complicated.

And on the other hand she admits upward of 50 people is a favourite number when she entertains.

And if you don't think entertaining 50 people is simple, you haven't heard of Martha Stewart.

A highly organised individual who has made a specialty out of entertaining casually but with style, Mrs. Stewart has parlayed her success into a busy career which includes books, videos, being a TV presenter, magazine publisher, mother and homemaker.

A devotee of forward planning, Mrs. Stewart has had decades of practice to make perfect from the time she forsook stockbroking to take up catering.

But gardening is Mrs. Stewart's big passion, and she loves sharing the fruits of her labours with her guests. In summer, she entertains out of doors, using her enormous garden as a spectacular, natural backdrop. Home-grown food invariably turns up on her guests' plates, and grilling is a preferred form of warm weather cooking.

Generally, Mrs. Stewart allows two days to prepare for a party and does all the cooking herself.

"That is why I have to do things in a rather quick, informal and fun way,'' she explained. "This week I am having a cocktail party out of doors because the gardens are so beautiful with the tulips in bloom.'' With a careful eye for detail, the hostess chose yellow tablecloths to harmonise with the forsythia which was also in bloom.

Style is what she's about, and it is that as much as anything which has made her a runaway success in whatever she has undertaken.

Ten years ago she made history when she published her first book, Entertaining, which has since been reprinted 24 times and sold over 625,000 copies.

From that impressive springboard, Mrs. Stewart has gone on to publish many more books (Martha Stewart's Quick Cook, Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres, Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts, Martha Stewart's Weddings, The Wedding Planner, Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus, Martha Stewart's Christmas, and Martha Stewart's Gardening.

An inveterate record-keeper and researcher who draws on, literally, decades of accumulated material for her volumes, the author is currently working on four more books simultaneously, one of which, Martha Stewart's New Old House, is due out at Christmas. This details the painstaking restoration of a five-bedroom Federal colonial home she bought, and every detail of which she personally oversaw.

"The book covers the restoration from the actual buying of the house to the completion of the decoration, so it is a very thorough work on home renovation,'' Mrs. Stewart explained. "I also define what is a renovation and a restoration. This house was a restoration, and I tried to be true to the architecture. I took a 19th century house and turned it into a 20th century home.'' In all, Mrs. Stewart owns 36 acres of property including a Manhattan apartment and homes in Connecticut and Long Island. One one-acre garden is devoted to roses. She operates out of three offices with staff of approximately 20.

A regular presenter on the NBC-TV Today show, Mrs. Stewart says she plans to become much more involved in television in future, and likens her constant changes in career direction to a grasshopper.

"Like the grasshopper, I metamorphose every seven years or so,'' she said. In addition, she publishes a thriving lifestyle magazine, Martha Stewart Living, in conjunction with Time/Warner.

Despite her busy professional life (she also travels extensively), Mrs.

Stewart has managed to raise successfully her only daughter, Alexis, with whom she enjoys an excellent relationship. How did she do it? "Children come first, they are a priority. Especially when they are young they have to be paid attention to,'' she said firmly. "You have to devote good time to them -- it doesn't matter how much time, but it must be good time.'' Hooked on gardening since she was three years old, Mrs. Stewart has spent countless hours creating the picture-perfect collation of trees, shrubs and flowers which grace her homes.

"Gardening is my passion,'' she frankly admitted. "It is very relaxing and good therapy time. I get a lot of thinking done.'' Small wonder, then, that her newest book is also her favourite: Martha Stewart's Gardening.

But would its contents be applicable in, say, Bermuda, where the soils and climate is different to her native US? "Planting a tree is the same everywhere,'' she assured. "The technology, recipes -- all of that will work in Bermuda.'' Mrs. Stewart will arrive on the Island on Mother's Day -- fresh from her NBC-TV segment with gift suggestions for mother. Asked what her own favourite gifts might be, she responded: "My daughter always gives me the most fabulous presents. She knows everything I want and tries to get me all the little things I don't have time to get myself -- a special soap, make-up... That's what I think is fun.'' Unfortunately, Alexis is unable to accompany her mother to Bermuda, so Mrs.

Stewart will miss her favourite way of celebrating the day.

"We always have breakfast together, and that's what I like best,'' she said.

Despite all the fame and fortune, animal-loving Mrs. Stewart (she shares her home with two dogs and five Himalayan cats) is no fashion hound.

Describing herself as "basically a casual dresser with simple tastes in well-made clothes'', whose favourite designer is Armani, she recently ordered her hairdresser to "chop off'' her previously long hair into a stylish bob without a qualm.

Martha Stewart will be the highlight of a sell-out fund-raiser sponsored by the Bermuda Junior Service League at Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort on Monday. In addition to her slide-lecture, entitled Entertaining with Style, she will autograph copies of her many books, which will be sold by the BJSL at US list prices.

LIFESTYLE GURU Martha Stewart -- "People are entertaining more easily today