Exciting News and a Discount!

 

I'm sending my quarterly newsletter out tomorrow. If you'd like to receive it (with exciting news I haven't announced yet and a special discount inside!) sign up here.

GVAA Artist Studio Tour

Art by Christine Brallier

 

This weekend I participated for the first time in the annual Goleta Art Studio Tour where members of the Goleta Valley Art Association (GVAA) open their studio doors to the public to share and sell their art.

Art by Christine Brallier

This year more than 20 artists participated at five locations. I was grouped with three wonderful artists, Marie Arnold and Judy and Warner Nienow, at Marie's home. Marie showed her fabulous abstracts in acrylics as well as her super adorable knitted cactus pin cushions!

Art by Marie Arnold

Art by Marie Arnold

Marie Arnold and her knitted cacti

Judy brought her beautifully expressive animal paintings and still lifes in oils and Warner, his wonderful atmospheric urbanscapes, nocturnes and still lifes in oils.

Art by Judy Nienow

Art by Judy Nienow

Judy Nienow and her art

 

Art by Warner Nienow

Art by Warner Nienow

 

Warner Nienow and his art

 

My artwork included some of my stained glass mosaics, my newest paintings, and a few embroideries.

Art by Christine Brallier

Art by Christine Brallier

We had a steady stream of visitors with lively conversation about art, cacti, travel, and more art! I made many new friends and sold one of my mosaics (thanks Warner and Judy!) as well as some of my books and cards.

Sold! To the Nienows

I haven't been very active with GVAA for the past few years, but I am excited about participating much more this year and in the coming years!

GVAA Artist Studio Tour Coming

Save the date, locals! I'll be participating in the Goleta Valley Art Association Studio Tour, May 19, and will have my mosaics, paintings and embroideries I've done, plus notecards and my book. Enter a raffle at each location for fun prizes. Come by and see me!

 

Click to view larger

 

Holiday Special on My Book!

Attention mosaic lovers, cat lovers, children's book lovers, Christmas lovers, art lovers! My book The Night Before Christmas is available for $10 through the month of December, so now is the time to buy several copies as you are saving more than 40%! I will also include a couple of printed art cards in your order. If you reside in the U.S. you will also receive free shipping, so how can you say no to that? :)  
Available at www.cbmosaics.com/book
 

 
 

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!



 

Interview on Cat Lady Confidential

Today I was featured on a lovely blog called Cat Lady Confidential. I talk about my cat mosaics and embroidery, as well as the beautiful cats in my life, past and present. Read it here.  Thank you for the interview, CLC!

Me and Christopher

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 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!

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!