Ahhh! Fall.

Fall! After a long night (and into the wee hours of the morning), the store has been transformed into fall. As a one-man show, it's quite a task!

Too late for photos tonight, but I'll post some in the next day or so. There's lots of inspiring fall hydrangeas, pods and pumpkins. The beginning of Halloween has hit the floor-my favorite? Undoubtedly the metallic clip on crows wearing party hats!!

Yes, they're worth the trip.

Goodnight. My feet are tired.

My Best Idea...for Today!

My dinner party went off without too many crazy issues...well, if you don't count me setting the main table for 6 instead of 8. What was I thinking? Obviously, I wasn't!

We had a total of 12 guests. I had split the guests between the small kitchen eat-in area and the formal dining room. Somehow, I set the table for two less in the stress of last minute setup. I had worked in the retail store during the day and didn't get started cooking the main course until about 5:00pm.

All went well and all seemed to enjoy a good evening. I had the help of a darling and creative friend, Shannon. (We probably were too busy having fun catching up to count the seating arrangements!)

As promised, here is my best idea of the day! Since quick centerpiece ideas follows closely in line with the merchandising I do daily at the store, I didn't give too much thought ahead of time. At the store in the afternoon, I came up with a vision that I thought would be seasonal and fast. It turned out to be a big hit. You could easily try this for your next party!

I borrowed this three tiered wire basket from the store. I knew that my hydrangea bushes were fully loaded with beautiful green/white blooms. I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and picked up 5 heads of leaf lettuce-some green and some red. Then I headed for the produce department and selected some very firm red pears, stems in tact.



I cut a generous supply of hydrangeas from the yard and positioned them with the leaf lettuce and fresh pears in such a way to balance out the tiered stand, and to be appealing from all sides of the centerpiece. Voila! With this selection of all fresh goods, all readily available, I created this centerpiece in a matter of minutes!


Another angle for inspection. I thought later, it would have been cool to add some of the fresh cilantro we were cooking with! Ahhh...the scent would have been fabulous with the mix.

Yet another closeup of the hydrangea, leaf lettuce and pears. Of course, those who knew of my store inventory of absolutely real looking artificial fruit, thought they were from Black-eyed Susan! You could always purchase my fake ones and have them ready at all times without making the quick trip to the grocery store!

I hope you try it for your next "quick fix"!

Window Wizard!!

That's right! Susan is on sale! I am running a sale on professional fees. All areas of our services apply, so to view our menu of services email me for a complete list at Susan@besusan.com. You'll be surprised how many different ways we can help with your home/office design needs.

The table is dotted with lemonaide bottles serving as vases for the fabulously real looking seasonal blue hydrangeas. I tinted the water lime green to carry the color story of the opposit window. Real life shows this a bit better! Two large concrete urns support the window display, utilizing linen pillows and life-like calla lily folliage for color. I like the simplicity of the table and it has the feeling of late summer in Bucks County, Pa. Our blooming hydrangeas are a beauty to behold and these hydrangeas could take their place along side the real thing and go undetected! Don't worry, I have plenty more for the taking, as well as a beautiful dramatic wreath using them.



The stripes we painted for the last window change survived the cut once again. A comfy and delightful chair in aqua and soft chartreuse finds a home next to a recycled chest that I painted in a favorite aqua.Oh so fresh! How perfect this chair would be in a delightful sunroom or favorite bedroom. (It would be pretty darn perfect in my main family room as well! Rememeber the Christmas tree with the aqua and lime design several years ago?) Yep, that's where it should be! It has a great price on it right now and is on sale. Come check it out. You're welcome to sit in the window and try it out!!

The windows have been completed for another month. Hope you enjoy the view.

Welcome Home!

Well, the day ended with great satisfaction. Formerly empty rooms full of interesting furniture with color, pattern and texture. Textiles on the beds, accent pieces (at least a beginning) to delight the eye. (I'll keep you posted as we progress....)


At the end of the day, we closed the door and placed our housewarming wreath on the door. This has become somewhat of a tradition for our whole-house projects.




The front door really is this color! It is the original color of the previous homeowner......I may have to make some recommendations! The doorway welcomes all to come in. At Black-eyed Susan, we just began our semiannual floral sale----come in and we'll create a wreath as perfect for your front door!

I just love houses that have names! I've always wanted to name one of my houses, but I've either moved too soon or felt that the house wasn't worthy of anything as grand as a name! But someday I'll come up with the perfect scenario for naming my house. Check our the name plack of this house! Pretty appropriate for a house on a beautiful treed parcel on the pond.

Welcome home to Bird Haven. A happy, long life to you.

** Have you named your house?