Victoria Loveliness

I just found Kathy's beautiful blog on the virtues of Victoria magazine and her invitation to join her and others in a salute to Victoria magazine influence.  I have a strong admiration for Victoria style, even if it is not always packaged as such, but all things lovely, such as roses and glittering crystal, or nostalgic, fine china reminscent of generations past, or items of beauty brought in from nature to display with love in our homes, these are the same attractions ladies of the Victoria era enjoyed and incorporated into their lives. So we rely on magazines such as Victoria to teach and remind us of these glorious influences.

Gentle readers, I do not have a copy, recent or otherwise, of Victoria magazine. I'm not even sure why not, except that I bring really few magazines into my house, and this one never seems to be available at the magazine rack I shop from.  In fact, I find it difficult to locate a few magazines I admire and imagine myself getting. No, I don't know why I don't look for them online, it's a visual prompting thing.  This lovely edition I wish to share with you for now, is a hardcover Victoria magazine publication, titled From Heart & Hand.  It was published in 1996, which is probably how long I've had it, and subtitled, 'Creating Beautiful Keepsakes.'  True to it's name, the pages are filled with articles about handiwork from years past and descriptions on how to replicate them today.

 A few include 'Memory Plates, making a collage of photos and artistic elements frames in ceramic plates.

and Magnificent Mantles, decorating your fireplace mantle to its ultimate loveliness.

It also includes many other articles on handiwork, some forgotten by only a few artisans, like redwork embroidery and paper dolls dressed in real cloth pieces, others we still strive to create in our homes, lace and wreath and botanical arts.

I pull out this book occasionall and am inspired all over again. Thank you Kathy for reminding me of this wonderful resource. I will make a point to find the magazine.

I hope others will join me at her blog, A Delightsome Life for the Victoria party.