A very Martha Christmas
The Martha Stewart magazine Christmas edition is here, and inside is Martha, Mini-me, and myself, at a gorgeous caroling party she held last year.
Christmas at Martha’s is truly like walking into a magazine, not that you would expect anything less. The food, the drink, the company and the decorations are always exquisite, and I’ve pinched many an idea. Last year all her windows had these fantastic silver tinsel wreaths, very simple, very elegant, and it turned out they were from Michael’s, and were dirt cheap. Of course by the time I got there they’d sold out, so I bought tons of green ones and sprayed them silver.
She also had Springerle cookies, traditional Christmas cookies in Bavaria and Austria, made of a simple dough with an intricate design stamped on top. Martha had painted and sealed hers, and hung them on the tree, which sent me off on a week-long obsessive tour of the web looking for Springerle cookie moulds. I found a few, but nothing as large or beautiful as Martha’s, and of course they disappeared into the ether long before I had a chance to try them out. Probably in Mini-me’s bedroom somewhere.
This is, by the way, the story of my life. I would love to do crafts with the Smalls, but by the time I actually find the time, I can never find the bloody things.
Mini-me is enjoying the celebrity of being in a magazine. She has taken the mag into school today and is doubtless showing it off to everyone she passes.
Sigh.
This is, after all, the girl who stands with me in elevators, waits until other people enter, then says things like, ‘Mom, have you finished writing your latest book because you are Jane Green, the famous author,’ before checking just to make sure absolutely everyone in the elevator has heard.
She can model for Martha just as often as she wants, just as long as she doesn’t end up on a reality TV show.
THAT would not be a good thing.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I have to admit that I have one friend who is Martha like and we love how organized and crafty she is and another who loves Slice n- Bake cookies. It is my Slice n-bake friend that I used to watch Martha’s Christmas specials with. It was pure entertainment for us because we never felt the need to copy what she created.
I admire perfection, am very crafty, but would probably have sprayed green wreaths silver and improvised.
I’ve always wanted to ask you, do you ever feel intimidated when you invite Martha over for dinner?
Also, love mini me’s comments in the elevator.
j
November 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Aww, Mini-Me is Mini-Famous! Well done to her! I love Martha but don’t have the time, our patience (not to mention talent) to do anything she suggests! But the magazine always looks nice on the coffee table! xx
November 12th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Jane, you and your daughter make the picture. If I hadn’t read your post, I would have guessed that it was a studio shot because it looks so perfect. How much fun it must have been to be part of it, seeing all the details up close.
Our Christmas is always a crazy scramble before my family arrives. Best last minute decorating tip from England: a sprig of holly on the picture frames. Even the craft-impaired can manage that.
I’d also recommend hiding the silver spray paint from the smalls!
November 12th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Christmas parties at Martha’s! Wow! That must seem surreal. I think I would want to go home after leaving Martha’s and throw rocks at my own house.
I love that Mini-Me is so proud of you she calls attention to it. That’s what I need. A cute little person with whom to travel and who would shower me with public praise. Now that’s a nice reward for all of your hard work. =)
November 13th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Wow, a caroling party at Martha’s, that’s pretty heady stuff! I love Martha, her taste is impeccable and she seems so down to earth. Every once in a while I get sucked into trying some sort of craft project. When it comes out looking like the work of a 3rd grader I always remember why I don’t do crafts. However, last night I walked through The Paper Source and seriously considered doing homemade Christmas cards using pictures from our wedding earlier this year. Probably a DIY disaster in the making…