tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88723118767743018492024-03-19T04:32:58.277-07:00Remembering Victoria MagazineThis is a blog for stories about memories of the original <em>Victoria</em> magazine. Many loved the magazine so much that we have kept all our original collections so that we can enjoy them over and over again. This blog is intended as a place to share our stories about the original <em>Victoria</em>. If you are interested in contacting me about sharing your story, please <a href="mailto:victoria@charmandgrace.com">click here.</a>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-88718243924477749882016-09-29T18:36:00.003-07:002016-09-29T18:36:56.860-07:00It's back again at 50% off.... all Victoria issues on DVD or USB<div style="text-align: center;">
FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS...</div>
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Hoffman media is once again offering all <em>Victoria</em> magazines on either DVD or USB drive, both the Hearst versions and the Hoffman versions, for 50% off the normal price! That means you can get them all in digital format for only $49.99!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TFj4tXQxYsNhLcHZBetmhi6dLnor2Diuc4aXSPiQrMZipQlZBzEnidalmGLrZFoVKjNPMFdArr7dp8GEx2_SCVGp-olACDFsZgaz5rRzaZn0TDF3XB3_H7YK8C4Crsa7rpZc6z9dauU/s1600/VictoriaDVDCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TFj4tXQxYsNhLcHZBetmhi6dLnor2Diuc4aXSPiQrMZipQlZBzEnidalmGLrZFoVKjNPMFdArr7dp8GEx2_SCVGp-olACDFsZgaz5rRzaZn0TDF3XB3_H7YK8C4Crsa7rpZc6z9dauU/s320/VictoriaDVDCover.png" width="204" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/books-music/victoria-complete-collection.html?utm_source=Victoria&utm_campaign=dbd6b87992-DVD_50_off_Sale_2016_VIK-9_29_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd25afacee-dbd6b87992-251836205&mc_cid=dbd6b87992&mc_eid=999d5cda7c">CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON THE HOFFMAN STORE</a>
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I do not receive any compensation for passing this information along to you, but know my <em>Victoria</em> friends want to know about these special offers.Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-55666289174914188322014-07-25T09:32:00.001-07:002014-07-25T09:33:51.581-07:00Ending Today: 40% Off Victoria DVD from Hoffman<p>Today only, <a href="http://www.hoffmanmedia.com" target="_blank">Hoffman Media</a> is offering the complete collection of <em>Victoria</em> magazine on DVD (including the fabulous photography of Toshi Otsuki and the wonderful editorial staff headed by <a href="http://nancylindemeyer.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Nancy Lindemeyer</a>) for 40% off the regular price.  It is normally $99.99, but today they are offering it for $59.99.  So, if you want to have access to every issue (through 2012), then don’t delay!   Click the image to visit the <a href="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" target="_blank">Hoffman Media Store</a>.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/i/vikdvd2.jpg" /></a></p> Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-75550861371139635232013-09-26T11:34:00.001-07:002013-09-26T11:34:40.337-07:00Tribute from Another Gentle Reader, Zuni<p>Zuni writes:</p> <blockquote> <p>I’m so happy to have found your blog with the information about Hoffman Media’s offering of <i>Victoria</i> magazine.<i> </i>I still remember the day I found the very first one—at the most unlikely, unromantic of places: a UDF convenience store! I’d walked in with my then-young sons, and I still remember that the cover was captivating. It had a huge white flower, perhaps a peony. From that point forward, it was true love. I gave gift subscriptions to my grandmother, and we would peruse it “together” by phone…”did you see page___?” or “isn’t that the most beautiful tablecloth on page ___?” It was a wonderful pastime for us that we shared until she passed away.</p> <p>I had, and treasured, every issue, until moving day from the “big house” to downsize, and in the last hours of moving out I decided to let most of them go…a decision I’ve regretted for eight years now. Some, that were in other areas of the house, managed to make the move, so I especially treasured those, until an incident with water in our basement damaged them. Sad day.</p> <p>Happy day: When <i>Victoria</i> was published again! </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://chickadeehomenest.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Visit Zuni’s blog, Chickadee Home Nest, here.</a>  Her latest post <a href="http://chickadeehomenest.blogspot.com/2013/09/dads-old-suitcase.html" target="_blank">“Dad’s Old Suitcase”</a> is just wonderful!</p> <p>Thank you, Zuni, for sharing your <em>Victoria</em> story with us.</p> Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-3249451397094152312013-08-27T08:49:00.001-07:002014-04-27T18:53:07.258-07:00An Exciting New Offer For Victoria Magazine Lovers…I am thrilled to share with you that Hoffman Media has released an incredible offer for <i>Victoria</i> magazine lovers: <i>Victoria</i> The Complete Collection. This is a DVD with every issue of <i>Victoria</i> in a searchable, indexed format. Here are the specifics from the Hoffman site:<br />
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Pre-Order Today! DVD will ship November 1, 2013.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/books-music/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/books-music/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GiBiga1E9A9RfiYzfNz_cJPBdYUajAMnfF1Ef60S3ochqELxqtmP3jlug0311BKK8SFuyfGPpUEodW3DQFthsX-qMWwkWy5IXjFjzH9yUg1eMP2CBI1xCCOLTb2rNyc4aDHNpYe9XzI/s1600/VictoriaDVDCover.png" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/books-music/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" target="_blank"><br /></a> <br />
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Discover 20 years of timeless treasures from Victoria magazine. <br />
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Find all your blissful favorites on two easy-to-use DVDs. <br />
✥ 278 issues in all, including out-of-print issues <br />
✥ More than 5,000 searchable articles <br />
✥ Hundreds of easily accessible recipes <br />
✥ Beautiful photography by Toshi Otsuki <br />
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Robust search capabilities let you... <br />
✥ Find a specific article <br />
✥ Search for favorite recipes, décor, and gardens <br />
✥ Browse by issue or search all issues</blockquote>
This is an amazing opportunity for those who may not still have all their <i>Victorias</i> or would just love to have the whole collection in digital and searchable format. It is expensive, but not as expensive as trying to replace every hard copy.<br />
I know for many of us, the joy of holding our magazines in our hands and turning her pages does not lend itself to wanting the digital format. But what a lovely thing to have a backup of every issue, should anything ever happen to our hard copies. I just had to share this offer with those of you who have visited and shared here, as we are all kindred spirits when it comes to our favorite magazine!<br />
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<a href="http://www.hoffmanmediastore.com/books-music/victoria-complete-collection-dvd.html" target="_blank">Click the image above or click here to view the Hoffman page with ordering information.</a><br />
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Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-49808870875575996812013-06-20T11:33:00.000-07:002013-06-20T11:34:23.917-07:00A Very Victoria Giveaway...It has been a while since I have posted here, but I have been wanting for some time to get back to it. I was out reading some of my favorite bloggers' most recent posts yesterday when I discovered a wonderful <em>Victoria</em>-related giveaway. Brenda Leyland at <a href="http://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2013/06/remembering-dear-friends-with-giveaway.html">It's a Beautiful Life</a> is giving away a beautiful book by one of <em>Victoria's</em> artists in residence, Aude Kamlet, with images from her <em>Victoria</em> days! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXoBexYE8Vr2uM9VVUKMaAJQrLE_Wu2HJQ7-9UkiSlQgIn42AFS4I0cGEwnL9QBf7pz59sccleajKBV_HqbZtITApbaBBeatMLGNiMqtDifSUscP-ifv1UUg9M4pQsRCZ-cwmUujsJ2Y/s1600/RememberingAudeKamlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXoBexYE8Vr2uM9VVUKMaAJQrLE_Wu2HJQ7-9UkiSlQgIn42AFS4I0cGEwnL9QBf7pz59sccleajKBV_HqbZtITApbaBBeatMLGNiMqtDifSUscP-ifv1UUg9M4pQsRCZ-cwmUujsJ2Y/s1600/RememberingAudeKamlet.jpg" /></a></div>
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What a treasure. If you would like a chance to win the book, hop over to <a href="http://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2013/06/remembering-dear-friends-with-giveaway.html">Brenda's Blog</a> and leave a comment... but hurry because the drawing is tomorrow!Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-69787943707407032132011-02-05T15:06:00.000-08:002011-02-05T15:36:39.843-08:00Fond Reminiscence...<p align="center"><em>"If you cannot read all your books, at any rate handle, or as it were, fondle them -- peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on the shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; at any rate let them be your acquaintances."</em> - Winston Churchill</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="left">Thank you, Mr. Churchill, for this glorious quote. This is precisely how I feel about my <em>Victorias</em>. I can scarcely go a day without at least looking at one, putting one on my bedside table so it is easily within reach should I have a moment to pick it up. </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left">There is something deeply reassuring about just knowing they are all there whenever I get ready to read or even just look at one... and, for me, that is often. There are days that are so busy and technical-information-laden that the mere sight of the beautiful cover of one of my <em>Victorias</em> causes my blood pressure to settle and my nerves to calm. If you think it odd to make such a statement about a "mere" magazine, then you have obviously not had the pleasure of her company.</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left">Sometimes I feel as L.M. Montgomery so aptly describes in this scene from <em>Anne of Green Gables</em>:</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"><em>"Anne was curled up Turk-fashion on the hearthrug, gazing into that joyous glow where the sunshine of a hundred summers was being distilled from the maple cordwood. She had been reading, but her book had slipped to the floor, and now she was dreaming, with a smile on her parted lips. Glittering castles in Spain were shaping themselves out of the mists and rainbows of her lively fancy; adventures wonderful and enthralling were happening to her in cloudland -- adventures that always turned out triumphantly and never involved her in scrapes like that of real life." </em></p><p align="center"><em></em> </p><p align="center"> </p>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-25938360749722090162011-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:002011-01-13T07:51:36.142-08:00Shirlene Tomanek-Lowdermilk - An Accidental Encounter with VictoriaI can still remember clearly when I discovered <em>Victoria Magazine</em>. It was a Sunday, and I wanted a new magazine to read. So, I went to the store to pick up my usual "fashion" magazines to have an afternoon of reading. As I reached for my favorite magazine, this "other" magazine fell to the floor. I picked it up, not looking at it, and placed it back on the shelf. Again, it fell to the floor. This time when I picked it up, I turned it over and looked at the cover. I was just amazed at such a beautiful cover. This "other" magazine was the premier issue of <em>Victoria</em>, 1987. I quickly thumbed through the magazine, but I knew immediately this magazine would fulfill me more than any of all the fashion magazines I usually purchased. From that moment it was a love affair that lasted until the very last issue. I had kept all the old issues of the magazines at my office so I would always have some inspiration with me though out the day. Unfortunatley and sadly our office closed when the owner passed away, and the building was sold with all its contents very quickly so that I was unable to retrieve the old issues. I didn't realize this until after some time had passed. I may not have the magazines, but I will always have my memories of those beautiful magazines. I am so pleased that Victoria came back.<br /><br />Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Shirlene Tomanek-LowdermilkCharm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-2337034153668428932010-10-24T20:11:00.000-07:002010-10-24T22:23:24.862-07:00A Sentimental Journey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YcLjoQ8_KSnFLlLIY-t_fNdCllwOiH06n8vg0zrctFexej3I2iOgxxU8wMpqNzGq6yNADeonsFMy7vckAdjMdONy7rg3n5D4KmFjM6RqWCj7_UdD2zGtKhd0-nvG5BtkXNyVMfHjkKk/s1600/100_4585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YcLjoQ8_KSnFLlLIY-t_fNdCllwOiH06n8vg0zrctFexej3I2iOgxxU8wMpqNzGq6yNADeonsFMy7vckAdjMdONy7rg3n5D4KmFjM6RqWCj7_UdD2zGtKhd0-nvG5BtkXNyVMfHjkKk/s400/100_4585.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531848542767231394" /></a><br />The very first October issue of <em>Victoria</em> debuted in 1988. The second issue, which came out in the fall of 1987, was a 1987/1988 Winter issue. The first actual <em>October </em>issue came along a year later to usher in the golden season of 1988. With such phrases on the cover as "Autumn... A Sentimental Journey" and "Gathering Golden Moments," we knew that when we opened the cover we would be greeted with beautiful articles in glowing tones.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTsEWh27JsUm4vvrYVcZsKbcwcDDBdAr8wi-6I0jC8gzYKM0OCQmwF_cxFQbmw5W1PBrEDp_GkdruP0x8pzhwXQ6_HR7fGhX2Wv49LnraTld6t6ZW9_lGjoLj00OYGKrVF5N8x-GD6dM/s1600/100_4560.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531819511149343458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTsEWh27JsUm4vvrYVcZsKbcwcDDBdAr8wi-6I0jC8gzYKM0OCQmwF_cxFQbmw5W1PBrEDp_GkdruP0x8pzhwXQ6_HR7fGhX2Wv49LnraTld6t6ZW9_lGjoLj00OYGKrVF5N8x-GD6dM/s400/100_4560.JPG" /></a><br /><br />As always, she would not disappoint. From articles on ferns, to fabulous fashion layouts resembling some Agatha Christie movie set, to the delectable food displays, to the "Leaves" section by Jenny Walton (this one is a particular prize, as it relates to a teacher who inspired <em>Jenny Walton </em>-- aka Nancy Lindemeyer -- to read) this one is a gem in warm hues.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghb2nDOuKWm7dEvl9lot5ifzqjaR1O4FSwEHONE22MU1GIdyVXnEieyf-GAlVkpWxwIt3ziIMUhqtl2PmMKvkBoRND58Vjf_IgUBKbSVZ24kbxN0KOkf5uhClVSxwoc_IBIfeJaBLyN4/s1600/100_4586.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531844236197804034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghb2nDOuKWm7dEvl9lot5ifzqjaR1O4FSwEHONE22MU1GIdyVXnEieyf-GAlVkpWxwIt3ziIMUhqtl2PmMKvkBoRND58Vjf_IgUBKbSVZ24kbxN0KOkf5uhClVSxwoc_IBIfeJaBLyN4/s400/100_4586.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3_osT-C88BO7jPXK_R5glX9go9WW1RNJ07pf0Kb17JYLvgnsM7MS8dNWbD1d9LH-Br8a68sCs9IeOoia6eq9X-eZVOsiCZRoXTyE4lExl9IK7BcSVjDXWaCBMmem3PBKzWZXtZfC_4U/s1600/100_4589.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531844233422928722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3_osT-C88BO7jPXK_R5glX9go9WW1RNJ07pf0Kb17JYLvgnsM7MS8dNWbD1d9LH-Br8a68sCs9IeOoia6eq9X-eZVOsiCZRoXTyE4lExl9IK7BcSVjDXWaCBMmem3PBKzWZXtZfC_4U/s400/100_4589.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgYJXfN6xO0I7XLLtVEftVso0PoCjkAgfTbSBbfQ3qCq2u1rrQ6DcmuD24h__aXHK67w_zB0j_Hr0AijidbwidFTWxzU_OtAb4cT-Q2BTQQszn8ElURMUB8Ebc-t4caNdZobg7RIMj6o/s1600/100_4590.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531844229890903378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgYJXfN6xO0I7XLLtVEftVso0PoCjkAgfTbSBbfQ3qCq2u1rrQ6DcmuD24h__aXHK67w_zB0j_Hr0AijidbwidFTWxzU_OtAb4cT-Q2BTQQszn8ElURMUB8Ebc-t4caNdZobg7RIMj6o/s400/100_4590.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5hM_RgL7CVTGceEdRQRMPNO3keyXYjBT9ANrS1XGhRsCFoDUphf27PWchmli2Po1njfzKcehstQOIkfF2hznR8Pl7fq2SoYLLwxV1WbbPU9En7b5x2SWV7cg_vjSqjriNP9w9U62zlY/s1600/100_4591.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531844225207921234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5hM_RgL7CVTGceEdRQRMPNO3keyXYjBT9ANrS1XGhRsCFoDUphf27PWchmli2Po1njfzKcehstQOIkfF2hznR8Pl7fq2SoYLLwxV1WbbPU9En7b5x2SWV7cg_vjSqjriNP9w9U62zlY/s400/100_4591.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT-rK7Cpx19oudPzvr3RZ1tW7LCSldo9JOM0XWwPJ_L3ESWLhnU5DpRbMOx047wijnMimufVB18KBW6Cso_cHJBfaEY0pNeLbgSouK4_Zr5phJ3EvOlx0zjE_xSB5r7siU4vroWa63GY/s1600/100_4594.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531842456533981394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT-rK7Cpx19oudPzvr3RZ1tW7LCSldo9JOM0XWwPJ_L3ESWLhnU5DpRbMOx047wijnMimufVB18KBW6Cso_cHJBfaEY0pNeLbgSouK4_Zr5phJ3EvOlx0zjE_xSB5r7siU4vroWa63GY/s400/100_4594.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8f-oQuc1JECwcuKPIi8m2ABlRPLV5OBmxWEc40uyHT9oTGh2pQ87cIw6p7rQsBL8uM-9F0Knfpr1RwSHQFTjnxdVsLycbhZj3xEE_3jy-s9MqWKfmDBikIqgzuPf6Irzp_awWNpkzH4/s1600/100_4598.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531842452638672626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8f-oQuc1JECwcuKPIi8m2ABlRPLV5OBmxWEc40uyHT9oTGh2pQ87cIw6p7rQsBL8uM-9F0Knfpr1RwSHQFTjnxdVsLycbhZj3xEE_3jy-s9MqWKfmDBikIqgzuPf6Irzp_awWNpkzH4/s400/100_4598.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAg7sRVY8164TPiqgLX4okOVDmzhI7bTmPaOSxO7h8OxzFRikKlR1K2Or0NdPf24GxkOe_JuYBZuP9pTKLqLgaoj0-RRYdpHYSOB8HCEM3SoYOWQrWavyrcCLfqtDPzYbFkJm3HgGuoA/s1600/100_4596.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnEKxZF-49e7kKYaOyAitwZ2mrNGuQ_ACHei02iBbr25lIl9cKeRQTQ4sFlIm_Jb54Avqjv-xzc3_mqLlksEQ8p8VlUmzaMmTEH9IOjZRpIOzuRaZeCWpwdR_KA4KdXLxsGsbd5w2eG8/s1600/100_4601.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531842442409555490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnEKxZF-49e7kKYaOyAitwZ2mrNGuQ_ACHei02iBbr25lIl9cKeRQTQ4sFlIm_Jb54Avqjv-xzc3_mqLlksEQ8p8VlUmzaMmTEH9IOjZRpIOzuRaZeCWpwdR_KA4KdXLxsGsbd5w2eG8/s400/100_4601.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Thank you for taking a sentimental journey along with me, as we fondly remember the early days of what would become a treasured magazine.Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-84910029810733053902010-06-11T07:36:00.000-07:002010-06-11T07:50:41.134-07:00Hearst's Victoria, Issue Two ...Just a Baby, but a Beautiful One!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRuAyGDAnDPDotLVtQsMLYtlPiBHf10ex6pq1i6Aaednr1hFCXnl6frjGJzPuLFbhLozbU2cCSmiYOMUnSFHj1f2X2DFP9u9MMsvMdEEKas_v4M36tSVC_4VLRaz8lqsyJTjKLR2gqLs/s1600/100_1839.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481527051609614178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRuAyGDAnDPDotLVtQsMLYtlPiBHf10ex6pq1i6Aaednr1hFCXnl6frjGJzPuLFbhLozbU2cCSmiYOMUnSFHj1f2X2DFP9u9MMsvMdEEKas_v4M36tSVC_4VLRaz8lqsyJTjKLR2gqLs/s400/100_1839.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJg8c_EZdel4_SMbXNEdT8ayUj68LyZcSwJRbn8dCnkfC22iQLUDfurTiziaYE_hlDYwG6gJBaoOuQtmvVhDbLq9Co84IswP8DgtcH-AxHOqF_ojM9rhkC_I7HEEqK4o-227r5wFLzjkc/s1600/100_1842.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481527042267332578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJg8c_EZdel4_SMbXNEdT8ayUj68LyZcSwJRbn8dCnkfC22iQLUDfurTiziaYE_hlDYwG6gJBaoOuQtmvVhDbLq9Co84IswP8DgtcH-AxHOqF_ojM9rhkC_I7HEEqK4o-227r5wFLzjkc/s400/100_1842.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMrPGVN5IG0R9-Ef1gYuyNBx9MNhaPwVWY1cwfSRJYqnXlswj6O_Yr_J2xHPJyn55kI9d8DjNAmBLAtHIKQVjBb3nmsufX2e_dmBJGPJ3NTVpXqCLWOY5KZoqkkWnDXcq3fg37cV79LM/s1600/100_1845.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481526534488795874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMrPGVN5IG0R9-Ef1gYuyNBx9MNhaPwVWY1cwfSRJYqnXlswj6O_Yr_J2xHPJyn55kI9d8DjNAmBLAtHIKQVjBb3nmsufX2e_dmBJGPJ3NTVpXqCLWOY5KZoqkkWnDXcq3fg37cV79LM/s400/100_1845.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLQC0V-r_G5QeW3UQMArzht2h_OuM10uyF32GHueSTye1Iy83tsZUtkcTUDBr1kYJ6bAPU5w0473Zxa2CtMP1h0ZMTOxFPF8kf1e-nci1V_Grld_BqgODAJWXRfnDJxLOXf202SCXLIM/s1600/100_1847.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481526526303342050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLQC0V-r_G5QeW3UQMArzht2h_OuM10uyF32GHueSTye1Iy83tsZUtkcTUDBr1kYJ6bAPU5w0473Zxa2CtMP1h0ZMTOxFPF8kf1e-nci1V_Grld_BqgODAJWXRfnDJxLOXf202SCXLIM/s400/100_1847.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86ao0eV-28IUFv86XwH1h5-Q6-CqjOyZE2HSIZuFwWy-4014rnK3j6nedJL1gq7LgrvFH-BkuFNlnJEPGCdDFBhuIYtVpPefT0LBhKHGuugJp2QhFyDMJEMhiMnF4vHKnza_Hf9Tqno8/s1600/100_1848.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481526520186891234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86ao0eV-28IUFv86XwH1h5-Q6-CqjOyZE2HSIZuFwWy-4014rnK3j6nedJL1gq7LgrvFH-BkuFNlnJEPGCdDFBhuIYtVpPefT0LBhKHGuugJp2QhFyDMJEMhiMnF4vHKnza_Hf9Tqno8/s400/100_1848.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xQgPMm33C4AOvTePTfa8eupohoFzbKr_T37U1moSAuv66_8VYJ-INpnXGPXQybD5tVfT40WaR1GdZXz42wrSvgLkDvFOWoHfBAaZ7lLrX0U7VH5BIZivsCDD3bSxxWBR7qDlxaHxW_s/s1600/100_1849.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481526506180675778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xQgPMm33C4AOvTePTfa8eupohoFzbKr_T37U1moSAuv66_8VYJ-INpnXGPXQybD5tVfT40WaR1GdZXz42wrSvgLkDvFOWoHfBAaZ7lLrX0U7VH5BIZivsCDD3bSxxWBR7qDlxaHxW_s/s400/100_1849.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-30445007557744656482010-04-12T09:31:00.001-07:002010-04-16T09:04:00.102-07:00The Debutante<p align="center">In the Summer of 1987, a beautiful debutante was introduced to society. With her debut, the world of periodicals was introduced to a new level of loveliness.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNfXNgTP2T0dk15911lEPU1EKp0XH5OzjAMUwxBOOb2mcqp-bTXacUtIcpanoKqgOv1ewkhpHCxh4zcJyIOhT3Y8tpl7XvF7g0lgH9qR0WPMuAClkVfHCkN7l1M52QDORb5952CLOQOA/s1600/103_0118.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460762453739080882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNfXNgTP2T0dk15911lEPU1EKp0XH5OzjAMUwxBOOb2mcqp-bTXacUtIcpanoKqgOv1ewkhpHCxh4zcJyIOhT3Y8tpl7XvF7g0lgH9qR0WPMuAClkVfHCkN7l1M52QDORb5952CLOQOA/s400/103_0118.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DubOvVZdkWD7XKGibf-eQHDbEOS02uPeSlpkDr0maJkLEp5uPws4QkjkykcXDAKy1NTM-tMwTBZE1kZrv6MAM4fQl-9wk-jpbiKZtKUUrGlhrjw-DYkTE1EV6j5q6Y2JpszN5AV5rjw/s1600/103_0119.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460762454825538434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DubOvVZdkWD7XKGibf-eQHDbEOS02uPeSlpkDr0maJkLEp5uPws4QkjkykcXDAKy1NTM-tMwTBZE1kZrv6MAM4fQl-9wk-jpbiKZtKUUrGlhrjw-DYkTE1EV6j5q6Y2JpszN5AV5rjw/s400/103_0119.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3dwUgo0PjleSWy1-2Oj3TlOQKpHVM0AsSRiWjXHZg9IJmIOKwtF_kgHW9toF1cFxBxu8wzbu-x_IduzKJ0ihLwlbWH6fnJHR3M08s7JKXUZVHao5t-8pAm3CB2o1YQuQSd3BiA-rAk0/s1600/103_0122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460762466038838738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3dwUgo0PjleSWy1-2Oj3TlOQKpHVM0AsSRiWjXHZg9IJmIOKwtF_kgHW9toF1cFxBxu8wzbu-x_IduzKJ0ihLwlbWH6fnJHR3M08s7JKXUZVHao5t-8pAm3CB2o1YQuQSd3BiA-rAk0/s400/103_0122.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH0-LxI7YzihToR6C6mnO7baxjx0VkeMqI480vr853SSxebymTXul97gdTaSfHHd_fRVO9hxGs4BqL6uKVvN_szEEprfvmlXaNST_GgZFSh1FbiiYqx8G95qnT6k6FsO2SKoUxyylt04/s1600/103_0120.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460762467080783170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH0-LxI7YzihToR6C6mnO7baxjx0VkeMqI480vr853SSxebymTXul97gdTaSfHHd_fRVO9hxGs4BqL6uKVvN_szEEprfvmlXaNST_GgZFSh1FbiiYqx8G95qnT6k6FsO2SKoUxyylt04/s400/103_0120.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmWaV5obW6adFKud4yElSvNS8k6MQCPTqvcgN5YZ1hqP4qamUFhcKx0-2iswCyAd3EGlGVHAPWO51udDrRYW6qCjwKKJDUHy-j3Lri9-WxvI5_xOvVEnhv6vOcn8DOnamkksMy-ixU6s/s1600/103_0123.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460763496980180546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmWaV5obW6adFKud4yElSvNS8k6MQCPTqvcgN5YZ1hqP4qamUFhcKx0-2iswCyAd3EGlGVHAPWO51udDrRYW6qCjwKKJDUHy-j3Lri9-WxvI5_xOvVEnhv6vOcn8DOnamkksMy-ixU6s/s400/103_0123.JPG" /></a><br />And showing savvy before its time, we see this article encouraging us to eat fresh, naturally and beautifully...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvu-n09RnadJQ4iWUa2l8XHeLAtHOwfDrsFI2rzJzg3UKgogbylSmzZhtU8SW0rlGZid0ExsHgm86ZdJUJkdNE9bZg11nyu46TYK8XNybjDjD_Y3sl8CuA2ZzfmTBgXbRdfzM_kOtEn4/s1600/103_0127.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460763506920104162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvu-n09RnadJQ4iWUa2l8XHeLAtHOwfDrsFI2rzJzg3UKgogbylSmzZhtU8SW0rlGZid0ExsHgm86ZdJUJkdNE9bZg11nyu46TYK8XNybjDjD_Y3sl8CuA2ZzfmTBgXbRdfzM_kOtEn4/s400/103_0127.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26t76YQK4jjxKVpRLV8FXSVlwWjKVlQ9Hgio0PR8Q-BrbQ47fCugGWFew5HxDKLDfiXRkx1jfk-DNMJcUWghDFykJAc8MoOqqq8bFIIdn7KeU-LCQTxURzzCy5XkC9NtxmOIlRziv0mg/s1600/103_0124.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460763498223331010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26t76YQK4jjxKVpRLV8FXSVlwWjKVlQ9Hgio0PR8Q-BrbQ47fCugGWFew5HxDKLDfiXRkx1jfk-DNMJcUWghDFykJAc8MoOqqq8bFIIdn7KeU-LCQTxURzzCy5XkC9NtxmOIlRziv0mg/s400/103_0124.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Just looking at these images transports me to a world where beauty, grace, and elegance abound... and these things don't seem at all unattainable. Thank you, <em>Victoria,</em> for making your debut and for bringing us more loveliness than we could have ever imagined.<br /></p>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-4192357088797110432010-03-21T14:06:00.000-07:002010-03-21T18:19:10.334-07:00What's in a binding?For the years that <em>Victoria</em> was originally published by Hearst, there was a phrase or group of words -- descriptive and indicative, I am sure, of the vision for that particular era of the magazine -- on the binding, or spine, of each issue. I would have to believe that these were the vision of the original editor of <em>Victoria</em>, Nancy Lindemeyer, perhaps in collaboration with then Director of Magazine Developement, John Mack Carter.<br /><br />The very first of these was...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCbrcVk3GzQdKFAI_griAO5hWYX7zbCriYo71J2iQ-u73VOHOqNfiFZA3Ocr1udR1y1VrbF_xAdC82BE8VrE-0NpGkqTiZRae1ioaHdif9PE-Dr4wiJBRCtHnejnV_GVqnT_4hr82dQM/s1600-h/ReturnToLoveliness.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451202855046553570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCbrcVk3GzQdKFAI_griAO5hWYX7zbCriYo71J2iQ-u73VOHOqNfiFZA3Ocr1udR1y1VrbF_xAdC82BE8VrE-0NpGkqTiZRae1ioaHdif9PE-Dr4wiJBRCtHnejnV_GVqnT_4hr82dQM/s400/ReturnToLoveliness.png" /></a><br /><br />and those words said so much for the promise of what was to become one of the most beloved magazines of all time. The original magazines contained an insert bidding potential subscribers to give her a try.<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"<em>Victoria</em> is a new magazine that explores the gracious side of living. <em>Victoria</em> is a beautiful combination of past and present.<br /><br />Each issue will transport you back to an era of timeless charm, enduring quality, beauty and elegance. A showcase of women's heritage filled with beautiful homes and furnishings, romantic stories and gracious entertainment.<br /><br />Come join us today... and add a touch of lace to your table... savor a sweetly scented potpourri... create a special occasion cake... plan outings and picnics... shop for anitiques. Do it all with <em>Victoria</em> as your guide. Now there's a fresh new approach to gracious living.<br /><br /><em>Victoria</em> offers a breath of relief from this fast paced world. Even today's modern woman can identify with the sentiment and refinement of another era. Return to the loveliness of yesteryear.<br /><br /><em>Victoria</em> focuses on the particular part of every woman's life that has special meaning. From now on everything you do will have that personal <em>Victoria</em> touch."</span><br /></span><br />And on all these promises, <em>Victoria</em> more than delivered. I am so glad I have my original issues to which I can return as many times as I'd like. Return to loveliness, indeed.Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-21273592455940977662010-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:002013-07-05T17:57:16.976-07:00Cindy La Ferle - A Victoria Reader's Dream Comes True<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em>Victoria</em> has been one of my favorite shelter magazines since it was first published by Hearst -- and I've saved nearly every issue. As a freelance writer and author since the late 1980s, one of my goals was to see my work published in this beloved magazine.<br /><br />While I'd already published pieces in other national glossies, including <em>Country Home</em> and Mary Engelbreit's <em>Home Companion</em>, a byline in <em>Victoria</em> still eluded me. Meanwhile, the original <em>Victoria</em> folded, then Hoffman Media restarted it in 2007.<br /><br />Over a year ago, I wrote a garden essay from threads of a talk I gave at a regional Master Gardener Society meeting. With high hopes, I submitted "The Art of Midlife Gardening" to the new <em>Victoria</em>. And then I waited.<br /><br />Months passed -- which isn't unusual in this line of work -- and I nearly forgot about the piece. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when <em>Victoria's</em> managing editor contacted me last year to ask if it was still available for publication in the March/April 2010 issue.<br /><br /><br />That issue is now on the stands, and my essay's on the back page. While my work has appeared in dozens of national magazines and newspapers, seeing that first byline in <em>Victoria</em> was truly a highlight in my career. When I found a copy today at our local Barnes & Noble, I did a little happy dance right there in the magazine aisle.<br /><br />-- Cindy La Ferle: <a href="http://www.laferle.com/">Cindy La Ferle's Home Office: www.laferle.com </a></span>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872311876774301849.post-36636821353768479982010-02-15T18:04:00.000-08:002013-07-05T17:53:57.510-07:00The Victoria I Remember - Christi Bunn<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;">Everyone who loves <em>Victoria</em> magazine has a story... for me, it began as a young bride -- making my way as a young wife -- newly married and so wanting to "get things right." I needed inspiration and desperately wanted to infuse beauty into my modern and very "80s" life. You must remember that this was the day of Punk Rock, massive shoulder pads, and even bigger hair. Always a very visual person, I looked for this inspiration amongst the pages of what would become a beloved friend, <em>Victoria</em> magazine. If it seems odd to you that a magazine could be a friend, then perhaps you have never had the pleasure of her company.<br /><br />I was married in December of 1986, and a few months later my very first <em>Victoria </em>arrived in our mailbox. The discerning eye of my beautiful Southern Belle of a grandmother had spotted the lovely Premiere Issue on a magazine rack in my hometown and promptly ordered a subscription for me. She recognized then, as so many of us have along the way, that <em>Victoria</em> was the magazine we had always longed for but didn't realize it until we saw her. It was truly love at first sight, as we were treated to page after page of sheer delight to the senses, both visual and literary. A splash of poetry here, a gorgeous photo there, and a poignant quote in between gave us a richness of content that no other magazine has before or since.<br /><br />Each month I looked forward to the articles and regular features, and I looked for ways that I could incorporate bits of that beauty into my life. This might have involved arranging a bouquet of freshly cut flowers by my bedside, having classical music playing as I cleaned, getting a lovely fragrance such as Nantucket Briar from Crabtree & Evelyn so that our home would instantly delight the senses, or putting on soft music and lighting candles as I drew a soothing bath after a hard day's work. It involved making choices in clothing that were classic -- the kind that do not quickly go in and out of style but get better by the year. It taught me new ways of taking tea or offered a new flavor and suggested that a silver service was not just something to put on display but something to be used and loved. She recommended fabulous books, timeless classics like <em>The Secret Garden</em>, <em>Anne of Green Gables</em>, <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>, <em>Little Women</em>; classic authors like Isaak Denisen and Colette; or new classics such as Alexandra Stoddard's <em>Living a Beautiful Life</em>. Then there were her Writers and Artists in Residence, such luminaries as Tasha Tudor, Madeleine L'Engle, Jan Karon, and more. All of this and so much more I gleaned from the pages of this marvelous magazine.<br /><br />I have learned recently that the magazine was not put together with the specific purpose of selling advertisements, although that surely was a part of her success. But according to those who worked on the original version of <em>Victoria</em> and contributed to her content month after month, it was truly a labor of love. It could not have been otherwise, for her pages fairly resonated with a beauty that can only come as a result of the most devoted skill, creativity, and care.<br /><br />And as <em>Victoria</em> matured, she became more lovely and refined. Her pages continued to inspire and bring beauty into my life even as I was expecting my first baby and planning the nursery. My mind went instantly to the beloved images painted by Beatrix Potter, and I knew that my nursery would include those colors and themes from her stories. And indeed, it did.<br /><br />Like a treasured friend she visited me month after month, her pages o'er brimmed with new literary delights, new places to discover, and fresh ways to bring loveliness into everyday life. And because I have kept every copy and carried them through six moves (to date), I can revisit these bits of loveliness as often as I wish. And amazingly enough, I still manage to find new bits of beauty among her pages.<br /><br />I know that there are others of you who share my affinity for <em>Victoria</em>, and I would love for this blog to become an ongoing <em>Victoria </em>story. Would you be willing to share your story with me, so that I could post it here? If so, please contact me </span><a href="mailto:victoria@charmandgrace.com"><span style="color: black;">here</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #330099;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Christi Bunn</span></strong></span>Charm and Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04930920593855400694noreply@blogger.com13