Celebration Expert Darcy Miller on My Podcast
Another fun and interesting episode of "The Martha Stewart Podcast" is available today - tune in on the iHeart media app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This latest recording gave me the opportunity to catch up with someone I’ve worked with and celebrated so many good times with over the last 30-years, Darcy Miller. Darcy is an artist, an author of the bestselling book, "Celebrate Everything! Fun Ideas to Bring Your Parties to Life," a celebration expert, and an entrepreneur. In fact, she just launched a new business, where she advises people on celebrating the most meaningful moments in their lives in the most unique, personal, and one-of-a-kind ways. Darcy was also a founding editor of Martha Stewart Weddings, and for many years its Editorial Director, working on what would become one of the most beautiful weddings magazines ever.
Here are photos of some of the good times we've had over the last three decades and don't forget to listen to my podcast.
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- Here I am with Darcy inside the charming Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center, where we recorded my podcast. Look closely, Darcy drew the phone and the oversized champagne coupes in the photo.
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- Not long ago, I visited Darcy at her “Celebration Expert” headquarters in Manhattan. It’s full of Darcy’s whimsical artwork and favors she’s created for celebrations honoring her various clients.
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- The studio is where all the creating, crafting, and celebrating happens—or at least where it all begins. From floor to ceiling, wall to wall, the small space is filled with everything needed to create or entertain.
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- Here’s a photo of her meeting table and desk. And yes, that’s Darcy’s own artwork on the wall.
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- I always appreciate Darcy’s attention to detail—her art is on the macarons, the cookies, the matchboxes, and even the custom confetti on the table.
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- Here’s a favor she created for a baby shower.
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- … and another favor she did for Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
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- Here is the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court herself, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, several years ago holding her own favor.
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- This photo is from an elegant dinner party Darcy threw for her parents’ 45th wedding anniversary—pictures of their life together made the most beautiful and meaningful décor.
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- And here I am with her girls that night. Even the girls were dressed in the event’s gold, white, and black color scheme.
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- Those looking for fun ways to celebrate their own occasions turn to Darcy’s book, “Celebrate Everything,” as well as her website, and her Instagram page @DarcyMiller.
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- One of the Celebration Expert services Darcy offers is LIVE drawings at events. Here is one she drew of me.
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- She also draws from photos to create portrait favors for guests at weddings or corporate affairs.
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- Darcy may be the Celebration Expert now, but she’s been bringing that celebratory spirit into my life for 30 years, from the day she became an Editorial Assistant at Martha Stewart Living in 1992. She was so creative and so hard-working. Darcy would do everything—from answering phones and dying Easter Eggs to styling shoots and sourcing craft supplies. I think she’s the only person who ever had me paged in a Walmart – true story.
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- We traveled all over the country together for shoots. Here we are in a hotel room getting ready for a wedding, the one time she towered over me, thanks to standing on that bed. I think it was the late 90s, judging by my shoes, which are back in style, by the way.
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- She became so indispensable that when we launched Martha Stewart Weddings in 1995, I knew she had to be a founding editor of the magazine.
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- Over the years, Darcy brought her magic to so many weddings and to Weddings the magazine—even though, as she was fond of saying at the time, she was “way too single to be a weddings editor.”
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- Some of you may know – I’m a problem solver, so I introduced Darcy to the smartest single young man I knew at the time —my lawyer, Andy. And guess what, it worked, and they eventually got married.
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- Their wedding was at New York City’s Four Seasons. It was such a beautiful wedding, which you might remember from the magazine. So, you’re welcome, Andy. And Darcy. And Daisy, Ella, and Pippa, their three daughters.
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- Over the years, I also got to attend so many of Darcy’s own amazing parties. Here I am at Daisy’s first birthday with my own Chow Chow baby.
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- I remember that party had a Daisy theme–the flower was everywhere. And that’s what Darcy does. She takes something meaningful, something personal, and she uses it to create a party, or a favor, or a craft, or an illustration, or a memory that no one else would ever think of. Look at this table of treats! (Photo by Allan Zepeda)
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- … And she shows you how to do it too. Darcy shared some of those party ideas on my television show. Here I am with Darcy and her two older girls doing a pajama party segment. And would you believe Daisy, pictured here on the right, is in college now?
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- Darcy also threw me the most amazing 70th birthday party. It was themed around everything I love, from playing Scrabble to gardening to cooking.
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- Here’s my birthday cake – complete with a big “M” on it.
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- For that party, she drew all these portraits of me and used them for decorating – here I am doing yoga, sewing, antiquing…
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- … and of course, gardening.
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- If I sound like a proud mentor, it’s because I am. There’s no one I’d rather celebrate with than Darcy. And I’m thrilled that now everyone gets to celebrate with her. Please listen to our podcast today—I guarantee it’s worth celebrating.
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