Day Off

I took the day off and enjoyed spending time at home! This doesn't happen often, and I found myself involved in multiple baking projects. I remembered how much I love to bake when I am not thrown into a "crisis deadline" as my daughter, Michelle, identifies it!

In between my sifting, baking, cleaning and starting over again, I also;

wrapped and mailed my darling sister's birthday gifts
worked out on the cross trainer
did a little grocery shopping (baking supplies...in my stylish yellow apron with ruffles)
delivered two chests and lamps (two hour delay...)
filled out Designer House forms
worked on a new ad with Sneelock
put out a little spring decor!
lost another pair of reading glasses. Ugh
took my alterations to the dry cleaners (T-rex arms)
soaked and cleaned all my styling brushes
ironed the guest sheets
skipped lunch...and dinner
visited a darling elderly man in the hospital
paid a few bills

All in all, I did a lot that I seldom have time for.

Take a look at some of my favorite spring accents that have lived far too many years in the bowels of my storage room;





I found a treasure box in my storage room of fabulously colored fiesta-type dishes! Chartreuse, robin egg and red. Ahhhhhhh. What a pleasant vintage surprise! I used them in stacks on the dining room table. Here is one with a crocus bulb nesting in it. I couldn't recall how long ago I had purchased them, no doubt at a flea market or tag sale somewhere.





This velvet rabbit with ribbon-tied egg is a personal favorite, purchased from my Yardley cottage store some years ago! The chicks have beads in them that rattle when you shake them. So cute.




I gathered these paper mache eggs with tinsel trim and found a vintage silver basket to display them in. Another BES purchase from years ago!





This crouching Bunnie has two friends, each as realistic as he! He has a home on my large oval mirror-tray, along with these bright eggs and tendril-sh vine.

It was a creative and productive day, yet I find my self at the end of the day feeling as if I had much more to do...

All in all, a nice day off. I'll play catchup tomorrow.

That First Green Blush!

Spring. It makes my heart sing!

On my frequent drives through the picturesque back roads of Bucks County, that first blush of the green haze seen on the weeping willows just takes my breath away! One day, it is just a hint-a tease. The next day, wow! It's all about Spring.

Just one week ago, I was half an hour early for my first appointment (chalk it up to Daylight Savings!). As I drove slower than my usual break neck speed, this favorite sight made me happy.



At the end of the day, when I pulled into my driveway a sweet reminder of my darling mother had popped through the mulch. My staff had given me a tender basket of spring blooms at the time of my mother's death two years ago. Each spring, when they peek their stems up through the soil, I smile and recall that dear one I love so much.

I picked a handful and took them into the house where they found a home in one of my vintage juice glasses. Oh yes, Spring is the best time of the year.


This week it should be in full bloom everywhere. Ahhhhh.

Take it in. I'll be smiling.

100 Can be Beautiful!

As my mother used to say, "Once in a blue moon"...a project comes along that truly speaks to my heart.

This is one of them.

This 100 year old beauty (back door shot) belongs to my very happy and stylish owner, Carol-who happens to be a client that dates back to my original historic stone-front store in Lowe Makefield, Pa. I've worked on her Yardley home, her former historic Main Line home (historic Philadelphia), her Philadelphia city high rise, and now-back to the Main Line again...home at last! I think these projects total about 18 years! Only a few doors down from the home she sold a few years ago, Carol bought this home in pristine condition the hour she saw it go on market. She knew the home from years ago when she was a neighbor and couldn't get her realtor on the phone fast enough.

Done. And here we are! Lucky her. Lucky me! Oh, so lucky...it's truly inspiring.

We entered through the side door into this bright and inviting kitchen. Oh, how I wish I had that rolling ladder to store and reach my cake plate collection. *sigh* Classic white marble counter tops; clean, crisp subway tile back splash; commercial Viking oven; strong, industrial style pendants. What more could we want?! Did I mention that the walls are painted a fabulous stony gray color? Yea. Pretty much perfect. (I couldn't help but think that I should have been the owner...I guess designer will have to suffice. )*sigh*

Do you think the Black-eyed Susan bag is sort of like staking my claim?

After the appropriate jaw-dropping assessment of the kitchen, we were ushered into the butler's pantry. My heart jumped again. I happen to have a real soft spot for butler's pantries. Does anyone recall the highlight of the Princeton Jr, League Designer House several years ago where I did the butler's pantry? I think it might be one of my favorite projects ever...sorry, no photos at hand easily. I can just see this one filled with old hotel silver, china and crystal of all shapes and periods. There is an original stainless work sink that will get plenty of use with society galas. Watch for the finished design of this room! (Can't wait!!)

This is an original wall sconce still lighting the way in the butler's pantry! Such style.

We rounded the corner to the living room. A few changes (wall color and sconces ) are to be made prior to the furniture placement. Most of the furniture from the current high rise will be used in this room. Shag rug? A few unexpected urban touches and this room should be good to go! (I'm still lobbying for some graphic linen draperies, but can't get Carol to jump on board! ) She can really be stubborn. *sigh*

Just look at this front door. Ahhhh, historic architecture. There's nothing that can match this.

Carol swung the door wide to expose the bright sunshine. The foyer is a room in itself. I'm not kidding, we could place a good 12x12 Persian rug in there! Great idea. Note to self, *get a fabulous 12x12 Persian rug for the foyer to replace that tiny slip of a rug Carol is standing on. (Carol is a little slip of a thing herself!).

*second note to self. Make sure 12x12 is large enough*

There are mirror image sun rooms on either side of the living room and dining room. I'll have at least 4 mantles to detail! *sigh*

Delightful sunlit rooms. Cozy winter spaces and breezy spring spaces. *sigh*

The house is full of these beautiful doors, solid walnut with an inlaid border. This charming shape is a pass through hall from the kitchen to the dining room! I'm pretending that the house servants must have been people about my height! Anyone too tall would have to duck to breeze through these halls.
*sigh*

Vintage door knobs grace every door. I was particularly enchanted by this tiny one! (One more for the case of small helpers...

On the third floor, we entered a closet with several treasures! These deep storage drawers were tagged with labels. I would never remove these!!

Original charm and history. *sigh*

In the same closet, Carol had found several of the mahogany doors at rest. She had the brilliant idea of turning one of them into the breakfast room table! Simply brilliant! We brainstormed having some iron legs custom designed to support the door. Hardware will come off, and the holes will be part of the history and character of the table. (Did I mention that I love this idea?!)

This marble floor will definitely remain! (Is anyone wondering just what my job will be yet?)

Thank heavens, there are a few rooms that need immediate help! This was the former mother-in-law suite, on the third floor. (It might make being a live-in mother-in-law quite desirable)!

Carol peering into the original dumb waiter. These people really knew how to live! There are also original wall telephones in several of the bedrooms.

Room service, please! *sigh*

This house.

Is not.

For the faint of heart, or weak knees.

This was the view from the back door! Oh, my.

*sigh*sigh*sigh*

An architectural vista from every angle.

Charm unmatched.

So that's the tour! (I did leave out some important rooms...too many rooms, not enough time.)

So, you can see, I'm truly in heaven. Thanks, Carol. The pleasure is all mine.

Now, to bed. I've got a lot to design tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...you get the picture.

*sigh*

Day Two-shoe exchange!

There's not anything more wonderful than a shopping companion who is entertaining, stylish, enduring with stamina, and will change shoes with you when you can't take another step. It's even more amazing that this fun friend can exchange shoes with someone who wears a size 41/2 shoe! That's how things went down around 3:00p.m. after 7 hours of shopping.

The market was busy, which is always a good sign, but this also translates into long lines getting an elevator for the 3 buildings, 20 stories each. A lot of shopping...

That being said, there are equally as many vendors offering "unique", or in other words, hideous options for all manner of storefronts. Thankfully, Black-eyed Susan is not one of them!

At times, it seems that that is all we see for hours on end! Today, the first part of the day was spent resourcing new vendors. Give me your vote on some of the fine options we came across...

I'm always looking for new lamp resources...this one was quite unique. Fully beaded and sequined. Holy moly.

Yet another selection, complete with bleached big-bird costume. This is for real.

Mirrors are another category that we source each market, but really...who buys this?!

You know that I have written about the glamour and allure of glitter many times. I mean, we love glitter as much as the rest of the design world, but this just might be the pink limit (as my darling mother would say)...mountain goats...fully glittered! Oh, my.


Tomorrow, day 3, I promise to try to document some really cute things. In fact, I'm going to resist photographing anything hideous and only go for the fabulous. It's a promise.

It's over! Day 7

I have spoken of the total surprise we feel when first arriving at the January market-that of being excited to plan and design yet another holiday season for Black-eyed Susan, a full 11 months away! Keep in mind that I only put away the last ornament of 2009 the night prior to boarding the plane!

Well, the feeling at the end of market, after 6 full days and well into each night-is that of complete exhaustion and disinterest. Don't show me one more "way cute" thing, because I just don't want to look at it. Don't show me one more "show special" because I just don't need it. Don't show me one more "new trend" because I'm over it. The market is like a ghost town, no food, no treats, no drinks, no buyers, no shuttles. It's over.

Where did one full week go? A pile of purchase orders and a cart full of samples for next year's trees later, and we're out of there.

This was my documentation for the day:

Yet one more fabulous example of monogramming! I love the way this script monogram is positioned off center and unexpected. While there are many examples of trite and overdone monograms, this one speaks to me. (The "R" monogram inspired my photograph).

Many of my family and friends will love this, as I do! Not sure what the inspiration was for the artist, but in our book, it stands for "choose the right". I'm really loving this one, and I'm pretty sure Emily, Denise, Charlotte, Michelle, and Jessie will agree....oh, and Jill, Shannon, Marie...the list goes on and on. Yep, I love it.

At the very end of the day, while shopping for promotional lamps, we came across what I think may be one of the few examples of what glitter doesn't enhance... check out this lampshade. The lamp is pretty awful too.

A closeup of the glitter shade...who really thinks up this sort of design?! Next question, how many should I order?

That's it for another 6 months. For now, I'm spending the night in Charlotte, with my daughter Jessie, and counting on being entertained by my two adorable granddaughters, Fiona (16months) and Bella (4.5 years). It's the real payoff!

We're off!!

Oh my! I am getting such a back log of blog posts, it's a bit overwhelming

I'll catch up as soon as time permits. Here's what you have to look forward to!

Las Vegas project!! Yes! We made our first trip out to size up the project and get our design ideas going, being directed by our client to give it the Las Vegas glam effect!! You'll need to stay tuned for this one.

We left in style to be sure:

I guess even 5:30am looks better in this! (stretch limo pickup!)

We stayed in a posh hotel designed in the name of Steve Wynn. This is our fabulously comfy bed, decked out in down! The headboard was very stylish too! Check it out. Our room was brand new and full of stylish appointments! Just what my design eye appreciated.

I adored this fresh upholstered chair in butter yellow. Our room was yellow and orange, can't beat that! There were two of these cuties flanking the chest of drawers.


Our bathroom was very glamorous, with a marble floor, double sink (magnifying make-up mirror included). We even had a flat screen TV mounted in the wall for early morning entertainment!
Very stylish sink, check out the legs!

I never had a chance to try out this inviting soaking tub.....maybe next time!

Now this is what I call snacks! Candies, chocolates, nuts, cookies, bottled water....all for the enjoyment of the pampered guest! The logo for our hotel shows up great here.

After a 5:30 am pickup and a 5 hour flight, we landed and got right to work (well, after a fabulous lunch at a 4 star restaurant to die for!) We were treated like royalty from a chic room, to 5 star restaurants, to VIP tickets to an over the top Vegas show. In between, workworkwork! We got our measurements, went shopping for furniture and tile, furnished the house, and more.

Whew!! Back on the plane and home again after two days of high style rolling (not the gambling kind....)

I'll be documenting our trip, the design direction and some pretty fabulous style photos as time permits.

Along with all this, the designer house is coming to a close for the preparation part! Here is a photo of how it looked last week prior to hoping over to Vegas. This week, we;ll complete the room with every bell and whistle. Stay tuned for more design inspiration. It looks like it's going to be a great showhouse and great food from Jamie Hollander as well! Tickets are available at Black-eyed Susan ($20.00 if purchased ahead, $25.00 at the door).

The room is really shaping up and we have great compliments from the others involved so far! I know you'll love it too.