Indholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2008 i Victoria

Blue and white…the mention of it brings visions of china teacups, dinner plates with wonderful scenes, chintz fabric, silk ball gowns, and calico quilts. I bought my first blue calico dishes when I was in high school. I found the set in an antiques store—I was totally enamored for life. And my collection continues to grow. This color scheme is a loving family affair. The priceless piece in my collection is my grandmother’s Blue Willow oval vegetable bowl. She loved and used it every day. Today it takes center stage in my kitchen, where I admire its scratches from years of use in serving family favorites. How thrilled I was when my future daughter-in-law, Katie, announced blue and white as the color theme of her wedding. The story of that…

L ate spring and early summer promise a whirlwind of artistic activity. For quiet contemplation, two Impressionist shows present American and European artists. For lovers of porcelain, there are two key exhibitions on Meissen and the Qing Dynasty. Music aficionados will warm to Wolf Trap’s season. And to bring out the writer within, Creativity Workshop hosts a series of sessions. CREATIVITY WORKSHOP New York City June 6 –9 Do you long to push your creativity to stimulate the mind, the spirit, and the soul—to bring forth your finest works? Now there are inspiring sessions for individuals from all walks of life, such as artists, educators, businesspersons, scientists, and social scientists, as well as the curious. Creativity Workshop is launching a series of programs, beginning with a session in New York…

Embracing its rich immigrant past, the historic village of Kohler, Wisconsin, situated along the Sheboygan River, welcomes visitors from all over the world to outstanding service, world-class dining, and a host of recreational pursuits celebrating Wisconsin’s highly regarded seasonal splendors of lake, land, and forest. Little did an Austrian entrepreneur imagine that his family would transform a nineteenth-century manufacturing center into a haven for dining, exulting in nature, and shopping the quaint streets of a small village. As one of many skilled European immigrants, John Michael Kohler used the natural resources along the western shores of Lake Michigan to develop a prosperous business. Introducing the first cast-iron bathtub, he created a family business that continues to produce innovative bath products to this day. But for laying the foundation of one…

I f there’s anything as nice as sugar and spice, it’s a little girl in a pretty smocked dress. Other children’s fashions come and go, but like the daffodils of springtime, smocked dresses have been beloved perennials for generations. Innocent yet intricate, they are always a proper choice for special occasions. What little girl, dressed for a party or her first recital, hasn’t felt a glow of confidence wearing a crisply ironed dress adorned with such tiny pleatings marvelously stitched? There might even be a dash of embroidery to make the smocking fancier. Then all the little girl needs are a matching hair ribbon, shiny shoes, and a smile. “Whether simple or ornate, a smocked dress or outfit just makes a little girl feel like a princess,” says Marian Drum,…

The world has long revered blue and white. Perhaps we adore these colorways because they remind us of deep seas bathing the globe or puffy clouds floating in a summer sky. A passion for blue and white china, in particular, is common to many cultures. Chinese dynasties built their own manufactories to create it, with the Zhou dynasty (1027–771 B.C.) designing the first kilns to make porcelain. Centuries later the Western world felt the allure of this classic color combination. By the 1600s, blue and white was highly desired in Europe. “It was introduced by the East India Company, which was importing tea and using china for ballast on their ships,” says Arlene Noble of Noble Antiques in Montclair, New Jersey. “It was later produced in vast quantities in England,…

Every once in a while, a spontaneous idea becomes a dreamy reality. Such is the story of the picture-perfect Miette Confi- serie in San Francisco, California. Owners Meg Ray and Caitlin Williams already had a successful bakery, Miette Patisserie, in the historic Ferry Building Marketplace on San Francisco Bay. As Miette (French for “little crumb”) grew into its own, Meg and Caitlin started to toss around the idea of opening another shop. One evening while musing about a second store, Caitlin thought back to a recent “pastry binge” in France. “I said, ‘Let’s open a candy shop like the ones in Paris.’ The shops there are just enchanting,” she says. “But I’m always coming up with these harebrained ideas, so I didn’t really think it would come to fruition—at least…

AT ONCE CHEERY AND TRANQUIL, NAVY AND WHITE ALWAYS MAKE an elegant combination. LIKE DOWNY CLOUDS in the azure sky, BLUE AND WHITE ARE A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.…

I broke another one this morning. Now, I’m down to one. I raise it to sip hot tea from its gilt-edged porcelain mouth. Gently, I set it back in place in its saucer. I am sometimes tempted to put it up—this well-traveled survivor of family treks across England and the United States—but I can’t. I don’t remember when Mother acquired the china, nor does she. I recall I was six in 1955 when Daddy got orders for England and took us with him. We lived at Wadenhoe House, a Jacobean manor house but a castle to me. There the service for six suddenly appeared in our china cabinet one day—cups, saucers, plates, and the serving dish. I never saw Mother take the china from the cabinet; I could look but…

FRENCH WHITE PEDESTAL BASKET Though it bears the patina of age, this 13-inch basket is a lovely reproduction. The creamy antique finish mixes and matches with every color scheme, while the open-weave design makes the piece perfect for myriad uses—from a kitchen catchall to a powder-room accessory. BLUE TEA SET CANVAS PRINT & BLUE TEAPOT CANVAS PRINT Add a touch of refined elegance to any room with this collection of blue and white tea prints. Masterfully painted by Victoria illustrator Marie Barber, these 16-inch x 20-inch designs are printed on fine canvas and museum wrapped for easy framing. A Victoria magazine exclusive! BLUE AND WHITE TOILE TABLE COVER AND STRAIGHT BACK CHAIR COVER Transform any room into a summer oasis. Ordinary plastic patio furniture and common dining room chairs take…

EXPERIENCE A WEEKEND OF BLISS... You are cordially invited to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, November 7-8 for an intimate weekend of creative exchanges and endeavors with Victoria magazine’s Writer-in-Residence Alexandra Stoddard and Artistin- Residence Sharyn Sowell. An author and celebrated interior designer, Alexandra is an expert on the art of beautiful living and has recently completed her 25th book, You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life. Likewise, Sharyn continues to inspire with her soulful approach to art and beauty using only paper and scissors. Join us for this special weekend of sharing, learning, and expression. Visit www.victoriamag.com or call 888-411-8995 option 3 for complete details on the event, the hotel, and much more! Registration is only $299. Call 800-826-1895 and mention “Bliss”…

On her wedding day, a bride should be radiant. “She should look like the most gorgeous version of herself,” says makeup artist Michael Marcus. “Flushed cheeks, bold eyes, and a dewy complexion are key.” A mix of bold color and soft shades will make the bride the center of attention. MAKEUP MICHAEL MARCUS…

In a world of mass-made jewelry, a lovingly crafted cameo is a true luxury. The shelves of Amedeo Scognamiglio’s intimate Manhattan boutique are lined with elegant cameos, from timeless pearl-embellished pieces carved with flowers to fashionably funky belts. These lovely creations reflect the remarkable tradition inherited by Amedeo, an energetic, bright-eyed young Italian. He is a member of the sixth generation working in the family business, founded in 1857 in Torre del Greco, a small town on the Bay of Naples that is still the heart of the industry. A close-knit group of artisans painstakingly craft the Scognamiglio family cameos from seashells imported from Africa and the Caribbean. A client seeking a deeply personal memento submits photographs of a family member or pet, which Amedeo uses as a model to…

V intage fabrics tell a story. Pause in an antiques shop, and pick up a remnant or, better yet, an object created from fabric such as a pillow. You may not be acquainted with the former owner of the fabric, but you are holding a bit of decorating history in your hand. CHINTZ: INDIAN TEXTILES FOR THE WEST Victoria & Albert Museum in association with Harry N. Abrams, Inc. The Victoria & Albert Museum unveils for the first time its collection of chintz in a stunning volume by Rosemary Crill. This album of authentic textiles demystifies the meaning of chintz: Although in recent times, chintz has connoted any floral upholstery, it actually refers to the early, often forgotten hand-drawn and dyed fabrics from India. The word chint derives from “sprinkle”…

THE WEDDING Katie Miller had long dreamed of a wedding abounding with personal touches and sentimental details. On an idyllic May afternoon in St. Francisville, Louisiana, the warm air thick with the lemonysweet scent of magnolia blossoms, she saw her dreams come true. For her bridesmaids, Katie chose dresses in summer-perfect cornflower blue and added raspberry silk sashes. For a bit of sparkle, each sash was affixed with a different vintage crystal brooch, gifts from Katie to her bridesmaids. She also presented the girls with a hand-monogrammed jewelry pouch made from blue silk that matched the dresses. Katie and her groom, Eric Hoffman, also gave friends and family an opportunity to add their own personal touches to the celebration. At the reception, guests received a blue and white card to…

www.victoriamag.com T he bliss is back! Now you can enjoy even more from your favorite magazine with the Victoria Web site. Go online and discover a wealth of resources right at your fingertips. The elegance, the style, the femininity, the romance, the magazine that you adore—it’s back and better than ever with a sensational Web site just for you. COOKING & ENTERTAINING Celebrate the beginning of summer with fresh, tart lemon recipes you’ll find only on Victoriamag.com SHOPS WE LOVE Take a peek into the dreamy world of Miette Confiserie, a European-inspired candy shop in San Francisco TOURING Explore Kohler, Wisconsin, with its endless outdoor activities, delicious epicurean delights, and pampering spas and hotels BLUE & WHITE WEDDING Delight in the beauty of blue and white at the charmingly personal…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the color blue. I consider myself a colorist because color speaks to me louder than shape or form. While I love all the clean colors of the rainbow, blue remains my favorite—in all its fresh tints and shades, from the sky on a sunny day to the turquoise water of a beach vacation. And I have such an emotional response to blue because of its strong association with family, home, and nature. During my childhood, my mother never used blue as part of her interior decoration scheme because she felt it was a depressant—someone sad feels “blue.” Yet, growing up I wasn’t entirely deprived of blue. My handsome father had white hair and always wore blue shirts with white collars. Once…

T he radiance of summer shines most brightly in a woman’s complexion. It’s as though the very sun itself infuses her skin, making her glow from within. But occasionally even Mother Nature can use a helping hand boosting and maintaining milksoft, dewy summer skin. Warm summer sun, shine kindly here. Warm southern wind blow softly here. —MARK TWAIN…

The golden, fragrant lemon is one of nature’s best culinary gifts. The fruit’s flavor is a bright addition to any recipe, especially cakes, cookies, and pastries. The tartness of lemon takes an ordinary sugary treat and makes it sing—cream becomes less cloying, and sweetness is perfectly balanced. Lemon-infused sweets are delicious anytime of year, but in the warmth of the first summer months, the tangy citrus flavor is welcome and refreshing.…

I mages of brides and grooms have graced cakes for several centuries, first gaining popularity in the Victorian period. This charming detail—indeed a miniature gesture of love— became a wedding staple in the twentieth century. Romance fueled sales when companies such as Sears, Roebuck and Company began selling them, says collector Judy Parsons. “Cake toppers are very romantic, and usually there is a good memory attached to them,” says Judy Parsons. She uses her lovingly assembled collection of vintage ornaments— evocative souvenirs of a blissful day— to add a pretty touch to table settings at the bridal showers she hosts. Judy began sourcing her collection more than a decade ago from thrift shops and antiques stores and now finds special ornaments on eBay. “The fun is in the search. I…

For the young French couple, it was love at first sight at the tender age of fifteen. Both shared a creative spirit that found expression from the beginning. They celebrated their wedding in an apple orchard, with vintage ribbons laced from tree to tree. Antique lanterns lined the tables. Amid the fresh pink and white apple blossoms bloomed eternal devotion and a sensitivity to beauty that translate to their antiques shop in the south of France. La Boutique de l’Antiquaire, “The Boutique of the Antique Dealer,” is located in the village of Lourmarin. The small town has a medieval castle, is surrounded by lavender fields, and is noted as one of the most charming villages in France. It is only fitting that Nathalie and Jean-Bernard’s shop should be found there.…

AA lighter-than-air glassine envelope reveals a silk-covered, handmade card carefully tied with satin ribbon and adorned with silk appliqué. On the card, glossy calligraphy announces the event, and at first glance, you know it will be an extraordinary celebration. First impressions are paramount, even when hosting a party. Long before the wine is uncorked and guests arrive, the invitation sets the tone for an event. Andrea Liss, owner of design company Hannah Handmade, understands the importance of making a dazzling statement. “Basic just isn’t enough when it comes to announcing a special occasion,” she says. Cards with embossed gold filigrees, dupioni silk boxes, bejeweled satin ribbons, and stunning silk flowers are the hallmarks of a Hannah Handmade invitation. Andrea’s story is a meandering one—she stumbled upon her bliss on the…

In the bustling months of May and June, mothers are honored, and graduates move on to new challenges. And brides. There will always be brides in June. Take the moment and milestones in hand with an elegant porchside luncheon to honor one or all. For such an occasion, the menu is key, and an ingenious approach is needed. A classic English-style afternoon tea menu typically includes an optional soup starter followed by a quartet of savories and sweets, with a course of scones, Devon or clotted cream, and fruit curd or preserves served between the two. For an al fresco tea served during the lunch hour, the menu should follow the form and style of a classic tea—with a few caveats. As with a tea menu, balance aesthetics with palatability;…