Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I’ve drawn some valentine-ish letters for you to download and make for your own use or as a gift. We made a banner that I think turned out pretty cute, but if you do make something with them, banner or otherwise, please take a photo because we’d love to see what you make! We’ll post the photos on the blog, of course!
Happy Valencrafting!
~Mary
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We interrupt your regularly scheduled Engelblog to bring you this important and breaking newsflash from Will: we’ve got NEW STUFF available at the Mary Engelbreit Store! And there’s more where that came from. We’ll be adding tons of new products to the store over the next couple of weeks, so be sure to stay tuned.
First off, we got our hands on a bunch of new Limited Edition Lithographs! These beautiful lithographs are each numbered by hand and will NEVER be printed again, so get ’em while you can. We’ve added a ton of new designs that had been secretly stashed away at ME Studios like so much buried treasure. It wasn’t easy to talk them into letting these go, but I felt very strongly that they should be shared with the world. I hope you agree. Here are few of the new ones we just put up:
Also, we’re now carrying Mary’s line of classroom products—which isn’t just good news for teachers; it’s good news for everybody—because not only do we have all of your classroom favorites like stickers and clipboards and cut-out borders for tack-boards, we also have cool new stuff for you non-teachers, like stickers and clipboards and cut-out borders for tack-boards! This stuff isn’t just for teachers, people. A lot of it is just plain useful—not to mention cute. Check it out:
And for all you crafters out there, we’re now carrying Mary’s line of craft booklets by Leisure Arts. Whether you’re into embroidery, sewing or paper dollery (not actually a word), these booklets are full of fun ideas and projects that you’ll love!
And last but certainly not least… we now have Mary’s original drawings for sale. That’s right! You heard me. Original works of art drawn by the woman herself. You may have even seen a few of these images on a greeting card you received or in a book you already own, but this is the real deal. These are the genuine article. Our boring old warehouse is starting to look like a freakin’ museum with these things around. They come framed and matted in archival quality at no extra charge and they are truly one of a kind. Here are just a few examples of what we’ve got:
All of that and more is available on the website right now, and we’ll be adding new stuff all the time. So, you might want to stop by every now then and check us out. I’m just saying. Okay, that’s all. I now return you to your regularly scheduled Engelblog.
~Will from the Mary Engelbreit Store
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Don’t you just love Valentines Day?? Here are our Valentines this year, available at Walmart
and at independent gift stores near you.
Remember— Love Is The Answer!”
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Soooo, remember when I partnered up with Airwear Lenses for that whole Breit Eyes contest thing? Well, the winners of said contest came by the studio to accept their prize the other day, and our local channel 5 news crew were there catch it on tape– so you can catch it now too! Click here to watch a short news segment about it. Michelle and her son, Jack– the lucky winners– were absolutely delightful and this whole experience was just a lot of fun! I really think Jack liked his drawing–which was such a relief! Boys don’t always like my stuff, so I tried to ‘boy’ it up for him a little and I made sure to use his actual jersey number and team colors in the drawing. Because, you know me, I strive for realism.
He seemed like a really cool kid! A BIG thank you goes out to him and his wonderful mom, Michelle. You guys were great and it was really nice meeting you both! And thanks to Essilor too, for putting this all together! Thanks everybody!
~Mary
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First of all, let me say I COMPLETELY understand that times are tough and some people just cannot afford any extras. But, as is always the way, some people can, and the fact is we have a group here called Club Mary and it’s time to invite new members to join! This time, we thought we’d let the members themselves let you know what they like about the Club and why they feel like it’s worth the price of admission. As usual, for those who are unable to join, we always have plenty to do and share right here on the ol’ website.
Here we go!
“I wanted to join the club and had to think about it because of the cost; I decided that since I have always gotten so much joy from your work that I should join – and I did. I did it for me.”
“I stand by Club Mary – I am invested with my membership fee and my time……..because it will only get better over time. I am not rich, but I do have a bit of discretionary spending money to spend, and I chose this club membership for reasons stated above. In January, I received the print you made for each club member – I was just overwhelmed by it – it is beautiful…I love it…it is a work of love from you to each of us who have been fortunate enough to join you in Club Mary. The print alone is worth the membership cost. For those of you who can find a way to scrape together an extra $6.25 a month towards a membership for the first year, I know you will be giving yourself a treat that you really deserve!”
“Mary, we both know that there are many who really can’t afford to join Club Mary, and I applaud you for creating a website that gives joy and smiles and giggles and laughter to anyone who decides to be there. Just being at your website is a joy, and everybody there is sharing with one another. You are the queen, and you treat everyone who visits your website as a prince or princess, sharing your thoughts and dreams with each of us. How fortunate we all are – subjects of your caring and sharing ways!”
“I love your website, and I find it a joy to be there with everyone. I thank you, too, for starting Club Mary – I want to be there with others who find peace and joy and happiness in what you create and share with the world. I want to know what you’re doing and what you are working on. I joined Club Mary to watch the metamorphosis as Club Mary grows and GROWS and GROWS!!!!!! You have lots of us out here just lovin’ watching you movin’ on and movin’ forward – you go, girl”
“I have never been a member of a fan club before. Since my kitchen is full of your wonderful art my sister told me that if anybody should join your fan club it was me. I love the signed print that you sent me. It alone is worth joining the fan club. My collection all started with the cherry fan pull that my friend Pat gave me for Christmas in 2000. Collecting your art is a wonderful fat free legal addiction. Thanks for inviting us to play with you!”
“I just joined! Why? Because I missed Mary’s bright and beautiful designs! I loved the ME Magazine. I bought ME fabrics on line and made a quilt to cheer up my adult daughter who as seriously ill. It worked! I saved the paper dolls to share with my granddaughter–she still has them. I just got my welcoming poster–its awesome! I can’t wait to see what’s next!”
“Although I did just sign on last week, I am excited to see the fun that Club Mary has to offer. But mostly, because I attended your lovely workshop last year, and because it was so inviting to be among artist friends in your very sweet studio, I am looking most forward to early notices on upcoming events! I have learned that the connection and support between artist’s hearts are the most endearing in the world! Thank you for helping to connect us online, in person and with genuine Mary style wit and class like no other! I am truly inspired.”
“Joining Club Mary has added a little more fun to my life! I look forward to reading the Club Mary blog every day, since I know it is full of news and surprises. Sometimes the surprise is a special offer for Club members at the online store, or a special prize drawing, or early news about the next Home Companion workshop. The beautiful and meaningful print that Mary designed for Club members was definitely worth the membership fee. I am also looking forward to being a part of the quarterly online chats that the club will be having in 2012. The first chat will be coming up soon!”
“I’ve admired Mary’s artwork since that first article I read about her in Better Homes and Gardens in 1983. The first tins in my HUGE ME tin collection have ME1983 on them. I’ve been lucky to attend at least 4 ME book signings! One of the most fun days in my life was spent at the workshop at the ME studios last summer. I even touched Mary’s drawing table! It was so FUN to be able to explore the ME studios! It was FABULOUS having Mary at the workshop!! Being at the workshop with Mary and all of the women was and incredibly, creative experience! I sound terribly spoiled! I am not. I choose carefully how I spend any discretionary income I have. I feel very fortunate to be a Club Mary member! Even though I am only one of 1000′s of ME fans, being part of Club Mary makes me feel special. Mary just might know who I am. I thank her for the opportunity to be a Club Mary member!”
“For 23 years I’ve known Mary through her art! And now I will know her as a sister in Club Mary! Her work has cheered me and lightened my heart during some very dark days — and has made wonderful days even more delightful. To be able to join Club Mary has been “a blessing not in disguise!” My gratitude for my life increases by the heart full every time I see her art.”
Thank you so much for all your kind comments (I SWEAR to you we didn’t get any negative ones!!) and we hope to welcome as many new members as would like to join!
~Mary
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We have the CUTEST stuff at Michaels right now, if I do say so myself, and I think all you crafty creative types are going to love it! Pens and sets of pencils with the words Create, Draw, Craft, Dream, and Imagine on them in bold black lettering, notepads and journals with similarly encouraging drawings, all for just $1.00/$1.50 each. Anybody would be inspired at that price, right? They won’t be there long, so hurry on over to your nearest Michaels and pick some up while they last. Gotta grab that inspiration when it hits!
~Mary
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What a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year! Yesterday our little neighborhood celebrated the 100th birthday of our neighbor, Mr. Louis Oldani, who has lived here in the same house for all of his adult life. He still drives his GIGANTIC ’69 Oldsmobile to visit family and friends and run errands, and still mows his own lawn! Our neighborhood is wrapped around an island that for years was an overgrown, often flooded, who-knows-what-is-living-in-there mess. 2 years ago the trustees decided to clean it up and put a bench in there and dedicate it to Mr. Oldani. It’s still a work in progress (once it was cleared it seemed MUCH bigger than we thought!), but yesterday we put the plaque on the bench and Mr Oldani leaned against it and told stories of what the neighborhood used to look like and who used to live where. He’s very funny and charming and thrilled to be 100—I bet he’s got at least another 10, 15 years in him! He is a wonderful inspiration for the new year. May we all be as happy, hale and hearty as Mr. Oldani!
~Mary
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Relax and have a happy Christmas!
~Mary
I thought you might like to see the studio all gussied up for the holidays. John took these photos as we were getting ready for our Workshop last November. It’s always fun to see these old decorations each year—- next year we hope to have lots of new ones available for you to buy! As Mikayla says, “Keep your Christmas fingers crossed!”
~Mary
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