Table of contents for May/June 2026 in Victoria

When I reminisce about last year’s exquisite Live Your Bliss Retreats in Paris—trips that included such delights as taking an authentic French cooking class, savoring afternoon tea at The Ritz, and joining couture embroiderer Rebecca Devaney for a textile tour of locations featured on pages 59, 65, and 71—I often reflect on a fleeting moment that touched my heart. For our group visit to Notre-Dame, we met our guide outside the medieval cathedral, pausing to admire its French Gothic architecture while she talked about the basilica’s long history and recent restoration. As we made our way toward the front doors, our escort mentioned that we would be reminded to be quiet once inside. Although traffic was relatively light that morning, the noise gradually increased as school groups, tourists, and congregants…

Stepping into the old-world environs of Ultramod for the first time, some may wonder if they stumbled into the pages of a nineteenth-century Émile Zola novel. Classical music plays softly in the background as patrons stroll slowly, marveling at the vast troves of buttons lining shelves, all impeccably organized by color and material. Sumptuous silk velvet ribbons from Saint-Étienne gleam alongside vintage Duchess satins and eye-catching embroidery thread from Au Ver à Soie. Customers engage manager Anne-Christine Morin in conversations about their latest projects, asking for guidance or inquiring about an antique braid available for purchase in the nearly two-hundred-year-old haberdashery and trimmings shop. “Today it is increasingly difficult to find your sewing supplies,” says the proprietress. “Thanks to Ultramod’s long history, we have always sought to preserve old products…

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 May/June features: The French Needle Discover a Stateside importer of stitchery whose online shop brims with needlework wares, including cross-stitch, felt, and embroidery kits perfect for those who love Gallic style. In Search of Antiques Escape with us to France, where treasures await in an array of flea markets and brocantes. We explore an area known as “the Venice of Provence” to find books, linens, china, and more. Castle Gardens in Bloom Among the verdant slopes and lush vineyards of the Loire Valley lies Château de Villandry, one of the last remaining Renaissance-era estates in the region. Heaven-Scent History Learn more about Grasse,…

Cerulean waves lap against the curve of the Baie des Anges in the South of France, where glittering coastal cities shine like a necklace of colorful gems. Warm salt air and jasmine blossoms mingle in the breeze, lending a perfume to days of sun-drenched bliss. In a region that holds endless allure, the best of the Côte d’Azur is found at its heart: Nice. As summertime arrives along the Mediterranean shoreline, travelers lounge on pebbled beaches with a chilled pastis in hand, stroll the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, or zip by on Vespas with the tail of a silk scarf rippling in the wind. For those wishing to tuck a piece of this iconic destination in their suitcase, exploration of brocantes is a must. Every trinket, from vintage costumes and…

As one enters Grasse, France, ambrosial aromas waft through the French Riviera destination known as the perfume capital of the world. Surrounded by bergamot trees and flower gardens, Fragonard Perfumery draws visitors to the storefront to select their own signature scents. Established in 1926, Fragonard celebrates its one hundredth anniversary this year. Eugène Fuchs began the company after falling in love with the magic of perfume, later passing the business down to his son, Georges, and son-in-law, Jean-François Costa. Jean-Francois is noted for modernizing the company and eventually left Fragonard to his three daughters, Anne, Agnès, and Françoise Costa, who still run the business today. In the sun-drenched hillsides of Grasse, the mild climate and seaside locale influence the natural harvests used to create perfumes. At the industry’s height in…

Intrepid travelers to the City of Light need look no further than Rebecca Devaney’s Textile Tours of Paris to discover boutiques brimming with the highest quality notions. A gifted artisan and researcher, Rebecca delights in guiding kindred spirits through the flea markets and haberdasheries nestled deep within the historic district of Le Sentier, and in sharing her passion for the hidden narratives revealed through fabrics, embroidery, and fashion history. Rebecca holds an MFA in Textile Art and Artefact and is a graduate of the prestigious École Lesage, where she trained in Haute Couture Embroidery. Upon completion of her tutelage, she embroidered professionally for renowned fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Dior, embellishing gowns destined for celebrities and royalty. Rebecca’s artwork has been exhibited internationally, and her research…

“THE BALLOON SEEMS TO STAND STILL IN THE AIR WHILE THE EARTH FLIES PAST UNDERNEATH.”—Alberto Santos-Dumont SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 89, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION.…

Writer-in-Residence Patti Callahan Henry reminisces about languid days of her childhood and the dreams of youth nurtured in the warming glow of a radiant summer sun. Celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with patriotic finds and decorative accents of red, white, and blue. For Artist-in-Residence Carolina Elizabeth—perhaps best known for her romantic paintings of roses—affection for blooms extends to creating vases, cachepots, and other vessels of pottery. Escape to the bright blue waters and soft white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, where we don breezy fashions and adopt the relaxed cadence of favorite seaside locales.…

COVER See “Captured by Blooming Beauty.” WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14: Patti Callahan Henry is The New York Times best-selling author of eighteen novels, including Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Once Upon a Wardrobe, Surviving Savannah, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, and her latest, The Story She Left Behind. In addition to writing, she is also a popular speaker and a co-creator and co-host of the Friends & Fiction web show and podcast. Learn more about her work at patticallahanhenry.com. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15 and 93: Carolina Elizabeth is an impassioned artist intent on capturing the beauty of nature. Her original oil paintings, prints, and more are available for purchase at carolinaelizabeth.com. GENTLE PURSUITS Pages 17–22: Annie Bouquet: Initials in Blue Bell - Shaped Flowers. Bake from Scratch: Iris Hantverk Small Pastry Brush, Iris…

My mother loved her teacups. Collecting them over the years, she found many in gift shops and antiques stores, while others were given to her as gifts from family and friends. She displayed these treasures in a hutch in our ranch house in Northeastern Colorado and only took them out on special occasions held at the church or in our small school. I remember how she would wrap and package each piece for transport. She carefully drove down the bumpy dirt road to our little town, where she would lend her collection out for Mother’s Day teas, women’s luncheons, and bridal or baby showers. Because the teacups and saucers were so delicate, my sister and I were rarely allowed to touch them. Growing up on a ranch, we were far…

It was June 2009, and we were in Paris for our twentieth wedding anniversary. We decided to take a day trip to visit Monet’s house and garden. We took the train to the town of Vernon and walked the remaining four miles to Giverny. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, there were charming stone cottages with lace curtains along the way, and every garden was more picturesque than the last. We discovered a little café, where we stopped for a glass of Bordeaux and a slice of quiche. Then we moved onto the artist’s magical garden, where I said, “How could you live here and not paint?” It’s my favorite memory of our romantic trip. JACQUELINE ZUCKERMAN Pottsville, Pennsylvania My love of all things “Anne” began at…

Revel in the season’s temperate weather by enjoying an afternoon with companions and Springtime Cake. Under the shade of an oak tree, gather for genial conversations in the garden while the sweet sound of birdsong flits by. Creating a simple gathering for two is easy with vintage wares, fresh-cut blooms, and intriguing novels. Romanticize an afternoon outdoors with antique dishware and textiles. Mix and match pieces atop a bistro table to bring charm to the scene. Dainty lace linens evoke memories of days gone by. During the summer months, let nature inspire and make the most of an outdoor space, no matter the size. A table for two situated in a floral hideaway welcomes all, complete with cushions to ensure comfort and a petite bouquet for fragrant environs. As May…