A few nights ago, I watched Martha Stewart’s Holiday Open House on Hallmark Channel (yep, that’s top-notch primetime viewing, pals), which perfectly topped my nearly month-long love affair with all things Martha. Between new episodes of The Martha Stewart Show and daily holiday reruns of Martha Stewart Living, I’m on serious Martha overload (I realize it sounds like I have absolutely nothing to do but watch TV; I promise I watch and write/edit simultaneously). Now one might expect all this Martha Stewart exposure to send me into cooking/baking/crafting-inspired craziness, and it has to some extent (I do have the unexplainable desire to fire up the ol’ glue gun for some ornament bedazzling), but more than anything, I’m finding myself developing a rather extensive Christmas list, one that will probably keep me covered for the next decade or so. But rest assured, this list hasn’t developed out of intense greediness on my side; Martha said I need these things.
This definitely isn’t my first time to the Christmas-list-making rodeo, though it’s been a while since I felt the need to document things so specifically. Although many folks might argue that compulsive list-making is a trait that grows with age and solidifies firmly in adulthood, I’d venture to say that some of the world’s greatest list-makers are children — especially around this time of year. As a kid, I wrote super long lists to Santa every year (I was pretty chatty as a child). Now maybe this is my self-professed, love-of-all-things-listy self talking, but I think those holiday lists are wonderful little life lessons in prioritization. Think about it: You’d sit down with the JCPenney Christmas catalog (did anyone else do that?), jot down the items that struck your fancy and then decide which toys were special enough to make the list for Santa. Too many items would make the list too confusing, not to mention lower your chances of getting what you really, really wanted. My list usually included one whopper of a gift and a few smaller items. And a puppy. Always a puppy.
In keeping with tradition, my list to Santa this year still includes a puppy (I’m pretty sure Ella needs a brother), but today’s post isn’t about my list to Santa. Nope, this is my list to Martha Stewart herself. She is, after all, the one who says I need these things. And she does have a sort of Santa-esque nature about her — you know, regularly gifting all the nice folks with great recipes, crafty ideas and all around classiness. And she does it all because “It’s a good thing.” Sounds right Christmassy to me.
For the sake of brevity, I’ve narrowed Martha’s list of must-haves to the top four. Check it out:
Sewing machine: I know, this one sounds totally wackadoodle after writing about my quilt-making fiasco, but after watching Martha make all sorts of things on a basic sewing machine (pillows, placemats, curtains), I think it might be time to give it another try. Surely I’m more patient than I was at 18 years old (eek! I hope so!). And I’m definitely intrigued by the idea of making my own pillows for $8-worth of fabric instead of spending $30 or more a piece.
Cookie press: I somehow managed to go 24-plus years without hearing about the merits of a cookie press, and now that I’ve seen one, I can’t get it off my mind. Martha says it’s a must-have for the holidays so you can make those adorable little spritz cookies that everyone loves. So true, so true.
Screw punch: Have you ever tried using regular scissors to cut a hole through thick paper or fabric? It’s not so easy and oh so frustrating. Martha used this handy dandy contraption while making egg-corn ornaments (as in acorn-looking ornaments made from eggs. Bahaha!) with Claire Danes on the holiday special. They punched through velvet ribbon like it was no big thing. It’s one of the niftiest little gizmos I’ve seen in a while.
iPad: Martha reminds me about this one almost daily by insisting that I download her Martha Stewart cookie app for only $4.99 (it looks soooo amazing, by the way). Trouble is, that cookie app is inaccessible without an iPad. Humph. There are always strings, Pinocchio.
What’s on your list this year? Any great memories of the good old days spent browsing the JCPenney Christmas catalog? Has anyone else been watching Martha like a fiend and jotting down all the amazing things you’d love to dabble with yourself? And has anyone tried that cookie app?!?!
XO,
Katrina
Martha photo by Albert Watson, courtesy of jazztimes.com. Sewing machine photo courtesy of amazon.com. Cookie press photo courtesy of crateandbarrel.com. Screw punch photo courtesy of hsn.com. IPad photos courtesy of marthastewart.com.