Victoria November/December 2021

Dear Friends In Shepherds Abiding, our final Victoria Classics Book Club selection for 2021, Jan Karon makes this astute observation: “Indeed, it seemed to be the wont of most people in a distracted and frantic world to blast through an experience without savoring it or, later, reflecting upon it.” As we enter the holidays, days pass even more quickly, and the challenge for each of us is to seek periods of stillness. Let this November/December issue serve as an invitation to inhale deeply the joys of the coming season. Amid the scent of fresh-cut evergreens and the sight of treasured adornments, we survey the beauty of interiors dressed for Yuletide. View Artist-in-Residence Annie Sloan’s colorful projects on page 15, and step into a Georgian home filled with heirlooms on page 73. Beginning…

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 November/December features: Seasonal Inspiration Christmastime offers the perfect opportunity for the owners of this Georgian charmer to highlight both antiques and architecture with radiant holiday decorations. In Tribute to Beauty View the wonders of Winterthur in displays that showcase the bounty of this storied property, as well as the talents of those who tend its myriad blossoms. Hearth & Home Evergreen trimmings festooned about the mantel and a blazing fire set the scene for a winter welcome in the lovely and serene environs of this California abode. Heralding Great Joy In Phyllis Hoffman DePiano’s home, silver bells ring out the happiness of December nuptials and a collection of memories that grows with…

When I was young, we lived in a wonderful, rambling Victorian. I loved my bedroom at the top of the stairs, with its hardwood floors, gabled ceiling, and tiny Juliet balcony. My mother sewed beautifully, but arthritis made it too difficult for her to sew by hand. Knowing my love of all things pink and old-fashioned, for Christmas one year, she secretly arranged for a friend to sew the loveliest quilt that was perfect for me and my bedroom. The coverlet was made of wild rose pink and cornflower blue printed cotton squares and backed with a blush-toned flannel sprinkled with darker rosebuds. I kept that quilt well into adulthood and was very thankful for its comfort and memories after my mother passed. Sadly, it was lost during a move, but I’ve…

When I was writing a Mitford novel, the story often ended at Christmastime. This wasn’t precisely intentional—it’s just that the ending moved naturally to a celebration of Beginning. After the long and sometimes rocky road of writing a book, a Mitford Christmas gave the author a perk for all that hunkering over the keyboard; it was my sweet in the toe of the stocking. Ironically, the Christmases of my childhood were not the extravagant exertions of the Victorians or even the caroling merriment of the Mitfordians. My grandparents, with whom my little sister and I lived, had been through two world wars and the Great Depression. We had saved bacon grease, raised and canned our own vegetables, butchered our own hogs, and made our own sausage. “I am again in love with the…

Christmas is always a prismatic season for this revered decorative-paint artisan, and she spreads plenty of Yuletide cheer in her signature, color-centric way, whether it’s with traditional hues or those that fall a bit outside the box. “There are the reds and greens, which I am especially enjoying this year,” Annie relates. “For a pared-back palette, I love sage, white, and a little burnt orange, or for something luxe, I go for rich greens, blues, and golds.” After staying close to home for the last year, she plans to safely channel her desire for travel and culture through her decorations and celebrations. She’s also continuing a family tradition that began when her boys were young, one that embraces her eco-responsible philosophy—and is just plain fun for all ages. “All presents from…