2021-01-01 southern lady

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 | VOLUME 22-ISSUE 1CONTENTS

51 FIRESIDE WELCOMEShare winter’s wonder with favored companions while lingering in the soft hearthside glow at a graceful table donned with lush greenery and artisan Italian china.

57 LOVE FOR THE AGESBlushing blooms and vintage-inspired valentines pair with a delectable menu of braised short ribs and avorful accoutrements to create a romantic celebration.

65 HISTORIC LANDMARKS: CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOSTake a step back in time to explore a fortress in St. Augustine, Florida, that rings with intriguing voices from the past and the early days of America.

73 SOUTHERN ENTREPRENEURS 2021We present the stories of nine incredibly resourceful women—led by ingenuity, passion, and drive—who dared to start their own successful businesses.

89 SECOND TIME’S THE CHARMJust when an active Tennessee family thought their new home was complete, a re sent them back to the drawing board, yielding even better results than the rst time around.

95 SOUTHWESTERN EXPOSUREA crossroad of cultures and a gorgeous mountainous, desert terrain paints the border town of El Paso, Texas, with a lively brush that’s accented by history, art, great food, and more.

CONTENTS

51

SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHTS13 CHARMED ENCOUNTERSTwo Southern visionaries think big to provide a network for entrepreneurs and creatives.

17 DREAMING IN COLORPatterns, prints, and fun ourishes take center stage in the design work of this dynamic duo in North Carolina.

DEPARTMENTS 33 MIX & MATCH 37 IN BLOOM 45 KEEPSAKES 105 RECIPE BOX

IN EVERY ISSUE7 Sincerely

9 From the Editor 11 @SouthernLadyMag

23 Entertaining Touches25 Pretty Things

111 Resources 113 Afterthoughts

45 105

A baked valentine, dappled with luscious berries and sealed with a kiss of cream, nurtures a peaceful moment with the one you adore. Cover styling by Melissa Sturdivant Smith and photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele.

DON’T MISS!Turn to page 38 to explore Louisiana’s undiscovered gems.

the south’s leader in estate jewelry and diamond solitaires

located in historic downtown new albany and the square in oxford

1.866.VANATKINSWWW.VANATKINS.COM

You know she’s worth it!

D I G I TA L M E D I AMARKETING DIRECTOR Kristy Harrison

MARKETING COORDINATOR Hannah CroweONLINE EDITOR Janece Maze

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A D M I N I S T R AT I V EHUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Judy Brown LazenbyIT DIRECTOR Matthew Scott HoltDEALER PROGRAM MANAGER Janice RitterADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/EDITORIALAlex Kolar

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Southern Lady ISSN 1525-8580 is published bimonthly (except for September and October) by Hoffman Media, LLC, 1900 International Park Drive, Suite 50, Birmingham, AL 35243. The cover and contents of Southern Lady are fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. All rights reserved in all countries. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: For the United States, $24.98 per year, 7 issues (JF, MA, MJ, JA, Sept, Oct, ND); add $10 for postage in Canada; add $20 elsewhere. Single issues $7.99 available at newsstands and bookstores. Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama, and additional mailing offi ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Southern Lady, P.O. Box 6201, Harlan, IA, 51593, 800-777-1101. NOTE: Southern Lady assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts; submissions cannot be returned without a self-addressed stamped envelope.©2021 Hoffman Media, LLC. Printed in the USA.

southernladymagazine.com

Volume 22, Issue 1January | February 2021

EDITOR Lisa FrederickMANAGING EDITOR Marie BaxleyASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Shaw

ASSISTANT EDITOR Elizabeth Bonner CzapskiSENIOR COPY EDITOR Rhonda Lee Lother

COPY EDITOR Adrienne DavisEDITORIAL ASSISTANT Holly Seng

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHY

Mac JamiesonSENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

John O’HaganPHOTOGRAPHERS

Jim Bathie, William Dickey, Stephanie Welbourne Steele

SENIOR DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST

Delisa McDanielDIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST Clark Densmore

GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Deanna Rippy GardnerART DIRECTOR Karissa Brown

SENIOR STYLIST Sidney Bragiel STYLISTS Courtni Bodiford, Lucy Finney, Mary Beth Jones,

Lily Simpson, Melissa Sturdivant Smith,

Dorothy Walton

TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR Irene YehFOOD STYLISTS/RECIPE DEVELOPERS Laura Crandall, J.R. Jacobson, Kathleen Kanen, Megan Lankford, Tricia Manzanero, Vanessa Rocchio, Taylor Franklin Wann

E D I T O R I A LEDITOR-IN-CHIEF Phyllis Hoff man DePiano

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD/CEO Phyllis Hoff man DePiano

PRESIDENT/COO Eric W. Hoff man

EVP/CFO Mary P. CummingsEVP/OPERATIONS & MANUFACTURING

Greg Baugh VP/DIGITAL MEDIA Jon Adamson

PRESIDENT/CCO Brian Hart Hoff man

VP/CULINARY & CUSTOM CONTENT

Brooke Michael BellVP/SHELTER CONTENT Cindy Smith CooperVP/ADVERTISING Katie Guasco

MARKETING MANAGER Gretchen NorrisADVERTISING PRODUCTION REPRESENTATIVE

Kimberly Lewis

For assistance with advertising, please call (888) 411-8995.

I N T E G R AT E D M A R K E T I N G S O L U T I O N S

V I C E P R E S I D E N T, A D V E R T I S I N G Katie Guasco [AL, AR, LA, MS, TX]

R E G I O N A L A D V E R T I S I N G D I R E C T O R SMary-Evelyn Dalton [DC, KY, MD, NY, VA, WV]

Kathy Gross [FL, GA, NC, NY, SC, TN]Kevin Masse [CA, CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, OR, RI, VT]

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Christy Chachere Lohmann [AL, AR, LA, MS, TX]

DIRECT RESPONSE Hagan Media/Katie Hagan

You know she’s worth it!the south’s leader in estate jewelry and diamond solitaires

located in historic downtown new albany and the square in oxford

1.866.VANATKINS | WWW.VANATKINS.COM

7 SOUTHERNLADYMAGAZINE.COM

“WHO CAN FIND A VIRTUOUS WOMAN? FOR HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES.” PROVERBS 31:10

Happy New Year, dear friends! I know January 1 is the usual day for new beginnings, but

for me, it’s closer to February 1. Winding down from the New Year’s football marathon,

packing away the Christmas décor, and swapping out my holiday china always takes me

a little while. Then, as the midwinter days turn bleaker, my “starting over” mood comes on. This is

the time when I love to fl uff up the rooms in my home, perhaps adding a couple of vibrant throw

pillows to brighten a living area, investing in beautiful antique table linens, or choosing a pretty

new coverlet for a bedroom. It works wonders for chasing away the February blahs!

In this issue, we embrace the warm and cozy comforts that imbue winter days with a welcome

touch of cheer. Our fi reside Seasonal Settings tableau on page 51 beckons you to draw up a

chair and bask in the inviting glow of the hearth. When Valentine’s Day arrives, celebrate in

romantic style with your sweetheart or a cherished companion—the tablesetting on page 57

was inspired by the sweet, nostalgic look of vintage valentines, and the eff ect is just

breathtaking, with an elegant menu to match. And for the perfect cold-weather meal, it’s

hard to do better than a steaming bowl of soup. Turn to page 105 for a collection of recipes

with Southern fl air, from a rich duck gumbo to a smoky tomato concoction garnished with

bacon cheese straws (every bit as delicious as they sound).

I wish you a wonderful start to 2021!

Sincerely,

Phyllis Hoff man DePianoEditor-In-Chief

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Starting a business takes grit and gumption, and Southern women are renowned

for both. That’s worth celebrating in our eyes, so we’re proud to bring you our

second annual Southern Entrepreneurs feature (page 73), spotlighting visionaries

across the region who had the courage to pursue their dreams. You’ll meet a Texas artisan

who crafts exquisite embroidered linens; a Mississippi gallery owner honoring the art of

her home state; a South Carolina jewelry designer whose colorful pieces are designed to

spark joy; and many others. Their stories are incredible and inspiring.

The start of another year is always an opportunity for change, and we’re excited to add a

new feature to our pages. Devoted readers have enjoyed our occasional Keepsakes articles,

in which we showcase treasures and traditions that make the South so special. Starting this year, Keepsakes is part of

our regular lineup. Vintage lace is the focus for this issue—turn to page 45 to marvel at delicate trim, doilies, fine linens,

and more, all fashioned into heirloom-worthy curios by talented stylist Melissa Sturdivant Smith. We hope you’ll be as

enamored as we are!

MAKING THE LEAP

Lisa Frederick EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR

ANTIQUE

EUROPEAN

TEXTILES

ealexanderdesigns.com [email protected] Instagram: @ealexanderdesigns


Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspiration from the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: A woven basket brimming with hydrangeas adds a cheerful touch to @rea_stylenc’s countertop. For a cozy and inviting space, @le.cultivateur gathers plush pillows, a knit throw, and tabletop lanterns. A lace backdrop sets the scene for @decoratordiva1’s pretty-in-pink Valentine’s Day setting. Middle row: A stately arrangement of greenery enlivens @bornandraisedstudio’s entryway. Layers of shimmering metallic accents atop @jenniferjrossdesigns’s table serve as a glamorous welcome to the new year. Bottom row: Baked with love, @goingforgrace’s cookies are a sweet treat to share with those you hold dear. A crisp blanket of snow signals the peak of winter’s splendor in this picturesque scene captured by @theironvictorian. Blue-and-white china mingles with a gold-rimmed charger and gilded flatware in @marybethtylertorpey’s elegant tablescape.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? WE’D LOVE TO SEE—TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS!

@SOUTHERNLADYMAG


SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT

Charmed EncountersA pair of steel magnolias chart a unique course for their popular yearly gathering that off ers business

owners a chance to network while unwinding on Georgia’s picturesque coast. BY Marie Baxley | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kelly Boyd

A fter nearly a decade finessing the fine points of the online platform for creatives called

The Southern Coterie and its companion annual bash The Southern C Summit, Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long could likely finish each other’s sentences. But they don’t. That would be too impolite for these unabashed Southern belles. Instead, they gracefully take turns talking about their company that encourages entrepreneurs to mingle, learn from the experts, and share ideas.

“Coterie is a French word that means a group of people who have similar interests,” says Whitney, a former magazine journalist with an eye for interesting products and trends. “Our husbands told us, ‘Nobody knows what the word coterie means; they are not going to be able to pronounce it or spell it.’ And that’s how the name The Southern C came to be.”

Cheri jumps right in: “And now we’ve found all these words that tie into the ‘c’ and what we do: community, connection, collaboration.”

Indeed, in light of the pandemic, the duo has faced hurdles to assure everyone is comfortable with the scaled-down February get-together planned at Sea Island, a luxury resort in St. Simons Island, Georgia, that has been the base for the TSC Summit since 2017. For the first three years, it was held in Charleston, South Carolina, until the partners realized it made sense logistically to move it to their home turf.

This year’s agenda adds a virtual component where guests can remotely attend sessions on a variety of topics,


from social media to mentoring—all designed on feedback from both the online member forum and last year’s conference. On-site ticket sales will be limited to 125 people compared with the usual 325 attendees.

The Southern C also revamped its website last year to include presentations from previous summits, archived blog posts, and other advice sessions with experts that were created based on members’ needs. While some information is available free, full access requires a paid membership of $85 a month and is open to anyone, not just Southerners. “We are well beyond that,” says Whitney. “We pull in people from all over the country.”

The online sessions at this year’s TSC Summit will likely be a permanent fixture, an irony that doesn’t slip by Whitney, who grew up in Alabama. “We started as a virtual front porch at the beginning. Then, we did real life, and now we’re back to virtual,” she says.

Whitney and Cheri, a Georgia native, began their collaboration in 2011,

building on a shared affinity for people, places, things, and products in their home region with an all-things-Southern newsletter. At first the stories were all over the board, featuring pieces on everything from “ten movies with a Southern theme to five ingredients you can’t live without,” says Whitney. Eventually, she says, the subject matter began to focus on “creators, makers, and doers.”

The twosome also noticed their subscribers connecting through web comments, carrying on conversations much like friends and neighbors congregating on a veranda. “It’s a very small world. They would discover that they knew each other. It was a my-grandmother-knew-your-grandmother kind of thing,” says Whitney. They decided to build on that camaraderie with the online network—a virtual front porch—where members could chat and share photos or even recipes.

One thing led to another, and soon, the members wanted to get acquainted in person. In 2013, Whitney and Cheri obliged by facilitating three in-person

conferences at Jekyll Island and Athens, Georgia, as well as Nashville. “We quickly realized we needed to make it one bigger event,” says Cheri, noting that’s how the first TSC Summit in Charleston came about in 2014.

It has been rewarding to both women to see the support and collaboration between members, online and in the real world of commerce. “It may be that a clothing designer meets an artist, and the next thing you know, the designer says, ‘That would be a beautiful print. Let’s make a fabric—and I’m going to make a skirt out of it,’” says Whitney.

While the pandemic put a damper on in-person congregating, Cheri and Whitney hope to revive small affairs in the coming months, where they will garner information and relevant topics for the 2022 TSC Summit. “It really is just magic when you get everybody together,” says Whitney. “It’s great to connect in a virtual space, but you can’t beat that front porch feeling of talking to each other.”

For information, visit thesouthernc.com.

SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT


SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT

F or the founders of home décor enterprise Madcap Cottage, pattern is a way of life.

Whether it’s the bounty of Sicilian lemon trees, the intricate motifs of Indian temples, or the woven detailing of a local eatery’s bistro chairs, John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon find inspiration at every twist in the road. Their over-the-top approach layers kaleidoscopic accents to create rooms as enchanting as any view outside your window.

“When you bring color and pattern into a room and layer in a mix of furnishing styles, there’s something about it psychologically that puts people at ease,” says John, a lifelong enthusiast of architecture and home décor. “They feel more comfortable and are more inclined to sit down and put their feet up. That’s the reaction you want.”

John and Jason spent decades in the publishing and lifestyle media industries in Manhattan before setting out on their entrepreneurial journey—a creative fusion of their passions for history, travel, and unrestrained self-expression.

Dreaming in ColorA North Carolina duo embarks on a home decorating venture teeming with far-fl ung designs, prismatic

prints, and imaginative accents that channel a sense of whimsy and pure fun. BY Ashley Shaw | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bert VanderVeen

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 18 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 18


“There’s pattern everywhere. You live with pattern already; you just don’t really think of it that way,” says John, an Iowa native who studied graphic design as well as journalism.

Only after years of interviewing tastemakers did it dawn on him that he had the skills to design beautiful home furnishings. “It was always really interesting to me when they’d say, ‘Well, I didn’t really design the product; I just put my name on it,’” John says. He became an editor by day and an artist by night, putting to paper the ideas that swirled in his head and dabbling in interior decorating for friends.

In the early 2000s, John and Jason embraced their mantra—“be brave, be bold, be gutsy, and never be boring”—and partnered with HSN, then known as the Home Shopping Network, to launch their first bedding collection. Soon after, Madcap Cottage fabrics debuted at select national retailers, and an ever-growing line of furniture, lamps, rugs, and tabletop accessories followed suit.

“Our products lend themselves to a variety of sensibilities,” says Jason, who handles marketing and business development. “Nothing we do feels cookie-cutter. It all feels special and hand-touched because it really is. John painted and sketched everything.”

From botanical wallpaper influenced by an English garden to lively fabric that reimagines a classic scheme, the duo strives to fashion bespoke accents at a reasonable price point. “You can get a great rug [from us] that has a lot of personality and style without spending a fortune,” Jason says. “It’s going to make you smile, put some sparkle in your room, and give you the opportunity to dream.”

In 2014, John and Jason left their base in the Big Apple for North Carolina. They renovated a 1930s home in High Point and transformed an old radio station in nearby Thomasville into a working studio. Both spaces are bedecked in full Madcap style, including pet-friendly furnishings fit for their four rescue pups to romp freely as the pair

collaborates on each design. Instead of focusing on marketplace trends, they trust their own tastes and instincts. “We’re both storytellers, and that’s what we bring to the table,” says Jason, who grew up in Florida and has a background in Spanish literature and art history.

In addition to offering design services and gorgeous products, they co-wrote Prints Charming: Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors with Prints & Patterns (Abrams, 2017). It’s a visually enthralling guidebook for those seeking the tools and confidence to take bigger décor risks. Soon, the avid entertainers plan to host weekend design retreats for small groups of novice decorators. “People will say they are afraid of color, afraid of pattern. But if you look in their closet, they’re not,” says John. “Nothing is permanent, and you should enjoy your home the way you really want to.”

Jason adds, “I think people need someone to show them it’s okay, life is short, have some fun. Our goal in life is to make people’s homes and lives better and to put a smile on their faces.”

For information, visit madcapcottage.com.

DISCOVER …… Our Legendary Wild HorsesThe Corolla wild horses, descendants of Spanish Colonial

Mustangs, arrived here over 400 years ago with seafaring

explorers and are a magnifi cent sight to behold. The excitement

of spotting one of these legends in their natural habitat for the

fi rst time can be breathtaking. Their spirit, grace, and resilience

will enchant you.

… Our Beacon of LightIn historic Corolla, you’ll discover the 162-foot Currituck Beach

Lighthouse, a brick beacon of light that has stood tall as a

coastal protector and a structure of cultural beauty for 145 years.

This nautical symbol of safety, constructed of one million bricks,

is visible from 18 nautical miles away. Explore it by ascending

220 steps to the top, unleashing an unmatched view of the

surrounding area.

… Our Mansion by the SeaStepping through the doors of Whalehead, a 21,000-square-foot

historic mansion and museum on the Currituck Sound, you

can’t help but be swept up in the romantic history of this

Outer Banks icon. Constructed as the backdrop of a captivating

love story, the exquisite design—from the Tiffany light fi xtures

to the nature-inspired Art Nouveau scrollwork —rises from the

dunes as an architectural masterpiece.

RECONNECT …… With Loved Ones … or YourselfWith more than 20 miles of windswept remote beaches to enjoy,

take a long stroll while gathering your thoughts or search for that

special beach treasure, perhaps a rare piece of sea glass or a Scotch

bonnet—North Carolina’s offi cial state shell. Relax on an oceanfront

deck and breathe in the salty air as you catch up with companions

or sit by a fi re in the late evening while gazing at the stars.

INDULGE … … in Luxury AccommodationsRetreat from the world, where quiet comforts and uncommon

luxury complement this extraordinary coastal setting. Corolla

boasts a wide variety of luxury rental properties, many with

enough bedrooms and living space for everyone under one roof,

as well as well-appointed and state-of-the art entertainment

systems, spacious kitchens, modern appliances, swimming

pools, and hot tubs.

… in Fresh Seafood“Boat to plate” dining options abound in Corolla, whether it be

your favorite meal at one of the many restaurants serving the local

fresh catch of the day or a traditional Southern seafood boil at the

comfort of your vacation home. Or, if you’re adventurous enough,

you may just reel in that “big one” on your own, with an abundance

of inshore and offshore fi shing opportunities at your disposal.

Resolutions for an Unforgettable Escape to Corolla, North Carolina

It’s a new year and time to refl ect on the past, but more importantly, to look ahead. If you resolve to

heighten your sense of discovery, reconnect with a loved one, or indulge in some of the fi ner things that

life has to offer, it’s time you discovered Corolla, North Carolina.

ADVERTISING

ENTERTAINING TOUCHES

Jeweled LusterBedazzle guests for the new year with a glamorous tabletop bolstered by sequined linens and tiny pearlescent baubles that re ect the shimmer of candlelight. Clear glass holders exude an elegant glow when layered with loose trinkets that nestle a simple white votive. A barely blush sateen bow with a dangling-teardrop pendant tied to a taller vessel further animates the grouping and plays upon a rosy backdrop. Textured glass holders unite the tableau with a scintillating golden hue that looks toward the future with unabashed optimism.


PRETTY THINGS

Glimmer & Gleam(From left) Mikasa Palatial Gold brandy glass, $70, and Waterford Crystal Lismore Champagne/tall sherbet glass, $40, from Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com. Calypso goblet, $63, from William Yeoward Crystal, us.williamyeowardcrystal.com. Elisa Red Wine glass in clear with gold, $240 for set of four, from Abigails, abigails.net. Arte Italica Vetro Silver cup and saucer set, $40, from Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com. Optic Design Lizzie classic glass carafe, $53, from Abigails, abigails.net. Baccarat Nancy port wine glass, $160, from Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com. Optical Gold Stem wine glass, $26, from Vietri, vietri.com. Amalia Tulip Champagne ute, $75, from Juliska, juliska.com. Lottie salt dish, $180, from William Yeoward Crystal, us.williamyeowardcrystal.com.

From intricate etching to gilded trim, add subtle shine to your table with glass accents in a range of silhouettes and styles.



(Above, from left) Za erano Amethyst Pearle bowl, $30, and Za erano Pink Bilia tumbler, $24, from Land of Belle, landofbelle.com. Trellis glass in blush, $12, from Hammett, shophammett.com. Za erano Pink Iseo tumbler, $36, from Land of Belle, landofbelle.com. Mini pink vases (on book and in foreground), $198 for assorted set of three, from Juliska, juliska.com. (Left, from left) Baccarat Capri Optic large decanter and stopper, $300, from Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com. Karen ice bucket, $325, and Posie vase, $235, from William Yeoward Crystal, us.williamyeowardcrystal.com. Clear glass candlestick with teardrop, $65, and clear glass candlestick with at ball, $65, from Abigails, abigails.net.

PRETTY THINGS

“IN ALL RANKS OF LIFE, THE HUMAN HEART YEARNS

FOR THE BEAUTIFUL; AND THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

THAT GOD MAKES ARE HIS GIFT TO ALL ALIKE.”

— HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, AUTHOR

A D V E R T I S I N G

ART IN THE PASSPass Christian, MississippiApril 10–11, 2021

Fine arts, live tunes, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s renowned cuisine are just a few reasons to add the 24th-annual Art in the Pass to your calendar. For one weekend every spring, Pass Christian’s beachside Memorial Park transforms into the event of the season, highlighting 100 artists from 10 states and attracting more than 10,000 art lovers. From gorgeous paintings and sculptures to creativeprintmaking and pottery, a variety of art mediums means there’s a piece to fit every style, plus with activities for every age, this festival is the perfect family-friendly escape to the Gulf Coast.

S PR I N GTI M E in Mississippi not only

brings warmer temperatures and beautiful

blooms but also marks the grand return

of the Magnolia State’s top art festivals.

Whether you’re searching for a one-of-

a-kind piece to add to your collection or

you’ve been itching to visit a few must-see

Southern towns, now is the time to hit the

road and experience the local charm of

these exciting weekend festivals.

1

Leap into Spring with

5 MISSISSIPPI ART FESTIVALS

1 2

https://avxlive.icu/

A D V E R T I S I N G

COTTON DISTRICT ARTS FESTIVALStarkville, MississippiApril 17, 2021

Each spring, thousands pour into Starkville’s historic neighborhood, The Cotton District, to celebrate more than 125 artists and an unforgettable good time. Browse the vendors for one-of-a-kind jewelry, crafts, and paintings, and be sure to sample the local fare as area restaurants compete in a bit of friendly competition. You’ll also be able to catch artists in action at the Writers’ Village and Potters’ Village, and if your furry friends are along for the ride, enter them into the pet parade. You’ll soon understand why this festival is touted as a top Mississippi event year after year.

RIDGELAND FINE ARTS FESTIVALRidgeland, MississippiMay 1–2, 2021

If you’re craving a weekend of nonstop art and activity, then this festival is for you. Ridgeland Fine Arts Festival is part of the annual Art Wine & Wheels Weekend and kicks off on Friday with an exciting Run Now, Wine Later 5k race followed by world-class wine, food, and fine art. And don’t forget the kids! Visit the Creative Craft Corner to let your child’s imagination flow with hands-on art activities, and later, enjoy the incredible lineup of music.

THREEFOOT FESTIVALMeridian, MississippiMay 15, 2021

With a famous Threefoot Bloody Mary in hand, you’ll be ready to conquer this art festival. Named for the city’s prominent skyscraper, Threefoot Festival is fun for the whole family. From musicians to crafters and painters, top artists join forces to showcase their talents on thedowntown streets of Meridian, and with delicious eats and plenty of activities to occupy your children, this is one festival you don’t want to miss.

DOUBLE DECKER ARTS FESTIVALOxford, MississippiTBD

A British double-decker bus isn’t a common sight in Mississippi, but then again, Oxford is no average Southern town. This premier festival is one of the most exciting weekends in theSouth, and the notable artists, authors, and musical acts featured each year paired with the ever-growing crowdsare proof. Friday kicks off the weekend celebration of Southern culture with art demonstrations and live music, while Saturday is the main event complete with tasty bites to sample, famed musicians taking the stage,and works of art around every corner.

ARTFESTIVALS

Photos (left to right)

1) ART IN THE PASS

Pass Christian, MississippiApril 10–11, 2021

2) COTTON DISTRICT

ARTS FESTIVAL

Starkville, MississippiApril 17, 2021

3) RIDGELAND FINE

ARTS FESTIVAL

Ridgeland, MississippiMay 1–2, 2021

4) THREEFOOT

FESTIVAL

Meridian, MississippiMay 15, 2021

5) DOUBLE DECKER

ARTS FESTIVAL

Oxford, MississippiTBD

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MIX & MATCH


JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 34

Shimmer of Silver

With a delicate filigree rim against a backdrop of pristine white, Caskata’s Hawthorne Ice dinner plate murmurs of winter’s pearly skies and

morning frost. Here, the pattern gets a subtle glow from gold notes, including a charger that looks luminous atop a dove-colored leather place mat. Soft purples in the salad plate, which bears a fanciful scene of tropical foliage and exotic birds, are enhanced by a hemstitched lilac napkin and a plum-hued tumbler. A stemless wineglass wears an opalescent gleam that beautifully ties together the tableau’s gentle palette.

(Page 35) The inspiration plate perches on a matte pewter-tone charger that grounds the scheme, its octagonal profile echoed by an ombré old-fashioned glass. A Persian-inspired salad plate in vibrant peacock blue brings the neutral pieces to life. Pale gray linens are crowned with sparkling napkin rings as daintily detailed as snowflakes.

A glistening dinner plate inspires two refi ned settings that refl ect the dreamy radiance of the season. STYLING BY Sidney Bragiel | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele


MIX & MATCH


IN BLOOM


Blushing BeautySettle into this peaceful season with a captivating book and a bevy of blossoms that evoke the soft palette and winter light beyond your door. A silver-leaf glass bowl elevated by a sleek pedestal stand allows the over owing arrangement to capture utmost attention. Tuck soaked oral foam inside a plastic liner before setting it in the vessel to prevent water damage. Create a lush base of eucalyptus, bush ivy, and silver brunia and then mix in long swags of dark-hued pepper berry that add depth to the edges of the airy display. Next, ll in with tuberose, ranunculus, and roses that impart subtle

dabs of pale pink amid the neutral presentation, a beautiful promise of colorful experiences to come in the new year.

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In a state known for big, bold avors, visitors will nd memorable meals in the most unexpected places. Country market plate lunches,

golden fried po’ boys at seafood shacks and hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint briskets offer a glimpse into the Bayou State’s

most cherished local secrets.

What do you get when a New Orleans-trained chef comes back to help with the family business on Louisiana’s charming Northshore? Chef Trey Herty brought Louisiana classics like dark roux chicken and sausage gumbo and creamy red beans and rice to the stellar plate lunch rotation at Artigue’s Abita Market. A few more of Trey’s notable dishes include New Orleans-style barbecue cat sh and a tender pork shoulder he smokes for 12 hours with locally sourced wild cherrywood.

ArTiGuE’S AbItA MaRkEt

G E T T H E R E 22069 Hwy. 59 • Abita Springs, LA E X P L O R E Abita Mystery House Museum • Abita Springs, LA

Louisiana is cat sh country. From hidden shing holes to large-scale farming, cat sh—fried in particular—is an essential part of the local culinary scene. Prioritizing freshness and avor, the owner of Cat sh Charlie’s, Doug Wood, has made the restaurant into a Monroe xture. Baskets with cornmeal-crusted American cat sh llets—available thick or thin and crispy—are the most popular item, but creative preparations like Cat sh D’Arbonne (served over rice with a rich craw sh cream sauce) are a real treat.

CaTfIsH ChArLiE’S

G E T T H E R E 2329 Louisville Ave. • Monroe, LA

E X P L O R E Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge • Monroe, LA

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LoLa BuRgEr Lola Restaurant, Covington, LA

LoCaLFaVoRiTe

Jeff Young, Covington

COMBINING EXPERT TECHNIQUES WITH A CLASSIC FAMILY RECIPE, THIS LUSCIOUS GUMBO IS A CAN’T-MISS.

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From a tiny kitchen tucked inside Mick’s Irish Pub, Chef Aloysius Schroth-Nichols is serving inspired grub at Rum and the Lash. The menu includes a selection of burgers and sandwiches, but the Cheesy Boudin Chimichangas—stuffed with spicy boudin and triple-pepper Cheddar and served with a chipotle mustard—are an incredibly satisfying menu staple. Also, don’t miss the chicken wings, notably the Fermented Buffalo Crispy Chicken Wings and Asian-inspired MoPho Style Ginger Crispy Chicken Wings from chef-partner Michael Gulotta.

RuM AnD ThE LaSh

G E T T H E R E 4801 Bienville St. • New Orleans, LA T R Y Canal Streetcar • New Orleans, LA

One may not expect to nd perfectly tender brisket and exceptional ribs in a nondescript building set a few minutes’ drive from Interstate 49, but those visitors will be rewarded. From its sign that reads “No Teeth Required” to its delectable potato salad, Shank Cat’s Bar-B-Que delivers at every turn. This former one-room schoolhouse is lled with memorabilia of owner Edwin “Bobo” Scott’s family and is just the kind of joint road trips were made for.

ShAnK CaT’S BaR-B-QuE

G E T T H E R E 6455 Hwy. 175 • Frierson, LA

E X P L O R E Lake Bistineau State Park • Doyline, LA

FIRST-TIMERS MUST TRY THE BRISKET COMBO PLATE.

At its heart, Champagne’s Marché is a classic neighborhood grocery store. It boasts a full-service meat department and offers fresh boudin, daily special plate lunches and 16 different types of house-smoked sausages. During Carnival season, the store can hardly keep king cakes on the shelves. These award-winning king cakes don’t ship, so those who want to try them out need to visit Leonville. Bavarian cream- lled and pecan-praline are the most popular avors, but it’s

hard to go wrong.

ChAmPaGnE’S MaRcHÉ

G E T T H E R E 3802 Hwy. 31 • Leonville, LA

E X P L O R E

WITH BRIGHT ICINGS OVER WHITE GLAZE, THIS CAJUN MARKET BRINGS ARTISTIC JOY TO THEIR CAKES.

Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway louisianabyways.com

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Louisiana is not all dark roux gumbos and craw sh boils. The menu in north Louisiana follows a more traditional Southern

bent, and Chef Hardette Harris loves exposing people to those avors and dishes at her Us Up North culinary experiences. Small groups can book an interactive lunch or dinner at her dining room in Shreveport’s historic Allendale neighborhood. The family-style experience is tailored to each group but typically includes cornmeal fried cat sh, purple hull peas, and her famous hot water cornbread.

Us Up NoRtH

G E T T H E R E usupnorth.com • Shreveport, LA E X P L O R E Shreveport Municipal Auditorium • Shreveport, LA

For nearly 40 years, Nancy Brewer and Jesse Poimboeuf have run the eclectic and delightful Kitchen Shop in Grand Coteau. Visitors will nd a mélange of kitchen gadgets, linens, and pantry staples, but Nancy’s baked goods are reason enough to make the trip. In addition to a rotating collection of scones, cookies and Cajun sweet dough pies, her Gateau Na-Na is the star. This buttery torte has a pecan praline lling between two decadent layers of tender sweet dough.

KiTcHeN ShOp

G E T T H E R E 296 E. M.L.K. Dr. • Grand Coteau, LA

E X P L O R E Grand Coteau Historic District

FRIED CATFISH, TENDER BEANS, AND LONG-COOKED GREENS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE NORTH LOUISIANA PLATE.

BoNnIe & ClYdEAmBuSh MuSeUmGibsland, LA318.843.1934

DoUlLuT StEaMbOaT HoUsEs New Orleans, LA400 and 503 Egania St.

JuNgLe GaRdEnSAvery Island, LAjunglegardens.org

QuIrKySiTeS

THIS PECAN PRALINE GATEAU IS PURE DECADENCE.

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LiLaH’S BaKeRyShreveport, LAlilahskingcakes.com

CaJuNPeCaN HoUsECut Off, LAcajunpecanhouse.com

DoNg PhUoNgBaKeShOpNew Orleans, LAdpbakeshop.com

CaRnIvAlAt HoMe

BoUdInEither as links or crispy boudin balls, this spicy rice and pork sausage is a Cajun staple.

CrAcKlIn’SWhereas pork rinds are puffy pieces of fried pork skin, crunchy cracklin’s also have a little fat attached.

CaJuN RoAd TrIp

essentials

After arriving in Louisiana from Vietnam, Ha Do opened Hi-Do Bakery in 1989. In the decades that followed, the bakeshop earned throngs of dedicated fans for its breads and confections. During Carnival season, the bakery’s king cake (with its uffy crumb and crunchy sugar reminiscent of the popular McKenzie’s bakery style) is a must-try. While Hi-Do does not ship king cakes, the bakery offers seasonal cakes in the same style for visitors throughout the year.

Hi-Do BaKeRy

G E T T H E R E 439 Terry Pkwy. • Terrytown, LA

E X P L O R E Barataria Preserve • Marrero, LA

About 60 years after their grandfather opened Lafayette’s popular Southside Bakery, Denny and Billy Guilbeaux launched Twins Burgers & Sweets. Now with two locations in the area, Twins is known for its cakes and cookies as well as its juicy hamburgers. The Evil Twin combines two quarter-pound patties, “evil onions” (sautéed onions and jalapeños) and Monterey Jack cheese. A few years ago, Twins—which does a booming king cake business—received notoriety for inventing the savory Boudin King Cake.

TwInS BuRgErS & SwEeTs

G E T T H E R E 2801 Johnston St. • Lafayette, LA

T R Y Parish Brewing Company • Broussard, LA

HI-DO OFFERS TENDER KING CAKES

WITH CRUNCHY SUGAR.

SwAmP PoPThese Lafayette sodas combine local avors (think pecan praline and satsuma) with Louisiana cane sugar.

y

a

E X P

TASTY KING CAKES DELIVERED

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Near the eastern edge of Baton Rouge, Randy Montalbano’s Seafood & Catering has carved out a place for itself among boiled shrimp and craw sh a cionados. Since 2006, the Montalbano family has lovingly grown this seafood oasis and added items to the menu, including fried seafood po’ boys, locally made tamales and the Baton Rouge staple Sensation Salad (try theirs with boiled shrimp). Don’t leave without perusing their selection of sweets, including Old Time Ginger Cakes from Gonzales.

RaNdY MoNtAlBaNo’SSeAfOoD & CaTeRiNg

G E T T H E R E 12740 Florida Blvd. • Baton Rouge, LA E X P L O R E Old Louisiana State Capitol • Baton Rouge, LA

In 2016, self-taught baker Korey Champagne launched Acadian Slice at the weekly Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market with a rotating slate of seasonal pies. Throughout Carnival season, he offers a King Cake Galette with a creamy cinnamon and pecan lling and topped with candied pecans, almond glaze and Steen’s cane syrup. This rustic pie pays homage to the original but is delightful in its own right. Customers can now preorder his pies for pickup throughout the week.

AcAdIaN SlIcE

G E T T H E R E 2913 Johnston St. • Lafayette, LA (Saturdays) E X P L O R E

THIS RUSTIC GALETTE ISN’T EXACTLY KING CAKE, BUT IT SURE IS DELICIOUS.

Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse is a superlative example of smoked meats done right. While customers can peruse the selection of andouille, tasso and smoked sausages, they can also sit down in the dining room to enjoy a bowl of gumbo (packed with smoked chicken and andouille), hog’s head cheese or the crunchy and addictive Andouille Chips. Wayne Jacob’s ships its smoky treats across the country (and to some international destinations).

WaYnE JaCoB’S SmOkEhOuSe

G E T T H E R E 769 W. 5th St. • Laplace, LA

T R Y Cajun Pride Swamp Tours • Laplace, LA

CHICKEN AND SMOKED ANDOUILLE GUMBO

Cajun Corridor Scenic Byway louisianabyways.com

KEEPSAKES

The Legacy of LACE

Touting both a rich history and perennial popularity, heirloom lace is unwavering in its

versatile appeal. BY Elizabeth Bonner Czapski

CREATIVE DESIGN AND STYLING BY Melissa Sturdivant SmithPHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele



T he universal allure of lace encompasses centuries, continents, and committed

collectors of all kinds. From special strands wrapped around bridal bouquets to storied trim on little girls’ smocked dresses, here in the South, our appreciation for the elegant fabric often falls a bit closer to home, engrained in a love of bequeathing beautiful things to the next generation. No matter how vintage lace comes into your life, the adaptable textile offers endless opportunities to make use of its enduring splendor, spanning practical pieces for the home, decorative elements, accessories, and more.

Proving its importance to our country’s cultural story, lace boasts its own collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Founded in the early 1900s, the compilation now holds about 6,000 items that range from 16th-century Italian reticella (a needlework style) to bobbin lace pictures made as fine art in the 1970s. Among the highlights is “War Lace” that Americans purchased to help support Belgian makers during German occupation in World War I.

Another treasure is a lace pillow created by the women of Ipswich, Massachusetts, home to the United States’ best-known handmade lace industry that was mentioned in Alexander Hamilton’s Report on the Subject of Manufactures in 1791.

“From reading what collectors have written, they were attracted first by the beauty of handmade lace and by the obvious artistry of the designers and immense skill sets

and patience of the workers,” says Madelyn Shaw, curator of textiles at the Smithsonian. Mariana Barran de Goodall, founder of Houston-based Hibiscus Linens (featured on page 87) and an enthusiastic lace collector in her own right, echoes a similar enchantment with the material, saying, “The precision needed to create something so dainty and intricate is what I find magical.”


SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY Transform trimmings of lace with special meaning into wearable mementos. You can nd these pendants with a curved glass center

in the jewelry section of most crafts stores. Flood the at metal base with hot glue, place the lace atop it and then attach the glass while the glue is still very hot. These simple creations are a great way to gift snippets of a wedding gown or veil to daughters and granddaughters. (Opposite) Give an antique glass tray an understated adornment with a doily or handkerchief. Use a piece that’s a comparable shape and size, but don’t fuss over exact measurements. An imperfect t adds to the heirloom character.

KEEPSAKES


At Southern Vintage Table, an antique tableware rental company in Hillsborough, North Carolina, owner Shelly Heath shares a fascination with lace that she’s acquired for her events. But she also believes that much of its draw, especially in our region, lies in nostalgic merit. “I think folks appreciate vintage lace because of the delicate and intricate designs as well as its personal history,” Shelly explains. “If it has been handed down from previous generations, it carries a sentimental value that is priceless. Lace is also versatile—as a table covering, a handkerchief, or an embellishment on [clothing].”

From layering doilies as table runners to adding distinctive texture to tea towels, Shelly and Mariana are no strangers to repurposing their old-fashioned lace finds. However, the women agree that some pristine antique pieces are too precious to alter and should simply be framed in their original form. “In the 19th century, lots of extraordinary early lace was cut up and repurposed to fit with fashionable silhouettes and styles,” Madelyn says. “My feeling as a curator is to err on the side of caution. It is possible to respect the original object and still use it, but you need sensitivity, skill, and knowledge.”

Quality lace can be found at estate sales, auction houses, secondhand stores, flea markets, and even online companies like Etsy. Collectors should educate themselves and be able to spot the subtle differences between handmade and machine-made as well as evidence of weakness in the threads. Still, damaged gems have potential of their own, offering guilt-free creative possibilities. Mariana advises searching for “something unique, shapes you don’t find often, and at the end of the day, something that makes you happy.” She says, “It is one of those small luxuries you can enjoy every day.”

KEEPSAKES


SECOND ACT For a pretty accent on a chair in a feminine sitting room, create a pillowcase with layered crochet doilies. Further its Old-World charm with a double-duty purpose to store and display vintage brooches. (Opposite) From an ornament to a locket, hollow and transparent elements lend themselves to lovely fabric llings that enhance both the home and wardrobe. Lace can also boost the beauty of functional items often left out in the open, such as a pincushion and coordinating scissors cover.


FiresideWELCOME

Enjoy a relaxed repast at this serene woodland-inspired tableau in the light of a crackling blaze.

STYLING BY Melissa Sturdivant Smith PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele

SEASONAL SETTINGS


A HUSH FALLSThe quietude of a winter afternoon settles over the room as dear con dantes nestle in for a cozy respite near the hearth. A textural taupe linen puddles on the oor, crowned by a pale topper and matching napkins that bear embroidered sprays of pine. Snow-white owers like orchids, tea roses, and tulips brighten the scene, set o by soft tufts of pussy willow. A swag of greenery swoops across the mantel, anchored by clusters of oversize pine cones and curls of cream-hued ribbon.



SEASONAL SETTINGS

EVERGREEN IDYLL Fanciful pine cone and bough motifs grace handcrafted Italian china, echoing the pristine woodland setting that lies just beyond the windows. Simple pewter chargers, atware, and serveware lend a muted sheen; dinner plates the color of café au lait add luster without detracting from the tone-on-tone e ect. A magni cent oral centerpiece includes pepper berry, eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, pine cones, cabbage, hydrangea, tea roses, and more, with a few foraged twigs for a sculptural touch. Candles slipped inside mercury glass vessels cast a beguiling glow in the waning light of the day.


DELIGHT IN A SUMPTUOUS SUPPER FOR TWO OVER A

VINTAGE-INSPIRED SPREAD THAT SETS THE TONE TO CELEBRATE

A ROMANCE THAT GROWS GREATER WITH TIME. RECIPE DEVELOPMENT BY Taylor Franklin Wann, J.R. Jacobson, AND Kathleen Kanen | FOOD STYLING BY Kellie Gerber Kelley

STYLING BY Melissa Sturdivant Smith | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele

Love for the Ages

OLD-FASHIONED ALLUREBorrow from winter’s soft palette and the enduring elegance of days gone by to create an enchanting scene on this occasion made for doting on your special someone. A linen cloth covered in a faded oral print serves as a beautiful backdrop for an organic runner composed of eucalyptus swags interspersed with pink stock, ivory tea roses, and antique pearls. The display culminates at the table’s center in a lovely arrangement teeming with garden roses, hydrangeas, tulips, ranunculus, and dusty miller. Heirloom silver and cream-colored china trimmed in motifs of intricate lace and pastel blossoms enhance the quaint aesthetic, and vintage Valentine’s Day cards and petite packages wrapped with a ection add fanciful touches to the sentimental a air. A sideboard bedecked with coordinating accents continues the retro charm, presenting owers and frills atop a gilded tray. Treasured mementos are given pride of place while a miniature book lled with heartfelt greetings awaits an admirer.


Orange and Radicchio SaladMAKES 2 SERVINGS

2½ tablespoons orange juice

1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

½ tablespoon orange marmalade

½ teaspoon orange zest

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 blood orange, peeled, sliced into

¼-inch rounds, and seeds removed

1 Cara Cara navel orange, peeled, sliced

into ¼-inch rounds, and seeds removed

½ head radicchio, leaves torn

½ cup thinly sliced fennel

Garnish: fennel fronds

1. In a small bowl, whisk together orange

juice, vinegar, marmalade, zest, salt,

and pepper. Slowly whisk in oil in a

slow stream. Cover and refrigerate for

up to 1 week.

2. Arrange oranges, radicchio, and

fennel on 2 salad plates. Drizzle with

orange vinaigrette. Garnish with fennel

fronds, if desired.

Wine-Braised Short RibsMAKES 2 SERVINGS

4 beef short ribs, cut 2 inches thick

(about 2 pounds)

1½ teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

8 to 10 fresh thyme sprigs

4 fresh rosemary sprigs

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 cups beef broth

1 cup red wine

1 small yellow onion, quartered

3 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon lemon juice

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Garnish: fresh thyme

1. Preheat oven to 325 .̊

2. Sprinkle short ribs with salt and

pepper. Let sit at room temperature for

30 minutes. Tie thyme and rosemary

sprigs together with kitchen twine.

3. In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat oil

over medium-high heat. Add short ribs,

and cook until browned, for 1 to 2 minutes

on each side. Remove short ribs from pan

and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and

add flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until

flour is fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Whisk in broth and wine. Add short ribs to

pan with onion, garlic, and herb bundle.

Cover and bake until meat is very tender,

SPREAD FOR SWEETHEARTSBegin the evening with a salad as vibrant as the connection you hold dear. Dressed in a tangy vinaigrette, vivid radicchio mixes with oranges in a spectrum of shades for a plate as pretty as it is appetizing. Short ribs braised with red wine, garlic, thyme, and rosemary make for a hearty main course bolstered by a avorful pan sauce. Egg noodles coated

in rich, nutty browned butter and laced with a medley of fresh herbs are a satisfying side, while lemony asparagus sprinkled with Parmesan and walnuts provides a lighter counterpart. An appropriate accompaniment to the classic valentines scattered about, Strawberry Pie Love Letters deliver a tting nale, dotted with sparkling sugar

and a garnish of Cointreau-infused berries and sweetened whipped cream. Cap the night with decadent White Russian Co ee as you reminisce on your shared past and dream about the future.


about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

4. Remove short ribs from pan and

set aside. Discard onion, garlic,

and herb bundle.

5. Bring remaining sauce in pan to a boil

over medium-high heat. Add lemon

juice. Cook, whisking constantly, until

sauce is reduced by two-thirds and is

thickened, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Whisk in butter until fully incorporated.

6. Arrange short ribs on serving plate

and serve with pan sauce. Garnish with

fresh thyme, if desired.

Browned Butter–Herb NoodlesMAKES 2 SERVINGS

2 cups wide egg noodles

½ cup unsalted butter

1 fresh sage sprig

2 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh chives

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

½ teaspoon kosher salt


2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted

1. Cook noodles according to package

directions. Rinse under cold water

and drain.

2. In a 10-inch skillet, melt butter over

medium heat. Add sage sprig and cook

until butter turns a medium-brown color

and has a nutty aroma, about 10 minutes.

3. Discard sage sprig and add noodles

back to pan. Add chives, thyme, salt,

and pepper, tossing to coat.

4. Divide noodles between serving

plates; top with Parmesan and toasted

pine nuts.

Asparagus with Lemon and ParmesanMAKES 2 SERVINGS

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon kosher salt


½ pound asparagus, trimmed

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 400 .̊

2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon

juice, oil, salt, and pepper.

3. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss

asparagus in lemon juice mixture until

well coated. Arrange asparagus on pan

in a single layer. Bake until asparagus

are crisp-tender and starting to brown,

about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with

Parmesan and walnuts and bake for

2 minutes more. Serve immediately.

White Russian Coff eeMAKES 1 SERVING

1 ounce vanilla vodka

2 ounces Kahlúa

4 ounces hot strong-brewed coff ee

2 ounces heavy whipping cream

1 tablespoon Sweet Whipped Cream,

to serve (recipe follows)

Garnish: milk chocolate curls

1. In an 8-ounce mug, stir together

vodka, Kahlúa, coff ee, and heavy

whipping cream. Serve with Sweet

Whipped Cream, and garnish with

chocolate curls, if desired.


SWEET WHIPPED CREAM

MAKES ½ CUP

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

¼ teaspoon clear vanilla extract

1. In a chilled medium bowl and using

chilled beaters, beat cream, sugar, and

vanilla with a mixer at medium-high

speed until medium peaks form.

Serve immediately.

Strawberry Pie Love LettersMAKES 2

½ (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated

piecrusts

¼ cup thinly sliced fresh strawberries

1 tablespoon seedless strawberry

preserves

½ teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon whole milk

½ teaspoon sparkling sugar

Garnish: thinly sliced strawberries

Sweetened whipped cream, to serve

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed

baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spray 2 (4-inch) squares of foil with

cooking spray.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out

dough. Using a fluted pastry cutter, cut

a 6-inch square from dough. Cut

3 (¾-inch) hearts from excess dough.

Roll remaining dough scraps into

⅛-inch thickness and repeat procedure.

3. For each pie, arrange dough into a

diamond shape. In a small bowl, gently

toss together strawberries, preserves,

and cornstarch. Spoon half of strawberry

mixture into the center of dough. Fold

bottom point over strawberry mixture;

fold right and left points toward the

center. Brush dough with milk.

Place 1 heart in center where points

meet and 1 on each side. Leave top

point unfolded. Sprinkle dough with

¼ teaspoon sugar. Place on prepared pan.

4. Bake until pastry is golden brown,

about 20 minutes. Cover the unfolded

points loosely with prepared foil squares,

coated side down, aft er 10 minutes to

prevent overbrowning, if necessary.

Let cool completely.

5. Garnish with strawberries, if desired.

Serve with whipped cream.

KITCHEN TIP:

Brush strawberry slices used for

garnish with Cointreau (orange-

flavored liqueur), if desired.

Castillo de San Marcos@ @+

TALES OF GLORY AND DEFEAT STRETCHING BACK TO AMERICA’S EARLIEST DAYS SWIRL ON THE

SEASIDE BREEZES OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, WHERE A UNIQUELY CONSTRUCTED

MONUMENT GRANTS INSIGHT INTO OFTEN-OVERLOOKED CHAPTERS OF HISTORY.

BY Ashley Shaw | PHOTOGRAPHY BY John O’Hagan

If the seashell-studded walls of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument could talk, the chorus of voices would reverberate around the stony fortress louder than cannon fire. Lingering like echoes of the blasts still heard during today’s reenactments,

stories of those who have passed through this military stronghold-turned-national park trace back more than three centuries, spanning tragedies and triumphs that predate our country’s birth.

“This is where America began,” says Greg Utech, supervisory park ranger. “St. Augustine is the destination. However, the Castillo de San Marcos—the Castle of St. Mark—actually becomes the magnet, and it becomes the highlight of a lot of people’s journeys.” Widely acclaimed as one of the state’s crowning historical jewels, the landmark is both a symbol of St. Augustine’s rich heritage and a cornerstone of U.S. history.

The fort was built by the Spanish in the 17th century to defend St. Augustine, a crucial outpost of the wealthy empire’s La Florida territory. Situated on the west bank of Matanzas Bay, it served as both a military warehouse and a shelter for townspeople during attacks by French and British battalions, local Native Americans, and treasure-plundering pirates. Nine previous fortifications made of wood had been destroyed by manpower and Mother Nature, jeopardizing Spain’s foothold in the New World.



The solution took the form of sedimentary rock composed of seashell fragments that had spent thousands of years on the ocean floor. Changes in sea level eventually exposed the material to air and other elements, transforming the organic debris into a porous limestone called coquina, Spanish for “cockle” or “shell.” The Spaniards quarried the coquina from nearby Anastasia Island to craft the 400,000-plus blocks needed to construct their new stronghold.

Despite its hardness to the touch, many people compare the substance to Styrofoam for its uncanny flexibility. Accounts describe the holes created by cannon balls as self-healing, because the ammunition would either bounce off the walls or lodge into them without causing significant damage. “It was like thrusting a knife into a block of cheese,” Greg explains.

Four diamond-shaped bastions connect the protective walls that encompass a topside gun deck, a rustic courtyard connecting various rooms, and a single entrance accessible

via two consecutive drawbridges. The fortress remains about 95 percent original, a testament to its rare construction and preservation efforts by the area historical society and the National Park Service (NPS). “This is the oldest masonry fortification in North America, which really makes it the oldest surviving European-built structure still standing in this country,” says Greg, a Navy veteran and longtime history buff who has been with the NPS for more than 20 years.

Dotting the Sunshine State’s Atlantic shoreline, St. Augustine and neighboring Ponte Vedra comprise the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the U.S., preceding the settlements of Plymouth and Jamestown. Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565 on the same grounds Juan Ponce de León had discovered in his legendary search for the Fountain of Youth.

The Castillo’s complex history, tracing back to Ponce de León’s arrival in present-day Florida, is illuminated through exhibits, dramatic reenactments, weapons demonstrations, and thematic discussions led by rangers and volunteers. A free virtual tour is also available on the park’s website, which grants guests an interactive experience from home. Not only do visitors learn of the various European nations that laid claim to the fort and surrounding region over the centuries, but they also uncover tales of imprisoned Native Americans and Colonial slaves who sought asylum in St. Augustine.

“I like to think of every brick as having its own story,” says park guide Marty Enwright, who dresses in a Colonial-style outfit of her own making several days a week. “I try to find that place where we can meet, that one little dot of history. We’ve got 348 years here, and in those 348 years, there’s something that someone is interested in that happened at this fortress. We can find some common ground somewhere.”

The NPS became responsible for the monument and education efforts in the 1930s. By that time, the St. Augustine Historical Society had been compiling research and collecting artifacts for years, as the War Department had deemed the garrison—known as Fort Marion during the U.S. military’s tenure—unnecessary for national defense by the turn of the 20th century.

“What is our mission? Preserve and protect for current and future generations, because once this place is gone, it’s gone forever,” says Greg, whose favorite part of the job is storytelling. “Here’s the challenge I present to visitors: Leave the present and try to look at life and events through the eyes of the inhabitants who lived here a long time ago. Listen for a Spanish soldier’s voice bouncing off the walls; listen to the cannon’s echo. This is the way it was. We want to spark the imagination of people to make a connection and see the value of this place as a piece of our history.”

For information, visit nps.gov/casa.

Park guide Marty Enwright (right) brings the Castillo de San Marcos to life by dressing the part and sharing tales of the fort’s various roles over the course of nearly 350 years. The Spanish broke ground on the Castillo in 1672, but construction and renovations took place for decades as control of the fortress changed hands, always through peaceful treaties. Explore numerous rooms, or casemates, to learn about the people who lived, worked, and were imprisoned here. From period munitions and reproduced military uniforms to detailed timelines and plaques, each space highlights a di erent era or theme. Throughout the year, patrons can attend live reenactments, such as weapons demonstrations. A free vitrual tour created by the National Park Service and University of South Florida Libraries also o ers web users access to the grounds and exhibits.

Around Town A heady combination of rich culture and Florida sunshine makes St. Augustine a picturesque getaway no matter the season. If you’re up for a challenge that’s well worth the e ort, climb 219 steps inside the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a spectacular panorama of the city and ocean waters. Opposite: A trolley tour is the best way to take in the area’s Old-World charm and architectural gems like Flagler College and the Lightner Museum (far right, top and bottom), both former hotels built by oil and railroad tycoon Henry M. Flagler. Top-notch restaurants abound, such as Catch 27, known for seafood, and Southern eatery Uptown Swinery (left center). Manicured walkways and brick-paved streets make shopping a cinch in this pedestrian-friendly burg. Visit Two Sparrows (top left) for current fashions and faith-based gifts. West to East (bottom left) carries distinctive home décor, accessories, and more. As the sun sets, make your way to The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens (bottom center) for a specialty cocktail by one of the courtyard’s outdoor re pits. The serene property is comprised of nine lavishly refurbished homes dating from 1790 to 1910, all nestled amid lush plantings and artful sculptures.



IT’S TIME TO DREAM BIG! BE INSPIRED

BY THESE NINE REMARKABLE

SOUTHERN ENTREPRENEURS WHO

PARLAYED THEIR INDIVIDUAL

PASSIONS INTO THRIVING AND

FULFILLING CAREERS.

ENTREPRENEURS

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K indling a footloose spirit akin to flapper-era fringe, tassels have a way of eliciting smiles. Mimi Striplin recognized the potential for these sassy strands in all

shades of the rainbow to brighten both outfits and moods, so she founded a jewelry company that showcases the endless wearable possibilities.

“The Tiny Tassel is best described by our core value: happiness,” says Mimi, a South Carolina native and graduate of the College of Charleston. “My inspiration was to bring joy to others’ lives by hand-making statement earrings in fun, bright colors.”

Available in a variety of hues, the Signature Tassel Earrings were Mimi’s premier offering when she started out on the online company Etsy in 2015. From neons to subtle metallics, the lightweight baubles paved the way for statement necklaces, beaded bracelets, and acrylic earrings, all embellished with handcrafted tassels.

“My sister bought me a pair of pink tassel earrings for my birthday, and she’s so practical; she said, ‘You should

really just try to make these.’ Of course, I took it as a challenge,” Mimi says. She watched a few online tutorials and hit the ground running. “I started wearing them, and friends started asking about them—the tassel trend was just picking up then—and it grew from there.”

Before long, Mimi’s artistically inclined family members joined her, and the business expanded to include party décor and other fashion essentials. Comprised of bejeweled and gold-plated earrings shaped like flamingos, flowers, fruits, and more, the Curated Collection is a collaboration between Mimi and her sister, a Dallas-based accountant who dreams up designs in her free time. Mimi’s mother, a talented seamstress, sews every piece in their apparel line, which has grown from headbands and scarves to dresses, skirts, and tops stitched from fabrics they source from artists worldwide.

“We like to stick to what we call ‘happy colors’ that coordinate with our jewelry and other things we’re designing, so we can be a one-stop

shop,” says Mimi, who managed a luxury menswear store until she saw the potential for The Tiny Tassel to pay her bills. In 2017, she partnered with another local entrepreneur to open a retail collective that housed her own burgeoning brand and about 20 other area artisans.

Mimi also offered tassel-making workshops for private parties and for boutiques who carried her products. She traveled around the South, getting women of all ages excited about her colorful styles and growing her brand. With the foundation and following she’d built, Mimi was confident her business would survive when they temporarily shifted to online-only in summer 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic gave me an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate,” says Mimi, who looks forward to greeting patrons at her first stand-alone location. “By focusing on our strengths, The Tiny Tassel grew quickly in a short period of time. This couldn’t have been done without my family. I love being able to work with my mom and sister to see our designs come to life.”

For info, visit thetinytassel.com.

FRILLS AND FLOUNCESA CHARLESTON MAKER AND HER LOVED ONES THRILL FASHIONISTAS WITH

HANDMADE PIECES THAT SHIMMER, SHINE, AND SHAKE UP ANY WARDROBE.

BY Ashley Shaw | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Aneris Photography



INSPIREDFLAVORS

LAUNCHED IN A GREENHOUSE, A VIRGINIA CHEF’S

MADE-FROM-SCRATCH PASTA ENTERPRISE BLOSSOMS. BY Marie Baxley | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele AND Adam Underwood

M ounds of deep black Squid Ink Campanelle, sun-colored Lemon Basil Gemelli, festive

green Spinach Fusilli, and more portray a beautiful culinary masterpiece of interesting shapes and intriguing flavors created by chef Stephanie Fees at Scratch Pasta Co., a business she runs out of her home in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“I make fresh pasta and dried, but my specialty is flavored,” says Stephanie, who produces about 1,000 pounds of pasta a week compared to 100 pounds when she first started out in July 2017. Now with an online retail presence, she sells more than a dozen colorful varieties (some seasonal), including spicy garlic,

tomato basil, and Virginia wheat, along with artisan products like Georgia Olive Farms extra-virgin olive oil and J.Q. Dickinson salts.

Stephanie’s circuitous venture of founding a company began when she was earning an art history degree at the University of Virginia and discovered that she yearned for home cooking. Turning to the blogosphere for direction, she found easy recipes and began experimenting with food. Stephanie so enjoyed preparing meals with fresh ingredients, her mom urged her to explore a culinary career. After graduating, she earned a certification in 2010 from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York and hasn’t looked back.

Internships and early jobs led to a stint at The Greenbrier, a luxury resort in West Virginia where

everything is made from scratch. At the hotel, she worked her way up from preparing salads and flipping burgers at the casual venue Draper’s Café to The Forum, where the menu focuses on authentic Italian dishes. “It was a great learning experience,” says Stephanie, who also enrolled in a pasta-making seminar in Italy.

When her mother bought a wedding venue, she returned to Lynchburg and served as head chef until the family sold the outlet in 2015. About the same time, Stephanie was inspired by an article in The Wall Street Journal featuring a woman who made pasta. “My whole plan was to look for another job, and pasta would be a side project,” she says.

Working out of her parents’ greenhouse and incorporating produce from their large garden into her pasta dough, she sold at farmers’ markets in Lynchburg, nearby Charlottesville, and elsewhere in Nelson County. She was pleasantly surprised by the interest and demand in the prismatic selection she offers. Scratch Pasta expanded to restaurants and retail stores in the area, and later added the companion products online along with recipes. Given the flavorful nature of her strands and bundles, she says the recipes help to give customers ideas on pairing the distinctive blends with sauces. “People ask, ‘What do you do with this?’” says Stephanie.

Now based in her own home (across the street from her parents), Stephanie has created a garage workspace that put her in a good position to fill orders last year when the pandemic hit and online sales increased, especially for gift baskets. “My online business went through the roof,” she says.

Future plans call for expanding into new markets, especially specialty food shops for the dry versions of her pastas. After working at home for so long, which Stephanie says can be lonely, the idea of finding a space for a retail storefront tops her list for 2021. “I can’t stay in my garage forever,” she says.

For info, visit scratchpastaco.com.

“I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GENERAL CAN BE A LONELY BUSINESS. THE FARMERS’ MARKETS GAVE ME A

NETWORK.”—STEPHANIE FEES

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With widespread Southern roots and a passport bearing the stamps of 27 different countries, designer

Ally-Catherine Trenary has enough artistic muses to last an entire career. Still, she believes the most important influence on any piece should be the personality of its owner. Pairing this philosophy with a desire to craft enduring accents for the home, Ally-Catherine launched June St. George to offer timeless rugs characterized by pattern, color, and custom design.

“I saw a need to celebrate family traditions in a beautiful and meaningful manner, and I wanted to elevate the most grounding piece of a room—the rug,” says Ally-Catherine, whose background is in interior design. “June St. George gives clients the opportunity to express themselves, reflect on what they want in their home, and curate a piece to fit their style and create their own heirloom.”

Ally-Catherine channeled her vision into a simple five-step creative process

that begins with a base of luxurious New Zealand wool, hand-tufted and available in 180 hues and luster fibers. A digital rendering system brings the piece to life onscreen as you choose a layout, a material, colors, and distinctive selections like a monogram or crest. Since the company opened in 2018, they have introduced a new product every year, adding pillows in a variety of fabrics plus porcelain ginger and apothecary jars—all customizable.

“Once the client submits their purchase, I look over each of their selections and take time to make suggestions to ensure they’re getting their dream rug,” Ally-Catherine says. Customers who prefer more guidance can peruse the website’s expertly curated colorways or the Designed Shoppe, where a ready-to-ship item can be enhanced with a monogram.

Ally-Catherine fell in love with textile design while studying the craft in London. When the passion led to her business, it seemed fitting to include a nod to the locale in the name, so she combined St. George (England’s patron saint) with a reference to her beloved puppy, June Sailor. While

many of her motifs draw from her world travels, the bespoke aesthetic is a product of her Southern heritage.

“Growing up in the South, many of the heirlooms passed down to me were monogrammed,” says Ally-Catherine, who has lived in Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky and now calls Raleigh home. “I grew up appreciating how monogramming gives the item a deeper personal meaning.”

To take this idea a step further, all of Ally-Catherine’s artful monogram options are named after the person or place that inspired them. Her collections pull from feelings, memories, and stirring moments rather than trends. For instance, the Pinehurst line reflects the Mississippi magnolia trees that remind her of visiting her grandparents as a child.

“Each design has a story or personal connection,” Ally-Catherine says. “As the client makes their selections, they are layering in their story and style. I want people to feel freedom to create for their homes and have quality, lasting pieces that can be handed down for generations.”

For info, visit junestgeorge.com.

TAILOR-MADE TREASURESA NORTH CAROLINA INTERIOR DESIGNER BLENDS HER OWN

EXPERTISE WITH BESPOKE FLAIR TO CREATE LONG-LASTING RUGS READY

TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEYS THROUGH GENERATIONS.

BY Elizabeth Bonner Czapski | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Routh Barzin


From the beginning, it was clear the fledgling enterprise in the north Mississippi hamlet of Tupelo wasn’t going to be your ordinary art gallery. A decade into the

business, the artists at the Caron Gallery find their work on HGTV, celebrated at fancy wine dinners, and even hanging virtually in prospective clients’ homes thanks to a smartphone app.

“My idea to carve a niche was to do Mississippi artists only,” says Kim Caron, who opened an online outlet and storefront in 2010 focusing on some 40 artisans from the Magnolia State. Now regularly touted on HGTV’s décor show Home Town and selling to a nationwide audience, Kim never imagined when she started she would be able to tap into such a large market for those she represents.

Having grown up in Tupelo, a town of some 38,000 residents and best known as Elvis’s birthplace, Kim recognized the talent all around her. “We are at the bottom of the list in so many things in our state, but when it comes to the arts community—whether

it be visual, the written word, or music—our artists are at the top,” she says. “They are some of the most talented artists, but they are always behind in getting exposure and being on a national platform. So that was my goal: a national platform for Mississippi’s creative community visually to showcase them to the world.”

Her first foray into the art world was a few elective classes while earning her marketing degree at Mississippi State University in the 1980s. Not long after graduation, she found herself musing about how wonderful it would be to have a gallery of her own. “I thought about different dynamics of a gallery that weren’t typical ‘white box’ even back then.”

After college, Kim returned to Tupelo, married, and stayed home to raise two children. Once the youngest was old enough to drive, she was itching to start a business and began planning the Caron Gallery in 2008, despite a worldwide economic recession. “I thought, if I can do it now, I should be able to build it from here and survive any kind of downturn from

the standpoint of being lean and having the grit to work through it,” she says. Realizing a small community has limited clientele and wanting the widest exposure possible for the collections, she launched the website first and followed with the storefront four months later.

Instead of typical seasonal gallery exhibits, Kim features an artist each month and hosts quarterly catered dinners to bring people into the shop. She also offers a gift registry and a free in-home consultation to guide clients on their collections, giving them a 10 percent discount for a year. “You have a timeline, but you’re not rushed,” she says. The store includes select inventory on a smartphone app that lets a customer see a painting on a wall in their home.

Future plans call for continuing the quest to find new craftsmen, particu-larly Black artists. “If I am going to represent Mississippi artists, I need to have artists from different parts of the community and culture,” says Kim. “That’s a big goal for me right now.”

For info, visit thecarongallery.com.

AN ARTFUL APPROACHVERSATILITY AND GRIT HAVE GIVEN KIM CARON THE TOOLS TO SUCCESSFULLY

CHASE HER DREAM OF SHOWCASING MISSISSIPPI ARTISTS ON A WIDER STAGE.

BY Marie Baxley | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE Caron Gallery

“THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOUTH, THIS CULTURE, THAT BUILDS THIS VISION THAT I DON’T THINK AN ARTIST FROM ANOTHER REGION CAN TAP INTO LIKE WE CAN. I REALLY DON’T KNOW EXACTLY

WHAT IT IS. I KNOW THERE IS A DEEP, DEEP CONNECTION TO THE LAND, TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES.”—KIM CARON

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Born in Australia to Vietnamese immigrants, Trang Vu has lived in major cities all over the world. When her husband’s job brought

them to Savannah, Georgia, five years ago, she was well-versed in overcoming homesickness. Little did she know, her tried-and-true cure—taking an art class to mingle with locals—would open the door to launching a line of sculptural stoneware called Shibui-Ceramics.

“I love being tactile,” says Trang, an interior designer who’s always been drawn to artistic self-expression. She enrolled in a pottery workshop, and from day one, throwing clay on a wheel and experimenting with color palettes and techniques enthralled her. Soon, clients through her small interiors business, Design By Vu Studio, were asking for earthenware instead of decorating services.

Encouraged by the popularity of her one-of-a-kind plates, mugs, vases, and other crockery, Trang officially launched Shibui-Ceramics in early 2020.

In Japanese, shibui (pronounced shi-buoy) describes a balanced aesthetic of simplicity and complexity, acknowledging the splendor of everyday objects or moments. It’s a philosophy Trang has always embraced, and the name perfectly suits a venture in which irregularities are viewed as charming and an intricate process results in a functional object.

“[My customers] are looking for the beauty in imperfection or the simple connection they have with whatever surface design I’ve created on my pieces,” says Trang, who draws inspiration from her design background and personal memories. The pastel pinks, blues, and grays of her latest collection encapsulate Trang’s remembrances of her favorite Australian beach town, Torquay. But she loves that every customer has different associations with those same hues. “It’s a way to connect with people through your own experiences and their experiences,” she says.

A mother of two, Trang escapes to a corner of the garage she’s

transformed into a studio space, relishing the quiet alone time. “For me, it’s very therapeutic,” she says. “Pottery allows me to feel connected with nature, with my customers, and with myself.” Getting her hands dirty, molding the clay, and painting the designs bring her as much joy as viewing the finished products, which are available online and through a few specialty shops in Savannah.

As with any handmade ceramic good, no two pieces are exactly alike, nor do they take the same amount of time to complete. The artistic process is slow and nuanced, much like coastal Georgia. “I’m a big-city girl, so I never thought I’d enjoy the slower pace here. But I really do,” Trang says. She feels at home thanks to Savannah’s supportive network of creatives. “Having a community like this helps you settle into a new town where you don’t know anyone. Knowing these creative people who are similar to you in a sense—we’re all artists and have the same struggles. It’s what helps anchor me here.”

For info, visit shibui-ceramics.com.

SHAPING A FUTUREAN INTERIOR DESIGNER TURNS TO POTTERY AS A HANDS-ON CREATIVE OUTLET

AND A CONNECTION TO HER NEW SOUTHERN HOMETOWN.

BY Ashley Shaw | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jim Bathie

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ON THE SAME PAGEA SHARED AFFINITY FOR ALL THINGS LITERARY LIGHTS THE WAY FOR

THREE BIRMINGHAM TRANSPLANTS TO OPEN A BOOKSTORE WITH COMMUNITY

AT ITS CORE. BY Ashley Shaw | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Welbourne Steele

It only took a single common thread to entwine them: Elizabeth Goodrich, Laura Cotten, and Kristen Iskandrian had all fantasized about opening a bookshop. Though they hadn’t known each other for long,

the trio drew on a like-minded love of literature as the guiding force for their dream come true, Thank You Books in Alabama’s Magic City.

“Community is really central to who we are. We love books, but we also love people,” says Elizabeth, a Presbyterian minister by training who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. “We describe ourselves as a general-interest independent bookstore with an emphasis on literary fiction, and we try to make sure we have a great selection of poetry and offerings from smaller presses that are harder

to find at big-box stores.”A mutual friend introduced

Elizabeth to Kristen and Laura when he recognized the women’s shared ambition in December 2018, one year before the shop’s grand opening. By that time, Kristen and Laura had attended a booksellers’ workshop at author Ann Patchett’s well-known Nashville haunt, Parnassus Books, and they’d also settled on the name for their venture. “We love that it is an unusual name, but we hope it conveys a certain amount of graciousness and playfulness,” says Elizabeth, whom Laura describes as the company’s devoted cheerleader.

Each of the co-owners brings different experiences to the table, creating an easygoing and complementary dynamic that helped

the team navigate their first year in business and the notorious curveballs of 2020. “One of the really wonderful things about how all of this has unfolded, in spite of a global pandemic, is that we’ve had what we needed at every turn in the road,” Elizabeth says.

Laura, who taught middle school and high school English and also worked at an independent bookstore in Michigan, agrees. “None of us could do this without the help of all of us together,” she says. She attributes their connections to the publishing world and ability to host author-led events to Kristen, an O. Henry Prize-winning writer.

While promoting her first novel, Kristen traveled to bookstores across the country and came home to Birmingham pondering the possibilities


of opening a shop like those she visited. She and Laura had both come to Alabama by way of Athens, Georgia, and the pair drew inspiration from an emporium they had frequented there—never crossing paths—for good reads and bookish fellowship.

The team has always envisioned Thank You Books as a gathering place for literature enthusiasts, and pandemic-related restrictions have not discouraged them. “Our business model is very much an in-person neighborhood bookstore, but we launched our online store the week before everything shut down [in March 2020],” says Laura. The website includes the locale’s full inventory, spanning new releases, timeless cookbooks, children’s books, and more. Whether book club

conversations or story hour for kids on Saturday mornings, most events remain virtual. To the co-owners’ delight, the digital transition has broadened their reach and enticed more acclaimed writers to collaborate with the shop.

Although none of the women are from Alabama originally, they all feel drawn to the artsy atmosphere Birmingham fosters. “There’s this creative and quirky vibe here that we find really exciting. One of the things we want to do is serve and amplify that the best we can,” Elizabeth says. “We want the store to be a hub for people to gather for the sharing of stories—not only those on the page, but also the day-to-day stories of people’s lives.”

For info, visit thankyoubookshop.com.

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HAND-STITCHEDHERITAGE

A TRADITIONALLY TRAINED NEEDLEWORK DESIGNER

DRAWS FROM HER ROOTS IN MEXICO TO MEET THE

DEMAND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH FOR INSPIRED

LINENS MADE BY HAND. BY Elizabeth Bonner Czapski | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jim Bathie AND Laurey Glenn

Growing up in Mexico, Mariana Barran de Goodall was raised with a deep appreciation for the art of classic

embroidery, a hobby she maintained into adulthood as she spent time in cultures all over the world. She eventually settled in Houston, Texas, and soon discovered that handmade, heirloom-quality linens were a luxury many Americans hadn’t realized they were missing. With that, her company, Hibiscus Linens, was born.

“Where I come from, for anything, there was always an answer that included needle and thread,” says Mariana, who studied the craft beginning in second grade and honed her skills after school with seamstresses

at her mother’s performing arts studio. “I’ve had the opportunity to travel and learn different ways things are done in different environments and figure out what brings joy to everyday life. Hibiscus Linens started as a place to create beautiful products for daily life.”

With a studio in Houston and a flourishing online presence, Mariana’s entrepreneurial spirit was stirred to explore other ventures since founding Hibiscus Linens six years ago. In 2019, she and her husband opened Hotel Amparo in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she’s hosted creative retreats for her linens following. And her latest project, Amparo Fine Living, a boutique in Birmingham, Alabama, offers home goods made by artisans from all over the world.

The initial idea materialized when Mariana relocated to the United States after finishing graduate school in Australia in her mid-20s, and all her friends were getting married, moving into first homes, and having babies. Her linens became her go-to gifts for these occasions. “Everybody was having all these milestones,” she recalls. “It was easy to give a towel for a powder room in their new house or one with their new monogram.”

Before long, people were making requests. Could she stitch a napkin design to match a china pattern? What about a monogrammed towel that coordinates with a wallpaper print? Mariana recognized there was a growing desire for the bespoke quality of her hand-embroidered creations—rare in today’s machine-dominated market—and seized the chance to take it a step further. The business started out with custom orders exclusively, bringing clients’ visions to life through tried-and-true techniques, and then added ready-made items such as cocktail napkins, hand towels, bed sheets, children’s clothing, and more.

Finding inspiration in color, art, and nature, Mariana says every linen collection relates to her life and heritage. Recently, she launched an evolving Mexican Textiles collection to spotlight the work of an artisan based in Mexico every month. As interest in the age-old stitching methods increased, Mariana also began teaching. “Our community wanted to be more involved, so I started classes on how to do everything we were selling,” she says. For the time being, classes have moved online, a pandemic adjustment that actually expanded the company’s reach.

Hibiscus Linens is rooted in hospitality—even the name stems from the hibiscus tea Mariana’s mother always prepared to welcome guests. From Mexico to Texas, it’s a way of life that Mariana has held close. “I never realized how many similarities there are between the American South and Northern Mexico,” she says. “Both are home for me.”

For info, visit hibiscuslinens.com.

SECOND TIME’STHE CHARM

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE COMPELS

A TENNESSEE FAMILY TO

RECONFIGURE THEIR SPACIOUS

FLOOR PLAN TO BETTER

ACCOMMODATE A CLOSE-KNIT

AND BUSY LIFESTYLE. BY Marie Baxley | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ross Group Creative


Just as interior designer Rhea Crenshaw put the finishing touches on Cathy and Craig Weiss’s new home in Memphis, a cataclysmal

kitchen fire ruined it all and sent them back to square one. But there was a silver lining.

“We had the grace to see how they lived in it before. We got to go back with a more cohesive style that really suited them and the activities of each room,” says Rhea, whose firm Rhea Crenshaw Interiors helped the couple, their three teenage children, and three dogs through the unexpected redo.

The Weisses, who love to entertain, had lived in the newly built residence for almost two years when Rhea was hired to complete several

décor projects they had started and postponed. Having gotten to know the family, Rhea was able to jump right in after the blaze to tweak the original design, which had embraced furnishings from a previous larger-scale and more formal residence. With the renovation, she offered a more suitable casual aesthetic for the transitional-style abode with Tudor flair.

“Everything got to be perfectly done because each piece was brand-new for these spaces,” says Rhea, noting that only the wine cellar and master bath fixtures were salvaged from the fire.

A magnificent great room with wide-plank oak flooring and wooden ceilings serves as the home’s hub, with

one end focused on fireside family entertainment and the other on dining. The room stretches across the back of the house and opens to the kitchen, a relaxing porch, and a terrace that overlooks the pool. When they moved in the first time, Cathy and Craig didn’t expect their children to use the space to host friends as much as they do. “Things developed a little differently after they lived there,” says Rhea, who added plush seating that includes a neutral sectional sofa and accents with dabs of color like smoky blue, apricot, and eggplant. “It’s all about being comfortable and being able to use that great room.”

On the end of the room near the dining area is Cathy’s favorite spot—a porch with an extraordinary vaulted


ceiling and a fireplace faced by ample seating. “It brings the outdoors in and it’s very private on the lot surrounded by trees. You feel very sheltered like you’re in the woods,” says Rhea.

In the kitchen, all the finishes from cabinets to tile are new, and some appliances and a pantry were shifted to create a better opening to the bar that leads to the entrance stairwell. Previously, the bar created a bottleneck, and the changes allowed better flow not only to the kitchen but also to a downstairs sitting nook adjacent to the wine cellar. Artwork in the masculine wine area features a longhorn in honor of Craig’s alma mater, the University of Texas, where the couple’s two sons now

attend school. As an avid wine collector, Craig hosts regular tastings there.

A visual counterpoint to the wine cellar, the small living room off the entrance is a feminine space that doubles as an en suite sitting area to the guest bedroom. Tall wainscoting is complemented by the rich salmon-colored walls and ceiling, which play off deep green velvet sofas and a rug with hot pink highlights.

The salmon hue was drawn from reeds woven into a brown grass cloth wall covering with a gilt stencil used in the lofty entryway. “It has a high-style feel,” says Rhea, noting Tudor overtures that also include a tall octagonal window in the grand

stairwell, stone floors, and heavy doors. The grass cloth, at once earthy and

refined, was the first selection Cathy made on a therapeutic shopping trip to Atlanta. “We took Cathy right after the fire to have a happy, fun focus and get her through the trauma of it,” says Rhea. “That got us square quickly. She found the entrance hall wallpaper on that trip. It really started the whole feel and color palette.”

Rhea says the project was unusual and bittersweet for all involved, but it truly resulted in a layout and embellishments that better fit the family’s needs. “It’s really centered around being together.”

For info, visit rheacrenshaw.com.

Soft neutral hues of pink, lavender, and peach lend a serene feel to the master suite, complemented by a pecky cypress ceiling and handsome upholstered bed to keep it from feeling too feminine. Over the replace, a custom painting by Memphis artist Megan Hurdle features lace from homeowner Cathy Weiss’s wedding dress highlighted with gold leaf. “It’s a really beautiful way to preserve that memory and heritage,” says designer Rhea Crenshaw.


SOUTHWESTERNEXPOSURE

A BIG, BLUE SKY AND MOUNTAINOUS BEAUTY SPICED UP

WITH BINATIONAL FLAIR, HISTORY, AND THE ARTS YIELD A

UNIQUE RECIPE FOR ADVENTURE IN THE LONE STAR STATE.BY Marie Baxley | PHOTOGRAPHY BY John O’Hagan

The stark silhouette of the Franklin Mountains dominates the dramatic desert sunset while the streets of El Paso come alive with entertaining nightlife that includes theaters, restaurants, and historic venues. Enriching the downtown scene, you’ll nd outdoor artwork, especially wall murals (top right and below) that nod to the aesthetic traditions of neighboring Mexico. In celebration of the area’s diversity, American and Mexican artists are featured alongside European works at the El Paso Museum of Art (center right).


Trace the steps of a Spanish conquistador, explore ancient watering holes with tribal drawings, or revel in the wide-open

skies and incredible sunsets only the desert can offer in El Paso, a gateway with international flavor couched in a comfortable demeanor.

The first thing you notice about the West Texas town is the dramatic landscape in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains, just across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juárez in Mexico. “It’s very open and very spacious out here. The light is bright. The mountains are stark against the sky. There’s not a lot of shade or things you can hide behind. You’re kind of exposed, but there’s a sense of freedom,” says Adair Margo, a first

lady of the “Sun City” and a third generation El Pasoan.

Adair, who owned an art gallery for 25 years, says she and her husband, Donald “Dee” Margo, savor the beauty of the desert as well as the mingling of languages and lifestyles brought about by living on the border. “The physical landscape is amazing, and then you see Mexico. You can barely see a dividing line, but you see a Mexican flag. Visually, it’s very, very interesting,” she says, noting that you can simply walk over a bridge and be in another country.

Not only that, but three states converge at the location: Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua. It’s a historic place where the melding of cultures sometimes brings vexing media attention, but locals will urge you to see it in person before drawing any

conclusions. “It’s a very international, worldly place, and if you come with your antennas up, you can sense it and experience it walking around with the people,” says Adair.

With a population of about 800,000, El Paso is considered one of the safest cities of its size in the U.S., and locals have a welcoming spirit. “We don’t know strangers,” says Veronica Castro, director of tourism development for Destination El Paso. Downtown is booming with new hotels, restaurants, and museums. Specialty boutiques, art galleries, and more invite browsing, while upscale eateries, like Ámbar Restaurante and Anson 11, offer versatile menus near many of the main attractions like the El Paso Museum of Art and the Convention and Performing Art Center.

From the El Paso Overlook, a panoramic view exempli es the dual vibe of open spaces and urban bustle. Become familiar with the area’s captivating history at the El Paso Museum of History (top center) and then enjoy an upscale Mexican meal at Taft-Díaz (top left), named in honor of a 1909 meeting between U.S. President William Howard Taft and Mexican President Por rio Díaz. For exquisite continental fare, savor a meal at Anson 11’s upscale ne dining room or its more casual eatery (above right).


Refurbished 1930s-era trolley cars offer a charming way to see the sights downtown as well as connect with the University of Texas at El Paso, a research school and home to college football’s Sun Bowl. The bilingual campus puts a distinctive stamp on the city’s vibe along with the 172-year-old military base at Fort Bliss, where about 55,000 soldiers are assigned.

San Jacinto Plaza is the ideal spot to begin exploring the city’s center, which is filled with rich lore, architectural delights, museums, and public artworks. A fiberglass alligator sculpture by local artist Luis A. Jiménez commemorates live ones that were housed in a pond in the Plaza from the late 1880s until 1965. Other artworks are within walking distance, including a 14-foot-tall bronze statue of Fray Garcia,

History abounds in the Sun City’s refurbished downtown spaces, like the Plaza Theatre (above) and the beautiful San Jacinto Plaza (below). Trolley cars from the 1930s (top right) provide perfect transportation for visitors. To learn about the region, stop for a good read at Literarity Book Shop (right), known for its eclectic selection.


who founded the area’s first mission in what is now Juárez.

Learn about the area’s past 400 years at the El Paso Museum of History’s Changing Pass exhibit or investigate the nearby Holocaust Museum and Study Center. A children’s museum is scheduled to open next year just across from the renowned Plaza Theatre, a 1930 landmark venue for the performing arts renewed in its original Spanish Colonial style.

The iconic Plaza Hotel, built by hospitality magnate Conrad Hilton during the Great Depression, reopened last year as The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park after a $78 million renovation. Conrad and his mother lived there as well as legendary screen star Elizabeth Taylor, who stayed in the penthouse while filming

Giant (1956) during her marriage to Conrad’s son, Nicky.

Venturing beyond downtown reveals a wider web of El Paso’s tales and natural aesthetic. “We get people who are passing through, and they discover the richness of the border,” says Bill Clark, owner of Literarity Book Shop, who has lived in El Paso nearly 30 years. The store he runs with his wife, Mary Anna, features a handpicked selection of new books, old books, rare books (including signed first editions), and a collection of books about the area. “There is a lot of interesting culture here, and visitors ask, ‘What should we read?’”

Inhabited first by indigenous tribes thousands of years ago, El Paso’s modern history is intertwined with Juárez dating back to Spanish explorations in the early 16th century. In 1598, Spanish conquistador

Juan de Oñate established a settlement in present-day Juárez and named it El Paso del Norte, recognizing its importance as a passageway to the North.

Spanish Franciscan friars founded a mission at El Paso del Norte, but conflicts continued until the Pueblo Indian rebellion in the late 17th century pushed Spanish and other survivors to Ysleta, the current locale of El Paso and now considered one of Texas’s oldest communities. The river was set as the boundary between the two countries after the Mexican-American War, and El Paso became part of Texas in 1850. Juárez, which now has a population of about 1.5 million, later changed its name to avoid confusion.

To understand how long people have inhabited the region, take in the El Paso Museum of Archaeology or the Hueco Tanks, an area of boulders and huecos

What could be a better Texas souvenir than a pair of hand-carved leather cowboy boots made at Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots? Owner Marty Snortum acquired the business more than 30 years ago, and his wares have since appeared on runways around the world. After a stop at Rocketbuster, tour the myriad statues and sculptures that adorn El Paso, like the bronze gure of Fray Garcia (above left). After your exploration, seek respite at the Stanton House hotel, conveniently located near San Jacinto Plaza (top left).


(pronounced whey-kohs), or “hollows,” that trap rainwater so crucial to survival in the desert. The Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site, popular with bird-watchers and boulderers, features stones with thousands of mesmerizing pictographs drawn by some of the earliest dwellers. Outdoor enthusiasts will also delight in the Franklin Mountains State Park’s 100 miles of trails.

Adair says the beauty of nature and interesting mix of cultures has long appealed to artists, including renowned native son Tom Lea. Lea’s works include novels, illustrations for Life magazine during World War II, and murals dating from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1935 Works Progress Administration employment initiative to lift the country out of the Great Depression.

“People learn about places through art. We have our own person,” says Adair, who founded the Tom Lea Institute to share appreciation for his work. His visual pieces focus on the borderland’s landscape, feeling of open skies, and clarity of the changing terrain. “If it rains, the desert blossoms,” says Adair. “There is something about the desert. You can get up on the mountains or mesas and you can see for miles. There’s not much moisture in the air, so you see very clearly.”

Bill and Mary Anna, both from the Southeast via Los Angeles, agree the combination of the border and the desert has a unique allure. “It’s a very comfortable place, a very friendly place,” Bill says. “I didn’t expect to be here 30 years later. It grows on you.”

For a real connection to life in a border town, visit the Mago n Home State Historic Site (above right), a 19-room adobe dwelling built in 1875 by Joseph and Octavia Mago n. Discover their multicultural family who lived through U.S. expansion and more in this ne example of Territorial-style architecture. After your adventures around town, a ne repast of authentic Mexican delights is in

order at Ámbar Restaurante (top left) with chef Andres Padilla. For a sweet nale, indulge in a treat and a latte from Salt + Honey Bakery Café (above center).

RECIPE BOX

Soul-Warming SoupsFrom Texas to the Carolinas, the rich and robust fl avors of the South shine in

these soothing bowlfuls that will fi ll your home with irresistible aromas.RECIPE DEVELOPMENT BY J.R. Jacobson | FOOD STYLING BY Kathleen Kanen

STYLING BY Lucy Finney | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jim Bathie

SMOKY TOMATO SOUP WITH BACON CHEESE STRAWS, PAGE 109



Texas Taco SoupMAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 pound ground chuck

1½ cups chopped yellow onion

⅓ cup seeded, diced jalapeño pepper

(about 1 large)

1½ teaspoons minced garlic

2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with

green chiles, undrained

1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1½ tablespoons dry ranch

dressing mix

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1½ cups frozen corn

1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, drained

and rinsed

1 (14.5-ounce) can Ranch Style Beans,

drained and rinsed

½ cup water (optional)

⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Garnish: lime wedges, fresh cilantro,

sliced jalapeño pepper, ground

black pepper

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium-

high heat.

2. Add beef, onion, jalapeño, and garlic,

stirring occasionally until browned,

about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat

from beef mixture.

3. Stir in tomatoes, beef broth, tomato

sauce, chili powder, cumin, ranch

dressing mix, salt, and pepper. Cover,

simmer, stirring occasionally, for

30 minutes.

4. Stir in corn, black beans, and Ranch

Style Beans; cook until heated through.

Add ½ cup water to thin soup, if desired.

Stir in cilantro and lime juice.

5. Serve immediately. Garnish with lime

wedges, cilantro, jalapeño, and black

pepper, if desired.

Cheddar, Ham, and Broccoli ChowderMAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

8 ounces fully cooked ham, diced

1½ tablespoons minced garlic

1 cup diced red onion

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

1 (32-ounce) carton chicken stock,

divided

4 cups broccoli florets, chopped

1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed broccoli

cheese soup



1½ cups shredded extra-sharp

Cheddar cheese

Garnish: chopped steamed broccoli,

shredded Cheddar cheese, fully

cooked diced ham, and ground

black pepper

1. In a large Dutch oven, melt

1 tablespoon butter over medium-high


heat. Add ham; cook about 3 to

5 minutes. Remove and set aside.

2. Reduce heat to medium; add

remaining 3 tablespoons butter, garlic,

and onion to pot. Cook until soft and

fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Stir in flour and thyme, stirring

constantly until lightly browned, about

2 to 3 minutes. Add half of stock,

scraping up any browned bits from

bottom of pot. Bring to a low boil,

stirring frequently until thickened. Stir

in remaining stock, broccoli, soup, salt,

pepper, and cooked ham. Cover,

simmer, stirring occasionally until

broccoli is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and stir in cheese.

Garnish with broccoli, cheese, ham, and

pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.

Duck and Andouille GumboMAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

3 (8-ounce) duck breasts, fat scored

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 (16-ounce) package andouille sausage,

halved lengthwise and sliced

½ inch thick

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 cup diced yellow onion

½ cup diced celery

½ cup diced green bell pepper

1½ tablespoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (12-ounce) can cola

1 (32-ounce) carton chicken stock

2 dried bay leaves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Hot cooked rice, to serve

French bread, to serve

Garnish: fresh thyme leaves

1. Season duck with 1 teaspoon salt and

½ teaspoon black pepper.

2. In a large enamel-coated Dutch oven,

heat oil over medium-high heat. Add

duck, fat side down, and cook until

browned and an instant-read

thermometer inserted in thickest

portion registers 100 ,̊ about

2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove, and let

drain on paper towels, reserving

drippings in pot. Add sausage; cook until

browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove

using a slotted spoon, and let drain on

paper towels, reserving drippings in pot.

3. Reduce heat to medium; whisk in

flour, and cook, stirring occasionally,

until dark brown, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Stir in onion, celery, and bell pepper.

Cook, stirring frequently, until

vegetables begin to soft en, about

5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, remaining

1 teaspoon salt, and remaining

½ teaspoon black pepper. Cook

until fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk

in cola until smooth.

4. Add duck, sausage, stock, and bay

leaves. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to

medium-low. Cover and cook, stirring

occasionally, until meat is tender, about

1 hour. Remove duck. Using 2 forks,

shred duck meat, and discard fat. Stir in

shredded duck, thyme, and lemon juice

before serving. Serve over rice with

bread. Garnish with thyme, if desired.

RECIPE BOX

KITCHEN TIP:

To score the fat on the duck breasts,

use a sharp paring knife to gently

slice lines ¼ inch apart into the fat

side of the duck breast. Be careful to

only cut halfway through the fat.

This will allow the fat to render and

will prevent the breast from curling

up while cooking.


Smoky Tomato Soup with Bacon Cheese StrawsMAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

¼ cup olive oil

1½ cups chopped onion

1½ tablespoons garlic, minced

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 (32-ounce) carton chicken stock

1 (28-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed

tomatoes, undrained

½ teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper

¼ teaspoon chili powder



1½ tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Bacon Cheese Straws (recipe follows),

to serve

Garnish: thinly sliced fresh basil, ground

black pepper

1. In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over

medium-high heat. Add onion and

garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until

tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Stir in flour until well combined; cook

2 to 3 minutes. Gradually stir in half of

stock. Bring to a low boil; cook until

thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in

remaining stock, tomatoes, ground

chipotle chile pepper, chili powder, salt,

and black pepper; bring just to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer,

uncovered, stirring occasionally until

thickened, 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Transfer half of soup to the container

of a blender. Secure lid on blender and

remove center piece of lid to let steam

escape. Place a clean towel over

opening in lid to avoid splatters, and

process until smooth.

4. Return blended soup to soup mixture

in pot. Add basil, and stir to combine.

5. Serve immediately with Bacon

Cheese Straws. Garnish with basil and

black pepper, if desired.

BACON CHEESE STRAWS

MAKES 36

6 slices bacon, chopped

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon dry mustard

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika


1 cup shredded Havarti cheese, room

temperature

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, soft ened

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. In a large skillet, cook bacon over

medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon;

let drain on paper towels.

3. In the work bowl of a food processor,

combine flour, salt, garlic powder,

mustard, paprika, and pepper; pulse

2 to 4 times until well combined. Add

chopped bacon, cheese, and butter.

Pulse until a dough forms.

4. Spoon dough into a piping bag fitted

with a Wilton 4B open star tip. Pipe

dough into 6-inch lines, spaced about

1 inch apart on unlined, ungreased

baking sheets.

5. Bake until lightly golden and crisp,

8 to 10 minutes.

KITCHEN TIP:

Bake on unlined, ungreased baking

sheets to ensure the cheese straws

are crisp.

RECIPE BOX


RESOURCES

COVERStyling by Melissa Sturdivant Smith. Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele. See Love for the Ages.

MIX & MATCH: SHIMMER OF SILVERPage 34: Hawthorne Ice Simpli ed dinner plate and cup and saucer in platinum; Caskata. Haviland Le Bresil Dinnerware salad plate; Gracious Style. Festival napkin in lavender; Sferra. Gold charger; At Home Furnishings. Place mat; Bromberg’s. Lustered stemless wine glass; Anthropologie. Hazel-Atlas 8-ounce at tumbler in Moroccan amethyst; Replacements, Ltd. Greer stainless steel ve-piece place setting; Wayfair. Page 35: Hawthorne Ice Simpli ed dinner plate; Caskata. Philippe Deshoulieres Dhara Peacock salad plate; Gracious Style. Bernardaud Gouttes Silver small bread-and-butter plate; Juliska Ceramics octagonal service plate; Lunt Silver William & Mary ve-piece place setting; and Waterford Crystal Hanover Platinum wine glass; Replacements, Ltd. Helix double old-fashioned glass in silver, Starburst napkin ring in silver, and Metallic linen napkin in natural and silver; Kim Seybert.

KEEPSAKES: THE LEGACY OF LACEPages 45–50: Necklaces and locket; Hobby Lobby.

SEASONAL SETTINGS: FIRESIDE WELCOMEPages 51–56: Legacy Pewter Inglese ve-piece place setting; Elegance charger; Elegance pitcher; and Inglese oval handled tray; Julie Wear. Arte Italica Foresta dinner plate and salad plate; Gracious Style. Verona cocktail/beer glass; Arte Italica. Pine cone embroidered linen napkin and table square in ax; Crown Linen Designs.

LOVE FOR THE AGESPages 57–64: Lenox Lace Couture dinner plate and salad plate, and Royal Majestic Cannes salad plate; Replacements, Ltd. Gift wrap; Paper Source. Constance Multi Swatch fabric; Cabbages & Roses.

SMALL-BATCH SAVORIES Pages 77–78: Styling by Courtni Bodiford.

SHAPING A FUTUREPages 83–84: Styling by Courtni Bodiford.

HAND-STITCHED HERITAGEPages 87–88: Styling by Courtni Bodiford.

SECOND TIME’S THE CHARMPages 89–93: Interior design by Rhea Crenshaw of Rhea Crenshaw Interiors. Page 89: Great room oil painting by Jared Small; Sofa and chairs by Ferrell Mittman; Ainsworth-Noah. Bench and end table (foreground); Arteriors. Entrance wallpaper; Phillip Je ries. Artwork by Mayse Craddock. Page 90: Clock; customed designed by Rhea Crenshaw and built by Garner Framing Co. Sofa and chairs, Kingsley Bate. Co ee table; Noir. Page 91: Artwork above sofa by Rana Rochat. Chair, Mr. Brown London. Afghan Suzani rug; Sarkis Kish Oriental Rugs. Sofas; Travis & Company. Pillows; Ryan Studio. Page 92: Marble; Calacatta Gold. Page 93: Bed; Hickory Chair. Light xture; Visual Comfort. Artwork anking by window by Lisa Weiss. Artwork above replace; Megan Hurdle. Console table; Arteriors.

DIRECTORY OF COMPANIES

AINSWORTH-NOAH; ainsworth-noah.comANTHROPOLOGIE; anthropologie.com ARTE ITALICA; arteitalica.comARTERIORS; arteriorshome.com AT HOME FURNISHINGS; athome-furnishings.comBROMBERG’S; brombergs.comCABBAGES & ROSES; cabbagesandroses.com CASKATA, caskata.com CROWN LINEN DESIGNS; crownlinendesigns.comFERRELL MITTMAN; ferrellmittman.comGARNER FRAMING CO.; garnerframing.comGRACIOUS STYLE; graciousstyle.comHICKORY CHAIR; hickorychair.com HOBBY LOBBY; hobbylobby.com JARED SMALL; davidluskgallery.comJULIE WEAR; juliewear.comKIM SEYBERT; kimseybert.com KINGSLEY BATE; kingsleybate.comLISA WEISS; lisaweiss.netMAYSE CRADDOCK; maysecraddock.comMEGAN HURDLE; meganhurdle.comMR. BROWN LONDON; mrbrownhome.comNOIR; noirfurniturela.comPAPER SOURCE; papersource.com PHILLIP JEFFRIES; phillipje ries.comRANA ROCHAT; ranarochat.comREPLACEMENTS, LTD.; replacements.comRHEA CRENSHAW INTERIORS; rheacrenshaw.com RYAN STUDIO; ryanstudio.comSARKIS KISH ORIENTAL RUGS; sarkiskish.comSFERRA; sferra.comTRAVIS & COMPANY; travisandcompany.comVISUAL COMFORT; visualcomfort.comWAYFAIR; wayfair.com

“I WISH YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THE LAST DREAM OF MY SOUL.”

—CHARLES DICKENS, AUTHOR

FOR VALENTINE’S DAY INSPIRATION, GO TO PAGE 57.

AFTERTHOUGHTS

2021-01-01 southern lady

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