A Subtle Revelry | the art of merrymaking

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Welcome! I'm Victoria. This blog is filled with my love for the art of merrymaking, pretty things to craft and one festive magazine. Here's more about me...

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merrymaking 4.20.2012

04.20.12 Posted in design, weekend by Victoria

This week has been wonderful. I launched Styled. magazine issue six. Thanks for all your sweet love and support for the project, you are seriously the best! It is my favorite issue yet.

We also had a wonderful getaway with friends in San Fransisco where I saw Jean Paul Gaultier’s fashion exhibit. It was an incredibly provocative show and I was surprised how many families with young children where there. Would you ever take your kids to an R rated art show for the sake of culturing them? Although risque, his materials and general work is quite amazing. I especially loved this dress made from ribbons. Here’s hoping for an equally inspiring weekend for us all.

And a few reasons to celebrate until Monday…
This floral installation is just beautiful.
How Pipi celebrated.
The best cootie catcher I have ever seen.
A pretty DIY necklace for mom.
Stripey favor bags.
Dyed skewers for fondue or smores.
And a very pretty summer party look.

Plus our house is in the Apt Therapy small cool contest, find it here. I’d love your vote!

Photo above from the Ferry Building marketplace, taken for Styled. by Athena Plichta.

PS. I joined Instagram! So far I have three photos of cakes, a snap of the ribbon dress, glitter that was priced at $25 and a couple cute twins. I imagine that’s just about right for my stream, I am vhudgins if you want to follow along.

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sweet glazed bananas

04.19.12 Posted in food, parties by Victoria

Next week will be all about BBQ’s around here. First, I wanted to share this easy dessert that you can make just as easily on a stove top as you can on a grill (for those without BBQ’s). Sweet glazed bananas that will make your guests dream of the Caribbean beachfront, no matter where you live.

Plus, it always helps to have pretty utensils to cook with whether inside or out! I am always willing to do more work when surrounded by pretty tools. To make this brush I used a butter knife to etch out the black paint from a cheaply purchased grill brush and dipped the end in blue. So easy and it’s immediately become my go to in the kitchen.

To make the sweet glazed bananas; simmer together until just combined- 4 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup molasses, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons honey. Cut 6-8 ripe bananas in half and brush the glaze onto the cut side. If you are grilling attach a skewer and grill for 4 minutes skin side down and 2 minutes glazed side down. To fry on the stove cook at medium 4 minutes on skin side down and cook on high 1 minute glazed side down. Serve glazed side up and enjoy helping your guests to a bit of vacation in their dessert.

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new blogging classes

04.19.12 Posted in design, teaching by Victoria

I had such a blast teaching the organized blogger class this month. I think the most fun part of the class was the networking, like a mini conference, online! There are still a few spots left for the DIY class next Wednesday, where I will be sharing tips on designing great projects and most importantly how making the DIY effort can help to grow your online business. Take a working lunch to join in the fun, register here.

The Alt Channel has also opened classes for May, I will be teaching the organized blogger class, but this time on a Saturday (YAY!). You can sign up for that class here and May’s DIY class here.

My own business of blogging course is ramping up and I could not be more excited about it. Our May course is now sold-out and I have opened another course to run in July. You can read more about the month long business course here. We are running a summer deal, if you sign up for the July course before the start of May you can take 15% off your registration, email me for the discount code.

Photo by Jasalyn Thorne for Bfrend via Almalus Place

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Styled. issue six | the art of summer merrymaking

04.18.12 Posted in design by Victoria

I am incredibly happy to share with you today the sixth issue of Styled. magazine! An edition brimming with floral inspiration from start to finish. It will be the last issue I release until late this summer and I hope it inspires you to stop and enjoy the beautiful reasons to you may have to celebrate this season. Samantha did a wonderful job with the graphic design and I think you will find our contributors, projects, and prose to be exceptionally perfect for the gradually coming warmth of summer.

In an effort to hear your thoughts and share this passion we are offering a little giveaway with this release. If you peek into this issue and leave me a note about something you loved you will be entered to win a gorgeous floral clutch from Anthropologie. If you share the magazine with a link to this post on Twitter, Facebook, or pin the cover on Pinterest you can have a second, third, and fourth entry. Just leave a comment for each media network you share through. Thanks for helping us get the word out and I really look forward to reading what inspires you.

The giveaway will remain open until April 30th.

161 Comments

reason to celebrate | sun and bubbles

04.16.12 Posted in design, reasons by Victoria

Each year the entrance of summer brings a slew of gorgeous light filled bubble photos along with it. This new work by Amanda Pratt has such an airy feel to it. The bubbles, light and placed in butterflys have left me completely inspired.

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Plastered monogram

04.16.12 Posted in decor, diy, home, wedding by Victoria

I have gotten emails about the plaster mantel “U” shown in our home tour, so I thought it would be fun to share with you how I made it. Plastering letters and shapes is incredibly easy and can be used for party decor (they are especially sweet for weddings) and afterwards can be hung at home.The entire process takes less than 10 minutes and then you just let it dry! See the full tutorial and my tips for finding great molds over at Project Wedding.

PS. See more of the mantel “U” here (which actually stands for nothing, I just liked the letter:).

5 Comments

gourmet yogurt pops

04.12.12 Posted in food, parties, summer by Victoria

We have finally had our first truly warm week here! To celebrate I made yogurt pops. I’ve been inspired by many stores selling gourmet Popsicles this season and decided to add in a bit of baking glitter, sprinkles and colorful stars for the kids. The turned out really pretty and tasted great when devoured on a lazy warm afternoon.

To make yogurt pops, I froze purchased flavored yogurt into Popsicle molds. This was my first attempt at the method and the came our great. A party line up of all pink would come together in just a few minutes and would be perfect for an afternoon brunch. Making an assortment of flavors would make a bright end a summer dinner party.

To add in the gourmet flair, I removed the Popsicles from their molds once frozen and sprinkled on edible baking glitter and other baking goodies. Since the Popsicle are a bit sticky every think stuck right into place.

22 Comments

a plant conservatory picnic

04.11.12 Posted in adult parties, spring parties by Victoria

I had a special desire for a birthday picnic this year, something prompted a need for a sweet blanket spread with friends to celebrate turning thirty-one (which feels infinitely older than thirty!). Matt was gracious to not just plan one in the park, but to also take a couple days off so we could picnic this weekend at my favorite spot, here.

For today’s celebration, I am soaking up the inspiration from this gorgeous plant conservatory picnic that Janis and Micheal documented. Read more about it here.

Photography by My Suitcase Heart.

PS. How to make a picnic basket from a scarf.

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