Martha Stewart Home Office: Holiday Collection

I used to love the Martha Stewart Everyday assortment of holiday wrapping papers and labels. These days, most of Martha's holiday trimming tools can be found at Staples, which has developed its first Holiday line with Avery for Martha Stewart Home Office. It's a very nice assortment that covers every packaging requirement, from the decorative to the practical. The collection includes many styles of gift wrap with patterns including snowflakes, candies, stockings, ornaments, mittens and stars. There are gift bags in three sizes, tissue papers in coordinating patterns, ribbon, gift labels and gift tags. I personally love the shipping supplies that are included in this line: mailing seals, kraft shipping paper in decorative patterns, decorative padded envelopes, decorative packing tape and printable shipping and mailing labels. Visit a store near you or shop online! Below are some personal samples, but you can see more of the line here.

 

smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com

smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com

A Few of My Favourite Things...

In the grand tradition of Oprah Winfrey's holiday histrionics, I cannot resist sharing some of my favourite things this year. Watching Oprah's Favorite Things episode was a gift in itself: all those somersaults, backflips and tears of joy! Sadly, I am not a billionaire and cannot afford to give each of you a sample of my picks, but if I could, these are the items I would be showering upon you. If there is someone on your Christmas shopping list you haven't crossed off yet, please consider the following gift ideas. I've divided them into brand categories - all of my favourite vendors! Happy browsing!

Naturally, we'll start with the Queen of Good Things! There was so much to choose from in Martha's vast and diverse collections, but I tried to think of the quintessential "Martha gifts" for a blossoming new fan of the brand: something classically Martha, something useful.

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Classic Band Grey dinnerware set (Martha Stewart Collection); Cake Stands (Martha Stewart Collection); Set of Five Ceramic Mixing Bowls (Martha Stewart Collection); Enameled Cast-Iron Round Casseroles (Martha Stewart Collection); Set of 24 Glitter Viles (Martha Stewart Crafts and Michaels); Martha Stewart Food Glossaries 2013 Calendar (Amazon.com and Book Stores); Martha Stewart's Cooking School (Amazon and Book Stores): Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts (Amazon and Book Stores); Martha Stewart Living subscription - print or for iPad.

In case you have not yet heard, Brent and Josh were the winners of this year's season of The Amazing Race! I am out-of-control happy for these two intrepid young entrepreneurs who are not only my friends but an inspiration to me. Their brand (Beekman 1802) has some absolutely beautiful, handcrafted artisinal products, straight from the little town of Sharon Springs, New York. From cakes to cheeses, spreads to dressings, they have your pantry covered. And if it's beauty products you're looking for, they have essentially cornered the local market on all-natural, handmade products, many of which are made using the goat dairy and botanical extracts from their farm.

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: A great selection of holiday goods awaits you at Beekman1802.com or at their store in Sharon Springs, Beekman 1802 Merchantile; Graphic Greens Door Wreath; Delux 'Tis The Season Collection Beauty Products in a handmade wooden box with the Beekman 1802 logo; Beekman 1802 Tea For Two Bundle with two enamelware mugs and a jar of Lemon Cream Honey; Victorian Paper Horns, which can be used instead of stockings to hold small gifts. Shop Beekman1802.com

I would be remiss if I did not mention my favourite store of all! (Yes, it's where I work but that does not mean I am biased! Being surrounded by beautiful things all day is truly good for the soul and Anthropologie delivers beauty in spades.) From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Farmers Market Berry Baskets made of glazed ceramic in bright colours or subtle neutrals - a must-have! (Martha has them!); Monogram Mr. Mugs; Monogram Mrs. Mugs; Ceramic Cake Dome by Molly Hatch; Half-Dozen Egg Crate made of glazed ceramic in bright colours; A Real Hoot Cookie Jar; Anjou Cookie Jar; 3-D Toile Full Apron; Chalet Candle Tin in Mulled Wine. Shop Anthropologie.com

When it comes to books, I'm really choosy. I go for the beautiful collectibles rather than the paperbacks. These volumes are essentials for book lovers who adore design, architecture, cooking and fashion.

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Maggie's Harvest is a beautiful collection of 350 recipes by Australian cook Maggie Beer. It is part memoir, part cookbook with beautiful design details such as a hand-embroidered cover; Baked Elements by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito offers 75 recipes using only 10 of their best-loved ingredients. It is inventive and beautiful and practical. Therefore, I love it. The Stylist's Guide to NYC by Sibella Court is a must for anyone who travels to Manhattan for design inspiration. Hundreds of stores and vendors are listed, mostly the tucked-away gems that are never featured in any typical tourist's guidebook. The Houses of Veranda by Lisa Newsom is a beautiful collection of interiors originally featured in Veranda magazine. It was one of my favourite releases this year. The Great American House by architect Gil Schafer III will play well with admirers of Martha Stewart's homes. Clean, classic lines and a blend of tradition and modernity are the hallmarks of the homes in this beautiful tome;

La Maison by Koto Bolofo is a collection of eleven volumes of photographs that beautifully render the design principles and aesthetics of the House of Hermes. Packaged in a signature orange case, each slim volume traces a different element of the Hermes brand, from leather to fragrance to equine anatomy. A Living Space by Kit Kemp is another of my favourite offerings this year. Filled with gorgeous photographs of interiors that defy rigid design rules, the book aims to empower a sense of lightheartedness by mixing patterns, embracing colour and living with the objects you love. Shop Amazon.com

Cantitoe Corners Birdhouse!

The birds who will one day inhabit Tom Burk's birdhouse replica of Martha Stewart's home in Bedford will be lucky birds, indeed! Tommy, as he likes to be called, has 25 years experience in construction in Delaware but now devotes his talents to building fine birdhouses based on designs of famous American homes or the homes of his clients, some of whom have been very high-profile.

 

Tommy contacted me a few months ago to see if I could help with the authenticity of the design and I provided him with what details I knew about the "Winter House" at Cantitoe Corners. I think he did an excellent job! It's instantly recognizable to any Martha Stewart aficionado. The birdhouse is four feet long by three feet deep and just over three feet high. There are 28 entry ports for those lucky birds I mentioned and individual interior rooms. The roof can be removed for cleaning and there are working gutters and downspouts. There are also ten copper lightning rods - just in case. The entire birdhouse is made of repurposed construction pallets and painted in Martha Stewart Bedford Gray paint, naturally. Visit Tommy's website for more examples of his stunning creations. 

 

The January Issue: Two Covers

It's here! The January issue is arriving in subscriber mailboxes with a bright burst of new-year freshness! In this issue: warm winter soups, Darcy Miller's craft room, a cozy winter brunch, a visit to Woodstock, gardener Dan Hinkley. I haven't had a chance to read through it closely yet, but it looks like a lovely issue! There are two covers being printed for this issue. The first is for subscribers and the second is for the iPad and newsstand.

Dreaming of a White House Christmas

Many of you will remember David Bondarchuck and his appearance last year on the Martha Stewart Show to discuss his involvement with decorating the White House for Christmas. One of the best surprises of the show was a video message from First Lady Michelle Obama, letting him know how touched she was by his story and thanking him for his beautiful work.

 

David was homeless for many years before starting his own catering business, Scratch Catering, based in Colorado. To pass the hours, Daivd spent many days in the local library reading and quickly discovered the books of Martha Stewart, which helped him sieze his talent and make his dreams a reality.

 

This year, David was invited back to the White House to help decorate for a second year in a row! He contacted me, eager to share his photographs of some of the White House decorations with you, since most Americans will not get to see them. Thanks, David! You did a super job!



David created this stunning pinecone garland for the entrance to the East Room.

Two charming trees and a portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy.

Trees, wreaths and garlands in the Red Room.The theme here was fruit. The decorations on the trees are all artificial fruits: red ones at the bottom and yellow at the top, with every spectrum in between.

One of the mantels in the Red Room.

Now that's a gingerbread house! Santa and Bo (the Obamas' dog) are both made of marzipan and gum paste. The windows are hard candy, but they used a printer that's typically used to put photos on cakes and printed pictures of the coresponding rooms for the upstairs floors on the candy windows. The downstairs windows were left open. They constructed the State Dining Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, and East Room out of candy and chocolate. Each room was given a sugar-candy chandelier that actually lit up!

This wreath is hung directly above the gingerbread house. It's very Martha, don't you think?

This is the Patriot Tree in the Blue Room, decorated in red, white and blue with silver accents and star motifs.

I love this tree located in one of the rooms downstairs. Decorated entirely in opaque glass ornaments that are arranged in diagonal bands of colour. The effect is striking. 

David decorated the tree on the left of the fireplace, as well as made the garlands for the mantel and around the portrait of Lincoln.

This is one of four trees in the East Room, shown here with a portrait of George Washington.

David posing in front of the Patriot Tree in the Blue Room at the gala!

A Conversation With Matthew Robbins

Many fans of Martha Stewart's television shows and magazines will recognize Matthew Robbins. He is the intrepid young floral designer and stylist responsible for many of the beautiful flower arrangements in Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings. He has also appeared regularly on The Martha Stewart Show. His first book Inspired Weddings was released earlier this year (with a foreword by Martha) and it is one of my favourites, filled with inspiration, just as the title promises. I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to chat with Matthew about his work. Below are some highlights of our conversation and some samples of his beautiful work. I'm sure you'll find his creative insights on entertaining and floral design as interesting as I did.

Everyone has idols and influences. Was there a person, a book, an event or a place that really inspired you to pursue your passion for styling and design?

 

My friend and mentor Maria Giovanna Vella really inspired my passion for styling, entertaining and design during my college days in San Francisco. I worked in her shop, Bomarzo after classes and on the weekends. These are still some of my favorite life moments. I found an ability to design and live effortlessly in Maria's approach and this was something that really ignited my own career. Kelly Kornegay and Devorah Nussenbaum (Both designers in Northern California) also sparked my early passion for being inspired by the seasons and one's own sense of place, community and interests.

With the holidays approaching, many people are thinking about tablesettings. What are some design tips or strategies to help people create a memorable table?

Get inspired by the things you already live with and collect. Look around at your favorite objects, treasures and family heirlooms. Find material for your decor in this inspiration. Remember to create a beautiful table that reflects your personal style and that compliments your home or at least the dining room housing the table. You don't want a table that looks completely unrelated to your own style and the decor in your home.

What are some of the most popular flowers people are using in arrangements this season?

Anemones and ranunculus continue to be very popular in holiday arrangements. They are wonderful blooms as they are slightly less predictable than a rose or hydrangea and they can add that touch of whimsy to a traditional arrangement. Dusty miller foliage is also a big star this season. The beautiful frosty grey tone in this foliage brings a chic and unexpected detail to any floral arrangement.

 

How does one create drama with a floral centerpiece?

Concentrated, rich color brings drama to any arrangement. Also, lush and unique textural elements such as romantic vines and branches with movement will bring a sense of magic and drama to a floral arrangement. Sometimes choosing a dramatic base is enough to add the wow factor to an otherwise simple arrangement. A few magnolia branches with white amaryllis look stunning and insanely dramatic when presented in a gorgeous urn or something with real presence.

And if you want something more subtle?

Work with smaller blooms and keep the color relationships quiet but interesting. For example, use a range of white tones but choose blooms that range from crisp white to blushy, champagne white. Keep the movement and lines of the arrangement on the quieter less dramatic side. For this type of arrangement you might want to avoid too many contrasting shapes and tones.

 

How will you be decorating your holiday table this year?

 

I'm obsessed with green this year so I'm planning to feature rich green foliage with gorgeous vintage gold vases and accessories. Green tones look so chic, elegant and festive when paired with gold.

 

Your first book was amazing. Will there be other books by Matthew Robbins?

Thank you! So happy you love my first book. I'm currently developing the concept for my next book and I'm very excited about this!! I have a meeting with my literary agent soon to review the details! I will keep you all posted! It will definitely remain focused on the core of my work and mission which is to shed some light on how to find inspiration and use that inspiration for creating timeless, personal and unique design!

-*-*-*-*-

 

Below are examples of Matthew's styling and floral designs. When planning the look of a wedding or event, Matthew will often gather together a series of inspirational objects: fabrics, wallpapers, dinnerware, glassware, leaves, flowers, urns and even candy! Once collected, he will create an artful display and extract an overall palette and feel for the event. You can try it yourself with items that you love of a similar colour, keeping in mind a balance of textures and mixing patterns with solids. The results can be striking!

Matthew's book Inspired Weddings is available now through Abrams Books. Many thanks to Matthew and Abrams Books for use of the photographs by Thuss & Farrell.