Martha by Mail ~ Cookie Collection Catalog

Quite recently I was given a small catalog by my good friend, Janet, to add to my collection of Martha by Mail items. I had not been aware that such a booklet existed, so when it arrived I was beyond thrilled. The very early sets of copper cookie cutters had their own dedicated catalog that was sent to customers who bought them in the late 90s. In it, iced cookies were shown with or without the cutters, along with brief descriptions of what they were. This was an antecedent to the much larger catalog that was later to be published on a quarterly basis. Many of these images were used throughout the years in the Martha by Mail catalog as well as in Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Since the little catalog is indeed rare, if you ever come across one I encourage you to keep it in a safe place. You can make copies of it to have in your kitchen (like Janet has done) so that you have a reference when you’re icing and decorating cookies, but keep the original intact and smudge-free.

There are only a few pages in it, and some of the images may already be familiar to you (I’ve written about all of them already), but it’s good to go through this little gem of a booklet.

This is for all of you who collect Martha by Mail passionately.

Martha by Mail Cookie Collection Catalog

Noah's Ark Cookie Cutter Set

"Martha likes to decorate these animals colorfully with royal icing and sugar--green elephants, blue lions, polka-dotted polar bears. Handcrafted in durable copper, these beautiful animal silhouette cutters have rolled edges to protect the baker's hands. Each cutter is stamped with our logo. Complete set includes nine animals ready for gift-giving in a sectioned, ark-shaped box; dove (smallest, 2 1/2"), alligator, bear, elephant, horse, lion, kangaroo, lamb, and giraffe (tallest, 7"). A reusable template makes the ark, and an instruction booklet provides recipes for cookies and royal icing, plus decorating techniques and ideas."

Cookie Decorating Kit

Tree & House Cookie Cutters

Prancing Reindeer & Snowflake Cookie Cutters

Hatching Bunny & Barnyard Hen

Sugar Squirrel & Mighty Acorn Cookie Cutters

Owl & Bat Cookie Cutters

Heart & Hand Cookie Cutters

Moon & Star Cookie Cutters

Miniature Butterfly Cookie Cutters

Thank You Janet!!

Antique Salt Cellars

There was a time when salt cellars played an important role on the dining table for the host or hostess. As a result of it being such an expensive commodity several hundred years ago, salt was seen as a luxury and it was the well to do that made salt cellars quite fashionable & a status symbol for the home. A single salt cellar usually sat at the head of the table and was passed around throughout the meal. The closer one sat to the salt cellar, the more important one was deemed by the head of the household. Smaller cellars that were more accessible and with an open top became a part of Victorian table settings. Fast forward to the 20th century when salt was no longer a luxury and when anti caking agents were added to make salt free-flowing, and one begins to see salt cellars fall out of fashion. Luckily for the collector and for those of us who like to set a table with Good Things , this can prove to be a boon. Salt cellars for the table come in silver, porcelain, cut glass

How to Paint a Chair

If you have ever felt the need to spruce up a set of chairs or give them a new look, why not try a little bit of paint? Our tastes in decor and color will probably alter throughout our lives, and at some point, we may find ourselves wanting to change the look of our furniture without having to spend a lot of money. That's where a few handy tips, some tools from the hardware store, and good-quality paint come in handy. I know I'm not alone in paying visits to local antique shops, antique fairs and flea markets, and falling in love with pieces of furniture that would be perfect if they were just a different color. You don't have to walk away from a good purchase simply because it's the wrong color. My dear friend, Jeffrey, is forever enhancing his home with collectibles from flea markets and tag sales. However, certain items aren't always up to Jeffrey's tastes when he brings them home. He is the type of person who won't hesitate to chang

Vintage Wilton Wedding Cakes

Wedding cakes have certainly evolved over the decades just as tastes and styles have in our American way of life. There was a time when elaborate & very formal towering feats of sweetness were the standard for every bride & groom. Growing up in a household where I witnessed several wedding cakes take shape from start to finish, I can tell you that every single one of these was a true labor of love. For mom, Wilton was the go-to supplier in every aspect of cake baking, including the wedding cakes which flew out of our house every single year for friends & family. Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers It’s fun going back and looking at Wilton’s methods and styles for wedding cakes during the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, the shapely cakes were not simply stacked and covered in perfect fondant the way they are these days, but were iced and decorated with real buttercream, along with a multitude of accessories. There was even a working fountain available that could b

JanetJune 12, 2013 at 12:20 PM
You are such a darling friend, David. It was my pleasure to share this found treasure with you. I knew no one would appreciate it more than you!

Thank you for your kind mention. Now, if only we could find that little set of mini butterfly cookie cutters. One for you and one for me!

xo
Marion's KidJune 12, 2013 at 1:24 PM
David.. Thanks,again, for the information on the inserts that arrived with the cookie cutters. I have most of them and am surprised you say they are rare. Did MBM discontinue enclosing them after a while. I am an early user of the cookie cutters, think older! (yikes) so the 90's is the time I would have started to receive them.I also meant to thank you for the new way to clean the copper. I think I like it much better than the lemons. They really get bright.. but not too much.
Love your blog and have a great summer!
JohnJune 12, 2013 at 2:47 PM
What a nice booklet you have there! I remember those cookies & cookie cutters so fondly, but never got the chance to buy them.

THanks for the post!
Good Things by DavidJune 12, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Janet, I can't thank you enough! I love having this catalog at my fingertips. As for those mini butterfly cutters, I have seen them on ebay before, so good luck!!

xoxo,
David
Good Things by DavidJune 12, 2013 at 2:53 PM
Marion's Kid,

Those inserts "Creating Cookies" are NOT rare. They were included with every single cutter set & did change at some point. I'll have to do another post on that too!

What I meant was that this particular "catalog/booklet" called "Cookie Collection" is rare. I've never seen anyone post it up on ebay or have it in a set they were selling.

Oh, yes, enjoy that CIA method of cleaning the cutters! Safe & effective. :)

David
Good Things by DavidJune 12, 2013 at 2:54 PM
John,

I know what you mean about missing out on them. There are things from the catalog I never was able to order and regret it to this day!

Have a great one.

David
UnknownDecember 14, 2017 at 9:59 AM
Do you have the original sugar cookie recipe that came in the booklet? I can't seem to find mine and it was delicious. :)

Good Things by David

Search This Blog