Indholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2011 i Victoria

With the coming of the holidays, the exterior of my home is adorned with fresh evergreen wreaths tied with generous plaid bows. Indoors, a single glowing electric candle is centered in every window. The clean, sharp fragrances of cedar and pine fill the air. I have piled boughs on the mantels and gathered some in a stone container on the kitchen island. A towering blue spruce, harvested and shipped from the North Carolina mountains, adds majesty to our great room. Family tradition calls for decorating both the house and the tree on the Friday and the Saturday following Thanksgiving. We collect the tubs of ornaments and reminisce as we unwrap decorations that have been carefully selected over the years, giving special attention to the ones family members have handcrafted. Now…

For an intimate seasonal gathering, a beloved Christmas carol marks each place setting at the table. Below, a miniature banner featuring the song title “White Christmas” is printed on craft paper and tucked into a pair of glittery pinecones. An accordion-folded paper collar made from holiday sheet music frames a gleaming hammered-copper charger. Especially in December, the nostalgia of Christmas carols resonates within each of us—our personal favorites rich with meaningful memories we long to savor over and over again each year. To create an occasion filled with the magic of music, treat your family or friends to a special dinner party based on the holiday songs they love. “We wanted to set the scene of a traditional Christmas but with an updated color palette,” says designer Jennifer Carroll, who…

As the temperatures drop outdoors, merriment rises inside the Trapp Family Lodge. Visiting here is a bit like walking into a living Christmas card. Snowshoes are snapped on, the baker makes gingerbread houses and Linzertorte, and perhaps guests will have an opportunity to sing “Edelweiss” with their famous hosts. When Maria von Trapp first gazed at the snow-blanketed hills and valleys of Vermont’s Green Mountains after she and her family fled Nazi-occupied Austria, the area looked much like home—a sister scene to her beloved Alps. In 1943, the famous Sound of Music singing troupe bought a farm on Luce Hill, near Stowe, and welcomed guests to their farmhouse. Four decades later, fire destroyed the original house, but within three years, the family rebuilt and created a ninety-six-room inn that embraces…

Jewellike clusters of fall foliage, flowers, and berries arranged in vintage copper containers dress a family table in robust seasonal splendor. Simple and elegant place settings of ribbon-wrapped napkins, heirloom silver, and colonial-style clear crystal goblets heighten the profound beauty of nature’s stunning palette. Bougainvilleas, ranunculus, dahlias, mums, artichokes, berry-laden stems, and red-orange persimmons and maple leaves display a poetic composition of texture, color, and glorious abundance “I CANNOT ENDURE TO WASTE ANYTHING AS PRECIOUS AS AUTUMN SUNSHINE BY STAYING IN THE HOUSE.” —Nathaniel Hawthorne…

WARM & COZY: A FIRESIDE DINNER Begins on page 38 White-Wine Fondue p.38 Makes 6 to 10 servings 11/2 pounds grated Gruyère cheese 12/3 cups dry white wine 11/2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 to 2 loaves ciabatta*, cubed 1. In a large stockpot over medium heat, melt cheese. 2. In a small bowl, combine wine and cornstarch, stirring to mix. Add wine mixture, nutmeg, and red pepper to melted cheese. Heat, stirring constantly, until cheese begins to bubble. 3. Remove from heat, and transfer to a fondue pot. Serve with bread cubes. *French bread can be substituted for ciabatta. Mixed Baby Greens Salad p.41 Makes approximately 6 servings 12 cups mixed baby greens 2 persimmons, thinly sliced 2 cups Croutons (recipe…

FUN FINDS * PLACES TO GO * ENTREPRENEURS TO MEET WRAPPED WITH STYLE During the peak of the Christmas season, designer Nicholas Kniel offers gift-wrapping enthusiasts the crème de la crème at his Atlanta boutique. From trims, tags, and millinery finery to glittery birds, brooches, and butterflies, his shop brims with every kind of ribbon and package embellishment one could desire. Devising any theme imaginable— a seaside-inspired motif accented with shells, an Old-World Santa mixed with traditional red and green, elegantly graphic black and white, and dazzling platinum Hollywood glamour—Nicholas elevates holiday packaging to an art form, and his creations are almost too stunning to unwrap. AND DON’T MISS … ALPINE HOLIDAY CHARM Enjoy exclusive fairy-tale scenes of Switzerland at Christmastime through our series of photos on victoriamag.com. Gain a…

CAROL RIZZOLI Along with the snow flurries, so many memories swirl around the winter holidays that past and present meld, at times, as beautifully as the flavor of brandy with plums. That is the magic we hope to capture with our seasonal rituals. Unpacking treasured ornaments given by family, friends, and guests at our Royal Oak House Bed & Breakfast; trimming the tree; cooking favorite dishes— for me, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the scent of just-baked gingerbread mixed with the fragrance of freshly cut evergreen. And what a delicious surprise to see my son, who seemingly had forgotten our family traditions when he moved halfway across the globe to work in the tropics, suddenly baking ginger men one recent year. For guests at our inn, we offer the suggestion…

Whet your guests’ appetites with cubes of ciabatta dipped into a flavorful fondue of creamy melted Gruyère and white wine spiced with red pepper and nutmeg, opposite. Above right: Tender rib-eye steak garnished with Red- Wine Sauce glistening with shallots makes a hearty and satisfying entrée. A textured mash of roasted potatoes and parsnips soaks up the sauce, while a green salad refreshes with tangy persimmons and aromatic Tarragon Vinaigrette. Menu White-Wine Fondue / White-Bean Pistou Rib Eye and Red-Wine Sauce Potato and Parsnip Mash / Mixed Baby Greens Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette French Vanilla and Cinnamon Tart Anise Cookies After the soup course, present the main dishes on platters and in chic bowls. Family-style service not only encourages conversation, but it allows guests to choose the amount of food…

The Christmas trees are decorated with elephants, zebras, giraffes, and clowns; the table is graced with an antique fishbowl filled with plump, juicy oranges; and tarlatan stockings hang near a Victorian mantel. Ladies and gentlemen, let the show of shows begin! Come late fall, Wendy Addison turns Theatre of Dreams, a combination shop/studio and her private residence, into a holiday extravaganza. “In my world, it’s not only Christmas that is made of magic,” she says. “Magic is for every day.” Wendy, an artist, takes old sheet music, tarnished tinsel, vintage crepe paper, Victorian ephemera, and German glass glitter and transforms them into what she calls “objects for an imaginary life.” Ornaments, masks, hand-cut silhouettes, tiny pieces of furniture crafted from antique newsprint, rosettes, alphabet disks made on 1880s letterpress printers,…

Patrons who wander into The Ribbonerie are mesmerized by the rainbow of ribbons stacked on shelves and tables throughout the shop. In addition to the dazzling selection of grosgrains and satins, spools of old silk thread, and hundreds of vintage trims, owner Paulette Knight also offers giftwrapping service to her clientele. After twenty-three years of flying, Paulette Knight translated her air miles into yards upon yards of ribbon that decorate her San Francisco shop, The Ribbonerie. A former flight attendant for American Airlines during the industry’s fabled golden era, she wandered the arrondissements of Paris between flights, repeatedly drawn to the enchanted trimmings that festoon the city’s candy stores. “I was a real Francophile and went to France on all my vacations,” says Paulette. “I saw this extraordinary French wired…

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 14–16: For more of our artists’ work, visit event designer and stylist Jennifer Carroll at jennifercarroll.net; photographer Jen Fariello at jenfariello.com; and floral designers Pat Roberts and Sherry Spencer at patsfloraldesigns.com. Floral arrangements by Pat’s Floral Designs, 540-948-5611, pats floraldesigns.com. Special thanks to Collina Farm, 1296 Clifton Inn Dr., Charlottesville, VA, 888-971-1800, collinafarm.com. Park Lane and Frosted Lido glassware, copper charger, Avonlea plaid tablecloth, and burlap table runner, call for pricing; from Festive Fare, 434-296-5496, festivefarerentals.com. Custom mini Christmas banners, invitations, and papers, call for pricing; from Jennifer Carroll Designs, 540-456-6550, jennifercarroll.net. Tin mirror, transferware plates, white distressed-wood candlesticks, dark-wood candlesticks, white birdcage, Victorian Christmas blocks, wooden goose, wrapping paper, and striped ribbon, call for pricing; from Pat’s Floral Designs, 540- 948-5611, patsfloraldesigns.com. Gold mercury-glass votives, call for…

On Christmas Eve night, we would pile into my dad’s boat of a car and travel to the city. We wore our corduroy coats, mittens and knitted caps, and a Santa pin whose red nose lit up when we pulled the jingle bell attached to it with a short string. Our destination was the downtown department stores, and we sang “Silver Bells” as Daddy drove. “Even stop lights / Blink a bright red and green.” The lyrics were accurate. The traffic signals were also in the holiday spirit! Bows and swags of greenery decorated the streets, and wreaths studded with pinecones and candy canes adorned the lampposts. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks / Dressed in holiday style / In the air / There’s a feeling / of Christmas.” My father slowed…

HOLIDAY PAPER, PRINTS & PANACHE Let the Christmas season begin with stylish greeting cards, gift tags, boxes, and bows. You’ll love what you gift with this classic assortment of Yuletide trims. Clockwise, from bottom left: Decorative papers from Paper Mojo in Crepaldi Bookbinder’s Marbles Red Peacock and Midas Touch Gold Marble on Natural Lokta paper; velvet-on-chipboard Echo Cards in Sea Green, Avocado, Gold Leaf, and Tourmaline (pictured in white envelope) from Velvet Raptor; silver-plated Sleigh Bell ornaments (three pictured) from Wallace and sterling-silver Old Master Medallion ornaments (two pictured) from Towle; packages wrapped with decorative papers from Paper Mojo in Crepaldi Bookbinder’s Marbles Wine and Rose Swirl (bottom) and Green and Brown Peacock (top); Vintage Drum ornaments from Bethany Lowe Designs; lithograph silhouette ornaments (four pictured) from Silhouettes and More…

The Interpretation of Dreams: The Complete and Definitive Text, by Sigmund Freud (Basic Books). First published in 1899, Sigmund Freud’s groundbreaking masterwork gave birth to the field of psychoanalysis and continues to serve as a definitive reference today. Translated into English from the original German manuscript, the book considers why we dream, as well as what it means in the overall context of our waking lives. It encompasses compelling case histories and detailed analyses of actual dreams and touches on the concepts of wish fulfillment, symbolism, and regression. Vintage Jewelry Design: Classics to Collect & Wear, by Caroline Cox (Lark Crafts). This gorgeously photographed book chronicles more than a century of jewelry history and showcases hundreds of fabulous pieces created by world-renowned design houses such as Cartier, Fabergé, Tiffany, and…

festive spiced-tea blend Invite friends to relax and savor the season over a flavorful cup of tea. Designed to rejuvenate, soothe, and restore, this Christmas concoction, above, features a potent blend of black tea, the calming attributes of chamomile and calendula, and the spicy zing of cranberries, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. classic pullman loaf For a thoughtful home-baked gift, cradle a fresh-fromthe- oven Pullman Loaf (tender and buttery sandwich bread), right, in a woven basket lined with a crisp, decorative tea towel. Finish your personal presentation with a wide satin ribbon, a handwritten gift card, and a jar of honey or preserves. orange-infused truffle bar A supreme indulgence for chocolate lovers, this velvety truffle bar, top and above, combines a creamy mixture of bittersweet chocolate with rich espresso, orange liqueur,…

What do you remember most about your childhood Christmases? For me, it is one unusual ornament that stands out above all else. As soon as my mother made turkey sandwiches to dispense with the Thanksgiving leftovers, she mixed up batches of anise-flavored cookie dough, whose pungent scent wafted throughout our house for days. In no time, dozens of stars, bells, reindeer, angels, trees, and Santas were baked to a golden brown and stacked between layers of waxed paper in our bluespeckled roaster, just waiting to be adorned. On a Saturday morning in December, Mom cleared the kitchen counter and table, whipped up big bowls of vanilla frosting, and set out dishes of red and green sugar. My sister and I donned aprons and went to work. As we iced, decorated,…