Bittersweet and the little soap company

homey

It's true. I'm a homey. I love working on our house and piddling around here in there. Last weekend Lennis and I washed windows and finished painting the south side of our home. We planted flowers and have started cutting down our pussy willow. Poor little tree didn't survive last summers drought. On a good note... A little pussy willow tree is growing next to the dead one. They grow really fast. When I was growing up mom had pussy willows in her garden. I remember picking off the fuzzy little blossoms and rubbing them on my face. I also thought the name was cool. Not sure how it got that name, but is always seemed an appropriate name. If you're thinking of growing one, they're super easy. You can root them in water. Dig a deep hole for the roots. I'd say three times deeper than the plant. My mom used to say her dad taught her that. Having seen how well our little seedling thrived over the years I'd say she was right. I can still remember when Lennis dug the extra deep hole. My mom was instructing him and I remember being amazed on how deep we dug. If I were a kid, I'd be thinking we were diggin to China! Only leave the tip of the tree sticking out or a couple of inches. 

It feels spring nice to finally have some extra time to start making outdoor home improvements. In addition to home work I'll soon be starting summer soap manufacturing. Not far behind will be autumn and holiday batches. Yes, I know it seems early. Trust me, it's not! Remember Bittersweet soap has to cure for a couple of months before you can slap on those rich suds! 

For now though I'm enjoying time spent around the house. 

This old house is more than a home. It's a soap and skin care manufacturing plant, a supply warehouse, fabric shop, post office, shipping and receiving as well as laundry facility, bakery and dining establishment, botanical club headquarters, herb apothecary, etc. It's my adobe! Home is where the heart is. 

I'm having some creative blocking lately. It happens... This is the first time since I opened the shop though that I've experienced it. Not sure where it comes from. It's a lonely place that I'm not fond of. However, I've learned to go with the flow don't push or rush. Simply take a deep breath and wait for it to return. That's when home life happily fills in the gap. 

Creative flow may return today as I've been invited to a dear friends house to go through her fifty year old fabric stash. She wants to share the textiles with me. You may recall me talking about Evalyn. She was my neighbors nanny for many years. We first met standing, waiting for the school bus to arrive. Patrick is the same age as my neighbors children. Each morning we'd stand and talk while waiting for the school-bus. Our conversations varied from world problems to what's for dinner. All of which we always had the answer and really didn't understand the confusion. Great minds think alike, I thought, think! 

I'm hanging our sheets and pillowcases on the clothes line today. There's no better feeling than to lay your body on fresh clean outdoor dried sheets and pillow cases. No better feeling...

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Wamly,

Jill 00

 

 

plus belle fleurs

I love flowers!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Peace...

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.  My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.  The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.  ~Abram L. Urban

Last summers garden pictures remind me of how much I love summer. The old fashioned bachelor buttons, nasturtiums, forget me not, brown eye susan, herbs and shasta daisy's evoke sweet garden memories with only a tiny thought. My spring garden an interlude. Soon, seeds shall sprout. Vines will climb and blossoms will pucker!Those thoughts are pleasant and soulful. Summer will be singing her colorful song. Peace in the garden. I can't think of a more tranquil thought. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

bakery style cookies

I've been mildly obsessed with these bakery style chocolate chip cookie lately. You know, the big fat cookies you find at your favorite bakery. I usually break the cookie in half and share with Lennis, but there has been several occasions that I eat the entire baked treat all by myself! I've also been experimenting with different recipes attempting to discover a stand out chocolate chip cookie receipt. My cookie recipe exploration has brought me to an interesting conclusion. It doesn't matter what recipe you use. In fact, I would suggest making your favorite. The key to making this cookie is the amount of dough used. You will need to use 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie. Flatten the dough mound a bit too. That's the secret to making bakery style cookies. I like to wrap each cookie individually after they cool, but I'm also finding that my family doesn't wait that long and they're gobbled up shortly after they're taken out of the oven. 

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 sticks (1 cup) softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 2 3/4 cup all purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper.
2. In stand mixer, cream your butter and sugars for a good 3 minutes. Will be light and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until well combined.
3. In a large bowl stir together your flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Slowly add to your wet ingredients along with your chocolate chips until just combined. With a giant cookie scoop or a heaping 1/4 cup scoop dough onto your prepared baking sheet fitting only about 5 cookies per sheet. Press each cookie down to about 1/2 inch thick before baking. Bake for 13-16 minutes, until cookies are baked through and edges golden. Remove and let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring. Place on cooling rack to finish cooling. Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container.

Makes 10-15 bakery style cookies

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

outdoor

We're finally getting our home sweet home painted! I'm afraid to tell you how many years it's been since we first started planning the home improvement. I say we, it should read LENNIS is painting the house. It makes me nervous to see him on the handmade paint post. That's not the tall side of our house. The north side is around forty feet! We're going to rent some sort of lift for the front side. We need to make some repairs to a hard to get to and work and re-do a front dormer. Lennis replaced the window frames a few years ago and we also got new storms and roof. Having lived in the home for almost twenty-five years and replaced all that stuff then, it's time once again to begin another replacement on almost everything. I could never move! This old house has always felt like home to me. Especially the yard. We have an extra large back yard. We've planted a Ginkgo tree, pussy willow, red buds, hydrangea, white pines, peonies, roses, and a variety of herbs and such. 

It's not the perfect home by any means. Only one bathroom! No garage. Funny how those two things would make or break a home sale nowadays. Does not mean a hill of beans to me! I'm happy as a pie with this home. What's that old fashioned saying I love to hear. "Home is where the heart is." My heart is definitely wrapped around this home. 

I'm planting today! Normally and when we experience a NORMAL spring planting has already been mostly complete. However, we have not had a normal spring. It's been extremely cold. We broke a one-hundred year record a week or so ago with unusual cold temperatures and SNOW. 

I keep picking up little starter plants. My nasturtiums seeds are at the shop. The seeds were part of a hostess gift during the recent May day celebration. 

I'm all caught up at the shop! Haven't been caught up since February when I moved in. So I'm excited about that. A few things on my Bittersweet list, but mostly the shelves are filled with fresh everything. 

I got up early yesterday and hiked the nature center. That place is divine! As I was walking in I noticed a "no mushroom hunting sign." (cont.) then, a cute boxer turtle basking in the sun, a momma quail, (thinking she had babies near by), a bubbling creek that you can walk across, and dare I say,,,, I found two mushrooms! Giant ones! Anyone that knows me would know without a doubt, those two lonely mushrooms would be picked! After all, what's the point if they just sit there and dry up and nobody eats them? I hid the mushrooms inside my t-shirt and casually made every attempt to not be noticed as I walked  back to the car! Now they're soaking in salt water. If you've never mushroom hunted before, that's what you do with the delicacy rooms. Cut them in half first. Each family member will have a taste. 

Spending the entire day outdoors. It's finally warmed up and beautiful. I'm going to plant seeds today. Mess around in the garden. A relaxing day planned. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

happy M day

Floral aprons, everlasting star flowers, fat bundles of lavender, garden herbs, olive oil savon, moisture rich essentials, and things made from linen. I ♥ this little shop!

I'm making room for new Bittersweets! Some new Bittersweet idees floating around. Some of which keep me awake at night. You know the feeling, I know.  Thoughts of linen and lavender along with warm summer cricket chirping twilight as the moon flower petals debut their summer showing. It's time to plant the nasturtiums and moon flowers! Summer is coming and creativity is blooming!

Happy Mother's day! (early) I hope you enjoy a delightful day. I was talking with a customer yesterday about being a mom. We had a delightful conversation. She was a school teacher. Everyone has a story. Sometimes I wish to know each and every story behind every single person. Impossible I know, but it would be soul fulfilling.  

The other day a customer purchased one of my hand made journals. She told me that her ninety-two year old aunt had journal ed every single day since she was a little girl. She has the journals! Can you imagine reading them? I suggested that she start a blog from the journals. I made the comment about how 365 days of writing for 80 something years would make for a worthy blog.  

You see how wonderful it all is? 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

shop talk

Blogging from the shop today. That pink floral pinnie freshly made and some Vanilla Lavender Sugar Scrub in the house. Our spring weather has finally arrived! Thinking of moving Matty outdoors and sitting her on the porch. Sewing outdoors surely has some benefits. Don't you think? 

My brother called the other day and said he'd found some mushrooms! 

Busy day at the shop... Mother's day is coming!

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

over the hill, and through the woods....

Even though it was cold and rainy and not so great weather for an outdoor flea market Julie and I headed over the hill and through the woods Sunday to the annual event in Sparks Kansas. The outdoor market is similar to the one held in Round Top Texas, Shh... We don't really want city folks to know about this show. Although, they published an article in the Kansas City Star recently and woo-la, they traveled afar, even braved the snow and freezing temperatures on Thursday, so I heard anyway. 

Which brings me to my next topic...

This show runs Thursday - Sunday. Antique proprietors or other shop owners like myself usually come early on Wednesday while the vendors are setting up. Not fair! They get all the good stuff! I'm kidding, kind of. What's that saying? Oh never mind. It doesn't really matter.

Hot topic continues... Yesterday I overheard a girl saying to a vendor. I own a second hand shop and was hoping since this is the last day of the show you would want to let go of stuff cheap. Having been and worked and experienced both sides of that road I'm a bit biased with my thoughts. I could tell it offended the dealer. She seemed to be unaware she had placed him in an uncomfortable spot. I watched as she walked over to the next vendor and asked her the same question. Amazing what you notice at these shows!

On the other hand.... Miss Jill with a vendor. "Will you take $20 bucks for this?" Vendor, "how about $22?" That's fair, yes, I reply. Then we go to pay... I hand him a hundred dollar bill and say, I can write a check if you don't have change. He says, no, no, I have change and says, "how about an even $20 like you first asked?" No, no, I settled on $22, I will give you an extra two dollars. Now you see! You get a clear picture....Keep in mind, I'm the person at the auction that bids against themselves! No need to continue this discussion....

We had a great time. We ate tenderloins! Messy, mayonnaise dripping, fried tenderloins!!! I walked by food vendors that made kettle corn and deep fried pickles, funnel cakes. Everything was deep fried! I'm gonna tell you, that tenderloin was yummy! I ate every bite! It's kind of fun to indulge every now and then, especially during an outdoor antique show, right?

Bittersweet is headed into Summer, Fall production. I know, it seems way too early for autumn thoughts. You know how it is around here.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 

let's fix it!

I snatched this vintage medicine cabinet from Julies boutique a few days ago. You can't really see the cabinet since it's stuffed with Bittersweets, but if you were to switch sides you'd see the old mirror along with the glass knob. 

Matilda is helping to make me a happy shop owner. I love making things while at the shop. She's all moved in and sitting in a cozy nook in front of the window with my favorite Swiss dot curtains.

I can't get over how well Matty sews! The stitches are taut and she hums a little song as she sews.  A customer came in yesterday while I was sewing a pennie and he said, "you know back then everything was made to be fixed!" I stopped to think about his statement for a moment. He is absolutely right. Nowadays most everything that's busted is usually replaced. H'm...More appliances replaced, = more /'78? in our landfills. Not to mention more people replacing them. I won't get started!

Matty and I created another pink blossom pinnie! Isn't that a cute daisy dress? It's vintage and in perfect shape. Size 7, but I'm thinking sizes have changed since the seventy's! I would say it's a small seven. At any rate, it's divine! It would be darling to wear as a summer party dress. I would even wear it to prom! 

A neutral display. I'm kind of leaning towards them. I've also developed a fondness for ironstone. It looks so pretty sitting amongst the Bittersweet soap.

Busy day at the shop today. It's the first day of our farmers market! New Bittersweets have arrived and it's a beautiful day at the soap shop on water street.

Tomorrow Jules and I are headed to the annual flea market. We drove the distant last weekend to attend only to discover after we arrived we were a week early! My fault. Sorry Julie.... However, we had fun on our jaunt. The midwest offers unique antique shops. They're everywhere! Prices are good and you always find treasures. West coast and East coast boys and girls you should plan a midwest vintage shopping trip.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 

 

 

a winner!

Congratulations to Gretchen! She won the name this soap contest at the soap shop on water street. We announced the winner on our face book page.  I learned something during the research of the new soap name. I had no idee the word had an (r). Did you? Love the new soap name and I'm hoping to get it listed as a new soap on our web site soon. I have listed the aromatic Vanilla Lavender once again. Hurry, it goes quick. 

The shop is getting a mini-makeover. I'm making room for new Bittersweets! By the way, the old scale and the corset te box were a couple of my flea market finds. The corset te box got my attention. Can you tell what is is? I had no idea until I took a closer look. It's a vintage bread box painted cream. I guess by first glance the attraction was with the colors. The ecru French label and the particular shade of cream. I'm making more of the camisoles and I thought the unusual piece would be perfect for merchandising the new summer frocks. I'm kind of a freak for vintage scales. Very particular though in my choosing. They have to be the right color, size and the writing has to be a certain type. I come across tons of old scales, but few with that match my fastidious picking. 
A Bittersweet Wrap hangs from the wicker dress form. At least for now! I've mentioned how they're flying out the door, haven't I?

Matty is sitting on the new sewing table at the shop. I positioned her in front of the window seat. When it warms up, I'm taking her outside on the big porch. I would imagine no greater feeling than creating new Bittersweets amongst the fresh air and sunshine! I'll take some pictures and post them on our face book page. 

Wrapping soap.... The new vanilla lavender and sarsaparilla savon will be getting dressed today. I'm picking some pretty fabrics out so that I can make new Bittersweets. My textile thoughts include, summer shorts, camisoles, wide leg trousers, Gatsby hats, (like the one in the picture), and pinnie aprons. Oh and more wraps!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 

 

Happy May Day!

Good morning Miss May! I'm so happy you're here. Please come in and stay a spell. I shall pour you a cup of tea. 

This day always brings sweet happy memories from my childhood. My mom would gather little bouquets of flowers from her garden and arrange them in recycled tin cans dressed in pretty paper and ribbon. She would punch holes in the sides of the cans so that she could insert a ribbon for hanging the posies. Then we drove down the street of our small town to deliver the flowers to the lucky recipients. May day tradition calls for hanging the soulful gift on the door knob, and then running and waiting from afar to capture the moment. Mom did it a little different. I remember waiting and handing the May day baskets to the friend or neighbor. Then we would usually sit and visit for awhile.

My aunt G recalls her fond memories of May day. I also received a sweet letter from my aunt a few years ago. My great aunt Enid also encouraged and celebrated the first day of May. You may recall me talking about my talented great aunt. Do you remember the Enid Apron?

My aunt Glenna's letter...

Here is how your mom and I made the May Baskets at Aunt Enid's urging.  Use it however you will.  (The Russian government used to celebrate May Day during the Cold War, so I think that's why America stopped.  I'm glad you're reviving it.)  We used:

    - construction paper, any color folded like a paper drinking cup, pipe cleaners for handles, and these blossoms:  pink and white clover, wild violets, snippets of snow balls and lilacs, wild ox-eyed daisies, and if in bloom, the blossoms from apricot or plum tree, although of course apple or peach or pear would do fine.  So I'm not sure what your mom may have used, but sometimes the snow balls were in bloom too, and I definitely recall the lilacs and wild violets!   Your blog is wonderful!  Have fun.

Happy May Day,

Aunt Glenna

Happy May Day!

Enjoy a caring and sharing May day!

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

spruce

First I spruced up the shop now we're fluffing up the home sweet homestead. It's finally warming up, well at least yesterday and today and I'm feeling rather domestic. Most of you already know I'm a domestic chic anyway so when things need to be done I love to jump in and make improvements. The warm summer like days have motivated me to get some needed repairs and upgrades started. 

Let's go back... Speaking of DOMESTIC...

Remember the vintage 1925 Singer that I took to the shop?

I found this on Sunday while flea marketing with Jules. Lennis is making a top for it so that I can use it as a sewing table at the soap shop on water street. Julie and I found some other wonderful things and I'll share later this week. Some unusual and rare finds came up during our hunt.I would imagine the sewing table that was once attached to the old metal frame once looked like this. 

The bath wraps.... An update....

I am happier than a pie with your approval and fondness of the wraps! I make the wraps and take them to the shop and they disappear before the day is over! Happy, happy joy inside my little soul!  I imagine you can guess what I'll be making after I paint the shed deck.

 New soaps, and update... The Summer Fleur and Patchouli Tangerine are wrapped and ready for picking. The wonderful aromatic Vanilla Lavender follows and will be arriving tomorrow, hopefully wrapped. 

Name this soap! The contest ends tomorrow! I'll be picking a winner! I'll be honest, it is going to be difficult to choose a name. Everyone offered wonderful soap names. You're creative side shined for sure!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring, summer days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

The merry month of May

Photo album generated with Smilebox

that's why

Last week after I went to bed and had  fallen asleep I awoke during the night with an idea. Remember the bath tub ideas? Anyway, the idea centered around a bath wrap. You may recall those not so pretty terry cloth bath wraps that are on the market. Can you also tell that I really don't like them? Room for improvement, I thought. Hence, the cute calico terry bath wrap as seen above. This was the first one I made. No pattern needed. Simply cut a one and a half piece of terry and a matching size pretty cotton print of your choice. They have an elastic gathering at the top and easy breezy velcro for closing. On the second wrap prototype I added a ruffle! I LOVED the ruffled wrap! Yes, loved because it sold yesterday! I purchased a bolt of the pretty calico yesterday so that I can make more of the ruffled bath wraps. Coming soon....

The umbrella... Julie brought it back to me from her recent trip to Jamaica. A little ray of sunshine at the shop!

I absolutely love these tiny desk dressers. That's what I call them. They're fun to make too! They're covered in pretty papers. 

The "friendship soap" is back! The muslin bag is filled with a bar of Bittersweet Soap. Sprigs of lavender poke out. 

Lavender sachets complete the list of new Bittersweets.

 I've spent the past sixteen years enjoying what I love, making things. The feelings associated with these thoughts fill my soul with  peace. It's hard to put those feeling into words, I believe. The word PEACE seems an appropriate word to describe those thoughts.  When a customer gets excited about a new item  my excitement always exceeds theirs. It's a privilege, joy and pleasure to have the opportunity to share my wares. Owning a shop and the environment that surround the setting has always been a favorite thing. On my list of favorite things anyway. I love conversing with people most of all, but it's also a  happy moment when you can share a little bit of yourself with others. That form of sharing for me comes from the fruit of my hands.

If you're contemplating something that touches your soul in this same way and it makes you smile when you think of it, then don't hesitate to follow through with those thoughts. It's a serious business pondering the idea of  relying on yourself to make a living. Don't concentrate too much on the serious end of things. Instead, focus on what makes you happy. I believe happy people promote happiness to other people and when you spread happiness you're also sharing love. Life is full of ups and downs. Love always prevails. Today, tomorrow and forever. 

Don't get me started....

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Love,

Jill 00 

 

home & garden wishes

Oh how I yearn for warm days when the crickets chirp and the birds sing and the air smells of freshly cut grass...

Since our days have been filled with cold north air and dreary sky's I dug up some sunshiny home & garden pictures from years past. Patience makes the heart grow fonder. Yes it certainly does!

I've gathered seeds to plant and flowers to dig into the dirt. Now it's up to Miss Spring to take over. 

The mushrooms will be up soon! My brother called yesterday and asked me if I thought they were up yet. I believe the ground has been too cold. You may recall some mushroom posts and  stories. Some of the stories involve shot guns! I know, crazy! We take our mushroom hunting seriously folks. Rattle snakes and copperheads running freely in the woods. No matter, as long as a mushroom is in sight! I guess I'm a country girl at heart!

Off to the shop. I promised I'd share the new stuff today. If you want to see though you will need to get on Bittersweets face book page. I have a link on the right side bar. I post all the new Bittersweets there first. 

I brought out my hat collection and placed them on the hall tree. That's a sure sign summer will be arriving soon. Since we're having such a cold wintry spring I'm imagining it's going to head into summer quickly. Just a feeling... Not too fond of hot days. Love warm nights however. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one) If you're a newbie. 

 

apothecary

I'm introducing the new spring, summer soaps on Saturday during the May day celebration. Summer Fleur is oh so nice to the nose! I've been getting requests for lemon products. A new lemon spray was made just for you. I wanted the labels to be bright and cheery and lemony. The prototype is made! Do you recall what I'm referring to? It's a simple and practical creation the bath tub, "bedroom idea." I'm tempted to keep the first one! I'm not going to though. I'll share tomorrow, promise! 

Friendship soap, Lilac fragrance, laundry powders, and another of those new things making day. It's turned cold and rainy, snowy and a great day to stay inside and work. 

Our basement is filled with flowers. We take them out, to bring them in, back and forth, over and over again. We're all getting tired of the back and forth. Soon all those thoughts will be but a memory, HOPING!

I also made some rose water and glycerin hand sprays. I'm fastidious when it comes to rose scents. I dislike, with a capital D,  the fake synthetic stuff. There's no way to create a quality rose water and glycerin moisturizer without the use of real rose water, I believe. I had a roses in the bottle stashed. That's what I call it because it's like sniffing a freshly picked rose. Love, love! The first twenty guests on Saturday will receive a complimentary bottle! It's packaged in one ounce spray bottles, or purse size. A little goes a long way. I put more glycerin in the formula than what most recipes call for. When it gets hot, I would suggest placing the bottle inside the fridge. There's nothing better than a cool mist of rose water on the face when it's hot. If you haven't ever experienced it, you should. I created an old fashioned label for the timeless skin care essential. I'll share that tomorrow too!

More lavender sachets coming too!

The new "scent stones", and lemon lavender savon await you. A hand-made shop.... I'm so excited about the resonse I'm getting from the stones! Thank you.

Yesterday afternoon I dropped off some of the new Bittersweets at the shop. As I left, I turned back and gazed inside my shop window. I imagined myself being a stranger looking in for the first time. A little tear dropped down my cheek and loving thoughts touched my soul. From beginning to end, it feels just right and meant to be. Unlike any feelings I've ever had. Isn't that something?  I'm thankful.  

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days and nights. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Earth day!

Happy Earth day! Lennis and I usually plant something on this day, but since the weather forcastors are calling for a winter mix of snow and rain tomorrow we're waiting until it WARMS UP! 

On a lighter much happier note... Matty.... The little Singer that could! I made several new pairs of shorts and aprons last week while at the shop. It makes absolute sense to work at work. I'm also fond of the impromptu sewing moments. No home schedule to follow. Just following my sewing notions, no pun intended. I love puns! In case you hadn't noticed... Anyway, it feels soulfully great to create new things from the shop. When the weather warms, I'm transporting Matty to the large front porch and taking my work outside to be amongst the fresh air and sunshine. Have you ever sewn outside? Kind of a sweet thought I think. 

Dreamer... I believe he's doing better. A funny story. A customer dropped by the shop before it was open on Saturday. She later came in and told this story. She peeked in my front window only to see a yellow cat staring her in the eyes. She said it was as though he was guarding the place. So funny because this customer doesn't know the dreamer story.

I'm off to get postage for the May day postcards. Nothing like the very last minute, but my instincts say to follow through with the mailing. Nowadays you seldom get an invite in the mail. I'm a tad old-fashioned about the idea. Coming from a girl that loves to write thank-yous too.

Last night while almost asleep, an idea popped into my head. The idea was one that surprised me and not something I'd put too much though into before. I'm headed to the fabric store to get the goods to make the idea and a prototype. I love it when the bathtub ideas appear. That's what I call them since they usually pop up while I'm soaking in the tub!

Enjoy this beautiful Earth day! Spend it with a friend or plant a tree or enjoy lunch with a companion.

I'm taking a plant to my elderly friend. I get her a begonia every spring. She lives in an apartment and places the flower outside her window.

Warmly,

Jill 00 

 

here kitty, kitty...

There are two shop cats that roam freely throughout both the vintage boutique and the soap shop on water. I remember years ago when Aggie the no. 1 cat was abandoned in front of Julie's shop. Bittersweet was upstairs at the time. Aggie was what I'd consider to be a wild cat. If you've ever been to a working farm wild cats are usually present. Par to the course, and being a wild cat, Aggie wouldn't allow anyone to get within five feet or so and was skid-dish and frightened. Days past and each day I watched as Julie befriended the shy feline and inch by inch, week by week, Aggie slowly came around and after several months allowed Julie to get close enough to pick her up. She still keeps to herself, but is the sweetest little thing. 

Dreamer is a male cat. Need I say more? Kidding. Kind of. I'm not sure when tom kitty arrived but once again Julie took him in and cared for him.

Dreamer has always seemed to like me. Whenever I visited Julie's boutique he would rub against me or want to sit on my lap. Aggie of course too, but she keeps to herself most of the time.

It's been almost seven weeks since I moved in with the cats. I really hadn't put too much thought into how Dreamer followed me from room to room and jumped upon the counter when I was waiting on a customer until last week. I knew he liked me!

Present day and weeks later I've made a philosophical Jill diagnoses. Mr. Dreamer seems to be quite territorial and prefers that I spend more time with him than folks that come in my shop. He now jumps upon the counter each and every time I wait on a customer. He positions himself between the customer and me! If I'm not with a customer he NEVER jumps up, but the moment a customer stands in front of my desk he jumps up!

When I tell this story to folks they suggest I get a water bottle and spray him each time. I was ready to take their advise, but simply couldn't find myself  to do it. Instead I'm attempting to train him to know that jumping on the counter is wrong by saying no each time, and then removing him. It's only been a couple days since I started the training. Lets just say, he's a slow learner. However, I think it's too early to see any progress.

I'm open to any suggestions from kitty keepers. 

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days dears. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

catching up...

I'm finally catching up with shop work and manufacturing. At least for the moment. Still to make new skin care products, but I'm allowing extra time to design packaging and labels for the new stuff. My little soap shop on water street is getting wonderful reviews. Thank you. Because of you, only because of you!

Speaking of reviews... I received an email this morning informing me that Bittersweet Cottage Design  received the "Best of Liberty", 2013 award in the category of web design!  That was a nice little surprise to wake up to! I'm honored and the award is much appreciated.  Thank you to all that voted for Bittersweet Cottage Design. Merci. 

It's getting closer to the date! The May Day celebration that Bittersweet hosts each and every year! I have to admit I'm way behind on May day invites and plans and preparations for this event. I'm focusing on more email invites and FB invites than our traditional mail invites. My regular customers that don't get on the Internet will receive mail box invites and most everyone else will get them the modern world way.  I'm putting the hostess gifts together today. At least working on some ideas I have. The first twenty guests will receive a special May day gift. Most of my customers have access to the Internet, but some do not. I don't want to miss the ones that don't .

Now that the vintage Singer is at the shop, I dropped Matty off last night. I'm going to make more camisoles, wide leg trousers, summer shorts, and some really cute shift dresses. In between customers of course!

Digging out some millinery flowers for the May day hostess gift ideas. Seriously, how can you offer a May day gift without flowers? I really would not know how to answer that question!

One more little forget me not... I'm really wanting to make a line of pure|clean|simple rose water and glycerin skin care essentials. However, I also would like to make my own rose water. Since I'm planning that, I will need to wait until my roses bloom! I'll keep you posted. 

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

somber

Sad news again.. My heart aches and I'm praying for the injured and victims, families, of the recent Boston invasion. So many lives disrupted and abruptly changed. God please comfort the folks of Boston with your love and compassion. God please protect us from evil. Heavy heart♥

It's a soulfully content feeling to take the vintage Singer to the shop. I'm going to pre-cut patterns at home and then sew at the shop during slow time. I have some new dress patterns I'm eager to make! Our spring has been much to be desired, cold rain, snow, so I'm thinking some down time is predicted at the shop. However, having said that, predicting whether your busy or slow  is impossible and silly no matter what the weather. My predictions have always been far from accurate. I simply have learned not to predict.  Days you think will be slow, busy and vise versa. I have always been fascinated by that. Shop life reminds me of real life, we are never in control of our destiny. Oh no! Don't get started Jill ! I will spare you this time.

  My friends Ruth and Kelly at the soap shop on water street. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days my friends. 

Love,

Jill 00