by Ellen Byron
I’ve always been craftsy. At least since high school, when I began exploring creative outlets that didn’t require artistic talent, of which I have none. I’m not kidding when I say my drawing ability topped out at stick figures. But crafts? I’m your gal.
I went through a period where I focused on needlework, running through a list that included counted cross stitch, crewel, silk embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and even sewing. I have samples of every venture, some lovely, some pretty but useless, like the half-of-a-tank top I finished before realizing it would never fit. I finally landed on needlepoint as my go-to hobby. My house is filled with framed pieces and I’ve stitched enough ornaments to decorate an entire tree. Three of my favorites are mini stocking representing the states where I’ve lived at some point in my life: New York, Louisiana, and California.
PHOTO OF NEEDLEPOINT STOCKINGS
When I began writing mysteries, my craftsy urges jumped up to eleven on a scale of one to ten, to paraphrase a line from one of my favorite movies, Spinal Tap. All those beautiful cozy covers beckoned to me. But how could I pay homage to them? Turning them into needlepoint canvases wouldn’t work. I couldn’t replicate the covers myself and it would cost a fortune to hire someone to paint them. Plus, it would take forever to stitch each cover. And then a long-dormant craft I’d done years ago came back to me: decoupage. It seemed the perfect way to create beautiful ornaments inspired by my book covers in a quick, affordable, creative way.
I bought acrylic paints and unfinished wooden ornaments. When the shape I liked was discontinued, I pivoted to whatever ornament shape would allow room for my ideas to run wild. Stickers, crystals, charms, and even tiny trees were all used in service of a cover’s theme. I reconnected with my old friend Mod Podge glue and got chummy with a new pal, spray-on varnish.
PHOTOS OF MY ORNAMENTS – but not WITLESS OR WOODSY!
Now, whenever a new book comes out, I begin planning the ornament I’ll create to honor it. Due to the vagaries of release dates, I had three books launch this year. I’ve already made ornaments featuring two of the covers:
WOODSY AND WITLESS PHOTO
I have a concept in mind for the third book, FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT
FQ SUPPLY PIC
Maybe someday I’ll be able to decorate an entire tree with my handmade book cover ornaments. Until then, I’ll get tremendous pleasure from the ones I’ve made so far and the book covers that represent the greatest gift I could ever hope for: the joy of writing my beloved cozy mysteries.
ABOUT ELLEN BYRON
USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won multiple Agatha and Lefty awards. Bayou Book Thief, the first book in her new Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, was nominated for Agatha and Anthony awards, and won the Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery. She writes the Catering Hall Mystery series, (under the name Maria DiRico) and recently debuted the Golden Motel Mysteries with A Very Woodsy Murder.
Ellen is an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
She blogs with Chicks on the Case, is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, and serves on the national board of Mystery Writers of America.
A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of New Orleans’ Tulane University, hence her love of both cities. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups.
