It’s so exciting to learn something new, especially about things you thought you already knew backwards and forwards. I met Nancy Wethington at a For Keepsakes event where I gave a little talk after dinner. She asked if we ever used Copic markers and I told her they were my newest obsession since they came in such wonderful colors. I used them in the same way I had always used markers— to color in big areas of flat color, so that I could then go in and get more detail with colored pencils. Nancy said there were ways to use Copic markers that might make that not so necessary and that she was certified to teach us all about it! She came to our studio the other day and spilled all the secrets and it was really fun! We practiced on special Copic paper that is made especially for the markers and the colors really looked bright and clear and seemed to blend seamlessly on it.

I particularly liked the way I was able to do skin color with them— sometimes when I go over marker with pencil on faces it gets kind of muddy-looking if I’m not careful. And they are fantastic for sky and water and large areas of green grass and trees, which are a SERIOUS pain in the neck to do with pencil. If you take the time to use the Sketch markers correctly on large areas—in a slow, circular motion— you will end up with virtually no marker lines, which in my business are worse than visible panty lines and must be avoided at all costs. I’m sure many of you have read somewhere how I usually do my drawings, but for those of you who don’t know— first I draw them in pencil. This is my favorite part but also the most frustrating, since it NEVER goes the way I want it to at first. I have learned not to scream and throw things anymore, though, because now I know to wait and see what happens— the drawing eventually turns into what it wants to look like. When the pencil drawing is finished down to the last detail, I outline everything in a very thin permanent marker, my favorite being the Copic Multiliner in 0.05. Then I color it in with markers, lately doing it in the new way described above, and then I go over the whole thing with colored pencils. I use Berol Prismacolors almost exclusively, and lately I have started using their watercolor pencils to shade faces because then I can blend the colors evenly with the Copic colorless blender. I know this sounds like a big, fat ad for Copic, and they did send me a set of their Sketch markers to try, but I really do love them. And I LOVE learning a new way to do things. I’ve been doing this so long it’s nice to break out of the rut after all this time.

These are some drawings I’m working on for the 2011 calendar, called “All The Happiness You Can Handle”. I’m using all my new marker-knowledge on them, although I still use the pencils to get small details. Coloring the details is so relaxing to me— I’ve always loved that part because that’s when I see the drawing start to really come alive. But now even coloring in the big areas is fun because I learned such new, easy techniques from Nancy. Turns out you actually CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Now I just need to find someone who will spill their secrets about how to time travel so I never have to see the inside of an airport or plane again and then my life will be fairly perfect.

Here’s a picture of our 2010 calendar “Take Good Care”, available now at our website and wherever calendars are sold. Sure, it’s done the old-fashioned way, but it’s still good!

~Mary

An Interview with Kaari Meng of French General – By Barbara Martin

When I first met Kaari, it was a very cold January day with the wind swirling through the streets of lower Manhattan. I had spent a few days at the NY Gift Show and was excited to explore the independent shops in the West Village and Soho. Once I walked through her doors, I was transported immediately to the south of France.

As editor of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, I was lucky to do a number of features with Kaari. I hope everyone remembers the fabulous feature in December 2008. Kaari and her family went all out to decorate their home in signature French General style.

I hope you’ll enjoy my interview with Kaari.

Barbara Martin: What’s your latest news or project you’d like to share?

Kaari Meng: We’re designing fabric for Moda – which has been a whole new learning experience – I love seeing some of our 18th century French florals reproduced in soft shades of pinks and reds! Our new books, Handmade Soirees and Treasured Notions with Tinsel Trading are both due out this year from Chronicle Books and finally…. We’re off to France again this summer – our Chateau Getaway Deux is a creative week of workshops and elegant French living at Chateau Dumas!

BM: Retail has certainly changed since I met you at the Soho store. Would you explain for the reader how the last 8 years have effected French General and its branding?

KM: I think we knew early on that we wanted French General to be something different than a retail store – we wanted to inspire people to surround themselves with old materials they could create with. Over the past six years, I decided to blend my everyday schedule and creativity with an idea that would bring in an income but not feel like work. For us, French General is constantly changing – probably because I have a very short attention span!

BM: I’m sure everyone knows that you’ll be at the Spring 2010 Home Companion Workshops teaching a number of courses. Have you been to St. Louis recently?

KM: I haven’t been to St. Louis since we drove through it on a family road trip 35 years ago!

BM: Are there any St. Louis landmarks you hope to visit while you’re here

KM: I am interested in seeing Through the Needle – a quilt and sewing exhibit at the Eugene Field House.

BM: Is there anything special you hope to accomplish during your ME Home Companion Workshops?

KM: I hope to meet and be inspired by all sorts of wonderful crafters! I love this new trend of creative workshops – bringing women together to craft is such great energy!

BM: Did you study art or design in college?

KM: No – I studied Political Science at University of San Francisco and later, I took jewelry workshops at FIT in New York City.
I think what I do has been greatly influenced by my parents and brothers and sisters – we were always encouraged to create.

BM: Has your career taken any detours since you started?

KM: I have tried to stay focused about what I want to do – it may take on different shapes – but at the end of the day I want to feel creatively fulfilled.

BM: Has digital technology been an aid in the development of your business?

KM: We couldn’t change our location as often as we do if it wasn’t for our website. Our website is open 7 days a week – all hours – which is much more than I can say for our brick and mortar shop! (We’re open Monday’s from 11-4!)

BM: What computer skills would you recommend for artists/designers if any?

KM: I don’t have a whole lot of computer skills – I leave that up to my husband – our web master – Jon Zabala. I believe in everyone doing what they do best to keep a business running.

BM: What gives you the most joy from the creative process?

KM: Designing environments that make people want to create something beautiful. Bringing together old materials that can be re-used and made into something beautiful.

BM: If you were to give advise to a talented and driven 17 year old artist what would it be?

KM: Put a bit of yourself into everything that you do so that everything you do is your own unique craft.

BM: Do you think creativity is inherited?

KM: No – I think we are all creative – some of us find the creative thread easy to follow – others need to be guided.

BM: Is there something special you’re looking forward to during the Workshop weekend?

KM: Seeing old friends and meeting Mary!

BM: Thank you Kaari.

Barbara Martin is the former editor of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion Magazine and is now heading up the new MEHC Workshops along with Mary. You can meet Barbara and Kaari in St. Louis at the first ever MEHC Workshop next April.

Here’s the latest fun thing going on with the Home Companion Workshop—— if you sign up before December 1st, you will be eligible, along with everyone else who has already signed up, to win a very rare, complete set of Home Companion magazines in a set of hand-painted (by me!) magazine storage boxes! Here are a couple of photos of storage boxes I’ve already painted so you can get an idea of what you’re in for. I’ve signed all the issues as well, for good measure.

 I also want to show you a wall in my studio at home where I hang some of my most prized possessions, including 3 FABULOUS Linda Solovic pieces.

Linda will be one of the instructors at the Workshop and if you can still get in to one of her classes, I highly recommend it! She has an eye for detail, color and design that I just can’t get enough of.

I can’t wait to try one of her projects. Linda and I often run into each other at flea markets, where I’m buying some useless item that I’m going to have to find room for on some already-jammed tabletop, while Linda is buying teeny, tiny things— buttons, charms, plastic doll heads, rubber animals, scraps of ribbons— that she then incorporates into her beautiful, patterned works of art, that I and tons of other people can’t wait to get our hands on!

So sign up now, maybe win an entire set of MEHC mags (where, in one of them, you can see Linda’s whole house and studio!) and get to take Linda’s classes and learn how a master does it.

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

My name is Erin Stroble and I’ve been the intern at the Studios for the past four months. It’s hard to believe that my internship is finally coming to an end as I get ready to go back to school. Sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m eating lunch next to the same person whose calendars and quotes I used to collect in my room as a child. Over the summer I’ve really come to know the team at the studios pretty well. It’s hard not to let the work environment rub off on you with bright flowers and cherries everywhere.

As an art student and fan, I realize how lucky I am to have had this opportunity. Whether sitting in on meetings or seeing Mary’s next project up close, I’ve been soaking up everything as much as possible.

It’s been amazing getting familiar with all of the stages of the design and approval process and seeing how just one doodle can become a final product.

One thing that has really struck me is the span of Mary’s work; on a trip to visit a friend in Miami, I pointed to a picture hanging on a girl’s wall only to hear people scream excitedly, “You’re working for her?!” One thing this internship has really taught me is how much art can inspire people’s lives.

Getting a glimpse into the life of a successful artist has given me a whole new perspective I can’t wait to bring to my classes this year!

P.S. From Irene, AKA the Intern’s Boss!

It was such a pleasure to have Erin as our intern. She was truly delightful, very professional and a quick study – not to mention a very promising artist. We were so impressed with how willing she was to take on any project and her diligence in completing it…. so impressed in fact, that we kept asking her if she would drop out of college and just join the Studios already. We laughed; her mom didn’t.  By the way ME Studios encourages students to stay in school!!!  Hopefully she will return for another summer internship in 2010 because her cute TO DO BASKET  is filling up.

Good luck Erin! Much success and you will be missed.

Several years ago, my art director Stephanie Barken and I were wandering around the Atlanta gift show in between meetings with our licenses and prospective licenses.  Our feet hurt, we were exhausted, our bags were getting heavier by the minute and we were SICK of “gifts”.  All of a sudden we came across a showroom that was so amazing, so different, so fabulous that we immediately perked up and went in.  Everyone working there was in costume, everyone was laughing and talking and eating popcorn and drinking soda and staring around in awe of the beautiful displays of figurines and ornaments.  We had stumbled into Katherine’s Collection,  and are we ever glad we did! Now, after much begging on our part, Katherine’s is doing several collections based on my Christmas books, “A Merry Little Christmas” and “The Night Before Christmas”!

They had never worked with another artist before. All the artwork and design had always been done by Wayne Kleski and his amazing crew (Am I using the word “amazing” too much?  I can’t help it, for obvious reasons). Year after year, holiday after holiday, Wayne comes up with new and wondrous themes, including fairies, underwater creatures, new-but-vintage-looking Easter and Halloween things, angels, forest animals, the cutest baby things ever, gambling nuns, Victoriana….. the list goes on and on. He certainly doesn’t need any help from another artist, but I am honored to say he saw potential for our two lines to merge, and together we have created what I think is a pretty darling Christmas program!

The detail is, well, amazing. You can see how exact the figures are to the illustrations in the book.

We’re still working on “The Night Before Christmas” pieces for next year, but the “Merry Little Christmas” program will be available in October at our on-line store and hopefully at your favorite local gift stores.

It’s so energizing  to work with another artist who completely understands the look I’m going for. And Wayne, his lovely wife Katherine, and two daughters Kate and Julie, plus everyone who works for them are such fun! PLUS they send great thank you gifts.

I can see I’m going to have to get cracking on an extra-special Christmas gift for them. But  my best gift from them is being able to see  my drawings come to perfect 3D life at your house this Christmas!

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://www.maryengelbreit.com/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