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needlepoint embroidery canvas and string Credit: Carolin Voelker / Getty Images needlepoint embroidery canvas and string Credit: Carolin Voelker / Getty Images needlepoint embroidery canvas and string Credit: Carolin Voelker / Getty Images needlepoint embroidery canvas and string Credit: Carolin Voelker / Getty Images Creating a work of needlepoint art requires only a few simple supplies—a needle, scissors, thread, and canvas. But when you’re ready to start your project, it’s important to have a canvas sized to match your fibers, with a pattern ready to follow, and a durability appropriate for your final product....

pink oyster mushrooms Credit: Courtesy of Back to the Roots pink oyster mushrooms Credit: Courtesy of Back to the Roots pink oyster mushrooms Credit: Courtesy of Back to the Roots pink oyster mushrooms Credit: Courtesy of Back to the Roots If you’ve had a robust windowsill herb garden for years and are now looking for a new challenge, consider growing your own mushrooms at home. It’s easier than you think—and it’s a surprisingly satisfying hobby, all thanks to the rise of mushroom grow kits....

improve soil drainage Credit: FreshSplash / Getty Images improve soil drainage Credit: FreshSplash / Getty Images improve soil drainage Credit: FreshSplash / Getty Images improve soil drainage Credit: FreshSplash / Getty Images On This Page Why Soil Drainage Is Important Effects of Poor Soil Drainage How to Improve Soil Drainage If you’ve given your houseplants everything they need to survive and you still can’t seem to keep them alive, there is one key thing you may be missing: proper soil drainage....

onions Credit: Getty Images onions Credit: Getty Images onions Credit: Getty Images onions Credit: Getty Images On This Page Best Way to Store Onions How to Store a Cut Onion How to Freeze Shelf Life Whether it’s the pungent bite of a red onion or the mellow presence of sautéed yellow onions, onions are essential in cooking. From soups to stews to homemade sauces, as well as in salads and sandwiches, they star in a variety of dishes....

handlettering-layers-invites-cards-0156-d112852.jpg handlettering-layers-invites-cards-0156-d112852.jpg handlettering-layers-invites-cards-0156-d112852.jpg handlettering-layers-invites-cards-0156-d112852.jpg When dropped in the mailbox, it’s the surprise, excitement, and gratitude that comes from receiving a handwritten letter that’s absolutely immeasurable. Today, however, you might say that letter writing has become nothing more than a lost art. With technology at our fingertips, any love letter, thank-you note, or birthday card can be condensed down to a short text or email. But a handwritten letter can convey what technology simply can’t—from the choice of paper to the type of card, the color ink of the pen to the postage used on the envelope, and even the beauty of each letter coming together to form a word on the page, writing a letter is an incredibly personal experience....

colorful shelled beans on green surface Credit: Christopher Testani colorful shelled beans on green surface Credit: Christopher Testani colorful shelled beans on green surface Credit: Christopher Testani colorful shelled beans on green surface Credit: Christopher Testani Looking for ways to become a more confident cook at home? Our food editors are here to help. Each week, we shine a spotlight on the exciting things happening in the Martha Stewart test kitchen....

fish fillets Credit: Johnny Miller One of the questions I’m asked most often at our fish market is “How should I store my fish?” The simplest answer is to keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook it later that day. Most of us though don’t have the luxury of daily shopping. When you need to shop ahead, here are some tips to keep your seafood in top-notch shape at home....

birds eye garden view Credit: Claire Takacs birds eye garden view Credit: Claire Takacs birds eye garden view Credit: Claire Takacs birds eye garden view Credit: Claire Takacs There’s always something to learn at Great Dixter. The renowned estate, located in southeastern England, was the family home of the late Christopher Lloyd, a revered gardener who wrote no fewer than 25 beloved books. The grounds were first planted in the early 20th century and have evolved over the decades, but at its core Great Dixter is a beacon of innovation, experimentation, and education that’s run today by Fergus Garrett, head gardener since 1992....

woman standing in garden in wedding dress- classic hair and makeup Credit: 217 Photography You’ve searched high and low for your dream wedding dress, worked with your tailor to perfect the alterations, and rebooted your workout regime to be in your best shape ever. When the big day finally arrives, many brides (and bridesmaids) want to look and feel their best. Refusing to eat before walking down the aisle is not the way to do it, Rachel Paul, PhD, RD, and Rebecca Ditkoff, MPH, RD, the pros behind the Wedding Nutritionist, explain....

gt03janmsl_confettibag.jpg What to get for the friend who has it all? What about everyone she loves in one room together? Few gifts can top a surprise party, but you’ll need a solid plan to leak-proof your scheme. Read on for our best tips. Phase One: The Planning Set your site. For best results, think simple. Dinner or drinks at a favorite spot or someone’s home is an easier sell than, well, anything that requires more than bowling shoes....

pomegranate Credit: Johnny Miller pomegranate Credit: Johnny Miller pomegranate Credit: Johnny Miller pomegranate Credit: Johnny Miller While we love consuming lots of sugar cookies and gingerbread people during the month of December, there are plenty of spectacular fruits and vegetables to stock up on, too. Embrace hearty root vegetables like turnips and rutabagas (they’re delicious on their own or paired together), tart pomegranates, sweet pears for baking, and leafy escarole and cabbage all month long....

colorful bird perched on branch Credit: James Zipp/Getty Images colorful bird perched on branch Credit: James Zipp/Getty Images colorful bird perched on branch Credit: James Zipp/Getty Images colorful bird perched on branch Credit: James Zipp/Getty Images “Hope” is the thing with feathers, wrote Emily Dickinson, and it’s true: Spotting the first phoebes of spring is utterly uplifting. But birds are also a bellwether of our planet’s health. According to a recent study, North American populations have fallen 29 percent over the past 50 years, and the National Audubon Society predicts that if climate change progresses unchecked, two-thirds of the continent’s avian species could go extinct....

Sweet potato mash Credit: Bryan Gardner ` What’s for Dinner Franchise Logo View Series 18 Cozy, Comforting Winter Dinner Recipes You’ll Make on Repeat Our Favorite 20-Minute Dinner Recipes for When You Need a Home-Cooked Meal Fast What’s for Dinner This Week: Quick Chicken Puttanesca, Sheet-Pan Sausages With Squash, and a 15-Minute Vegetarian Meal What’s for Dinner This Week: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken, Beans-and-Greens Stuffed Peppers, and More Easy, Broiled Dishes...

What is plump with summer sweetness, arranged in neat rows, and pre-packaged in its own sheath of leaves? What is so good to eat that you forgive it for getting stuck between your teeth? Corn, of course. Held in the hands and nibbled methodically, row by row, or bitten off in unruly chunks, the appearance of the first local corn on our tables means that summer is at full tilt. And with warm days and nights comes the pleasure of grilling, with good smoke-smells drifting across backyards and rooftops....

ChefStepsToughTenderLamb2.jpg (skyword:264629) Is a leg of lamb tough or tender? Is beef chuck tough or tender? What about pork loin? Leg of lamb? Now, for you committed carnivores, what about a mammoth shank? These questions are easier to answer than you might think – even when the mammal in question isn’t around to be poked and prodded anymore, much less cooked on a hot grill. There’s a simple key to decoding whether a cut is tough or tender: it’s all about the muscle....

On This Page Light Paint Colors Furniture Arrangement Reduce Clutter Add Mirrors Ask any interior designer and they’ll tell you the same: The wrong layout and furnishings can make an already cramped space appear even smaller. “When designing a small room, it’s important to pick pieces that are appropriate in scale to the space,” says Molly Kidd of Light & Dwell. “Don’t buy bulky furniture for a small room.”...

What’s better than settling in on the couch with your family members or closest friends, a bowl of fresh popcorn, a great movie? While the company you keep is often what takes an at-home movie night from good to great, a new study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics published in the journal Projections found that there’s a very good reason why your favorite feel-good films actually make you feel good: They tend to follow a certain structure, deliver just the right amount of drama, and have a strong emotional impact on viewers....

new year header Credit: Getty Images new year header Credit: Getty Images new year header Credit: Getty Images new year header Credit: Getty Images For many, the new year symbolizes renewed personal goals, endless possibilities, and hope for what’s for come. Whether you’re looking for the perfect conclusion to your midnight toast or a phrase to hold with you throughout the 365 days ahead, the following quotes perfectly sum up what it means to enter a new chapter of life....

While the phrase “there’s no place like home for the holidays” is true for many, there are some towns in the United States that are extra festive during this time of year. With offerings like incredible light displays, can’t-miss parades, and holiday markets, there are plenty of destinations in the country that are worth visiting during the holidays. If you’re planning to travel this holiday season and you’re wondering which parts of the country deck the halls best, a new study from Next Vacay recently revealed the most Christmassy towns in America....

Vanilla is one of the world’s most labor-intensive and expensive crops, second only to saffron. Every plant must be hand-pollinated; vanilla is the fruit of an orchid that blossoms for only a few hours each year. The beans (or pods) are later harvested, also by hand, and cured for three to six months, during which time they shrivel up to one-quarter of their original size, lose 80 percent of their moisture, and develop their characteristic aroma which perfumes cakes, cookies, ice creams, puddings, pies, and more....