Bittersweet and the little soap company

rubber stamps

I have this thing for rubber stamps. The other day while in the crafts shop I spotted this little rabbit stamp. Then as I stood steady as a statue grazing at the assortment of stamps this one stood out also. No, not a misspelled word. I must have stood there for at least 5 minutes. The stamps are huddled up next to one another making it hard to see.

Stamps are  cost effective and add spice to your designs.

Bittersweet uses both stamps and labels on or merchandise bags and packaging.

For many years and when Bittersweet was just starting I became a frequent customer at our local family owned print shop. Most of the time my visits were to discuss transferring a design into make a custom stamp. Ramona and Richard the owners of the print shop always far exceeded my expectations with their print work. Unfortnutely the third generation print shop could no longer compete with the strip mall office supply stores.

It was very sad when they closed their doors. I could go on, but it will make me sad to talk about it.

The process is to create a stamp is quite simple.

First, you must choose a design.

Then you add your type.

Print the finished design onto a piece of paper along with the exact measurements in which you wish the stamp to be.  That's it! Both you and the stamp design are ready to roll. No pun intended. The design above was used to create this stamp. Then you will need to decide whether you want a self ink stamp or an old fashioned one that you blot with ink yourself. I prefer the latter.

 
I've also found it to be easier to start with a black and white design. You can change any design however to a black and white.

I'm moving in fast gear! Oodles of things to do before the re-opening of the studio on Saturday.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Lavender Boutique

I spent the evening in the boutique,studio sprucing up a bit and adding the new Bittersweets. Fresh bundles of lavender surrounded me as I worked.

A small re-do with the lavender dryer sachets. I wasn't happy with the font. Then when I went to place the old font back it had vanished! No biggy a quick download off the Internet of the Fifth Avenue font and we're back in business.

Did you know you could get fonts from the Internet? That seems to be a good font resource site.  I've always had this thing for pretty fonts. I have a large font library. I'm always on the hunt for the perfect font to use in clients design work. It's nice to have several to choose from. Funny, most I can name by seeing them. When I watch commercials or movie titles, credits,  I am most interested in the type of font they chose.   The topic of fonts... I could go on and on how important they are with your work! I've been using Fifth Avenue font for many years.  It's the font I chose to have put on our woven labels.  That's a great company to work with if you're in the need for labels for your handmade items. I've been using them for years. Tell Eric I sent you if you order! Very nice man...

 

Low evening light as I shot this picture of the lavender boutique.

As I was organizing and adding the new items I began to realize just how many lavender Bittersweets there were!

I love that!

Bittersweet Boutique awakens from it's winter somme. It opens again on Saturday. This week will be crazy busy! The soap wrack is almost completely empty and the New Bittersweet prototypes await the production of many more duplicates. This time of year our home resembles a factory. Little work piles here and there.

Guess what? I need to make more Marula Smoothie! It's on my to-do list first thing this morning.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)  

lavender l♥ve

A valentine infused with lavender l♥ve could never disappoint even the most fastidious of valentine.

Every year about this time I take a close look at all of the Bittersweet designs. I dig really deep in my design thoughts and ponder ideas like, does the label font match the style represented in the rest of the packaging? Should this sachet have a little something else? Would this soap packaging appeal to a variety of customers? The list goes on and on and in fact becomes even longer when new products are created. 

Often times a supplier discontinues a certain item. Bittersweet is then forced to find an alternative. The job of searching for the perfect replacement can sometimes be a daunting task and I can be on the phone or searching the Internet for long period of time.  That ones to long, this ones too short, kind of back and forth. No fun! 

Case in point.

Sometimes I've found it's simply best to not make any changes while other times, an added accessory, a font re-do or a different colored ribbon seems to be the perfect modification. 

 
Just a few little changes made on the lavender dryer sachets. The muslin bag is smaller, but inside an extra sachet is included. A product hang tag with directions is attached and even though redundant, a bittersweet label inserted on the side of the bag.  
That picture is a prototype. Which means, the look that you see, could change. In fact, as I'm taking a closer look at the picture of the sachet I'm seeing a few alterations are needed.

A couple of days ago I received the most loveliest of letters from a customer, friend.

I hope she doesn't mind that I share the letter.

Jill~ Your wonderful package arrived yesterday, just as my granddaughter and I were getting ready to leave. She spent the night and we were packed up, dolls, bags and goodies in our arms and ready to load the car for the nearly hour-long drive back to her home. She was curious about the box left at the door, and my joyful reaction at it's presence! So naturally we dropped everything to see what was inside! Madelynn is a precocious just-turned 7 year old and had lots of questions about each and every item you shipped! She recognized the snow-berry bundle (her Mom is the photographer) but was particularly intrigued by the strawberry sachet you included, which I gave to her to take home. On the long drive home, she occasionally took a long deep breath, inhaling the lavender aroma and exclaiming how 'relaxed and happy it made her feel! I LOVE the Marula Smoothie!!! My skin has been so dry lately, thanks to our cool and dry Arizona atmosphere. My fingers and heels have been painfully cracked and dry of late, and they are already showing signs of healing just from a day of use! Thanks again Jill, your packages are such a joy! Teri

What joy Teri you've brought to my heart with this letter.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Wamly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

 

bébé is back...

Bittersweets gentle pH tested baby savon is back!

After a brief intermission we're scurrying to get our tried and true soaps returned to our web site. 
Bébé savon is wrapped in sweet vintage children's books.

Next on the to-do list... the return no. 2 of our aromatic savon,  House Blend or as we reference, Mélange de Chambre.  Our signature Bittersweet savon, infused with sweet orange, patchouli and vanilla, a delightfully wonderful fragrance combination.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

Sachets made from vintage cloth

There's something soulfully sweet about a sachet made from vintage cloth.

As I sew the tattered trim or old embroidery onto a lavender sachet  I'm gently reminded of how it was once held in another woman's hands. I can't help but ponder what her thoughts and ideas were as she was creating.  Did she get excited as I do when working on a new piece? Was she thinking how pretty the article would be once worn or displayed in her home just as I do today? So many more thoughts roll through my head. How soulfully sweet I'm thinking that in this day of fast and immediate satisfaction something of slow continues to  present warm and eloquent feelings of content.

Then there's the thought of how having those feelings never die. 

The live on and on through each creation.

I can remember the mood that was felt, the goings on of the day and even the weather outside as I think of the many things made over the years.

Thoughts like sitting on Julie's big wrap around porch on a hot summer day sewing little round circles on yo-yo's as I waited for Patrick to finish his farmers market work on the square.    

Crocheting hats as customers entered my boutique. Anxiously awaiting the last stitch of each hat so that I could display the new hat in the shop. Then I anticipated that special person to reach for the hat and fall in hat love. 

Soulful handmade thoughts continue as I fondly recall the handmade preperations I made before opening my shop. The transportation of my sewing machine to the new shop seemed only natural as I was on a restricted shop opening budget. So I began measuring and sewing muslin curtains for the windows. I remember there were three large windows. I can also remember how good it felt to sew the last hem on the third curtain. It meant I was getting closer to opening the shop! An occasional curious passer by would gaze through the window. I remember smiling and saying hello.  

Isn't it wonderful how those simple moments become treasured memories?

I feel blessed to have such memories.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

Therapy for Jill

Things are moving pretty fast around here! Isn't it January? Well I guess almost gone and Miss February arrives. Sometimes time is not on my side. Do you know what I mean?

Didn't you find the topic of media kits interesting? So funny, years ago when Bittersweet was first born talk of media kits and sales reps and publists seemed all so familiar and automatic. Nowadays it feels almost "out of sight, out of mind." Not hard to do when you manage, manufacture and operate a  business with one employee, I believe. It could easily be a full time job keeping up with Joneses. In the world of business and advertising, marketing, I'm afraid the popular phrase is an important key in advancing and growing any business.

Boy, it's hard to learn things the hard way sometime and oh how I wish I would have went to college! I was too busy being a hippie, ha, ha! No regrets, loved every minute of it. Being a hippie that is.

I have a secret I've been keeping for awhile. Still a secret, because I feel if I disclose the information it will jinx it. Just a little while longer sweet, and I'll announce my secret.

I almost forgot the important reason for this post! You see what I mean?

The Marula Smoothie is back! I'm excited to have this wonderful unique therapeutic aromatic healing moisturizer. Oh baby, I could go on and on with descriptive words when describing this Bittersweet!

It was a cold windy day when I took this product shot. So the picture is not so jiffy sweet. I went back and forth designing the label. I am happy with the final design. It seemed to be a difficult task to create a label that does the creme justice!

I spent the afternoon emailing and phoning customers that were on a waiting list for this wonderful product. Then the evening was spent filling orders for the marula smoothie. Thank you to both my studio customers and Internet customers. This is the first time I've listed the creme on the web shop. I had run out quickly at the studio and could not keep it in stock! You see, and I love this old quirky idiom, "the proof is in the pudding!" Yep!

The marula smoothie is now my dads favorite Bittersweet. M.J. said he as being a bit stingy with his jar of  creme and would not share! One of the perks of being part of the Bittersweet family, oodles of skin care delivered to your front door! H'm does that sound familiar? ?09*? lady calling! Do you remember those commercials?

There you have it. The latest Bittersweet goings on. Well, the exception of the secret.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)

 

 

Media Kits for your business or blog

I've been researching some blog related topics the past few days.

The research has been spent pondering the ins and outs of having a media kit for your blog or business.

After reading more than several articles on the subject of media kits I decided Bittersweet should indeed have one in their possession. In fact, after reading the numerous articles it seems we're long overdue.

I can best describe a media kit by referring it to a resume for your blog or business.

In the olden days before Internet a media kit consisted of a handy file folder that was neatly filled with a companys bio or information along with a business card and contact information. Nowadays an electronic media kit better fits the times.

How do you know if you need one?

Good question. If you own and manage a small cottage business like myself chances are you would benifit by having one.

If you're interested in offering advertising on your blog, you need one too. A blog media kit contains different information than a business one. You will need to include your advertising rates, page hits, social network resources, etc.

I believe a person with both a blog and business should possibly have more than one media kit. 

You will need a media kit if you're interested in finding a publisher or have a desire to have your work published in a magazine. At least you'll be ahead of the crowd if you have a media kit.

As you can see by the Bittersweet media kit example it's really no biggy.

A short bio about your company or blog, contact information and anything else you feel would be an easy read for a first time reader.

 Do you have a media kit?

What's your take on the subject?

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one) 

 

D by D

New graphics how exciting! Bittersweet banners change as fast as you can say "Jiminy Cricket!"

Heat pillows are back at Bittersweet! We had a slow down in production while pondering some packaging updates and changes. I believe we have it! Once again the snuggle bunnies are listed on our web site!

Over the years while designing and creating one question always comes to mind. Is the finished item defined by its design or could it be the opposite and the definition defines the object? Both. Obviously when you create something you want people to know what it's used for, right?  Hopefully within the first few seconds is always good. That's where labeling and packaging come in.

An interesting debate.  I'm sure marketing folks all over the world ask themselves the same question all the time.

Anyway, I've received several emails requesting the return of the heat pillow. 

Our heat pillows, yes we each have one, gets lots of use during the winter months. In the olden days the pillows were used to warm beds. That's how we use ours. More often than not we've fought over who's heat pillow gets warmed first!

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Tomorrow is my dads birthday!

For the past 52 years I've been blessed and privileged to call  him my dad. 

bless·ed  (blsd) also blest (blst)

 Bringing happiness, pleasure, or contentment.

priv·i·leged/ˈpriv(ə)lijd/

Adjective:

Having special rights, advantages, or immunities. They say we learn by example. I had the best teacher in the world! Always fair, compassionate, unselfish, devoted , honest, dependable, smart and kind hearted. Those are just a few words off the top of my head. It comes naturally for me to use those words to describe him.  My dad A man of integrity with a compassionate heart not a selfish bone in his body his teachings far exceeded right from wrong His cup over fills with tender loving care that sometimes went unnoticed only to return at the most appropriate time They say we learn by example How lucky I am to have you for my dad Thank you God. Words cannot describe my feelings dad, not really. There just aren't enough of them!  Happy Birthday! M.J. is hosting a birthday brunch this morning. I made blueberry muffins. Enjoy caring and sharing days. Warmly, Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one, especially for my dad)

Creating

Little stacks like this one completely cover our dining room table.

The beginning of a Bittersweet...

Winter ushers in baking, cooking and creating around here.

A wondrous simple life. I can best describe the feeling with one word. Content.

 For some would be bored with such a lifestyle.

Not me!

If you live on my side of the pond then you know it's COLD!

I'm craving comfort foods.
Going to make this.

I hope you're having a peaceful January weekend.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

oopsy daisy and baby's breath

Did you happen to notice the missing oopsy b? I guess once again I've probably got too much going on. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Don't you love baby's breath? I remember as a kid my mom had a large dried bouquet sitting in a gathering basket in her dining room. When I got older and had my own home I grew some in a garden and dried it myself. It's truly one of the easiest flowers to dry. Right up there with straw flowers and hydrangeas.

Last year I purchased a hanging basket with established pink baby's breath. I've grown the pink variety also. It seems to be a bit more temper-mental than the white. If you add a touch of lime to the plants soil it will flourish. 

This coming spring I believe I'll plant some flowers for drying. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

Statice

Straw Flowers

Baby's Breath

Lavender

Hydrangeas

Artemsia

Roses

I really would like to make a few of these. 

I'm also wanting to create hostess gift seed packets filled with the gathered dried flower heads I picked last fall. You may remember a few posts ago at Calico Petals, "flowers as seeds."

I like the idea of a cloth pouch to hold the seeds and I envision butterfly images somewhere in the packaging.

 I like this idee. 

Here's a link to the clever idea blog. 

Although my plate is full as usual, simple joy comes from it all. 

Enjoy creative caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

 

Bringing back the pink and white

With Valentine's day fast approaching so does pondering thoughts of Bittersweet's wrapped in hues of pink and white.

As I wonder through the archives I can't help but notice the number of Bittersweet once was creations adorned in the soft color couple. 

I'm really feeling it now!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

slow winter motion

I'm always moving in slow motion this time of year. I yearn for January to slow her days to accomodate the busy winter manufacturing that goes on at Bittersweet this time of year, but that never happens.

  I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the winter production schedule, but having said that, I also love the newness it brings and it would not change it for the world. It wouldn't be the same without the hustle and bustle of winter manufacturing. I've been doing it now for 15 years! 

  It's always a thrill to ponder thoughts of spring during the dead of winter. Especially on my side of the pond where it's usually a cold snowy winter. This winter has been the exception to that rule. Mild and almost baumy days with little or now precip this winter has allowed me to continue to take product shots outdoors. Lately needing to shoot fast in between the cold fronts arriving once a week or so.

The lavender liniment is back! I must confess. I had no idea it was not listed on the web site! Sometimes that happens. After filling jars with the lavender infused liniment I scurried over thinking I'd add the fresh inventory back on the web site only to see it was never listed. In addition to adding it to the site, it also received a makeover! Amber colored glass jars replace the cobalt plastic ones from before.

Please excuse me while going on and on about the liniment all the time it was not available. Please next time I do that, sure there will be a next time, tell me!

If you're interested in the liniment you can find it listed here.  

I believe there have been four new Bittersweets added to the shop. (1) Lavender Liniment (2) Paquets Savon (3) Friendship Soap (4) French Lavender Sacs. I've also re-stocked snow-berries and lavender bundles.

There you have the Bittersweet slow-down.

Happy slow winter motion continues around here.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none) 

Valentine Sweet

Isn't this the sweetest little embroidery pouch? I discovered the pattern here.  I'm fond of the materials used to make this piece and even more fond of the embroidery design. The lavender embroidery and the tiny pearl buttons add to my fondness. Inside, completely adorable!

Do you like the banner? You know how I can't settle on one look, right? In the weeks to come Bittersweet banners will change from time to time. I'm experimenting with a variety of banner styles, hoping not to get stuck with one particular look.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

an oldie but a goodie...

Chocolate crinkle cookies have been around for a long time. Even though Christmas is over I'm having lingering sweet thoughts about this simple little chocolate cookie.

After making a fresh batch of liniment and face creme I'm making a couple dozen or so of the crinkles.

Baking seems to evoke a warm toasty atmosphere throughout the winter months.

So lets stoke the wood stove and bake some of those cocoa delights!

Most of the chocolate crinkle recipes are the same. I'm using this one.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter day.

Warmly,

Jill (two hugs are better than one)

 

Decoration by nature

Do you change your home with the seasons? I tend to. In the spring and summer I bring in fresh flowers and change out the animal print and earth tone colored pillows with lighter softer ones. I'm always amazed how just a couple simple inexpensive changes can bring new life to a room.

If you've been reading Bittersweet for awhile then you already know how my decorating ideas are usually taken from nature.

A huge bowl of green apples, a gathering of pine cones or dried hydrangeas serve as one of my favorite focal points when decorating a room.

This is my winter fireplace mantle. Snow-berries, pine cones and a turtle shell Patrick found in the woods when he was a little boy. The turtle shell is a favorite. Some people might be freaked out by the empty shell, but I believe it's a rare and unique piece. It has special meaning too, since Patrick carried  it home that day from a hike in the woods. Botanical or butterfly prints are also a favorite of mine.

We each have our unique form of decorating a room that's what makes it special.

I believe it doesn't matter how you style a room. I also believe your space should reflect you. It doesn't matter if others don't like the look, as long you like it! After all it's your home. Your home should be considered an oasis. A place to relax and feel comfy in.  Whether that be a tiny space or a grand one.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one) 

Fresh thoughts...

The studio will soon be filling up with FRESH new product. This is the entrance into the working part of Bittersweet. The room is used for a soap curing area as well as a manufacturing supply room. I have one closet in the room. You may remember last year about this time I transformed the small closet from a storage area to a practical space for storing all the paper items I use on a regular basis.

It felt good to utilize the closet as a working part of the rest of the room. Before it was kind of a wasted space as it stored items that I very seldom used. A surplus of quilts and blankets, some books, a few winter coats. A real mod pod ge of items that when organized and sorted served much more efficiently than before when in the open once a year closet.

So if you have a closet that you feel could be more functional as something else besides a catch all I highly encourage you to go for it!

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

Ringin in...

Continuing to ring in the New Year with some old/new Bittersweets.

What was old is now new again!

You may remember the paquets.

Working on and creating a wardrobe of black and white wraps and botanical blooming packaging.

Sometimes it feels really good to bring back the oldies. 

Fresh Lavender Liniment getting a makeover too! Working on that today.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

French Lavender Sac

I mentioned a few posts ago how lavender was being incorporated into some new Bittersweet designs.

The French Lavender Sacs have been embellished with vintage trims and filled with a fat bundle of the fresh herb.

I instantly fell in love with the old French label.

Another busy week ahead. Soap manufacturing continues as does the process of creating new designs and Bittersweets. It's my favorite time of year next to Christmas!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one

Strawberry Cake you say?

Yesterday I took a break from Bittersweet to make this yummy cake.

Not only was it tasty, but it's a pretty cake too!

I used fresh strawberries in the icing rather than frozen. I cut and sliced a dozen or so berries and sprinkled them with a Tablespoon of sugar and allowed them to sit a spell. Then I added them to the icing recipe.

I have tried more than several strawberry cake recipes. This one is by far the best I think. Usually all of the cakes I make are from scratch. However, if a recipe calls for a white cake mix, I generally skip the homemade process as it seems white cake doesn't seem so boxy tasting.

Click here for the recipe.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)