Saying Goodbye

When I started the Martha Moments blog five years ago I had no grand scheme propelling my weekly (often nightly) posts; there was no singular aim, no true 'destination' in mind. I simply wanted to blog about Martha Stewart's offerings to the world: her magazines, her television shows, her books, her houses, her vision of what a good life was all about. So inspired was I by her company and its numerous media that I was compelled to document it, archive it and share this passion with others. It was always a labour of love.

I certainly had no idea it would eventually lead to meeting her on two separate occasions, including filming a segment of her TV show with her in New York!

My first exposure to Martha Stewart Living magazine was in 1995. I was a senior in high school, focusing on my art education. Amid a sea of old magazines that our class used for inspiration there was a clean, bold cover that immediately took my attention: a laughing blond woman holding up a vintage dress at a flea market under a title that seemed to say it all: Living. (September, 1993 issue.)

I pored over that magazine with an interest I had not felt before. The content was warm and comforting, conjuring memories I had of growing up, of excursions to antique markets with my mother, of drawing landscaping plans with my dad at our old kitchen table, of sampling my grandmother’s cooking and of taking pride in the little things our family accomplished around the house each day, each week, each holiday. This was a celebration of living life to the fullest at its most essential apex: the home. More than this, I was learning things and expanding on those memories with a new sense of knowledge and insight, broadening my understanding of home maintenance and deepening my appreciation of creating beauty at home, understanding why it was important and moving forward in my own life with a desire to impart this knowledge to others.

The first issue I purchased myself was in 1999 while I was in college, a wonderful issue with Martha on the cover surrounded by a bevy of felines. It had been four years since I had seen that 1993 issue in art class but through television I had gotten to know “Martha Stewart” quite well, and the interest and appreciation had deepened. I vowed to get every issue from that point on and I kept that promise. (I also purchased a backlog of issues on eBay, expanding my collection to encompass every issue from 1996 onward.)

“Why?” I am so often asked. “Why does a young man from Canada have such an interest in Martha Stewart Living?” The answer is not at all complicated. I am an artistic soul with a natural reverence for home, architecture and domestic tradition. I am curious and I am always eager to learn. I am visual. I am creative. And I love life. No other magazine celebrates life in such a remarkable way, with such a beautiful presentation of ideas and information. The Martha Moments blog emerged as a result of my desire to celebrate this brand I came to adore, and to join with other readers of the magazine, viewers of the television shows, listeners of the radio programs and users of the products.

But the time has come now for me to put Martha Moments on hold - at least temporarily. The reasons behind this decision rest somewhere between the personal and professional spheres of my life. I just feel it's time to say goodbye.


If you'd like to keep up with me, I will still be maintaining my personal blog (called simply Andrew's Blog) and actually hope to be able to devote more time to developing it, posting about my many other interests (Martha-related topics will show up there too, no doubt!) and sharing a more personal perspective on design, food, books, film, fashion, art, life and love.


For those of you who MUST have a Martha fix, I strongly urge you to read the blog of my dear friend Kenn ( House Blend ) and, of course, Martha's personal blog. Please use this blog as a resource and archive. It would be a great honour to me to know that many of you will still continue to use it and visit some of the older links. (If you want to read more about me and Martha Moments, click here.)


I worked very hard on Martha Moments (the design and the content) to make sure it was of interest to her fans: if I was interested in it, surely others would be too! I would hate to see it all go to waste, so it's here if you need it - all kinds of information about her products, her homes, her business, her TV show, her magazines (here and abroad) and so much more. Please explore the links to the side. Perhaps one day I'll return to Martha Moments. The unfolding of time and life will determine that. One thing is sure: I will continue to subscribe to Martha Stewart Living magazine, to buy her books and continue to learn from such an amazing teacher.


Lastly, I would simply like to thank every single person who has ever found Martha Moments to be of interest, anyone who has found it inspiring or informative or entertaining. And I thank my 'core readers' (you know who you are!) for always, always keeping me inspired in turn! You were truly the wind in my sails! Please do stay in touch with me. With love and so many thanks for five years of beauty, joy and a myriad of Martha Moments, I bid you adieu.


Yours so sincerely, Andrew Ritchie