First Person
Knit to This: The Beginning of Martha Stewart Living
Dear Ann,
These past 7 years, we’ve experienced the excitement and struggle of starting our own thing, something we feel to be new in the world. Every day we root for our little enterprise, taking in stride the daily menu of puzzles, opportunities, hopes and dreams, and sitting at our keyboards typing. (A lot of that last thing.) It’s been challenging and uplifting, and—thank goodness—hilarious at times.
A major role model and hero in this journey has been my beloved friend and sewing circle sister, Gael Towey. Gael was the founding art director of Martha Stewart Living Magazine and its creative director for decades. I sometimes marvel that in all of New York City, fate guided my steps to a powerhouse who really gets it about the life-altering joy of needlework—you don’t have to explain a thing to Gael. Having Gael wishing us well, believing in us, and giving us her thoughtful advice—has been a source of sustenance for which I’ll be grateful forever.
When Gael let it drop that she’d just been a guest on Martha Stewart’s new podcast, I listened to it right away. Ann! You have to listen to it right now—here it is.
It’s a free-ranging, affectionate conversation that reunites Martha and Gael and the magazine’s founding editor-in-chief, Isolde Motley, thirty years after Martha convinced Time Inc. to back a magazine that it didn’t entirely believe in—can you imagine? The conversation is a fascinating window into the intentionality of what they were up to, and it’s also really entertaining, bringing back crisp memories of life in New York in the early 1990s. (I’m so happy that Martha held onto that Ralph Lauren jacket.)
My only criticism is that the conversation is too short. I want to hear more! I’m so proud of what these women made, and how they made it.
Love,
Kay
Oh, thank you for this, Kay, I just started this podcast and so far it is so much fun..the 46th floor just above the building heating floor for their first offices. All that backstage stuff. I can’t wait until I finish my morning chores to settle down with my knitting and Martha. She is INTERESTING to listen to…not tedious or dictatorial.
Kay, thanks for the link to Gael’s site. I’m getting lost in the videos. Brought back memories of how lovely it was to get to talk and sew with Gael some years ago at the Chauteau Dumas.
thanks Roni, our time at Chateau Dumas was wonderful– gael
Slowly but surely we will obliviate the term ‘grannies’ from the art and skill of crafting and making.
Yay!
Dearest Kay, what a wonderful letter about starting a business and being friends. What you are describing is why our sewing circle, otherwise known as the “stitch ‘n bitches,” got together- so we could talk about our most secret desires and our biggest challenges. Knowing what an exhilarating time it was to found Martha Stewart Living- i knew that you would be uplifted by your Modern Daily Knitting project and look what happened! There are so many people depending on the community you and Ann tie together with knitting and sewing! –Gael Towey