pet peeve -- when recipes bomb . . .

[bakerbebe]

Just another note -- I just found out that the 425 degree oven WAS NOT a misprint. That is the way it was presented on Martha's show. So, whatever -- the recipe doesn't work.
And W. DeBord, I have to completely disagree with you that Martha singlehandedly changed the industry. I am very interested in interior decorating and gardening as well as baking -- and Martha has "borrowed" her ideas from leaders in these fields for some time. Yes, she does give credit to chefs when she has them on her show. But I have seen pages in her magazine of "her" ideas for decorating -- and they are copied straight out of my Pottery Barn Catalogue -- using the PB furniture, accessories, and all. And her floral arrangements, etc that are so beautiful -- again, I have seen her copy many ideas from celebrity wedding designers. And yes, I know -- I'm sure many people have copied her ideas as well.
Everyone has different opinions -- to each their own -- but there are a lot of other chefs, bakers, designers, etc with a lot of talent -- Martha hasn't cornered the market on everything. Just my .02

[Anneke]

I think Martha is the Madonna of home-ec': dubious talent but incredible business sense. Her best stuff, like Madonna, is borrowed.

[Isa]

I don’t doubt she had a impact on the way people see food. I do not doubt she has a good business sense and built herself a little empire. But Wendy you have to admit that everything she does is for her benefit and enjoyment. Martha wants to learn this and that so she gets the people who will teach her. Watch Martha getting her boat build etc. Plus she is so insecure and need constant reassurance. Don’t you like mind kids? These are my own eggs you know don’t they have a lovely colour? I could go and on.

Her little empire is built, if you ask me, on quicksand. Yes she went public a while back and sold lots of shares. I will never be one of her shareholder and here is why. Martha is what between 55 and 60? I don’t wish her ill but what would happen if she was to die or have a stroke tomorrow? Her whole empire is based on her and her image. There is no one who can take her place at a moment notice. No successor for now anyway. Her magazine could continue to be publish and it could still be successful but her TV show, radio show and newspaper column would be compromise. The price of her share would drop so fast.

[Anneke]

Iza, you might be right but the complete opposite is also just as likely to happen: suddently Martha-this-and-that becomes even more valuable because she's no longer around and no one can criticize a dead woman's work anymore. The Magazine Martha Stewart Living will probably have to chage its name to plain old Martha Stewart to not sound like a distasteful joke, but it will continue to be produced. The magazine doesn't need her to exist, in fact I don't think it has ever really needed her. Who knows what shape her empire will take when she's gone? You raise an interesting topic however, one which I admit I hadn't considered until now...

[Isa]

I don’t doubt the magazine would stay on, as I stated in my previous post. The problem is the TV show and radio. I’m sure she’s not the one doing the bulk of the work but it’s her the viewer sees. But then maybe I’ve been wrong all along. I see things clearer now…


Imagine she goes missing they could always change the title to Where Is Martha Stewart Living. Do a kind of Where’s Waldo for grown up.


If she should die, she would corner a whole new market. Death by Martha Stewart. And why not she has cornered wedding and babies. Dying is clearly the next step. How to make a wreath for a coffin, what to serve and what to wear. Possibilities are endless.


With all the psychics that are surrounding us, she could run her empire from the other side. Imagine, how to make your stay in **** more comfortable. How I redecorated Heaven.


And she will be eternal and her empire will be safe. With our luck she’d find a way to reincarnate herself in just a few years. And then what? A new line of Martha’s clones? We could each own a Martha.

Scary!

[Anneke]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!

[momoreg]

Iza, maybe you can market these ideas to Martha herself!!

Anneke, dig that first smiley!!

[bakerbebe]

Iza ~ I have to say your post was hilarious!!!!

[W.DeBord]

Everyone realizes Martha isn't personally doing much of anything we read in her magazine or the craft she's making on tv, no shes running a business. She's created a brand, her name.

Look at all the famous fashion designers out there....many of their houses continue after the creater passes on and the name remains. Don't forget she has a daughter whom she features occasional decorating or recipes ideas from. Maybe she'll continue the empire? And if she does will you blame her?

As a former professional artist and a very creative person, I know that very little is orginial. Ideas come from others ideas...that's how creativity works. You see something you expound on that thought into your thought, then the next guy looks at your stuff and he reacts off of that, and so on. Look in your museums theres "movements/periods". Who created and patented impressionism, modern art, etc... so no other artist could work in that style? No one, you can't stop an idea or a style.

Look at the cover of O magazine, Rosie and Simple....there all knock offs of Martha.

Is she perfect, no. Is everyone else perfect, no.

Is there a real reason you knock her work? Is she really so different than a ton of other successful businesses before her?

[Isa]

Have you ever been into one of the restaurant that advertise Chinese & Italian food? You know the saying they can’t be good at everything. It’s that way with Martha; she can’t be good at everything. I don’t denied she built a great business and that she is very successful. Does that mean I can’t make fun of her once in a while? I do watch her TV show on occasion and even buy her magazine in December. I do think she has a tendency to go overboard once in a while. She’s wearing herself thin. Martha online, at Kmart, in newspaper, magazine television, radio, even sells flower now. Because she has done it all, does it mean that we can not make fun of her? Let the one who has never made fun of her cast the first stone….please do apply 14 karat gold leaf before casting it.

I did not mean for anyone to feel offended by my post Wendy. I am sorry if you were.

[bakerbebe]

Wendy ~
My post started out as a vent about one of Martha's recipes that was a flop, not about Martha herself. But the thread did take a most amusing turn towards Martha herself. We were just having fun.
I know ideas come about from borrowing and building upon others' ideas -- I don't have to have that explained to me. My complaint is that Martha acts like they are her original ideas. It is almost comical to me.
Why make fun of her? Let's see -- she has absolutely no sense of humor. She is almost always deadpan. It is amazing that she has been able to market herself.
I'm not saying that some of her magazines and shows don't have good ideas. Sometimes they have some great ideas. I just don't think she is the end-all be-all of everything.

[KyleW]

Originally posted by MaryeO:
<STRONG>If you'll excuse me, I have to go re-tin my copper pots with Pet Milk cans that I melted down over the forge in my dovecote.</STRONG>

[Kimmie]

MaryeO,

Funny you should say that, because I just took my beautiful dovecote in to be dry-cleaned, because I poolishly spilled Pet Milk all over it!

[ August 02, 2001: Message edited by: Kimmie ]

Oh, Kimmie - you silly goose. I keep my dovecote under a protective layer of fabric that I hand-wove from the cotton wool I spun myself after saving it from aspirin bottles. That, of course, was before I started making my own organic willow-bark tea - a lovely natural version of aspirin!

It's fun to pick on Martha . . . there are a lot of folks on this website (myself included), who take frequent pokes at Emeril! I don't think that's because he's untalented - who doesn't like to give a public figure an elbow in the ribs? The only thing worse than saying bad things about a celeb is not talking about them at all.

[Kimmie]

Silly goose? Nah, I'm such an !




[ August 02, 2001: Message edited by: Kimmie ]