Only Martha Stewart could turn her time in quarantine into a way to help the masses master the art of crafting floral arrangements, stuffing pillowy pierogis and shaking up classic cocktails.
The 78-year-old is waiting out the coronavirus lockdown at her Bedford farm in upstate New York where she recently launched a new how-to series, Homeschool with Martha, with the editors of Martha Stewart Living.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, the grande dame of domestic goals discusses Homeschool, as well as her first-ever brand shop with Wayfair and the expansion of The Martha Stewart Center for Living at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Busier than ever: Martha Stewart exclusively chatted with DailyMailTV about her new digital how-to series, the launch of her brand shop at Wayfair and the expansion of her Center for elder care while in quarantine at her farm in Bedford
While isolating at home, Martha is doling out helpful how-to videos on how to make home-living a little more comfortable.
During her chat with DailyMailTV senior correspondent Alicia Quarles, Martha revealed that she has added a new jewel to her do-it-yourself crown.
‘I’ve gotten into blow drying [my hair],’ she said from her home. ‘Pretty professional don’t you think?’
As ever, this latest hobby that the matriarch of modern living has taken on unsurprisingly does look like it was done by a professional.
Working from home: During lockdown, Martha and the editors at Martha Stewart Living launched the digital how-to series Homeschool with Martha to share instructional videos like recipes for the whole family and DIY crafts
‘It’s been very popular and very well-liked,’ Martha beamed. ‘I’m so proud of my editors for doing it so professionally. It looks like we spent a year planning home school when in fact, it was about four days.’
But, despite all evidence to the contrary, the business woman revealed she hasn’t been having the easiest time during lockdown.
‘I’m going to be utterly truthful, it’s not really a good time being isolated, being confined,’ she admitted. ‘I’m not so good at looking straight at a computer all day long.’
‘I’m a more active person,’ Martha continued. ‘I don’t like sitting, and I’ve been sitting.’
To combat the stagnant nature of confinement, Martha has been exercising at home, horseback riding and, of course, cooking.
‘I’m going to be utterly truthful, it’s not really a good time being isolated, being confined,’ she admitted. ‘I’m not so good at looking straight at a computer all day long. I’m a more active person.’
‘Exercise, eat well, find ways to occupy your time,’ Stewart recommends. ‘Bake sourdough bread! You know how hard that is? Just try it!’
‘I have been cooking up a storm because I have to feed three other people who I don’t usually feed,’ she said.
A small team of staff decided to quarantine at the farm with the domestic goddess.
One of those people is Martha’s personal gardener, Ryan McCallister, who not only tends to her spectacular 150 acres of land, he also helps Martha with her digital videos.
During lockdown, Martha launched Homeschool with Martha along with her team of editors at Martha Stewart Living.
Helping hands: Martha’s personal gardener, Ryan McCallister, not only tends to her spectacular 150 acres of land, he also helps Martha with her digital videos
‘Exercise, eat well, find ways to occupy your time,’ Stewart recommends. ‘Bake sourdough bread! You know how hard that is? Just try it!’
The daily tips and episodes are shared on Instagram with the hashtag #homeschoolwithmartha and feature things like recipes for the whole family and DIY crafts.
‘It’s been very popular and very well-liked,’ Martha beamed. ‘I’m so proud of my editors for doing it so professionally. It looks like we spent a year planning home school when in fact, it was about four days.’
Since everyone is stuck inside, it’s natural to want to keep busy and creative in the kitchen or with a new craft project.
‘Exercise, eat well, find ways to occupy your time,’ Stewart recommends. ‘Bake sourdough bread! You know how hard that is? Just try it!’
‘Try to improve your surroundings,’ she said. ‘When you’re home, confined, you realize that you’re missing a desk, you’re missing something convenient on which to sort your mail, you’re missing a part of a kitchen setup that you always said, “oh well I’ll get that someday.” Get it now.’
Start here: A great place to shop is Martha’s first-ever brand shop on Wayfair with four different collections inspired by the styles of her own stunning homes
Another thing the star has noticed during this time is that people are tending to take stock of their personal space a bit more while stuck inside of it for so long.
‘When you’re home, confined, you realize that you’re missing a desk, you’re missing something convenient on which to sort your mail, you’re missing a part of a kitchen setup that you always said, “oh well I’ll get that someday.”‘
‘Get it now. Try to improve your everyday living,’ she continued. ‘It’ll make a big difference now. and. and as soon as this whole thing is over, you’ll be happy that you did it. You have the time now.’
Martha just launched her first-ever brand shop on Wayfair and the collections are inspired by four of her stunning homes.
Living: The brand shop has something for everyone including furnishings, accessories and decor for the whole home with styles including farmhouse, coastal, traditional and modern city
‘Try to improve your everyday living,’ Martha said. ‘It’ll make a big difference now. and. and as soon as this whole thing is over, you’ll be happy that you did it. You have the time now.’
The brand shop has furnishings, accessories and decor for the whole house and even some items for furry friends, in styles just like Martha has in her own personal spaces.
Martha described her Bedford, Lily Pond, Perry St. and Skylands collections: ‘It’s based on my home here in Bedford, which is like country farm, my house out in East Hampton, which is like seaside coastal, a very sophisticated but modern New York apartment and also a fabulous house I have up in Maine.’
While the icon’s business ventures are continuing to roll out during quarantine, so is her philanthropic arm.
Martha is encouraging people to join her in donating to the Mount Sinai Health System as they continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Incredible: The Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital, one-stop shop for elder patients to receive premium care, recently expanded into the Union Square neighborhood of New York City (Pictured at The Martha Stewart Center for Living 2015 Gala)
Get involved: Martha is encouraging people to join her in donating to the Mount Sinai Health System as they continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; Scan this flow code with your smartphone camera to learn how
The Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital recently expanded into the Union Square neighborhood of New York City.
The Center is a ‘one-stop shop’ for elder patients and caregivers for access to primary care doctors, specialists in 20 disciplines and even holistic services like tai chi and music therapy.
Inspired by her mom, Big Martha, who lived until the age of 93, she started this incredible initiative a decade ago.
The Madison Avenue location actually served in a different capacity recently as New York City’s very first testing location for COVID-19.
Wow! The Madison Avenue location of The Center actually served in a different capacity recently as New York City’s very first testing location for COVID-19 (Pictured in February)