Victoria January/February 2020

As a longtime admirer of April Cornell textiles, I was delighted to meet the woman behind the brand a decade ago. The designer excels as both painter and entrepreneur, imbuing her ethereal watercolors and vibrant oil pastels with romantic style and then conveying her vision of “common grace in the commonplace” to a worldwide audience through signature wares known for impeccable quality. Partnering with April Cornell for an exclusive collaboration was a natural fit for Victoria. We are thrilled to debut our new limited-edition collection on pages 9–10. Carried out in a palette beloved by our readers, this cache of treasures in the charming Blue Roses pattern includes an exquisite porcelain tea set and an array of complementary table linens embellished with accents of lace or embroidery. The gentle tones and…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Reeve Lindbergh, a daughter of aviator-authors Anne Morrow and Charles A. Lindbergh, is the author of more than two dozen books for children and adults. Her work has appeared in periodicals including The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post. In addition, she serves with a number of local, state, and national organizations—among them the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, and the Vermont Arts Council. A devoted grandmother, Reeve makes her home on an old farm near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, with her husband, writer Nat Tripp, and an assortment of animals. Her most recent book is Two Lives, a collection of essays reflecting on the juxtaposition between her quiet rural lifestyle and the complex history of her famous…

Don’t miss your opportunity to own our classic Blue Roses Collection! Acclaimed artist and entrepreneur April Cornell brings her charming signature style to the Victoria table with this limited-edition tea set and linens. Perfect for entertaining, exquisite porcelain wares boast gently scalloped surfaces, berry-shaped finials, and elegant handles. An exuberant floral-print breakfast cloth offers a sublime foundation for complementary place mats and napkins embellished with details of embroidery or lace. The Blue Roses Collection 32-ounce teapot (sold individually) Creamer and sugar (sold as a set) Teacups (sold in sets of two) Approximately 15x10.5-inch serving tray (sold individually) These items may be purchased as a set. 54x54-inch breakfast cloth (sold individually) 12-inch-round scalloped place mats with embroidery (sold in sets of two) 12x12-inch organdy napkins with embroidery (sold in sets of two) 12x12-inch cotton napkins with nylon lace edges (sold in…

FUN FINDS * PLACES TO GO * ENTREPRENEURS TO MEET 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: Canada’s City of Saints Escape to the historic Quebec neighborhood of Old Montréal, where freshly fallen snow shines like an alabaster carpet spread to welcome winter guests. From Heart to Hand The time-honored heritage of lacemaking is alive and well in the Belgian city of Bruges, where storied sites boast caches of finely wrought wonders. Rhythms of Repose Amid the gentle cadence of a quiet pastime or treasured ritual of daily living, find a calming breath of serenity that soothes and refreshes the spirit. A Burst of Citrus Perfect for a New Year’s party or other celebratory occasion, our Champagne and…

As a small child, I was rather shy. Sensitive was the word most often used, and I knew very early that it wasn’t a compliment. I had plenty of friends, but I was the least talkative among them. As I grew, I figured out that I actually had a lot to say, and in the words of my mother, I “came out of my shell.” More than a half-century away from that bashful girl, I decided that I needed to regain some of that shyness and once again take more of a backseat in conversation. I hope to be quieter in this kinder, gentler year because I want to be more of an active listener. As it turns out, being sensitive is a lovely trait. It doesn’t mean I am thin-skinned;…

Midwinter offers us quietness after the excitement and festivity of the holidays. I welcome that feeling of slowing down and settling in. Yes, we go out over snowy roads to meet our active lives and our friends and the community, but with less light and warmth outdoors, we may also discover how much there is to nourish us in our homes and within ourselves. During this season, I work in an old armchair in the living room. There is a fire burning in our fireplace—its radiating heat an invisible blanket of comfort all around me. I am curled up, concentrating on a manuscript in its second, third, or fourteenth draft. As much a re-writer as I am a writer, I produce a final piece eventually and move to the computer to…