fomblognetwork

And So It Goes...

2010-07-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Martha Blog Network Participants,

It saddens me to inform you that we must shutter our blog doors here on the network. Unfortunately, our attempt at creating a place where people could network their site just hasn't produced satisfactory results.

Blog traffic to this site and looking at the outbound traffic, indicates that fewer and fewer people are using the network site as a landing and launching platform to find, read, and enjoy other blogs.

This page will officially be removed on August 15.

For those that did participate, our thanks and appreciation. Our hearts were in the right place, and we had high hopes that this would be a mutually beneficial venture. Our desire was to drive traffic to your blogs - and it seems we have been less than successful.

Wishing all of you continued success -

The Friends of Martha Blog Network Team

Something Fun: Martha Stewart's First Appearance on the David Letterman Show - 1989

2010-06-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Here's one for the Martha archives!

Hallmark Channel Unveils Robust Slate of New Programming from MSLO

2010-06-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

On the heels of the multi-year strategic partnership announced earlier this year, executives from Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia today revealed the original "how-to" programming block set to launch exclusively on the cable network this fall. The slate of new programming is anchored by the debut of the Emmy(R) Award-winning series "The Martha Stewart Show" on Hallmark Channel beginning September 13th at 10:00-11:00 a.m., ET/PT, weekdays.

"The Martha Stewart Show," nominated for two Daytime Emmy(R) Awards last month in the categories of Best Lifestyle Show and Best Lifestyle Host, will continue to air from New York City with a live studio audience. Named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the best food shows on television, Martha Stewart will continue covering subjects near and dear to her heart encompassing all aspects of living.

"Everyone at Hallmark Channel is thrilled to be welcoming Martha Stewart to our family this September," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Hallmark Channel. "It is a watershed time for us. Not only are we working with the acknowledged leader in cooking, decor, design and gardening, but we also have the opportunity to develop a fully integrated lifestyle block of programming on multiple platforms which speaks to the strengths of both Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart. We believe it will speak to our viewers, distributors and advertisers."

Martha Stewart said: "With Hallmark Channel we have found a perfect home for our programming, and I'm excited that we will be able to offer audiences even more of the informative, entertaining and inspiring content they want and expect from us."

Charles Koppelman, MSLO's Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer, stated: "For some time, it has been a strategic goal to expand our broadcasting presence and further cultivate the deep pool of talent we have at our company. With Hallmark Channel, a brand that is compatible with our mission and values, all the pieces have come together. We now have an on-air destination for Martha Stewart followers and are better positioned than ever to serve the women who identify with our brand on a network that reaches 90 million households."

New Programming

Following "The Martha Stewart Show," Hallmark Channel will air two new series: Between 11:00 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, the network will air an hour-long topical talk show, executive-produced by Emmy Award-winning writer and director David Steinberg and hosted by Sirius XM's "Whatever" hosts Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt. The show will have an intimate studio audience and provide a unique platform for the humorous duet to explore the daily headlines and everyday issues on the minds of viewers across the country. The home audience will be engaged through call-in and Skype-ing opportunities throughout the hour.

From 12:00 -- 12:30 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark Channel will premiere "Mad Hungry with Lucinda." Lucinda Scala Quinn is the ubiquitous Executive Food Editor at MSLO, host of the radio show "EatDrink" on Sirius XM and author of popular cookbooks including her most recent title, Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys. Lucinda's goal with the show is to bring family back to the dinner table. Lucinda will reveal her tips on how she has conquered the challenge of whetting the appetite of her husband and three sons.

Everyday Food Series

Following Lucinda, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark will air seasons one through four of the critically acclaimed series "Everyday Food," offering quick, easy and practical cooking solutions. The series brings to life MSLO's award-winning Everyday Food magazine and is complemented by the popular iPhone app, Martha's Everyday Food.

From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark Channel will put the spotlight on select episodes from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's extensive library of programming including "From Martha's Kitchen," "From Martha's Home" and "From Martha's Garden," among others.

There will be encore airings of "The Martha Stewart Show" at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, enabling millions of viewers to have access to the program in the afternoon.

Prime-Time Specials with Martha Stewart

Martha is preparing two prime-time specials celebrating Halloween and Christmas. The hour-long programs will focus on the crafts, traditions and history of these two viewer-favorite holidays.

Martha is also preparing two prime-time in-depth interview specials featuring extremely fascinating innovators and doers in the fields of entertainment, politics and culture.

New Network Badge Available

2010-06-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Martha Blog Network has a new look!

Unfortunately, the creator of the new logo did not wish to have her name posted but we thank her for her creativity and simplicity in design. Her prize package is on the way! A job well done.

To coordinate with the new header, a new badge is available for your blogs. Simply click the image for the full size version and save the image to your computer. You can then use the image file as your new badge. Be sure to resize it as necessary to fit the design and layout of your blog. As always, we do ask that you link the badge back to the FOMBN page so others may find the wide variety of interesting and creative blogs.

If you would like a larger version of the network badge, please click on the image below and follow the same process as described above to save it to your computer.

Thank you for being part of the network!

A Winner Was Selected

2010-05-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Good news! A logo winner was selected and has been notified.. we're just waiting on the release to come back so the logo can be used and the winner announced. Stay tuned! We'll be reconstructing the entire network directory with the new logo, new badges, and other fun things!

Thanks to all that participated in the logo contest.

Logo Contest Extended

2010-04-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

We have decided to extend the logo contest to end April 30. Perhaps members got busy with other things and totally forgot about the contest... so we're extending it to end on the last day of this month.
To date, we've only had one entry... and we're hoping for more entries from our creative network!

For contest rules, please see the previous entry below. Remember, the contest will end April 30.

We hope to hear from you!

Calling All Network Members! Get Creative and Win!

2010-03-05T05:14:00.000-08:00

Members of the Friends of Martha Blog Network are a creative bunch of people. We want to tap into that creativity to create the 'face' of the network.

FOMBN is looking for a new logo. The logo will be used on the network blog, and will become the 'badge' for the network members to place on their blogs.

If your design is selected as the new logo, you will win a Martha Stewart prize package worth over $100!!

Here are the details:

The contest is open to all members of the Friends of Martha Blog Network.
The logo design must be submitted in any of the following file formats: .jpeg, .gif, .eps, or in a .pdf format. Submitted designs must be in hi-res photo or .pdf formats.
The logo design MAY NOT include the Martha Stewart circle logo or photos of Martha Stewart.
The logo design must include the full name of the network, "Friends of Martha Blog Network."
All submitted designs become the property of Friends of Martha Blog Network and cannot be returned.
The contest is open from March 5, 2010 through March 31, 2010. Logo designs can be submitted anytime during the contest dates.
A winner will be selected and announced here on the network page on April 12.

Get your creativity on!

All logo submissions should be emailed to: fomnetwork@comcast.net

Good Luck!

We Continue to Grow!

2010-02-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

The Friends of Martha Blog Network continues to grow! We now have 70 blogs that have chosen to be part of the network and requests continue to come in every week.

With growth, comes change. Watch for changes to this network page in the coming months with a fresh layout and design. I think you'll enjoy the changes!

Don't forget to scroll through the directory found to your right. Visit your fellow network members and let them know you found them on the Friends of Martha Blog Network!

Network Members to Appear on the Martha Stewart Show

2010-01-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

This Thursday is all about blogging on the Martha Stewart Show and we are very happy that two members of the Friends of Martha Blog Network will be guests on the show.

Blogger Jeff Blumenkrantz has been spending the year cooking fabulously through Martha's Cooking School book. His blog, Jeff and Martha, chronicles his cooking adventures complete with a realistic grading system for the work accomplished. If you've not stopped by his blog, please do! His realistic journey through the book is a true pleasure to read. Jeff will be able to pick up hints and tips directly from Martha as he cooks with her side by side on Thursday.

Andrew Ritchie will also be a guest on Thursday. Andrew's blog, Martha Moments keeps readers posted on current MSLO events and happenings and you'll also find several of Andrew's own essays on a variety of lifestyle topics. Andrew will learn clever things to do with yarn when he crafts with Martha on Thursday.

We are so happy that both of them will have the opportunity to meet and share time with Martha.

Congratulations to both Jeff and Andrew! We'll be watching!

Welcome to New Network Members

2010-01-02T07:16:00.000-08:00

We're starting 2010 with two new members to the Friends of Martha Blog Network. Please take a moment to visit and welcome Sunlight & Simplicity and Fusion Living.

Oh.. don't forget to bring a hostess gift! (or at least let them know you found them from the Network)