Martha Wishes Oprah The Best

The news that Oprah Winfrey will be leaving daytime talk to pursue the creation of an Oprah Winfrey network has people wondering what the world will be like without a daily dose of the Talk Show Queen on cable. At a celebration dinner for rapper P. Diddy, friends and supporters were not surprised by her decision. Martha Stewart, who considers Oprah to be the best television host of all time, told reporters that she has no doubt Oprah Winfrey will go on to do bigger and better things. "She'll do another show," Martha said. "She's evolving. She's fabulous!"


Martha and Oprah have been mutual admirers for decades. When Martha was starting her television show in the early 1990's, it was Oprah's on-air confidence and authority that Martha was going for. Alternately, when Oprah started her magazine years later, it was Martha Stewart Living she used as a template.

What do you guys think about a Martha Stewart Network?

Martha on Nightline

Ever wonder what it's like to have a day like Martha's? On, Thursday, November 19th you'll be able to find out! On ABC's Nightline, host Cynthia McFadden and her camera crew join Martha from dawn til dusk in a feature interview. Cynthia takes part in a morning workout with Martha and joins her in the kitchen for a delicious breakfast. Next it's a tour of the farm, and then to Manhattan to the MSLO offices and the television studio. The interviews with Martha are candid. Martha says she never gets sick ("Who has time to get sick?") and that she is not a normal person. She discusses prison and the subsequent comeback she says is still far from complete. She also discusses Rachael Ray, pointing out that Rachael is not a teacher or a true author, but more of an entertainer. (Ouch!) You can see a brief clip here. Be sure to tune in to see the full interview!

Martha and Cynthia chat it up with Martha's housekeeper in Martha's Bedford kitchen.

This Year's Stationery

Since I discovered Etsy early last year I have been a fastidious supporter of the venture: think eBay with a homemade bent. On Etsy anyone can set up a 'shop' to sell their crafts and handmade goods, from knitted scarfs and handmade clothing to stationery and journals. Whatever crafty item you're looking for, you'll find it on Etsy.

I ordered my holiday stationery from a seller on Etsy (byvikINK) that I have been very pleased with in the past. She specializes in one-of-a-kind letterpress designs, which I absolutely love. I ordered these packages of holiday stationery last week and received them today. Each package contains a set of six cards with coloured envelopes. If you'd like to forego the usual cards this year, I urge you to explore Etsy.

I love the Scandanavian-folk designs of my cards this year, and the detail of the imagery. They're elegant without being ostentatious or gaudy and they still have that element of whimsy and fun that the holidays are all about. I hope you like them. At least a few of you readers will be receiving one in the mail...but which one? You'll have to wait.

Take a Bough

There is no written rule about foregoing container gardening in the chill of the winter months. In fact, a front porch or walkway flanked by beautiful winter arrangements in sturdy containers can add zest and colour to an otherwise dreary landscape. Look to these clever containers below, which combine traditional and unexpected elements, and create your own outdoor holiday pots for a hit of holiday pizzazz on your stoop this winter.

Use plastic, concrete or iron containers for these arrangements, since ceramics may crack from the cold, especially where moisture is involved. Insert a small bucket or jug into the garden container and fill with water. Place the boughs and berry branches inside. The water will likely freeze, keeping the boughs in place and preserving their stems for longer-lasting greenery. On mild days, the boughs will be able to drink from this well. In the arrangement above, oversized cones from California's sugar pine mingle with hot-pink king proteas from South Africa, scarlet native winterberries, cedar boughs and Scotch pine branches. Fasciated willow gives the arrangement height.

Country goes upscale as green apples and pears are tucked in among magnolia leaves and gold-tipped cedar under a fountain of yellow dogwood twigs. Faux fruit, which is used here, is longer lasting and easier to secure to the arrangement. For the best effect, group the fruit into bunches and layer the foliage for volume.

A brilliant red container plays host to winterberries, magnolia leaves, fasciated willow and a traditional mix of pine and fir branches with California sugar pinecones tucked in.

This sturdy concrete vessel holds a mixture of boxwood boughs, winterberry sprigs, thin birch logs for contrast and red dogwood twigs for height. Nestled into the boxwood is a glass lantern with a candle.

(photos by Canadian Gardening Life magazine)

A Man for all Species

Pet expert, and pet-store owner, Marc Morrone, has a new book on petkeeping on the way. The book, "A Man for All Species" charts the experiences and adventures of a master pet keeper and animal lover and he imparts his advice on raising animals at home. Many of us know Marc from his appearances on Martha Stewart Living television and The Martha Stewart Show. We've heard him on the radio and read his columns in some of Martha's magazines, including Kids and Martha Stewart Living. Martha writes the foreword of his new book, which will be out on April 20th, 2010.

I hadn't realized that Marc had written these small books for children about pet keeping: Ask The Cat Keeper, Ask the Dog Keeper, Ask the Fish Keeper and Ask the Bird Keeper.

Sewing and Fabric Crafts Book

As reported here earlier this year, Martha will be releasing a companion encyclopedia to her "Encyclopedia of Crafts," released last spring. This one, due out on March 30, 2010, will be devoted strictly to sewing and fabric projects and will include a special CD with templates and patterns that you can download and print (or upload to a digital sewing machine) making it simple to create the same patterns in the book at home. Below is the cover of the book.

Marthawear

It was through my friend Kenn that I discovered a new feature in the "Shop" section of Marthastewart.com. It's a section devoted to 'Marthawear' - everything the Martha fan needs to show a hint of Marthaness. It includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, aprons, various tote bags and an umbrella. Below are three of my favourites. Orders are filled by Amazon.com but are not eligible for shipping outside the U.S.
Okay, so it's just a brown t-shirt with a few words written on it. But, oh such iconic words!

I've got to get one of these totes. It has the large "Martha" logo from the television show wrapping around the sides. It looks sturdy and is made of thick, heavy canvas. Heavy duty!
What makes the umbrella attractive is the multi-coloured stripe detail under the top. Lovely!

Everyday Food: Sharing the Joy

The December 2009 issue of Everyday Food will soon be making its debut on newsstands. I received my copy in the mail today and it's a delightful companion to Living. As the editor writes in her letter, Everyday Food balances the "practical with the special," which is what I've always loved about the magazine. At holiday time, espcially, there is nothing more refreshing than preparing a simple, pared-down dinner made with fresh and light ingredients: simple to prepare and wonderful to eat. This issue has these recipes alongside richer fare, including all kinds of cookies, squares, fudge, truffles and cakes.

Margaret Roach's New Book

Margaret Roach, former editorial director for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, author of the excellent book A Way to Garden and current administrator of its companion blog, awaytogarden.com, is in the midst of writing her new gardening book. I was excited to hear over the weekend that the first draft of her 70,000-word tome was turned into her publisher just a few days ago. In a newsletter to her regular readers, Margaret shares some information about the new book, which is due out sometime in November or December of 2010. I'll share them with you now:

"It was the longest piece of writing I'd ever attempted, and also the most personal. It's a book about dropping out, at midlife and in peak career; about trying not to be afraid of lost prestige or about money - or about snakes or electric storms and whatever else rattles my cage.

"It is a story about starting to realize a dream I'd had for more than 20 years but always been too afraid to try - to live in my rural garden fulltime and return to the personal creativity that got lost in my executive years in publishing. It's a book about letting nature be the guide, finally, and listening to its signals; about looking for (and finding) some peace.

"...Awaytogarden.com was the first thing I created in the aftermath of my old life. It is the most precious possession in my new life, largely because of how welcome and connected all of you make me feel each day, even as I sit alone at my table in Nowheresville at my old table littered with all my writing stuff, pondering."

Margaret is an exceptional writer and is certainly my favourite garden writer. She perfectly blends the philosophical with the practical, which is so much of what true gardening is about. She uses language gorgeously, weaving engaging sentences that make the reader want to get down into the dirt and start digging. I'm sure this new book will be incredible and I can't wait to read it!

Entertaining with Martha and Emeril

Martha Stewart Living Radio is proud to present a special live broadcast of Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse, together, for an hour-long discussion about holiday entertaining. They will take your calls and questions and are excited to be making a very special announcement, so be sure to tune in to Sirius Satellite 112 at 4 pm to hear the news!