Indholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2018 i Victoria

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Poet and literary nonfiction writer Rebecca McClanahan is author, most recently, of The Tribal Knot: A Memoir of Family, Community, and a Century of Change, a book that draws upon more than one hundred years of letters and documents to weave the multigenerational tapestry of her family history. Recipient of the Pushcart Prize, among other awards and fellowships, Rebecca is also an educator—teaching in her hometown at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina; in the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington; and serving as faculty for the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Her books on writing include Write Your Heart Out: Exploring & Expressing What Matters to You and Word Painting: The Fine Art of Writing Descriptively, currently in its sixth printing. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Valerie Greeley’s…

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“We think the luxury customer cherishes his or her home and wants to make that home experience unique and special.” SHELLEY CALLAGHAN AND SUSANNE PRUITT ANTICA FARMACISTA Seattle, Washington Seattle-based entrepreneurs Shelley Callaghan and Susanne Pruitt defy the old adage Never go into business with friends. The women met in 1991 while windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, and they formed an instant bond that has remained a constant font of joy and support. Shelley, a California native, comes from an art and marketing background, while Atlanta-born Susanne spent years in the financial investment arena—an exciting but stressful field. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, she and Shelley decided it was time to follow their hearts. “This was the wake-up call for me to live…

“I WANT TO MAKE EVERYTHING AROUND US BEAUTIFUL; MAKE SMALL THINGS MEAN A LITTLE MORE.”—Charlotte Eriksson SEE MORE ON THE WEB at victoriamag.com…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite January/February features: The Fragrant Laundry Our easy-to-make aromatic spray, a delightful laundry booster, scented starch, and a natural alternative to dryer sheets add freshness to fabrics. A Web-Exclusive Recipe Experience the delicious indulgence of chocolate-covered Cherry Éclairs. Sprinkles of gold leaf complete this confection, developed by our chocolatier. The Art of Paper Stephanie Monahan shows Victoria readers how to make beautifully embellished pieces perfect for gifting, or for adorning home and office. Reviving History Go behind the scenes of Reborn Relics Home as owner Debi Davis offers an exclusive look at her process of restoring architectural fragments. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about something you’d like to see in the magazine? If so, email us at victoriamagazine@hoffmanmedia.com.…

“I HAVE GAZED SO MUCH ON BEAUTY THAT MY EYES OVERFLOW WITH IT.” —Constantine P. Cavafy When the young Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria married Napoleon Bonaparte of France, the shy teenager quickly endeared herself to the citizens of her adopted land, improving her husband’s tenuous relationship with his people during a tumultuous time in the country’s history. Although Napoleon’s eventual abdication and exile led to the dissolution of the marriage, she retained her imperial rank and was made ruler of several duchies, including Parma, Italy, where she took up residence in 1816. She remained its devoted duchess until her death in 1847. In the early twentieth century, Italian professor, author, and art historian Glauco Lombardi began collecting eighteenth- and nineteenth-century historical documents, works of art, and other memorabilia, especially…

“A CHILLED AND MOISTURE-LADEN CROP OF PINK CAMELLIAS LINES THE PATH; AND WHAT RARE ROSES FOR A BANQUET OR A BRIDE … .” —Karl Shapiro…

As winter settles over the Midwest, waning sunlight gives way to a canopy of stars that seems to stretch to infinity. Though the days are short during this season, nighttime lingers, clear and bright against a snowy landscape. The peaceful rural setting offers a fitting backdrop for the sentiment stirring within the Missouri studio of artist and entrepreneur Stephanie Monahan. If the walls of this carriage house could talk, they would likely convey appreciation for the spirit of preservation that characterizes all of Stephanie’s endeavors—from repurposing the structure’s original wood to construct a cozy atelier to building a business that gives new life to cherished memorabilia. Under the umbrella of Samplers Country, her wholesale company Monahan Papers produces a wide array of merchandise that bears the indelible imprint of…

“FOOD, LIKE A LOVING TOUCH OR A GLIMPSE OF DIVINE POWER, HAS THAT ABILITY TO COMFORT.” —Norman Kolpas…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14 : To learn more about Valerie Greeley, visit her website, valeriegreeley.com, and her shop at etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16 : Rebecca McClanahan, a poet, essayist, and memoirist, is the author of ten books. To sample more of Rebecca’s work, please visit her website, rebeccamcclanahanwriter.com. THE DRESSING TABLE Pages 17–22 : Special thanks to The Oaks at Centreville, 430 Walnut Street, Centreville, AL, 205-225-0044, theoaksatcentreville.com. Pages 17–18 : DownTown Company: Chateau Silk Collection in Natasha/Natural: Silk Throw, call for availability, Sham and Pillow, call for availability; 800-776-3696, downtowncompany.com. Coastal Glamour: Vintage Fan Reproduction Card, contact for availability; etsy.com/shop/CoastalGlamour. Pom Pom at Home: Eva Throw in Winter White, $175, Annabelle 14"x24" Sham in Cream, $80; 818-847-0150, pompomathome.com. French Garden House: Belgian Linen White Ruffled Romance Pillow Slip, $120; 714-454-3231,…

Tucked away are the bright ornaments and sentimental notions that mark the holidays, as winter reveals its full splendor across the land, hanging icicles from roof ’s edge and sending out frosty breezes like envoys. In this issue, Victoria readers share the ways they dress interiors for the season and beckon warmth and coziness into their surroundings. After a month of seeing the traditional red-and-green color scheme, my post-holiday décor lightens. I decorate with gentle pinks and snowy white vintage lace. The mantel—cleared of Santas, greens, and ornaments—is wiped clean and allows space for a winter display of china teapots, small pitchers, or handblown glass. Simply relocating the collections brings special attention to them. I invite friends for casual, low-key visits where we converse by the fire. We appreciate the…

“CHOCOLATE IS A PERFECT FOOD, AS WHOLESOME AS IT IS DELICIOUS, A BENEFICENT RESTORER OF EXHAUSTED POWER ....” —Baron Justus von Liebig…

“I TRY NOT TO FOLLOW TRENDS … I TRY TO CREATE THEM.” —Debi Davis After ten years as the owner of a ladies’ clothing boutique in Little Rock, Debi Davis was ready for a new adventure when a serendipitous meeting with a local designer led to a new opportunity. He offered her a job at his shop, and in her first hour there, a gentleman walked in seeking someone to redecorate his entire residence. With more enthusiasm than experience, she agreed to assist and quickly immersed herself in the world of interiors. Twenty-seven years later, this Mississippi native is firmly established in the business with Debi Davis Interiors and her latest venture, Reborn Relics Home, where erstwhile architectural fragments are given new life. She continually searches antiques markets, favoring…

Though Gerrie Bremermann’s distinguished career as a designer took a more circuitous route than most, there is no doubt this doyenne of decorating is exactly where she was meant to be. Born in New Orleans and brought up in Palm Beach, she returned to her beloved Crescent City to raise three daughters and immerse herself in philanthropic work, where she became known for her decorating abilities. By the time she was asked to take on a room in the city’s first Junior League show house, it was clear that this now empty nester had found a new occupation. Gerrie’s enduring métier has spanned more than four decades. Her affinity for an elegant white-and-light palette, paired with fine antiques and gilded accents, draws devoted clientele who appreciate the calming color scheme…

“It’s like we are kids again, just starting out, which, in our hearts, is exactly what we are. ” Many years after our first date, I married my junior high boyfriend and moved back to the state where we grew up. Throughout the two years of our long-distance courtship, Phil and I talked endlessly about where we would live and what life together might look like. We had both been alone for almost a decade, so we naturally had some concerns about living with another person again. We decided to remodel his home in a centrally located, well-cared-for neighborhood. To that end, I sold my house and put my belongings in storage. Because his mid-century modern furniture wouldn’t mesh with my more traditional décor, he sold most of his pieces…