Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2012 i Southern Lady

I love to pull out the boxes and bins of decorations that have been tucked away in the attic since last December and to relive sweet memories tied to each cherished ornament. Christmas has such an enchanting way of weaving together stra nds of the past and the present, and that idea is beautifully illustrated with our tours of the historic homes of Natchez, Mississippi, and Mooresv ille, Alabama. From the grandest mansion to t he quaintest cottage, the spirit of the holidays shines, rem ind ing us that this time of year ha s been joy fully celebrated throughout the generations. Just as our great-grandmothers knitted sca rves and baked breads to give at Christmas, we, too, search for the perfect present for each person on our list. A…

Elizabeth Adams recalls fondly the day she sketched necklace designs on the back of a boarding pass while riding the New York City subway. Moved by the beads she’d just purchased, the artist says she couldn’t wait to put pen to paper. “The design process is spontaneous for me,” she reveals. “I’m most inspired by the materials I find to work with.” With a hodge-podge of brilliant baubles at hand—from polished pearls, weathered coral, and luxurious leather to vintage cameos, golden crosses, and rare stones—it’s easy to see how inspiration would strike. Thankfully, these days Elizabeth keeps a small moleskin book in her bag, ready for quick sketches as she goes through her day. As the owner of ExVoto Vintage in Montgomery, Alabama, Elizabeth may spend an average day blogging…

A BEAUTIFUL WREATH placed on the front door for all to see is a sign that Christmas is on its way. It’s the first thing visitors view when approaching your entryway, so it should share the vibrancy of the season. Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market (dorothymcdaniel.com) created this lovely wreath to inspire your holiday decorating. Start out with two varieties of holly as the base on a 15-inch Oasis ring, and then place a mixture of Ming and Chilean ferns to fill out the wreath form. Introduce small pops of red and lime green with Nandina berries and coin plant sprays spaced evenly throughout. To give the wreath more texture, consider adding some handsome pinecones to the mix. As the finishing touch to this front-door focal point, add tartan ribbon tied…

HOLIDAY TEA FOR TWO A table for two, set with ruffles, lace, and tiers of cupcakes, works well whether you are entertaining your beau or your best friend. Rely on traditional red and white, then sprinkle in pink for a setting that is both festive and feminine. For the mantel, nestle candles and mercury-glass ornaments in greenery, then hang a wreath woven with pretty ribbons.…

A WORK OF ART and a glimpse of history, wax seals have left their mark on thousands of years of writings. Embrace this age-old practice as a creative embellishment, and enjoy the romance it can bring to your holidays. We defined our wax imprint with a small paintbrush, glue, and glitter before affixing the seal to striped ribbon. Then we filled a clear glass ornament with shreds of sheet music for a final touch of vintage glamour. For more DIY ideas like this, check out our holiday issue of fresh style, available online at hoffmanmediastore.com.…

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE Makes ?? servings ?½ cups sugar ? (??-ounce) can evaporated milk ½ cup butter ? teaspoon salt ? (?-ounce) jars marshmallow crème ? cups creamy peanut butter ? teaspoon vanilla extract ?½ cups chopped roasted peanuts Garnish: melted semisweet chocolate ?. Line a ??x?-inch baking pan with heavyduty aluminum foil. ?. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and salt over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar mixture reaches ???° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, and stir in marshmallow crème, peanut butter, and vanilla, stirring until well combined. Spoon mixture evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Let cool in pan for ? hours. Drizzle with melted chocolate and add candy sticks, if desired. ALMOND TOFFEE Makes…

FROSTY’S FAVORITE HOT CHOCOLATE Makes 6 to 8 servings ? cups half-and-half ? cups whole milk ? tablespoons vanilla extract ? (?-ounce) bars white chocolate, chopped ¼ cup white chocolate-flavored liqueur (optional) Garnish: whipped cream, white chocolate curls ?. In a large saucepan, combine half-and-half, milk, vanilla, white chocolate, and white chocolate liqueur over medium-low heat; stir occasionally until white chocolate melts. Garnish with whipped cream and white chocolate curls, if desired.…

Make the season bright with accessories that shine. Lou Wedges in Mustard, $145; joyfolie.com. Assorted jewelry, starting at $65; exvotovintage.com. GIFTS GALORE, page 28 While on a mission trip in Brazil, I had the honor of working with Mr. Doug Irish, and along the way, I discovered that this Southern gent was a man of many talents. I penned my reflections from those travels in one of his handmade leather journals, and since that time, I think of them as one of the best gifts to give. You’ll find many unique items like this in our annual Gift Guide, and we hope you’ll delight in each and every one! STORY TIME, page 62 I love stories, especially those written for children. We took one of my favorite tales, ’Twas the…

for southern gentlemen 1 & 2. Walton Patch Jacket $795, Pullovers $195 each, Red & Navy Shirt $185, Make Cornbread Not War Baseball Cap $38; BillyReid.com. 3 & 4. Sterling Subway Cufflinks $169, Mule Mug $39.95; RedEnvelope.com. 5. Modern History in Pictures $30, Great Buildings $30; us.DK.com. Porch Living $30; Gibbs-Smith.com. 6 & 7. Copper Tray $199.95, Bonjour French Press $49.95; Williams-Sonoma.com. 8. Wine Barrel Lazy Susan $125; UncommonGoods.com. 9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn $18; BarnesAndNoble.com. 10. Popcorn & Seasonings $6.95 and up; UrbanAccents.com. 11. Chocolates $15; Godiva.com. 12. Toscana Alarm Clock by Match1995 $277; Brombergs.com. 13. L’Ancienne Hot Cocoa $30; DeanDeluca.com. 14. Sweet Tea Vodka $18.99; Firefly.com. 15. Candy Cane and Stockings Bow Ties $45; VineyardVines.com. 16. Cannon EOS 5D $1900; BestBuy.com. 17. Cartier: The Tank Watch Timeless Style…

I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS SO MUCH I surround myself with the merriment at every turn. I’m never content with just a wreath on the door—I want the whole 9 yards! I often entertain dinner guests at Christmastime, and I was so inspired by the exquisite décor in the Barran family’s lovely home in Mooresville, Alabama. This town truly embraces the spirit of the season. Be sure to turn to Two Days Away on page 82 to get a peek at even more homes in this quaint community.…

HOW BRILLIANT! An ordinary ladder makes a handy place to store all your gift-wrap supplies. Look to the past to create presents certain to impress recipients. Visit antiques shops and flea markets throughout the year for things to use come Christmastime, and incorporate the finds, such as vintage postcards and postage stamps, in the wrapping. Lucky for you, several companies carry vintage-style reproductions of such items as well as modern papers and ribbons with a retro feel—think replicas of old maps and pretty paper tape. Or you may opt to add seasonal sayings to plain kraft paper with rubber stamps and ink in festive hue…

It’s easy to assume time stands still in Mooresville, Alabama. Rather, it’s quite the contrary. Here, the hustle and bustle of Yuletide fanfare is a way of life. Residents begin planning for the holidays when summer’s heat is still at its peak, and by the time the first chill hits the air, every nook of Mooresville’s historic tree-lined streets is graced with greenery or bedecked in bows. Incorporated in 1818, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places—and the annual Mooresville Christmas Progressive Dinner is a particularly perfect way to see it. Taking place Saturday, December 8, 2012, the event guides visitors through six decorated homes, a working farm, a magnificent restaurant, quaint shops, and historic public buildings. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the sites…

Nothing sweetens family gatherings like a dessert from a treasured heirloom recipe. It brings back fond memories and inspires shared reminiscences of holidays past. “When I was growing up, the women in my family were the most passionate cooks I knew,” writes cookbook author Patty Pinner. “They cooked from their hearts and souls.” Inspired by her family’s deep history in the kitchen, Patty penned the book Sweets: Soul Food Desserts & Memories. “To say my family liked desserts would be putting it mildly. They loved desserts,” she says. Although Patty was raised in Michigan, her grandmother My My, a Mississippi native, made sure that soul food and Southern manners stayed in the family. “My My brought most of her recipes with her from the South; she carried many of them…

THE SHIMMERING GLEAM of a burning candle brings warm, serene images to mind. At Christmastime, the flickering flame seems to become even more comforting and almost magical when paired with holiday décor. Add a festive, wintery touch to your home by placing a white candle in a decorative glass container or an outdoor lantern. Surround the candle halfway with artificial snow. Then scatter colorful ornaments and pinecones around the candleholder to add to the merriment. It’s a lovely scene of winter captured indoors. You can find faux snow at your local crafts store.…

CASUAL POSSIBILITIES Mix in everyday dinnerware and homespun linens in rich patterns to instantly infuse the scene with warmth. Add to the table’s easygoing approach with a simple centerpiece. Essential Round Cereal Bowl in Cherry, $5, and Kara Tumbler Large, $5, and Small, $4.50; Pier 1, pier1.com. RE Stoneware Mug in Red, $15.99, and Red Striped Kitchen Towel used as napkin, $19 for set of 6; Target, target.com. Plaid Place Mats by Juliska, $30 each, and BIA Cordon Bleu Ellipsewood Flatware, $860 for 4 (5-piece) placesetting; available through Bromberg’s, brombergs.com. Cardinal Christmas Salt & Pepper by Royal Norfolk, $15.99 ; Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com. ELEGANT OPTIONS A generous use of cream and apple green accents lends sophistication while maintaining a merry air. Look for dainty details, such as lace-rimmed salad plates,…

WELCOMING WARMTH A lavish arrangement composed of dried hydrangeas, apples, greenery, and a pineapple holds center stage on this mantelpiece. A trio of nutcrackers perches on a high shelf, a luxurious garland frames the fireplace, and votives lend a subtle glow to this lovely seasonal scene.wwww JOLLY GOOD A portrait of ole Saint Nick peers out over the stunning white brick fireplace decorated with fresh-cut greenery in a lovely mix of fir, holly, and magnolia. The Marietta, Georgia, homeowner is a talented woodworker whose gifted hands created the handsome paneling and cabinetry in this room. VINTAGE CHARM An elaborate design formed by green and ecru tiles distinguishes this fireplace as something special. Add to that a carved mantel with a beveled mirror that bears gilded nutcracker stocking holders and lace-topped…

Natasha McCrary can certainly speak for her neighbors when she says she knows how blessed they are to call Mooresville home. “Not everyone has the opportunity to live like this,” she says, referring to the village life her fellow residents cherish. “That’s why we love to entertain and share our homesweet- home with others.” All gussied up in greenery and glitz, the charming homes of Mooresville range from early-1800s cottages to more current replications of historic architecture. Natasha’s in-laws built one such abode. A more recent addition to Mooresville, George and Shirley McCrary’s Federal-style house is a shining example of the beauty of building classically designed homes that have modern conveniences. When Christmastime rolls around, traditional décor adds to the charm. A grand tree graces the entryway, accented by the…