Customer Reviews

Mary Engelbreit's Outdoor Companion: The Mary Engelbreit Look and How to Get It (Mary Engelbreit's Companion)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ME has taken her indoor style outdoors. It's an imaginative source for decorating the garden with whimsy. If you are looking for ideas on what to plant and how to keep it alive, this is not the book for you, go directly to Better Homes and Gardens!

This book is as wonderful as I had expected it to be ! I am truly inspired to create in my "outdoor rooms" now and I now realize just how much work I have ahead of me as well ! The projects are extremely do-able and will make terrific mother's and father's day gifts as well as welcome additions to my own sad little garden. After doing several of the projects in ME's Children's Companion, I can share that her ideas are easily adapted to your own tastes and needs and you don't need to feel obligated to exactly duplicate her wonderful ideas... they're a fantastic spring board for your own creations.

Every gardener, especially those intrigued with the whimsical style of Mary Englebreit, will adore this book. Each beautiful photograph makes you want to spend hours in the gardens shown. And the playhouse section is a personal favorite of mine and my 4 year old daughter (she has her dad working on making some additions to her playhouse based on ideas from the book!) There are details of special projects, as well as just some great ideas for garden extras, from simple to elaborate. Even for those with a brown thumb, like me, who garden best in their imagination, this book is a treasure that will be read and re-read for the visual treat that it is!

Mary Englebreit has a very definitive look, and the pages of this book are filled with lovely photos that embody her style perfectly. Pictures aside, this book is not a very helpful gardening tool, since the captions do not indicate what types of flowers or plants have been used to make up the great settings pictured. The book's cover states that the reader will be shown how to obtain "the look", but one can't very well do that if no where does it say what flowers are used, can they? Over all, nice to look at, but not a big help .

If you love the plantings and gracious, homey scenes in Mary Engelbreit's cards and art work, then you will love this book. The photos show steppingstones, garden archways, window boxes bursting with flowers, idylic porches and quaint potting sheds. This idea book helps you picture how to transform your outdoor space with the Engelbreit look.
There are some projects telling how to make a birdbath, wind chimes from a sand pail and sand shovels, a planter box, a painted deck chair, a gardening tote, and to make a garden jacket from vintage tablecloths. The instructions are fairly skimpy, but will get you going if you're handy.
The book is a visual feast with the color photos interspersed with her art.

THIS IS A DELIGHTFUL BOOK. I HAVE GOTTEN GREAT IDEAS TO COPY. I AM USING THESE IDEAS FOR CHURCH AND HOME PROJECTS. I WISH I COULD AFFORD TO BUY ALL OF MARY ENGELBREIT'S BOOKS. THEY BRIGHTEN UP MY DAYS.

lots of things to look at and read about in this book. really liked it.

Books a little older but still crammed full of Engelbrit's wonderful ideas for your outside gardens. Shabby chic for you outdoors. Not to may painting projects if that is what you are looking for.

Was just like they said. Great condition. Lots of craft ideas. Wonderful service!