Showing posts with label @marthasetwart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label @marthasetwart. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2013

ON-SITE REPORTING from MARTHA STEWART'S “AMERICAN MADE” 2013 AMERICAN MADE EVENT




Nine of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs are recognized across the categories of craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, garden, style and industry.

HONOREES CELEBRATED AT THE AMERICAN MADE AWARDS NIGHT IN NYC

American Made
Researching the November issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine for Thanksgiving food and drink features, the “American Made” story popped off the pages.
These narratives are exciting, enduring, plucky American success stories that dare you not to be inspired.
With their down-home doggedness and their homegrown optimism, one is hard pressed not to replicate their fuel-injected American dreams.
This project – its recognition and the makers who nurture the concept are important. Recognize the need to support local businesses. 
These are the true local, homegrown job creators. They are the doers and the dreamers…  

I was an invited guest to the Second Annual “American Made” awards event held at the very fitting “Crossroads of America:” Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall.
Here, the glittering chandeliers and marble-walled event space paid homage to the cocktail and awards show, tastings, and showcase for the artisans and entrepreneurs honorees and their hand made creations.


(At last year’s American Made premiere, I also attended the intimate kick off cocktail reception and the awards showcase http://www.examiner.com/article/martha-stewart-american-made-awards-honors-game-changers


The halls were abuzz with guests, honorees, tastings and anticipation.




From the “red-carpet” (that was decidedly more green to gold), I asked the goddess of creative entrepreneurship, Martha Stewart, “What’s different or changed from last year’s inaugural ‘American Made?’”  She thought for a second – all the more time to admire those glittering Manolos she sported – and then she pointedly quipped, “This year is a Better American Made.  We grew the number of voters to 5 million and had entries from more than 2,400 candidates.”  Martha added, “This shows a lot of interest for the art of the craft. That makes us feel really great and really proud.”  

Indeed.

In addition to Martha - stars of the celebrity media walk included the evening’s co-host, Bravo Network’s, Andy Cohen.  He is a good co-presenter as this man seemingly knows everyone and can talk a blue streak!   

Christie Brinkley was scandalously pretty.

Brinkley was also somewhat curiously, the presenter for the Garden Maker Award…

Yes; Brinkley has a garden on the East End but still…I hope it’s not cheeky to point out that there are so many other true gardeners who could have been a presenter.  I know, I know – Christie is an avid supporter of the Land Trust and for that all thank her.  Plus she remains irresistible eye candy.








The Chew’s Carla Hall was pert and oh-so-much taller than she appears on the small screen.
And the former “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s interior designer, Thom Filicia was styling and showing that sockless-loafer look. 









Conversing the Concourse
Rather than take the ubiquitous and evidently popular route that most guests chose; which was to sample and taste the food and drink to the exclusion of the honorees, I did the over-achiever-girls-do-extra-credit thing and visited all the showcased Makers, interviewing them and learning what brought them to this hallowed moment. 
No worries, readers can take it to the bank that there was still plenty of time to sample the craft cocktails (the whisky cocktail was wowsy – smooth and nutty in flavor) fresh oysters and other treats.



Not unlike a dynamic museum, the Martha team curated and displayed the honorees in a way that screamed, “More time, please.” 
Yet moving from cherished Maker to enterprising craftsperson around the perimeter of the “room,” I was able to sample a kaleidoscope of creators from the guitar-making specialist that got him into wood craft.

His designs now include adventures in walnut, maple, birds eye woods to Mohawk papers

to Sweet Too Hills Candy to America’s Oldest Confectionary: Shane Confectionary known for their buttercream chocolates and clear glass-like creations  - they make memories they say.
There was also the Heirloom Chiles–grown in Maryland for award-winning Woodberry Kitchens.
Woodberry’s Spike and Amy Gjerde devotion to local food and their growers should earn them sainthood.  “In a conventional model, so little of the food dollar gets back to the growers,” says Spike. 
Let’s change that. http://www.woodberrykitchen.com

Loved the Back to the Roots mushroom growers. Founders sell grown mushrooms “kits” to give American families the opportunity to grow their own from – drum roll – food waste!   https://www.backtotheroots.com/about-us



The Northern Farmhouse Pasta is crazy good. http://www.northernfarmhousepasta.com
This family owned business used local flour, chees and produce to make pastas and raviolis. Dream wild ramp, scape, basil and zucchini blossom – and more – for fresh and dried raviolis and pastas to melt into pasta heaven. “We grew own business in Brooklyn from our farm Roscoe, New York location and the homegrown pastas are available at more than 25 local Greenmarkets. They work with Cayuga Pure Organics http://cporganics.com
 “We pick up 500 pounds of flour at about 2 am Saturday to make our 100 bags of pasta.”  


The McClure family recipe uses their family’s Brooklyn pickle recipe and local produce: http://www.mcclurespickles.com/pages/our-story  








Awards:


Nine of the best garden, craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, and industry makers were recognized at the awards ceremony and in the November issue of the MSL magazine.
Every category was introduced by a guest presenter - an expert in their field, and a short video preceded their award acceptance.

www.marthastewart.com/americanmade

The food and drink award-winning artisans were presented by Bobby Flay:
Food Award winners:
Community: Archi’s Acres, Karen & Colin Archipley – Escondido, California
Archie’s Acres www.archisacres.com
was founded by combat-decorated Marine Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen, and has demonstrated there is profit, public interest, and a compelling story in joining one of our country’s most pressing needs—sustainable food—with our country’s greatest untapped resource—our returning veterans. Archi’s Acres developed sustainable, hydroponic, organic farming to create opportunities for returning veterans. 

Food: Woodberry Kitchen, Spike & Amy Gjerde – Baltimore, Maryland
Woodberry Kitchen www.woodberrykitchen.com
relies on longstanding relationships with the growers of the Chesapeake area to provide the ingredients that nourish and delight their guests. Founded by Spike & Amy Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen supports sustainable agriculture that respects the abundance and traditions of the region while helping to ensure its future.

Sustainability: Portland Meat Collective, Camas Davis – Portland, Oregon
The Portland Meat Collective www.pdxmeat.com
brings local meat to local people. It’s a network of Portland citizens who are looking for a cost-effective way to buy meat directly from Oregon’s small ranchers and farmers. While the PMC draws on meat CSA models that have popped up around the country, it is also an up-close-and-personal traveling butchery school. 

Garden: Back to the Roots, Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora – Oakland, California
Back to the Roots www.backtotheroots.com
was founded by Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora. Inspired by the idea of turning waste into wages & fresh, local food, they decided to forgo the corporate route and become full-time urban mushroom farmers, producing grow-at-home mushroom kits

The standing room only Ceremony began with delightful video welcome from NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg who said she was proud to say she is a crafter.  Nyberg noted she brought her craft to space with her. 
A true enthusiast.
 “American Made” is a movement for individuals and communities that have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses. With small businesses in the U.S. creating the majority of new jobs.

In addition, Martha Stewart and Richelle Parhem, vice president and Chief Marketing Officer of eBay announced details about a new partnership and continuation of the American Made initiative: the Martha Stewart American Made Market, exclusively on eBay.
“Handpicked by Martha and her team at Martha Stewart Living magazine, the American Made Market on eBay will honor a new generation of American makers who will sell their products in categories such as crafts, food, garden and more. The editors at Martha Stewart Living magazine will be scouting for new makers and new products each week to ensure that the assortment reflects consumers’ desire for quality craftsmanship and well-designed goods that have the Martha Stewart seal of approval.”

Be sure to check out the web sites of these crafters – a holiday gift from any of them is vote of love and support for these American treasures.

Cheers.





Tuesday, October 8, 2013

MARTHA STEWART’S SECOND ANNUAL “AMERICAN MADE” PROGRAM ANNOUNCES 2013 AMERICAN MADE HONOREES





Nine of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs are recognized across the categories of craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, garden, style and industry.

HONOREES TO BE CELEBRATED AT THE AMERICAN MADE AWARDS NIGHT IN NYC ON
OCTOBER 15, 2013



This fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will present its “American Made” program for the second year with a mission to recognize creative entrepreneurs from across the country. In that spirit, Martha and the editors of Martha Stewart Living are pleased to announce the new generation of great American makers with this year’s American Made Honorees.

These nine entrepreneurs in the categories of craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, garden, style and industry embody the values of America—creativity, hard work and optimism. Whether stitching quilts in Texas or serving meals in Baltimore, they’re not only building businesses for themselves, but also fostering networks of start-ups and small business owners around them.

The 2013 American Made Honorees

Craft: Folk Fibers, Maura Grace Ambrose – Austin, Texas
Folk Fibers (www.follkfibers.com) is the creation of Maura Grace Ambrose. Her goal is to share the craft and folklore that prevails around natural dyes and quilting. Maura uses natural dyes to dye her favorite fabrics and 100% natural fibers in the making of her quilts. Every Folk Fibers quilt is entirely hand quilted in Austin, Texas. 

Community: Archi’s Acres, Karen & Colin Archipley – Escondido, California
Archie’s Acres (www.archisacres.com) was founded by combat-decorated Marine Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen, and has demonstrated there is profit, public interest, and a compelling story in joining one of our country’s most pressing needs—sustainable food—with our country’s greatest untapped resource—our returning veterans. Archi’s Acres developed sustainable, hydroponic, organic farming to create opportunities for returning veterans. 

Food: Woodberry Kitchen, Spike & Amy Gjerde – Baltimore, Maryland
Woodberry Kitchen (www.woodberrykitchen.com) relies on longstanding relationships with the growers of the Chesapeake area to provide the ingredients that nourish and delight their guests. Founded by Spike & Amy Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen supports sustainable agriculture that respects the abundance and traditions of the region while helping to ensure its future.

Design: Lindsey Adelman Studio, Lindsey Adelman – New York, New York
The Lindsey Adelman Studio (www.lindseyadelman.com) has been designing, prototyping and building mainly hand-blown glass and brass lighting since the studio's inception in 2006. Recently, the studio has expanded to include jewelry, vessels, tiles, and wallpaper, in materials including wood, concrete, porcelain, gold, and stereolithography. With skill and care, the Lindsey Adelman Studio team of 15 and small network of local artisans manufacture each piece to order.

Technology: Spoonflower, Stephen Fraser & Gart Davis – Durham, North Carolina
Spoonflower (www.spoonflower.com) makes it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric, wallpaper, decals and gift wrap. Spoonflower was founded in May 2008 by Stephen Fraser & Gart Davis, and the community now numbers more than a million individuals who use their own fabric to make curtains, quilts, clothes, bags, furniture, dolls, pillows, framed artwork, costumes, banners and much more. The Spoonflower marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world.

Sustainability: Portland Meat Collective, Camas Davis – Portland, Oregon
The Portland Meat Collective (www.pdxmeat.com) brings local meat to local people. It’s a network of Portland citizens who are looking for a cost-effective way to buy meat directly from Oregon’s small ranchers and farmers. While the PMC draws on meat CSA models that have popped up around the country, it is also an up-close-and-personal traveling butchery school. 

Garden: Back to the Roots, Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora – Oakland, California
Back to the Roots (www.backtotheroots.com) was founded by Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora. Inspired by the idea of turning waste into wages & fresh, local food, they decided to forgo the corporate route and become full-time urban mushroom farmers, producing grow-at-home mushroom kits.

Style: Pinnell Custom Leather, Charles Pinnell – Crozet, Virginia
Pinnell Custom Leather (www.pinnellcustomleather.com) creates a wide range of handcrafted buckles, custom made belts, bags and fine leather appointments for top athletes, sportsmen and business professionals. Pinnell uses only the finest quality hand selected leathers from the United States, England, France, Italy and other locations worldwide.

Industry: Shinola, Heath Carr – Detroit, Michigan
Based in Detroit, Shinola (www.shinola.com) is dedicated to producing American-made products, including watches, bicycles, leather goods, and journals of the highest possible quality. Shinola defines American luxury through American quality, creating a community that will thrive through excellence of craft and pride of work.

These accomplished Honorees will be feted at the American Made Awards Night at Grand Central Terminal on October 15, 2013, co-hosted by Martha Stewart and BRAVO’s Andy Cohen.

They will also each receive a feature in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine as well as on www.marthastewart.com/americanmade, the honoree portfolio comes to life with videos of the artisans in their workshops, studios, and factories.

Martha Stewart’s 2013 American Made program is presented with support by the following partners: Official Sponsors- HYATT house®, Toyota, The UPS Store®, and Supporting Sponsors- eBay and Mohawk Fine Papers. Southwest Airlines is the official airline of American Made. *Sponsors listed are current as of release date.