MARTHA MOMENTS

My Favourite Stationers on Etsy

2012-01-26T20:08:00.001-05:00

Each January, I spend one morning, usually towards the end of the month, gathering sources for great stationery. I do this to prepare myself for the year of birthdays, holidays and special occasions that lies ahead. I never like finding myself scrambling for a greeting card at the last minute, so I definitely plan in advance, often buying unique cards when and where I see them, stocking up so that I have extras for those impromptu occasions. Inevitably, I always return to Etsy. I like buying stationery at Etsy because there is so much on offer, usually with very unique designs that you simply can't find in stores. The fact that most of the greeting cards are handmade, often using time-tested printing techniques and tools, only makes them more special. Below I've shared some of my favourite stationers on Etsy. (Many of them have a lot of cards on offer for Valentine's Day!) Please take a moment to view them.

YEE-HAW PRINTMAKING: Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, this stationer and printmaker has Southern sass to spare. Many of her prints and cards contain witty puns and campy charm but there are still favourites for the traditionalists. These oversized postcards above are ideal for Valentine's Day. Click here to see her store.

A FAVORITE DESIGN: Based in Chicago, this letterpress designer and printmaker was trained as a graphic designer. I've been a longtime customer of hers and I love the innovative and creative designs of her cards and stationery: a Valentine disguised as a movie ticket or a pack of cigarettes with the subheading, "You're Addictive." Brilliant! Click here to see her shop.

ORANGE BEAUTIFUL: Another Chicago great, Orange Beautiful has been around for ages with an actual store in that city on Damen Avenue. They operate a fairly robust business and offer a plethora of cards and stationery with designs that are modern but that speak to all sorts of tastes. Click here to see their Etsy store. Click here to read their blog, and here to see their website.

LETTERPRESS DELICACIES: Based in Austin, Texas, these guys offer crisp, clean designs, each one printed by hand. I'm particularly enamoured of the depth of the embossing and the quality of their paper, not to mention their simple but original designs. Click here to see their shop.

SILHOUETTE BLUE: Megan Nutley in Forest Park, Illinois, is the proprietor of this lovely shop that specializes in personalized stationery and letterpress, such as the 'mixed tape' wedding invitation, above. What's interesting about this business is that it first began as a senior design project in art school! Her work is vibrant, colourful and bold. Click here to see her store.

WIT AND WHISTLE: "Stylishly quirky paper goods" is their tag line and that was enough to sell me on this stationer, Amanda Wright, based in North Carolina. She offers a wide range of greeting cards, journals and prints with a whimsical touch. Click here to see her store.

BY VIK INK: I've ordered greeting cards and card sets from this stationer in San Diego for years, including the designs shown above. She offers really terrific customer service and a great selection of cards for a number of occasions. Click here to see her store.

ARAMATO DESIGNS: Amy Armato is the founder of this little business based in Minneapolis. My 2011 Christmas cards were ordered here. Again, she offers wonderful customer service and plenty of personalized options for your stationery. Click here to see her store.

SATSUMA PRESS: I have yet to order from Satsuma Press, based in Corvallis, Oregon, but I surely will. I've fallen in love with the delicate details of her designs. She calls herself a perfectionist and a firm believer in craftsmanship. I'm sold! Click here to see her work.

SYCAMORE STREET PRESS: Heber City, Utah, is the home of this stationer, which I first discovered at work (Anthropologie) where we sell many of their cards. They use sustainable inks, which is nice, and their designs are so fresh and colourful with lots of imagination behind them, such as the letterpress fortune teller, above. Click here to see their Etsy store. Click here for their website and blog.

A Dynamic Duo: Black & Gold

2012-01-25T11:48:00.000-05:00

When it comes to high-voltage drama, few colour pairings manage to inspire awe quite as successfully as black and gold. Inherently luxurious, seductively sexy and unquestionably daring, the pairing of sober black with audacious gold pushes elegance to its limits. With all its moody turbulence, winter seems like the perfect season to expound the virtues of this palette for interiors, with a few cautionary tales for good measure.

Achieving success with this pairing, whether in fashion or interiors, can be tricky. The lusty pursuit of gold shimmer can become a slippery slope towards tackiness if it isn't tempered with restraint. We've all recoiled, at one time or another, when faced with a room full of tawny brass baubles or an individual drenched from neck to finger in gold 'bling.' There is something to be said for understatement, even when dealing with a palette that is anything but.

Because it is a metallic, gold is usually the culprit when things go awry. Black, the darkest of neutrals, is safe because of its flatness and can be used generously. Gold gets randy and shouts to be seen, which is why it should be used as an adornment, like jewelry, brilliantly capturing light and warming it against the coldness of black, which creates the gorgeous tension of light and dark. It is the tension that makes it sexy and powerful.

The effect one achieves with black and gold will always be dramatic. It is not a combination for the blushing flower. If you want impact and glamour, this dynamic duo does it best.

Everyday Food Light: Review

2012-01-23T13:32:00.001-05:00

Over the holidays, I gained seven pounds. That's not terrible, but it certainly isn't good. Unrelenting cups of eggnog, glasses of wine, hors d'oeuvres and very large dinner plates filled with comfort foods took their toll. (And don't even get me started on all of the baked treats I scarfed down over a 10-day period.)

January is always a time to refresh and renew, whether it's your home or your body. Thankfully, the editors of Everyday Food magazine have offered up a new cookbook that is all about preparing light meals. It's caveat? That all of the recipes be no more than 500 calories. The salmon burger with yogurt-dill sauce and whole-wheat bun you see on the cover below, for instance, is just 332 calories. Pretty amazing.

To tell you the truth, I am not really a calorie counter. As Julia Child once said, "People who love to eat are always the best people." Very true, indeed. I love food more than I can really express. In fact, before I go to bed each night, I secretly plan my breakfast so I have something delicious to wake up to. This is why I am not generally a fan of 'diet' cookbooks, fearing the recipes inside will be flavourless, pulpy and filled with lists of hard-to-find ingredients. What I have come to love about Everyday Food (the magazine, and the three cookbooks the magazine has developed so far) is that I can rely on the editors to count the calories for me and to present an array of meal options that involve simple, at-the-ready ingredients, fast prep times and delicious flavours. Everyday Food Light does all of that.

Soy-glazed Tofu and Roasted Carrots: a light Asian dish packed with flavour, not calories.

The book divides its recipes by season, which is probably the most effective way to organize a cookbook, although organizing by meal, course or time of day is also handy. There are 203 recipes in the book, subdivided by meal within the seasonal chapters. And, again, each recipe is under 500 calories. The editors are very careful to boldly state the calories on each page and also provide helpful insight as to why the recipes are light and healthful: explaining the health benefits of certain ingredients and ways to enrich flavours.

Following an introduction from Martha, the book begins with a very excellent chapter that outlines a number of ways to cook healthier meals. There are the "Golden Rules for Eating Light," which I will outline below, and informative sections on healthy cooking methods: poaching, steaming, cooking in parchment, stir-frying, roasting and grilling. (No, folks, deep-frying is not on order.) There is also a helpful guide to the tools any kitchen should be equipped with in order to assist with light cooking (steamer baskets, roasting pans, parchment paper, immersion blender, grill pans, etc.) followed by an excellent list of flavour-boosters to help enrich the process of cooking light with that much-needed dose of deliciousness: marinades, dry rubs, herbs, spices, salsas, citrus juices and zests, etc.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to try their hand at lighter cooking or simply add a few lighter options to their repertoire. I also think this is a great book for anyone interested in vegetarian cooking. While it is not designated as a vegetarian cookbook (there are many recipes with meat and fish for the carnivores among us) most of the book highlights the goodness of vegetables and fruits, grains and meat substitutions, such as tofu and beans. Some of the recipes could likely be considered vegan, although they are not labeled as such. Check it out at your local book store or order it from Amazon here. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Below are the golden rules of eating light that the book provides in its introduction.

Herbed Pasta Salad with Mixed Grilled Vegetables

THE GOLDEN RULES OF EATING LIGHT:

Rethink your routine: Instead of frying or sautéing, try lower-fat cooking techniques such as steaming, poaching, grilling and roasting.

Make simple substitutions: Use yogurt instead of sour cream; instead of full-fat versions, use reduced-fat varieties of milk, cream cheese and mayonnaise. Try partly-skimmed mozzarella and ricotta cheese.

Pay attention to proportions: A serving of protein should be the size of a deck of cards, and a serving of starchy foods, such as rice and pasta, should be the size of a tennis ball. (Note: Nutritionists suggest that a dinner plate should be at least half filled with vegetables.)

Go easy on the oil: Rather than pouring oil straight into a pan when cooking, parcel it out with a measuring spoon. Or use a pastry brush to lightly coat the pan and the food with the oil before roasting.

Up your vegetables: Increasing the number of vegetables on your plate and reducing the amount of meat is a simple way to cut fat and calories and increase the level of nutrients in your diet.

Opt for lean protein: Choose lower-fat meats, such as skinless chicken and turkey breast, or beef and pork tenderloin, instead of rib-eye and Porterhouse. Eat more fish and meatless proteins such as beans and tofu.

Slim down your salads: To keep your salad more healthful, make your own vinaigrette using less oil than store-bought versions, or use low-fat buttermilk in creamy dressings. Toss the salad with just enough dressing to coat and cut back on fatty additions such as cheese and croutons.

Add fat-free flavour: Instead of relying on fats like butter and oil, enhance your dishes with vinegar, citrus juices and zests, spices as well as fresh and dried herbs.

Fill up on fiber: Beans, whole grains and legumes are relatively low in calories yet packed with fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer.

Choose sweets wisely: Make a low-fat treat for dessert, such as angel-food cake instead of cheesecake, granita instead of ice cream, or enjoy just a few squares of bittersweet chocolate.

Cold Soba Salad with Feta and Cucumber

Martha Says No To Factory Farming

2012-01-22T00:13:00.002-05:00

How many of us really know where our food comes from? Up until just a few years ago, I admit to having almost no idea about how the food I purchased in the grocery store was produced and harvested, or where it came from. While I have never been a big consumer of meat products (I simply don't enjoy cooking it) I have likely purchased beef and chicken products that were sourced from factory farms: vast, industrial plants that 'manufacture' meat for the masses, much of it used in fast-food production. Today, I make very careful choices about what meat I buy and where I buy it from. Living with someone who is vegetarian, my partner Tomas, has also raised my awareness about meat production and animal farming.

When a friend of mine sent me this link to Martha speaking about her support of Farm Sanctuary, an organization that works to prevent cruelty to farm animals and raise awareness about how society views and treats these animals, I knew I had to share it here. Be warned that some of the footage contained in the video is disturbing, but please take a moment to listen to Martha speak about the subject and to think about the framework of the farming infrastructure in North America. Please also visit Farm Sanctuary to learn more about their organization and do what you can to prevent the wholesale cruelty of over 9-billion animals that are 'processed' on these farms each year.

Jens Jensen Documentary In The Works

2012-01-19T10:30:00.002-05:00

Danish-born landscape architect Jens Jensen is considered to be one of the founding fathers of Prairie landscape design, a school of thought and principle that was shared by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Jensen, who moved to the United States in 1884, once worked for the West Parks Commission in Chicago as a designer and gardener but began to take on private commissions for wealthy industrialists, including the Ford family. As many of you know, Jensen was the landscape architect responsible for designing the magical grounds at Skylands, Martha's 1925 home in Maine, which was once owned by Edsel Ford.

Viva Lundin productions is currently working on a wonderful new documentary about Jensen and his work called Jens Jensen Harmonious World, directed by Carey Lundin that will be distributed by PBS. They are still fundraising to help complete the project at this point and there are hopes to include professional footage and photographs of Skylands from Martha and MSLO in the film. (The work Jensen did at Skylands is unique because it was his only coastal landscape project.)

Here is a trailer for the hour-long documentary. There is no set air date at this time but Lundin tells me that it will air later this year and that she'll keep us posted as to the exact dates and times.

Darcy Miller's Incredible Home

2012-01-17T10:56:00.000-05:00

While I was flipping through the pages of the February issue of Architectural Digest I was thrilled to come upon photographs of Darcy Miller-Nussbaum's apartment in New York City. Darcy is the editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings and lives in Manhattan with her husband Andrew, a lawyer, and their three daughters. I have always wondered what Darcy's home looks like, imagining it to be beautiful and modern and bright - and kid-friendly! I'm pleased to say that the images far exceeded my expectations! Darcy's architect, David Mann, converted a rundown duplex in the Upper East Side into a sparkling, glamorous jewel of a place that still makes room for the girls. Below are some of the photographs by Nikolas Koenig. To read the full article and see more photos, click here or buy the issue, which is on newsstands now.

Rare Instruction Booklets For Collectors

2012-01-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

In 2007, when Martha Stewart first introduced her line of craft supplies at Michael's craft stores the company issued four special instruction booklets on various themes. They were sold exclusively at Michael's and are not special issues, exactly, just very glamorous and instructive pamphlets. The booklets are magazine-sized and each one is 24 pages, printed on sturdy card stock paper, ad-free. They initially sold for $4.95 each but would likely fetch double that today, given their rarity. I rediscovered them as I was sorting through my magazine collection and, much like my Blueprint post, wanted to share the covers with some of you collectors out there and archive them here for posterity. The booklets are really pretty and each one is based on a crafty theme: cake decorating, card making, gift wrapping and cookie decorating. Each booklet contains templates and how-tos and the food-related issues also contain recipes. Look for them on eBay!

Inside, the pages are beautifully printed with useful photographs and instructions for many projects.

Remembering Blueprint

2012-01-13T14:50:00.001-05:00

It's a snowy day here in Toronto, presenting me with the perfect opportunity to stay indoors and continue my weeklong pursuit of de-cluttering. So far the closets, dressers and cabinets have been purged, manifesting in several bags full of clothing for donation. The storage locker's 'enema' resulted in the selling of a huge box of VHS films that were gathering dust and today it is the magazines and books that are getting some attention. Going through my magazine holders with the purpose of editing them means completely avoiding my untouchable Martha Stewart collection of magazines: a full 22 holders in all, each containing between 10 and 14 issues of the magazine, special issues, catalogs and other Martha paraphernalia.

Among my treasures is the complete collection of Blueprint magazine. Going through them today made me so nostalgic for this beautiful little book, which sadly only published eight issues before it folded. I feel that Blueprint along with Domino - another defunct beauty - were such trend-setters, ushering in a new era of magazine philosophy and design, which also had wide implications for the online delivery of lifestyle/design content as well. I miss Blueprint to this day.

In the interest of archiving, I took the liberty of scanning each of the covers. From my files, to yours.

3-D Love (Stationery Style)

2012-01-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

In the February issue of Martha Stewart Living there is a wonderful tutorial on making three-dimensional Valentine's Day cards for your sweetie. The materials and instructions are simple and the finished products are beautiful, handmade keepsakes to treasure. The best part about the projects is that they are artfully assisted by the use of free, downloadable templates and drawings designed by the Martha Stewart team. I love the free clip-art that the magazine provides in each issue and my PDF folder is almost bursting with saved templates from previous issues, from previous years. These ones below will also be added. Click Here to download all of the templates needed for these projects and see below for a brief synopsis of the projects. I'm sure you'll be as inspired as I was! Can you guess what my favourite card is? What's yours?

There is a wide array of 3-D cards to try. Just choose your favourite, select your papers and download the templates before you begin.

What better way to communicate your love to your main squeeze than with an accordion-fold card? A quick print, cut, and crease is all it takes to make a card with a trio of hearts, a big LOVE, or sweet old XOXOs.

An airplane chased by a lovey-dovey contrail, a heart-shaped lock with skeleton key, two little lovebirds sitting on a wire -- these garland-style cards simply require ribbon, cord, or twine. Mixing patterned and solid-color papers helps create contrast and adds visual interest.

A crush can be more powerful than a locomotive. It can also be as sweet as a hand-delivered note, or as cheerily optimistic as an upturned mailbox flag. These clip art illustrations require a few simple cuts and a couple of pieces of tape. The little envelope acts as a card within a card, containing a secret love note or special gift card.

These are the illustrations that you can download at MarthaStewart.com to print at home for use in these projects.

The Materials: Card stock, scrapbook paper, and envelopes; Pens and pencils; Scissors; Ruler; Craft knife; Self-healing cutting mat; Double-sided tape; Hole punch; Bone folder.

10 Inspiring Workspaces

2012-01-10T11:26:00.002-05:00

Most of us, these days, have a space at home devoted to work: a home office, a studio, or just a simple desk in the corner of a room where we retreat to concentrate or create. Far from being places of discontent and drudgery, workspaces at home should be a form of refuge, a place where an active mind can sharpen its skills surrounded by the comforts of home. For this reason, home workspaces really ought to be given the style treatment they deserve with emphasis on organization and inspiration. MarthaStewart.com has numerous helpful ideas and tips for creating a functional home office and I suggest you check them out! Below are images I've gathered of home office spaces for a number of different personalities and functions. Many of the images express an artistic edge while others are more straightforward, but I think they are all inspiring, each in their own distinctive way. I hope you think so too!

This home workspace really is stunning. An unused corner of a room is put to task with an eclectic mix of found and vintage furniture to create a look that is bold and modern, bright with personality and charm. I love the use of that enormous frame to create a bulletin board with patterned fabric stretched over board. The colours make the space feminine and inviting. The overall effect is quite glamorous!

This workspace causes me to sigh ever so slowly. Its serenity stems from the neutral colour palette of gray and tan, as well as the airy height of the ceilings, the long, clean lines and the soft light from the window. It is clean and open and organized, perfectly conducive to the pursuit of higher achievements.

I love the DIY element to this space: a small white hutch is expanded with a long work top and further enhanced by a handmade shelving unit for display. It is whimsical and crafty, perfect for someone who enjoys being surrounded by collections and sentimental objects.

This space is clearly designed for a draftsman of some sort with a long art table. I love the multiple task lamps and the placement of the computer by the window. The warmth of the dark wood and the painted brick keep the area from feeling too office-like. It's a masculine space that still retains a sense of elegance through its sleekness and practicality.

I picture a traveling couple planning their next far-flung excursion at this desk. The double-sided feature of the desk allows two people to face each other while they are working. The black desk contrasts beautifully with the white room, just as the vintage treasures placed on top of the desk contrast the new technology. Still, there is a sense of harmony and a great sense of fun.

This space is a tribute to improvisation! A dining room table painted white is casually butted up against a large window in a bright, spacious room to create this active corner. A narrow column of book shelves and a chalk-board bulletin form a task-oriented backdrop. The mix of furniture is decidedly haphazard but it all works because of the anchoring use of white and the exciting feeling of activity. The space is not static.

This is clearly a space for a highly organized individual. I love the use of white, right down to the floor, which gives the room a monochromatic feeling of unity. The placement of the workspace near a set of doors that lead outside is perfect when you need a head-clearing breath of fresh air. The feeling of the space is efficient but not intimidating. Magazines and files are kept organized on wall-to-wall shelves while art and photography lend a personal touch.

This functional corner seems to do it all and is for an organized multi-tasker: a home library on one wall, a craft table with plenty of storage drawers topped by an inspiring wall-to-wall bulletin board on another and a clean, minimalist desk devoted to a single task. Take your pick! Each area of the space functions as its own defined setting and yet it all works together as a single unit.

Artists have a hard time of things. Creating artwork at home can result in plenty of mess, and yet having a space at home to create is essential to an artist's livelihood - and sanity! This studio space does a great job of maintaining order while still displaying a creative spirit. Tools and brushes have designated jars, drawers are labeled and wall space is put to good use.

Dark, sleek and sophisticated are words that define this workspace, which is illuminated by a pair of gorgeous hanging lamps. A serious collector works here - catalogs at the ready - or perhaps an editor or a designer. The use of black and dark gray is far from being depressing; it is a warm but intense space that is stimulating and comfortable.

New Fine Bone China at Macys

2012-01-09T19:18:00.000-05:00

New from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macys are these beautiful sets of fine bone china. Each set is dishwasher safe. Of these four, the Water Flower and the Skylands Blue collections are my favourite. I tend to favour tableware that is only slightly patterned or not patterned at all. I have been known to get a bit 'wild' when it comes to dessert plates and serving pieces, but for the main settings I like to keep things simple.

The Water Flower pattern is my favourite. I love the subtle colours of light blue and a soft putty grey in the platinum-tinted petals. The asymmetry of the print helps the pattern from feeling too formal. Each piece is rimmed with polished platinum banding.

Pretty blue birds on bare branches give a natural and whimsical touch to the Sky Song pattern. This set is microwave safe, making it perfect for a more casual setting.

The Skylands Blue collection of fine bone china was inspired by a cloudless Maine sky: simple, elegant, perfect. Microwave safe.

The Hightown pattern is embellished with a geometric arrangement of polished platinum for a sophisticated urban look.

Glistening bone china is adorned with a fanciful platinum fringe in the Handkerchief pattern.

Nathalie Shible Textiles

2012-01-08T12:49:00.000-05:00

Working at Anthropologie has given me the benefit of meeting some extraordinarily talented people: artists, designers and creative minds of all sorts. One such individual is Nathalie Shible, an assistant apparel manager at my store. Nathalie has been a devoted textile designer and printmaker for years, having studied graphic design and textiles at university. She is primarily inspired by nature: the colours and patterns she encounters in her day-to-day life. Nathalie has an Etsy shop - The Lime Shop - where she sells her wares, primarily kitchen linens, such as aprons, napkins and tea towels. You can also follow Nathalie on her blog. All of her work is embellished with a design she created herself, printed by hand and then stitched and sewn by hand. The textiles she uses are chosen for their durability and sustainability. (Nathalie always keeps the environment in mind!) Last year she was featured in Uppercase magazine. Below are some examples of her work.

A gorgeous, bright yellow with a floral starburst pattern in white: clean and modern.

Graphic and bold.

An extraordinarily beautiful apron. I love the print and the colours.

For my birthday, Nathalie made me these two beautiful tea towels, which I will treasure.

This one is my favourite. The print was inspired by a road trip Nathalie took through Pennsylvania. The lasting memory for Nathalie was a plethora of trees, branches partially exposed through the leaves. The design is delicate, intricate and still simple, printed on a gray/brown linen. Really pretty.

February Issue + Organizing Special

2012-01-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

I just received my February issue in the mail and was pleasantly surprised to also discover that a special issue is on the way, slated for newsstands on January 30. It's all about organizing, a subject that hasn't been tackled yet in any full-size special issue. (There were a few Good Things for Organizing digests a while back.) I'm really looking forward to it! As for the February issue itself, I haven't had time to fully absorb it yet, but let me just say that upon first glance it appears to be absolutely gorgeous: inspired, through and through, with all sorts of imaginative and beautiful ideas and photographs. You will all be impressed, I'm sure!

Presenting, the New Turkey Hill

2012-01-05T10:19:00.003-05:00

A Martha Moments reader wrote to me this morning to share a link that featured photographs of the newly renovated Turkey Hill, Martha's former home in Westport, Connecticut - the house where she began her catering business. The new owners of the property renovated the home extensively, connecting the main house to the carriage house with a series of new galleries and rooms, including a large family room.

The second floor was also extended to include a lavish new master bedroom suite. The kitchen, study and bathrooms were all renovated and the dining room and parlour were extended to expand their square footage. The redesign was handled by John Fifield of FPF Architects in Fairfield, Connecticut. For the new owners, the aim was to keep the basic core of the home intact (knocking it down to start from scratch was not an option for them) and to build upon it in order to accommodate their family. Below are photographs of the new Turkey Hill, inside and out.

This photo shows the extension on the back of the house, which now houses a large eat-in family room and a second staircase to access the second story, which was also extended. The original main house can be seen at right. To the far left, you will see the carriage house, which is now connected to the main house. New windows were added throughout the home.

The main entrance was moved to the north side of the property. The original leaded-pane windows flanking the front door seem to have been salvaged from the former entrance. The second floor, as shown in this photo, also looks reconfigured from the original design.

A completely new room: a combination eating area and family room that connects the main house to the former carriage house. A second staircase was also added here.

The completely redesigned and renovated kitchen, which has a pass-through to the dining area and family room beyond.

The dressing room of the master bedroom suite.

New Plans For the Martha Stewart Show

2012-01-04T14:03:00.001-05:00

When I read the news this morning, I really wasn't sure what to make of it: Rumors? Gossip? A bad dream? Several reputable sources have been reporting, however, that The Martha Stewart Show will be cancelled in April. For a moment, I really did feel like crying, but then I remembered how resilient Martha is. She'll be back. Update: In fact, on January 9th, Martha announced on her show that these articles we have read in the press are "not entirely accurate." Martha said that a show would be back on Hallmark in the fall but that The Martha Stewart Show as we know it would not. She said the show would evolve into something new.

Thank goodness she'll be back! Here is Martha putting the rumours to rest about her show and her line of Home Depot paints. She also discusses her recent trip to the Bahamas with Alexis and Jude.

Lisa Gersh, president and chief operating officer of MSLO, told a conference last month that the plan is to bring the television production in-house, rather than leasing a studio, which she said would significantly reduce their cost margins.

At this point we will have to wait and see what form the television department takes as it moves forward. I can tell you, from first-hand experience, that the people who produce The Martha Stewart Show are delightful, brilliant people with so much talent and verve. I'm sure they will continue to delight and inspire us in the future with new content and a new show! Stay tuned!

Wedding Belles

2012-01-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything about Martha Stewart Weddings. Having been married to my partner Tomas for nearly five years - and hence no wedding to plan - the urge to flip through these lovely pages has diminished slightly. Every so often, though, I can't resist a look - and the winter 2012 issue is worth more than just a glance.

This issue touts itself as the Ultimate Planner, with tips and how-tos that span the entire planning process, from choosing a venue to a caterer to a florist. For me, though, the issue marks another major milestone in the evolution of weddings publications. For the third time in as many years, Martha Stewart Weddings has featured a gay wedding (photos below) in its pages, and for anyone who has ever felt excluded, marginalized or silenced these editorials in mainstream publications do so much to bridge the gap between 'them' and 'us.' I want to thank editor Darcy Miller and Martha for taking the lead on this.

I have always said that Martha Stewart Weddings is really just an entertaining guide disguised as a bridal magazine. There is a wealth of ideas here for anyone planning an anniversary party, a special birthday party, a graduation dinner or any special event that involves lots of planning and lots of attention to detail. Below are some inspiration photos from this issue.

A wedding in South Carolina is replete with Southern charm.

Use wallpaper in all kinds of innovative and attractive ways. I loved the imagination expressed in this article.

I will never, ever wear a diamond ring. Doesn't mean I don't like looking at them!

An article on the innovative use of flowers: a rose-petal runway.

A modern and youthful look for the bride and groom.

History in the making!

Leather-bound stationery lends a masculine touch.

Cakes...beautiful cakes!

I'm obsessed with this Hermes cake. Brilliant!

Click here to download planning charts for your venue, caterer, florist, photographer and wedding planner.

Martha with Avery at Staples

2012-01-03T09:54:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! With the holiday season squarely behind us, it's time to take down the decorations (if you haven't already) and focus on getting organized for the year ahead. What better way to inspire a sense of efficiency than a new line of home office supplies designed by Martha Stewart?

It was announced a couple of months ago that Martha Stewart had partnered with Avery Dennison to create a new line of home office and home organization products to be sold exclusively at Staples stores in the U.S. and Canada. The products have already appeared on the Staples.com website and will be in stores soon. (No products available in Canada - yet!)

There are over 300 different items in numerous home-organization categories, including binders, dividers, binder accessories, sheet protectors, journals, notebooks, notepads, file-folder labels, kitchen labels, color-coding labels, textured and metallic labels, kraft labels, permanent labels, tags, bands, sticky notes and note tabs, file folders, accordion files, pockets, storage boxes, drawers and trays, organizers and accessories. Whew!

What strikes me most about the line are the colors - they are SO Martha. Products come in shades of teal, beige, gray, various pastels as well as bolder primaries. The other impressive quality is how imaginative the products are. A sign of excellent design is something I like to call the "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" factor. Many of these products elicited that excited reaction.

You can view the line here, and once you're at the site, be sure to explore the items that Martha suggests. Below are some examples from the line.

Accordion folders keep everything organized for tax time.

Color-coding is a great way to keep organized: assign a different colour to each member of the family or each category you are filing.

A sturdy tray containing some of the Martha Stewart journals and notebooks.

I am most impressed by the assortment of kitchen labels available in this line. They are practical, useful and attractive. There is nothing like these labels anywhere else!

Pantry pockets hang neatly on the pantry door and contain recipes, coupons and take-out menus.

A colorful and well-maintained planner keeps everyone on track - even you!

Magazine holders can double as a portable filing unit if you fill it with vertical folders containing your most frequently-used documents.

The vertical file folders come in many different shades and designs.

Everyday Food: New Year, New Look

2011-12-22T00:12:00.000-05:00

The January/February 2012 issue of Everyday Food arrived in my mailbox today and I immediately noticed the redesigned cover. I love it! It is much simpler, more refined, more captivating and certainly more modern: a wonderful design. Below is the new cover with some design notes.

DESIGN NOTES: The word Everyday was given a capital letter and moved above the word FOOD. (It had previously been superimposed over the word.) The photograph of Martha in the top corner is gone. The colour band at the top was expanded to fill the entire top portion of the magazine, which looks much bolder. The phrase "A Martha Stewart magazine" below the title has been replaced with "From the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living," which was actually the original tag line.

Christmas Wishes Coming True

2011-12-21T08:55:00.002-05:00

As I write this, my friend David Bondarchuck is speaking with Martha Stewart. He is feeling the energy and buzz of excitement as he awaits his moment on set with her for a live taping of her show. For David, today is a dream come true.

David has made so many of his dreams of come true, which touches me so deeply, because he was once homeless. At the age of 16, David found himself living on the streets of Denver, Colorado. He spent countless hours in the library poring over lifestyle and decorating books where he discovered his true passion: food and entertaining. Martha's books were especially inspiring to him. It wasn't easy, but he was determined to make something of himself.

Today, David is the proprietor of his own catering company called Scratch Catering. His most recent accomplishment is helping to decorate the White House for Christmas, one of only a handful of volunteers chosen out of of thousands of applicants from around the country. This achievement led to local press and an interview on NPR, which was heard by one of Martha's producers. When David mentioned in the interview how much of a role model Martha has been to him over the years and how inspired he has been by her career and her ventures in business, the producer wasted no time in contacting him to be a guest on Martha's show.

David's appearance on Martha is today. He will be making bottle-brush Christmas trees.
Be sure to watch!

David was one of the first readers of Martha Moments, which is how I met him. He has been a great supporter of my blog and I always love hearing from him. He told me all about his adventures at the White House recently. I really wanted to share his story. Below, David explains his duties as lead decorator for the Red Room at the White House and he shared some of his personal photos.

I have been trying to be a volunteer decorator for the past 3 years. Since I was 16 and saw Martha at the White House with then first lady Hillary Clinton I have always wanted to go. So when I started catering I started sending in pictures of my creations, tablescapes, and events to the White House for consideration and review.

As I had said it's been 3 years and I have never heard or received a response until September of this year, when I was finally accepted. I was so excited!

I flew out to DC from Denver on our Thanksgiving Day. That evening there was a White House decorator briefing at a DC hotel. As it turns out there were only a 100 or so people chosen out of the whole country and all whom applied, to help create the first lady’s vision of “Give, Share, Shine” this year. At the briefing I was assigned Lead decorator of the Red Room in the White House. I was also paired with 5 other volunteers to help me transform the space.

On that following Friday and Saturday all of us volunteers were taken to a warehouse 40 minutes outside of downtown DC. This warehouse is the Presidential Record Warehouse. Everything in it was/ is used in the white house at some point. Imagine a building the size of a Costco, but inside was home depot meets hobby lobby. There were chandeliers hanging above in storage, old ones, americana and colonial styles. They are switched out of rooms at the white house by the White House electricians as needed for cleaning or decor.

In this warehouse we handmade ornaments and decorations for the White House display for different rooms. Ironically a lot of the ides for ornaments and decor were right from the pages of Martha Stewart Living. We made “Pine-Cone Frames” using photos of service men and women. we made styrofoam balls wrapped in fabric strips. I mean, we were all like elves for two full days! Then Saturday night we loaded the trucks. Every room was marked and inventoried by box and then loaded in room order.

On Sunday it was our first day in the White House. That morning we got a White House tour, and then there was a mini press conference for the cameras.

Then it was on to work! Again I was assigned Lead decorator in the red room. The red room walls are all red of course but they're not painted, or wall papered. They are in fact covered by stretched silk canvass. It was so beautiful! I had heard that the year previous the designer had used red everything in the red room and it was overkill. So this year I choose to use gold tones. I used 5 varieties of gold and amber browns. I also used gold sprayed leaves and salal (lemon leaves) in the trees and built them up like floral arrangements. I also did the same on the mantel.

There were two full trees in the red room and of course the mantel to decorate. My team was amazing and we were done with the red room by the next morning. Then with nothing to do I helped out in other rooms until I was asked to do the green room as well. The other designer had been re-assigned and they loved what i did in the red room so they asked if i would also work on the green room. I completed the mantel in that room using boxwood and glittered pinecones, clear glass balls, clusters of small various shades of greens mini glass balls and eucalyptus twigs.

In all I was in the White House for 4 whole days and worked on almost everything! It was amazing fun. I even met a woman working downstairs who had once been one of Martha's gardeners from Turkey Hill!

The entire experience was so amazing at the White House. But I must say that I am just as excited to be headed to see Martha as i was to go to the White House. It's all just a dream come true.

Martha Stewart Living: 2011 In Review

2011-12-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

Here we areagain, pushing towards the end of another year. And here I am, again,surrounded by 12 new issues of Martha Stewart Living magazine, pushing mybookshelves to the limit. Below is my annual review for 2011. I know a lot ofyou enjoy reading this review so I try to make it as insightful as possible. Thistime I am going to tackle it a little differently. I will highlight the best in a few categories: best issue, best cover and best photo spread.

The twelve issues of 2011

For the best issue of the year I base mydecision on these criteria: the originality of the content, the beauty of thepresentation (photography) and the vitality with which the magazine celebratesthe season in question.

First,though, let’s look at some of the changes that took place at the magazine in2011.

NEW EDITOR:PILAR GUZMAN

Like manyof you, I was surprised by the departure of Vanessa Holden as editor-in-chiefafter only a year in the role. (Vanessa is now the chief creative director atWest Elm, a furniture and lifestyle store.) Replacing her at Martha Stewart Living, beginning with theJune issue, was Pilar Guzmán, who was the founding editor-in-chief of Cookie magazine, a publication thatrevitalized the parenting category in print magazines. She was also a senioreditor at Real Simple and was theexecutive editor at One magazine, anarchitecture publication. She is also the founder of the momfilter blog,described by Pilar as a “lifestyle playground for families.”

So far Ihave enjoyed Pilar’s contributions to the magazine. They are not blatantlyobvious, but they are visible. Here are some of the changes I've noticed since her arrival.

a) What’s For Dinner was moved up to the center of the magazine, beginning with the August issue.(Pilar said in an interview that she was obsessed with those detachable recipecards when she was a student in college and she is clearly making sure they arewell represented.)

b) The introduction of new column categories,such as Traditions.

c) The replacement of the To Make andGive column on the last page with a monthly essay from a freelancecontributor, which I find very refreshing. It's nice to end your read on a human note: insights, thoughts and reflections. It reminds me a bit of Martha's Remembering column.

The most significant change brought by Pilar,however, is the consistent recurrence of themes like children, family andtogetherness. Pilar’s editorial (and personal) interest in family and childrenhas been apparent in many issues of the magazine since she took the helm,particularly visible through an increase in the number of photographs thatdepict children and families in the various stories, but also through content:crafts for children, memory-keeping, etc.

THE MARTHAMOMENT COLUMN (JANUARY – AUGUST)

LastChristmas I received a very kind email from Vanessa Holden, who was then theeditor in chief of the magazine, wishing me a Merry Christmas and thanking mefor being such a big supporter of the Martha Stewart brand. Several days laterI received my January, 2011, issue of Martha Stewart Living in the mail and was delighted –perhaps a little flattered – to see a column at the front of the magazinecalled “Martha Moment.”

I haveabsolutely no confirmation that this blog inspired the column, but I like tothink it did at least play a subconscious role in its naming. In it, Marthawould share a moment in her world through one of her photographs (tomatoes fromher garden, a snowy scene on the farm, her pets, her peonies) accompanied by abrief description written by Martha. It was a nice little page and I lookedforward to it every month. Seeing the world through Martha’s lens is always atreat. The column was cut in the September issue, however, but it was nicewhile it lasted.

Martha's Calendar was replaced in January, 2011, with Martha's Month. It was a mixture of the calendar with gentle reminders, various tips and techniques. Many readers were not pleased with the layout and a year later the grid-calendar format is back.

The table of contents pages also received a facelift in 2011. I like the simplicity and airiness of the new layout.

DOUBLECOVERS

As inprevious years, there were several issues of Martha Stewart Living that were releasedwith double covers in 2011. Below is a gallery.

March had two covers. The one on the right had very limited distribution on newsstands.

October also had two covers. The editors asked readers to vote on their favourite. The one on the left won out, arriving on newsstands and to subscribers. The cover on the right was released but only in certain parts of the United States. If you find either of these two alternate covers for March or October, consider yourself a skillful treasure hunter!

In November the editors released two variations on the same cover. The cover on the left was sent to subscribers. The cover on the right was available on newsstands.

The Aprilissue had a special beauty feature at the back of the magazine, introduced by aseparate back-front cover. The section and the cover were printed upside downto distinguish the content, which was mostly just glorified advertising forcosmetics.

SPECIALISSUES: EVERYDAY FOOD, HALLOWEEN, HOLIDAY

For thefirst time ever, Everyday Food published a special issue in a full-size format,with content based on summer foods. It is a gorgeous issue with incrediblephotography. Martha Stewart Living published two special issues: a Halloweenpublication and a Holiday issue. Both of these are more or less ‘best of’issues with previously-published content, balanced with some new content. Stillworth collecting.

SIMPLY THE BEST

Okay,folks, here we go. It’s time to pick the best issue of the year!

This year,for the first time since writing this annual roundup, it was the summer issuesthat most impressed me. I have stated before that I generally am not as fond ofthe summer issues of Martha Stewart Living. Perhaps it has something to do withlifestyle: I’m out a lot more in the summer and don’t spend a lot of time withmagazines of any kind. The fall issues, with their emphasis on décor, baking,holidays and crafts are usually more engaging for me. This year, though, I foundmyself repeatedly drawn to all of the summer issues: June, July and August. Eachof them excited me.

Becausethey were able to snag my interest beyond a casual glance for the first time inthe history of my love affair with Martha Stewart Living, I give each of thesummer issues a gold star. That’s right. They are ALL tied for first. I simply couldn’tpick one.

The summerissues succeeded in every way:

a) The content was fresh and fun withan overflow of incredible new recipes that put the season’s produce to workwith maximum effect. (I downloaded more recipes from the summer issues than anyother issue this year.)

b) There was a seamless and perfectblend of each of the lifestyle categories in each of the summer issues: food,crafts, gardening, decorating.

c) There was lots of originality andcreativity in these issues: the editors had clearly pushed the boundaries andwere thinking outside the box in every single category.

d) The photography was stunning with somuch colour and vitality, particularly because of the use of people in so manyof the editorial spreads: people eating, people playing, people enjoying theseason. It was inspiring.

Below aresome of the summer highlights.

Kids and families figured heavily in the summer issues. It was nice to see.

A really inspired story on Fourth of July decorating in the July issue.

New American All-Stars: American summer classics reinvented and reimagined.

A brilliant idea: turning a potting bench into a summer grilling station.

Bandana crafts that stretched well beyond the expected.

Tips on how to summerize your home outdoors.

I loved this in-depth article about Great Camp Sagamore in upstate New York in the July issue.

Delicious summer pies in the June issue use the best in seasonal produce.

A collection of sour cream glasses from the August issue: bright and sunny.

SPRINGNEEDED SOME UMPH

The issuesI felt most uninspired by were the spring issues. I was most disappointed byMarch, the annual gardening issue. It was too earnest, in my opinion, with toomuch emphasis on vegetables. The Vegetable Garden Primer article was toocomplex to absorb: too many words, charts, diagrams, lists and boxes. Thelayout was obstructive to its purpose. The eye simply didn’t know where to go,so the pages were swiftly turned.

The article Natural Beauty was also a let-down since it devoted six editorial pages tothe promotion of beauty products. One of the reasons I read Martha StewartLiving and avoid Real Simple is to limit my exposure to advertising disguisedas content.

I did enjoythe article on the community garden. Communities that garden together arehappier and healthier, which is an important element to promote. I also likedthe Southern Comfort article about the Kentucky garden of Dede McGehee. Overall,though, the March issue did not inspire me. As a result, it gets stamped as myleast favourite issue of the year.

BEST COVER OF THE YEAR:

I love this cover of the September issue! I think it is modern with an interesting composition.

BEST PHOTOSPREAD: CHOCOLATE IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE

There areso many extraordinary photographs that fill the pages of Martha Stewart Living,month after month: award-winning, inspiring imagery that captures theimagination and pulls you deeper into the stories. They are often the triggersof my curiosity and lure me in to learn more. The best photo spread this year,though, has to be the photos of chocolate confections from the February issue,from the article Chocolate, Hot & Cold. Nigel Cox was the photographer. Ihave him to blame for feeding my eternal obsession with chocolate. The photos captureits luxurious decadence perfectly.

I hope you enjoyed this year's review! What are your thoughts on the year that was at Martha Stewart Living magazine? Any standout favourites? Anything you felt needed improvement?

Don't Forget: Martha Stewart Calendars

2011-12-16T16:50:00.002-05:00

These haven't been promoted much, but they are well worth looking for, especially as gifts for the Martha fan on your list: Martha's series of 2012 wall and diary calendars. Most of them are available on Amazon but I've also seen them in a few stores. The calendars are made by teNeues, a German printing firm. I have a few of them (for my archives, you see) and I can tell you that they are very high quality: thick, semi-gloss paper, beautiful photographs printed in full colour in approximately one square foot of page space. Each month is printed in six languages (including English, French and Spanish) giving them global appeal. They've each got little bonus goodies, too. See the gallery below for more details.

Flashback: Martha Stewart Everyday Ornaments

2011-12-12T16:33:00.003-05:00

My friend Kenn, a fellow Martha collector and aficionado of the Martha Stewart brand, gave me this collection of Martha Stewart Everyday postcards several years ago: duplicates from his personal collection. They were part of a promotional package for the 2002 Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday line at Kmart. I keep them safe in plastic sleeves in an album I have devoted to such Martha Stewart material. I thought it would fun to look back at some of these treasures. What strikes me, immediately, is how thoughtfully the collection is designed; the shapes and colours are beautiful, borrowing from vintage and antique styles in sophisticated, modern hues. These collections are no longer available.

Winter Blossoms Venetian Glass Ornaments. The Winter Blossoms collection conjured up the romance of the Victorian Christmas. This assortment contained glass ball ornaments in beautiful holiday pastels and iridescent Venetian glass. There were also floral motifs evoking handmade silk ornaments in poinsettia shapes.

Woodland Holiday Glass Ornaments and Ribbon Ornament Hangers. The Woodland Holiday collection calls to mind the beauty of a winter forest. Garlands featuring acorn designs, birds nest ornaments and wreaths decorated with nuts and pinecones were highlights from this charmingly woodsy collection.

Classic Christmas Ornaments and Fancy Beaded Garland. The Classic Christmas collection was inspired by the traditions of Christmases past. Ornaments came in nostalgic styles and patterns in this collection, rich with shades of traditional red and green.

Golden Luster Glass Novelty Ornament, Beaded Garland and Sheer Ribbon Garland. The Golden Luster collection celebrated the richness and warmth of the holidays with a variety of glass ornaments in shades of gold. Apple, pear and grape-cluster ornaments were also availalble.

First Snowfall Ornaments, Beaded Garland, Tree Skirt and Gift Wrap. The First Snowfall collection was all about the wonder of the newly fallen snow. Cozy knit stockings and snowflake ornaments captured the beauty of a snowy Christmas in a cool, crystalline palette of silver, blue and white.

Christmas Favorites Ornaments and Beaded Garland. The Christmas Favorites collection was based on Martha's own beloved collectibles and some of her favorite holiday colors. Porcelain and glass teapot and teacup novelty ornaments conjured up a cozy feeling. Unique glass ball ornaments came in distinctively "Martha" colors, such as her signature green.

Gumdrops and Candy Canes Ornaments, Tree Skirt, Gift Wrap, Stockings and Flannel Sheets. The Gumdrops and Candy Canes collection definitely had the kids in mind. The fanciful assortment was dedicated to the whimsy and wonder of children this time of year. Decorated felt stockings and shatter-proof ornaments made this collection durable and festive.

A close-up of one of the gumdrop ornaments. Many of the items in the Gumdrops and Candy Canes collection were translated from popular craft projects from the pages of Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids magazines.

An assortment of wreaths from the various collections mentioned above.

Some of the lighted holiday ornaments from the various collections, including snowmen lights, large pearl lights and poinsettia pearl lights. A tip from Martha: "On average, use 100 lights for each foot of tree. For a six-foot tree, you'll need about 600 lights. Use additional strands if you have a fuller tree or if you prefer lots of illumination."

A gathering of some of the glass ball ornaments from the various collections, mentioned above.

A Warm Winter Arrangement

2011-12-11T14:42:00.001-05:00

On the steps of the church up the street from me there are some lovely outdoor arrangements in place, giving the large stone building some touches of holiday warmth for Christmas. The design of the arrangements is simple and practical, but visually stunning. The arrangements were created by Sheridan Nurseries, a garden center that has been operating in Toronto since 1911.

This is one of several heavy iron urns around the church filled with gorgeous greenery: cedar boughs and magnolia branches, interspersed with large amber ornaments. The effect is rich, rustic and warm. (Click to enlarge.)

The magnolia branches, with their two-tone leaves and stiff formation, bring texture, depth, shadow and form to the arrangement. The cedar boughs add softness with their cascading placement at the bottom of the arrangement and the ornaments bring a festive sparkle. The colour choice is perfect.

It was the amber-coloured orbs that first caught my eye from a distance, sparkling radiantly in the sun.

The Optimism of January

2011-12-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

There is something optimistic about the month of January: a new calendar, new beginnings, a chance to start fresh. The January issue of Martha Stewart Living has always played well with those philosophies and the first issue of 2012 is no different. Traditionally, the January issue is all about organizing and homekeeping, healthy living and warming winter crafts and activities. It's one of my favourite issues of the year. Its pared-down approach to lifestyle matches its slim size and the crisp imagery always inspires me to whip at least one closet in my life into order.

The 2012 January issue has a focus on kitchens - a first for the magazine - exploring several truly beautiful and functional kitchens in various sizes and styles.

We finally get an in-depth look at the kitchen in Martha's guesthouse at Cantitoe Corners, the Maple Avenue House on her property. Painted a sunny yellow, its design was inspired by Shaker principles with open shelving and plenty of storage. (This is the kitchen that inspired the Maidstone kitchen concept available at Home Depot.)

Martha also takes us into her new 'homekeeping room', located on the lower level of a restored goat barn on the property, where she also houses her gym on the second floor. This is where Martha restores furniture and houses all of her 'fix-it' supplies. The furniture is from the Martha Stewart Living Craft Space collection from Home Decorators Collection.

The Good Things column feels fresh and editorial with a pleasant new font.

Many readers will be pleased to see the return of the traditional grid-calendar format for the "Martha's Month" column.

A really inspired article on houseplants asks the reader to create miniature landscapes using series of small plants in large vessels.

Entertaining: A Retrospective

2011-12-06T19:45:00.000-05:00

December13th will mark the 29th anniversary of the release of Martha’s first book, Entertaining. With the recent arrival ofher new book, Martha’s Entertaining AYear of Celebrations, I thought it would be nice to look back at theclassic book that launched Martha’s career in 1982 and set a new standard inthe art of hosting. Not a review, exactly, because we all know it’s fantastic,but more of a retrospective.

AS I READ, I REMEMBER

I willstart by saying that I am not really the entertaining type. This admission willhopefully put my love of this book into context. I love my friends and I adoremy family, but historically we have always gone out to celebrate variousmilestones, drawn to one fabulous restaurant or another. In Toronto, there areso many to choose from! Growing up, our family entertained a lot and we spent alot of time at the homes of relatives and friends who had a true flare forentertaining, which revealed itself in the wonderful home-cooked food and thespirited laughter that came with the storytelling and reminiscing.

Over theyears, I have been exposed to all sorts of wonderful flavours and beautiful tablesettings through entertaining, evenings that were graciously conjured by thehost or hostess with love and generosity. My exposure to entertaing wouldexplain my interest in it and my rather large assortment of books on cooking,entertaining and flower arranging. Perhaps for me it is nostalgia that draws meto these books, again and again. But I’m sure one day, when I have more spaceand more time, I will entertain more frequently.

Martha in the parlour at Turkey Hill, 1981.

When thattime comes, I will certainly be turning to Martha’s first book for ideas andinspiration. Because I am so interested in Martha’s career and the history ofher company’s development, I have read Entertainingfrom cover to cover, even many of the recipes. I have not actually made any of the recipes, but below youwill find my top-ten from this book; these are recipes that I have written outonto cards and put into my recipe box for future use.

Afterliving with the book for over a decade, I can tell you that Entertaining is one of my most treasuredvolumes. I have the first edition, naturally, and since I bought it used I am fondof its somewhat dogeared pages and crinkled spine. Someone clearly enjoyed itbefore I did and I admire its well-loved condition.

Looking throughthe book is always a happy experience for me. Wrapped up in the imagery on thepages and the finesse in Martha’s prose (text with Elizabeth Hawes) are my own memories of holiday gatherings,anniversary dinners, birthday parties and impromptu gatherings with my grandparentsor my aunts and uncles, most of whom are exceptional cooks. I remember thevarious kitchens that made impressions on me, just as Martha remembers those thatimpressed her as a child. And I remember the flavours, the beautiful china, theflowers on the table and the warmth of candlelight as we spent time together,celebrating and enjoying ourselves. So, as I read, I remember.

The side yard at Turkey Hill as it appeared in the late 1970s, long before the pool area was landscaped. Martha and Andy painted the sides and floor of the pool black to give it the effect of a pond.

OF KITCHENS AND LEARNING

Myfavourite part of Entertaining isMartha’s introduction, called “Of Kitchens and Learning”. It summarizes, sowell, the heart and spirit behind the very notion of entertaining and it offerslovely insight into the genesis of Martha’s creative vision and the passionbehind her art. Martha writes carefully about her memories of entertaininggrowing up, her inspirations and the specific kitchens that sparked her love offood and meal preparation. Martha even cites classic literature as aninfluence, something I find so endearing and important. She writes:

“And as Iread all the classics, what remained most vivid in my memory were the banquetscenes in Sir Walter Scott, the Roman punch dinners in Edith Wharton novels, andthe country weekends in Tolstoy’s AnnaKarina. Entertaining always seemed natural to me, a matter of takingsomething very appealing to me – a favorite dish, a holiday, an activity – and makingit bigger, to include others.”

Using a quilt as a tablecloth adds to the rustic charm of this setting. Martha's mantel is laden with various kitchen collectibles, some of which were used in the photography in her current book, Martha's Entertaining, such as the French porcelain paté and terrine molds by Pillivuyt from the 1800s. The ones shown here appear on page 76 in her new book on entertaining.

This quoteis endearing because it unveils Martha’s unbridled imagination and curiosity –two traits that have led to her continued success and that speak to her passion.The quote is important because of the understanding that the inspiration for anevening with friends and family can come from anywhere – even history books andclassical literature!

THREE KITCHENS

In theintroduction, Martha specifies the three kitchens that most made an impressionon her when she was growing up. Obviously, her mother’s kitchen leads the list.Martha describes it as a large, 1930s eat-in kitchen in suburban New Jersey.She writes: “It was a way-station between the outside and the inside world,between garden and table.” A perfect summary of how so many kitchens from thatera functioned. She also describes the profesional kitchens of her Uncle Joe(who was a butcher) and her Uncle Metzu, who owned a Polish delicatessen intown. The efficiency and comercial potentialof these kitchens, too, were no doubt influencial to Martha.

Her maternalgrandmother’s kitchen near Buffalo, New York, where Martha spent many of hersummers, was the second kitchen of influence with its ice-box, huge cast-ironstove and the ever-ready canning pot that sat atop its surface. And the third kitchenwas that of her family’s neighbors: Mr. And Mrs. Maus, retired German bakerswho continued to bake from home. Between the ages of 4 and 10 Martha would scurrynext door with her syblings to help them make their famous breads, cakes,kuchen and strudels. She describes her role as half apprentice/half taster!

MARTHA’S TURKEY HILL KITCHEN

So much ofwhat makes Entertaining so enjoyable to read rests in the settings depicted inthe book’s imagery. Turkey Hill – Martha’s former home in Connecticut – is thebook’s pictorial bedrock. With its simple farmhouse layout and expansivegardens, Martha uses the home itself as inspiration for her menus and events,and urges her readers to stroll through their own homes and backyards to gatherinspiration.

TurkeyHill, as it appears in Entertaining, is a perfect glimpse into the burgeoningculture of home in the 1980s: warm, inviting, a refuge from the pressures ofcity life. In a decade so defined by its razor-edged harshness, home began to emerge as a new frontier of comfortand bliss, a place you could control and beautify. Through Entertaining, Marthaunwittingly led the charge with her depictions of pastoral country life, extolling the virtues of growingyour own vegetables and raising your own hens at a time when women were headingin droves to the gates of ever-expanding corporations. She was, in a sense,part of the counter-culture (pun intended) yet was able to become a brand,herself, in the process.

A warm and cozy corner in Martha's kitchen at Turkey Hill in Westport, Connecticut, in the early 1980s.

The TurkeyHill kitchen, as it appears in Entertaining, seems to clash with Martha’s current style of streamlined organization. There arebaskets everywhere! The ceiling is totally obscured by hanging baskets; thecounter surfaces are saddled with baskets overflowing with eggs, cabbages,tomatoes, carrots and onions. There are pumpkins teetering on antique woodenstools and rows of copper pots dangling from above, crates of apples under thewindow and drying herbs everywhere. Martha writes:

“My ownkitchen has grown almost wild with detail. I think it is very beautiful,because it is expressive…It is far from streamlined but it is very efficient,as it has to be when you cook for as many as two-thousand in an area designedas a working/living space for three.”

I love howthis kitchen looks. As Martha notes, it is expressive. It is clearly a placethat is used to bustle and activity and everything is always at the ready, fromthe tools to the produce to the pilot light. It reminds me, actually, of anartist’s studio with paint splashes on the floor, blank canvases stackedwaiting to be ignited by the touch of a brush and sketches and ideas brimmingin every corner. Martha’s kitchen is vital,her passion evident in every detail.

A glorious display of desserts arranged on a table in the parlour at Turkey Hill.

I’m sure Iwill continue, now and then, to write about this book. It has so much to offer anobservant mind like my own. It imparts so much knowledge to its readers, notleast its profusion of recipes and advice on entertaining at home. More thanthis, however, it is a wonderful archive of Martha’s beginnings, destined to becomehistorically significant for its cultural aperture on house and home, women’sstudies and entrepreneurship.

If you donot yet own Entertaining, I do urge you to pick up a copy. It is the secondbest-selling cookbook since Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cookingfor a reason. Below are the recipes Iselected from the book to try some day. If you have any you would like to suggest, please do leave a comment! (My selection says a lot about my skill level, I’msure, but we all have to start somewhere!)

RECIPES TO TRY:

Tempura: Martha’s recipe was derived from tempura shetasted in Akasaka, Japan, made for her by chef Ten Masa. Her tempura party menuis simple, straightforward and delicious. I’m intrigued by its mix of flavoursas much as its elegant simplicity. And I love tempura!

Martha prepares tempura.

French Mushroom Soup, Tuscan Tomato Soup andIced Borscht:Martha’s chapter on soups is wonderfully written. It divides the recipes into Winterand Summer offerings, hot and cold soups that, again, are simple to make. Igrew up with all kinds of homemade soups, so this chapter encourages me tocontinue some family traditions.

Classic Eggnog: I once tried homemade eggnog and since thenthat drab stuff that comes out of the carton just doesn’t measure up. I’mdefinitely going to try Martha’s recipe this holiday season!

Antipasto: My aunt Elena is Italian and she once made anincredible antipasto spread for a Christmas Eve party she hosted. I remember itwas the platter I returned to most often that night. The gathering of fine,rustic ingredients (cured meats, pickles and breads) is such an easy andattractive option. Martha’s list of ingredients and her how-to makes it all themore accesible.

Oeufs a la Neige: I’m not sure I’m going to actually make thisdessert, but reading through the ingredients and seeing an image of the finalproduct certainly makes me want to try it sometime!

Martha's Oeufs a la Neige

Madeleines: My grandmother used to make Madeleines andthey were my favourite with tea. I have her Madeleine pan, but not her recipe.Martha’s look similar and I love how she arranges them on the platter.

Martha's Buri Animal Ornaments

2011-11-30T19:16:00.001-05:00

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.

You Know You're Martha, When...

2011-11-30T10:05:00.001-05:00

Liz Logan, a magazine editor in Chicago, and a regular reader of Martha Moments, recently met up with Martha when she spoke at a luncheon in Evanston benefiting the American Cancer Society. Martha spoke about her new book Martha's Entertaining A Year of Celebrations and addressed how she prepares for the holidays. She was also very candid about her days in Alderson, West Virginia, where she was incarcerated for 5 months in 2004. Liz, who writes for Make It Better magazine, a north-shore lifestyle publication in the greater Chicago area, distilled some of Martha's characteristics into 20 points of reference for anyone who thinks she may be following in Martha's footsteps! You can read Liz's humorous piece here. Below is a very nice photo of Liz with Martha at the event.

Photo by Eisenberg/RolfesPhotography

The Beekman Boys in Toronto

2011-11-27T17:47:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-24T23:40:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-18T10:26:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-13T11:12:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-12T10:05:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-10T10:43:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-08T18:39:00.002-05:00

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

2011-11-04T06:48:00.000-05:00

'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!

Martha's Entertaining. Yes, indeed, she is!

2011-10-28T14:07:00.001-05:00

What a photo. Out of all of the photographs in this enormous book (Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations) this photo of Martha on page 50, shown above, captures so much of the essence of what this gorgeous tome is all about: being welcome. The contentment in Martha's eyes, that candid smile, not a hint of self-consciousness, and the luminescent aura that surrounds her speaks volumes about this hostess. She is glad you're here. There are several great shots of Martha throughout the book, all of them capturing a natural, unfettered spirit with effervescent expressions that show us she is truly in her element: at home, surrounded by beautiful things, delicious food and the people closest to her.

Unlike Martha's first book, Entertaining, which was groundbreaking for its sheer scope and thoroughness, this follow-up volume demonstrates a hostess who is more comfortable in her approach to entertaining. The parties, holiday gatherings and more formal business luncheons in Martha's Entertaining are more accessible to the reader, I think, because we know the hostess so very well now. To those of us who have been with Martha since the beginning, she is as familiar as any aunt, any friend or teacher and we are eager to learn from her. Today, she is simply Martha. And that single pronoun evokes in our imaginations a very specific style that we have come to identify with and adore.

Aside from the hostess, the groups of guests shown attending the parties in these pages are small. The environments, too, while extraordinary in their architecture and design, are relatively informal. Decorations are kept free of any sort of bombast and over-the-topness and there is an elegant simplicity to many of the occasions she chronicles. There is not a "Sit-Down Country Luncheon for One Hundred Seventy-Five" with tents and a small orchestra, for example, nor a "Country Pie Party for Fifty." In fact, the number of guests in the parties and events hosted by Martha in this book range from four to thirty - with the exception of a few large-scale events she hosted for charitable purposes - and she is just as comfortable serving oatmeal with brown sugar and croissants from the freezer for breakfast as she is serving a five-course dinner.

Let's look for a moment at the presentation of the book. It is utterly beautiful with hundreds of full-colour, full-page photographs of Martha's homes and the glorious food she prepared with her chef Pierre Shaedelin. It is divided into times of day (mornings, afternoons and evenings) with various functions and events falling under these categories, from Easter to Christmas. The recipes and how-tos are kept corralled at the back of the book for easier reference, leaving the bulk of the book to serve its purpose as inspirational fodder for the reader.

For a fan of Martha Stewart, the book is bliss. We readers adore her magazines not only for their information but also for their presentations of ideas: the layout, the colour, the style. The same will be true for this book.

Each chapter in Martha's Entertaining is like receiving a special invitation into one of her homes, an offering to behold the dinnerware, the flower arrangements, the beautiful spaces and the stunning views. The visual magnitude of the book instantly achieves intimacy and Martha's thoughtful reflections on each event - the inspirations for the table settings, the menus, the locations and the colour choices - dazzle us even further. The book is a tribute to the very notion of inspiration, for each page is both inspired and inspiring.

I knew I would like this book the moment I heard about its inception and it was worth the wait. I know you'll love it too. (Click here to watch Martha and some of the people who helped her with the book discuss some of their favourite photographs and recipes.)

Koah Enjoying her Martha Stewart Double Feeder

2011-10-28T08:23:00.000-05:00

Jessica Hodgson, the winner of last month's PetSmart contest, sent in this photo of her cat Koah enjoying her new Martha Stewart Pets double feeder and feeding mat from PetSmart. Jessica told us about Koah's story and we loved how devoted she was to this special feline, which is why we chose her as the winner. Koah was rescued from the streets of Daegu in South Korea while Jessica was travelling there. Jessica made all the arrangements to have her brought back to Canada to live with her. Jessie says she loves the bowl because when her other cat, Neko, is finished with his side of the feeder, she can put the lid on it to keep it fresh. It also keeps Koah from eating the rest of Neko's food! For the photo, Jessie dressed Koah in the little polka-dot bow that wrapped the package when it arrived in the mail. So cute!

Sarah Carey the new Editor of Everyday Food

2011-10-19T21:25:00.000-05:00

Sarah Carey is replacing Anna Last as the editor-in-chief of Everyday Food. Sarah, who has been a longtime food editor at Martha Stewart Living and a co-host of the Everyday Food program on PBS, will assume the role immediately. Anna is leaving MSLO to pursue other interests. In a statement, Martha had nothing but fond things to say about both women:

"I can think of no better person to serve as its editor-in-chief. As our readers, viewers, users and listeners know, Sarah is a passionate cook and extremely knowledgeable about food. She has so much to offer this brand and our enthusiastic consumers, and I am happy to have her at the helm of this wonderful magazine."

As for Anna Last, Martha wishes her the best:

"I would like to thank Anna Last for steering both print and digital issues of the magazine over the last two-and-a-half years. Anna has been instrumental in building a loyal base of readers for Everyday Food, and for delivering extremely high levels of reader satisfaction."

I only spoke to Anna Last once in person and even in those brief moments she left an impression on me: kind, gentle and inspired. When I spoke to her, I thanked her for the wonderful, refreshing changes she brought to the magazine after she assumed the role and she was genuinely touched by the compliment. I know she will be brilliant at everything she pursues in the future. And I know Sarah will be wonderful as editor-in-chief.

Whateverland

2011-10-18T07:36:00.003-05:00

Touted as "not your mother's self-help book," the new book by Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman-Hutt may just leave you speechless - a state Alexis and Jennifer have rarely found themselves in. The book is a spinoff of their former radio show, Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer, which aired on Sirius satellite, and their television show of the same name, which aired last year on the Hallmark channel. While Alexis and Jennifer have gone their separate ways, the book is filled with anecdotes about how the two girls grew up, their advice on food, clothing and life in general. It has been called a "tell-all" by various media who have salivated over Alexis' detailed accounts of growing up with Martha: "If I did something wrong, I would have to throw it away and start all over again," she writes. "I grew up with a glue gun pointed at my head." On Halloween, Alexis says, there was rarely anything to celebrate: "There was no costume. There was no anything. We would turn off all the lights and pretend we weren't home." Martha insists the book is all in good fun (it was dedicated to her, after all) and she calls the book "very funny." It is out today.

New: Martha Stewart Fine Furniture

2011-10-17T12:02:00.001-05:00

Martha Stewart is set to launch a new brand of furniture: Martha Stewart Fine Furniture with ML Brands International, formed by upholstery maker Miles Talbot and case-goods source Lefa, based in Pensylvannia. The line will debut at High Point Market this Saturday at the Miles Talbot showroom at 1690 English Road.

As most of you know, Martha had a partnership with furniture-maker Bernhardt. The line yielded several wonderful collections, many of which were based on furniture designs from Martha's own homes. Collections included Skylands, Turkey Hill, Lily Pond, Katonah, Opal Point, North River and Greenwich Street.

The new line with ML Brand will debut with upholstery and occasional furniture with other categories set to debut in 2012, including larger case-good pieces. The pricepoint is said to be mid- to high-range with many of the pieces boasting handmade details. "It was Martha's desire to step up in the furniture marketplace and have some finer goods that she would be able to live with and sell to her neighbours," says Rob Casey, managing partner in the venture.

You can read the full press-release here.

Costumes For Pets

2011-10-14T10:38:00.000-05:00

More often than not, dogs loving being a part of the action, taking part in family outings and events. Trick-or-treating on Halloween is no exception. PetSmart has the most extensive line of pet costumes on the market today, including a number of new costumes for dogs from Martha Stewart Pets. In the October issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine there was a terrific article about Halloween costumes for pets that explained the dos and don'ts of pet safety. Katherine Miller, director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was asked about her tips and suggestions for keeping your pets safe and happy during All Hallows Eve. "A pet's ability to bear wearing a costume depends on the pet and its past experiences with clothes, collars and harnesses," she says.

Martha Stewart Pets Witch Costume for Dogs

Costumes should never impede a pet's ability to move, see, breathe or hear. Avoid small sequins, hanging parts and bells and don't leave a pet unsupervised while it is wearing its costume. Miller suggests trying on the costume a week before Halloween during positive activities such as on walks or during feeding times to see how the pet adapts to wearing it. If your pet seems restless, agitated or depressed, tries to pull off the costume with its teeth or runs away to hide it is uncomfortable and the costume should not be worn.

Most commercial pet costumes are designed to be light and comfortable but you could also make your own! Click here to see Martha's templates for a petaled collar for cats, a doggie dino tank and bat-wing harness. Read more about pet safety for Halloween here.

Martha Stewart Pets Devil Costume for Dogs

Be sure to bring your 'little one' along to PetSmart's Howl-O-Ween in-store event on Saturday, October 22nd. Pets can parade around in their devilishly cute digs in PetSmart stores across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Three winners will be chosen from each store - first, second and third place - each receiving a voucher for a PetSmart product, including dog and cat toys.

The November Issue

2011-10-13T13:59:00.000-05:00

While most of us here in Canada have already enjoyed our Thanksgiving meals, I still look forward to the November issue of Martha Stewart Living with all of its homey comfort and pre-holiday hullabaloo. This issue is filled with the sort of warmth and coziness us longtime readers so enjoy! There are table decorating ideas, festive fall crafts, delicious holiday recipes (including mile-high desserts) and plenty of holiday strategy ideas to help streamline and simplify the busiest time of year. There are fresh and new ideas, too, including an entirely vegetarian Thanksgiving spread, a look at a perfectly imperfect home designed for active living and the restoration of a 200 year-old hotel in Pennsylvania. Also included is an excerpt from Martha's Entertaining, which is due out on the 25th of this month: Martha shares some new Thanksgiving recipes from a dinner she hosted at Cantitoe Corners. Get the issue on newsstands now!

Martha makes an appearance on the cover of the November issue.

There are plenty of Good Things in this issue, including this festive wreath made of corn husks dyed a deep burgundy.

Martha used her silver Tiffany & Co. serving set for this mixture of light and dark turkey meat and pumpkin stuffing.

Introducing fresh and modern ways to set the Thanksgiving table.

Deborah Needleman's new book "The Perfectly Imperfect Home" looks like it's going to become a classic. With an emphasis on living for real life, she balances style and design with practicality and function.

This porch at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania invites cool breezes and sunny warmth. It is part of a massive restoration project that rescued this 200 year-old hotel from virtual obscurity.

Martha's Entertaining: Another Sneak Peek!

2011-10-09T21:11:00.003-05:00

A longtime reader of the blog sent me an excellent link to an online catalog that featured an excerpt from Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations, a new book written by Martha Stewart which will be out on October 25th. Chanintr Living is an online journal that was founded by Thai entrepreneur Chanintir Sirisant in 1994 with the purpose of bringing fine luxury goods to Thailand. The company is Thailand's leading retailer of luxury furniture and décor and is a growing lifestyle brand. The summer issue of the company's catalog was all about Maine and featured a look at Martha's new book with photographs taken at Skylands from a chapter called A Paté Campagnard Lunch. You can view some of the photos below, taken by Frederic Legrange. You can click here to view the Summer 2011 Chanintr Living catalog in its entirety, with many more photos from Skylands and a recipe for Martha's famed popovers. Oh, I can't wait for this book!

A Stroll Down Beekman Lane

2011-10-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

I still recall the first time I saw Dr. Brent Ridge on The Martha Stewart Show. It was the spring of 2008 and he had brought a small group of his goats to the show to demonstrate for Martha the finer points of making goat's milk soap - something he and his partner, author Josh Kilmer-Purcell, were doing in earnest as they attempted to build a business, a brand and a new life in the sprawling beauty of upstate New York on their new farm.

At the time Brent was the Executive Vice President of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living and was working closely with Martha on health-related content for the magazine and television show. I was quick to blog about his new venture in the country. (You can see the first Beekman Blog I wrote here.) I was just as swift in ordering some of the Beekman goods for myself and have been a fan ever since. (Many of their products are sold at Anthropologie, where I work, so the temptation is a daily force to be reckoned with.)

I have blogged about their Beekman 1802 brand on numerous occasions and over the last three years have developed a sweet rapport with both Brent and Josh, even taking my mother to visit their farm in Sharon Springs, New York, and having homemade goat's cheese and sparkling apple cider with Josh at their kitchen table! (I have yet to meet Brent in person!)

My mom and I often discuss that trip and reflect on how special it was to us. It wasn't just the fabulousness of their beautiful, historic mansion; it wasn't the glitter of celebrity that was building around their brand and their new TV show and it wasn't their adorable goats. (Although, they were adorable!) For us, it was their generosity, their kind approach in welcoming us into their home and the sincerity that shines through in everything they do. My mother has been back several times since that visit in 2009 and has plans to visit again, just as I do.

I'm not sure why I am so nostalgic about all this. Perhaps it's because I am consistently humbled by the power of blogging and the meaningful connections that are sometimes made through this vast, invisible space called the Internet. Some of those connections are truly special, as it is with Brent and Josh, and many more of you out there too who have found me - and found others - through this blog.

This is why I am so thrilled to tell you about the release of their very first cookbook, which will be in stores tomorrow. Be sure to pick up your copy! I have not seen it yet but I am told it is lovely, filled with inspired recipes that use fresh ingredients and supplemented with beautiful photographs by Paulette Tavormina, whom I have also profiled on this blog - and who was kind enough to offer me a tour of her studio the next time I am in New York City! Visit the Beekman site for more information about the book and join their Heirloom community by trying out one of the recipes and sharing your personal variations online. The Beekman boys are also hosting a very special contest to celebrate the release of the book. One grand-prize winner will win a trip to NYC where Brent, Josh and the editors of Bon Appetit magazine will throw a party just for you in the amazing test kitchens of Bon Appetit! Be sure to enter!

One of the many beautiful photos in the book by Paulette Tavormina

Martha's Entertaining: A Sneak Peek

2011-09-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting for this book for years. Ever since Martha first mentioned that she was working a new book about entertaining in 2007, my interest has been irreversibly piqued. Martha's Entertaining, A Year of Celebrations promises to be Martha Stewart's most personal and enchanting book to date, filled with new recipes and beautiful photographs of her homes on Long Island, in Maine and Upstate New York. Written entirely by her (with recipe development from her personal chef, Pierre Schaedelin) the book presents Martha's unique vision throughout 432 glossy pages, all bound in hardcover, coffee-table format. It is going to be classic Martha - the Martha many of us were first introduced to in 1982. Timeless, elegant and sophisticated. I just so happen to have a copy of a press catalog that was issued filled with beautiful photographs from the book, as well as a table of contents. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you, for the sake of enticement and anticipation!

The contents are arranged by time of day, not by season or occasion, which is a genius and practical way to present recipes and ideas for various gatherings.

Mornings: Blueberry Breakfast, Favorite Ideas for Breakfast Trays, Holiday Open-House Brunch, An Elegant Breakfast at Skylands, Easter Brunch, Breakfast on the Porch

Afternoons: Paté Campagnard Lunch, Easter Egg Hunt, A Luncheon For Bedford Farmers, Tea in the Afternoon, Peony Garden Party, July 4th Barbecue, Summer Cocktail Party, Picnic at Sea, Japanese Lunch, Ice Cream Social, Bridal Shower in Maine

Evenings: Celebrating a Master Gardener, Friday Night Welcome Dinner, Stylish Dinner in the Clerestory, Burgundy Dinner, Halloween Pumpkin Blaze, Thanksgiving at Bedford, Christmas at Cantitoe Corners, Dinner Party Desserts, Easter Dinner, Danish Smorrebrod in New York City, Verdant Spring Dinner

Martha's Peony Party at Bedford

An autumn arrangement made by Kevin Sharkey at Bedford. He lined a very old fine cast-iron container with plastic, then filled it with chrysanthemums, begonia leaves, scented geraniums, Bupleurum and eucalyptus. The gilded turkeys were made of a composite material covered with gold leaf.

Tea biscuits and scones presented on a tiered cake stand on the porch at Bedford

"I was happy to present a simpler version of the classic croquembouche," Martha writes about her holiday dinner party at Bedford. "We had cream puffs baked with pearl sugar for extra crunchiness on the crust, then filled with pastry cream. There was no caramel holding the puffs together, as there is in the traditional dessert. They were served profiterole-style, with warm chocolate sauce."

Promotional spots for the book: the Today Show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Dedicated entertaining programming on the Hallmark Channel, major promotion on The Martha Stewart Show, Martha Stewart Living magazine, on Martha Stewart Sirius Satellite Radio and at MarthaStewart.com.

National book tour: New York City, New York Metro area, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and more to be announced.

And the Winner Is...

2011-09-19T08:55:00.004-05:00

PetSmart and I are very pleased to announce that Jessica Hodgson of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (my hometown!) is the proud new owner of the Martha Stewart Double Cat Feeder and the Martha Stewart Feeding Mat from PetSmart! We were touched by Jessie's story of adopting one of her cats, Koah, from the streets of Daegu in South Korea and organizing to have him brought back to Canada with her. Her other cat, Neko, is also an adopted pet, found at the Ottawa Humane Society. Thanks to everyone who entered. If we could, we would give each of you a prize. You are all clearly deserving. Congratulations, Jessie! We hope Koah and Neko enjoy the Martha Stewart bowls and feeding mat. (She sent us this photo with Koah to show her excitement!)

PetSmart Giveaway: Martha Stewart Cat Feeders!

2011-09-13T18:49:00.000-05:00

The very nice people at PetSmart contacted me with an opportunity to provide one of my lucky readers with a giveaway from the new Martha Stewart Pets line for cats at PetSmart. The reader will receive the Martha Stewart Double Feeder for cats in signature blue as well as the Martha Stewart Silicon Feeding Mat for cats, also in blue. The items will be shipped directly from PetSmart to the lucky winner to anywhere in the United States or Canada.

So, here's what you have to do. It's easy: send an email to dreamboat7@hotmail.com with "Martha Moments Giveaway" as the subject line stating why you deserve to win these pet products, and you don't necessarily have to be a cat owner. Keep the comment short - one or two sentences - and be sure to state your name and write your location in the comment. Again, only readers with Canadian or US addresses are eligible to win these items.

All of the submissions will be posted as comments on this post by me for others to see. The winner will be chosen on Monday, September 19th, and announced in a new post with their comment and name published in the text. I will then contact you personally by responding to your email with the exciting news! I will notify my contact at PetSmart and she will ship the items directly to your address. Good luck everyone! Here is a bit more about the prizes:

This double-feeder is efficient, modern and stylish. Includes air-tight lids for easy travel with your pet. Durable, lightweight, easy to clean. Rust-proof stainless steel bowls that can be removed for cleaning. Silicon ring under rim reduces noise. Liquids stay cooler longer. Non-skid bottom. Rubber base prevents marking of floors. Shaped hand-grip makes moving the bowls easier, without spills. Lids keep food fresh. A PetSmart exclusive.

This lipped-edge mat prevents messy spills and makes clean-up easier. A PetSmart exclusive.

Which Cover for October?

2011-09-12T12:41:00.001-05:00

The editors at Martha Stewart Living are having a hard time choosing the cover of the October issue. On Facebook, Martha has opened the choice to a public vote and so far it's a pretty even split. The first cover was photographed by Jonathan Lovekin and the second by Cedric Angeles. Both are captivating, but which one do you like better? (Update: It seems the cover with the tarts made it to subscribers but watch for both covers on the newsstands. Which one do you like better?)

It's Cat Week!

2011-09-09T18:30:00.001-05:00

Martha Stewart and PetSmart recently teamed up to develop a new line of products for cats, adding to the wide selection of Martha Stewart pet supplies already available at PetSmart. To celebrate the launch, I'm dedicating a week's worth of posts to the mystery and wonder of cats - and a very exciting giveaway that will see one reader receiving one of the new cat products from PetSmart! Stay tuned for details on that soon!

Among the new additions to the PetSmart line are cat-friendly feeding bowls and mats, a well-designed bed and an array of cat toys, all made exclusively for Pet Smart stores and PetSmart.com. Martha, who has five cats, tested the products with her pets at home and is very pleased with their quality, practicality and style.

Here is a list of the new cat products. Click here to learn more.

FEEDING:

-- 3-Piece Bowl Set or Double Feeder: Cat-sized feeding bowls are made of non-skid melamine with separate stainless-steel bowl inserts. Designed with shallow wells for a cat's sensitive whiskers, these durable, lightweight bowls also make clean-up easy. An air-seal lid helps keep food fresh, and the convenient hand grip means fewer spills.

-- Feeding Mat: This generously sized silicone mat catches food, while a lipped edge prevents wet, messy spillovers.

-- Can Cover: Any can of uneaten food can be easily resealed for refrigeration with this universal can cover. Each silicone lid fits three different can sizes, so the cat food will stay fresh until the next feeding.

-- Food Scoop: This food scoop, made of enamel-on-stainless-steel, makes portion control simple when measuring dry cat food.

-- Food Jar: This airtight container keeps dry cat food fresh and is pretty enough for the countertop. Made of smooth, sleek ivory melamine with 'Cat Food' lettering in blue.

BEDDING:

The 2-in-1 bed features fish-patterned, burnout fleece and is fully machine washable. This cozy, innovative bed comes in gray or brown and will be available in October.

-- 2-in-1 Bed: Pops up to create a hooded space for sleeping and playing out of view and collapses into a classic bolster shape.

TOYS:

Ten unique toys ensure fun and safe playtime for cats. Arriving in September, the cat toys are expressly designed to address different types of play and include independent toys to encourage play and exercise and interactive toys to provide bonding time for the cat and pet parent.

-- Dangle Toys: Dangling designs are great for independent or interactive play. These catnip-filled toys stimulate a cat's natural curiosity with their varied textures, animal faces and exciting smells.

-- Jingle Toys: These catnip-filled toys with jingling bells are great for independent or interactive play. Jingle toys are available in a variety of animal faces.

-- Knitted Toys: A toothsome crochet-knit construction makes these toys great for independent or interactive play. Knit toys are catnip-filled and come in a variety of textures and animal faces to arouse the cat's natural instincts.

-- Teasers: Teasers provide all-day entertainment with bright colors and soft materials that will keep the cat engaged and curious. For long-lasting independent play, a teaser or "fuzzy" can be sprayed with catnip oil.

Martha Stewart's New Yarn

2011-09-04T17:08:00.005-05:00

A favourite destination for New York crafters is the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in Soho. It is a top source, too, for the crafters who work at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The studio has been featured on Martha's TV show, in the magazine and on the marthastewart.com website and its subsidiary blogs. Little surprise, then, that the new line of yarns from Martha Stewart Crafts is currently available for preview at the Lion Brand website. You knitters out there will be dazzled by the array of styles and colours! Below is a gallery of the types of yarn available. The one shown above (cotton hemp yarn) is not yet available. Lion Brand makes the yarn and it will soon also be available where ever the Martha Stewart Crafts line is sold. See the full collection and the colours from the new collection here!

From the top: Cotton Hemp Yarn, Glitter Eyelash Yarn, Alpaca Blend, Extra-Soft Wool Blend, Lofty Wool Blend, Mambo Yarn, Merino Yarn, Roving Wool Yarn.

Homemade Teacup Lamp

2011-09-03T21:27:00.008-05:00

Last year, for my birthday, I received a very special gift. My friend and former coworker Erin Ulrick - a talented designer - made me a lamp based on a design that I had seen online at Anthropologie's website. It was a lamp made from a collection of tea cups, saucers and a teapot. Since the lamp was not in stock at the store where I worked, and could not be shipped from the website, Erin adapted the design by using dinnerware she purchased from Anthropologie (From The Deep Dinnerware) and made the lamp herself! I was so impressed with the result. Just yesterday I purchased the lampshade - also from Anthropologie - and put the lamp on a small desk in my kitchen nook where I keep a lot of my files. The cup-and-saucer theme fits perfectly into the kitchen and I love the blue and white motifs. A friend called it "Nouveau Victorian - in a good way." I wholeheartedly agree!

Here are Erin's instructions on how to make the lamp, for all you do-it-yourselfers:

Drill a hole through the exact center of everything using a carbide tipped arrow head drill bit. (Be prepared to go through about 6 to 8 of these.)

To keep the bit cool while drilling you should keep a small cup nearby filled with about a half an inch of cold water. You can dip the tip into the water occasionally to cool it down. Don't push too hard, let the bit do the work. If you rush, the china may break. This step is extremely time consuming so be patient.

Lamp parts are available at most hardware stores. You can buy a kit with all the parts you're going to need. It will come with a cord, socket, harp and threaded tube. Follow the instructions on the lamp kit on how to put the basic pieces together.

Insert the tube through the drilled china starting at the top. When everythings in the spot you want put a washed and nut on the bottom to hold it all together.

Now moving on to your electrical lesson! You have to leave the harp and the light socket attatched to the china but remove the top section of the switch and access the terminal screws. (Terminal screws are the little ones on each side of the switch.) Now thread the electrical cord through the tube. Split the cord about an inch to an inch and a half and tie a knot in it. (You tie the knot so you can't disconnect the cord.) Strip approximately 3/4 of an inch of the insulation of the cord exposing the bare wires. Make a loop in the end of the bare wires and attatch it to the light bulb socket in a clock wise direction. Push the upper section of the light socket onto the base section. Screw in a light bulb, plug it in and BEHOLD!

This lamp from Anthropologie was the inspiration for Erin's design. She used plates, cups and saucers that she purchased at Anthropologie to make her own unique version of it for me. The teapot was purchased at a garage sale. I treasure this creation.

Martha Stewart's New Calendars

2011-08-31T13:42:00.008-05:00

Arriving in the mail today was my Martha Stewart Gardens 2012 calendar. I was so pleased to receive it! It is one of a series of new 2012 calendars by MSLO, the first time they have produced calendars for retail. (They had previously only issued calendars as special promotional incentives for subscription services.) These ones are designed by the masters in calendar creation: teNeues, a German publishing firm. The Gardens calendar is a very generous size (nearly one square foot when closed) and it is printed on very beautiful, thick paper in rich colour. Other nice features include the listing of holidays that are celebrated in numerous countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and Australia. All of the events, days of the week and holidays are spelled out in multi-lingual format. English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch are all represented, making it quite a global calendar. Inside is a bonus removable spreadsheet with a month-by-month list of gardening tips. I've now ordered my Cookies and Cupcakes calendars (for the archives, you see) and the Martha Stewart Living Deluxe Diary. Also available is a Crafts calendar and a Collecting Engagement calendar. You can order them all at Amazon.com.

The Bold New BHLDN Boutique

2011-08-31T09:12:00.006-05:00

I am sure that for most brides-to-be a visit to the new BHLDN boutique in Houston, Texas, would be an exercise in restraint: tempering the desire to buy absolutely everything in sight might prove to be more difficult than expected! Gorgeous gowns, beautiful decorations, glamorous accessories and sophisticated shoes are all displayed in a dramatic new setting. BHLDN is the new wedding brand by Anthropologie. It is a distinct new subdivision of the Urban Outfitters network of lifestyle brands and it is one that has certainly captured my imagination; even as an Anthropologie employee who is constantly surrounded by creativity and beautiful things, the BHLDN line dazzles me with its flare and vision. Recently on Facebook, the company shared photos of its new (and only) boutique in Houston, which opened just over a week ago in Highland Village. For anyone planning a creative wedding, it is likely set to become the destination store. Have a look.

Aynsley and the Automat

2011-08-26T08:18:00.014-05:00

As mentioned here before, I like to occasionally feature women who have taken their passions and turned them into small businesses. I archive these stories in a section of the blog called Working. It was something I was inspired to do after Martha's 'Dreamers Into Doers' campaign launched several years ago. And sometimes I'm fortunate enough to know these women!

Aynsley Amy, shown above, surrounded by the fruits of an estate-sale yield, is one such person. Aynsley and I worked together at Anthropologie in Toronto for about a year before she decided to strike up her own business, turning her imaginative dream into a reality with a miniscule budget, a knowledge of vintage treasures, a passion for fashion and a love of old-school automats.

Scouring estate sales, tag sales and flea markets, Aynsley pools together a unique assortment of vintage apparel and housewares, selling them online through her website theautomat.ca and at trunk shows. The key to Aynsley's success is the clarity of her aesthetic: the goods she proffers must be unique, colourful and dynamic, demonstrating personality by provoking the imagination. Aynsley explains below.

"I like to characterize the Automat as a modern-day vending machine stocked with past-day treasures, all carefully handpicked with an eye for the awesome," she says. Aynsley's website, where she sells her finds, was designed to look like an automat, an image she could not let go of when coming up with her selling strategy.

"The look of the website was incredibly important - how the merchandise is presented is as important as the merchandise itself," she says. "The challenge was to create something clean and easy to navigate, but that also got across the feeling of a real automat, a wall of coin-operated boxes from decades past. One of the best compliments we got was a disbelieving, 'How did you manage to make a website look vintage?''

"There's just something about automats that I find really appealing. They were the original self-serve restaurant where you chose your meal, put in your coins and the little window opened up. It was about convenience but, unlike most of today's convenience-based experiences, they were also beautifully constructed."
The pieces Aynsley selects are all carefully considered to reflect a sense of femininity but also adventure. There is nothing subtle about the look she is promoting, as the Automat's manifesto clearly outlines: "We believe that life is too short to blend into the crowd. We believe that style should be about reinvention, celebration and inspiration."And what's next for the Automat? "I plan on gradually introducing more new (as in not previously loved) merchandise that has the look and feel of antique and vintage. This is a way of keeping the styles of the past alive once the originals have become too old and delicate to use. And with clothing, it's also a way to offer a wider size range."

It's been a joy seeing Aynsley's work develop and grow. She was recently featured on MTV and last week held her end-of-summer trunk show. I heard so much about it from co-workers and mutual friends who were able to attend. Visit her site for even a brief trip to the past. Who knows, you may find yourself wanting to slide a few coins into one of those tempting automats.
Aynsley recently held an end-of-season trunk show at a friend's home: a gorgeous array of colours, shapes and textures.
All tagged with Aynsley's branded sale tickets.
Housewares are also a key component to the Automat's vision. Vintage tchotchkes (the woodland critters) and whimsical gadgets, such as salt-and-pepper shakers (the green roosters) and egg cups (the chickens) are all part of the package.
Vintage and antique glassware and teacups.
Old ceramic beer mugs do double-duty as planters.

A 'Good Things' Reunion

2011-08-21T17:12:00.007-05:00

One of the best things about blogging is hearing from and occasionally meeting so many wonderful people from all over the world. One such wonderful person is Joyce Pardee, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska. I first met Joyce in 2006 at the Good Things event, an MSLO-sponsored event to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Martha Stewart Living magazine. She and her friend Christine more or less adopted me during that two-day Marthafest in New York City. We shared our stories and enjoyed each other's company at a taping of The Martha Stewart Show and then at the Good Things fair the following day, which was held at Pier 94 on Manhattan's waterfront.

While we had always hoped we would see each other again, we weren't sure when or if that would happen. Well, five years later, today was the day! Joyce is embarking on an epic bus tour of four of Canada's major cities: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. A few weeks ago she contacted me to let me know she would be in town and we worked out a time and meeting place to hold our reunion.

Joyce, who is terrified of heights, avoided going to the top of the CN Tower with her friends by going to lunch with me. It was my honour to not only treat Joyce to lunch at a cute little bistro by the waterfront (above) but to spend some quality time with her. She is one of the warmest, most endearing and generous souls anyone could ever meet. She brought a little gift bag for me filled with treats from Nebraska, including an assortment of gourmet popcorns, roasted almonds that are made in her hometown of Lincoln, Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing (Nebraska's most famous salad dressing) and Misty's all-purpose seasoning for ribs. The bag itself was cute and had an adorable print on it (below), which I intend on keeping in my scrapbook.

Before saying goodbye to Joyce, who was on a fairly tight schedule, I got to see photos of her amazing cupcake creations and some of the beautiful handmade decorations she created for her wedding. Joyce is an award-winning cook and a Master Gardener who tends the gardens of the governor's mansion during her time off. After lunch we got caught in a savage thunder storm in the shadow of the CN Tower waiting for her tour group to return from its summit. We chatted about our lives and our goals and she told me all about her travels to India, England and Scotland. She is a spirited and curious friend, and I have little doubt that I will see Joyce again. Blogs are like very special windows, opening onto unexpected views filled with a landscape full of people - some as special and lovely as Joyce.

Kitchen Drawers at Bedford

2011-08-19T20:26:00.010-05:00

There are fewer spaces in the house that are more overlooked, I feel, than the lowly kitchen drawer. Because they are sealed off from constant view, kitchen drawers can become disorganized and messy very easily, especially in busy households. Thankfully for us, Martha has opened her kitchen drawers for all the world to see, and her secrets for organizing them reveal some good ideas that we can all adapt to our own space. Below are photos of some of her kitchen drawers at her main kitchen at her home in Bedford, New York.

Martha reserves one of the kitchen drawers for utility supplies such as light bulbs, extension cords, glue, batteries, tapes and cutting tools. It's nice to have these items accessible and at the ready, separated and organized in open plastic containers to keep them together. I have a similar drawer in my tiny apartment kitchen. It contains all of the above materials as well as measuring tapes, pencils and notepads.

Napkin rings are organized in similar plastic containers, sorted by style and colour. Martha has several other drawers reserved for linen napkins, tea towels, place mats and table cloths.

Small jadeite containers from Martha's extensive collection are put to good use in Martha's first-aid drawer. Each one holds a small amount of first-aid supplies, such as bandages, cotton swabs, various pain killers, salves and balms.
Martha's tea drawer has all of the accoutrements a tea lover requires: strainers, honey spoons, empty packets for loose-leaf teas and wooden Asian teaspoons. Loose-leaf teas are kept in stainless steel containers with see-through lids and labels on the sides for easy identification. Everything is separated by stainless-steel baskets that fit perfectly into the drawer.
A label drawer is a handy addition to a kitchen, given how multipurpose the busiest room in the house can be; many people do projects in the kitchen that are unrelated to cooking: wrapping gifts, responding to correspondence, etc. Martha keeps luggage tags in various sizes next to her label maker. The label maker itself is labeled: "this stays right here," it says. Pencils and coloured markers, staples, rulers, waxed linen twine, a glue stick and a small box of Martha Stewart stationery are all kept in this drawer.
Martha has numerous drawers reserved just for baking supplies. The one above shows all of the tools needed for icing cakes, cupcakes and pastries.

Sometimes it makes more sense to keep tools that are frequently used out of the drawers all together. Martha keeps large metal and wooden spoons, spatulas, whisks and brushes in ceramic containers on a stainless steel cart on castors that can be wheeled around the kitchen. The ceramic ramekins in the foreground hold spices, ready for use.

Martha's Chemistry Drinkware at Grandin Road

2011-08-16T14:36:00.006-05:00

Yes, folks, it's true. Summer is winding down and most of us have our sights set on the happenings of autumn, including the arrival of Halloween, which is Martha's favourite holiday. Always eager to get a jump-start on the season, Martha recently debuted her new line of Halloween goods at Grandin Road. My favourites are these sets of blown-glass chemistry flasks, beakers and glassware, mainly because of their collectibility and versatility. (Unique in design and printed with Martha's name, they are likely to not lose their market value over time and could become quite sought-after by collectors.) I love that they are made for Halloween parties to serve all manner of mysteriously tainted beverages to guests but that they could also be used year-round for other purposes: vases and decanters among them. The beakers and measuring cylinders come in sets of four for $19.99. The Erlenmeyer flask (bottom) sells for $29.00.

The Art of Dessert

2011-08-14T10:58:00.004-05:00

Let's face it: we all want to have our cake and eat it too! Artists have always been fascinated by food and capturing its essence in the form of paintings extends our enjoyment of food well beyond the final gulp. Nearly every culture on earth has produced elaborate artistic compositions using food as primary subject matter, some of the paintings dating back centuries. Preserving food in the form of art is a kind of cultural index. These paintings create a visual archive, a painterly historical record, of the foods we have loved and celebrated, decade by decade.

With the rise of the food stylist in current lifestyle media, we have become even more accustomed to viewing food in artistic ways. Beautiful photo spreads in magazines featuring tables laden with desserts and confections of all sorts can inspire the artistic imagination as well as the taste buds.

The artists featured in this post have all been lured by the idea of preserving delicious-looking desserts on canvas through their paintings. Whimsical, modern and colourful, 'dessert art' is a growing trend in home décor and some of it is actually quite collectible. American artist Wayne Thiebaud, for example, was a prolific painter of cakes, ice-cream cones, pies and other desserts. Considered to be among the most recognized American artists in the 1960s Pop movement, Thiebaud's work is featured in many U.S. galleries alongside Pop contemporaries such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. An original Thiebaud could fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the market today.

Current food artists, such as British graphic designer Joel Penkman and Toronto painter Shirley Radebach, sell their dessert paintings for several hundred dollars each. I urge you to visit their galleries on Etsy for a further look at their creations. You can find the links below. Food art can spruce up any room in the house, especially the kitchen where their bold colours and lighthearted exuberance can brighten and enhance the space. So, when it comes to wall space, remember to save room for dessert!

The paintings above are by artist Joel Penkman. You can view his gallery here.

Vintage Jello dessert ads, such as these two above, were common in domestic manuals from the early 1900s, gorgeously illustrated to convey the final product of a recipe before the advent of the photograph. Inspiring in their own right, these ads would make wonderful, large-scale prints.

The three paintings above are by renowned American Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud.

Toronto painter Shirley Radebach sells her prints for very reasonable prices. Click here to see her small gallery.

Home at Last!

2011-08-11T13:49:00.006-05:00

Oh, my all-time favourite issue is here: the September issue! It is always, without question, the issue of Martha Stewart Living I most look forward to - even more than the December issue, which I must admit is a very close second. (Digression: My favourite issue does not necessarily make it the best issue. You'll have to wait for my annual round-up in December to see my pick for the best issue of 2011!)

The September issue always heralds a return to the cozy comforts of home, a focus on design and interiors and many of my favourite subjects. This year's issue steadfastly holds true to the hallmarks of a good Martha Stewart September issue. There is a lot of emphasis on interior design, rustic late-summer/early-fall dinners, DIY design ideas and articles on collecting. There is a nice touch of the outdoors in this issue, too. Martha takes us through the process of planting spring bulbs at her Bedford farm and an article on how to maximize your outdoor living spaces offers 12 easy steps to help you beautify and enjoy those areas before the colder weather truly descends. Below are some highlights from the issue.

Martha Stewart Living editor-in-chief Pilar Guzmán takes us through her Brooklyn brownstone where she lives with her husband and two children. The home is breathtaking and filled with charm, personal touches and a wonderful sense of warmth. It is also featured on the cover.

Alexis and Martha Stewart are both insatiable collectors of jadeite dinnerware, identified by its pretty green hue of thick glass. Their enormous collection, which contains pieces dating back to the early 1930s, is now housed primarily at Skylands, Martha's home in Maine, where this story was photographed.

Bored with your doors? The decorating editors provide all kinds of inspiring design solutions to spruce up any door in your home, from the front entrance all the way to the bedroom closet, shown above.

How nice it is to have just one pan to clean up after dinner. The food editors give us several pages of mouth-watering ideas for one-pan meals that are sure to please.

A story on outdoor living spaces is a refreshing tribute to late-summer respites on patios, benches and other backyard hideaways.

New Whole Living Smoothies App

2011-08-11T13:31:00.003-05:00

The first Whole Living App for iPad and iPhone is now available for download and its focus is all about one of the brand's most popular topics: smoothies! The App features dozens of smoothie recipes with how-to videos and helpful tips on how to get the best results. Each recipe has detailed dietary information and a visual glossary of ingredients. This App joins several others for iPad and iPhone; there is one for Cocktails, one for Cookies and two iPhone-specific Apps: Everyday Food and Egg Dyeing. Download the Smoothies App here!

The smoothies are categorized by function: smoothies to help you lose weight, smoothies to help you detox, etc.
A roulette-style ingredient-finder helps users search smoothies by main ingredient and type of smoothie.
You can keep notes about your favourite recipes and share them with friends via email, Facebook or Twitter.

New Martha Blog: Our Finds

2011-08-08T19:14:00.003-05:00

On July 21rst, the editors of Martha Stewart Living magazine decided to bring their water-cooler discussions about their favourite things to us, their readers, with a new blog called Our Finds. An offshoot of the magazine column of the same name, the blog intends to share what the department editors at MSL are discovering on a daily basis on the marketplace: people, places, shops, websites, products and inspiration. It all comes together to inform their work and fuel their editorial fires. I had not discovered the blog until today, actually, but I'm very glad I did. I especially like their Links We Loved This Week posts with connections to all kinds of sites, blogs and online shops that are sure to inspire. Be sure to check it out: Our Finds.

The image above is from a collecting segment from the Our Finds column in the August issue of Martha Stewart Living. If you'd like to learn more about these quirky American giveaways, the book Sour Cream Glasses by Barbara Mauzy, a brief but informative manual on collecting these glasses, is a fun and colourful guide.

Time Out NY Visits MSLO

2011-08-03T19:30:00.005-05:00

In March, 2010, I had the joy of attending a Martha Stewart event at the Starrett Lehigh building in Manhattan where the Omnimedia offices are located on the ninth floor. It is such an impressive space, filled with light and an industrial elegance (lots of white, lots of glass) that adds a lovely sense of calm to the environment. Sarah Bruning, a writer for Time Out New York, contacted me today to let me know she recently spoke with some of the editors at Martha Stewart Living for a story she did about what it's like to work at Omnimedia. The story is accompanied by wonderful photographs by Caroline Voagen Nelson, some of which are displayed below with Sarah's permission. I was flattered to learn that Sarah is a follower of this blog and I truly appreciate her reaching out to me - and you, readers! - to share her story and these photos with us. You can read the full story here and view a lot more photographs by Caroline.

These are the test kitchens where all the magic happens! Imagine the glorious food that emerges from this room...
Another perspective on the test kitchens. I love the vintage melamine chairs in pink and aqua.
This is the office of Gael Towey, the chief creative director for the company. The walls are covered with storyboard templates and inspiration photos.
Darcy Miller, the editor of Weddings, sits happily at her desk.
Anna Last, the editor-in-chief of Everyday Food magazine, shares a laugh.
This is a corner of Fritz Karch's office. He is the collecting editor.
I love Kevin Sharkey's office with all of its colour-blocked bookshelves! Kevin is the magazine's decorating editor.

Martha Stewart in 70 Words

2011-08-03T04:39:00.003-05:00

Beautiful. Determined. Persistent. Creative. Authoritative. Accomplished. Daughter. Mother. Grandmother. Sister. Aunt. Curious. Capricious. Daring. Bold. Confident. Strident. Motivated. Motivational. Driven. Ambitious. Inspired. Inspiring. Artistic. Leader. Intuitive. Strong. Brilliant. Tenacious. Exacting. Perfectionist. Decisive. Correct. Astute. Sensitive. Energetic. Strategic. Knowledgeable. Secure. Generous. Baker. Cook. Crafter. Gardener. Maker. Decorator. Homekeeper. Beekeeper. Teacher. Learner. Collector. Farmer. Grower. Designer. Tastemaker. Author. Mogul. Traveller. Photographer. Hiker. Contemplative. Giving. Healthy. Proprietor. Builder. Employer. History-maker. Entrepreneurial. American. Icon.

Eric Ravilious for Wedgwood

2011-08-01T16:11:00.003-05:00

Eric Ravilious led a short but prolific life. Born in 1903 in London, Ravilious went on to become one of the best-known British artists of the 1930s, illustrating English landscapes, seascapes and depictions of rural life that endeared him to collectors. During the Second World War, he was commissioned to document England's contributions to the war effort, employing an almost lighthearted naivety in his drawings. He used bright, pastel tones and simple lines to illustrate fighter planes and harbours filled with war ships. He was also commissioned by Wedgwood to contribute ceramic designs for the lauded British firm, designs that are strikingly modern today with their graphic silhouettes, interesting fonts, bold colours and sleek shapes. Being something of a Wedgwood collector myself, I was intrigued to learn more about his work. Below are some examples of his ceramics for Wedgwood. The most prized of all are his mugs and jugs, which can fetch between $200 and $400 each, depending on their condition and rarity. Ravilious was presumed dead in 1942 when his plane went missing off the coast of Iceland.

This book is a catalog of his complete designs for Wedgwood. It is out of print but still available online. It is set to become part of my library!

Summer Clip-Art Postcards

2011-07-29T15:37:00.003-05:00

Being an avid postcard collector, it is no surprise that I wasted little time downloading the free postcard templates from the August issue of Martha Stewart Living at marthastewart.com. Based on seaside and summer themes, the postcards can be simply made using an elementary craft technique: cut & paste! Click here to download them all and read the instructions.

Martha Bakes...Again!

2011-07-27T16:03:00.004-05:00

Today, at a television conference in Los Angeles, Hallmark announced the season-two premier of "Martha Bakes." The popular how-to series, which is part of Hallmark Channel's home block of programming, instructs new and experienced cooks on the finer points of the art of baking, demonstrating techniques and recipes perfected by Martha Stewart, the show's host.

This season, Martha will bake yeast breads, layer cakes, pizza, focaccia as well as the more popular croissant, all filmed in the kitchen at her home in Bedford, New York. Each of the recipes was selected and edited by Martha. Commenting on the series Martha said, "This has always been a passion project for me and to be able to continue offering this incredible curriculum to our viewers is very satisfying. This second season tutorial is quite expansive and features recipes that are near and dear to my heart." The series will debut on September 26.

Markets of New England

2011-07-22T14:25:00.018-05:00

When I look back on some of our family trips, some of the best memories stem from the road trips we took to Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire when I was growing up. These states, along with Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, make up a region known as New England bordered by Canada, the Atlantic Ocean and New York State. Overflowing with a unique charm and particular kind of rustic refinement found nowhere else in North America, this northeastern corner of the U.S. is a must-see for anyone interested in antiques, quaint architecture, pastoral landscapes and wonderful, homegrown food. (If you love Martha, you'll adore New England! Martha's entire oeuvre is based on the aesthetics and atmosphere these states are known for.)

I was delighted, then, when I discovered a book called "Markets of New England" by writer and blogger Christine Chitnis, who is a regular reader of this blog, I'm thrilled to report! All of my memories of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire came flooding back as I leafed through its pages. It's a gorgeous guide to the best roadside and off-road markets (50 in total) throughout New England. The pages also feature some of Christine's gorgeous photographs of the places she visited.

State by state, the journey goes something like this: In Massachusetts, make your way up the coast to Cape Cod, where markets feature baskets of blueberries and flats of oysters still dripping with saltwater; hop the ferry to Sustainable Nantucket’s picturesque farm stands; or journey inland to an art festival nestled in the Berkshires. In New Hampshire, attend a lakeside workshop and a market held on New England’s largest town common, in the shadow of a classic white church and steeple. Meander across Vermont during an open studio weekend, or to Maine for a clam festival, a county fair, and craft guild shows. Even tiny Rhode Island has pleasures aplenty: an oceanfront gourmet food tasting, an indie art fair overlooking Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. There is so much to explore! I highly recommend this guide to anyone interested in visiting this beautiful region of the U.S. Visit Christine's beautiful blog here. You can order the book here.

New From Martha Stewart Crafts

2011-07-22T08:21:00.003-05:00

Martha Stewart Crafts has introduced a new line of supplies that is sure to please the avid crafter! Last night on HSN Martha showcased some of the new products, including a line made for home decorating. Stenciling kits, home decor kits, painting tools kits and a series of new, multipurpose decorative-arts paints all made their debut yesterday. You can read more about the decorative arts paints here. To see the full new line of craft supplies that came out yesterday, click here. (Also, watch for a Martha Stewart yarn collection soon!)

High-Gloss Acrylic 12-pack paint set. Martha Stewart paints work for all surfaces, hold up to indoor or outdoor use and are perfect for all craft and hobby techniques. Whether you're brush painting and detailing, sponging, stenciling or stamping, these creamy, high-performance pigments provide excellent coverage.
Four pack Martha Stewart Specialty Paint Mediums: Crackle, Glaze, Satin and High Gloss. Create exquisite surfaces using specialty mediums that help you take decorating projects to the next level. Achieve satiny finishes, glossy shine and even rustic, weathered effects with these four bottles. From simple stained-wood treatments to extraordinary faux finishes on walls, home decor or furniture, paint mediums give you the power to transform the ordinary into something remarkable.