High Point Market Report Day 1!

Wow! Where to start...we had a busy day today and spent hours in only three showrooms! 218 photos later, I'll give you my favorite picks of the day. High Point Market...pretty overwhelming!

Pattern and color still reign in today's design trends.

Watch for this to appear at Black-eyed Susan! Chartreuse fabric with nail head trim. *sigh*

Lots of orange and graphite...taupes and neutrals. Always punctuated with color! I like it.

I found this chest in the palest of grey-blue paint. It's all about choosing your own color at Vanguard Furniture. It is a very inspiring showroom with great style and fine taste. Love. It.

Lots of coral, a very significant color in a major design project of mine currently. Coral made a little appearance at the last market and has taken center stage this time! Art, fabrics, accessories. Coral speaks my language!

Coral and grey on a favorite sofa frame.

This coral wall was the backdrop for a great collection of framed whippets. So fun.

Closeup!

I took this photo through a window. Chartreuse and hot pink! Pretty bold but stunning.

Companion chair! Wow.

Pattern is still very important. Chevron chocolate and white with lime green banding! These were very comfy I might add!

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Banding...great unexpected pop.

I ordered a cool chair with this new synthetic fabric. The fabric name is Moo-la-la! Can't wait!

This room setting caught my attention with this collection of silhouettes. I love the juxtaposition of the old with the new. Good unexpected mix. Very Bucks County. (Note the horizontal use of stripes on the chairs!)

Finally, a cool recliner! (Even my son in law might like this!) I'm a fan as well...orange, stylish and reclining. What more could you ask?! I didn't order these, but I can get them for anyone in need.

It's hard to see, but there is a cool stainless modern frame on the recliner...the orange doesn't hurt either! Michael Weiss hit a home run. 

We were treated to two celebrity sightings-Tom Felicia and Michael Weiss. We had conversations with both and enjoyed the personal touch for two collections we sell and love.

At our last stop, Currey and Co. (lighting and furniture), we were delighted by an organic buffet using home grown vegetables from the owner's garden! Just look at the presentation...peppers, green beans, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kale and brussel sprouts in a paper cone nestled in dry beans. Oh so good! And stylish to boot!

That is the day one report! We're gearing up tonight for another inspiring day of design. 

p.s. I entered a contest today at CR Laine Furniture for a custom made pair of shoes! (And yes, they will make me a size 4 1/2 should I win!)

To Market, to martket, to buy a new...

Tomorrow is the unofficial opening day of the High Point Furniture Market, and we're off and running! 

Armed with two rolling carts, bags of fabric memos for multiple interior projects, lipstick assortments, shoe options, cameras, phones and open to buy budgets- we are ready to hit the streets to find both old friends and new resources.

Here are a few of the things on our list;

sofas

chairs

rugs

tables

mirrors

lamps

art

chandeliers

unique accents

style style style

Our list is long. With a little encouragement and a chocolate treat here and there, we should be able to return with some fine offerings for retail and interior clients alike! 

Stay tuned for my daily report...and I promise photos in the next post.

Susan't Tag Sale!

Wow. My tag sale was a great success,thanks to my Black-eyed Susan supporters!

The planning was both intense and very objective, as I sorted and culled every cupboard, storage room and living space. What can I say...I'm tired of the designs I've lived with for the past 10 years. I tell my clients 10 years is a good run! And so it was.

So many of my darling clients stopped by and while I am tired of the look of things, so many of them exclaimed their love for my cozy home. I took a few photos of the days events and several of my buyers sent me theirs! I'll share some of them with you just for the record.

I'm planning on following my progress with regular posts. Sneelock is anxious to get things started, as he hasn't much to sit on! (Oh.Dear.)

One of my first clients sent me this soon after arriving home with her treasure (pink tulips and books). Apparently her car fully approved!

The dining room was filled to the brim with some of my collected plates, platters and butter pats! (I told you I was very objective in my offerings...)

This plate collection went to a favorite client and friend. The bedding was sold as a collection and the lamps went quickly too.

Master bedroom draperies...still available!

My bathroom is a collage of mirrors instead of a large or two singles. Valances-gone!

This vintage silk covered chair and ottoman went to a long time friend and Black-eyed Susan fan. Can I just say that I love it when my favorite things go home with friends?! Thanks, Anita.

Lisa and myself in the dining room. Lisa has been blogging  for some time about her excitement leading up to my sale! She took home some of my favorites. *sigh*

The tiny chandelier was the only thing in this photo for sale....none of my brown transfereware!

Long time favorite floral...gone! It looks a bit bare, but I have a new vision.

                                                     This little table was one of the first things to go.

I added this chandelier into the mix due to a special request for silver and crystal.

Dining room draperies and rug-bye bye!

My working vintage radio also left with a favorite friend....along with Sneelock's favorite chair!

So many times I couldn't resist telling the story or history of something selected by my friends. When I told Kendall how I had hung this in a collection of platters and recommended that she start her own collection for hanging, she said,"Or, I might just eat my chicken on it"! How cute is that? I can go along with that. Kendall also had a great suggestion for me! She said that I should have had a contest for shoppers as they left..."guess how many clocks...or plates...or cameras...or salt and pepper shakers Susan has"! That girl! Why didn't I think of that?!

I am a clock collector and this favorite was hard to let go. I had made up my mind ahead of time if it didn't sell , I would paint it gray and give it a facelift! Then, when I was admiring it with this client and his wife, I realized that it had mother of pearl inlays. It made me feel a bit better about selling it.

All in all, it was a successful though busy few days.

Now on to the new design project! I'll keep you posted, though I think I may be at the bottom on a long list of client projects....

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.

"What I Did On My Vacation"...really.

Have you ever taken a vacation week to stay home? Just stay home. Well, stay home and catch up on things you never have time to do... No commitments. No appointments. No makeup if you don't want to. No dinner appointments. No night shift work. 

That is exactly what I did. And while I took the week off from work, these are a few of the things I accomplished;

Sorted and reviewed  every box stored in my home storage room containing Valentines, Easter, Halloween and Christmas decor accumulated over the past 15 years...4 vans full to be exact!

Re-organized my 10 foot wide 9 foot high Habersham Biblioteque holding my vintage glass and cake plate collection. Objectively reviewed and culled  to keep only must haves...38 vintage cake plates remain!

Reviewed all linens, tablecloths, napkins and related items. Discard pile and sell pile remained after favorites were restored to order.

Sentimentally handled and organized every vintage plate, cup and saucer, butter pat and serving dish in vast collection. One again, objectively compiled a sale pile.

Sorted my loft Biblioteque where assorted transfer ware dish collections are stored. Sighed. Conquered and divided for upcoming tag sale.

Reviewed mud room and extensive milk glass collection for possible sale items. As yet, undecided.

Listed room by room sale items...not sure where we will sit for a few months.

Baked two prize cakes for friends.

Sorted and categorized vintage button collection (loose ones) by color-15 zip locks full. *sigh*

Ironed numerous drapery panels.

Checked every room in entire home for items to edit.  

Why? I an preparing to redecorate several  rooms in my home, and yes...someday in the next few years, I plan to retire! 

So...take a look at some of my treasures that will be part of my tag sale to rival Martha Stewart's!

 Sign up for my email list for notice of dates

Here we go,

....randomly selected...

Favorite Habersham cupboard with a view of small portion of vintage cake plate collection

Assorted vintage plates, saucers and butter pats! I don 't dare count how many butter pats I have, but only know that I have plenty to spare. Kept only favorite sets!

Library wing chairs and French aubison rug to be sold, also knitting basket and period tea table

Historic monkey lamp-out with the old, in the the new....Denise will be so happy.

Selected art to be sold...plus more!

Quite possibly  the best cake I've baked to perfection since my darling mother passed away

More vintage favorites edited for sale

Square set of plates...could it be some brown transfer ware?!

Wonderful set of vintage book plate botanicals, yep. To sell.

Assorted boxes that were sorted for the Black-eyed Susan Paris Flea Market

More butter pats!

Dining table with selected assorts

Milk glass, and oh so much more where this came from!

Just a teaser of the entire collection...

I used to love to hang these as embellishments, or car touches. Perhaps you will too.

Candlewick glass collectibles. Okay, I'm being objective...

Authentic French hand painted armoire.Just wait till you see the hand painted interior!

This divine and dramatic floral has been a favorite for years. I guess it's time.

Even chandeliers are on my replacement list!

Family room silk draperies. (Forgive my new color ideas in the foreground)

Coveted by all comfy chair...perfect condition

                                                             oh, and the rug!

Favorite sofa...mohair and chenille. You can sink into this one.

Long loved armoire , magazine holder and Tom Caldwell art. Yes, the rug too. Fabulous colors

Close up of armoire. Love.

Master bedroom Habersham four poster bed and silk bedding...plates too!

Master bedroom silk draperies . Worth more than you an imagine...shhhhhh.

Vintage clock art...could be restored. *sigh*

Another piece of favorite original art..."girl in orange" I call her

So that is a recap of my vacation...and a few of my favorite things that will be featured in my personal tag sale. If anything interests you, just let me know!  

Milk glass collection-minus the cake plates! Cupboard? Maybe.

So, watch for my new digs!