Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2006 i Southern Lady

For me, Easter in the South is marked by two events: dying eggs and choosing a hat. As a child, the white gloves that so stylishly matched my Sunday dress were more than fashionable accessories; their dual purpose was to hide my dye-stained hands. But even more than rainbow eggs and red and yellow fingers, I remember going with Mom to shop for an Easter hat. I had to try on each and every chapeau in the store at least once, strolling along and posing in front of the mirror this way and that. I’d spin around to see if it was frilly enough to rival the ruffles of my petticoat, and eventually I would make my choice. Oh what fun it was to place those hats on my head…

Serve up a stack of sweets on a store-bought dessert stand. The individual holders effortlessly showcase your latest baked creations, and by tying bits of colored ribbon or decorative trim around the paper cupcake wrappers, you’ll make the presentation even more sensational. But don’t stop there. This handy serving stand can be used for items other than scrumptious muffins and scones. From cheerful carnations to votive candles, there’s no limit to the items you can creatively display with this basic tiered formation. Dessert stands are an easy way to present decorated cupcakes, muffins, and more. For information, contact Bed Bath & Beyond at 800-462-3966 or visit www.bedbathandbeyond.com.…

With every holiday, we associate certain customs and memories of happiness and joy. One of Easter’s most beloved traditions is the Easter lily, the white trumpetshaped flower that symbolizes purity, virtue, and hope. Bring this time-honored tradition into your home with a simple tabletop arrangement that gives the illusion of a robust garden of fragrant blossoms. Begin by filling a plastic liner or bowl with deluxe floral foam and placing it in the center of the planter. Four-inch maidenhair ferns should then be transferred from their pots to sandwich bags and positioned in the planter’s four corners. After removing the lily stamens and brushing off any pollen from the petals, the stems can then be inserted into the floral foam, creating a new twist on an old custom that has…

To create a simplystated Easter vignette, consider using lush greenery and subtle earth tones. Choose a spot with plenty of natural light, such as a sunroom, front porch, or patio, and select complementing planters in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ferns, grass, and moss are all budget-friendly choices that allow plenty of creative freedom, so try different combinations and configurations of these materials in the planters. Add egg-shaped accents and rabbit figurines of stone and moss for a touch of eclectic Easter elegance, and complete the look with elevated feather nests that are both fun and festive. Natural elements and whimsical accents create a soft and stunning springtime display.…

And tulips, children love to stretch their fingers down, to feel in each Its beauty’s sweet nearer. —Elizabeth Barrett Browning An endless sea of brilliant color waving gently in the breeze, a field of tulips stretches as far as the eye can see, each blossom a divine masterpiece. The tulip— with its sturdy stem, verdant leaves, and perfect petal cup—heralds spring with a burst of vibrant color. A member of the Liliaceae family, this flowering bulb has over 100 species. The diverse characteristics of the tulip are nearly as numerous. They may have single or double blossoms or perhaps sport ruffles or fringe. They may also be quite modest, the picture of beautiful simplicity. This flower that is so commonly associated with the Netherlands was actually growing wild in Central…

Offerings from the Orient and fare from the Mediterranean— oh what pleasures for the palate! Each of these tantalizing recipes takes its inspiration from an international influence, relying on spices and sauces to create a taste that’s absolutely incredible. Orange and Jicama Salad with Creamy Cumin Dressing 4 oranges, peeled, sectioned and cut into bite-size pieces 1 jicama, peeled and julienned (about 2 cups) 1/4 cup honey 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Dash cayenne pepper 1 cup roasted salted peanuts, chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 4 red radishes, slivered 1 medium carrot, grate 1 head Romaine lettuce, shredded 1 recipe Creamy Cumin Dressing Banana chips to garnish Chili Powder to garnish Colorful Cuisine Spices and Flavors In a medium bowl, toss together the oranges and jicama; refrigerate for at least…

Your cards, letters, and e-mails brighten my day and illustrate the extensive bonds of sisterhood we ladies share My feet practically flew from the mailbox to my couch so I could curl up and loll over “Behind the Scenes of Gone with the Wind” [January/February 2006]. I have lost count of the number of times I have watched the movie and read the book. After reading your article, I felt like I was at Tara! I had the privilege of meeting Cammie King in Jonesboro, Georgia, several years ago at the Road To Tara Museum, and I found her to be quite charming. Please keep these tantalizing articles coming! Becky Tomerlin Meridian, Mississippi Many thanks on the wonderful article about Knoxville, Tennessee [“Knoxville: Yesterday and Today,” January/ February 2006]. I…

Upon entering the cottage-style house that is now home to the friendly shop, it doesn’t take long to see that the owners of Sweet Peas Garden Shop focus just as much on hospitality and ambiance as they do on the quality of their products. “I want the store to feel almost like you are in your own backyard, very homey and quaint. That’s my goal,” says Eunjoo Meriwether, better known as E. J. to the customers who frequent the Homewood, Alabama, establishment. Perhaps what gives the store its warm and homey feel is the overwhelming sense of welcome that the employees are sure to extend to each and every visitor. This cozy and inviting atmosphere provides the perfect setting in which to peruse. In various vignettes throughout the store, dried…

What Hannabells owners may not realize is that these words have a personal meaning to their creator. The “little girl with sparkles” is Hannah, daughter of Raleigh, North Carolina, artist Johnna Elstob. It was little Hannah and children like her that inspired Johnna to create these whimsical works of art. Johnna, a Williamsburg, Virginia, native, began painting at age two. Her love for art grew throughout her childhood, and she was especially influenced by her high school art teacher. While working towards a degree in illustration, she began to think that her art must be serious, that she must somehow prove herself through it. However when she began teaching children a few years later, she realized another side to her craft. She says, “I was encouraging the children to be…

Today is dedicated to something very special, sisterhood. It’s the invisible connection that binds our hearts together in a friendship so dear that it has earned its own term, one that’s reserved for the closest kindred. Whether she’s your best friend whom you met freshman year of high school when the homeroom teacher put the class in alphabetical order or your grandmother who watched from the stands with two boxes of tissues and ten rolls of film as you accepted your college diploma, each “sister” has profoundly impacted your life in one way or another, oftentimes in more ways than one. So to honor these lovely ladies and the bonds you share, a celebration is in order. The guest list consists of absolute royalty—your Aunt Melinda who made sure you…

Happy Hues Fill your home with soft splashes of spring. The playful tones of robin’s egg blue, cotton candy pink, lemon yellow, and apple green provide plenty of ways to dress your home for the coming season. In the kitchen, living room, and bedroom, these happy hues instantly transform an ordinary space into a cheerful place. Flower Power Nothing says springtime quite like bright and beautiful flowers. Bring these vibrant blossoms to your table in the form of decorative dinnerware. Graphic motifs, featuring nature’s most colorful creations, give these designer plates and mugs their ever fresh and lively appeal.…

“I grew up in a middle class home in Birmingham, Alabama. I was the youngest of all of my siblings. My youngest sibling was five years older than me, so my parents were much older when I was born. My father worked, my mother stayed at home, and we had housekeepers who took care of us,” says Mary Badham of her days growing up in the 1950s. With five older brothers at home, the self-proclaimed tomboy took part in her fair share of more ladylike activities—she took ballet classes for years—but her enthusiasm for ballet eventually gave way to her love of horses. “I chose horses and stopped ballet because my dream was to be a large animal veterinarian,” she says. “It was heart wrenching, though. I loved them both.”…

A long-time resident of Southern Pines, North Carolina, Katie is the owner and founder of Hats by Katie. “I’ve been designing hats for about fifteen years,” she says. “I do the Royal Windsor Horse Show in England every year, and I’ve all different clients: Oprah, Joan Lundun, Martha Stewart.” Other clients include carriage drivers Sharon Chesson, who wore a Hat by Katie when she won the Dressage phase of the 1993 World Pair Combined Driving Championships, and Eleanor Gallagher and Nancy Johnson, who wore Katie’s creations to the World Singles Championships in Conty, France. Feathers, frills, and a perfect fit— signatures of a hat designed by Katie. Perhaps what makes Katie’s designs so popular is their wearability. Chic, yet practical, the hats can be custom made and come in a…

Carole Sullivan can attest to the satisfaction of collecting. Her assemblage of chocolate molds started with one or two small items and has grown into a massive array of antiques. “I just really love old things,” says Carole, “and chocolate molds are all so different and unique.” Prominently displayed on the walls of her kitchen, the chocolate molds range in many shapes and sizes. Some of her favorite pieces are the ones shaped like bunnies, and as with all of the items in her collection, they can still be used for their original purpose—making tasty chocolate treats. What fun! A collector of these tantalizing tins for more than thirty years, Carole has dozens of designs in her collection, including cute-as-can-be bunnies and eggs. Though many of her finds come from…

“Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin’ down the bunny trail, Hippity hoppity, Easter’s on its way.” —“Peter Cottontail,” Every year, Peter Cottontail spreads the excitement of Easter throughout our land, hippity hoppitying all the way. Whether it’s jelly beans for Tommy or colored eggs for sister Sue, Peter always thinks of splendid ways to share the jubilation of the season, and now so can you. Create your own egg-shaped vase by filling a white bowl with a trio of your favorite flowers. When placed atop an iridescent plate and nestled in a soft nest of store-bought basket grass, this tiny arrangement creates quite an impact. By surrounding the nest with dyed eggs and bunnies, you’ll have a charming display of which Peter himself would be proud. Easter’s traditional egg hunt inspires…

This March, over 115,000 daffodils will burst forth in golden splendor at Arkansas’s Garvan Woodland Gardens. The cheery heralds of spring that make up this breathtaking multitude were a favorite of avid gardener Verna Garvan, an Arkansas native who first dreamed the gently rolling hills on Lake Hamilton could be a botanical showplace. Over the years, her vision has grown into a blossoming legacy that now delights thousands of visitors each year. In the 1950s, Verna Garvan inherited 210 acres near Hot Springs—as well as a lumber mill and a brick and tile factory—from her father. Seeking an escape from the pressures of running her family’s manufacturing businesses, she originally planned for the tract to become a woodland retreat for her family. Verna took an active role in the land’s…

From posh parties and evening extravaganzas to birthday bashes and backyard barbecues, Kimberly Schlegel Whitman knows just what to do to make each event unforgettable. The young party planner has earned a stellar reputation among the entertaining elite, starring in thirteen episodes of the Style Network series Whose Wedding is it Anyway? and appearing as a style consultant on WB in the Morning, Designing Texas, and Good Day Dallas. The Texas native even founded her own upscale event rental business, RSVP Soiree, a one-stop party shop for events of all kinds, and most recently, she shares her expertise in the beautiful pages of The Pleasure of Your Company. “I was always admiring my mom. She was such a wonderful hostess, and I loved watching how she put everything together,” says…

In golf, said Bobby Jones, co-founder of the Augusta National Golf Club, “A par 3 should be a test of precision.” The Junior League of Augusta views culinary arts in much the same way, preferring to “play with precision” when they cook and entertain. Celebrating the city’s tie to the famed Masters® tournament, the League proudly offers up a new cookbook, Par 3 Tea-Time at the Masters®. P“Par 3 Day at the Masters® is a very relaxed atmosphere within the whole tournament. It’s the last day of the practice round. The golfers are usually interacting with the crowd that day, bringing their children out on the course with them, and signing autographs,” says cookbook chairman Catharine Lemmon. “We wanted to celebrate that more relaxed atmosphere in our latest book. So…

Citrus Trifle 1 large orange 16 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 cups confectioners’ sugar Juice of 2 lemons 2 teaspoons lemon extract 3 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped 2 (3-ounce) packages sponge-style ladyfingers, split 11/2 pints whole strawberries Grate the zest from the orange. Remove 1 teaspoon of grated zest and set aside. Juice the orange into a small bowl. Combine the remaining orange zest, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and lemon extract in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at low speed until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream Brush the cut side of each split ladyfinger with orange juice. Line the bottom and halfway up the side of a trifle bowl or soufflé dish with half the ladyfingers, cut side in. Spoon half the cream…

SINCERELY PAGE 10: Hats available from Hats by Katie. SASHES & STITCHES PAGE 18: Cake stands available at Lamb’s Ears. PRETTY PETALS PAGE 24: Floral design by Eric Stelle at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market. FLORAL GREETINGS PAGE 31: Sandra Najjar’s cards available at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market. ON THE WINGS OF IMAGINATION PAGE 39: Children’s bench available at Minerva’s. AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION PAGE 36: Chocolate molds in bottom right photograph available at Noordermeer Antieks. DOROTHY MCDANIEL’S DESIGN YOUR OWN: EASTER LILY ARRANGEMENT PAGE 42: Floral design by Eric Stelle at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market. WHAT BUNNIES BRING PAGE 44-45: Pillows available at Homewood Florist. Bowls and dessert plates available at Anthropologie. PAGE 46: Pillows available at April Cornell. Colorful nests available at Homewood Florist. Handmade glass plates available at Anthropologie.…