Martha's Buri Animal Ornaments

New from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's this year are these sets of four animal ornaments. Buri is a fiber made from the Buri palm trees in the Philippines, twisted tightly around a series of wires. The wires are then cut and dyed and finally formed into various shapes. In this case, the shapes are adorable little creatures from various parts of the globe, grouped into collections of four based on geographical location: Africa, the Arctic and the woodlands of North America. They are $25 for a set of four online and in store there are numerous other animals from the menagerie to choose from. Cute!

Also be sure to note this 2011 Christmas ornament with Martha's signature.

The Beekman Boys in Toronto

Each time I see them, I become more convinced of their tremendous talents: the Fabulous Beekman Boys, Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell. This time, the meeting was on my turf, in Toronto! The pair were in town to promote their new cookbook, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook. (Watch for a feature interview with them in tomorrow's National Post.) Sadly, their television program The Fabulous Beekman Boys which airs on Planet Green is not available in Canada and not many people north of the border are aware of the pair's fascinating story and incredible, homegrown products which they produce on their farm in Sharon Springs, New York. 

But, there were a few of us die-hards waiting to have our books signed. Seeing how happy Brent and Josh were to see me reminded me that they are very special friends, indeed. They did tell me they are working on getting their program on the air up here, so let's all cross our fingers. In the meantime, please do visit their website to view their new line of holiday ornaments and provisions (all can be shipped to Canada!) and pick up a copy of their cookbook at a bookstore near you! You will all enjoy the heirloom aspect of the book: a section that allows you to copy your own recipes for generations to come, and spaces in the margins to make notes and additions to their recipes. Below are a few photos from our afternoon.

This is the store where the book signing was held - a beautiful housewares store located in a former mansion on Toronto's tony Yorkville Avenue. Teatro Verde offers the best in home accessories, bath and beauty lines, fresh-cut flower arrangements, books and more. It's an incredible space.

It was so great to catch up with Josh and Brent, face to face. We have a fairly long history and it was wonderful to see these two exceptional people again: warm, delightful, engaging. 

A gorgeous merchandising moment at the top of the stairs at Teatro Verde. The owners of the store, Shawn Gibson and Michael Pellegrino, do all of the designing themselves. Truly spectacular. (And you should see the flower arrangements they make!)

After the book signing, I took Brent and Josh to Anthropologie (where I work) for an impromptu visit. We also sell their book and they were pleased to see such a beautiful and energetic store, bustling with activity. They both signed a few copies for our customers.

Martha's American Food

I am definitely someone who enjoys living in the moment, but I am also notoriously prone to looking forward, my gaze fixed firmly on the next, the new, the up-and-coming. Martha's 77th book will be released on April 24th, 2012 (after the release of Everyday Food Light, which comes out on December 27th, my birthday). The book, entitled Martha's American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation's Most Treasured Dishes, From Coast to Coast, promises to be yet another essential encyclopedia of classic recipes for Martha Stewart collectors and connaisseurs. The hardcover, 432-page book was authored by Martha and will present the most celebrated and most culturally-recognized foods from the United States. I'm really looking forward to it!

The Vegetable Feast

In the November issue of Martha Stewart Living, my favourite feature can be found on page 136: a glorious spread about the virtues of a Thanksgiving table laden with serving pieces and centerpieces fashioned out of heads of cabbage, turnips and ornamental kale. I love the styling of the photographs as much as I love the ideas they present, and I wanted to revisit them here on the blog before U.S. Thanksgiving tomorrow. I hope the photos inspire you to create a lovely table in your home!

Ornamental kale (shown potted in the wooden bushels) is available at many floral shops and garden centers this time of year. They bring a sense of volume and texture to the table, not to mention beautiful colour, and they do very well as houseplants. I also love the deep blue table cloth and the brushed-steel chairs. The table setting is an eclectic mix of rustic charm and modern sophistication.

A serving table is brought to life with a splendid arrangement of delicious things. The serving dishes themselves are edible: hollowed-out cabbages and glass bowls lined with cabbage leaves proffer delights from the garden and an assortment of dips.

I was obsessed with this photograph for several days after I first saw it: the light and shadow, the mixture of colours, tones and textures. It's so beautiful - such a lovely presentation of ideas. (All photos by Marcus Nilsson.)

Sweet, Sweet Paul

It boggles my mind that I have never blogged about Sweet Paul magazine. I'm sure many of you have heard of (or are obsessed with) this beautiful online magazine. It is a glorious publication devoted to food and lifestyle that publishes four times a year - soon to be six, hopefully. The style is whimsical and light, aspirational and inspirational with tremendous original recipes to dazzle the palette, crafts to excite the creative spirit and decorating ideas to entice your artistic side.

"Readers say it's as if Anthropologie did Martha Stewart Living," says Paul Lowe, the founder and creative director of the magazine. (As someone who works at Anthropologie and subscribes to Martha Stewart Living, you can imagine how delighted I am by that. We, at Anthropologie, constantly source Sweet Paul for inspiration.)

Paul Lowe Einlyng, the founder of Sweet Paul, grew up in Norway and is now living in New York City, working as a stylist, editor, publisher and magazine developer. He also blogs. His latest issue, the holiday issue, has published and Paul contacted me to make sure I let all of you know. He is extremely proud of this particular issue - his biggest one yet. You can view it and download it here. Below are some samples from its lovely pages. I hope they will entice you enough to become regular readers! And please do try the recipes; they are straightforward, using simple but delicious ingredients, and the results are sure to satisfy.

Simple holiday wreaths.

BIG cookies.

Tartan crafts.

The best holiday foods.

Eat your greens...

...but save room for chocolate.

Handmade jewelry how-tos.

New Martha Serveware at Macy's

Luster and shimmer on a holiday table make the dining experience all the more festive and I am so enamored with these shiny, leaf-themed serving platters, plates and bowls from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's. They would be perfect for a woodland-themed holiday table, or as whimsical accents to a more traditional theme. There are two primary collections: the Park Leaves line and the Park Flowers line; the former is available in gold as well as silver. The pieces are cast from aluminum (the gold set is lacquered) and are highly polished for a lustrous shine. They are food-safe but are not dishwasher safe and should be washed by hand or with a damp cloth. Below is a gallery of some of the pieces I covet, and with shipping now available to Canadians, some of these are well within reach!

Included here is a serving platter, a salad bowl a snack bowl and serving spoons. The items are sold separately but are available in gold or silver.

The Park Flowers line is limited only to a few pieces but they are just as stunning.

I love the elegant shape of this Park Leaves serving tray.

Sleek, shiny and bright. Just imagine how gorgeous it would look with few rows of perfectly made hors d'oeuvres.

Martha's new wood serveware sets blend beautifully with the Park Leaves collection.

Silver handles elevate the wood pieces to a new level of sophistication.

Martha's Snow Lace Collection

I'm such a sucker for a pretty package. If it has detail, intricacy and a thoughtful theme, I am guaranteed to be smitten - and will likely delay the opening process just to admire the loveliness. That's why I fell in love with the Snow Lace food packaging and labeling products by Martha Stewart Crafts, a line that is new to their holiday collection of craft supplies this year, available at Michael's and other craft-supply retailers. I love the red and white (very candy-cane, very Scandinavian) and I love the wintry lightness of some of the blues, greys and greens. They are the perfect vehicle for your artfully-baked and decorated holiday goodies! Below is a gallery of some of my favourite packages from the collection. You can see the full collection here.

Snow Lace Present Treat Box

Snow Lace Ornament Treat Box

Snow Lace Die Cut Treat Bags

Snow Lace Treat Bags

Snow Lace Bakeable Trays (Put them right in the oven!)

Snow Lace Compartment Treat Box

Snow Lace Wine Labels

Snow Lace Vellum Stickers

Snow Lace Labels

Snow Lace Ribbon

Snow Lace Gift Tags

Snow Lace Cardboard Coasters

 Snow Lace Mini Drink Picks

Snow Lace Mini Food Picks

December Magic

One of the best arrivals in my mailbox each year is the December issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine. Few publications can even begin to rival the seasonal inspiration found in its pages. This year, the feel of the magazine is decidedly modern yet it retains that sense of whimsy and fun that makes the holidays so special. There is a lot of emphasis on the themes of light and clarity and all-things celestial. I love it! Below is a quick preview of its pages.  

The cover is simple with lots of moody impact.

A great article on stars: tree toppers, cookies, ornaments and more.

A delicious and festive holiday menu.

Kevin Sharkey entertains at his Manhattan apartment. The results are beautiful!

Martha reveals the special photo books that she made for her granddaughter, Jude.

Meeting Martha

Martha Moments reader Brandon Budrow sent in this photo of Martha signing copies of her book Martha's Entertaining A Year of Celebrations at the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, last week. Brian says Martha signed his copy of the book. "She's amazing!" he says. A lovely Martha Moment! Thanks, Brandon.

Martha Speaks at Google

Martha gave a wonderful, insightful interview with Google executive Marissa Mayer recently. She gave advice on entrepreneurship, the importance of technology, 'evergreen content' and her new book Martha's Entertaining. The interview is a bit lengthy, but it's worth watching.

Special Issue: Holiday Handbook

'Tis the season to collect special holiday issues! Martha doesn't disappoint with this latest offering. This special supplement to Martha Stewart Living contains the best holiday ideas from past issues of Martha Stewart Living, plus plenty of new content. You'll find recipes for cookies, cakes and treats, handmade gift ideas, wreath how-tos, card-making guides, lighting ideas and the most beautiful Christmas trees! On sale now where magazines are sold!