3, 2, 1-- Time to stuff the goodie bags!
I don’t know about you but I’ve always prepared for big events by counting down; 2 weeks before school starts, 8 days before Christmas, 2 more months before my due date and now 45 days before April 29 and the first Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion Workshops begin.
I’ve been counting all the surprises that will be in the goodie bags. There will be a true goodie from all our wonderful advertisers who partnered with Home Companion over many, many years. I can’t tell you exactly what they are but look for products from Amy Butler, Glue Dots, Fiskars, Andrews & McMeel, Leisure Arts, Canvas, Ranger Ink, Swirly Design, Moda and Hambly Screen Prints. And that’s not all.
As readers you often wrote how you loved to visit the artists we profiled in every issue of Home Companion. Many of these talented and exceptional people have donated a piece from their collection to be part of our incredible drawing. As an attendee you have the chance to win a treasure from Lotta Jansdotter, Dave and Roberta Williamson, Laura Zeck, Jill Schwartz, Tamar Mogendorff, Rebecca Purcell, David Walker, Patience Brewster and there are more.
Here I am counting again. Baby Lock is donating 2 fabulous sewing machines for our luncheon drawing. OttLite is being equally generous with their specialty lighting. And you’ve known from the very beginning that Mary will give away one of her valuable originals. Crane & Co is donating stationary and Paper Source is donating certificates to their classes. Mary tells me I can say no more or all our secret surprises will be out.
Counting has always been my way to handle the excitement and anxiety of anticipation. So as I count, I also will be counting the number of old and new friends I’ll welcome to St. Louis!
So if you’re still undecided about registering for our craft-a-ganza, don’t get COUNTED OUT. Sign up, classes are starting to close.
~ Barbara
P.S. I was delighted to read about Charlotte Lyons’ prep for her workshop Cuckoo Clocks. Check it out here.
Barbara Martin is the formor Executive Editor of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion Magazine and is now heading up the new MEHC Workshops along with Mary. You can meet Barbara in St. Louis at the first ever MEHC Workshop this April.
Wish you would run a contest with the winner getting to go to the workshop! At least then all of us poor people could at least DREAM of going. I so wish I could be there….
Hi Mary Engelbreit,
My name is Sophia and I am a very big fan of you. I am not very old, I mean, old enough that there will be no misspellings in this letter, but I hope that you still take me seriously. I am going to move into a new house, and hope to make my new room in a ME style. I have searched all over the internet but found no ideas, so I hoight maybe you could help me. I have limited resources, but a lot of will. I collect your teapots, and a beautiful bed, but cannot find ideas for a desk. Please email me back,
Sophia
I can’t wait!
Thanks for your helpful emails Barbara!
Mary, I think you ought to seriously consider making a big push into Canada. It seems that not many people know who you are here
That makes me very sad 
I wish St. Louis wasn’t so far away from Nova Scotia; I’d be there in a heartbeat!
Hi Mary, I saw a lot of nice new pads of yours at the Michael’s a couple of weeks ago. I found this blog post particularly inspiring as I convelesce from longterm illness. Thanks for bringing so much joy to our lives through your inspirational artwork. Me, I am lucky to squeeze in a good home-cooked meal now and then if I have the energy to cook!
*Squeeee!* So excited to craft at the workshops!!!!! (Plus, I’ll be a week short of graduating, so extra squeee!)
I’m so excited to be able to come to this! I think it will be a magical group of people and I am so blessed to be a part of it! Thank you for all the goodies you’ve worked on for us all-
Wish I could be there with you. Sounds like lots of fun.
I was just thinking if you could have a COUNT UP of all of us that are coming. I’m not bringing a friend but I hope to make some ; ).
Hi Barbara, do you by chance know when ME original art will be for sale on this website? See you at the workshop!!
I’m already there in my mind! I can’t wait!!!!
How many minutes….days….I’m couldn’t be more excited! I hope we actually get to meet MARY….that’s the cherry on the top of this delicious treat!!!!
oh, how i wish i could come!! this looks fantastic!
Oh how I wish that I lived in America. What a wonderful event this promises to be. Oh well, one surely dream. Going through a bit of turmoil here at the moment due to loss of employment which was also tied to our home, so both have gone with one fell swoop. This would have been a very welcome distraction.
We are only going to hold these workshops in St. Louis because my studio is here and the Chase hotel is such a perfect venue. We’re also located right in the middle of the country, so we feel we’re not too far from anybody! There are great deals on American Airlines and Southwest Airlines right now from pretty much anywhere, so please come join us!
Really looking forward to this workshop. Especially now, eek!
So jealous.
I would love to attend your workshop. But I am unable to travel at this time. Are you planning to hold workshops in other cities? If so, please, please , please come to the Los Angeles area. Lots of ME fans here!
Yippppppeeeeeee!!!!!!! So very excited!!!!!!!!
I can just imagine the beaming faces and gleeful squeals of the lucky attendees receiving these goodies!
are there any thoughts to take these workshops on the road? I would love to attend one but will not be able to be in your area in the foreseeable future. I would love to see ideas for boat living- we are buying a “yacht” (42 foot boat so SMALL) and will be living aboard. I would love to incorporate some ME ideas and designs there.
I now am officially as excited as I get at Christmas time! I cannot WAIT!
I have a countdown set on my iPhone too!
Oh I so want to come to this!!! I hope you do this again and that I will get to come someday. I hope you all have a wonderful, creative time!! And I can’t wait to see pics.
Right! Lots of pictures for those of us who aren’t fortunate to come in person. We want to see, too.
how nice!! I would love to see the pics of what the artists are putting in. I got to meet David Walker at the first initial Cricut machine preview at Provo Craft back in 05′, before the machine came out, and I always joked at how a very tall man could make such cute little animals!! We were sent there to design new cartridges for the machine.. mine never got in until now! I just finished a Back to School one for them!
Anyway everything sounds so great- wish I could go!!
Can’t wait!!!
this sounds so wonderful, i am just terribly sad i don’t get to come play. have a wonderful time and take lots of pictures to post for those of us that have to stay home
when your countdown gets closer you will have to start your happy dance