My "Super Fans" Inspired, Part I
They’ve come to be affectionately known as my “Super Fans” — devoted followers who have embraced every aspect of my work and the Martha Stewart brand. From reading my magazines and following my blog to watching my television shows, cooking my recipes, and enjoying my products, they have all brought the ideas and inspirations I've shared into their own lives and homes.
I met many of these wonderful supporters at my Great American Tag Sale in 2022 and reconnected with them last year, when I welcomed 30 "Super Fans" to my farm for a garden tour, luncheon, and special “Ask Martha” session. Recently, I invited them to share photos of the many ways they’ve used my products, projects, and ideas over the years. They post many of their experiences on their own social media platforms, and over the next few days, I’ll be highlighting some of their content here.
Today, I’m featuring photos from Dennis Landon and Bernie Wong, Kemp Harper, and Brian Utz. Enjoy!
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- Bernie Wong and his husband, Dennis Landon, purchased many Martha Stewart items through the years, including products from my previous Kmart and Martha by Mail collections. This is their kitchen.
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- Dennis and Bernie are longtime Martha Stewart brand devotees from Wisconsin. They attended my giant tag sale and then returned to my farm last year for my “Super Fans” day.
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- Dennis and Bernie purchased a former church and then lovingly renovated and decorated it to be their home – largely inspired by the Martha Stewart brand. Here, they use a variety of green and white pumpkins, which they grew, as well as coordinating white flowered plants to embellish their front steps.
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- Their own kitchen was inspired by my kitchen. They painted the shelves and cabinets “Bedford Gray,” and built it to have floor to ceiling shelves to display their many vintage dish collections.
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- They were also inspired to hang their many pots on a giant pot rack above their island. Guess who does that? I do, of course.
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- The decorative urns on the island are from my Kmart collection. Bernie and Dennis planted them with ferns.
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- Their kitchen is filled with jadeite colored products – their favorite color. Dennis and Bernie know almost every item from my Home collections.
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- Dennis and Bernie are also very avid cooks and bakers. They often make delicious cakes and keep them on Martha Stewart cake stands under glass domes.
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- Their collection of transfer ware started in 1999 after they saw the story in my Martha Stewart Living magazine. If you can spot pieces from my Danish Fern collection – those were purchased at my tag sale.
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- Whenever they decorate for guests, they always bring in fresh flowers from the garden and display them in the kitchen for all to enjoy.
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- Bernie says their dining area, which is still a work in progress, has jadeite chandeliers from my collection. And remember these green chairs? They were also bought at my Great American Tag Sale.
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- And here’s Bernie in his kitchen with fresh picked pears they grew in their garden.
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- These are my faux bois planters from my collection at QVC. Behind them, an espalier of pears ready for picking.
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- Among Bernie’s passions is caring for topiaries – a hobby he’s had for more than 20 years, and inspired of course, by the gardening stories in my magazine.
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- Here’s Bernie in his greenhouse with his beautiful potted topiaries. Please follow Bernie on Instagram @berniewonggreen.
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- Kemp Harper says the Martha Stewart brand has really been the inspiration behind nearly everything he has done in his home.
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- His social media platform @thecolonian_on_park shares lots of gardening, seasonal decorating, and home projects. This is Kemp’s new 1824 federal style home. He calls it his own “Turkey Hill.”
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- This photo was taken when I met Kemp and his husband Kevin at a Turkey Hill tour some years ago.
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- Kemp has built garden obelisks and trellises from tutorials done at Turkey Hill and shared in the magazine or on my television shows.
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- There is a more utilitarian area in his backyard with bees, chickens, a vegetable garden and of course, a compost area – all inspired by my farm and projects I’ve talked about or shown on TV.
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- Kemp says he’s learned how to host and set a table from me, especially for the holidays.
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- Kemp loves to preserve. Here are some of his canning creations – displayed so beautifully in his kitchen.
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- He and Kevin dine al fresco using flowers from the garden as centerpieces, and cakes resting on cake stands.
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- Because of my brand, Kemp says he passionately collects jadeite, Francois Carre outdoor furniture, Wedgewood, and cake stands.
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- Here is Kemp’s vegetable garden. He created it from a plain patch of grass. The plan was to make it both functional and decorative. The obelisks also served as tomato cages.
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- Here is a photo of the peony garden now in its third year.
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- Brian Utz shared these next photos. Brian hosts a weekly podcast show about food, gardening, crafts, decorating, entertaining, and other homemaking topics, and shares posts of his work and lifestyle on Instagram at @morbidhomemaker. Here at his home, 40 foot long peony rows were newly dug and mulched.
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- This is Brian’s perennial border at sunset.
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- Brian collected jadeite and many pieces of gilded drabware from Martha by Mail.
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- Danish Fern and Faux Bois from my old Martha by Mail catalog are still highly collectible today.
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- Copper cookie cutters featured in Martha by Mail are arranged around a doorway leading into the kitchen. It is a recreation inspired by the photography in my Martha by Mail catalog.
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- Brian makes French toast on my new Kitchen Electrics 22-inch by 12-inch griddle next to an apothecary jar from Martha by Mail filled with more copper cookie cutters.
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- This is my hummingbird cake. My recipe is available online or one can order it pre-made from Goldbelly – five layers of moist cake lightly spiced with cinnamon and ginger, infused with pureed pineapple, shredded carrots, and toasted coconut flakes with a cream cheese frosting.
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- Brian says, “one thing I’ve learned from Martha is to always be considerate when hosting. If a guest stays at our farm, they’re greeted with fresh flowers from the garden on their nightstand in a jadeite Martha by Mail vase, along with other necessities like an alarm clock and a small silver box for rings or small jewelry.” Brian also learned about the engraved paper coasters from Bell’INVITO, a stationer in Dallas, from my American Made initiative which I started in 2012 as a platform to identify, celebrate, and promote American makers.
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- Brian also says his career in events planning was inspired by my lessons, tips, and ideas. Here he is with a colleague lighting candles for a rehearsal dinner for 100 at Brush Creek Ranch’s wine cellar in Saratoga, Wyoming.
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- This photo is of a humble backyard dinner for 20 guests celebrating harvest. Custom stained plywood sat atop straw bales from Brian’s farm created a generous table to host the dinner. An over the table rod and stargazer lights with foraged foliage from the garden helped usher in the whimsy.
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- Brian says, “prior to being in the industry, these backyard dinners meant one was the host, the chef, the catering team, and the florist.” Brian is ever so grateful for his patient and supportive parents who helped him when needed.
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- And here, Brian celebrates the 150th anniversary of his farm, recreating my iconic flag cake! His measured just over four feet long. The garden cart was bought from my tag sale and filled with straw and chilled bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Please follow all of these “Super Fans” and stay tuned for my next blog when I feature more devoted brand influencers.
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