Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2009 i Southern Lady

This issue marks an incredible milestone for Southern Lady. Ten years ago, we released the first installment of this publication, and it was truly one of the most exciting moments in my life. I remember reading magazines and wondering why someone didn’t publish one about the beautiful, outstanding women of the South and their lifestyles. My daily life was filled with traditions and celebrations, and I knew that there simply must be a magazine to unite women like me, a magazine that would feature pages with gorgeous photos and well-written articles. For the premiere issue, our small staff gathered things that we loved, things that were beautiful, and captured them as best we could. After the launch, I was concerned that there wouldn’t be enough information to publish subsequent issues.…

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Ribbons, bows, and berries say “Merry Christmas!” “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go.” The classic song written by Meredith Willson in 1951 reminds us that signs of the season are all around us. Garland, lights, ornaments—street lights and shop windows draped in fifinery bring smiles indeed, but it’s the sight of holly and green adorning your own front door that strikes a sentimental chord deep in your heart. A simple wreath can transform a cold winter facade into a cozy and inviting abode. Whether you choose fresh or faux, start with full and feathery greenery. The look can be subtle or elaborate depending on your preference, so gather basic supplies from the yard or the local crafts store— pinecones, berries, ornaments, wax fruit—and decorate as…

It’s hard to believe it has been so many years—and so many wonderful issues—since my very fi rst fl oral design column in Southern Lady. It all started with a bouquet for Mother’s Day, and now, for this edition celebrating 10 years, two equally signifi cant occasions inspire the featured design: the magazine’s landmark anniversary and Christmas. For a container fi tting of the decade mark, I selected stackable shapes in the traditional 10-year anniversary gift of tin. Then, I placed one pillar candle for each year around the base of the lower container before fi lling in with fl at cedar and juniper. Holiday brilliance spills from the top container in the form of rich red roses and spray roses, green hydrangeas, hypericum berries, red and green apples (on…

A pretty pearl necklace or stunning diamond earrings can turn a simple black dress into an elegant ensemble. Apply that same philosophy to your everyday lamps, sconces, and chandeliers with magnetized charms that add a whole new dimension of sparkle to your holiday home. Simply decorate fi xtures with garlands of evergreens and curls of wired ribbons, then affi x charms, such as gilded angels, glass snowmen, and teardropshaped crystals to fi nish the look. But why wait for Christmas? You can light up your home all year long with these glittering accessories! For information, contact Magnifi cent Trimmings at 760-598-1956, or visit magtrim.com.…

“Had I but a penny in the world, thou shouldst have it for gingerbread.” –William Shakespeare No matter our age, when it comes to gingerbread houses, we’re often as enamored as storybook children of their edible walls and irresistible candy frills. Indeed, there’s a certain magic found in peppermint walkways and licorice chimneys, graham cracker windows and sugar cookie shingles. It’s a magic that gingerbread expert Christina Banner of North Carolina has made into an art form, building on the houses she crafted with her mom while they listened to their Muppets Christmas album. Now Christina, who won the Grove Park Inn and Spa’s National Gingerbread House Competition in 2004 and Food Network’s Gingerbread Challenge in 2005, constructs them for holidays throughout the year, viewing every edible she encounters in…

Though I’m Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas exhibits the same passion and profi ciency for chocolate as Marcel Desaulniers’s highly acclaimed Death by Chocolate, the idea behind this follow-up collection is to make it through holiday baking without killing yourself in the kitchen. As he writes in the introduction, these cocoa-infused desserts are meant to be “simple and straightforward, but still loaded with ‘WOW!’” Many recipes throughout the book, such as Jan’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake, use only one bowl, one pan, and one spoon or spatula. Then there are selections like the Chocolate Amaretto Terrine that require a mere four ingredients. But, promises Marcel, “This tempting list proves that short is sweet!” While the cookbook was certainly compiled with ease in mind, the fi nished confections are no less…

USE SOUTHERN LADY LINKS as a guide to learn more about our advertisers’ products/services. 100 BOUTIQUE BUSINESSES & SERVICES SEND ALL FROM CATEGORY 1 A BAZAAR COLLECTION A Bazaar Collection has the perfect gift for any occasion! Choose from acrylic trays, ice buckets, picture frames, and much more. Monogramming makes it unique! 2 COLLECTIBLES TODAY Home to all things collectible: Shop fi gurines, dolls, villages, trains, music boxes, and a wide selection of jewelry, home décor, and unique gifts. 3 HEART GIFTS BY TERESA Offers hand-painted, gift-boxed ornaments proudly made in the USA. These treasures will be keepsakes for a lifetime of memories. 4 INITIAL OUTFITTERS Personalized jewelry and gifts through home parties! Start your business today, shop our catalog, or host a party! 5 JUBILATIONS, INC. Sixty fl avors…

Linda Surfus Conyers, Georgia What a treat to get your wonderful magazine. The entire magazine is laid out so beautifully! I’ve used many of the recipes and have given a gift subscription to each of my daughters. It’s one of the special treats I give to myself after taking care of everyone else during my busy schedule. It holds a special place in my home! “ ” Lasting Impressions I love Southern Lady! I have never enjoyed a magazine so thoroughly from cover to cover. I am a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher in Fairhope, Alabama, so I especially enjoy the home decorating articles and the marvelous recipes. Thank you so much for your devotion to a high-quality publication. Cyndie Wilkins Fairhope, Alabama Family Treasures I received Southern Lady as…

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When the fi rst modern-day paper dolls appeared during the reign of Louis XV in 18th-century France, the pretty playthings that entertained Parisians began an enduring love affair that continues to delight today. These early handmade examples led to the fi rst manufactured paper dolls produced by S. & J. Fuller of London in 1810. American company J. Belcher of Boston followed Fuller’s “Little Fanny” with their own version, “Little Henry.” Other companies jumped on the paperdoll bandwagon, producing dozens of designs printed from engraved wooden blocks. Magazines were also a great source for paper dolls. As early as 1859, Godey’s Lady’s Book offered black-and-white versions for children to cut out and color. Some years later, Ladies’ Home Journal introduced little girls to Lettie Lane and her family, while Betsy…

Quite often, some of the best Christmas decorations are those that embody the love and care that went into their creation. With that sentiment in mind, Tessa Evelegh compiled Home-Made Christmas to provide inspiration—and instructions—for pieces sure to impart a nostalgic, homespun sparkle to your settings. The book’s 35 projects cover wreaths, tree trims, and general decorations, as well as ideas for both entertaining and giving. Nearly all of them require little time and only basic skills, and styles range from classic, as with the Pine and Cinnamon Wreath, to country chic, as with the Kissing Doves Decoration. But style aside, when fi nishing touches are found in handcrafted gems, such as the Victorian Christmas Stocking or the Cross-Stitch Cushion— those Yuletide interiors shine with originality and undeniable charm. Published…

frosty appeal There’s no question as to the “snowpiece” of this setting—an appetizer dish reminiscent of a favorite jolly, happy soul. Enhance the silk-hat-inspired magic by repeating the dots of the dinnerware in napkin rings and playful glasses. Then offer contrasting color and pattern with green linens and a candy cane tree-shaped centerpiece. SERVICE PLATE Rosso Vecchio Dot Service Plate/Charger, $50; Vietri, 919-245-4180; vietri.com. ACCENT PLATE Chill Out Shaped Snowman Plate, $24.99 for set of 4; Boston Warehouse, 781-352-1810; b2c .bwtc.com. GLASSES Polka Dot Glasses, $10 each; Harmony Landing, 205-871-0585; harmonylanding.com. NAPKIN RING Rosso Vecchio Dot Napkin Ring, $8; Vietri, 919-245- 4180; vietri.com. snowflake fancy Embrace the wistful charm of white Christmases by starting with a pristine tablecloth. Then add a fl urry of snowfl ake frills—salad plates, glittering ornaments,…

Because family and friends often gather around the hearth for holiday get-togethers, it’s important to make that part of your home as cozy and festive as possible. While the traditional greenery, candles, and stockings are always lovely, why not stretch your imagination to try something new and a little unexpected this year? Our friends at Pate-Meadows Design were in the same adventurous frame of mind and created a mantelpiece embellishment that will transform the whole room into a perfectly polished Christmas retreat. Knowing that draperies offer the fi nishing touch in décor, they fashioned a valance from one of their standard patterns using identical fabrics in two colors—one in red, one in green—to hang from the mantel. The result was nothing short of beautiful, and the best part is that…

When the fi rst issue of Southern Lady debuted just before Christmas 1999, we could hardly contain our excitement. We fi lled the pages with all of the beautiful things we Southern women love—gorgeous table settings with exquisite china, trees decorated with yards and yards of gossamer ribbons, stories about talented Southern artists and entrepreneurs, page after page of fl oral arrangements, vintage linens, and treasured keepsakes . . . We created a magazine that we loved, hoping fervently that you would as well—and you did! And now, 10 years later, we are celebrating your continued love and support of this forum for the gracious Southern way of life. As Christmas approaches, I feel particularly blessed and want my home to refl ect my joy and gratitude. To me, holiday…

Sherried Butternut Squash Soup Makes about 21/2 quarts 2 large butternut squash, halved and seeded (about 4 cups cooked) 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped carrot 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 bay leaves 2 quarts chicken broth 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon sugar 11/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 /2 cup heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons dry sherry Garnish: pumpernickel croutons 1. Preheat oven to 375°. 2. Place squash, cut side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet, and pierce several times with a fork. Bake for 1 hour, or until tender; cool slightly before handling. With a large spoon, scrape out cooked squash into a bowl, discarding peel; set aside. 3. In a Dutch…

KEY LIME AND RASPBERRY DESSERT Makes 1 (9-inch) dessert Crust: 2 cups fi rmly packed graham cracker crumbs 1/3 cup sugar 6 tablespoons butter, melted Filling: 1/4 cup cold water 1 (.25-ounce) envelope unfl avored gelatin 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup Key lime juice 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 3 tablespoons Key lime or lime zest 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 11/4 cups heavy whipping cream 2 pints fresh raspberries 1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves, melted Garnish: white chocolate curls, lime zest, fresh mint 1. Preheat oven to 300°. 2. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup sugar, and melted butter. Press fi rmly on bottom and halfway up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes; set aside to cool. 3. In…

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Just before Christmas last year, Kathy Cate found herself at her kitchen table, struggling to fi nish the homemade presents she hoped to give family. But a stubborn brush and an open heart took control of the canvas. Every subject she tried to paint came out as crosses, Kathy recalls. She gave in to the artistic inclination, and before long developed a technique to bring dimension to her creations by fi rst giving them texture with modeling clay. Finally hearts, a reminder of God’s love, found their way into the designs, bringing divine vision to life and forming the foundation for Kathy’s ministry venture, HeartArt. “It is truly out of the overfl ow of worship and praise to God from my heart that the art comes,” Kathy extols. Not only…

One of the many things I enjoy about gardening is the arrival of old friends and the discovery of new favorites that each season brings. In November, when some plants start to wind down for winter, others, including a number of berried beauties, begin to shine. Among these is a vibrant fall combination that I fi rst admired in Elizabeth Dean’s garden and nursery. Her Wilkerson Mill Gardens in Palmetto, Georgia, features the striking magenta fruits of American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, underplanted with the lavender-colored Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’. An evergreen backdrop of Ilex ‘Brilliant’, a holly loaded with bright red fruits, completes this colorful scene. Nearby is a large mass of the reliable perennial Amsonia hubrichtii, showing off its golden fall fi nery. Also garden-worthy is the purple beautyberry, Callicarpa…

Christmas comes with an unabashed feeling of joy. Our steps are lighter, our smiles brighter. Even curmudgeons fi nd themselves humming carols. Capture a bit of that seasonal bliss with a table setting that begins with beautiful china, such as the Rosenthal Versace Flower Fantasy design. This exquisite dinnerware bears the classic Versace meander band motif embellished with a garland of rosy fl owers. Ribbons of gold intertwine with traditional red and green and pops of pink, offering a lovely starting point for a perfectly jubilant tablescape. Duplicate the pearly background of the china by using white linens as the foundation for the setting. Use satin napkins or fabric squares in rich crimson as stand-ins for place mats; then, center the plates on top. Bring out Grandmother’s silver and pretty…

ROOM BY ROOM Two Formal Rooms’ Elegant Ambiance In a beautifully appointed living room and dining room, carefully select and combine accents that bring Christmas cheer without overpowering the understated elegance of each space. Against a muted wall color, the exquisite mirror over the living-room mantel immediately commands attention, making this the natural place to infuse traditional holiday colors. To accomplish this, red-berried Ilex branches fan out from a base of limegreen fern fronds in silvery pots positioned on either side of the mirror. Echoing the red-and-green color scheme, wired ribbon artfully curves across the mantel amid clusters of red berries and a garland of greenery. In the dining room, it is again an elaborate mirror that creates a focal point, especially when the sideboard below it features shimmery silver…

PUMPKIN PIE IN A MUG Makes 6 servings 3 cups half-and-half 3 cups milk 3 /4 cup sugar 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 /4 teaspoon salt Garnish: whipped cream, pumpkin pie spice 1. In a large saucepan, combine halfand- half, milk, and sugar over mediumlow heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Add pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, whisking to combine well. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally; do not boil. Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired. HOLIDAY HOT LEMONADE Makes 10 to 12 servings 8 cups water 2 cups sugar 2 cups fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon honey 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into strips Garnish: fresh lemon slices 1.…

COVER Heligan Dessert Plate; Juliska. GIFT GUIDE PAGES 20, 22, 24, 26: Extra ornaments, frills, Frame holding silhouette, Wooden Birds, and other embellishments; Cody Foster and Co. MIX & MATCH: LET IT SNOW PAGES 46-47: Silver Angels and Snowflake Ornaments; Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. Candy Cane Trees; Harmony Landing. Silver Finial Ornaments; At Home Furnishings. SEASONAL SETTINGS: MERRY & BRIGHT PAGES 48-50: Flower Fantasy China; Versace by Rosenthal. Stocking Ornament; Jingle Nog. White Pipe Cleaner Trees; At Home Furnishings. Red and Green Top Hat Ornaments, Silver Tinsel Trees, Nativity, and Green Harlequin Ornaments; Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. Snow Covered Garland, Mini Red Egg Ornaments, Ribbons, and Wrapping; Hobby Lobby. Linen Tablecloth; Williams-Sonoma. Floral Design; Flower Stems. ENTERTAINING TOUCHES PAGE 52: Light Charms, Gold Angel, Clear Beaded Garland, and Clear Pendalogue; Magnifi cent…