Our Holiday Company Party and Craft Fair
NOTE: If you'd like to see some of my favorite gift choices this year, go to my OpenSky page.
On Monday evening, I celebrated this holiday season with my colleagues at our annual company party. People are so busy at this time of year and we really had to squeeze to make the time, but it's worth it because everyone loves the chance to get together on a casual basis. The fabulous Pierre Schaedelin, owner/chef of PS Tailored events, designed a menu of tasty, homey foods. We kicked off the evening with vintage jazz and classic swing holiday tunes from the band, Lapis Luna, courtesy Elan Artists. Unfortunately, we were not able to host a public craft sale this year, but we preserved the spirit of that tradition by inviting our own talented employees to sell their crafted items during the party. Many of these people contribute regularly to our Craft Blog. Check it out! Rebecca Robertson, not only brought some of the vintage items that she sells at her shop, Pasanella & Son, but she and her husband, sent some of their delicious house wine to share with her co-workers! We also started a new company-wide tradition this year with our own Cookie Swap, knowing that many of our employees love to bake, and all love to sample great treats. It was so nice to see such a variety of sweet and savory baked goods - everything from beautifully decorated holiday cookies, to outrageous chocolate cookies, to gluten-free chocolate crackles. After all had plenty to eat, our own DJ Furey and 9-Lives Naomi (by day, our wonderful Weddings stylists) spun a fun mix to get everyone dancing. It was a memorable night and a good way to share some holiday cheer.
1 Festive music was provided by a Lapis Luna, http://www.lapisluna.com/ a vintage jazz and classic swing band. Their services were donated by Elan artists. http://www.elanartists.com/
2 The party was held in our large and spacious clerestory.
3 Professor Figgy's was selling his Fabulous Science Kits http://www.professorfiggy.bigcartel.com/
4 Real geodes take millions of years to form and can cost thousands! These crystal egg geodes take only 12-15 hours, are simple to make, are just as beautiful and are incredibly affordable!
5 Figgy was also selling his Crystal Fabulous Fruity Flubber Kits.
6 Kristen St. Clair's had her adorable felted sheep with cinnamon stick fencing. http://lemmemakeit.blogspot.com/
7 Kristen recently crafted these life-like mushrooms on my television show.
8 Rebecca Robertson, Decorating & Home Editor, owns Pasanella and Son Vintners with her husband Marco Pasanella. http://www.pasanellaandson.com/home.php
9 In addition to fabulous wines, the shop also sells many bar accessories, like these charming Italian bottle toppers.
10 Andrea Mason from the Garden Department made these amazing concrete numbers and letters.
11 Stephen Johnson, Deputy Art Director at Living, offered a collection of letterpress cards for sale, like this all-occasion card.
12 Stephen also offered blank note cards adorned with animal sketches.
13 This is a poster of all his animal sketches.
14 Molly Bloom, Copy Editor, sold a selection of hand-rolled truffles.
15 Such intriguing flavor combinations! I sampled them all!
16 Molly Bloom's mother attended, as well, selling her hand crocheted flower hats and blankets.
17 Jessica Rounds, Product Designer, brought her handmade jewelry.
18 This tinsel filled necklace was quite festive.
19 Blake Ramsey is the Associate Crafts Editor and contributes regularly to the Craft Dept blog. http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/
20 Blake was selling painted ornaments, as seen in the December issue of Living.
21 Laura Kaesshaefer, Editorial Assisant, Crafts, was selling her bib necklaces.
22 The bib is formed by sewing together rounds of chiffon, folded to look like rosettes.
23 Very pretty
24 Marcie McGoldrick, VP, Editorial Director of Crafts, works with porcelain. http://marciemcgoldrick.com/
25 Marcie McGoldrick's porcelain pendants and earrings.
26 Marcie McGoldrick, faux bois porcelain serving platters
27 Marcie McGoldrick, porcelain bowls
28 Lisa Castellano makes jewelry and sells it online in her Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/lisabellaboo
29 Rings made from trees
30 Rings made from shed antlers
31 These hats were knitted with yarn donated by Lion Brand, who makes my new line of yarn. All proceeds of sales of these hats was donated to City Harvest. www.cityharvest.org
32 Cute holiday decor on the tables
33 I was very interested in Design Director of Craft Jodi Levine's hot pink bauble necklaces, as was Kevin Sharkey and Megen Lee.
34 I was also quite taken with these silver woven baskets by Deputy Craft Editor, Silke Stoddard.
35 Silke also had these stained wooden bead necklaces.
36 Silke Stoddard's hand-bound journal sets
37 A floral version
38 Chef Pierre Schaedelin prepared hors d'oeuvres for the party, which included smoked salmon with dill butter on toast. http://pierreschaedelin.com/
39 Heather Kirkland, who planned the event and Megen Lee, VP Design Director, stopped to offer our hard working employees a snack. Rebecca Robertson gladly accepted a grilled cheese sandwich.
40 There were also little meatballs with vegetable marinara sauce.
41 And baked potato soup with toasted croutons
42 And the grilled cheese sandwiches
43 For something sweet, Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa squares were provided in glass jars.
44 There were also complimentary tea samplers from Twinings.
45 This year, we held an Employee Cookie Swap. Those who brought one dozen cookies could swap and leave with a dozen assorted treats baked by their co-workers.
46 Lilian Hough, Deputy Design Director of Living, baked these beautiful Viennese Ischler Platzchen cookies.
47 Melba Jamison, Online Senior Project Manager, baked Snickerdoodles.
48 Lauren O'Connor and Kay Lyn Byrne, Executive Assistants, enjoyed the cookie table.
49 Lauren baked this tree-shaped cake for the occasion.
50 We had a raffle to win a Harry & David gift basket, filled with delicious apples, pears, nuts, and sweets, including their signature Moose Munch snack mix.
51 You could also try your chance for the Harvest to Holidays Basket, which features my Martha Stewart's New Pies & Tarts cookbook, apples, pears, and white cheddar cheese.
52 After the musicians left, Erin Furey and Naomi De Manana, Weddings Stylists, stepped in as DJs.
53 Lincoln Patterson, Maintenance Associate, gave Erin and Naomi a break so they could dance with the rest of the crowd.
54 It was a very lovely party!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Oh!! To be a Martha Stewart Employee, if only for a little while.
It looks as if everyone had a great time, and had a lot of realy neat things to sell.
But, I'm wondering if all of your employees have other jobs and businesses, or what? They are all so talented.
I'm also wondering which Holiday you're all celebrating since this is the Christmas season. I was hoping it would be a Christmas party.
Thanks for letting us crash the party.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | December 7th, 2011 at 1:21 am
Martha, the party looked like a lot of fun! So many neat items for sale! I was hoping you would show some photos of the dance floor and folks getting down! Including you, I wanted to see if you had some moves for the dance floor! (SMILE)
~
Also, I wanted to let you know I received my Living magazine and I was elated to realize you moved back to your old calendar format!!!!! Yay!!!!! I love it so much more than the new one, it gives more detail. So thank you for going back to the old format.
Posted by: KLBrown | December 7th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Thanks for including us in your holiday party! Looked like a lot of fun and I love the idea of a cookie swap.
Posted by: Cindy F | December 7th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Hi Martha,
Food by Pierre, great crafts for sale and music to dance to - I call that a really fun party! The cookie swap was a neat idea too.
~
I’m looking forward to seeing your products at J. C. Penny! I often stop in there after a trip to Macy’s which is in the same Mall but now I’ll have an excuse to go more often. Good segment on the Today Show today with holiday cookies and puff pastry. Your show on Hallmark Channel was a lot of fun too with audience members singing the next line of a Christmas song and I liked Hannah Milman’s tabletop trees. Have a great day! Trish
Posted by: Trish | December 7th, 2011 at 11:53 am
An early office Christmas party is nice. I do like it occurring during the day and even extending into the evening with dancing. We always had an evening dinner; it was nice but probably more formal than today's folks would like.
Your crafts people and cookie exchange along with great food and music made it a fun time.
Posted by: Margie | December 7th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Fabulous craft fair Martha! Everything looks beautiful your employees done amazing and creative things. Happy holidays and best wishes to all xo
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | December 7th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
I read the "Sweet Shots" article, pg. 80 in the December 2011 issue and would love to send a sample (photos) of my creative picture frame. It is called Fil-A-Frame! This "patented" acrylic picture frame can be filled with anything! Please direct me as to how I can proceed. You will love it!
Posted by: Lynn LeBoff | December 7th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Hi Martha, I am so thrilled to finally be able to comment on this delightful blog post today! For some reason, my computer stopped working six hours ago and I finally am able to do my favorite morning thing-view and comment on your blog! You have the best colleagues I've ever seen! I know they work hard everyday and then making these fabulous items after work is absolutely outstanding! What wonderful people they are and their extra projects are fantastic as well as yummy! Everyone of these photos is wonderful and it's so much fun to view them over and over again! Pierre's food items sure do look yummy, also! Loved watching you on the Today Show today! Those 4 hosts sure had fun making those cookies! Thanks for another great TV Show again today, also! Finally off to see The Daily Wag and see F&S watching your donkeys on your TV Show! Have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | December 7th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Congratulations on your J.C. Penny deal today
Posted by: Denise | December 7th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
So many talented people especially Lauren O'Connor, her "Martha" cake was very beautiful and sure it was "a good thing", and yummy too! Go Lauren!
Posted by: Anne Lyons | December 7th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I LOVE swing. Great idea for the band. Sounds like an awesome party...hey, you forgot to invite me, Martha.
Posted by: Melanie | December 7th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Question: when will the pie/tart app be coming for iPad?
Posted by: Suzan | December 7th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Can I come work for you? The holiday party alone would be worth it! Learning from the master would be a fabulous experience.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Kornelia Massner | December 7th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
I like this music, nothing electronic, all real instruments
Posted by: kasperko | December 8th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
So many amazingly talented artists! I'd give anything to be able to buy several of those incredible silver baskets!
Posted by: andrew | December 9th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Very nice, Molly! The truffles look pretty good, too.
Posted by: r. steven page | December 12th, 2011 at 11:19 am
We had a GREAT time at the holiday party! We met so many talented people, and even bought some amazing gifts (for ourselves). Thanks so much!
Shawn & Lapis Luna
Posted by: Lapis Luna | December 13th, 2011 at 1:25 am