There is something about Fall that makes me want to make things. I’m perfectly happy lying around doing nothing all summer, but for some reason, when it starts getting cool, I start getting crafty. So, here’s what I’ve been doing when I should be working on— you guessed it— the Fairy Tale book. I know, I know— someone made a comment when I was whining before about working on this book that she wished her “work” was a Fairy Tale book. That’s a good point and I SHOULDN’T complain. Which is a shame, because I love to complain. Anyway, I found these unpainted wooden bracelets at Hobby Lobby and brought several home to fool around with. Then I found some clear acrylic ones at Red Lead that you decoupage on the inside. I love them! I could do this all day if it weren’t for those pesky deadlines.
Then I went to Michaels and discovered they had greatly expanded their jewelry-making department, or maybe I had just never made it over to that side of the store before. I made a few necklaces using my broken necklaces and earrings and buttons and pendants…. so easy and fun that I didn’t even mind when my neck turned green.
And finally, I decorated a jean jacket for my horse-loving daughter. I was very happy with the way it turned out and surprisingly, so was she!! The only problem is I had never worked with felt before and I just used the squares you can buy at the craft store. I’m afraid if it rains while she’s wearing it, the felt will just disintegrate, leaving raggedy little outline stitches. Oh well. Live and learn.
And now, fun’s over. Back to the Fairy Tale book. I’m not complaining. I’m just saying.
-Mary
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Oh Mary! There you go again! Just when I SHOULD be accomplishing something needful, you do something adorable and off my mind goes toward creating! I am SUPPOSED to be hemming pants for a client tonight…..but….I do have a denim jacket that just might need to be adorned…. hm…..
By the way, are you ever planning on releasing machine embroidery designs again? I would love to buy some to play with.
Comment by Sivje Parish — September 23, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Wow what an adorable jean jacket! I want one myself!! Very cute!
Comment by Photos Not Forgotten — September 23, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
It’s nice to know that you get sidetracked too! I always go to Michaels for something specific and come out with five different things I hadn’t planned on buying. Then I am off on to a whole new tangent. I went for calligraphy ink and ended up buying a cute little Mary E autumn flag for my front yard. Never did find the ink!
Comment by Betty @ She's Sew Pretty — September 24, 2009 @ 12:26 am
I love the bracelets and jacket! I have a stash of acrylic bracelets that I bought 100 years ago for the purpose of decoupaging, they are all yours if you want to make more!
Where do you find non-flimsy felt? This has been such a mystery to me.
Thanks for your visit, I was honored.
Your pal,
Linda
Comment by Linda Crispell — September 24, 2009 @ 11:31 am
I found some beautiful felt in Magic Cabin catalog and I ordered a whole bunch! I’ll let you know how it works.
Mary
Comment by Mary Engelbreit — September 24, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
That is one lucky girl!
And, those bracelets!!! Adorable!
Comment by bridget {bake at 350} — September 24, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Hi Mary!
Hi Mary,
I’m such a fan…. love love your jacket and bracelets. I’m soooo excited about your workshop next year. I’m definitely going to come.
Thanks so much for putting your artwork out there in the universe for us all to enjoy!
Cheers,
Lindsey Loo
Comment by Lindsey Renee Skaife-Flynn — September 24, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
That jacket is so darn nifty!
Comment by Abigail — September 24, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Hi Mary!!! LOVE the bracelets!! ME Studios should market those babies!!! You are so very talented, we are lucky people! I went to Michaels looking for the new ME paper items (no luck) and also found the Autumn and Halloween flags. Have a great weekend!
Comment by cindy doyle — September 24, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Oh my gosh, Mary, that jacket is SO cute! Did you make the flowers on the collar, too? I’d like those on my grown-up jacket!
Now get back to work… or at least stop giving the rest of us ideas about how to not work. Kidding, of course – I’ll take all the ideas you’re willing to dish out
Comment by Beth — September 25, 2009 @ 10:34 am
hi!! im argentine, i live in buenos aires city, in dicembre i traveled to new york, i was know one adress in new york,for visit, i paint ceramic. my englis is very basic, perdon.attentively miky simon
Comment by miky — September 25, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
I love my jacket!
love mikayla
Comment by mikayla — September 25, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
Now I just feel like a slacker:-)
Comment by Jeanne — September 25, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
The flowers on the collar of the jacket come in little packages of 4 at Hobby Lobby.
Mary
Comment by Mary Engelbreit — September 26, 2009 @ 8:56 am
Mary so glad to have found your blog! I guess I’m like all the other crafters. It is so easy to get sidelined. I love those bracelets and the jacket is adorable.
Comment by Darlene Nolen — September 26, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
I completely agree, something about the Fall makes me come alive and I just want to create! I LOVE those bracelets. Maybe I will find some during one of my lunchbreak trips to Hobby Lobby. Just aimlessly wandering through Hobby Lobby and Michaels gets the creative juices going wild doesn’t it?
-Amber
Comment by Amber McNabb — September 26, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Thanks for sharing. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the flowers on your daughter’s newly embellished jacket – I bought the same flowers for my little one. Creating is all I can do as I am planning my little girls first birthday, Mary Engelbreit themed, of course. Thanks for your inspirations.
Comment by Summers Bell — September 27, 2009 @ 12:39 am
I’m so happy I found this–I don’t do much crafting but what fun and inspiration your work has been through the years! Maybe the blog will push me to do more than add ME flair buttons (my current stress reliever!!)tee hee
Comment by nacy — September 27, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
Hey eveyone!
Wow!It makes me more hopeful to see the enthusiasium of Mary Engelbreit
Comment by Mike Smith — September 28, 2009 @ 5:05 am
Mary,
Your bracelets are lovely so colorful and whimsical!
I’m glad I saved several issues of Home Companion they were filled with such great ideas and inspiration. It is nice you blog, now you need to get on Twitter!
Cathy
Comment by The Stylish House — September 29, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
Mary what a fabulous way to distract yourself while, at the same time, providing inspiration to the rest of us. My daughter would love those bracelets!
Thanks!
Comment by cathie — September 30, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Hi Mary, I am praying your magazine comes back into print, otherwise I am hitting garage sales. I am redoing my mothers wooden tiny 6 drawer shoe “box” or cabinet (circa 1920). Since I started the office with your calendar as a border I want to follow thru on theme. I am thinking of two possibilities- thinning glue and gluing on your different fabrics or actually painting each drawer different collor and just use fabric on sides. Any input, please Help thanks Joyce
Comment by Joyce Horyczun — October 4, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Hi Mary,
The jacket is adorable… I had the same problem with the craft store felt… until I discovered felted wool… now I’m constantly on the lookout for old wool items to felt. I use them for Christmas stockings, decorating jackets and such for my nieces… working on a halloween version right now… with a big orange felted wool pumpkin and trimmed the bottom edge with a ruffle using the ever popular Hello Kitty halloween fabric.
Jeannie
I’m so glad to find your blog… miss your magazine SOOOO much! I think I have every issue and frequently re-read them!
Comment by Jeannie — October 19, 2009 @ 1:45 am
Mary I just love the jacket and the bracelets! Nothing like being sidetracked….Sometimes that’s what it takes to get inspired again. Sometimes those deadline projects can just kill ya… I have found them necessary, though. I would probably just piddle all day if I did not have them!Ha! I am so glad that I stumbled upon your blog. I really enjoy your art! I think that I have collected your calendars for the past 10yrs..Still have every one. Thanks so much for sharing your inspirations with us.~Carmen b.
Comment by Camen Brunson — October 21, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
DIOS MIO TODO LO QUE VEO ES REALMENTE MARAVILLOSO , DESDE COSTA RICA UN FUERTE ABRAZO . QUIERO TODO LO QUE VEO EL PAPEL ES DE MIS MANUALIDADES PREFERIDOS Y LAS CALCAMONIAS BELLO BELLO……. ELSA CORRALES SANCHEZ LISTA DE CORREOS 4200 NARANJO ALAJUELA COSTA RICA .
Comment by ELSA CORRALES SANCHEZ — October 23, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Es para felicitar por los trabajos- en la pag.lo que pasa… me manejo con traductor. y muchas cosas no se pueden traducir no se puede.y quisira comprar por medios de amigos sellos y papeles,y marcadores y supongo que COPIC— ES PAPEL DE ACUARELA?COMO AVERIGUO PRECIOS DE ESTOS MATERIALES–DONDE ENCONTRARLOS?ES TODO PRECIOSO LO QUE MUESTRAN.
MUCHOS EXITOS Y BUEN AÑO 2010
DESDE EZEIZA BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA.
Comment by naoemi — November 7, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Jackie Collins…
Love your stuff, found your post very informative. I found you through MSN using the keywords ‘handmade bracelets’ by the way….
Trackback by Jackie Collins — February 5, 2010 @ 12:38 pm