Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2010 i Victoria

When early summer arrives, many opportunities for celebrating are at hand. Consider the months of May and June. We honor mothers, fathers, graduates, and brides, plus mothersto- be and those with birthdays in these middle months of the year. We buy thoughtful greeting cards and appropriate gifts, and plan ways to entertain around special days. We send invitations to family members and friends, polish the silver, and select recipes for each celebration. When my twin sons were about 6 years old, they noticed there was a day set apart for mothers, fathers, and grandparents—but not for children. This, I remember, was the year that Barbara Cockerham and I created a new holiday for our youngsters, based on an idea that she and her sister had shared years earlier. We designated…

My dear mother, Alma Buffum, inspired me in every aspect of my life. As an artist, Mom delighted in design and texture and instilled in me a passion for antique textiles and paintings. Always the picture of elegance herself, she sewed wardrobes for three daughters as well as for our dolls, helped us to craft dollhouse interiors using wallpaper sample books, and taught us to be resourceful in creating beauty around us. Later in life, she shared her subscriptions to the great art and design magazines (including our favorite, Victoria) to keep culture and style alive for us on a remote Pacific island. Mom was renowned for her graciousness and generosity. As a diplomat’s wife, she was a superb hostess and cook. She opened my young eyes to the arts,…

In my London hallway hangs a most incongruous object, looking slightly odd among gilt-framed portraits of my husband’s grand relations, dressed in Victorian lace. It is a sampler, framed and faded. Its little stitcher was not particularly skillful—the crewel tree is lopsided and precipitously overhangs the brick house with its picket fence. There’s a careful border of—what are those exactly?—and the chiding verse is unreadable, although my mother wrote it out on the back from memory. I have a picture of that little girl’s house that I found on the Internet—a towertopped and verandaed 1840s residence overlooking the Ohio River, where steamboats glide decorously. The sampler is signed Sarah Catherine Pool, and she was my grandmother’s grandmother. It’s been passed down to each generation’s Catherine, and so it came to…

“As Rosemary is to the spirit, so Lavender is to the soul.” —ANONYMOUS…

" I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June." —LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed." —WALT WHITMAN…

The mysterious and enticing combination of plain linen fabric and bright silken threads has, through the ages, resulted in unexpected and long-lasting embroidery masterpieces, usually from feminine hands plying needles as expressions of creativity. Centuries ago, challenged by her own heart and encouraged by proficient teachers, a young girl looked to needle skills to give her poise and polish to become mistress of her own home. Displayed as cross-stitch samplers, table covers, and clothing, a woman’s needle art was evidence of her background and education. In the last days of the sixteenth century and into the first quarter of the seventeenth century, those of privilege and affluence in England wore, as a sign of means, lavish costumes worked with intricate embroidery. Skilled needleworkers in professional workshops usually supplied these garments.…

Inspired by her relatives and the values they instilled in her—cooking from scratch, family recipes, baking, and a love of entertaining— Ashley Leckey, along with her grandmother, Cele Marcoux, started IceMilk Aprons, a line of aprons with a vintage feel. Each one is named in honor of a signature recipe or dish “Our aprons are meant to become family heirlooms, passed down through generations along with recipes and the memories made while cooking, baking, and entertaining with family and friends,” Ashley says. The aprons, which expertly mix old-fashioned functionality with classic sophistication, are as beautiful as they are practical. Each one comes sweetly packaged in a Mason jar, and each includes the company’s charming Heirloom Kit, composed of a tag on which family members are meant to hand-stitch their initials…

Despite our overscheduled lifestyles and a culture obsessed with instant gratification, the ceremony of tea drinking has managed to remain an art form—a solace, a refuge, a warm creature comfort that transcends the passage of time. What began as a midafternoon refreshment and grew into an elite social activity confined to the aristocracy is now, and conceivably always has been, a means by which to spiritually recharge. Hope, resolve, and calm contemplation can be found in a warm cup of tea. There is time to reflect, relax, and nurture friendships when we finally slow down and sip. Lavishly served with an array of dainty finger sandwiches, savory scones, and other irresistable sweets, formal afternoon tea has experienced a joyful revival in recent years, with a flurry of elegant tearooms cropping…

COVER Farrow & Ball St. Antoine Wallpaper, $320 per double roll; available to the trade, 888-511- 1121, farrow-ball.com Royal Crown Derby Blue Aves teacup, $70, and saucer, $45; available through Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276. Bernardaud Au Jardin teacup, $98, and saucer, $57; available through Bromberg’s, 205-871- 3276. Midori Dupioni Silk ribbon in Ice Blue, $4 per yard; available through Smith’s Variety, 205-871-0841. Asiatic Pheasant antique sugar bowl, call for pricing; available through The Nest, 205-870-1264. Anthropologie Fleur de Lys Pitcher, $28; anthropologie.com. SUMMERTIME BLUES Page 18: English Home French blue linen with cream appliqué drapery panel, call for pricing; available through Christine’s, 205-871-8297. Martha Stewart Collection Woodland Toile three-piece comforter set, $220; macys.com Matouk Bel Tempo cream pillow, $90; available through Marguerite’s Conceits, 205-879-2730. Martha Stewart Collection Garden Acres king sheet set…

CROCHETED ALPHABET LETTER Supplies Crochet trim wide enough to wrap around alphabet letter • Wooden or papier-mâché alphabet letter • Needle and thread • Scissors Instructions 1 Wrap crochet trim tightly around the alphabet letter, and secure by hand, sewing the edges together on the back side. 2 Cut lengths of trim as necessary to cover the letter; you may need to adjoin two pieces of trim on the front side with small stitches. MASON JAR SEWING KIT Supplies Mason jar • Pencil • Thin cardboard • Scissors • Fiberfill • Fabric glue • 8-inch square piece of fabric • Doily (thinner ones work best) Instructions 1 Remove the screw band and metal lid from the jar. Trace the lid onto the cardboard twice, and cut out each circle. 2…

If scent is the most powerful conjurer of memory, many of us could transport ourselves to the French countryside of Provence during peak season on Cape Cod Lavender Farm. Heady with the aroma of one of the Mediterranean’s most ubiquitous herbs, the 20-acre farm in Harwich, Massachusetts, is nothing short of a dream come to fruition for owners Cynthia and Matthew Sutphin, now embarking on their sixteenth growing season. What began as a small experiment with four hundred lavender plants quickly has blossomed into 14,000 plants and a thriving industry for the couple and Cynthia’s four children. “The kids were able to be a part of the farm as they were growing up,” says Cynthia, “and although three of them now live off the Cape, my youngest, Anna, runs the…

Going home is something I look forward to. And that, in and of itself, I realize, is something to be grateful for. My family is close-knit, although each member is independent—some more fiercely than others. We genuinely do enjoy each other’s company, perhaps more so now that we are all adults and our family has grown to include the pacifying presence of in-laws and grandchildren. My mother is an exceptional homemaker in the truest sense of the word. She has created and cared for her house in a unique way that draws each of her children home (although perhaps not as often as she would like, as the miles between us are many). Nothing about her house is too grand or overly formal. It is simply comfortable and all very…

On a deep windowsill that catches the morning sun, I’ve placed a French glass cloche over a stack of small, delicate books, some with loose pages and threadbare covers. They are diaries. My mother’s things. I found the diaries among a box of old photos. Every evening between 1932 and 1948, she took pen in hand. The turning of pages chronicles the turning of years—from schoolgirl to young mother, the loops of her penmanship sequentially more polished. Her entries are more journalistic than a girl’s dreamy wanderings. At nightfall, she penned a few chopped phrases. A quick report. For a daughter who has recently lost her mother, her record-keeping reads like a best-selling memoir. In the blush of bride season and my own June wedding anniversary, I decided to lift…

MACKINAC ISLAND: A PROFUSION OF PURPLE A charmed destination detached from the rest of the world, where horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are the only modes of transportation, Michigan’s Mackinac Island hosts a fullblown festival to celebrate the abundance of lilacs that burst into bloom each June. Here, innkeeper Becki Barnwell unravels romantic memories of her family’s historical Iroquois Hotel and a childhood spent in this magical place that, even today, remains untouched by time. AND DON’T MISS… SHABBY CHIC MYSTIQUE Located beachside on Sarasota, Florida’s elegant Palm Avenue, Posh on Palm epitomizes the endearing and timeless style known as “shabby chic.” Here, owners Susie and Mark Holt work in tandem to give their shop the timeworn and whitewashed European look that their customers love. Stocked with an ever-changing array of…

Favorite Things “Then followed that beautiful season… Summer… . Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.” —HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Favorite Things Favorite Things “Summer aftft ernoon, summer aftft ernoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” —HENRY JAMES…

SHOPS TO EXPLORE THE WHITE BARN INN Offering a hospitable environment of rustic comfort, The White Barn Inn was constructed from an original boarding house built in Kennebunk, Maine, in 1820. The inn boasts twenty-six tastefully appointed rooms, as well as a beautifully designed natural stone swimming pool and spa. Built in two magnificently restored old barns, the acclaimed restaurant on the premises features floorto- ceiling windows, nineteenth-century antiques, fine oil paintings, and wildlife wood carvings. The four-course prix fixe menu encompasses classic New England cuisine of seafood, native game, and poultry, presented with a European flair. MORE OF OUR FAVORITE MAINE INNS CAMDEN HARBOUR INN Situated on the summit of a hilltop yielding panoramic 180-degree views of Penobscot Bay, Camden Harbour Inn, above, is an intimate boutique hotel. With…

1. A Passion for Parties, by Carolyne Roehm (Broadway Books). One of America’s leading tastemakers and lifestyle experts, Carolyne Roehm knows what it takes to entertain with panache and flair, and she shares her party-planning advice and inspiration in this exquisitely photographed book. Readers will find twenty creative themes, organized by season, including a June Peony Party, A Dickens-Inspired Halloween, and Valentine’s Day in Paris. Each also features Carolyne’s favorite decorating tips, recipes, and ideas for creating lovely table settings and centerpieces, ensuring that every detail has been handled before guests arrive. 2. The Perfect Host: Your Entertaining Planner, by William Yeoward (CICO Books). In this invaluable resource, world-famous tableware designer and style leader William Yeoward conveys his expertise on every aspect of stress-free party planning. Learn how to put…

SEE MORE OF POSH ON PALM’S ECLECTIC DÉCOR AT VICTORIAMAG.COM A monthlong trip to Europe, a stockpile of the world’s most beautiful interiors magazines, and Sarasota’s Old-Florida charm were the key ingredients in a custom blend of influences that inspired Susie Holt to realize her dream as a shop owner and purveyor of the ageless style known as shabby chic. Add to this enchanting mix Susie’s husband, Mark, a former goldsmith with a knack for refurbishing old things, and the stage was set for the successful debut of the couple’s collaborative boutique, Posh on Palm (formerly The Cat’s Meow). In business for more than twelve years now, the shop is a true reflection of the Holts’ personal style and embodies the pure essence of the endearingly ruffled, rumpled, and whitewashed…

Aflutter through the flowers, delicate aviary touches add whimsy to a space. Take delight in flocks of birds flitting from bloom to bloom.…

THE SCENT AND SOUL OF PROVENCE Begins on page 36 Lavender and Vanilla Bean Cookies Makes 5 dozen cookies 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup Lavender Vanilla Sugar (recipe follows) 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds reserved 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large egg yolks 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon dried lavender 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 cup cold heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons coarse sanding sugar 1. In a large bowl, combine butter, Lavender Vanilla Sugar, vanilla bean seeds, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer at high speed, beat until light and creamy, about 4 minutes. Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. 2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, dried lavender, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter…