Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2024 i Victoria

Dear Friends Like sunshine glinting through the trees, the January/February issue illuminates the beauty of winter, casting a gentle glow over a landscape of possibilities. This season offers a natural opportunity for establishing goals, and opening a fresh diary reveals snowy white pages ready to chronicle the path to those aspirations. As the familiar proverb asserts, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Editor-in-Chief Phyllis Hoffman DePiano’s legacy inspires my vision for Victoria. In celebrating the Business of Bliss, our special section on page 41, we look to the founder of Hoffman Media as the ultimate example of entrepreneurial spirit. On page 113, former editor Barbara Cockerham reflects on her long walk with Phyllis. It is amazing to consider how creative ideas bantered about among friends grew…

Whether the pink diary with gold lettering that I received for my eighth birthday, the brown leather journal in which I compiled teenage angst, pages I filled as a young mother with a growing child, computer files brimming with memoirs, or commonplace books abounding with quotes of favorite ideas or authors, journals have always been an essential part of my life. As a child, I remember clutching my cat and retreating to my tiny walk-in closet to pull my writing partner from my trunk. I needed to confide to my diary that I had overheard that my mommy was ill and I was scared. I needed the cat and the diary often that year—they never failed to listen. Decades later, I inherited another trunk, an old and battered one filled…

“CLIMB, THEN, INTO THIS PARADISE, THIS EPICURISM OF PLEASURE, THIS PRETTY WORLD OF PEACE.”—Rose Macaulay…

“The people really mean a lot to me, and their stationery does too. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to assembling everything and making sure it’s all absolutely perfect for them.” SHANA WANCO IRIS + MARIE Columbia, South Carolina As a child, Shana Wanco crafted greeting cards for family members, inscribing each with her “artist signature.” Ensuing summers spent with her grandfather—a stained-glass glazier, oil painter, and woodworker—nourished her nascent creative spirit through other mediums. And in college, when dabbling with a professor’s letterpress, her spark for stationery rekindled. “Every job I looked for after college had to involve letterpress,” she says. Although she never imagined owning a company, in 2016, a late-night perusal of a classified ads website uncovered her future business partner: a 1920s Chandler & Price letterpress,…

Collectors of the finest things in life forage antiques shops and flea markets near and far to uncover troves of beloved trinkets. As the New Year unfolds, brush off the dust from every curio in the closet and invite a sense of beauty into the most unlikely spaces. As an alternative to housing stacks of china behind closed doors, prop cabinets open to display assemblages of crystal and porcelain. Organizing wares by similar shades and materials is a delight to the eye, and placing pretty blooms in a bud vase adds an intentional touch. Sterling silver—especially pieces engraved with a custom monogram—infuses table settings with elegance. Though Victoria editors encourage daily use, goods that must be stored away are best kept in cool, dark drawers lined with flannel, silver cloth,…

In 1889, native Parisian Frederic Schumacher opened shop, peddling textiles in dainty to dramatic patterns to the ladies of New York. By the turn of the twentieth century, the entrepreneur’s products drew the attentions of notable decorators, finding a home in some of the grandest properties in the country, from draperies in the original Waldorf Astoria hotel and blue-and-gold wallpaper selected by Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House to toile de Jouy fabrics in novelist Edith Wharton’s country house, The Mount. Celebrating the romance of the Gilded Age, F. Schumacher & Co. presents a hardcover volume brimming with the brand’s iconic prints and other classic décor. Content Director Emma Bazilian and Art Director Stephanie Diazo offer Charm School: The Schumacher Guide to Traditional Decorating for Today as a love letter…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16: Jennifer L. Scott authors the popular blog and YouTube channel, The Daily Connoisseur. Her The New York Times best-selling books include Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic, all of which chronicle lessons learned in Paris when Jennifer lived abroad. She and her family divide their time between Southern California and the English countryside. Follow along with Jennifer at dailyconnoisseur.blogspot.com and @dailyconnoisseur on Instagram. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 17–20: Natasja Sadi is the creative entrepreneur behind Cake Atelier Amsterdam, an artisanal bakery specializing in wedding and event cakes, distinguished by their lifelike sugar flower adornments and Dutch still life–style photography. In 2023, Natasja debuted her book, A Sweet Floral Life: Romantic Arrangements for Fresh and Sugar Flowers. She teaches the…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Whether readers remember Jennifer L. Scott from her feature in Victoria’s January/February 2021 Business of Bliss special section or are meeting her for the first time, she is sure to delight. The author pens heartfelt advice like a familiar friend on her blog and YouTube channel, The Daily Connoisseur, and inspires those who read her charming tales of stylish living in her series of The New York Times best-selling books, which includes memoir Lessons from Madame Chic. The entrepreneur credits Victoria with helping cultivate her tastes and shape her dreams as a child, which led Jennifer to explore France as a foreign exchange student eager to learn the art of living well. She and her family divide their time between Southern California and the English countryside. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Beginning her…

To some, letter writing is a lost art; to artist Kay Collier, it is an accessible luxury. In its simplest form, correspondence is available to all, with the mere requirements of a pen and paper. Still, Kay expands upon the craft, adding ceremony to the occasion by lighting a candle or pouring a cup of tea. She increases the beauty of her letters by using fine stationery and the symbolism of wax seals. Uniquely, the breathtaking letters Kay creates are not reserved for herself or even for her recipients. As the proprietor behind Kathryn Hastings & Co., Kay inspires others to amplify their own correspondence—acquiring lovely tools and accoutrements and even learning to use a wide range of letter styles. In her online shop, she vends wares such as intricate…

A bowl of citrus prompts passers-by to pick up a satisfying snack, but our vibrant recipes encourage one to reach for the luscious fruit in preparing a range of dishes. As shown on the previous spread, sprigs of sugared rosemary draw the eye to Tangerine Sangría Blanco, a cocktail that includes freshly squeezed juice and can be prepared with Chardonnay or sparkling water. This page, clockwise from left: In Tangerine and Fennel Salad, the featured ingredients join shallots and Castelvetrano olives for an aromatic, nuanced mingling of flavors. Ricotta and smoked salmon top Tangerine Crostini, while a sweet medley completes Swordfish Steaks with Tangerine Salsa. Opposite: Guests won’t soon forget the moist crumb of perfectly portioned Tangerine Olive Oil Cakes. SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 105, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION.…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite January/February features: Romantic Gestures Find a bounty of inspiration for infusing the loving spirit of Valentine’s Day into your life and home with our creative ideas for celebrating the holiday. Quite the Pair Learn more about Arte Italica and Crown Linen Designs, two beloved companies stewarded by entrepreneur Victoria Fanning and featured often in our pages. Yours Most Sincerely Discover insights from Kay Collier, the thoughtful artist behind Kathryn Hastings & Co., a brand devoted to all things epistolary. Turn Passions into Profits Meet our esteemed 2024 panel of Business of Bliss entrepreneurs—eight enterprising women who share their wisdom and advice for achieving…

In Amsterdam, snow softly falls, collecting on the banks of the enchanting canals that wind through the city known as the flower capital of the world. However, in the hushed winter months, bouquets of prim tulips and luscious cuttings of peonies are a rare sight. Natasja Sadi, whose debut publication, A Sweet Floral Life: Romantic Arrangements for Fresh and Sugar Flowers, we featured in 2023, is mindful that these chilling temperatures have ushered out the verdant landscapes. But in her home studio, an abundant flowering endures throughout the year. The creative begins her tenure for 2024 as our Artist-in-Residence by offering glimpses of the most romantic blooms. “I really do my best to always honor nature and each season,” says Natasja, who utilizes the vast spectrum of in-season floral varieties…

Discover favorite Valentine’s Day ideas at victoriamag.com. SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 105, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION. “NOBODY HAS EVER MEASURED, EVEN THE POETS, HOW MUCH A HEART CAN HOLD.”—Zelda Fitzgerald “HOW DID IT HAPPEN THAT THEIR LIPS CAME TOGETHER? HOW DOES IT HAPPEN THAT BIRDS SING, THAT SNOW MELTS, THAT THE ROSE UNFOLDS, THAT THE DAWN WHITENS BEHIND THE STARK SHAPES OF TREES ON THE QUIVERING SUMMIT OF THE HILL? A KISS, AND ALL WAS SAID.”—Victor Hugo…

During her long and prosperous career as an interior decorator, Catherine-Hélène Frei has given a second life to numerous period homes. To her, the process is more than a passion but a true vocation, and as soon as the restoration of one home is complete, she is ready to immediately save another. In a fortunate twist of fate, the decorator’s path crossed with the Château de l’Houmelière, which dates to the fifteenth century in the town of Augé. “It was a real coup de foudre when I first discovered this beautiful place in 2019,” she says, “but it was then a cold shower as soon as I crossed the threshold.” It was clear there was a great deal of work to be done. The dwelling had suffered greatly, with large…

As a young woman living in a cozy apartment, Victoria Fanning was dedicated to beautifying her environs, using any remaining grocery money for a bouquet of flowers or a sweet-smelling candle. Her eye for décor blossomed over time, and in 2014, when a Ukrainian friend introduced her to linens from her home country, Victoria was captivated by their luxe feel. She designed a set of embroidered napkins for purchase at school fundraisers and local bazaars. Eager shoppers were just as enchanted by the textiles, and her company Crown Linen Designs found its humble beginnings. Following a successful debut at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in 2015, Victoria’s products began selling all over the country. At the same market years later, the entrepreneur met Chris Collins, owner of…

BE MINE Begins on page 35 Cutout Sugar Cookies p.35 Makes 24 to 30 ½ cup unsalted butter, softened4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature2 cups confectioners’ sugar1 large egg, room temperature2 teaspoons vanilla extract3½ cups all-purpose flour1½ teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground cardamom½ teaspoon orange zestRoyal Icing (recipe follows) 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, cream cheese, and confectioners’ sugar, slowly increasing mixer speed to medium, until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cardamom, and orange zest. With mixer at low speed,…

Remembering Phyllis Hoffman DePiano The year was 1978. My next-door neighbor was to be married in December, and I invited him and his fiancée to come for afternoon tea shortly before the wedding. When the conversation turned to their plans to honeymoon in Williamsburg, Virginia, a place dear to my heart, I knew I would like my soon-to-be neighbor. As Phyllis always said, we bonded that day. We were best friends, visiting back and forth over the picket fence between our yards. We both loved needlework of all kinds. Counted cross-stitch was the latest needle-art trend, and my kitchen wall was covered with designs I had stitched. Phyllis brought over a few cross-stitch kits from Williamsburg and asked me to show her how to read the charts. Neither of us…