I Went to a Very Special Celebration
I was invited to a really wonderful party last Sunday evening hosted by photographer, Maria Robledo, in her lovely Brooklyn, New York townhouse. Guests at the party were all employees and former employees of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and several photographers who we have worked with over the years. The idea for the party was conceived when Maria met with Ayesha Patel and Frances Boswell. Over breakfast, the three reminisced about the many amazing times shared with the MSLO family. They also discussed Gael Towey, who has worked as MSLO's Creative Director for twenty year, and how her unique creative influence affected their lives in so many indelible ways. They decided to honor Gael with a party and came up with a very special guest list. Frances and Susan Spungen created delicious savory tarts, beautiful salads, and the best cookies. I must say, it was a very special gathering!
1 This is photographer, Maria Robledo, who hosted this special gathering in her beautiful contemporary Brooklyn townhouse, which she shares with her husband and two daughters. http://www.judycasey.com/photographers/maria-robledo
2 Maria's husband, Holton Rower, is an accomplished artist who also happens to be the grandson of sculptor, Alexander Calder. http://holtonrower.com/
3 Gael Towey, the honoree, affected the lives of all the guests in so many positive ways.
4 John Dugdale - photographer - John lost his sight almost entirely several years ago and turned from commercial photography to art photography using a large-format antique camera and the help of an assistant. http://www.thejohndugdaleschool.com
5 Andrea Gentl - Photographer - Andrea is half of the amazing photography team of Gentl and Hyers. http://www.gentlandhyers.com
6 Andrea's husband, Martin Hyers - Photographer
7 Dana Gallagher - photographer - I chose Dana to photograph my book, "Menus For Entertaining." http://www.ba-reps.com/artists/dana-gallagher
8 Agnetha Glatved - Art Director - Agnetha is now a creative director and design consultant based in New York City. http://agnetheglatved.blogspot.com/
9 Christopher Baker - Photographer - Chris and I have worked together on many, many wonderful projects. http://christopherbakerphoto.com/
10 Frances Boswell - Food editor - I have known Frances for her entire life. Now a certified acupuncturist, she combines her love of food with Chinese Medicine as a healing modality. http://qiserasera.com/
11 James Dunlinson - Art director - Over the years, James gave Living a very special look and style. http://jamesdunlinson.com/
12 Celia Barbour - former Editor-in-Chief of Living - Celia is a very talented writer.
13 Lisa Wagner - SVP, Supervising Editorial Producer - Lisa first started working with me many years ago as a stylist on my Christmas book.
14 Ayesha Patel - Deputy Creative Director - Ayesha is fantastically creative.
15 Ann Johnson - Art Director - It was great to see Ann again.
16 Page Marchese Norman - Former Home Editor of Blueprint Magazine - Page always has the greatest decorating ideas.
17 Stephen Earle - Style Director - Stephen is now the SVP/ Home Design at Polo Ralph Lauren.
18 Susan Spungen - Susan was the founding Editorial Director for food and entertaining at MSLO and the co-author of my award-winning bestseller, Martha Stewart's Hors d'oeuvres Handbook. She is now a cookbook writer and a food stylist for films. http://www.susanspungen.com
19 There was terrific chocolate from Kees in Soho. http://www.keeschocolates.com
20 Frances baked everyone's favorite Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies. http://www.marthastewart.com/951591/chewy-chocolate-gingerbread-cookies
21 Artwork by Holton Rower - He applies layers upon layers of acrylic paints and then carves designs using Japanese razors.
22 One of his sculptures made with pipe cleaners
23 I really loved the onyx sink in the bathroom, designed by Holton.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies are my favorite too! Thanks Martha
Posted by: Maureen | December 12th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Martha, these types of gatherings are always the best. You get talk about old times sharing wonderful stories and memories. It was very nice of Maria, Ayseha and Frances to honor Gael this way. Sorry to hear John lost his eyesight, but where there is a will there's a way! Thanks for sharing these wonderful people with us. The cookies looked yummy! P.S. I saw you on The View yesterday, too bad Barbara wasn't there to see you also.
Posted by: KLBrown | December 12th, 2012 at 2:46 am
Hi, Martha,
All the guests (artists) have such tranquil, lovely faces. Now I have such a feeling of peace!
The pieces you showed us really are artful including the sink (not silly dirty bathtub w/dirty flag from the art show).
Thank you.
Posted by: Bobbie | December 12th, 2012 at 4:03 am
A special celebration indeed! I think it's wonderful that Maria, Ayesha and Frances wanted to show their appreciation for Gael's support and influence by honoring her with a party.
Maria and Holton, you have a beautiful home. I really enjoyed the artwork I could see in the pictures. Pic #2 of Holton is delightful!
Thanks for sharing this great evening Martha, can't wait to see you on the Today show!
Posted by: Cindy F | December 12th, 2012 at 8:21 am
Hi Martha,
I read that Susan Spungen was a food stylist for films, (Eat, Pray, Love) but I often wondered what happened to Stephen Earle and now I know. I recall that he had bought a house and was renovating it. (?) I remember something about the kitchen but that's been a few years ago. It must have been great seeing everyone again at a very nice gathering to honor Gael Towey. No picture of you though! Trish
Posted by: Trish | December 12th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Beautiful gathering, honoring Gael Towey. Always loved and admired her work, I am following her on Instagram, she has beautiful and inspiring photos. I wish her great success.
Best wishes
Rowaida
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | December 12th, 2012 at 9:14 am
After reading this post, and the titles that your employees have, can you please post a blog about there duties? I am most interested in what a stylist does for a book.
Thanks,
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly woods | December 12th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Happy 12/12/12 and Happy Holidays
Best wishes
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | December 12th, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hi Martha, First of all, was so happy to see you on the View Show yesterday morning and can't wait to see you on the Today Show in about two and a half hours! This blog, being about a very special celebration, was wonderful for you to share today! I just love seeing and reading about your current and former MSLO family! These photos are remarkable and everyone looked so happy! I remember quite a few of these employees, especially Gael Towey, Lisa Wagner, and the Spungen sisters! How thoughtful of Maria Robeldo and her husband to have this delightful party and you must have been thrilled to attend and visit with all of those great MSLO members! Would love to have seen some photos of you, also! Sure hope you are continuing to feel better and hope you have another great day! Off to see The Daily Wag about "Our Home is Becoming Festive for the Holidays!" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | December 12th, 2012 at 9:36 am
What a great post! It filled me nostalgia. I've subscribed to Living for well over a decade and many of the faces at this party were responsible for my love affair with your amazing magazine. (You, too, Martha!) Stephen Earl, Ayesha Patel, James Dunlinson, Celia Barbour, Susan Spungen are all like icons to me! The photographers, too, have contributed so much to the iconography of the Martha Stewart Living brand. And there are no words that can describe the genius and vision of Gael Towey. What a special woman. I met her very briefly at the Good Things Event in 2006. I wish her all the best and I will always treasure Martha Stewart Living.
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | December 12th, 2012 at 10:00 am
What a fun party! Can you please comment on the shape of the counter in the restroom? I am intrigued by the spot in the middle that juts out. Wonderful blog as always!
Posted by: Nancy | December 12th, 2012 at 11:20 am
The chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies are Fabulous!!!!! Made them for the 1st time over the weekend. Thank you:)
Posted by: Summer | December 12th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Wonderful friends and wonderful food are all ways great this time of year. Lovely photos of everyone ..The cookies looked great,wish i had one.Your blog is all ways my favorite thing to look at ..keeping us posted is always exciting..
Posted by: Michelle Giles | December 12th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I love when people come together to honour a person, Gael must have been so happy. Good job.
Posted by: Glen Nyhus | December 12th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Great to see photos of people connected to MSLO over the years. Have been a subscriber since the first year so it was a little trip down memory lane! And I made the chocolate gingerbread cookies last night for the 12th or 13 th time - really good. What is Gael going to do next?
Posted by: Claire S | December 12th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
thank you for honoring these wonderful artists/friends.
omg, what a beautiful bathroom!
Posted by: mark ilvonen | December 13th, 2012 at 12:23 am
Martha! Thank you for posting such lovely warm memories about all of us. And thank you so much for bringing us all together in the first place and creating such a wonderful realm in which we could explore and express our creativity. I am forever grateful for everything that you added to my life, and always and ever your fan. Lots of love to you and your family over the holidays. xxCelia
Posted by: Celia Barbour | December 13th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Years ago I made a very elegant gingerbread mansion that I saw in a Martha Stuart publication. I can't find it now. Can anyone help me.
Posted by: Danna Schott | December 13th, 2012 at 1:29 pm