BITTERSWEET

         This weekend is the official start of the holiday season in our house. On Sunday morning, we will attend a little Swedish Christmas fair in Montclair, New Jersey, as we have every year since our children were very little. You can read more about it here, in a post written in 2007. These lovely ladies dressed in authentic costume come out to greet us at the beginning of the event, and it is just a so fun time for us. It always puts me in the spirit of the holidays.
           This week, I have been surprisingly reflective on the closing of my store, Black Eyed Susan's kitchen. It has been several years now, and I always thought that in time, I would detach and forget all about it...however, I am finding my feelings are quite bittersweet right now, as the sign says. I thought, perhaps, you might like to see a little of what Black Eyed Susan's Kitchen looked like, so here are some pictures. The front window was a favorite display area...especially at holiday time. Imagine, a pink shiny brite wreath in the window, backed by twinkling lights...it was magical. The store consisted of three rooms. In the front room there was a hutch full of bags made by Suzy and Beth. There was also this hand painted, vintage black hutch which now resides in a local century home. I always stocked a mixture of vintage tableware (milk glass, silver, aluminum, dishware) and new items made by vendors like Two's Company. The back room was filled with vintage linens.  Lots of vintage linens, and hand painted signs. One of the original artists to supply the store with signs was Carolee Clark. To say that her signs were a favorite of my customers would be an understatement. I sold handmade pottery, and there was always a corner reserved for pink. It made me smile when I would hear someone walk in the front door, focus on the pink corner and let out a loud sigh.  It was the type of place that would have made me happy, and I thought others would love it as well...and they did. A month does not go by when someone will come up to me at the local market, or on the street, or most recently in my doctors office, and tell me how much they miss my store. My answer is always the same...I do too...especially at this time of year. Like everything else, this feeling of nostalgia will pass, and I will move on to other projects. After all, the "what once was" is what makes us who we are today.
       Thank you for indulging my bittersweet moment, and now it will be time to get on with the holiday decorating and festivities. Melissa at The Inspired Room is having a Holiday Linky party on Friday's. Go over and see how others get into the holiday spirit.

♥, Susan  

 
 

 


 

 
   

Comments

[Janmary, N Ireland]

Thanks for sharing.

How I would love to be "let loose" in your shop - so full of gorgeousness!

[Brenda Kula]

What a beautiful, whimsical and cozy place you had! Ah, but the beat goes on, doesn't it? I can see how it would be bittersweet. How you must miss it and your customers. Now you have us. Don't know if we're nearly as entertaining. But we sure do try!
Brenda

[Greenearth]

Can absolutely understand your feelings. It looks such a beautiful place to be or to visit.

[barbara]

No wonder you and your customers miss the store - it's really beautiful. I could move right into that room filled with linens.

[Rhondi]

Hi Susan
Your shop looks like it was fabulous. I can understand your missing it. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Hugs, Rhondi

[Jenna Ericson]

I miss the store, too. :( I miss walking there after I got out of school and going to the coffee shop for iced tea or steamers.

Oh well. Like you said, "what once was"....

[Pat]

Susan you store looked like the kind of place I would have loved to shop in! So many wonderful things to look at and buy. I'd want some of those pretty signs and some of the teacups and saucers. It may be over now, but at least you once realized the dream, and that will always be something you can tresure.
Hugs, Pat

[Barbara Jean]

oh so sweet.

a beautiful store and wish i could visit.

blessings

barbara jean

[jenny]

Well, if it wasn't for Black Eyed Susan's (and you, of course) I don't know if I would have ventured back into the "working world"! Not that going to put my time in at the store felt like work...especially since you made it so easy to still care for my kids- like when Allison would come in so that I could French braid her hair before she headed back to school for the evening basketball games-
Just being in that store with all those lovely items- yes the pinks!!!- was like a vacation in a fantasy world! I know I miss the store, but I have some great belongings now, as a result. One of my favorites still, is the sign- "It's a Wonderful Life" that you gifted to me.

[karla nathan]

Your store was so pretty, I can see why you miss it! And I sure understand, I used to do a monthly shop in my studio, and still get people asking about it. I miss the store, but not all the hours and hours I had to pour into it.

[georgiapeachez]

*sigh*

xo, suzy

[Fifi Flowers]

FAB store!

[laura @ the shorehouse]

Oh my gosh!! This is the first time I'm seeing your store. Wow. WOW. I can see why you miss it. If you ever decide to make a comeback...Ocean Grove would eat this up! (And I would volunteer a shift or two in exchange for a friends and family discount. ;-)