Black Eyed Susan's Kitchen

A LITTLE VINTAGE WHIMSY AND A LOT OF SERIOUS ANTIQUES

                   How tempting is the name Tweedle Dee antiques and such?

 

How about the name Muddy Puddles? I know this sign had my attention and my imagination working full blast. In an antique house turned store on River Road (the main street in Fair Haven, NJ) the Kent-Hower family has opened a new shop full of old...antique and vintage furnishings for you home, your wardrobe, your collections, and your imagination.

At their grand opening last week I took a few photos (many, many photos) so that you too can see some of the wonderfulness that is this new store.

Because I am a Magpie, I will start off with a montage of silver...so much silver. Looking for antique napkin holders? How about asparagus servers? A stunning silver urn? Maybe just a lovely antique filigree frame for a favorite photo? 

Then there is the beautiful dishware...Limoge porcelain, vintage china, lovely little nut dishes, and even some beautifully hand painted tea tiles. 

Oh, but there is so much more! A mixture of vintage, collectible, and serious jewelry and so many heart stoppingly beautiful purses. The black patent leather  hand-bags just speak to me on an Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelley, classic beauty level. 

This store has so much for everyone...

The entire house is dedicated to and stocked with everything and anything that you can imagine you might want in your own home. There is a lovely parlor with a beautiful fireplace, a kitchen full of vintage collectibles, a fully stocked library with antique bookcases full of books and then there is a little surprise of a closet, fitted with every kind of finding, fabric, or sewing item that time has not forgotten here.

Where else can you find a lovely vintage glass bowl filled with mother of pearl buttons...

And, this is where that sense of whimsy really comes in...the mother of pearl buttons can be scooped up with a pair of silver scallop shells. Walking through this store slowly to pick up on these little nods to the past is what it is all about. 

It is pretty much impossible to not find a treasure in Tweedle Dee.

Whether you imagine yourself in turn of the century surroundings, or conjure a picture of your life as a 1950's housewife who vacuums the floors in her high heels and pearls, you can find a vignette to feed that fantasy here.

If you like to take your time looking through antique books or vintage postcards, the library will be your cozier nook.

And of course, if you know Laura Kent-Hower's business history, then you know that you will always find the best antique linens for your dining room and your bedroom.

If all of this isn't enough to entice you to plan a trip to this new shop, I hear that the back room of Muddy Puddles has some special plans of it's own. Maybe a little lecture about vintage hammered aluminum might be in the works...I will keep you posted.

This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

♥, Susan

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMER TIME

                On a beautiful summer night at the boardwalk in Asbury Park New Jersey...

We had one of those just for fun date nights. Did we walk hand in hand along the board walk...not really. We went to see the Jersey Shore Roller Girls in action. 

They were playing against the Green Mountain Derby Dames...girls from a state that we spend quite a bit of time in. There was a lot of blocking and jamming and a bit of falling down, but there was no blood-shed. 

I can't wait to see them play again next month...and if it's a nice night out, well, maybe a romantic walk on the boardwalk will happen too.

♥, Susan

THE CITYCATION

            Oh summer time! It is truthfully my least favorite season. Once upon a time this statement would have been different, but the problem with summer is that it is too hot and too sunny for me. That said, we like to enjoy a vacation maybe a little different than the people who visit the Jersey Shore...where we live. The shore actually becomes ours again after September.

We have been visiting some of the eastern seaboards most exciting cities. In Philadelphia we went to the Museum of Art...one of my most favorite places on this earth. The third floor of this museum is a world of surprises...with the goddess Diana welcoming you to the giant staircase, we went to see the paintings, ancient armor, and architecture.

For a woman who took silver smithing classes at the Craft Students League in Manhattan for two years, this particular exhibit was just awesome. You can see my "ghost" in the photos of the silver mail that the knights wore. I could have spent the entire day here!

That the artists and craftsmen poured their hearts and souls into their work. That there are preservationists in our world who realized how important it was to save this...well I am ever grateful. My opinion...art without passion is craft. Ancient art that evokes passion in others...that is a gift to humanity.

We also made our way to the Reading Terminal Market on Market Street. I was honestly so enchanted by the place that I didn't think to pull out my camera to take pictures. I have been here before...but never mid-week when everything was open. The place is so authentic and gritty. It was so busy and there was such a strong current of energy running through that I was caught up in the moment. 

We segued on our citycation  to New York City where we had lunch at Eataly.

It was also very busy and we heard many new languages and accents while we were there. Many people in the market and restaurants were speaking Italian. 

The meal was wonderful...delicious, and the atmosphere was soothing. The service was just impeccable! 

After a few days visiting the cities I love with the person I love, I feel much more centered. My heart and soul feel refueled and hopefully, I will be ready to start writing more often. That really is what a vacation is for...isn't it?

This post is being linked to Mary's Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Smiling Sally for Blue Monday,and The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday's.

♥, Susan