Completely Honored!

Last Saturday we held our annual Paris Flea Market Sale. Soooo much work!

We had a very successful day and the weather was pure heaven. Many prayers were answered as we anticipated this event! The clouds didn't break open until fore casted (4:00pm)! 

The day started out with such a great response from our Black-eyed Susan friends and followers that I got caught up in the frenzy...sorry, no photos...I know, how silly of me. It's always fun to show you what a mad house this sale creates!

It is also an annual tradition that my staff and I provide a very nice lunch spread for the Black-eyed Susan workers. It was hard to find time to start the rotation this year! If you had a chance to read my last post "What I did on my vacation, really", you will catch a glimpse of the cake I made for my staff. Late in the day, one of our favorite friends and long time BES supporters dropped by. It's always a pleasure and sociable time when Andrew stops by. He often brings gifts and always accolades for our efforts. I think he has been shopping in my store for almost as long as I can recall. I often tell him should I run short of inventory, I know where I can readily gather some!

We noticed that he had brought with him a "take-out" container and this caused quite a lively conversation. Andrew said that he had read my blog (a dedicated follower!) regarding my cake baking for the Flea Market and remembered that last year I had sent him home with a piece of the pie you might say!  So this year, he came prepared! He called it presumptuous, I called it pure flattery! There isn't anyone I would rather include in our cake-fest than such a friend. Good thinking, Andrew.

This could be our new Flea Market tradition! Meet Andrew. He's a fine friend to have.

Andrew's sizable piece of German Chocolate Cake! Photo compliments of Nancy's cell phone.

Paris Day 1

We started out the morning of our arrival walking one of the Paris Flea Markets that would only be there Saturday and Sunday . It's rather hard to get the whole effect of the market, but I shot this photo as we started down the first isle.

Here are a few of my favorite things!

Of course, one of my favorite, favorite things to collect...buttons! The flea market is full of various vendors. This box of mother of pearl buttons in three sizes, exlarge, large, and medium caught my eye. This was one of my first purchases!

My daughter, Michelle, has made friends with one particular man who has a fabulous display to sort through each market. I purchased some of my favorites from him my last visit and found more treasures here this time as well. I'll try to share some of my selections if I don't become too attached to them before I can get them to the store! I did find a particular special find for my bedroom makeover project...to be revealed next week during the final installation!

Many of you who were in my classes for my home tour a few weeks ago know of my love for vintage silver. Trays and trays of the finest silver to "character quality" silver are abundant for discovery here.

Another thing in abundance are dogs! Vendors, patrons, and beggars by the dozen have dogs in tow. I must say that almost all dogs in Paris are well-mannered. This wired haired scraggly one indulged me in a photo! Parisians are not happy to be photographed on the whole. Not sure how their dogs feel!

My love of old keys took me straight to this booth. They are plentiful as well, however, fairly expensive.
I purchased several of these enamel number plates. Remember the enamel numbers I found on another trip and posted on my black doors? I could just see these tied with tiny black grosgrain dressing the top of a piece of art or another collection. Yes, I'll try to share.

A set of four darling French chairs that looked like they had been painted (the fabric!)...hmmm, where have I seen that?! I had to walk up to them to examine what I saw and confirmed my suspicion. You can look for my painted French chairs to make an appearance in the Christmas store windows soon!

Here I am seated in one of the French chairs. (Plane hair, and all....)

You know how I love anything orange, and this vintage dial phone caught my eye.

I found this collection of walking sticks and thought how nice they would be added to mine! Then the vision of my all too full luggage came to mind, and I was forced to pass them by. Oh, they did speak to my heart, however.

As we neared the end of the Market, I took time to browse through these book plates of historic furniture. Too many to choose from. Oh, dear.

Michelle had found this vendor the last time she came! Her booth was full of fabulous labels, seed packets, ribbons, linens and all manner of dry goods. I spent several hundred euros here and breathed deeply.

Take a look at this pale pink silk taffeta ribbon. I passed it by, but I'm not sure how....

I guess you can see why, even sleep deprived and weary after an 8 hour plane ride and a trip through customs at the Paris airport, it was a must-do visit. I love Paris flea markets.

I'll try to spread the joy around. Come see some of my findings at the store when I return!

After-class Homework

We had a great event/class tonight at the retail store with an over crowded room of Black-eyed Susan friends. Our subject was using plates as decor. I have had a long love of collectible plates, especially transferware, as well as anything monogrammed (of course!). Once you get the bug for collecting plates (and actually sets of plates), you could go on and on. I personally, have many sets of favorite plates. Each collection brings a certain joy when used or displayed. Oh yes, I love my plates!

I handed out color copies of my favorite inspiration pages using plates as art in unique and unusual placements. There were several examples I had meant to take from my home and left without this morning. So, here are the promised homework shots with brief explanations.

Dining room window with trio of monogrammed plates between drapery panels.

Close up of brown transferware collection in favorite cupboard.

Birdseye view of chocolate transferware collection at top of stairs!

Collaged collection of blue transferware collection and various objects. *Note the small card holder used to display butter pats!

This small bread and butter plate adds the perfect finishing touch and height to this grouping in the bedroom hall.

As discussed, the arch of the bed dictates the positioning of this plate collection. Symmetry and size are important. The shape of the headboard is repeated. Large art rests on either side of the bed. Plates in the bedroom, who knew?!

Vintage creme ware from Paris! (You'll recall this shot from the Bucks County Designer House.

One more shot from the Designer House. A wall collaged with plates, intaglios, and my framed button collection. Most of the plates I brought back from Paris. The square ones are from Black-eyed Susan! Yes, I still have several. I love square plates!

Okay, absolutely nothing to do with plates! At the end of our events, participants get to shop at a discount! Suzanne (a blog follower and kindred spirit), asked for some ideas to display under her new cloche. This one has a glass bottom, way cool! I came up with several ideas, but I have to say that this one was my favorite! Fabulous vintage books, small, narrow, and perfect fit.

It was a little crowded, and a bit hot. We found a chair for everyone to pull up and a good time was had by all. Next week: "Paint is my magic wand"! Come see the magic.

A Successful Ending...and, a little sad!

The 2009 Bucks County Designer House came to an end today. It is always a little bittersweet when the house closes. So many hours has gone into the design and presentation, then we staff the room and "live in it" for a month. It's easy to become attached and feel a true ownership of the room. This one felt particularly warm and calm. The response was overwhelmingly good . All in all, it was a great experience and being only a few miles from home helped as well!

I lingered and took these final stills of some of my favorite areas. (Feel free to skip over, as you will see, I had a lot of favorites!) These shots are also for permanent documentation of a project I put my heart into. I really love this room.

One of my favorite bookcase vignettes, featuring vintage books, favorite framed spectacles w/button and tiny round bulls eye mirror.

Another favorite bookshelf featuring vintage books, clocks and a very fond old framed hound.



Poor lighting didn't help this shoot! More books, buttons (in abundance throughout my room, and I simply adore these old pigeon trophies. The art, a framed card of buttons from a Paris flea market.



One of the other bookshelves framing the mantle. I painted all the entire bookcase/mantle wall my favorite black-Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. Look at these hand carved fish, more old books, an old trophy soldered, and sent by my father for one of my birthdays, and an old Polish document as framed art. These bookshelves remind me of this quote,"Sorry to appear insistent, but I must have my trinkets"!



Hanging on one of the adjacent walls to the bookcase, another collage of vintage buttons and a ladies watch face. Love this frame!


Making the bookcases complete, the mantle! Black urns, carved doves (coveted by all who visited the room!), old maps rolled up, feathery ferns, Paris books,ceramic finials, and a beautiful serene photograph that could be the Bucks County countryside. I could definitely live with this.

A cropped close-up of the carved doves on the mantle.

I had to take this photo of the firewood that I used as sculpture! Sneelock cut it from the fallen trees on the grounds with precise cuts just the right size.


Favorite painted chest of drawers (don't forget to use them in hallways, foyers and bathrooms....not just for bedrooms!

Wall of plates, mostly vintage cream ware with my assorted framed buttons and keys coll aged in amongst them. This wall was a favorite for most guests.

Closeup of the dove wall sconce plucked from my guest room as an afterthought. I sold these in my store about 10 years ago, and could have made a killing if I would have had 30 or so to sell.

The small original letters with dates in the mid 1800's from Paris that I found in some of my old books became art for the wall. Ahhhhhh. I love old documents! Beautiful colored inks and the most fabulous penmanship.

Bring me your cherished correspondence and I'll help you frame them!

Fabulous Black-eyed Susan ferns, lush and full! No water, please!




A shot of the entrance into our room from the foyer. The ferns were the perfect drama to flank the entrance into the living room. Also noted, the three iron mirrors over the front door. This is a favorite space of mine to accent.

Giant birds nest fern. I love this plant, I suppose it's the cost that others don't love. This could be one of those inventory items that I would never be sorry to end up owning!

Linen chair with monogrammed french flea market linen resting on it. Hmmm...wonder where that "T" will end up! (Don't worry, I have more in the store.)


That all too favorite silk pillow collection with pompom embellishments. There could not have been a finer compliment to the room!



That pop of color to an overall calm room--pumpkin and taupey-grey silk throws. Wow.



I used this square bolster on the floor with an old open book on it just for a bit of whimsy. WAY cute pillow!! And, not a bad shot of that extraordinary $48,000.00 rug!



Goodbye beautiful mid century rug.



There were several favorites by those who visited the room. One was this vintage frame tied into the window with a chocolate french ribbon. It served as the backdrop for books tied with raffia and a sophisticated painted dove sculpture.

The swing-arm drapery rods, linen banded panels, and sheer linen embroidered dot shades were another noted favorite. I love them as well!

A good shot of the poised swing-arm rods with the linen painted lampshade which marries the linen furniture and the wall color, in the foreground.



This dramatic and loved chandelier took center stage. I called it, "Bucks County meets New York"!

I staffed the room the second half of closing day and when the final notes played on my jazz CD, the lights were turned off for the final time and I took one last look at the room, it was with a tiny twinge of sadness!

Deep windowsills make my heart sing. Featured in this one, an urn filled with fantail pussy willows, collected globes, and framed seashells. Would you think to put those items together?! Sometimes, it all about color and scale. It works. Still loving those swing-arms!!


A really good closeup and I promise, that last shot of the swing-arm drapery rods!



One last self portrait of me in the room . The lights are off now. Goodbye Color of Calm.