Well, goodbye and good riddance to THAT decade. The past ten years have been difficult to say the least, with a few bright spots thrown in– like Mikayla coming into our lives and some truly great times with friends. But now with the start of a brand new decade I’m completely psyched to jump in, shake things up and start anew! While I’m happy to have my things available in places like Michaels and Target and a few other big box stores, what I really want is to get back into the independent gift market (my first love!) where I believe they truly understand and appreciate my art. I want to draw what YOU, my customers, want and what I want– just like I did at the very beginning of my career. I finally realize, after 35 years in this business, that I actually know what’s best when it comes to my designs, and I don’t need 23-year-old buyers (no offense, 23-year-old buyers) or focus groups (go ahead and be offended, focus groups) to tell me what I should be doing. Don’t get me wrong; I’m always open to advice and collaboration and outside ideas, but at this point I really feel like I understand what works and what doesn’t. And I don’t mean just going back and repeating the same old themes that were successful in the past. I’ll always love Scotties, cherries, and our “fried-egg-flowers,” (or FEFs as we call them here) and I’m sure I’ll still use them from time to time, but I really believe that it’s time to see what else I can come up with that people might want to see. And while I’ve got you here, let me ask you what would you like to see that is not available to you now? What kind of products are you interested in and where do you shop for those products? I’d like to see my things in a lot more catalogs and independent gift stores and specialty stores– what do you think? We’d LOVE to hear what you’re thinking and wishing (as long as you don’t wish for the magazine to come back– we’ve already discussed this, ladies.) Any constructive comments are welcome and believe me, we are all ears here at the studio. So go wild.
So, bring on the 20tens! We’re excited to get out there and make the world a cuter place!
~Mary
Mary, those of us who love you and love dolls would love to see more of “your dolls” produced. Best wishes on your new ventures. I will echo the request above for more small scale ME prints.Best regards, Margie Robison
Please keep the ME Christmas cards coming. I remember purchasing my first truly nice boxed set of Christmas cards and, of course, they were a ME design that came in a lovely box with lid. I’ve kept the box all these years just to enjoy the card and sentiment. I agree with an earlier post that quality cards at Christmastime are getting harder to find. This has been a fun blog to read…
I know from all the comments I’ve read here I must be a late bloomer so-to-speak. I am a 72 yr. old who loves dolls and sewing for them. I understand there will not be any more of the Ann Estelle or friends dolls. I only “met” you because of these dolls and got enchanted with your designs and such. If the doll lovers can’t look forward to more of the Ann Estelle, then my request (and I am sure other sewers as well) would love to see more of your fabric designs in a pattern or size appropriate for the 10″ adorable dolls. I love using Mary Englebreit fabrics for these dolls.
I would like to see a line of fabric where the designs are not “ME graphics” like teapots and such, but rather the tiny simple prints that appear on the dresses that the children wear in the ME graphics. There are a lot of seamstresses who enjoy recreating your calendar and poster illustrations for the Tonner dolls, and often it is a real challenge finding fabrics that will work.
That wouldn’t, of course, require your own creative energies. It could be done by a staffer, using your illustrations for reference, licensed under your name, and sold through the venues that market to quilters.
Other than that, I love the children’s picture books and paper dolls. I also have three different sets of your Christmas dishes and serving pieces. Christmas is Mary Englebreit time in my kitchen.
I love the Ann Estelle line of dolls from Tonner and hope for more and more characters and outfits with your collaboration.
I miss walking into my favorite gift shop and entering the “Mary Engelbreit” Room; it’s super to hear you want to go back to the independent gift store market. The thing that I miss most is the kitchen and home items. I always dreamed of a canister set and matching kitchen accessories on my counter. I also collect the books of Mary’s illustrations, and Engelbreit themed craft supplies. I love the paper dolls and think a book of paper dolls would be grand. I love Tonner’s Ann Estelle doll family and still actively collect, dress and play with them.
DOLLS and more dolls! I have 30 of your Ann Estelle dolls, for myself, a collector and for my grandchildren, when they are old enough for them! I’d love to see more 1940′s style outfits for them and maybe even Audrey Ann! I also collect your teapots. My VERY FAVORITE are the CHRISTMAS ones, of which I have four. We love you and your fabulous work. I cannot get enough of it.
While I had seen your wonderful work for many years, I truly became a fan as a result of the Tonner Ann Estelle dolls. I have soooooooo many of both the 10 & 18 inch dolls and am so disappointed they are no longer being made. I am certainly not ready to stop collecting your wonderful art ‘come to life’ in these darling dolls I can actually play with, dress, & pose in wonderful scenes. My granddaughters are my ‘doll buddies’ and we all love these wonderful dolls.
I also collect all the wonderful ME items I find at Michael’s and frequently give them as gifts to the ladies in my doll clubs as well as my friends and family. Unfortunately, I rarely get to gift shops, but look forward to seeing what is new each time I go back to Michaels.
I can’t wait to see your new direction and creations, but please don’t completely give up our old favorites.
Love, Love, Love your art! It always brings a smile to my face and inspiration to my heart. I would love to see more “crafty” things such as quilts (patterns, material, etc.), cross-stitch kits & books, and even crochet/knitting patterns with the ME designs. Something that would also be a treasure would be paper doll books (I,too, miss Ann Estelle!). Loved these as a child and now I have young nieces who would enjoy this as well.
Hello there Mary and everyone. Yet another Canadian fan here. Toronto, 2009, plastic bags are no longer automatically given with store purchases. You are able to still buy them for about 5 cents each if necessary. No body’s perfect!) Along with Toronto there are a few other cities San Francisco I believe, who have fared quite well without them. It is a little comical when the program was all of a month old at which time for sure there were many of us who were all enthusiastic, buying the .99cent reusable bags from various stores, you know, doing their bit with a big proud grin. We even stayed determined as we patiently learned to always tuck our bags into our purses and pockets instead of flung into the backseat. At the campaign’s beginning there was a lot of mutual guffaw and groaning at the checkout as Oops! many of us realized our faux pas! Yes, I left my bag in the car too. More than once.
I had good intentions though, Really,I swear…
You know what they say..
“21 Days…Make…A…Habit.”
Well, getting back on track how about some ME adorned, reusable grocery totes. Perhaps a regular sized one and a small one to replace the plastic produce bags.
What do you think?
Mary,
I’m a principal at an elementary school. Our school has your prints hanging throughout the halls. My office is also a colorful and positive place because of your influence and prints. I spent my first years here buying, framing and hanging them to brighten things up! I would love more diverse prints. Our school is very diverse and I’ve stopped hanging prints because I feel like I’m leaving a lot of our kids out. Please help with this. Thanks for sharing your talents!
I have been a fan since the first time I saw your designs. Please don’t change too much.I know you are probably going to come up with a ton of things that I will absolutely love.I am a big fan of vintage and cottage, which I think your designs fit perfectly.I’m trying to get my business going- would love to carry your line. Mary Rules !!!So glad I found this site!