Martha Stewart: Arts, Crafts, Hobbies And So Much More

by: Jennifer Tyler

Martha Stewart seems to know everything when it comes to the home and garden - and even business. Her success is due to great confidence and determination, which would also help her overcome her recent legal problems.

Who do people turn to when they want a good housekeeping tip or have a crisis in the kitchen? They go to Martha Stewart - the queen of everything concerned with running a household.

Not only is she the author of countless articles and many books on the subject - she also has a successful mail order catalog business called Martha by Mail and is involved in magazines and television.

Her books cover a range of subjects from general guidebooks to specific topics. Titles include:

• Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home. This book gives advice on how to clean and organize every room in your house.
• The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics. A big reference book that presents more than 1,100 recipes that were published in Martha Stewart Living from 1990 to 2000.
• Entertaining by Martha Stewart. Featuring recipes and menus for all types of parties, celebrations and special occasions.
• The Martha Stewart Living Christmas Cookbook. Featuring more than 600 of the best holiday recipes that were featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine.
• The Best of Martha Stewart Living Weddings. This guidebook covers every important aspect of a wedding, except for clothing. It gives ideas for designing and decorating receptions and ceremonies, wedding cakes, bouquets, wedding favors, guest books, music, and even tips on how to deal with the photography.

Some of her books contain features that originated from the Martha Stewart Living magazine. This monthly publication had a TV show of the same name which ran from 1993 until 2005.

Both the magazine and television versions won awards. The TV show was replaced by another show called Martha. It's a daytime talk show which features Martha Stewart and celebrity guests engaging in domestic arts such as home décor, gardening and cooking.

Martha's successful career came about as a result of the catering business that she formed with a friend in 1976. The company became very successful in catering for high profile clients and Stewart decided to produce a book, based on recipes that she had used at these parties. The book was called Entertaining and it became a best seller.

Martha Stewart is an extremely versatile domestic guru who enjoys finding new channels for her creativity. She's designed a cookware, bedding and dinnerware line for Macy's department store.

Her company, called Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is involved in publishing, television and radio production and DVDs. She also has a successful line of merchandise sold through Kmart and Sears Canada stores. The products include interior paint and furniture. A new range of paint was launched in April 2007, called Martha Stewart Colors.

Stewart has also become involved in wine production, lending her name to a range called Martha Stewart Vintage. The wines include a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot. The Omnimedia Company has also entered the fresh and frozen food market.

It's hard not to admire Martha Stewart. She has risen to a level of success attained by very few people.

Jennifer Tyler is a freelance writer who enjoys researching and writing about arts, crafts and decorating.