Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2009 i Victoria

VISIT NANTUCKET Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time for a seaside escape immersed in the history and charm of this tiny island. Explore the Old-World appeal of picturesque Nantucket through its cobblestone streets, historic inns, and enchanting shops. THE BUSINESS OF BLISS Meet two mother-daughter duos who followed their hearts and opened a business together. Learn about their companies, and read advice for following in their successful footsteps. WINSOME MAY BASKETS Learn how to make a festive, flowering basket to celebrate the advent of summer with our Web-exclusive tutorial. From bundles of blossoms to flowing ribbons and lush greenery, we’ll show you how to create a fetching gift for friends and family. GO ONLINE and discover a wealth of resources at your fingertips. Victoriamag.com includes exciting new features—…

Late spring is a joyous time of transition, filled with some of life’s most memorable celebrations. Our readers share with us their treasured recollections of unforgettable moments. IT WAS MY OLDER SISTER Liz’s graduation from high school in June of 1969. Our father had died the previous November, and she was very sad he hadn’t lived those few extra months to be there for her on that special day. My brother, Carlos, was in the Air Force and was serving in Vietnam. Before he left, he had promised Liz he would try to make it back for the ceremony because my father wouldn’t be there. As the event grew near, my brother’s tour of duty got extended. We didn’t think he would be able to come home. Liz was devastated.…

Reader, I married him. So begins the final chapter of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë’s nineteenth-century novel about a penniless young governess with pluck and integrity who comes to mysterious and haunting Thornfield Hall, and eventually marries Mr. Rochester, the master of the house. Parts of Jane’s story are deeply distressing, but others are poignant and breathlessly romantic. Senior year, in my high-school Honors English class, we read Jane Eyre, wrote essays on the themes, and debated the merits of marrying “only for love.” I thought the concept was naive and unrealistic, and said so. One morning, pink-and-white signs posted in the school hallways announced an upcoming “Sweethearts Dance.” Soon, our utilitarian gymnasium would be converted into a springtime bower of pink, white, and red blossoms enhanced by colored lights. I’d…

LINEN-CARE BASICS Vintage towels, napkins, bed linens, and even clothing items usually can be laundered in the washing machine using the gentle cycle, according to antique textile collector Marlene Collins, whose collection is pictured here. “I use mesh bags for things that might get tangled or that are a bit more fragile,” she says. Water temperature should be warm to hot, depending upon the fabric. Marlene advises testing for colorfastness before washing any item with colored components. Presoaking before washing in a mild detergent-water solution can help remove stains. Almost any mild detergent will do, she says, but she recommends avoiding those containing bleach or fabric softeners. To achieve a crisp texture, Marlene suggests the following process: Remove linens from the washing machine, lightly roll each one into a cylindrical…

Wit & Wisdom of Mothers (Hallmark Books). This charming collection of classic and contemporary quotes compiled from noted writers, celebrities, and ordinary people extols all the wonderful things that moms do to make life sweeter for everyone around them. Small Graces, by Kent Nerburn (New World Library). These twenty thought-provoking essays will compel readers to observe and appreciate the profound gifts of nature that surround them, as well as the hidden power of seemingly ordinary aspects of life. A Rose by Any Name, by Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill). Rose aficionados will delight in this fascinating look at the history and romantic inspiration behind the names of hundreds of species and cultivars. The book also features a multitude of gorgeous color photos and vintage illustrations…

When customers enter designer Suzanne Perron’s bright, elegant studio on Magazine Street in New Orleans, they find muslins and gowns draped in natural light, an orderly workshop centered around a brick fireplace, and a once-ina- lifetime experience. Part poet, part engineer, Suzanne starts with a boned foundation tailored to a client’s proportions and works her way out to an exquisite silhouette, encircled with bias bands, adorned with hand-sewn silk shantung roses, or tucked with layers of tulle and beads. Whether she begins with a dress lovingly handed down by the bride’s great-grandmother or with an idea for an intricate pattern of wrinkled satin-faced organza sunbursts, Suzanne is meticulous in realizing something both old and new. Each design is timeless and innovative, but her process harks back to another era. Although…

A TASTE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN Begins on page 46 Baked Feta with Tomatoes Makes 4 servings 1 pound feta cheese, cut into medium cubes 1/3 cup prepared marinara sauce 1/2 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained 3 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 fresh plum tomato, sliced Garnish: torn fresh basil 1. Preheat oven to 400?. 2. In a medium bowl, combine the feta, marinara, fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, oregano, oil, and red pepper flakes. Spoon mixture into a 1-quart baking dish, and top with plum tomato slices. 3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Cool slightly. Garnish with torn fresh basil, if desired. Buttermilk Blackberry Shortcakes Makes 12 shortcakes 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup…

Many times I sit quietly, cup of tea in hand, and reflect on how my life has been blessed by my circle of friends. What a joy to have friends; how lonely life would be without them. Over the years, my circle of friends has reflected the stages of my life, as well as my growth as an individual. Many of my friendships have remained constant, from high school through college, and into our adult years. Others have been added to my circle because our children were playmates and we came to know each other at Little League games and PTO meetings. Today, my closest friends are those who share my passions: blue and white china in all patterns; Colonial Williamsburg at Christmas; antique linens bearing monograms; tea and scones;…

SPRING WINE FESTIVAL AND SUNSET TOUR Mount Vernon, Virginia | May 15–17 During the eighteenth century, the estate and gardens of George Washington’s home, situated on the banks of the Potomac River, totaled 8,000 acres. Today, 500 historical acres have been preserved and welcome an average of one million guests each year. Visit the beloved property for an elegant evening of wine and jazz entertainment, accompanied by candlelit tours of the mansion and wine cellar. Choose to picnic on the lawn, or reserve a private table on the piazza. For more information, visit mountvernon.org. Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Forest Park | St. Louis, Missouri | May 20–June 14 Engage in the live theater production of William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor as Shakespeare Festival St. Louis debuts its ninth year…

As the weather begins to warm, our skin-care routines change—we seek lightweight products, such as makeup made with mineral-based ingredients. These foundations, lip colors, blushes, and eye shadows provide sheer but thorough coverage, without feeling heavy, and are ideal for early-summer days. “She had gained a reputation for beauty, and (which is oftft en another thing) was beautiful.” CHARLES DICKENS…

On this prepossessing New England island, every building appears as though it were created expressly for a storybook, and the hotels, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts are no exception. From quaint shingled cottages to sprawling clapboard guesthouses, each one has a personality all its own. Thirty miles off the coast of Cape Cod is a place where time seems to stand still. From its cobblestone streets to the silvery cedar-shingled houses and archetypal lighthouses, the Old-World charm of Nantucket seems endless. With no stoplights and very few cars, today’s island still resembles the one Herman Melville described 150 years ago in his classic novel Moby-Dick: “Nantucket! Take out your map and look at it. See what a real corner of the world it occupies; how it stands there, away off shore…” The…

whimsical scrolls and classic calligraphy dance delightfully across soft cotton papyrus. The art of design and the timeless craft of letterpress are the perfect combination that enables Wiley Valentine founders Emily Owen and Rachelle Schwartz to showcase their artistry. The duo began their careers working for the same firm, where their paths first crossed. They spent their days producing myriad mainstream graphic design projects, but grew eager to explore new avenues outside the confines of corporate work. It wasn’t until relatives and friends began requesting custom wedding invitations from the artists that they discovered their mutual adoration of all things paper. While reflecting upon their love for creating cards and invitations, Rachelle asked Emily, “Wouldn’t it be fun if we could do this all day, all the time?” Before long,…

COVER Jasper Conran “Blue Butterfly” 9-inch plate, $40, 866-714-0592, wedgwoodusa.com. MASTHEAD Pages 6 & 8: Highland Court “Newport Blue” in blue ice, $114/yard, available to the trade, highlandcourtfabrics.com. FAVORITE THINGS Page 18: Top shelf from left: Kate Spade by Lenox “Gwinnett Lane” turquoise dinner plate, $23, accent plate, $20, cup, $20, saucer, $12, 800-999- 5283, katespade.com. Raynaud “Tropic Monogram” dinner plate, $73, “Tropic” salad plate, $47, 732-751-0500 for retail locations, devine corp.net. Middle shelf from left: Vista Alegre “Viana,” $96/5-piece place setting, 800-257-7189. Spode “Garden” plates, $18 each, 800-257-7189, spode.com. Bottom shelf from left: Mottahedeh “Imperial Blue,” $350/5-piece place setting, 800- 242-3050, mottahedeh.com. Grasslands Road “Melody” blue dinner plate, $20, white dessert plate, $14, “Songbird” napkin ring, $16/set of 4, napkin, $8 each, 800-444-8887. Page 19: St. James Cottage Chic…

Summer days bring a whirlwind of splendor and allure, inspiring fresh creativity and imagination. These companies deliver the ultimate amour, with wedding-day bliss as their radiant masterpiece. Through the lens of her camera, April Rocha captures the sincere romance of a wedding day with images that last a lifetime. By focusing on the meaningful details of a couple’s special ceremony, she creates the ultimate artistic expression with pictures that evoke true emotion. Inspired by the delicate table linens, lovely bridal gowns, and breathtaking blooms that make up a wedding celebration, Ana Parzych creates unique cakes with intricate detail. See her designs at anascustomcakes.com. Laura Clare has the vision to turn a modest room into a stunning work of art. From exquisite flowers and color schemes to perfect lighting and linens,…

The whole earth was brimming sunshine that morning. She tripped along, the clear sky pouring liquid blue into her soul.” —Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie…

CAROLINEALEXANDER Sandy Gopalanis & Jennifer Cameron redonia, New York | carolinealexander.net Throughout her childhood, Jennifer Cameron can barely remember a time when her mother Sandy Gopalanis’s large dining room table was not covered with copious creative projects. Using ribbon, paint, wreaths, and floral accessories, Sandy always stayed busy producing charming creations. Despite wanting to be just like her mother, Jennifer pursued other paths during her school years and obtained her master of business administration degree. But it wasn’t long before Jennifer realized she had inherited “the creative gene,” Sandy explains. “I always knew that she could be very artistic. With her education and our talents together, I was confident we would make a great team.” The duo began creating goods from vintage linens and soon branched out to try other…

Between towering ivory limestone cliffs peeks a sapphire sea dotted with gentle whitecaps. Brambles of papery bougainvillea blooms rustle in the breeze, and colorful wooden dinghies rock rhythmically in the waves. This is the Mediterranean—a region of Europe known for its rocky shores, deep azure waters, and charismatic towns and villages hugging the coastline. From the smooth domed rooflines of the Greek islands to the steep inclines of seaside cliffs in Capri, Italy, the area’s beauty is inspiring. Mediterranean food, with its intense flavors and aromatic ingredients, is equally captivating. Dining is an integral part of the culture—meals play an important role in the community and in family life, and hospitality is rooted deeply in the local traditions. “The Mediterranean has the color of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t…