Raymi and Red, Painted Cat Ornament

 

I painted this ornament of our two cats Raymi and Red and stuck it in my son's stocking this year. We got Raymi from a shelter nine years ago for my son's birthday. She was the queen around here until Red came along. He was my mother's cat who came to live with us after she passed away four years ago. He has tried to make friends with Raymi ever since but mostly she will have none of it and will swat at him whenever he comes near. There have been some moments of her allowing him to sleep a foot away and she also "sort of" plays with him but pretends like she's not. We're getting there slowly so there's hope!

 

 

 



Hand Painted Cowboy Ornaments With a Twist

I bought a couple of wooden gingerbread man ornaments to paint but realized I was not inspired at all - I find the typical gingerbread man a bit soulless with their eyeball-less eyes. I tried adding interesting eyes but it still wasn't working for me. 

So I looked at the outline shape of him and instantly saw a cowboy hat in his head and arms! His bowtie fit perfectly on the hat. Well, then I saw a handlebar mustache and these guys magically appeared. I gave one away as a gift but you can find the other one on Etsy.  

Have a Yee Haw New Year!

Hand Painted Birdhouse Ornaments

I painted a couple birdhouse ornaments as gifts this year. This one "flew" all the way to Minnesota to a longtime friend.

 

This second one was for my brother who is a mailman. I put his address on the mailbox and the initials of him and his wife in the heart.

 

 

More Hand Painted Ornaments

These ornaments were all gifts and have been received so I can now post them!  Hand painted on wood with acrylics. I have others available in my Etsy Store if you'd like to take a look.  Have a beautiful Christmas!!

Millefiori in my Etsy Shop!

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

If you create mosaic art, glass fusions or jewelry, you may be interested in my newly re-opened Etsy Shop where I have added more than 200 listings of the highest quality and most beautiful glass millefiori from Murano, Italy, as well as glass fusions, beads, and other wonderfully fun materials!

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

 

You will also find my original art - paintings, drawings, stained glass mosaics, and hand embroidery, plus my children's book, The Night Before Christmas, and all of my printed art cards.  Visit my shop here - I hope you find something you like!



 

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!

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!

A Couple Beaded Mosaics

I made these two little guys for Christmas gifts for my husband and son. They were little wooden items I got from Michaels that I covered with seed beads and millefiori and then grouted. They're pretty tiny (the penguin is only an inch and a half high) so they were tricky to handle. I then crocheted them a couple little scarves to stay warm!

Postcards of Christmas Mosaics

Postcards of two images from my book, The Night Before Christmas, are available in my Etsy shop, here. They are blank on the back for your personal Christmas greetings. :)

 

Mrs. Figs' Bookworm with Carol Heyer

I had a great time at the book signing I did with Carol Heyer at Mrs. Figs' Bookworm!  The store is absolutely charming, as are the owner and staff, who were so friendly and welcoming.  I loved the indoor porch reading area, so cozy.

 

I brought one of my mosaics from the book to display, the one that shows the Christmas tree, so when the kids were doing their own paper mosaic Christmas tree, they could see that I also used cut triangle pieces to create mine.

Connie, the owner, read both my book, The Night Before Christmas, and Carol's book, Humphrey's First Christmas.  I am going to have to up my game when I read my book the next time if I want to do as great a job as she did!  She is a born story teller.

I LOVED Carol's book, which I had never read before.  It has humor and heart and the illustrations are so beautiful.  I particularly enjoyed the images of Humphrey and his wonderful expressions.

Thanks so much for hosting me, Mrs. Figs, and I hope to be back again next year!

Christmas Book Signing and Craft Event

I'm excited about an upcoming event I'll be doing with author/illustrator Carol Heyer at Mrs. Figs' Bookworm in Camarillo, CA.  I will be signing my book, The Night Before Christmas, and Carol will be signing her book, Humphrey's First Christmas, the story of a lovable camel that accompanies three wise men to bring gifts to the Baby Jesus.  Here are the details:

Date:  Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014

Time:  2-4 p.m.

Location:  Mrs. Figs' Bookworm, 93 East Daily Drive, Camarillo, CA

Bring your kids for a fun paper mosaic craft and Christmas illustrations from Carol's book to color.  Also plan to visit  Santa's Workshop in the Las Posas Plaza from 10-4 (Santa eats lunch from 1-2).  Hope to see you there!

.

Postcards Available From My Book

I now have postcards available of these two images from my book, The Night Before Christmas.  They are 4.25x5.5" and are blank on the back, perfect for a Christmas greeting.



The cards come in packs of ten and you can find them and my book here! 

A new community for me - SCBWI!

Woo Hoo!  A new adventure coming up!!  I recently joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).  It is something I have been thinking about doing ever since I started the process of creating my book, but didn't consider myself an illustrator so didn't join.  I am still not sure about giving myself that designation, but now that I have a book, and am planning on another one, I feel a bit closer to it.  And I'd really love to meet others who love creating books for kids.

Soooo, I have registered for the SCBWI winter conference in New York next month.  Eep!  Talk about jumping in blindly!  At least when I went to my first SAMA conference, I had been making friends online for years and felt at home immediately upon arrival.  This will be a completely new experience for me to go without knowing anybody, but from what I can tell reading about previous conferences, these members are an extremely friendly and playful bunch and I think I will easily fit right in.

I am currently getting my portfolio together as I've never had a physical one before.  My presentation folder is being handmade and customized for me and it is going to be so beautiful, I can hardly wait!!  And I just ordered new postcards and business cards so I'll be good to go.  I haven't been to New York in more than 20 years, so I'm excited to be there once again.  I'm really looking forward to what this new adventure brings!

Local Newspaper Doing Feature Story!

I was just interviewed and had my picture taken at Granada Books with my art for an upcoming Santa Barbara News Press article. I will see about posting it here when it comes out, or at least a link.  For all you locals, check out this Sunday's paper in the Life section.  It's gonna be big!

Mosaic Art Exhibit for Book Illustrations This Week!

Three and a half hours later, two exhausted and hungry art-hanger-uppers have finished hanging my fifteen mosaics for my art exhibit, book signing, and book reading, this coming Thursday. Can't wait! Thanks Sharon!!

Opening Reception:
When: Thurs, Dec. 5, 2013, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Granada Books, 1224 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Who: Me!!

If you can't make it to the reception, the mosaics will be on exhibit for the month of December so come on by and check them out!!

It's so much fun to see my book in stores!

Here it is at Kernohan's Toys in Goleta, CA.  For all of you locals, it is also available at Granada Books, Chaucer's Bookstore, Curious Cup Bookstore, The Book Den, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art's gift shop, Tecolote Book Shop in Montecito, Bennett's, Santa Barbara Stained Glass, and Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, and Paradise Found.  Whew!

Excellent Book Signing!

Had a great time at my book signing at Chaucer's Bookstore in Santa Barbara last weekend.  Many friends came out to see me (thanks!!) and I met lots of really nice people!  Here's me with my first customer.  :)

Book Signing A Success!

Very fun, lots of people, music, kids enjoying the mosaic, signing, signing, signing books. I had a great time!

My First Book Signing is Here!

I will be signing copies of my newly released children’s book, The Night Before Christmas, on Friday, November 1, 5-8 p.m. at Curious Cup Bookstore, 5285 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA.  I spent more than four years creating the 15 mosaics featured in the classic story written by Clement C. Moore.  The mosaics were made by hand cutting thousands of pieces of stained glass and fitting them together to create the illustrations.  If you are local, or are in town visiting, please come by and see me!

The first orders go out in the mail!!

(Plus a bazillion postcards) Thank you to those who ordered!! I hope you enjoy it. xo

My book is available at http://www.cbmosaics.com/book