Monday, November 21, 2011

MADE in the 216 Holiday Store--cards available

Yesterday I dropped off TWEET&FLORA & Pinguink cards
to the Room Service store on West 25th St and Lorain in the West side of CLE.
They hold a holiday shop for artists living in the 216 & 440 zip codes.
If you go shopping at the West Side Market, stop by & check us artists out.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Allow to sell my cards to WBU franchises!!

Today I got a letter of approval from Wild Birds Unlimited headquarters to sell my Tweet&Flora and Pingquik cards. I now have to send out postcards to offer my products and see who of all those franchises will be interested in selling them. Oh, my I am soo excited, but I really need to get very organized and start figuring out the logistics!!! There are 270 stores nationwide! Yikes!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Tweet cards in stores now-----more later on in holiday shows.

Tweet & Flora cards are now available at 
the Heights Floral Shoppe on Fairmount Blvd. in Cleveland Heights; 
at Lake Erie Artists store in Shaker Square; and 
at Wild Birds Unlimited on Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights.


This was one of my first funny Tweet Christmas cards. I will be offering this one as a single card. One Tweet got into Santa's Bag, another one is trying to get him out while the big Tweet just rolls his eyes.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Claymation class at Cleveland Institute of Art


This was a fun class that taught us how to make clay figures with stop motion and morphing them into other creatures. The other students were Floy Juszli (Lobster), James Wiles Swan creature, I did the parrot (Pingquik) and Mary Elizabeth Norman (light bulb). Our teacher was Adri Wichert.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

New iMac ...

My yahoo account & Facebook were hacked by a Nigerian (organization) sending  a scam that I needed Euros because I was mugged in Spain. I am not really using that yahoo email & Facebook is now giving me trouble that I am logging into an insecure website. PINTA.
Now I have a Mac ProBook so I can be more mobile & be able to show my work to places. I have to transfer files into the new one. So many things to do.
Going to show my cards for a Holiday Bazaar soon. Hopefully I can sell them there.
Back to doing stuff.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Thinking of the past

This is back in 1975? when Big Wheels were all the rage. Just getting ideas on how to do some illustrations. Drawing some dahlias & other flowers, babushkas, more birds...

I just inquired about who to contact at Martha Stewart magazine to feature a small pix of my Tweet&Flora cards. 
"My purpose is to bring a chuckle and a smile to people who receive Tweet&Flora cards".

I have to go & buy more paper. Later, dudes.




Saturday, September 10, 2011

Learning Floral Design

I finally have learned by osmosis to do small arrangements. Tammy from the www.Height Floral Shoppe has a great talent in doing loose, European "gardeny" arrangements using 3 set of different flowers. Here I just chose fuschia gerberas, with bupleurum as a foundation and hypericum berries for an accent in a small white ceramic vase. Very summery.
So, besides illustrator, graphic designer, I can cal myself an amateur floral designer.

 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

A Double message for Cleveland from Pingquik

Today I created this image using Pingquik dreaming about making it in the music business and promoting Cleveland. This could be great for t-shirts and a print, cards. etc....
Any comments? The font? colors?

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Saturday, September 3, 2011

I have been Etsy Stalked!

I forgot to announce that this group of etsy curators chose my LOVE-PEACE-JOY Tweet&Flora cards for their site! Unfortunately, I think the next day that item expired in etsy! It is now back up plus the assortment of greeting cards from my little birds.

I have to paint for the NOIS show, but I don't think I am going to make it.

etsystalker.com/2011/08/16/peace-love-and-happiness/

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Tweet&Flora Calling card to give away in gifts



I am having a lot of fun designing Tweet images. This card I gave to my friends who were moving away as a gift that they can use to place on gifts or to give to new people they meet.

• I can add more information on the back such as email or cell phone #s.
• Anyone interested, business size card 2 x 3.5" on nice cover stock paper in bright white using archival      (pigment) inks.
• 20 cards for $12 or 30 cards for $18
• I can also make this bigger for Note cards, a print to have it framed, etc...
I will post this in etsy soon.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

New things I am discovering in my blog

I just discovered that I was missing my websites & my store in etsy and here there are right at the top :)
Now a flavicon, I made one, but I have no idea where it is showing!? I put my Tweet bird.

LOVEBIRDS: A modified version using calligraphy font


Which Love Birds card should I pick?

I am in the process of printing professionally my greeting cards so I need your input on which one should I use and if I should do any changes.


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sign for the store

Check if this sign looks good to advertise my cards at Wild Birds Unlimited.
School just started so now I am back in business....


Sunday, August 7, 2011

It's August & my birthday is around the corner

School is almost here so I am just trying to do activities with my son before it starts. I do have many ideas to draw in Illustrator, but I just can't seem to sit down inside.

Today was beautiful outside so we rode our bicycles and hang out on our beautiful deck. I read about a woman who wrote a book called Decorate, on the best sellers list--about tips on decorating --in the new edition of Where Women Create by Stampington & Co.'s Somerset Studio.

I am waiting for my husband to help me install a big cork bulletin board & a magnetic erase board so I can post in an nice & organized way all my clipping & GOALS.
Must start preparing some delicious looking salmon & shrimp burgers from Heinen's, my favorite supermarket (besides Trader Joe's & Whole Foods).

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wild Birds Unlimited in Mayfield Heights selling my cards!

It's official! This great store of all bird things will be selling 114 TWEET&FLORA greeting cards!
I have Thank You, Love, Friendship, just plain funny, Christmas, Birthday...
and soon will be adding Hanukkah, Get well, Thinking of you...

I now have to add my little TWEET&FLORA logo to my piccolino home page and info regarding the cards. Got to talk to Jorge about that.


Labels for school books available: awesome animal illustrations or tweenies.

I feel like Snoopy when he is dancing! Mama is watching.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

One order coming up, another store is interested

Well, tomorrow I shall be picking up an order from one of the stores. Which are very exciting news! I went to another store to show them my cards and they seem to be pleasantly surprised. Very nice people and they gave me a few ideas for more cards.
The best idea was Happy Bird Day! instead of Happy Birthday, quite clever from the owner.
Well, Mama is definitely helping me from heaven, although she never got around to see my Tweet&Flora designs. 8 weeks since he passing. I still can't believe it.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Card Catalogue--done....

I already created a catalogue of all the cards I think are good to sell at stores. 2 stores have it and I am just waiting for the order. Tomorrow I buy the large paper and additional greeting card envelopes. Then I have to make changes in the color for the designs (digital colors are brighter than inkjet) before I print them professionally. This week I can work more as my son is in camp while my cone flowers are starting to bloom...

Saturday, June 25, 2011

A new look to Breakfast at Tweetffany


I did some changes because it did look like a penguin. This is a bird, but I think I can do a penguin too. The actual card has glitter on her brooch & her tiara with turquoise envelopes.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Things are happening...

Well, 2 stores are interested in selling my greeting cards, specially for Tweet&Flora.  Got the paper & the printing prices, so now I am waiting to check how the color changes when printed digitally and not by ink jet. Very excited!
Sunbeam sold 2 of my Pingquik baby onesies!!!! Yeah!!!! All I need is time to sit & work---I have created more designs for Tweet that are quite funny..... Please let me know what you think about this image. Would it sell between girlfriends for a card or as a print to hang anywhere?

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Sorrows, but back to work.

Mama died on May 15th, but I was able to see her before she left us. It was nice that my brother and I went back home for a special family party 2 weeks before. Mama had a great time, but I just had a premonition that I wasn't going to see her again. I can't believe she is gone... She was the most beautiful & sweetest mom ever. The church was full and the priest ended the mass with a Our father a "lo flamenco" music.
My arms were moving to the music, just like she would have done. We all miss her A LOT.

Back to work with some orders trickling in from back home. School is almost over so now I have to juggle more ideas for selling at etsy---to make a niche where there is a demand. First Communion was great. Next year I'll start in February.
Calling cards will be posted soon for my Spanish speaking friends who use them for their kids' birthday gifts.
Mama will guide me for the next big thing this time!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Great Charm from WWII in England!

Yesterday I went to check out a craft show called Oddmall - Emporium of the Weird. I found this vendor called LiLu Designs (I have no email nor website for them). I bought this charm for my necklace which I love. I have seen this as a poster in CB2 catalogue.
This was a message for the British during the WWII to raise their morale--during the period of King George VI--The King's Speech.

So when I went to mass today, Father Ackerman saw my charm & gave us mothers a blessing referring to this saying "how appropriate it is for mothers..."
So keep calm & carry on, although sometimes we can loose it in a second :)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The SUN came out today & I did 2 orders!

Well, the sun peeked out for a bit and the temperature was quite WARM, for a BIG change.
Meanwhile all that was happening, I was busy printing & cutting 2 First Communion invitations that I manage to mail today!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Something from Tweet&Flora to cheer us up!

I feel like I have to post an image all the time, but to me it is a bit complicated. If I have to take a picture, I have to open Photoshop, reduce the size to 72 dpi & save it to post. It MUST be a SUNNY day to take photos and we are having a HORRIBLE COLD Spring, if you call this spring.

I just posted a set of 3 designs from Tweet&Flora featuring Tweet whistling hearts, holding Happy & a peace sign. I called this one LOVE-PEACE & HAPPINESS Tweet&Flora set. Check it out in my store etsy.com

Thursday, April 7, 2011

more etsy orders!

This is a good one, someone who must know Spanish & appreciates my HOLA! cards by Tweet&Flora purchased a set. I am soo happy.
And I have many in the makings....I just need to sit down without going out (to exercise, or Heinen's supermarket, Target etc...)

I NEED TO SIT DOWN & CREATE.

Anyhow, I got 2 more orders for First Communion--COOL!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

El Follón de la Comunión is almost done.

That means the First Communion Frenzy is almost done. Possibly 2 more to do locally.

12 clients from etsy & some have already added feedback, positive so far.
I guess I have a good product!
Must do something in a grander scale with it. maybe the Catholic Market...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

more etsy orders

I had 6 clients buy First Communion cards and they are all done. The first one to Canada hasn't arrived there yet?! It takes more than week? The second client received it & loved it! Now I have to see what the others say.

I have some new ideas that I hatched today while having lunch at the museum of art. I have realized that I need to hang out somewhere with my creativity notebook to come up with ideas OUTSIDE of my home.
Birds & fireworks, Tiffany & birds...

I also found an awesome book called "642 Things to Draw" by Chronicle Books. This morning I was wishing that I need to draw more often & this book has suggestions in each page. No excuse now to draw!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Sold my first item in etsy!

Now I am international! First Communion invitations going to Canada!

Those varmints, the Squirrels...

Does anyone have trouble with squirrels?
Wondering what I could write as wording so I could sell it as a card.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Piccos Line--Great for Note Cards -- Can be Personalized!

All these images were digitally drawn by me. Baby or child's name can  be printed in place of Thank You. 
Set of 10 cards with envelopes $13 or 20 cards for $26, or any other quantities.





All images Copyright 2009 Cristina Bruce-Kaiser

Monday, February 7, 2011

Clothing in etsy

OK, I have all the onesies designs posted in etsy + 2 toddler tee designs.
Now I am planning some ¡HOLA! cards featuring Tweet&Flora so you can send them to friends & family...
I have other ideas in mind, will post soon.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

FINALLY! I am selling in etsy!

I have Pingquik  & penguins Thank U note cards and a Pingquik onesie. I will be adding more items--but I need a sunny day to photograph the products! And we are getting more snow on the way, arrrgh!

www.etsy.com/listing/67077838/organic-baby-onesie-fair-trade-pingquik

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Wildlife hanging out in my wintry garden...



I am trying to look at winter in a positive way. When the sun comes out briefly, I just stand there soaking up the rays. I miss the sun everyday...