Susan's New Find

While on a recent trip to Provo,Utah (my former college and home of oldest daughter), I came across this cute young woman wearing her own creations. My daughter, Michelle, and I approached her to ask where she had purchased them, thus discovering they were her own design. I took her information and she was excited to have Black-eyed Susan as one of her first accounts!



Look for these exciting pin/clips to be seen at our new location soon! 5222 York Road Holicong, Pa 18928.



Pin them in your hair, on your cashmere sweater, or boyfriend jacket...way too cute! I'll be first in line.

Welcome Spring!

Each morning when I leave for work and every evening when I return from work, this is what I see. Snow, snow, and more snow. Ugh.

Piles and piles of snow

I'm trying to give you a good idea of the vast amount of snow that surrounds my mailbox!

But, when I get out of my car and walk through the door at Black-eyed Susan, this is what I see! The first promise of Spring. Glitter bunnies, pale pastels...ribbons and eggs. Check out this darling glass cloche with a bird atop!

Pale pink hyacinths. So pretty.

Worlds best pet- pale pink bunny prop. Butter, mint and taupe ribboned bunnie figures.



All things egg-related! Bulbs herald the upcoming season of blooms.


Soft pastel eggs in robin egg, mint and pearly taupe. Smooth and cool.

Nests!

Tiny lambs. No shearing for these glitter babies!

Beautiful french tulips. These fakes can fool any avid gardener!

Check out these cool glass display cubes that just came in. I filled them with assorted nests, straw, plates, platters, and eggs. Take one home and put your favorite seasonal collectible on display. Very cool.

Another view of the larger display cube. The ideas for these are limitless.

So, if you're tired of this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

Come take home a chocolate bunny.

Welcome Spring!

Sign in, please...

I've been going to the same gastroenterologist for about 18 years. His office has looked the same for 18 years. Bad. Outdated 15 years ago. Or more. After each visit for these many years, we have had the same discussion about the state of his "decor". It's a given, each visit will end with the same critique from me and admission from him as to the badly needed update.

I finally decided to take him to task on this and after my last visit several months ago, put together a proposal for a quick fix, utilizing his existing carpet and chairs...after all, they had come full circle, and I could bring them into the 21st century with the right paint color and accessories. Even still, I was shocked to find him putting his trust in my vision t transform the office into pure spectacular!

Unfortunately, I did not have the foresight those months ago to take my before pictures, so you'll just have to imagine the mauve/seafoam combination that was my challenge to work with. How I wish I had this "before" documentation. Well, you're on your own to visualize the picture.

Step One. Color pallet. The color was really dictated by existing carpet and chairs which the Dr. hoped to salvage. I agreed and came up with two of my favorite colors, SW Halcyon Green and SW Tassel. (Not strangers to my loyal followers!) To my surprise and glee, the Dr.'s partner's wife decided early in the game that the old chairs had to go! I didn't fight it one bit. We selected these dark stained chairs with a rep print (like a man's tie) in rusty gold, accented by a tiny spec of the aqua. Durable, sustainable, cute!

Our great painter/paperhanger, Mike of Perfect Hangups, started right in taking down the hideous and aging wallcovering....drat, no photo! Mike had the "night shift" this time around! Work began at closing on a Friday night and continued through the weekend. Several more nights followed until the work was completed. *Note my signature black doors! The Dr. gave me some resistance on this, but succumbed to the pressure of future "visits" from me with the same repeated critiques.

After Mike finished the painting, Sneelock and I went in to do the final installation. Art, magazine racks, chairs delivered, new blind installed, accessories and several plants later...voila! Finished.



Great view of the two colors and a favorite piece of art. Small corner table and a new lamp grounded the addition of a new plasma TV, a request from the staff. I enjoyed it myself, watching the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Sweet.


Closeup of one of my favorite pieces of art---the New York Skyline, which marries the two colors and makes perfect sense. I admit that I hung this piece of art quite a bit higher than I would normally do, all in the name of sensibility...I'm not known for this! All things considered, I knew that it just wouldn't do for patients to bump their heads on the oversized and deep frame.



It's a bit difficult to perceive the ledge above this art. Let me just tell you that prior to this collection of charger, vessels, monstera leaves and large apple scuptures, there were bushes of the worst quality ivy plants held in place with phonebooks! Yes, once again I can't believe that I had no photos of that!!

Closeup of said ledge!

Here is a great shot of the deep window sill that I had painted black, along with the window molding. This favorite woven blind combines rich wood tones and black. Beautiful. Another city scape in the perfect colors and the addition of some wrought iron magazine racks complete the room.




A broader view of the same wall with the addition of two architectural pieces of art, once again echoing the colors of the room and accented in black frames. The vertical lines of the two pieces help balance the room as well.

I love this little touch of whimsy. Two doves perch on a high beam overlooking the new digs

One more overview of a perfect waiting room.

Much to the dismay of Sneelock, I planned to use this antique iron door as a piece of art in the entry vestibule. Through his murmurings, he proceeded to come up with a plan to hang this giant heavy thing...which included propping the door up on multiple layers of 2x4's while he attatched it to the wall. It was way to heavy for me to hold!


Project completed. Door locked for the weekend. I'm just wondering what the conversation will be like next time I go for a colonoscopy...right before going under!

The night shift...one year later

Take a look at these photos posted just one year ago...I called my work "the night shift". How it seems like yesterday. Night after night of sorting, editing and narrowing down my resource library to fit into a much smaller space.

Stacks and stacks of books to eliminate for lack of space

Bins to return or put into a small upstairs studio/overflow

Night after night of sorting, reviewing and making the tough decisions...

Organizing my fabric books by vendor and season...whew!

Yes, I do remember saying something like, "well, what is the worst thing that could happen? We would have to expand again! ". And that is exactly what happened within the last year. While I have been happy to be on site in the retail store (with my smaller office taking up the back room), we have just outgrown the space!


So, after 12 years in downtown Yardley and 4 prior years in Lower Makefield, I am once again looking at "the night shift". I will be spending my after hours packing, sorting, organizing and overseeing the preparations for the new location.

My list looks something like this: (random thoughts not prioritized yet!)



1. Plan moving sale

2. Call vendors with open purchase orders to change ship-to address

3. Finalize paint colors for new location

4. Hire painter (Sneelock and I may be part of the team...)

5. Design sale banners and coming soon temp signs

6. Change the windows in the Yardley storefront one last time (tear-y eyed)

7. Quick trip to Naples, Fl for new design project

8. Initiate all immediate work to be done for our bedroom design/Princeton Designer House

9. Continue work on the current 10 design projects in progress...oh, dear!

10. Begin packing design library for move

11. Move shelving from basement stockroom and reassemble in new stockroom

12. Move all seasonal inventory as soon as possible

13. Schedule needed trip to High Point Market for design research

14. Release purchase orders for new merchandise/new location

15. Phone lines installed new location

16. Computer lines installed new location

17. Update Web design to reflect new location and contact numbers

18. Merchandise Yardley store for moving sale

19. Organize email blitz and assign for moving info/dates/sales/grand opening

20. Contract electrician for additional lighting new store

21. Move fixtures and furniture/office furniture and files to new location

22. Do my magic in the new location (merchandising and creating the new look).

23. Plan Grand Opening

24. Schedule 3 hours sleep each night

25. Attend Princeton Jr. League Designer House Opening Gala

26. Have Princeton room completed by 04/15 EEK!

27. Plan daily early morning workout

28. Dinner for Sneelock at least twice a week

29. Schedule at least 4 Dr. appointments (annual checkups)

30. Assemble favorite 12 ft work table in new design studio!!! (Look back to see how sad I was when I had to put it into storage one year ago).

31. Clone Sneelock





And with that, I think I have to stop my list. One day at a time, one hour at a time...one night at a time. Yes, I think "the night shift" is inevitable. But this will be the last time. As my father would say, "I might believe you, but there are thousands who wouldn't". Really, the last time. The rewards will be great. Almost 4 times the space! Close to home. Historic building. Great parking. So you see, it really is too good to pass up. (I hope I remember that at 2:00a.m.)

New Location:

5222 York Road

Holicong, Pa 18928

267-767-3134 (for now)

For once, I'm looking forward to the end of Spring. Hope to see you there.

Stay tuned for progress reports and more photos. Wish me luck...and a few prayers wouldn't hurt either.