It's going to be a very Mary week I think!

I'm so excited this week I can hardly sleep.  I'm waiting anxiously for the next MEHC magazine to land in my mailbox (nothing today, rats!) .  In the meantime I want to be a showoff (sorry, but isn't that what having a blog is all about?). 

I have been a huge Mary Engelbreit fan for as long as I can remember.  Since the days when she only had greeting cards I have adored her artwork, humor and CUTENESS darnit.  I remember where I was standing when I saw my first Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Magazine.  I practically yelled "She has a magazine!" out loud in Borders ( I think I whispered it loudly to Joey).  I snatched that baby up and began my love affair with the publication.   I was shocked and dismayed when I soon realized that I had in my possession not the first issue of MEHC, but the second issue.  This has been a constant irritation to me all these years and I tried to order the first issue but they appeared to not have any more.

Here's my precious collection with issue #1 sadly missing.  Beautiful but lacking.

Fast forward 10 years... when I am given the opportunity of a lifetime as Heather Bailey asks me to help her by sewing some things for the article MEHC is doing on her (I have tears welling up in my eyes right now, that's how pathetic I am)(ed. revision: now that I've had time to think about it I realize I may have actually begged Heather to allow me to sew for it!).  Kathy Curotto was in charge of the photo shoot and I was seriously trying to play it cool because I was so excited to be working with someone who works with Mary and I didn't want to make a complete idiot out of myself.   Well, Heather let on that I was a huge fan (totally blowing my cool cover) and Kathy casually asked me if I had all the magazines (the test of true fan-ness I'm sure).  I said yes, all but the first.  She then told me that as a thank you for my help she would send me the first issue to complete my collection!!!  And she did.

And here it is with a nice little note.  I am complete (and yes, I checked and the paper doll is intact and perfect).  :)

I experienced some more Mary-ness today when the UPS guy (who may be giving the Fedex guy a run for his money) showed up with some boxes filled with Mary's new Friends and Flowers fabric made by Moda.  Oh joy!! 

Here's a sample.  Doesn't it look cute with the teapot (I have the matching vase too because I am a serious Mary Engelbreit fan you know)?

They are already all listed in my etsy store and they are CUTE.  And I've lowered all of my prices because I have limited space here and I want this stuff to move (so I can order more!).

I think this will be a very good week.  If you need me I'll be sitting out by the mailbox.  Waiting.

Comments

[Marie]

Jona-
I have to admit that I didn't know that Mary E. had a publication either until my sister-in-law casually mentioned it because she did a project from there, and I said, "Huh?" I know-pretty sad. Anyways, I've since signed up for the mag. several weeks ago online and have yet to recieve my first copy. I'm ready to just go and buy one at JoAnns. I love that teapot of yours and that fabric looks much prettier pictured there than in your Etsy shop. The colors are more vibrant here...I think I may have to run over and get some as soon as I can decide what project I could do with it...any ideas?

BTW, how cool is it that you get to work with Heather Bailey! I can't wait to see the new issue!

[Stephanie]

That fabric is too cute! I love, love, love the red pattern. We have the whole Ann Estelle collection made into magnets for the fridge...just waiting until 3 year old can fully appreciate them to break them out!

P.S. I love the new look of your blog.

[KellyinVA]

OK! I am officially jealous! You have the entire collection of the magazine! Wow! I, too, remember where I was when I first spotted it. Mike and I were in an airport amidst one of our many moves and there it was, in one of those magazine stands in the middle of the terminal. I let out a little yelp and said, "Mary has a magazine!" This was way back in late '98. (I can't believe I missed two years of it! How did that happen?) I love those older issues that have her drawings on the covers.

I wish you were here to help me organize my craft room. I am about to buy storage and organizational stuff and I would love your input. Maybe I'll send you some pics and see what you think.

Miss you!

[Kathryn]

I love how you use that really awesome blue dresser to display things in your photos. I can't decide if I love the dresser more or the displayed items more!! Thanks so much for sharing.

[pam]

Wow. I have all the magazines as well, but not all in one well organized place like you! Super cool. And now you're in the magazine.. woo hoo.

[Nanette]

LOVE LOVE Mary! Love her. I have many magazines but I truly bow to your collection. Fabulous. I'm so impressed. And your connection now makes you enviable. I can't wait to sew something with that fabric. I love it.

I have so many ME things at one point I had to hide some of them. My daughter even painted a little round table that looks like a ME vase for me. It's so darling. I'll have to put it on my blog sometime.

[Chris@Cats On My Quilts]

I just found your blog and I love it! I'm a big ME fan too. It's always a happy day when that magazine arrives. Look forward to seeing the new one with your work in it!

[Shelley Jo]

How *cool* is that! Wow!

[bethy]

i totally hear you. i just love ME so much. when i first discovered it i thought, how long has this existed without me knowing about it? my first issue is from 1999. what is the date on your first issue? ok, nevermind, i don't want to know. oh, ok, just tell me...

:)