Tuesday 4 March 2014

Martha Living Magazine March 2014


I am surprised this issue hasn't made the rounds of all the bloggers as the cover was macarons! 
This is the equivalent of a red flag to a bull for bloggers no?

There must be something in the subconscious that hits a note in a massive wave and quilting is one of those at present.
I don't sew.  Never even been on a sewing machine.
Yet I look at this quilt and imagine my own fabrics and special stitch to make it my own.
But Martha has that effect on us all.


It may be different where you live but in the UK I am finding that product ranges are so limited. It is either super expensive with a lead time of three months or IKEA and not much in between.

If I were the crafty type ( the other crafty type), 
you can bet I'd be making my own light as Martha teaches us here.


I have never made macarons before.
I tend to just buy them from either Laduree or Pierre Herme.
If it is a special occasion, I get the tower cones as it is very festive.
I even had a macaron tower for my wedding.

If you don't live near one of those two fabled companies then perhaps you could try making your own tower and try out this recipe and let us know how it went.


I love these - I love especially stuffed with a sweet cream cheese with drinks all throughout the year.
And looking at all the recipes I didn't know it was this versatile.
I say it is a pantry staple.


I love this display of fruit and flowers.
Simple and yet so effective.

I am in the midst of trying to recreate my closet from scratch and 
it is an overwhelming task.

I know that some of you may not live in climes that require a coat closet but it is a special area that does halt the flow due to the length of coats. But I found this useful - especially the vacuum bit.


I don't know if I will ever get around to making these citrus crisps but I am sure it would make the house smell lovely.


I have a passion for paper.
Don't really understand it why but one of my favorite museums is the paper museum in Amalfi.
It is one of the oldest paper mills in Europe and still produces all the paper that the Vatican scribes still use for official documents. 
If you like crafts and stationary then you are going to love this.
Instructions for marbling fabric and paper!
Great fun and you could get kids to help?














Another great idea that Martha had was making pizza with the kids.


But they were making pizza in an artistic fashion and mimicking famous paintings through pizza.
This would be a great way to teach children and even adults about artists and recreate through food.

I personally like this Rothko pizza.

But would not turn down this Jackson Pollock pizza.

I can vaguely make out that this mushroom was inspired by Picasso.

I had to read this to see who it was inspired by and 
it was Kandinsky...
I must say I never equated Kandinsky with squash but there you go.

I hope you find the recipes and craft projects as useful as I did!

47 comments:

  1. I haven't caught on to the the craze about macarons yet - my taste buds just don't take a liking to them at all - I'd much prefer a gooey doughnut (donut?), and of course, yes, pizza, but I don't like pizzas with any type of vegetables on apart from the tomato base of course. I like the idea of making homemade pizza.

    I hope you don't mind me chuckling at your fascination with paper *smile* xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Macarons are like a constructed pavlova for me and I like the colors but yes I also love a donut - my fave is the cream filled croissant like cornetto. Amazing! Yes I have a huge thing for paper!! xx

      Delete
  2. Fabric marbling, I remember doing that in a high school Art & Design project (many moons ago) would love to give it a try again!

    Love a macaroon but really don't get the obsession at all.

    Great post xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Angela! Hope you have been well? I never grew up doing anything involving crafts hence my backseat driver fascination with it all! xx

      Delete
  3. Oh Martha! She always makes me feel so inadequate. I have that magazine sitting on my counter just BEGGING me to make macarons. Martha! Naomi!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only take note of Martha through inanimate form bc in real life I think it would be hard to say no Connie!!

      Delete
  4. I'm exhausted just thinking about making macarons! Not doing it Martha. Do like the visuals and especially the paper making, very pretty. My Nana made quilts with her church quilt group, it seems it is back in fashion but I won't be trying it. I'm sure it would be a big disaster.
    That coat closet! I love it! So organized and colour co-ordinated, very nice.
    You are re-creating your closet from scratch? This sounds like good fun to me you could always ask your blog friends for input. :)
    Thanks for sharing this Naomi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Macarons are really professional only - French people rarely make desserts in general as they have a patiserrie but if I lived in the countryside I would probably make them for a hit. I don't know where I would put or store or make the quilt though so it is one of those mind hobbies purely Dani! If you had a look at my half crammed half empty closet it would make you wince!

      Delete
  5. Thanks for sharing. Martha overwhelms me...the pizza looks fun - we make our own several times a month but nothing like these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - talk about Tiger mum - imagine having her as your mum? Make your bed would be Xmas...

      Delete
  6. Naomi - all so interesting. Love the snippets you've taken from Martha. Wonderful things to create with children, specially the pizza art.
    Don't get the macaron obsession either. They're often very pretty colours and so photogenic, but really I'm rather over them. And life's far too short to actually make one, but thanks for the recipe. Will keep it along with the lovely pics and recipes of so many things I've never yet made! (Promise one day I'll declutter them!) Even visiting Paris I rarely buy, though have to confess to loving the Laduree store in the rue Napoleon. Most visits I stop by to pick up sweet little prezzies for my grand-daughters - fans, little tote bags etc. Love the chandy there too!
    Wish I'd known about the paper museum in Amalfi. Such a lovely place and the church of San Andrea (I think?) is so beautiful, specially the cloisters. Did you go up to Ravello? Terrifying road - we took the local bus thank goodness - but so worth it. Spectacular! Cheers, Pammie xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you would have loved the museum - nothing special to look in particular but the kingdom of Amalfi made their wealth through paper and trade and feeling the thickness of the paper etc was so interesting, Yes the cathedral is indeed St Andrew and it was overwhelming. I couldn't believe such detail in such a small village. I adore that whole area and did indeed spend some time in Ravello and had the scariest taxi ride of my life. Italian driving and cliff side does not make a good combo. But I would move there for about 6 months no problem. But as they say - when the Amalfitanos die and go to heaven it will be just another day.xx

      Delete
    2. Being in the local bus (smaller size to suit the road) was the best way to get to Ravello I think, as other vehicles seem to have to give way to buses. We felt for the car drivers who were travelling in the opposite direction as they had to back up around tight bends along the cliffs until they reached a spot wide enough for the car and bus to go past each other. Some of those Italian drivers were hurtling along. On that narrow little road with the cataclysmic drop-offs! If I lived up there for 6 months maybe I'd stay there the whole time. There was an American family sitting in front of us on the way up. The Mum was almost hysterical with fright until she agreed to her adult daughter tying a scarf across her eyes so she couldn't see! I often had to look away too and my knuckles were so sore when we got there after clenching them so long!

      Loved their ceramics as well. In the shop we liked the best they told us Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband had been there just two weeks before and had ordered heaps of stuff to be shipped. I'm sure I'd have loved the paper museum in A. Pity I missed it. If we ever go back, will visit.

      It really is a spectacularly beautiful part of the world. Loved Capri too! Pammie xx

      Delete
  7. Sorry, pizza as art??? I make pizza with my kids every Friday night. They do their own toppings, and its their favourite meal of the week (predictably), but I had never thought to introduce Art education into it all?! Thank you Martha.
    I love all those organising gizmos for cupboards, I have a few in my utility cupboard for hanging up brooms, ironing board etc.
    I'd love to make my own marbled paper, but I remember trying it once many years ago, and it was so laborious and time consuming, that I don't know if I can be bothered doing it again!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tiger mum stuff I know! But I did think if I had kids then it would be a way of sneaking in some veggies? Or am I being too idealistic? In my dream storage cupboard I have a place for everything!! Yes marbled paper might not be so pretty when I do it..xx

      Delete
    2. completely idealistic! Mine will add veggies to make faces etc.... then they pick them off and just leave the ham & cheese for when they actually go to eat it. I hide a lot of veggies in the tomato passata instead.

      Delete
  8. I too have a special place for paper. Probably won't get around to any marbling action though. I've never had much success making macarons, I do like making pizza's though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did love your block printing in your last post I forgot to say! You have a dab hand so I am sure you would do well at marbling!

      Delete
  9. I'm a paper lover too so the paper marbling appeals. And the art pizzas are excellent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you seen Martyn Bullard's new wallpaper range? It is all marble and I could save loads of money if I did it myself...

      Delete
  10. Hello! Still not sure whether your last sentence was meant ironically? ! The pictures are pretty but I am seriously not a craft person. My talents lie elsewhere as Faux Fuchsia would say. Love that you share magazines this way. Louise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Louise, please don't take notice of a word I say!! ;) I am the least craft or handy person around so it is odd that I love to flip through the mags...It's almost like looking through a car magazine...But I do like to share my mags otherwise I feel it is a bit of a waste!

      Delete
  11. Hello Naomi,

    Well, craftspeople we are definitely not. Indeed all this talk of baking, marbling, decluttering and housekeeping makes us feel positively faint.Not for us the superhuman tasks of completing everything around the home whilst playing with the children and making a three course gourmet dinner for one's partner all at the same time. Of course, we realise that some can manage all of this and learn a foreign language through earphones whilst they are at it, but we, the original Lazy Tarts, must confess that we cannot.

    Perhaps we need to offer some articles for the next Living Magazine....the art of lounging on the sofa......pouring a drink without spilling a drop......living with dust......no-bake baking.......keeping fit by painting your nails.....Do you think that Martha would be at all interested????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neither am I! But there is a part of me that wish that was...Having done a reno I wish I could do plumbing wiring, make curtains etc and alas I can barely paint a wall properly...It is a vicarious hobby of mine especially as I also have a PhD in "dolce far niente"! I don't even bake! But I love your version of Living magazine as it is far more up my street!!! And no Martha would not be interested considering she even made that prison cell the most desired after all the DIY she did...

      Delete
    2. Oh I really want to read this feature from The Hattats, it sounds just like me!

      Delete
    3. Im on board with the Hattats! Maybe I could add a column about avoiding messy crafty projects with children lest you are cleaning all day...

      Delete
    4. Vanessa - you do know Martha is getting older now and that might send her over the edge!!

      Delete
  12. Oh, why would you bother with all these inane activities? I'm with the Hattatts, the art of doing nothing is seriously underestimated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree with you Claire as when I read the mag I am usually in my dressing gown with shortbread with the house of cards playing in the background!! But in my dream life I am busy marbling paper waiting for my Van Gogh pizzas to come out of the oven...

      Delete
  13. Citrus crisps could be interesting. Pizza is a good way to sneak in extra vegetables but I must admit I hadn't thought about art education as well. And I can confirm that those basket ideas for cupboards work really well. I didn't get the idea from Martha though; I just did it. Probably saw the idea somewhere and absorbed it subconsciously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think knowing you - you probably came up with the idea!! I need to get some baskets if you say it works well - as much as I read Martha she thinks everything is a great idea so I don't take much notice with her organizing tips...

      Delete
    2. I like baskets, I really do. I use them in the laundry; in the linen cupboard, in the kitchen cupboards and in bathroom cupboards. I use them in drawers and for some of my cooking books. If I had properly designed cupboards I wouldn't need them but I inherited these cupboards so I make things manageable with baskets. Usually open topped baskets.

      Delete
  14. Oh bloggers and their macarons/ Paris obsession! I do love the tower however, I had a gingerbread house at my wedding. Not crafty here either and not a cook, the pizzas look great. I like reading these mags too and just pretending that it's my life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where are the donut/Rome ones? I adore the idea of a gingerbread house! Yes Martha is definitely the most far removed magazine I read from my own life.

      Delete
  15. Hi Naomi, I've reviewed this issue;) and as usual there are parts I can use and some (the crafty options) I probably will not do. The macaroons are pretty but I'm not obsessed with them. We had them in Paris last year and I decided the chocolates and pastries were my preference. Loved the section about closets. As we build our new place I'm contemplating how to maximize space. The vacuum is always as issue and we were JUST discussing the coat closet last night. Hope you are enjoying your week! xleslie
















    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so lucky that you live in the States and you have access to soooooo much! I think if I wanted that vacuum hook thing I would probably have to order it from the States anyway...But yes macarons just makes most bloggers go gooey eyed and I am with you and pastries win for sure xx

      Delete
  16. I like the idea of a peppadew margarita.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like margaritas classic but I think it is one of those one could just serve last minute or do a mcguyver type of dish!

      Delete
  17. I don't get the macaroon craze at all - I guess they look pretty? They look like they were invented by stylists! For something sweet I like a stodgy carrot cake or date scone better

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I reckon it is the pink and mint green coloring myself plus you look so dainty eating them! Apparently it was a recipe for all those egg whites that were left over during the French banquettes but can not verify!

      Delete
  18. You're so funny about the red flag!! I would rather buy my macaroons, and fly to France to do it:). Barring that, I would just as soon make a large pavlova. Less work, similar taste. Loving that coat closet. Mine looks like a bomb hit it because husband just picks up any hanger and puts his coat on top. I can't find half of mine because they're under his. Martha is an overachiever and intimidates me. Always has, but thanks for the peek. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a macaron tower so I was a captive audience!! I adore pavlova too. I tend to drape my coats over things - am terrible. Martha is just too funny and gives me a good guaranteed monthly laugh! xx

      Delete
  19. This is and has always been Old Martha's talent x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just looking at her calendar tires me out but she sure does raise that bar! x

      Delete
  20. I love Living... The quilt is superb. I like to eat from time to time macarons, but never tried to make my own as it is quite tricky from what I know. And the dried citrus fruits is a great idea, I might give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Martha never bores..I'm always impressed with the things they come up with like these art pizzas. Interesting about the marbled papers. I'd try that and the macaroon making if I had the time! Maybe I should be like Martha and sleep 4 hours a night!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Where does she get all that energy!!... she's pretty amazing but not very likeable I've read!! Loved this post Naomi! xx

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for dropping by!