In December of 1998, I left a corporate design career to pursue my long awaited dream of owning my own marketing and design business. One fall evening in 2002, after 4 years in business, I found myself sitting on my back deck with a big ole' glass of wine and trying to analyze why I wasn't completely happy. My marketing and design business had taken off quite nicely and was certainly financially satisfying, but I still wasn't emotionally fulfilled. So, I started to jot down things that I felt I was missing in my life, and I came to the conclusion that I needed something more hands-on. Though I was creating with my designs, they were still computer generated. As I was a longtime artist, this was not completely rewarding. So, I began reading up on both new and old methods of painting. As I began to venture into new areas, I discovered that silk painting was a way of satisfying my artistic desires. I began stretching and hand painting each piece of hand sewn white silk in my basement, and I anchored my easels in my back yard for the summer. Throughout the years, I have discovered that one of my strengths is the ability to work with colors. So, as I began to work with blends of colors, I also began to realize that the blends that I had developed could portray the very drink I had come to love...wine! Merlot, Chardonnay, Bordeaux, and of course, Spumante. And, so it began. I would spend many days on the development of a new and fun marketing concept, one that would entwine my love of art with my love of wine. My new business would be called Wine A Lot! In September of 2004 came the introduction of my new characters. Developed from their original pencil drawings into clothing, aprons, trivets, and plaques, each has been designed with their own personality. From the charismatic Italian, heavy red wine drinker "Merl Ot," to his mate, "Char Donnay (the Maxine of the wine world)," these characters (and the one's in the making) will help to make your shopping experience fun and unique. If you and your friends love wine, you'll find unique wine wear and fun wine gifts here at winealotgifts. Please bookmark us as a favorite so that you can check back often to see what's new! Anytime is a great time to start purchasing for those hard-to-buy-for (but-love-to-drink-with) wine buddies of yours!