Indholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2017 i Victoria

As I mark the December days on an Advent calendar, I like to take time to reflect on the inspiring stories we have collected for you, dear readers, over the past ten years. We have presented interesting women entrepreneurs, folks who channel their creativity into handmade works of art, and a collection of charming shops we felt suited our readers’ preferences. We have been invited into countless homes where the décor harmonizes with the looks we love, and we have traveled coast-to-coast and internationally to find out-of-the-way villages and attractions that would appeal to you as vacation destinations. The list, of course, is much longer, and I hope you will take a moment, now and then, to enjoy again the last decade of treasured Victoria volumes. Now, on to Christmas!…

“Most people have at least one memory of a present—given or received—that continues to glow in the mind, like a good story. ” I did not write it down, but even now, twenty years after my friend Suzanna told me the story, the details remain clear. She was eight years old. Her parents were too poor to buy her any Christmas presents that year. But every night in December, her father would disappear down into the basement after supper with strict instructions that no one was to bother him. On Christmas morning, the reason was made clear. There, beneath the tree, with her name painted on the steering bar, was the most beautiful sled she had ever seen. It had carved handles; sharp, shiny runners; and every slat had been…

The bright colors and charming patterns synonymous with tableware and home décor company Vietri began with a dream. In May 1983, sisters Susan and Frances happily accompanied their mother, Lee Gravely, on a much-anticipated journey. Less than a decade prior to their excursion, Lee had clipped an article about the luxurious San Pietro Hotel in Positano, located along Italy’s breathtaking Amalfi Coast. Envisioning a trip to the magical destination and careful planning eventually saw the three dining at the hotel. Captivated by the restaurant’s colorful dinnerware, they set off for the nearby town of Vietri sul Mare to meet the artisans. An immediate friendship developed among the three Southern women and the Italian craftspersons whose work they had admired. The Gravelys returned home with a hodgepodge of handmade pieces…

“CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND IS ESSENTIALLY ABOUT BEING AROUND FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SHARING IN ALL THAT IS GOOD.” —Sarah Wilton-Basi  frosty winter winds sweep across the British lowlands, residents from Birmingham to Bromsgrove wrap their scarves a little tighter as they dart in and out of local shops, carrying daunting to-do lists. But in the village of Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield, Sarah Wilton-Basi is happily putting the finishing touches on her holiday décor, warmed by a blazing fire and her enthusiasm for the task at hand. Sarah and her husband, Param, moved into their circa-1660 semi-detached cottage in 2009 after a six-month renovation restored many of the home’s original features. The structure, which formerly served as the local schoolhouse, was christened Little Latches because of the number…

“TO FIRESIDE HAPPINESS, TO HOURS OF EASE BLEST WITH THAT CHARM, THE CERTAINTY TO PLEASE.” —Samuel Rogers “THERE IS NO PLACE MORE DELIGHTFUL THAN ONE’S OWN FIRESIDE.” —Cicero…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14 : For more information about author and teacher Phyllis Theroux, visit her website, nightwriters.com. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16 : To learn more about Carolyne Roehm, visit her website, carolyneroehm.com. MERRY & BRIGHT Page 17 : D. Stevens, LLC: Velvet Gold Cross with Red Jewel Ribbon, call for pricing; 623-582-9915, dstevensllc.com for retailers. Midwest-CBK, LLC: Pattern Ball Ornament 137521, $5.50, Vintage Pattern Ball Ornament 137526, $25, Green Vintage Ball Ornament 137528, $19, Pattern Ball Ornament 126121, $17, Teal Faceted Onion Ornament 142235, $9.50; 800-394-4225 for retailers, mwcbk.com. Page 18 : The Joy of Light: Cheers on Ivory Gold Foiled Embossed 4" Matchbox, $6–$8, The Carla Gold Foil & White Stripe 9" Square Box Matches, $10–$15; 860-267-4611, jd@thejoyoflight.com for retailers, thejoyoflight.com. Thymes: Goldleaf Candle, $30; 800-366-4071, thymes.com or available at…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite November/December features: Celebrating Ten Years of Bliss Victoria honors a decade of beauty and romance with an enchanting anniversary fête, as we look ahead to many more years of continued success. Honoring a Legacy Since 1707, Fortnum & Mason, leading supplier of culinary provisions and fine accoutrements, has served Londoners in elegance and style. From Italy, With Love When the Gravelys met artisans and designers of authentic tableware on the Amalfi Coast, it signaled the beginning of something wonderful. How to Make a Holiday Create a season of magic and memories with our guide to crafting a selection of the lovely handmade adornments featured in this issue. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about something you’d like to…

A quintessential emblem of Christmas, holly has long been referenced in music, artwork, and religious symbolism. Distinguished by lustrous, spiny leaves and ornamental berries, the plant is also a favorite wintertime decoration. Although many cultivars grow in temperate and subtropical climates, the species most closely associated with the holidays is Ilex aquifolium, more commonly known as English holly. Other popular choices include the similarly shaped American holly, with its matte foliage, and winterberry, a deciduous variety with slender leaves and clusters of scarlet berries. Cut holly holds its color well, adding long-lasting beauty to wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces. Stems kept in water and displayed in sunlight can thrive for weeks, while loose clippings fare better in cooler, shaded areas. The berries should be placed with care, as they can…

The simple, powder-blue awning above the door of 90 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré heralds the shop’s breathtaking interior, spectacular even by the standards of an upscale neighborhood filled with the glamorous emporia of renowned fashion houses. Appropriately situated just a two-minute walk from Le Grand Musée du Parfum, Caron’s second of three Parisian addresses is especially festive during the holiday season. Ernest Daltroff established The House of Caron in 1904, and though he had no formal training as a perfumer, he inherited a love of fragrance from his mother. He also possessed a discriminating sense of smell, commonly known in the business as having a “nose.” Two years after the company’s creation, former dressmaker Félicie Wanpouille joined the staff, contributing her creative talents to eye-catching bottle designs—and winning Ernest’s heart…

 s a child, two things marked the beginning of Christmas to me. First was the arrival of my Aunt Margaret, who would travel by train from New York City a day or two before Christmas. My father, typically joined by my older sister, Judy, and me, would make the forty-mile drive from our small town in Connecticut to pick her up. “ At least once each December I take a few precious moments to sit alone in our darkened living room, illumined only by the lights of our Christmas tree ... ” The second event was the decorating of the tree. It was the custom in our family to do this on Christmas Eve, and as soon as my sister and I grew beyond toddler-hood, we were allowed to participate:…

When I was a little girl, we lived in a house on top of a hill. My dad, a big, strong ironworker, would lift me up in his arms. Together, we would look through the kitchen windows at the sparkling lights below. To me, it was pure magic. The twinkling lights looked like hundreds of tiny red and green Christmas lights, when, in truth, they were just traffic lights changing on the roads. On the hill across the valley, the old VA hospital stood like a huge landmark, a symbol of another age. It was like an ancient castle. I will never forget the feelings of love and security, being held by my father, and the little stories he would tell to inspire my imagination. The magic was oh, so…

“WE CAN LIVE CLOSER TO OUR DREAMS IF WE ARE WILLING TO DREAM THEM.” —Alexandra Stoddard Like fragrant petals sprinkling the path, warm recollections add beauty to a walk down memory lane. A palette of blush, gold, and ivory establishes a welcoming ambience for this opportunity to reflect on the enchanting destinations and inspiring women shared in Victoria over the past ten years. A classic tiered cake enveloped in swirls of creamy frosting honors the milestone, while flutes of rosé Champagne raise a toast to continued success. Opposite: A customized Sasha Nicholas salad plate—a limited-edition version of her monogrammed European porcelain—perfectly complements a watercolor card designed for the occasion by Empress Stationery. SEE MORE ON THE WEB at victoriamag.com…

“THE LIGHTS OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE ROSE HIGHER AND HIGHER, SHE SAW THEM NOW AS STARS IN HEAVEN.” —Hans Christian Andersen…

Marjorie Merriweather Post was an avid aficionado of some of the most exquisite pieces of jewelry from around the world. Her father, Charles William Post, was founder of the Postum Cereal Company, known today as General Foods. Following his death, Marjorie became one of the wealthiest women in America, marking the beginning of the renowned Merriweather Post Collection. Marjorie upheld fine jewelry with the status of priceless works of art. Well versed in the quality of gems, she obtained a brilliant Siberian amethyst brooch while living in Russia with then husband and ambassador Joseph E. Davies. One of the most magnificent diamonds she owned and later donated to the Smithsonian was the rare 30.62-carat Blue Heart Diamond, discovered in 1908 in South Africa. Marjorie had a passion for acquiring historic…