, and best of all, offerings of food, beverages, and desserts!
We are so thankful to be able to meet once a month, on a Thursday evening, and step back in time and experience the amazing atmosphere at The Wayside Inn. This historic inn is the oldest inn in the United States continuously operating as an inn. It was established in 1797. The wonderful staff had us all set up in the Senseny Room which is located in the southern back section of the two-story large building.
As you make your way back to this large room, you are greeted with fireplaces all aglow, high ceilings, a double French door, a huge double fireplace, and some beautifully golden warm worn wide plank flooring, which I believe is original to the inn. Just walking into the building is like stepping back in time. The rooms are filled with 18th century dark wood, portraits of men and women reminding us of a time with less distraction, and beautiful furnishings with rich fabrics and floral arrangements that put our mind at ease. We began to relax and let the worries of the day float away instantly.
Before we even had a chance to sit down, we were met by our very capable and friendly waitress, Amy, who offered us menus and an “at your service” mentality. We want to definitely say, “Thank you Amy, you are amazing”. We also quickly took advantage of this! Of course, painters who attend our paint events do not have to feel obligated to order anything, but we are so thankful for the option.
Some of us ordered dinner; others ordered just a dessert with beverages. Oh yes, did I mention at our paint parties we can paint and eat at the same time! Once we received our beverages, we were ready to settle in and begin our creative adventures. The dinner and desserts would take a few minutes so that gave us a little time to start our projects. You get the picture already, don’t you? We are now really beginning to relax.
There is something special about those who choose to come to a paint night. We all come to create our very own “something”, and this night was no different. The company didn’t disappoint. We always enjoy getting to know our painters. And, I must say that our painters really enjoy getting to know other painters. Even though we were painting three different projects: a wooden sleigh with two wooden rungs to be painted and glued onto the main body along with the guide bar, an 18-inch wooden round with 3-D attachment pieces of snowflakes, a polar bear, and trees, and last but not least a ceramic vintage truck which needs no kiln. Soon the creative juices were flowing. A few were creating the same piece, but they left with different creations, unique to their style. For me, this is the most exciting time of the night. I literally celebrate as I see our painters just “go for it”, let loose, and begin using their own ideas, not afraid to go outside the boundaries. It is truly amazing to see the variety of ideas and styles from each group.
But, before we end the night, let’s talk about the food! What could be better then enjoying delicious bread pudding with sauce? Well, I’ll tell you what could be better! Nothing is better, in my opinion, than warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! Yum, Yum. So there, I just told on myself. Yes indeed, this was my dessert!
The evening flew by way to fast. As each painter finished, I know they were all surprised by their own talent as they celebrated their work. As the event comes to a close, we take photos of each group or individually so that these memories can be captured and stored up for future smiles.
Oh, and the painter who said, “after a day like this…. “, well, when she left, she didn’t even remember the day she had. You see, she got what she needed. She needed to step back in time, enjoy being served, experience the good company of others, and add a little bit of good food and creativity to her life. And yes, she did need this.
As I close this blog, I want to invite you to take some time out for yourself this week. It won’t happen if you don’t plan it. We would love for you to experience art with us, we offer a monthly membership box called CreateBox that is shipped right to your home. Included in this box is the link to our tutorial where you join Staci and I as we create the project step-by-step with you every month. Or, if you live in our region, please join us at one of our live events. We have at least one event a month at Wayside, and they would love to have you.
Also, you can join us at one of our other venues here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley area. Check out our website, www.createandcelebrateart.com, to see what is happening in the area. We would love to share our love for art with you and give you a “I needed this” experience.
God Bless you all!