Martha's Harvest Collection at Macy's

Each year at Macy's, the Martha Stewart Collection presents a Thanksgiving capsule for kitchen and tabletop that inspires. This year is no different and some of the offerings are quite nice. With just seven days to go before American Thanksgiving, now would be the time to shop. Pre-Black-Friday sales have already kicked in with promises of further reductions next week. So, why not have a look to see if there are any items that may spruce up your table or make your holiday meal prep a little easier. Below are some images of the collection snagged from Martha's blog and from the Macy's website: items I find particularly charming. Click here to see the full Harvest Collection by Martha Stewart.

A mix of rustic themes with modern materials keeps things looking fresh. I like the combination of wood with ceramic, silver with brass and plain with patterned. There is a twelve-piece dinnerware set on offer as well as plenty of table accessories. The gleaming salt and pepper shakers on the right are adorable.

One tureen, two ways! Martha suggests using this pumpkin-shaped tureen (which comes with a lid and ladle) to serve hot apple cider, shown above, or to display a fall centerpiece for the table, below. You could, of course, also use it for soup - its traditional purpose.

This set of four pumpkin-themed napkin holders is quite nice. They are made of zinc alloy and can be cleaned by simply wiping with a dry cloth.

I think everyone needs a classic turkey platter in their collection and this one fits the bill. A careful observer will notice the scene of Martha's Bedford farm depicted in the background as well as her old cedar fencing, which she imported from Canada.

Make things fun and festive in the kitchen, too, with themed tea towels, trivets and brassy utensils. Not shopping for yourself? Think 'hostess gift' too!

Martha and the Food Network Kitchen App

Martha is one of several celebrity chefs who will be taking part in a new cooking app developed by The Food Network. For $48 a year, subscribers to Discovery's Food Network Kitchen app will have access to live and interactive cooking demonstrations by some of America's most renowned cookbook authors and cooking-show stars, including Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Guy Fieri. The app will feature live cooking courses, on-demand cooking classes and videos that will teach you about cooking tools and techniques. Some of Martha's first videos will be about Thanksgiving. Click the link above to learn more and subscribe. (There is currently a three-month free trial for the service. The app is available to US residents only).

Martha's Christmas Wares at QVC

Last week, Martha launched her 2019 holiday collection on QVC. From wreaths to trees to outdoor lights to various indoor/outdoor decorations, the line is quite expansive. Below I've selected some of my personal favourites from the collection. Click here to view it all and watch video clips of Martha discussing the products from her stables at Cantitoe Corners, her home in Bedford, New York.

I'll start with my favourite item from the collection: this Scandinavian-inspired wooden advent calendar with 24 tiny drawers to conceal a daily surprise. It is very reasonably-priced and measures 16 inches by 16.25 inches by 3 inches deep and comes pre-lit with a festive village scene. It is meant to sit on a dresser or table and does not come with any hanging hardware, although the crafty ones among us would surely be able to rig something up to make it possible to mount on a wall. I just think it's really cute!

There are numerous artificial trees in the collection, but my favourite is this natural looking, pre-lit spruce variety. It stands 7.5 feet tall and is available with both clear and multicoloured lights. It also comes in a 6.5 foot version and a five-foot version.

If retro-glam is more your style, then this 9-foot tall gold tinsel tree provides maximum impact. It is also available in silver and, like its realistic sibling above, comes pre-lit with a collapsible stand. All of the trees in Martha's collection come with replacement bulbs and fuses as well as protective gloves for installation.

Not everyone needs or wants a large Christmas tree. This diminutive variety (24 inches) is made of gold-flecked pinecones with gold ornaments interspersed, placed inside a small stone-like urn. It is simple on its own on a small table or stand and would look stunning in a pair set on either side of a mantel or on a dining table: rustic but elegant.

I'm really fond of this natural-looking wreath. I love the silvery greens and the feathery textures of the white pine and the eucalyptus. Though it is all artificial, it looks very real. It is also pre-lit with 20 LED lights that are battery-operated. The lights can be adjusted to flicker or to stay on all the time. It would be beautiful on your door all winter long.

As part of the same greenery line, this group of four 18-inch winter-floral picks can be used either indoors or outdoors to add to a holiday scene. Simply tuck the sprays into a tree for some added flourish or conceal the ends under a lantern to create a green surround. They can be layered along a mantel or placed into an urn outdoors to create a festive bouquet. A very ingenious and useful item to help with your decorating.

 Never one to ignore the benefits of good organization, Martha is offering this set of three Christmas tree storage bags in her signature Beford Gray. The bags are suitable for most 7.5 foot and 6.5 foot trees and are designed to store your trees carefully so that they look their best year after year. Each bag has a label insert and pouches to store extra fuses and lights. It's a Good Thing.

Bats in Sarah's Belfry

My friend Sarah Konyer in Vancouver got a bit batty this Halloween. Taking a page (literally) from the October issue of Martha Stewart Living, she endeavored to recreate the batty mantel from the Good Things section. And I must say, she scored top marks! The magazine provides a helpful bat template, which Sarah used for her dining room decor, below, and suggests affixing the paper creatures to the walls using adhesive dots.

 Sarah used a horde of small paper bats that, when assembled en masse, seem to be flying frantically out from the open flue. The trick is to cluster them slightly near the bottom and then spread them out as you near the ceiling, giving the swarm some dimension. Bending the wings adds to the effect.

For comparison, the image that appeared in the magazine is on the left and Sarah's interpretation is on the right. Both are magazine-worthy!

Sarah used Martha's bat template for this creepy bat arrangement that hung upside down in her dining room prior to her Halloween soiree. A very effective (and spooky) look all around!