Innehållsförteckning för January - February 2008 från Victoria

The bliss is back! Now you can enjoy even more from your favorite magazine with the new Victoria website. 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 website just for you. FAVORITE THINGS Winter white luxuries—pleasures for yourself and gifts to give HOME DÉCOR Found items transform a French home YOUR GARDEN Forced bulbs bring color and fragrance indoors CALENDAR Events, occasions, and celebrations RECIPES Web exclusive: decadent chocolate delights…

“CHOOSE YOUR LOVE” LETTERPRESS PRINT BY SHARYN SOWELL Artist-in-Residence Sharyn Sowell has created, signed, and numbered this exclusive matted piece. (8 x 10 inches, including mat) SS01LP $45 QUEEN BEE CALLING CARD CASE EXCLUSIVELY FOR VICTORIAFAIR BY ALDA’S Our silver card case is engraved with a vintage French bee design. (4 x 31/4 x 1/4 inches Victoriafair 1900 International Park Drive, Ste 50, Birmingham, AL 35243 To order call 800-253-7627 or visit online at www.victoriamag.com to see more items. Shipping and handling rates are as follows: 1 item, $5.95; 2-3 items, $7.95; 4-5 items, $9.95; 6-8 items, $10.95; 9 or more items, $12.95.…

I vividly remember my publisher giving me a five-book contract in the late 1980s. Friends inquired whether it made me nervous. Absolutely not. I love to write, and I love being published. My husband, Peter, was a trial lawyer and federal prosecutor of organized crime at the time, and other than letters to friends and family, his writing focused primarily on legal briefs that he faithfully bound in blue cloth with gold lettering. But a retreat to Bermuda inspired Peter to become a professional writer as well. To escape, for a time, my domestic responsibilities and interior design clients, I established a concept with Peter we called Writer’s Workshop. We would go to our favorite vacation island, Bermuda, to spend long weekends writing under my steady deadlines. There were no…

“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe…

Through the cookbook, Willan explores life in and around a French kitchen, with chapters detailing the delights of basic country cooking and authentic photographs revealing daily vignettes such as market shopping and local produce. Her masterful soups in themselves are a substantial offering, and further fortifying them with cognac or wine adds richness and depth of flavor. But just as importantly, the recipes form the beginning to many a meal, as well as the starting point of individual dishes. For instance, a homemade chicken stock is not only the basis for a simple vegetable stew, but also the essence of many French sauces. As they simmer on the stovetop, with aromas wafting, the soups pictured here warm the body as well as the soul. Potage Picard au Pois (Split Pea…

“I love to create things that combine the old and the new. Sometimes I cut up dog-eared books or sheet music, and my favorite scissors are the ones from my mother she bought at Woolworth’s when I was a little girl.” Sharyn Sowell While a sparrow sings sweetly outside her rose-covered cottage, Sharyn Sowell’s silver scissors slip in at the chorus. Snip, snip, snippety-snip, she starts to shape and sculpt one of her signature silhouettes. “Real life is the best fairytale,” she says as she cradles the plain-paper Victorian valentine in her hand. “When you stop to look at your own life, it’s better than the best story ever written.” For Sharyn, the story is all about the little things—the everyday miracles that make daydreams come true. It’s the bumblebee…

But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage? —Marquise de Sévigné, in a circa 1677 letter to her daughter SMALL-BATCH ARTISANS If homemade Chocolate Almond Truffles, opposite, aren’t an option, let a smallbatch confectioner, such as Los Angeles-based Valerie Confections, take on the creating and the delivery for you. Handmade with care, her heart-shaped chocolates, above and right, send a message of love. A seasonal box of Valentine’s Hearts contains bittersweet ganache hearts, hand-painted in 24-karat gold, foil-wrapped bittersweet hearts filled with crunchy almond toffee bits, and hazelnut-infused chocolate hearts enrobed in dark chocolate. Oh, divine chocolate! They grind thee kneeling, Beat thee with hands praying, And drink thee with eyes to heaven. — Marco Antonio Orellana CHOCOLATE SOURCES…

I didn’t plan to be a calligrapher. In fact, many experiences preceded this career, but they fed my sensibility and sense of observation. I was born on Guam and spent my childhood in Hawaii. I grew up gazing at the majestic Koolau mountain range from my backyard. I remember discovering the beauty of tide pools and making crayon rubbings of ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. I was hands-on from an early age. In college, I was a fine arts major. While learning to make ceramic decals one semester, I fell in love with typography. The art of arranging image and type made sense and appealed to me, and I wanted to incorporate this into my ceramic work. The graphic design program had just switched from paste-up, which I loved, to doing layouts…

In my time, a cameo set in pearls was thought sufficient. But it’s the hand that sets off the ring, isn’t it, my dear Mr. Archer? —Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Every piece of jewelry reveals something about the woman wearing it. Perhaps it is a secret she is hiding in a heart-shaped locket or a sense of longing reflected in a delicately filigreed brooch. A woman’s jewelry is deeply rooted in the intimate, and her choices are clues that communicate in a language like no other. The designers at Van Atkins Jewelers in New Albany, Mississippi, are masterful interpreters of fine jewelry and its many facets, personalizing vintage, antique, and estate pieces with touches great and small. “Perhaps you have a beautiful piece in hand, but you want…

It is a typical January day in New Hampshire, with snowflakes pirouetting from the sky like ballerinas, adding to mounting drifts, some of them head high. Soon, a blaze of sunshine cuts through the gloom, and a sky so blue it is almost purple brightens our mood and sets the stage for a memorable day outside. Northern New England winters are often harsh, with subzero temperatures and unending snow, but the season has more than its share of wonderment. Special moments seem more frequent in winter, long after the hordes of leaf peepers have departed and before wildflowers color the woods surrounding our little red Cape Cod house, now in a landscape of winter white. New England has proponents of its various seasons, especially the Technicolor fall. In warm summer,…

A new season is upon us, fresh with pure snow and glittering icicles. In this issue of Victoria, we celebrate the elegance and calm of winter white, from fashion to lovely objects for your home. Diminutive luxuries—diamonds, pearls, and silver—enrich this lovely palette. Victoria introduces two brilliant contributors for 2008: my dear friend Alexandra Stoddard, writer-in-residence (above left), and Sharyn Sowell, artist-in-residence. Both live artfully and blissfully. Their work will appear regularly on these pages. Recently Alexandra has explored the meaning of happiness. In this issue, she shares the unique joy of living and working alongside her husband, Peter Brown. Sharyn’s prowess with tiny scissors and paper will astonish you as she creates a myriad of enchanting images. You’ll read her fairytale story with pleasure. Your countless calls, emails, letters,…

Luxuries We Love Climb, then, into this paradise, this epicurism of pleasure, this pretty world of peace. —Rose Macaulay Simple ceramic serveware gets an unpredictable touch with tiny bird finials, leaf-shaped handles, and other nontraditional details. The soup tureen, condiment pot, and sugar bowl from Vagabond Vintage are all slightly different because of a light gray finish that duplicates the look of antique French drip glaze. Luxuries We Love W inter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. —Edith Sitwell…

Antique silver cases offer a dainty substitute for a classic wallet and are the perfect size to hold pocketbook necessities—credit cards, driver license, and a bit of cash. These meticulously decorated cases are traditionally cherished as collectibles, but they are too lovely to be relegated to a storage box. Why not turn an antique case into a stylish yet practical accessory? In the 1920s, there were few things so fashionable and glamorous as a sterling cigarette case. Next to elbowlength gloves or an incredibly long strand of pearls, a beautiful silver case was a sure sign of an alluring woman. Cases differed slightly from one piece to the next—some were flat and square, others were oblong and rounded to fit the gentle curve of a lady’s hand. Several were made…

LANVIN Rizzoli Clever Jeanne Lanvin was one of the first fashion designers to embrace the feminine form with a type of woman’s dress that liberated her from crushing stays and prim bodices. Characterized by a dropped waist, soft neckline, and a lush, full skirt, the ingenious silhouette was wholly feminine and so universal it appealed to—and flattered—women of every age and of every body style. In a 1923 issue, Vogue magazine claimed, “The dress of the Winterhalter portraits charms us once more, and the crowning success of Lanvin is to have succeeded in creating a dress of this sort for the middle-aged women.” It was to become the couturier’s signature silhouette and shape her creative legacy, which is that of a sometimes enigmatic but always elegant woman. The house of…

Flowers are the most traditional embodiment of Valentine’s Day. Creative displays, such as roses and a showering of silky petals on a small white pedestal or a fanciful garland on satin ribbon, are inspired ways to showcase beautiful blooms. Gifts from the heart bring joy both in the giving and the receiving, echoing the sentiment expressed by Rainer Maria Rilke: “This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love; the more they give, the more they possess.” “May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.” —L.O. Baird Un expected elements are often the most enchanting, such as sweet pink flowers arranged individually or in small groupings in lieu of a larger bouquet.…

Monograms are at once infinitely simple and complex. When we take a closer look at monograms, despite their myriad styles and letter combinations, time slows down and almost stops. The letters that compose our monograms in the early twenty-first century are rooted in the early Phoenician letterforms dating to 1500 B.C. For centuries when the capability to write was confined to an elite, educated few, artists marked their works with a monogram that served as a signature. Prosperous families of the Middle Ages used monograms to identify everything from their houses to their possessions. When worked on linen, a much more malleable medium than wood, metal, or stone, the monogram quickly evolved into an art form of staggering beauty. Those of us today who are without a drop of noble…

INSTEAD OF THE PREDICTABLE COCKTAILS AT SUNSET OR AN ELABORATE LATE-NIGHT DINNER, RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH AN INTIMATE MEAL IN THE COMPANY OF CLOSE FRIENDS—A FANCIFUL MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST “Another fresh new year is here… another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear; to love and laugh and give!” —William Arthur Ward The warmth and camaraderie that come with sharing a meal is a delightful way to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. Gathered on New Year’s Eve, friends love to recount memories of years past and hopes for years to come, and a convivial ambience makes it all the more meaningful. Every detail is important when staging an elegant breakfast. Style is key—adorn the table with your finest china and crystal,…

COVER Calligraphy Set 51, $105 (approximate price), www.florentineshop.com. MASTHEAD Page 12: Fabric, Agios by Scalamandre, available to the trade, sku: 26761, www.scalamandre.com. DEAR FRIENDS Page 14: Photograph of Alexandra Stoddard by Gayle Brooker. Photograph of Sharyn Sowell by Kate Sears for Sublime Management. THE JOY OF TWO WRITERS WRITING TOGETHER Page 22: Photograph of Alexandra Stoddard by Gayle Brooker. Happiness for Two, $19.95, www.harpercollins.com. FAVORITE THINGS Page 24: Rosanna Inc. compote vase, $26.25, trophy vase, $18.75, and globe vase, $18.75, www.rosannainc.com. (Limited quantities available.) Page 25: Knitters Circle scarf, $88, and Sand & Snow newsboy cap, $48, www.anthropologie.com, 800-309-2500. (On sale through January.) Two’s Company crystal and pearl boxes, $35, 800-896- 7266 for stores. Sterling Industries candlesticks, available to the trade, www.mysterlinghome.com. Two’s Company lidded jars, $145 (set of four),…

FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW Park Avenue Armory January 18–27, 2008 The most prestigious antiques event—The Annual Winter Antiques Show in New York City—marks its fifty-fourth year, featuring the best of stunning objects from antiquities to Art Deco. Seventy-five exhibitors will display a wide variety of antiques, including Colonial American silver; Native American art; Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts; Impressionist paintings; Chinese porcelain; Russian works of art; jewelry; arms and armor; carpets; Scandinavian, Italian, and English furniture; and ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. A vetting committee of more than 150 experts authenticates each object in the show. For more information or to order tickets, call 718-292-7392 or visit www.winterantiquesshow.com. CELEBRATING AN ICON The Fairmont Empress Hotel January 20, 2008 Rising regally on the banks of the spectacular Inner Harbor in…

Just as the rosy glow of sunrise illuminates the frosty white landscape each morning, this winter’s makeup collections of bronzed pinks and rosy reds gently brighten a delicate winter’s complexion. Lips are confi- dently colored with deep shades of red, depending on your skin tone.These color choices can range from a pink-toned red to a brown-hued brick red. Michael Marcus, CEO of Michael Marcus Cosmetics, emphasizes, “Eyes are played up with more color than ever on the lid. Using a palette of bronze and pink, apply bronze all over the lid, and use lighter tones to highlight below the brow and the inside corner of the eye.” Subtle sparkle warms up any eye color: Layer the five colors in Dior’s Amber Treasure 5-Color Eyeshadow palette, ranging from the palest of…

As night falls and eyelids grow heavy, send children off to dreamland in warm, cozy pajamas perfect for cuddling. Soft cotton and fuzzy flannel are irresistible, especially on cold winter nights. When little ones are dressed head to toe in comfy nightclothes, and snuggled with a favorite teddy bear under a sea of sheets and blankets, drifting off to sleep is an effortless pleasure. There’s no better lullaby than being swathed in downy soft pajamas before being tucked in for the night. “Come, cuddle your head on my shoulder, dear, your head like the golden-rod, and we will go sailing away from here to the beautiful land of Nod.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox…

“The sense of love” is among the prized possessions in Corey Amaro’s home along with“an angel that my grandmother brought with her when she left the Azores and came to America alone when she was fourteen.” American expatriate Corey Amaro’s life story thus far has been an offbeat sort of fairytale— American girl falls in love with French boy, moves to France, and lands on foreign soil with only two suitcases from home. French boy becomes French Husband, and twenty years later, the intercontinental couple and their two beautiful children continue to live happily ever after. Of course, as fairytales are wont to be, that’s a bit of gloss-over. French Husband (which Corey actually calls him) is Yann, and French Children are daughter Chelsea and son Sacha, both teenagers. French…

Today as a jewelry designer, Tracy has visions of diamonds all day, every day. Her specialty? Finding new life and purpose in precious pieces of old and creating tomorrow’s memories from yesterday’s jewels. “When I was nine, my grandmother handed me a tiny box that was beautifully wrapped with a perfect bow. I unwrapped that gift as if I had never unwrapped a gift before in my life. Inside was an emerald ring in 14-karat yellow gold with two small diamonds on either side of the center stone,” Tracy recalls. “When I opened it, I just sat and cried, because I’d never seen anything so beautiful, and I knew my grandmother had saved to buy it for me. I was an insecure little kid, and that ring made me feel…

Begins on page 40 Soupe au Pistou Provençal Vegetable Soup with Basil Serves 8 to 10 1/3 cup/60 g dried white kidney beans, preferably cannellini 11/2 cups/375 ml pistou (recipe follows) 1 leek, white and green parts, thinly sliced 3 tomatoes (about 1 pound/450 g total), peeled, seeded, and chopped 2 carrots, diced 2 potatoes, peeled and diced 3 small zucchini (about 1 pound/450 g total), diced 1 onion, chopped 1 handful of green beans, trimmed and cut into 2 or 3 pieces 1 bouquet garni 2 quarts/2 liters water Salt and pepper 1 cup/170 g shelled fresh or frozen peas 21/2 ounces/75 g dried short noodles Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving 1. In a heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over the kidney beans to cover, leave to soak for…