Omnimedia Crafting Maven

Omnimedia Crafting Maven, The MSLO floor houses several professional kitchens, including one for Living (the largest), a second for Everyday Food, pictured, and another dedicated exclusively to pastry. Several of the current food editors trained as line cooks or pastry chefs at pedigreed restaurants such as Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin and Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak.
Over 30-plus years, Martha Stewart has built an empire that includes publications, cooking products and lifestyle wares-and she’s earned such titles as the Queen of Domestic Perfection. Stewart’s employees, however, will tell you that she’s very down-to-earth and that her aim isn’t necessarily achieving flawless results; it’s about teaching people how to do things for themselves. This continual drive to learn informs every aspect of MSLO, from repeat recipe tests to after-hours knitting workshops. While it’s true that the flaxen-haired business maven has high standards, her four magazines emphasize teaching readers how to better their lives through creative, hands-on pursuits. “I don’t know if it’s about attaining perfection, though it does come across like that,” says Anna Last, editor-in-chief of Everyday Food. “I think it’s just about doing [a project] the best way it can be done.” This continual drive to learn and improve informs every aspect of MSLO, from repeat recipe tests to after-hours seminars on topics like flower arranging and knitting. “We always see people walking around with plates of food or craft projects,” says Whole Living editor-in-chief Alanna Stang. “There’s a genuine respect for creativity here, and I think that’s very inspiring.”

Much of that inspiration comes directly from Stewart herself, who may not be in the office daily, but is frequently present to inspect story walls, meet with the staff and drop off homemade goodies such as zucchini bread. “Like everyone who has anything to do with her, she has taught me something,” says Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living. “I feel like I’m at [an Ivy League] Ph.D. program every day.”

Francesca & Sharkey Stewart

Francesca & Sharkey Stewart, As the world well knows, there pretty much isn’t anything Martha Stewart can’t do … not to mention, do better than you. No surprise then that even her famous French bulldogs, Francesca and Sharkey, are just as fantastique. No longer content with their cameos on their mistress’s TV show, the pawsome pair have taken to the Internet, launching their very own blog, “The Daily Wag,” earlier this month and of course, signing up for a very fashionable Twitter account.

“The Daily Wag” is housed in the new Nestle Purina PetCare-sponsored pet section of MarthaStewart.com, which also includes a variety of pet-related articles and photo galleries. Here, Francesca (“I have a high opinion of myself”) and Sharkey (“spontaneous and daring”) share their adventures making the rounds with Martha or getting into mischief on the farm.

From the beginning, “The Daily Wag” received hundreds of comments from the canine contingent (perhaps dictated via their humans). Meanwhile, after only three tweets, these gregarious gals already have over 1,500 Twitter followers. Francesca, who “feels superior to Sharkey,” very graciously took time out of her very busy media schedule to “speak” to Technotica about “The Daily Wag.”

First, the question everyone is itching to know: How did Martha take the news that you two were defecting to your own separate blog?

Martha always encourages us to try new things. She also knows that a lot of her fans are devoted to their pets and might enjoy a dog’s eye view of Martha’s world. I should also add that we’re irresistibly cute and stylish. Martha shouldn’t keep us to herself.

“The Daily Wag” just launched, but the post comments from other canines already number in the hundreds. Are you surprised by the reaction you’ve inspired in the Dogosphere?

Not at all. We know that dogs, everywhere, need a platform to speak their minds and if that platform is on our blog we couldn’t be happier.

Keeping a blog fresh and interesting can take a lot of work – did you consider taking an easier route with Facebook or Twitter?

You are right – it is a lot of work, but just like Martha, we’re not afraid of hard work. We like being tech savvy, so come follow us on Twitter, as well!

Was it a mutual decision to start “The Daily Wag,” or did one of you grab the lead?

It was my brilliant idea to start this blog. We have been frequent guests on Martha’s blog and I wanted to have one of our own. Sharkey was a little apprehensive about making the commitment, but now that she sees how much fun it is and what bigger stars we have become, she’s all about it.

Were you inspired by other Web sites, blogs or Twitter feeds? If so, which ones?

No, we don’t like to read too much about what other dogs are doing, as we like to keep our blog fresh and original. Martha, of course, has always been our mentor.

You’re not the first dogs to blog on the Web, but you may be the most prominent and the most fluent in human communication. I believe Francesca, you even speak French. If we add your ages, you’re still very young – even in human years. Can you share the secret of your skills? Does living with Martha inspire you to perfection?

Living with Martha or spending any time with Martha should inspire anyone to perfection. However, Martha’s drive for perfection is a little much for us to take at times. We just like to laugh and have fun, even if that means doing it sometimes behind her back.

And, je parle Français parce que je suis Française. I speak French because I am French! I also really like the way it sounds. Now I just wish I could learn to sing like ?dith Piaf.

Do you hope “The Daily Wag” will inspire other Internet-active dogs to improve their writing skills the way your TV and magazine appearances have inspired Fido fashion?

Of course! The whole point of being seen and writing a blog is to inspire others – you know the expression, “If I can do it, you can do it.”

As your fans well know Francesca, you and Sharkey have very different personalities – does working together ever turn into a real tug-o-war?

Sharkey and I are very different but that is what is so great about writing this blog together. We learn so much from each other. Even though we have our tiffs, we really do have respect for each other.

Some might find Sharkey’s recent post about your unfortunate run-in with the skunk embarrassing. Francesca, were you OK with Sharkey putting the blame on you?

Yes, you’re right – those photos were really ugly of me. Sharkey likes to blame me for a lot of things because she knows that I am worldlier than she is. And about skunks – dogs should really not chase them. They are quite nasty smelling and canines should know better.

How do your fellow fur babies feel about your blog? Are the cats jealous? Do the donkeys have you bookmarked?

Sharkey and I couldn’t care less what the others think. If they want a blog, they can write their own blog.

One last question, for the tech-minded pups out there: Do you each have your own laptop – and how do you manage the keyboard with those big Frenchie paws? (I mean that as a compliment.)

As you may have read in our very first blog, Sharkey and I rarely work alone. We also employ Martha’s excellent and crackerjack blog duo, Laura Plimpton and Eliad Laskin, because when we want a nap, we take a nap.

Martha Stewart J.C. Penney

Martha Stewart J.C. Penney, The retail giant will review its Martha Stewart product line for “potential changes” due to “the proliferation of Martha Stewart-branded product in the marketplace.” ? NEW YORK – Retail giant Macy’s is no fan of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s new alliance with retailer J.C. Penney, which was unveiled Wednesday morning.

Lifestyle media firm MSLO said it received $38.5 million from J.C. Penney for a 16.6 percent stake and struck a broader pact to bring Stewart products into the partner’s stores.

??However, the deal seems to have annoyed Macy’s, which has been selling an exclusive Martha Stewart product line since 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported.??

Macy’s will review its Martha Stewart line for “potential changes” due to “the proliferation of Martha Stewart-branded product in the marketplace,” the paper cited a company statement. ?It added that MSLO only notified Macy’s about its new deal on Tuesday night.

??The media firm’s five-year deal with Macy’s expires around the end of 2012, but can then be renewed, according to the Journal. ??Macy’s had the opportunity to explore a similar deal given that MSLO’s search for partners was public, a person familiar with the media company’s thinking told the Journal.

If Macy’s were to drop Martha Stewart amid the J.C. Penney deal, it would be “cutting off their nose to spite their face,” because it is the retailer’s top home brand, the paper cited that person as saying.??

The paper also highlighted that Stewart has been visible in Macy’s marketing. She has, for example, been appearing in holiday commercials highlighting “the magic of Macy’s.”

??J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who used to run Apple’s retail stores, told the Journal that retail chains must share. “A lot of retailers through the years have fought for exclusivity, and at times that’s important, but there are certain brands that should be available broadly,” he said, adding that he is more focused on being “the best place to buy” Martha Stewart products.??