Martha Stewart Talks Crafts, Host Gifts and Twitter

How has the recession affected you personally?

I have always been kind of frugal and cautious in terms of extravagance. So I have always turned the lights out when I leave a room. I was brought up like that. I am a serious environmentalist, as is my daughter. I am a serious gardener, and I grow my own food and have my own chickens and eggs. In terms of my daily life, I am just a little more cautious than I have been.

I actually may not be buying the numbers of personal things like clothing that I bought before. But of course I have to do daily TV, so I am not the perfect example. I'm not spending a lot eating out. I have had many more dinner parties personally than I had before. I am not buying as many trees to plant as I would like, but that can wait until next year.

Your daughter, Alexis, and pal Jennifer Koppelman Hutt, who do the Fine Living cable show "Whatever, Martha!," did an online poll asking if someone was going to visit you, Martha Stewart, which item would they take as a hostess gift: homemade brownies, a bottle of the finest wine, fresh flowers from their garden or a store-bought cake? The flowers got the most votes online, but what would be your choice?

My choice would be a bottle of wine. If you bring flowers, it's like bringing coals to Newcastle. I have more flowers than most people. I certainly don't need a cake; I would be making the cake. Brownies? No.

What do you bring to hosts?

I bring a dozen fresh eggs. I take them honey from my beehive, homemade jams and jellies from my own fruit, a big basket of garden vegetables I grow. If I have been doing my own candlemaking, I may take them six candles that I have made. I recently made a lot of pillows and children's toys. I have the added benefits of doing crafts on a daily basis.

It should always be joyful to be able to make things. Too many of us are sitting around Twittering. How about knitting? Knit me a sweater or a scarf.

But wait a minute, you're big on Twitter now!