Diana Vreeland, Pink, Birthdays & Other Joyous Things

I've just realised, with a quiet "oh my", that it's been a year since The Library blog began. Talk about blink-and-miss.

I know others are having much more significant birthdays and anniversaries right now (Miss Faux Fuchsia for one, who's speed-blogging to reach a 1000 posts on her blog's third birthday), and a first birthday does feel very un-milestone-ish. For this reason, I thought I'd do something a little different. Instead of celebrating The Library's birthday, I thought I'd celebrate other lovely things instead.

So here, in a kind of 'reverse toast', is an ode to the things The Library loves most – starting with the wonder of Pink Champagne Cake and Caviar Pie and finishing with the beauty of books. I'll go back  into my writing hole now. {Image above via Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2011. The Library loves a bit of Dior.}

PINK CHAMPAGNE CAKE

Nothing like a little cake to celebrate and whomever invented this needs to be hailed a goddess.

(Units: US | Metric)

Ingredients

18 1/4 ounces white cake mix (must be white to taste champagne)

1/2-3/4 cup pink or white champagne, chilled.

Frosting

1 cup butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup champagne

1 tablespoon vanilla

5 -5 1/2 cups additional powdered sugar

Directions

Use a box of white cake mix and substitute champagne for all of the liquid called for in the cake mix. So if the box says 3/4 cup water replace with 3/4 cup champagne.  Tint with red food coloring until mixture becomes a soft pink, usually 3 drops is enough. Bake cake as instructed on box. For an elegant layer cake use two round cake pans.

To make the creamy champagne frosting, beat 1 cup softened butter for 30 seconds. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar. Beat in 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup champagne, and 1 TB vanilla. Beat in 5-5 1/2 more cups powdered sugar till you can spread it or is consistency you want. Add red coloring till pink color, again slowly add a drop at a time till color you want. Frost completely cooled cake.

Cake is fantastic when refrigerated all night (so the flavours can blend) and served the next day.

{Image via the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, which makes the best Pink Champagne cakes on earth.}

DIANA VREELAND'S CAVIAR PIE

MS DV was more than a fashion guru. She was a bit of a Martha Stewart as well. Who knew? Only in DV's case, everything had a bit of a twist. Like this – Caviar Pie. Have you ever seen anything as delicious? (Pic is mine; using toasties instead.}

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups minced white onion, scallions or green onions

8 large hard-cooked eggs

1/4 cup mayonnaise

8 ounces cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

8 ounces caviar*, 2 or more colors if desired

Directions

Spread the onion on paper toweling to drain. Mince the eggs and combine with mayonnaise; set aside. Beat the cream cheese and sour cream together; it should be very smooth.

Lightly coat a 9" round springform pan with butter or cooking spray. Spread the egg mixture evenly over the bottom and sprinkle the onions on top. Drop the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls atop the onion layer and spread gently with the back of a spoon. (Wet the spoon, if necessary.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

Before serving, gently spread the caviar over the cream cheese layer in a decorative design. Use waxed paper or even string to outline your design. Accentuate with chopped chives, scallions or parsley, if appropriate.

Note: It's best to use inexpensive caviar in this recipe, such as Salmon, Whitefish, or Lumpfish. Some less expensive caviars do contain artificial coloring, however rinse the caviar in a strainer and drain on paper toweling before arranging and this will fix the problem.

Serve with good Champagne!

NORMAN PARKINSON & VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

I love this image of Norman Parkinson's from Vogue 1955. We have a copy of the photo (bought in London) framed in our spare room. Seems a long way from Instagram, doesn't it? Long live classic photography.

PARIS
Every time I think I've fallen for New York, I go to Paris and remember why it's still the most beautiful city in the world. {Source unknown: will try and find.}

COLOUR

Nothing lifts the spirit like colour. This new book, Colour, by Victoria Alexander charts the course of certain colours – including pink (named in the 17th century after a flower). It's beautifully photographed by Victoria, who should be applauded. A fabulous, fabulous read. (Murdoch Books)

HANDBAGS

Soft leather bags with lined insides, cute clutches, sweet straw numbers...(like this Kate Spade design, above). Nothing makes a woman feel 'put together' like a perfect handbag. Which is why we spend so much on them. I'm hoping someone comes up with a 'Swap' site eventually, so we can just pass em' round when we're finished.

INTERIOR DESIGN

I'm very fortunate to call the gorgeous Savannah designer Jane Coslick my friend. (She's running a tour of Tybee Island's famous homes in December too: see her website janecoslick.blogspot.com for details.) But really, all designers need to be applauded. It's not easy decorating a home so it looks stunning as well as comfortable. Such skill!  (janecoslick.com)

ROSES

Look at this. La Reine Victoria. Isn't it sublime? Bet it smells like Heaven, too. {Via BloomandBlossom}

TRAVEL

Essential for the soul. If you haven't gone anywhere amazing this year, make 2013 the year to do it. As Diana Vreeland (see below) once said: "A new dress doesn’t get you anywhere: it’s the life you’re living in that dress..." {Book via Assouline}

DIANA VREELAND (AGAIN)

DV is The Library's unofficial saint. I think she might even be fashion's unofficial saint?

The new film of the magnificent life of this extraordinary magazine editor and museum curator is being eagerly awaiting by DV followers everywhere. I think it's due out soon in the US but it's not out in Australia yet, so in the meantime, I'd like to post this DV treat. It was sent to me by the lovely Janie from the Bumble at Home blog (bumbleathome.blogspot.com). She, in turn, received it from one of her worldly and stylish friends. Thank goodness for her friends!

BLOGGING
Still one of the best sources of inspiration. I discovered Blair Eadie's beautiful, beautiful blog Atlantic-Pacific the other day. Her style is astonishing. So is her wardrobe budget. (atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com)

LOVELY PEOPLE
The Library loves manners, and people who are kind. Humour is also good, but nothing beats a heart of gold. (No pun intended for once.) Slim Paley (slimpaley.com) is one of the nicest bloggers in the social media world. And her eye for aesthetics is legendary. Thanks for the promotion of The Library on Twitter Slim! So humbled. Someone give this beautiful woman a book deal.

THE MITFORD SISTERS

Has there ever been a more interesting, more ambitious, more extraordinary set of sisters? 

I've been re-reading Nancy Mitford's books in preparation for a visit to Chatsworth next year. Tenuous link, I know, but Debo's next.

SHOES

Mille from The Laurel Hedge once recommended a superb site called Mandarina UK. Talk about shoe love. I've been an addict ever since. {www.mandarinashoes.co.uk}

PEONIES

If a flower can be ravishing, then surely peonies fit the description? 

The most beautiful peony garden I've ever seen was Bunny Williams' Litchfield Hills weekender, but apparently Weston's farm in Tasmania is pretty special too. If you're in Tassie, there's a tour this month on November 24. It's a once-a-year event, so very special. Email Karen Wagner on store@karenwagnergardendesign.com.au or phone the store 03 62341245) to book. 

THE QUEEN

So gorgeous. 

Nothing more needs to be said, really. The initials 'HM' pretty much sum this magnificent woman up.

VINTAGE YSL

Yves, we miss you.

DIOR

Another Parisian legend. Do you know, I think Dior's recent collections these past few years might have been better than Chanel's?

MORE DIOR

VINTAGE BOOKS 

I bought this for a pound in London last week. Let's hope Amazon doesn't kill all the wonderful secondhand bookstores of the world.

AND THREE MORE...

Blair Eadie again. Just because she's so inspirational with her colours and clothes.

Best wishes to everyone. I hope you all have a lovely week.

Beautiful New Boutique Hotels In Paris, London & NY

I like a hotel with personality. I like it when there's a little whimsy and wit in the design. Customer service is important too, and a deep bathtub's also quite nice. But there's nothing like an engaging interior to make a hotel stay really memorable.

Here are some beautiful new boutique hotels that I've noticed lately. Some have opened; others are opening soon. And others have been around for a short while but the world just hasn't noticed them yet. There's a hotel for hat lovers, a hotel for gardenistas, even a hotel for Marie Antoinette lovers in an unused wing of the great palace of Versailles.

I hope they offer some idea for the next time you travel. And with that, The Library is taking a mini hiatus for a week or two. Thank you for all the lovely comments, which have really touched me. I very much hope you'll pop by again when The Library returns.

A HOTEL FOR DESIGN LOVERS

THE ROGER HOTEL, NEW YORK

Smart, striped, marquee-style awnings, cobalt-blue chesterfield sofas, black and white vintage photographs and luxurious terraces overlooking midtown Manhattan... The Roger is one gorgeous New York hideaway. Recently refurnished, this cheeky-but-still-sleek little place is perfectly located in the Flatiron District, so you're close to all the design stores, but that's not the best part. The real highlights here are the rooms, especially the terrace suites, which have their own private outdoor areas with great views over the city streets. The decor is based on a rich palette of deep navy and black and white, and there are all sorts of 'extras' to make you go "awww", from welcoming armchairs to a cute bow-tie motif. I've already bookmarked it for my next visit to Manhattan.  

www.therogernewyork.com

A HOTEL FOR FASHION LOVERS

THE REFINERY, NEW YORK

I loved the idea for The Refinery right from the start. A former millinery (hat-making) factory located in the stylish heart of the Fashion District, this chic new hotel has retained its industrial-style architecture and ornate, neo-Gothic facade but has undergone a stunning makeover in other places to create a spectacular new Manhattan hangout. The design – inspired by both a millinery factory at the turn of the century and a 1920s-style tea parlor – combines decadence, glamour and a great deal of flair. The Refinery's owners say it's "debonair" but I suspect it's going to be more feminine than that. There are sofa with inside-out over-lock seams that give a wink to the Fashion District, coffee tables modelled after old factory cart, enormous 12-foot ceilings and large windows that open to offer lots of natural daylight, dark brushed oak hardwood floors reminiscent of old factory floors, and - best of all – marble and mosaic floor bathrooms with polished brass and antique bronze details. They've even got a Pinterest site with wonderful vintage photos of glamorous women in 1920's fashions. Just lovely.

www.refineryhotelnewyork.com

A HOTEL FOR GARDEN LOVERS

THE DORSET SQUARE HOTEL, LONDON

This is my favourite new London hotel. I had the pleasure of staying here two weeks ago, and the service was some of the best I've ever had. I wasn't a paying a lot either (I only had a small room), so they didn't need to be nice to me. But they were beyond lovely. They polished my boots (for free), found information for me (free), left a box of delectable chocolates on the bed (free), organised dry cleaning (staggeringly cheap), and even emailed me sweet notes when I returned home. Part of Kit Kemp's Firmdale Group, the Dorset Square isn't as expensive as its hotel sisters and is located in a great posi too – right next to Marylebone High Street's sophisticated shopping strip (Marlene Birger, etc) and a wander from Selfridges and the West End. My favourite thing? The botanical wallpaper. Have you ever seen anything as witty? Oh – and there's a cute restaurant called The Potting Shed too. Loved it all. Can't wait to return.

www.firmdalehotels.com/london/dorset-square-hotel

A HOTEL FOR LOVERS OF CLASSIC PARIS

LA MAISON FAVART, PARIS

Some of you may have already seen my pix of the Maison Favart. It's Paris' cutest new hotel – and has already established something of a reputation because of it. Indeed, it's often booked out, so if you fancy it, secure a room early. The interior is Lacroix-meets-Marie Antoinette. (My interpretation, not the hotel's, although they've also called it "theatrical".) There are whimsical pictures on the walls, a pastel pink, biscuit and grey palette, a strikingly graphic diamond carpet and all manner of curious embellishments. It's fascinating. The prices, unfortunately, are rather grand, and the location doesn't merit the rates, but it's still a stylish little find. 

www.lamaisonfavart.com

A HOTEL FOR THOSE WHO LOVE VERSAILLES

THE HOTEL DU GRAND CONTROLE, PARIS

It's not open yet, but The Hotel du Grand Controle is set to be one of the most talked-about hotels in France, if not the world when it does finally put out the 'Welcome' sign. The hotel is set in part of the palace of Versailles, and overlooks the magnificent Orangerie, one of the great gardens of the world. The building, which was derelict for many years, is being restored by Belgian company Ivy International SA and will open as a luxury hotel sometime (hopefully) in 2013. (It had been scheduled to open late 2011, but restoration works are taking longer than expected.) Okay, so it's not a boutique hotel, and I suspect the prices will be in the Versailles league, but it will still be fabulous. 

{No website yet}

Writing A Book, Part 2 (NaNoWriMo Month)

Being an author isn't the easiest profession. In fact, a writer's mind can deteriorate very quickly. Usually by 9AM. (Earlier if I've stayed up writing until 3AM.) 

My partner often sighs in frustration at the fact that he has to repeat things to me. I often fail to hear him because I'm usually thinking about my next chapter / my next deadline / whether a character should behave the way they do in the narrative / whether I should be publishing such a secret and sensitive story in the first place / whether I can finish writing 3 books by the end of November / whether that Paris hotel reimbursed me (and how I should really reconcile those credit card slips)  / whether the dogs have had their worming tablets / whether I've bought my niece an 18th birthday present / if I need to take a gift to our friends' house tomorrow / whether we move to New York next year  / whether I've called the locksmith and electrician /  how I'm going to manoeuvre 30 people around 20 gardens in 8 days.

As you can see, a writer is often quietly  schizophrenic  preoccupied? 

I'm sure there are other jobs that require a person to have a peripatetic mind, but I just can't think of one at the moment. I'm too preoccupied.

There is one thing I will always have time to stop my stream-of-consciousness thoughts for though, and that's encouraging people to write. 

I will always – always - try and inspire others to write, even if it's just prodding them to jot down their life story while they're still alive. Everyone has a story in them. Everyone has the ability to write. Most of those stories are wonderful. And most of the writing styles are fine. You don't need to be Hemingway to pen an enthralling memoir. Just start to write. Write as if your life depended on it.

Don't worry about the dog worming, the washing, the household accounting. Just sit down for a few hours and write. Do that every day (and I write between 9PM and 3AM, so I'm proof that there's always time in the day) and you'll have the beginnings of a great book before you know it. I promise you.

Don't even worry about creating a memorable first page. First pages are notoriously difficult. They'll hold you up. They'll make you cry. They'll kill you. They'll put you off writing for life. 

Just start writing, and before you know it, you'll be on the 45th page. And that's when you'll realise that the 45th page would actually make a really great first page. (Then you can tweak things; it doesn't take much to flip chapters around.) As all good writers know: the strength of a book is in the editing.

But don't worry about editing yet. The most important thing is just to write.

And to stop worrying if you appear preoccupied.

If you're attempting to finish writing a book this month as part of NaNoWriMo month, here's some literary inspiration of an unconventional nature.

Just remember – all writers struggle. That's part of the profession. But the good ones are tenacious. It's the tenacious ones who get somewhere. 

Good luck. I wish you all the best!

Have a lovely, writerly weekend.

(Image at very top: a fantastic painting of words by Liz Collini at the V&A, although I think the comma should be after 'indescribable', not 'paper', don't you?)