Victoria October 2019

A passage in Gift from the Sea, our previous Victoria Classics Book Club selection, has lingered in my thoughts. Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes, “This is what one thirsts for, I realize, after the smallness of the day, of work, of details, of intimacy—even of communication, one thirsts for the magnitude and universality of a night full of stars, pouring into one like a fresh tide.” There is something so peaceful about being outdoors, relaxing amid the sounds of nature as daylight fades to darkness, and then settling in with a cozy blanket to take in the wonders of a vast inky sky sprinkled with diamonds. It is this image of tranquility that inspires the alfresco fête in Cooking and Entertaining on page 43. As the weather turns delightfully cool and sunset…

Against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, usher in the Christmas season with the magazine you love. Join Editor-in-Chief Phyllis Hoffman DePiano and the editorial team for an inspiring getaway. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Afternoon tea and a holiday tour of the BILTMORE A fabulous stay at the 4-star luxury OMNI GROVE PARK INN Keynote Speakers APRIL CORNELL, KATHRYN GREELEY, and JAN KARON SPACES ARE LIMITED! Visit victoriamag.com for more information.…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite October features: A Victoria Autumn Find a wealth of inspiration for decorating with foraged finds and seasonal treasures, including a downloadable alphabet for our elegantly carved pumpkin. Layers of Loveliness View the classic interiors of a former governor’s family home, where personal collections and prized mementos keep company with cherished antiques. Peaceful Sojourns Discover idyllic surroundings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and sample tempting recipes for brunch specialties served at the Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast. As Evening Falls Using our festive menu as a guide for entertaining, invite friends to gather for a relaxed alfresco soirée that begins with golden sunlight and gives way to an unforgettable night under twinkling stars. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about something you’d like to see in the magazine? If so,…

I was fourteen when I purchased my very first Victoria magazine. As I turned each page, I was struck with the thought, this is me. I kept every issue and totally immersed myself in each feature, dreaming that one day I would live in the neighborhood adjacent to my childhood home and create a Victoria world of my very own. Last year, I finally purchased a house in that area and threw myself into renovation and decorating. Recently, as I sat with a cup of coffee, wondering why I had been so driven, I realized that thirty-eight years later, I have created that Victoria world I had always imagined, where each piece honors beloved people and experiences. The living room walls are the color of Great-Aunt Mary’s home. Interiors showcase my…

Smitten! The first time I saw it, glistening in a worn green velvet nest within a dusty black case, the honey-hued violin with its double curves, suggesting two hearts, beckoned. My uncle had played it, but after coming home from the war, he never did again, and it landed in our attic. I plucked a loosened string, and a single plaintive note came forth—the violin was trying to sing. A nice violin, the music teacher said, but much too big for your daughter. Because I had passed a basic music test and the school needed violinists for its upper-grade orchestras, they would lend me, and the other students who had qualified, small violins and give free lessons. Struggle and heartache followed. Well before the inspired era of the Suzuki method of teaching…

While living in England, Artist-in-Residence Stephanie Monahan became captivated by centuries-old heraldic emblems and the implements that pressed their intricate designs into small puddles of melted wax. Personalized insignias were used to establish a document’s official nature, verify the sender’s identity, and ensure private correspondence. Stephanie’s foray into collecting these relics began with livery buttons—trimmings that distinguished the uniforms of all male servants in a particular household—but soon developed into a quest for pieces more rare. Among her most valuable finds are an Italian signet ring bearing a stately cameo and two French stamps that once belonged to royalty. Within the yellowed pages of an antique book, she discovered a cache of wax seals from as far back as the 1700s, preserved long ago by some kindred spirit. The artisan frames original…