My name is Irene Pappas. I am Mary’s Director of Product Development. Mary invited her peeps to post on her blog and write about whatever so here is my whatever….It’s the end of the summer here at the Studios and what I mean by this is that some of our kids and grandkids have returned to school… so it’s a little quieter and also a little somber. I have worked for Mary for 13 years and our summers have always been bustling with the pitter patter of little feet and giggles. How cool is Mary to allow us to bring our kids to work with us on occasion — like when we’re in a bind or our childcare fell through or when a grandchild comes to visit. The older kids just love coming to the Studios and helping out. Many have become proficient staplers, sorters and shredders (if they were only old enough to get our coffee and lunches). And because there are markers and colored pencils in almost every pencil cup holder — we even inspired young artists.

 We love when they visit our offices and deliver drawings or little twisted sculptures they’ve made with our supply of paper clips. They seem to shower Mary with gifts the most — they’re no dummies! Even sweeter –Mary posts these drawings up on her wall. We all post them or save them. It sincerely is a family here at the Studios — a culture Mary has created and continues to foster. We work hard and laugh harder. We are truly blessed.

I forgot to mention we need your slow cooker recipes — FAST!!! for our newest cookbook. Please go to this link and submit your recipe. Thanks!

http://maryengelbreit.insiteadvice.org/make-takes/recipes/surveys-slow-cooker-recipes/

Of course an event like this just cries out for a poster. At first Barbara and I thought about using “Arts and Crafts Keep You Sane”, a poster I did for a signing for Leisure Arts to show my latest stitching kits that they produce.

I love that drawing and goodness knows truer words were never spoken (or rather, put on a poster), but Barbara and I both felt it didn’t quite express what we hope the workshop will be all about.

Almost always, artists work alone in their studios, whether or not the studio is a completely tricked-out room with an actual closing door or one end of the dining room table. Most people need that quiet and solitude to reach down inside and pull out all those thoughts and ideas that eventually turn into a piece of art. But I’ve always felt, after all the work that goes into the creation (and I’m counting all the pre-art thought and planning), that the piece just isn’t finished until somebody looks at it.  Then the communication begins!

Well, imagine that communication starting right at the beginning of a project for a change.  Coming together with a couple hundred like-minded creative people to talk, plan, share ideas, laugh, and PAR-TAY! Yep, we needed a brand new drawing to illustrate this special weekend. I wanted to show a lot of people working on lots of different projects and having lots of fun doing it.

I started out with this sketch

but decided it was too busy.  I reduced the number of people and this is the final drawing I came up with, although the colors and lettering may change a little by the time the Workshop weekend rolls around.

But the sentiment “Bring A Friend, Make A Friend” will stay the same because that’s what the event is really all about. Making things with friends old and new—- what could be more fun??!  Barbara and I hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it, the poster will be available on this website to remind you that there is no better way to spend a few hours than with a bunch of good friends and a huge pile of art supplies!

Registration for the Home Companion Workshop begins Sept 1st, 2009

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