Innehållsförteckning för Holiday Bliss 2015 från Victoria

Don’t Forget For even more inspiration for gracious living, visit our website, victoriamag.com. You’ll find photos, tips, and how-tos on our social media sites, so follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. P.S. Make sure to visit my blog, theribboninmyjournal.com. It seems we anticipate the coming of Christmas all year, so it is not surprising that we devote much energy to preparing for this festive period, when family and friends gather. Whether a snowfall blankets the ground or balmy temperatures prevail, our home’s interior is lovingly adorned with a cherished collection of ornaments, garland, tinsel, and ribbon to create a wonderland backdrop for our time together. Here at Victoria, we have compiled a treasury of great ideas to inspire you as this celebratory season approaches. If you want to…

While retracing the steps of her formative years, Heidi Brooks describes the time she and her grandmother—a well-respected antiquarian in Ellsworth, Maine—delivered an extraordinary handcrafted desk to the home of Theodore Roosevelt III, a grandson of Teddy Roosevelt. “It was a fascinating house that was chiseled into the rocks on Mount Desert Island,” she recalls. “I will never forget that experience. Exposure is everything. I was always studying where furniture was placed, how things were arranged on tabletops, where paintings were hung.” Destined at a young age to become, like her grandmother, a devotee of antiques, as well as an interior designer like her mother and great-grandfather, Heidi remains deeply rooted in a family legacy of fine furnishings, enduring elegance, and impeccable taste. She honed her skills at the Fashion…

“True silence is the rest of The mind, and is to The spirit what sleep is to The body, nourishment and refreshment.” —WILLIAM PENN At Christmastime, opportunities for fellowship are everywhere. Stores and streets are filled with busy shoppers; friends and family come to visit; and it seems as though not an evening goes by without a get-together. But as wonderful and fulfilling as this season of camaraderie can be, there is something about a day of solitude that can nourish the spirit and renew the mind. When such a day presents itself—one with no prior commitments, no one to tend to, and no set agenda—it is a thing of sheer bliss. The hours ahead have so much potential—what will fill these precious solo moments? When the front door closes…

For the young ladies of a bygone era who aspired to pursue lives of knowledge and prosperity, Science Hill was nothing short of a dream. An exceptionally rare institution of learning, this Shelbyville, Kentucky, school opened its doors in 1825 and eventually became one of the preeminent girls’ preparatory academies in America. The ambition of a vibrant young educator who had recently come to the area with her pastor husband, Science Hill School was initiated by Julia Ann Hieronymus Tevis. She strove to take her female students beyond the traditional ladies’ curriculum of reading, writing, and the social graces and encouraged them to explore an education in the sciences— an area of study unheard of for women of the time. After 114 years of successful operation, the prestigious school graduated…

THE Recipes Cran-Apple-Ginger Cocktail p.89 Makes 1 drink Ice cubes 3 ounces cran-apple juice 1½ ounces vodka 1 ounce Ginger Simple Syrup (recipe follows) 3 ounces club soda Garnish: fresh sugared cranberries In a cocktail shaker, place ice cubes, juice, vodka, and Ginger Simple Syrup; shake to combine. Strain into a glass. Add club soda, and garnish with sugared cranberries, if desired. Serve immediately. Ginger Simple Syrup Makes 1¾ cups 1¾ cups water 1¾ cups sugar 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger In a medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a simmer over mediumhigh heat. Remove from heat, and add ginger. Let cool completely. Strain. Store, covered, in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Mascarpone-Mousse Tart with Cranberry-Orange Chutney p.90 Makes 2 (14x4½x1-inch) tarts 1½ cups heavy whipping cream ¼…

“God gave us our memories so That we might have roses in December.” —J.M. BARRIE…

As the holidays draw near and the spirit of the season brings loved ones together, slip into a state of beauty and reverie surrounded by the soft glow of candles and the comfort of serene surroundings. This time of year presents the perfect opportunity to add an abundance of elegance to your décor with the finest china and linens from your treasured collections. Antique china etched in an exquisite gold pattern is showcased atop a table cloaked in snowy white linens and accented by graceful candelabras and a profusion of ivy. Snippets of greenery, holly, and timeless roses tucked inside sterling goblets enhance each place setting, inviting guests to relax and delight in the moment. Gilded crystal and the rich patina of silver cast their spell, while ornate touches and…