I just got back from the Craft and Hobby Show in Orlando, FL where I gave the keynote speech on Saturday. It was a lot of fun and as you can see from the photo above, I had the cutest audience EVER! My good friend Kathy Curotto was there with us as well, (Kathy is the former style/craft editor at the Home Companion) teaching some wonderful craft classes , and for those of you who are kicking yourselves for missing out, Kathy will be one of the instructors at our first ever Home Companion Workshop to be held in St. Louis next April. (More on that next post!!)
As I pointed out in my speech— in a pathetic, desperate attempt to fit in with that crafty crowd—I don’t just illustrate, I make things, too! Here a couple of things I showed them that I thought you might like to see as well.
A chess set that my son Will and I started to make. Will made the really good bishop and knight, while I made the blobby, round-headed other people.
I love to find cool old books and completely ruin their value by drawing all over them.
At any rate, it was a fun, inspiring weekend and I loved meeting so many of you. But now it’s work, work, work—– back to the neverending Fairy Tale book that actually is due to end happily ever after by next week. As soon as it’s finished, let’s talk WORKSHOP!!!
- Mary
i’m gonna make my own journal
That BOOK!!! Oh my gosh…that is adorable! You can come over and ruin my old books anytime!
Yay!!! Mary’s back
I love to alter books, unlike mine, I think yours may actually have increased the value
Lidy
“I love to find cool old books and completely ruin their value by drawing all over them.” That cracks me up!!! I used to do the same thing. Doodle and post stickers through-out the pages. I’ve not done so in ages. I need to pull an old book off my own bookshelf and get busy. Maybe one of the hub’s books. LOL
Love this: “I like to find old books and completely ruin the value of them”
Silly Girl, You have increased the value! Thank you for all of the creative inspiration you share through your artwork.
Trisha Evans
http://www.avintagewhite.blogspot.com
Hello Mrs. Engelbreit.
I am maybe perhaps one of your biggest adoring fans. I have all of your books…I think. I keep them within reach and never put them away. You are truly a God given gift to the people of this great earth. I often find myself in amazement of your talents and creativity. I am so excited to learn you now have a blog. I am an avid blogger also. I have met so many wonderful, kind and talented friends through blogging and I hope you have the same wonderful experience.
Welcome to the world of blogging, it will be so nice to read your blog post and touch base with you more often now.
Welcome and God Bless,
Your Friend,
Shanda
“in a pathetic, desperate attempt to fit in with that crafty crowd—”.
And THAT is why you have so many fans. I might point out that I have been one before being one was cool.
I’m just sayin’.
I love the book, you did a great job.
I just found out you had a blog so I’m excited to keep updated on everything going on.
I love the idea of painting on the book covers – what type of paint do you use?
I have loved your illustrations forever…. glad to find your blog.
I am so happy that I found your blog (from the Farm Chicks, thank you!) I could just do a “happy dance!” (I miss your magazine.)
I absolutely love the chess set you and your son made, I think I will make one similar to yours for a Christmas present for my husband! And I think painting on an old book looks wonderful! What about painting on the pages too? Thank you again for your blog!
xxxooo
Marilyn
greetings, mary!
i just discovered your blog via the farm chicks.
like so many, i was heartbroken to find that home companion had ceased publication. it was always such a wonderful venue for creativity. i have favorite issues saved that i return to for inspiration.
warmest welcome to the world of blogging! it’s a wonderful, generous, supportive and inspiring place! make yourself at home.
xo
elyse
cottage ~ tinkered treasures
Mary, I am thrilled to find you have a blog. I have so wanted to write to you and tell you how much your work has meant to me. I first learned about you in 1990 and your magazine brought me hours upon hours of pleasure. I especially loved the Artist’s studio section. I love your art. Your drawings are always so thoughtful and colorful. I am sad about the magazine, but I pray it will return. Some do. Take care, Trish
I’m so excited that you have a blog!!! I am saddened to learn about the magazine, but I know that you always have such great things in store!!!
Thanks for the blog page…like you need one more thing to do right? I loved your magazine, I know I will enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing your creative work with all of us. Good luck on your books! ~~~Sheri
Yah! You have a new blog!!!!!!! I heard about it from the Farm Chicks! I’ve been a fan since high school – 20 years ago – starting with your greeting cards. Your art makes me sooooooo happy!
Wow! I’m so excited to find your blog. I was lucky enough to hear you speak at last years Silver Bella and I think you are such an inspiration. I miss your magazine desperately and have a collection of saved ones but I still haven’t given up hope that one day it will come back. I hope that until then that maybe there is a new decorating book in the works? I’d be all over that!
Mary
You have always been an inspiration to me and I have to say I am genuinely excited that you are blogging! Blogging has been one of the most fufulling things I have done in my adult life!
I look forward to following along with the blog and website, as I miss your magazine oh so much.
Thanks for allowing us into your life!
Janet
Hi Mary! I’m so glad to have found your blog. I was a subscriber to your magazine for many years and was so sad when I found it it was no longer available. But I’m super happy to hear that your not giving up! No other publication matched the color and vibrancy that yours had.
Have a great summer!
Janet
Welcome Mary to blogland, I am so thrilled you are blogging. I have every issue of your magazine, which I pull out all the time and find new inspiration. I look forward to your posts and seeing what you are up to. What cutie pies, it looks like it was a very fun and creative weekend. Clarice
You can draw all over my books any ol’ time. That is the cutest book ever!
Oh wow! I’m so excited you’re blogging. I just love your work! Those chess pieces are super adorable!! –Rebekah
I think your chess set peeps are enchanting! I’m sad that your magazine is no more. I’m glad I have old copies. I can’t wait for the fairy tale book! Yippeeee!
Hi Mary!
Last night I read my to my children from your nursery rhymes book, and today I found that you read my blog! So glad to make a connection…it makes the world seem so much smaller and cozier:) So glad to see that you have a blog, and I look forward to keeping up with your successes! Your a huge hero of mine. Hope to “see you around”
xo
sarah
Mary–So excited about your blog! Your designs are fun and cheery! On your former site, you had a computer wallpaper that I loved–our computer froze up and we had to re-build it. I can’t locate the wallpaper anywhere. Can you help? It was the picuture of a lady sitting in a fluffy easy chair with lots of books around the base–reading under her special reading lamp. I love the print! If unable, I have ‘perfecto’-I like cooking—but I like reading more. Love all your special fabric designs too.
Hi Mary!
I just discovered your blog and am so excited to see what you are up to! I SO miss Home Companion. I held on to all of the issues I had and still look thru them…so inspiring. Thanks for all the hard work, wonderful ideas and beautiful projects! I look forward to your mag showing up in my mailbox again sometime in the future (I have to believe the market has hit it’s low, right??)xo Simone
A blog. Mary has a blog. I haven’t been this happy since the last time I got my Home Companion in the mail! Your little fans are adorable, and I LOVE your blobby round-headed people. They’re not blobby at all, they’re darling. I love your book too – you improve everything you touch!
Dear Mary,
I’m writing from Lima, Peru. I’m a huge fan of yours. I think your work is amazing and inspiring. I usually travel to the USA once a year, and one of the first things I look for as soon as I get there is my Mary Engelbreit’s calendar for the following year.I wish you could visit my country, and It would be awesome to have you in a craft show,too. Keep up the excellent work! Your illustrations are a real blessing to me
Norma.
Love the redone cookbook cover. So cute. Acrylics?
-c
yapping cat
Dear Mary,
It was a joy to meet you at the craft show! It is nice to know that you are just as fun and friendly as the wonderful artwork you create!
Your illustrations brighten my world!
Thank you for signing my book, Julie
I am chair of a Communications department at a private university–and my writing and design students are lost without your magazine. I have regularly given them copies or subscriptions as gifts because they provided much more of the confidence-building inspiration that the students need to trust their inherently–and beautifully–creative spirits. I will teach magazine writing this fall, and I am reminded of our loss.
I’ll add that it was the happiest, most personally affirming publication I’ve ever read–and I was a professional journalist for more than 20 years before I became the teach.
Thank you, Mary–from all of us in the university’s COM department.
We will continue to strive to bloom where we’re planted.
I attended the craft show in Orlando. It was a blast hearing and seeing Mary up close and personal. My Mother and I had a wonderful time. Mary’s Booth was hands down the best one there- we snapped up all my favorite T-Shirts for only $5 a pop! I loved seeing things at her booth I’d never seen before. I would love to have gotten one of the great “flags” hanging above the booth, but couldn’t stay until the end of the show….Have you ever considered creating some flags? I love them- another great way to show the world “our” style…I’ll also brag and say I had my picture taken with the “Queen” and will treasure it always!
Hi Mary- I have all of you calendars and have a question? Do you come up with an illustration first or do you find the verse or quote first. Also do you need permission for the words from author?–or do you make up your own. thank you Sandra
in the past year, my laundry room has become the center of the “me” collection of fun.
red and white gingham edging adorns the top of the wall and various glass shelves display my
collection of me art. your sweet and clever combination of art and thoughtfulness make my
laundry room a special place
Mary,
Those two little cuties on the photo must be your youngest fans ever. I just love the way the one with a red bow on her head is looking at you. Soooooo adorable!!!
Mary,
Thanks for the updated post. LOVED seeing it! And I love your chess set – both you and your son have extreme talent and I love the whimsy! I adore the book you “ruined the value of”. It’s priceless now.
And sighhhh…. I can only DREAM of my work work work being a fairy tale book.
You have the BEST grown up girl job in the whole world! Thanks for sharing your world with us.
Hi Mary! Love the chess set and guess what! You aren’t alone when it comes to decorating old book covers with art…I do it too! Fun post!
Oh my CUTENESS! Mary, what a completely charming and original thing to do to book covers…. of course you’d think of something like that! And what do you mean, ‘pathetic’ attempts to be crafty? Girl, you are the QUEEN of cute craftiness!
I just hesitate to think that kids would see this idea, and go to town on their text & library books! I, on the other hand, may just run right now to embellish an old book we have titled ‘the Kennedys’ (no, we aren’t THOSE Kennedys) and finally give it some.. shelf appeal!? Shelf image? Shelf confidence? ;0)
As always, thank you for the inspiration you provide to everyone whose lives you touch.
Hi Mary, My aunt and I attended the Craft Show event. Thank you for sharing your journey of success. You are a great inspiration to me for many reasons. I grew up in a house decorated through and through with ME. My mother, being a huge fan of yours hung your calendars every year and collected every tea pot you ever designed. She has since past away, but the house I grew up in is still decorated with your work. She would be thrilled to know that I saw you!
– Kim