Embroidered Ornaments on Felt

I had fun creating these ornaments for gifts this Christmas.  I bought some beautiful blended wool felt in gorgeous colors and love it. I even added beads to one of the ornaments which was tricky but worthwhile.

I plan on experimenting more with the beads as well as creating more "softies," especially animals and maybe dolls, too, we'll see!

Published in Glass Patterns Quarterly

Several months ago I was asked by the editor of Glass Patterns Quarterly Magazine to create a mosaic tutorial for their winter edition and I just received my copy! There are four pages of step by step instructions to create this 10" stained glass mosaic titled "It's Cold Out!" It includes  a list of all of the materials you will need, plus many, many color photos illustrating the process. Also included is a full size pattern. 

Look, I'm on the cover, too!  You can buy the magazine or download the pattern directly from their web site here. If you make it, please share with me - I'd love to see your version!

Full size pattern and color coded



Easy instructions!



New Embroidery Designs - Cats

Where Are You Going?

I finished this one that I had posted earlier.  Not sure where the funky guy came from, but I kinda like his strangeness.  It's called "Where Are You Going?" and is 6".

 

This second one called "Devoted" is 4".  The split stitch and chain stitch seem to be my go-to stitches.  I love them.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristineBrallier

 

 

Devoted

 

 



 

 

 

Hand Embroidered Kitty Ornaments!

 

I'm having a great time embroidering some small ornaments for Christmas. I love these little frames, they're very festive. It's so fun to see my drawings come to life in embroidery! You can find these ornaments and other art in my Etsy Shop.

Hope you like them!

New Kitty Note Cards!

Just in, these cute note cards with my cat Raymi stretching in blissful sleep. The image is a detail from my book, The Night Before Christmas and you can find both the book and the cards on my web site where I offer free shipping to U.S. residents.

If you'd like a great deal on the cards, the printer made an error on the first run and the back of the card is printed upside down. If you don't mind this irregularity, you can buy them for half price in my Etsy Shop. Either way, same sweet kitty!

Happy Holidays!

Embroidery in Progress - Cats

I haven't yet decided if I prefer working on linen or felt, with color or no color, so I'm just playing and experimenting with both. I know for sure how much I like using the split stitch for outlining. It's just more interesting than the back stitch and a little more forgiving if stitched crookedly, which is great for a beginner like me!

More Embroidery - Cats in Repose

Cats in Repose

Just finished this tonight and had fun learning some new stitches.  I love the chain stitch!  I can't wait to use it in color next time. For this design, I decided to keep it all black and white, like my original drawing. I had fun embellishing it with white stitching. I like the subtlety of it.

As far as I can tell, there are only light brown wooden embroidery hoops out in the world, unless you buy vintage ones. I like a darker look so I've been staining my hoops with a mahogany stain. I then seal them with two coats of polyurethane. It's extra work, but I think they look so much better, it's worth it.

Some detail

P.S. You can find my art for sale in my Etsy Shop :)

Learning Embroidery

"Spots"

I've long been cross stitching other people's designs, for 15 or 20 years now. I thought it'd be fun to turn my drawings into needlework of some kind. I love embroidery so decided to give it a go. I learned a few stitches online (split stitch, back stitch and satin stitch), very basic. It's such a nice, relaxing pastime (like mosaics!) and I'm looking forward to experimenting with different stitches and techniques using more of my designs. Stay tuned!

P.S. You can find my art for sale in my Etsy Shop :)

Sketchbook Drawings With Ink Pen

Woman and Her Dog

Gazelle and Friend

I've been drawing more and more in my sketchbook lately and just wanted to share some recent creations. Hope you like them!




Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat!



Thank you card for Elizabeth Stewart at KZSB Radio



On the Radio!

Elizabeth Stewart

This morning I was a guest on local radio station KZSB 1290AM with fellow mosaic artists Betsy Gallery and Wendy Brewer, and Miles Carroll from Menelli Trading Company. We were interviewed by Elizabeth Stewart on her show, Art and Antiques, and talked about our recent Pop Up Gallery, as well as a little bit about ourselves and our artwork.


Me

I had never done anything like this and it was so interesting to see the workings of a radio station!  Elizabeth was so friendly and easy going, I was able to rid myself of early nerves and relax into the conversation and just have fun. You can listen to the replay here. Thanks so much, KZSB, for having us!


Wendy

Miles and Betsy

Richard

New Notecards Available

Folded notecards of my fennec fox mosaic, "Reverie," are now available on my web site. They measure 4x5.5", include envelopes and are blank on the inside. You can find them as well as my postcards and book, here. :)

Mosaic Show at Menelli Trading Company

Betsy Gallery, Christine Brallier, Wendy Brewer

Had a great show last week at Menelli Trading Company in Montecito, CA. So many fun and interesting people to talk to, wine and yummy food, and of course, lots and lots of art!  My mosaics were shown with the mosaics of local artists Betsy Gallery and Wendy Brewer. We have very different styles from each other and even work in different materials.  I enjoyed the variety and hope the visitors did, too!  Thanks for hosting us, Menelli! 




Christine Brallier

Wendy Brewer

 

Betsy Gallery

Christine Brallier

Wendy Brewer



Christine Brallier

Betsy Gallery

Wendy Brewer

Betsy Gallery



Christine Brallier



Wendy Brewer

Betsy Gallery

Pop-Up Mosaic Gallery

I will be showing my stained glass mosaics with two local mosaic artists, Betsy Gallery and Wendy Brewer, at Menelli Trading Company next week! I will also be displaying a couple of my mosaics featured in my book, The Night Before Christmas. The book will be available as well as postcards and notecards. The evening will feature wine by TheSpanishWineGuy.com, hors d'oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the artists and observe the ancient method of mosaic making with traditional tools and materials…and of course the opportunity to purchase the perfect mosaic for yourself or a loved one. Valet will be provided.

 

When: Thursday, Sept. 29, 5:00-7:30 pm

Where:  Menelli Trading Company, 1080 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

 

Hope to see you there!

Mosaic Creatures

The One with the Flowered Fingers

The One with the Jagged Eye

Just finished these little guys, made from a couple drawings I did recently in my sketchbook. They are on 5" wood rounds and are made with stained glass, millefiori, beads and polymer clay.

Grouting was tricky since I didn't mosaic the whole wood piece. To protect the wood, I put blue tape all around the image and some aluminum foil over the bark, but the edges of the creatures were still dirty after pulling off the tape. To conceal it, I put a row of beads around each creature and actually prefer the result! I added some polymer clay leaves that I got from Klew's Gallery and they were done!