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August 17, 2016

Ladies Craft Night : Coloring Book Edition

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

There was a 3-year period in my late 20s when my friends and I would have weekly Ladies Craft Night that coincided with the TV show, Project Runway. Oh, and I think we watched the first three seasons of Glee together too. Our Ladies Craft Nights involved dinner, cocktails, ladies chats, and some sort of paper craft. Us introverts were so talked out by the end of the night that it took us the rest of the week to regain our strength for next week’s craft night. It was awesome and it truly filled my heart to be around like-minded women. I feel fortunate that the three of us were dedicated to keep that routine going.

My Everyday Life : Week 30 on Shutterbean.com

What I loved about these craft nights was that everyone shows up with something to offer.  If it’s not a technique, it’s a good story, it’s a hug when you need one, it’s the support of people who are on your same wave length. It’s those moments of vulnerability when you’re laughing so hard and you’re not sure your bladder can handle it. Maybe you had a little whiskey? Maybe you’re just living? Maybe you just feel better when you’re coloring a drawing while talking.

My Everyday Life - Week 33 on Shutterbean.com

In the back of my brain I’ve been daydreaming about hosting creative workshops in the Bay Area (and maybe BEYOND!). I want it to be similar to the ladies craft nights I used to have with my lady friends. Food + crafts + drinks. There’s a lot to work out, and I’m not sure how many people I would want to come for a workshop (ahem, introvert who prefers intimate gatherings). But there’s no way to figure out all of those things unless I actually do it.

Last week, I hosted a Ladies Craft Night at my friend’s shop Neve + Hawk in San Anselmo. It was 4 hour chunk of time with creative ladies and I think it went pretty well!

Let me show you what was involved:

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Like I said. Food, coloring books + drinks. We kept it small with just the 4 of us.

I forgot to ask the ladies to snap photos (ahem, BUSY TALKING) so I didn’t get much from that night. Next time I’ll be better!

Here I am telling a story with pens in my hand.

Typical, Tracy.

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

I love this moment between Kris & Melissa

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

I wanted to keep it pretty simple for my first ladies craft night so I tried not to over plan. I just wanted it to be super casual.

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Food I Made:

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Drinks:

  • Wild Turkey Bourbon + Ginger Beer + Lime
  • Campari + Soda
  • Sparkling Limeade
  • Sparkling Water
  • Lavender syrup + bitters for drink mixing
  • Fresh cut lemon + limes

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Let’s talk about what we colored!

Ladies Craft Night- Coloring Book Edition! Check out more on Shutterbean.com

Coloring Books c/0 Chronicle Books:

I really enjoyed coloring from Moroccan Motifs:

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

My friend Melissa worked on this one from the French Baroque coloring book.

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

What did we color with? All these things I brought to the shop!

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

Coloring Supplies:

Ever wanted to host your own Ladies Craft Night? Tracy from Shutterbean shows you how she put together a coloring book party!

A big thank you to Women + Whiskies and Chronicle Books for helping make our ladies night extra spectacular. And thank you to Kris & Bob of Neve + Hawk for opening your doors for us.

There’s a new book out by Chronicle Books called Ladies Drawing Night that I’ve got my eye on and the timing couldn’t be better!

Hope this inspires you to host your own Ladies Craft Night. Check out my posts on Books to Get you Drawing, Coloring Books for Adults, and Keeping Creativity Alive.

Anywho- Look out for some workshops soon!

  • Amy

    This is a great idea! I have a few friends that would love this. I’ll have to plan a night of coloring in soon. I am totally jealous of the cheese, cracker, breadstick spread too!

  • Kate

    love this idea and would come to a workshop anytime! am in Marin. so fun

  • Emily @ Life on Food

    love, love, love this idea! i can see how this would be so refreshing for the soul.

  • Jane M

    My 87 year old Dad is visiting me this week and you know what we’ve been doing in this heat and humidity in NJ? We are coloring! And coloring for HOURS! I even took my dad to the art store to fill into his stash of supplies back in Florida. We are having such a nice visit. I have a big lovely kitchen with a great table, so we color, I cook and work and we have the Olympics on in the background as it’s difficult to look up from the coloring! I have a great stash of coloring books myself!

  • Monica B.

    What a wonderful idea!! I like your sense of adventure. I would fly west to take a creative workshop. As an introvert over here, too, I think about the size of the gathering. Thank you for sharing your inspirations!

  • India

    I went camping this weekend and created a coloring corner inspired by you. It made me so happy to be coloring with girlfriends. Absolutely LOVE the idea of coloring workshops. Get it, girl!

  • Joy

    I love this idea! I would LOVE is you brought this to my area (NY for now…hope to be moving soon). Coloring/crafting with like-minded people in a casual environment sounds so lovely.

  • Lauren

    OMG I smell a new business venture for you! I’d love, love, love to attend something like this – be it a one time thing or regularly – but I’m on the east coast. If you ever have a workshop this way, I’ll be among the first to sign up! Looks so fun & fulfilling.

  • Diane

    What a great idea!

  • Christina C

    Love this! Such a great idea!

  • Heather

    I read this post with audio in my head of when you snapped it….it sounded and now it looks so fun! Thank you for posting. As a fellow introvert, I appreciate the small setting. I’m in the east bay & would definitely sign up for a night like this. And if you wanted to expand and have cooking or photography or organization classes….you would totally rock those too!

  • Jamie

    This is such a great idea Tracy! I’m a little gutted that Sydney winter is almost over as it feels like the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon or evening. I’m going to put it on my list and plan a colouring party for sure, Ill let you know how it goes!

    I think it’s a great idea for you to do more of these. Great idea!

  • Kayla

    I love all the photos! This is a great idea, Tracy!

  • Jenny

    I love this idea, my girl friends and I have discussed doing something similar like a knitting circle, although none of us really are that big into knitting. This is seems more appealing as we all can color. And heck yes, I would love to attend a Shutterbean event!

  • Lori

    I love everything about this. Every. Single. Thing. ❤️

  • Holly

    I would love to join a craft night. I’ve taken your photo workshop before and really enjoyed it.

  • Bhiravi

    Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! Ladies’ craft night is such a fun way to get together with good friends as an introvert. I’m in my early twenties and trying to think of ways to keep my friendships strong– or form new friendships– as everyone I know recently graduated college. It’s surprisingly difficult with busy schedules and circles of friends who don’t know each other. I might have to start a tradition like this one. Thanks for the inspiration, Tracy!

  • libby

    Ohhhhhhhh you have inspired me.

  • Victoria

    Oh my gosh I want to do this with my girlfriends! Cocktails and colouring sounds absolutely ideal. Right now though I’m planning for a glass of Rose and to finish my page from Magical Jungle by Johanna Basford this evening – I’ve a parrot, a butterfly and some flowers to finish! Have you checked her books out Tracy? I think they’re great!

  • Kristy

    I love this, I love how it is casual and not too hard. I am inspired to try my own this Fall!

  • Jenn

    If I were on the west coast, I’d definitely book a table with a few friends. I like coloring because it’s not about finishing a project. So there is plenty of space to eat, drink and relate.

  • San

    Ok, this is amazing. I wanna come, where can I sign up?

  • Hilary

    LOVE this! I attend a monthly Ladies Craft Night at my church and it’s always a good time! This looks so zazzy though with all the snacks and drinks!

  • Tuong

    ohhhh, what a great idea!

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