Bittersweet and the little soap company

More Balance

I required a tad bit more balance, before beginning the production line work for Bittersweet.

By the way, thanks for all those lovely emails you sent me regarding yesterdays topic.

Over the past ten years my little company has been through so many different changes and experiences, but the balance thing always stands out, cause that's what I believe will make you or break you, when first forming and starting your new business.

Well, part of my requirement for being balanced consist of being able to do the things I enjoy in between the work. If I'm deprived from gardening, baking, and home keeping, my performance level falls short on every other endeavor, at least it seems.

So with that in mind, I spent the entire day outside gardening, and I have the blister to prove it!

I didn't think you'd want to see it, it's pretty gross. I'd rather you picture me like this girl, she is a spit-ten image of me, possibly even my clone, especially her waist size!

Lennis and I are working on our sweet home this Spring and Summer. I say we, he's doing most the work! He's replacing the cedar frames around all of our windows, and then putting up new storm windows. Our house was built in 1921, and seems always in need of some sprucing up.

When trying to clean our old windows I noticed there's a yucky film on all of them that doesn't seem to want to come off no matter how hard I work to remove it.

All that work and money spent revamping the windows, and then a yucky film left behind was bugging me, so I researched some historical home sites and found some solutions to removing the grime.

I found several remedies to removing the vintage grime. The one that seemed to work the best was to use a gentle powder cleanser like Bon Ami. Add a bit of water to the powder cleanser to form a paste, and then gently rub the window with the mixture. After that, shine em up with some vinegar. I found this web site helpful too.

I'm ready to get back to work.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Balance

After a busy week of celebrations, and packing orders, and making the few things I needed at the moment, I'm back in a balanced Bittersweet production this week.

Most of my supplies have arrived, and I'm ready to make more soap. It's exciting for me to make new Summer soaps, and create new products.

It has been my experience that when owning one's own business, there's a secret to setting your priorities, keeping it fun and non repetitive. I use the word secret, simply because those who have figured it out very seldom disclose this valuable information.

The secret word is balance..

It's not necessarily perfect balance, and it's not a balance that everyone else can see, but a balance within yourself.

A balance or comfort level knowing you're exactly where you want to be, or at least know which path to take to get there.

It took me quite a few years to grasp this balance thing with my company. 

For the first couple of years Bittersweet was priority above all else, and yes that includes my family, friends, and home life.

Bittersweet flew so quickly in it's first few years, there was little time to look back, but only to focus and plan ahead. I was constantly promoting and marketing in every direction, I had sales reps traveling the country selling my products, which meant in order to accommodate the customers , I had to keep up with manufacturing and packaging, and billing, and invoicing, and the list goes on and on. I had decisions to make, what size warehouse shall I get, how many more sales reps shall I hire, how many employee's do I need.

It didn't take me long before I realized I wasn't having fun, and that this is not what I desired my life to be, and definitely not the direction I wanted for Bittersweet. That's where the word balance quietly came in.

To obtain the balance,

I... had to think about what I liked most about Bittersweet and the thoughts I had before I created it. That was a no brainer, I loved to make things!

Second, I had to ponder why I wanted to start my own business to begin with. Was it created for the shear purpose of having my own business, and the freedom of being my own boss? Heck no! No matter how many ways I looked at it, it always came back to my love for making things. I had to think, did I want to offer my product as mass produced products seen from store to store, or did I want to offer my unique creations exclusively?

That's the day I learned about the word balance, and my interpretation of the word. I'll never forget that marvelous day!

I learned that Bittersweet was molded from inspiration, and my passion for creating things. I learned that the things I loved most out of life, family and friends, should stand shoulder to shoulder, and compliment one another to form a union of zen. I learned that the soulful feelings I had while making things was a private experience, not necessarily to be shared with everyone.

I learned that's it's never going to be a perfect union. Just as a marriage takes hard work and compromise owning a business takes even more.

I believe there are three C's to help you achieve the union and balance. Communication, Compromise, and Care.

Once you achieve your balance , everything else falls into place, and your soul is happy and content.

Owning your own business is demanding, but it's also very rewarding.

Whether you desire to have hundreds of sales reps, large warehouse's scattered throughout the country, or want to sell millions of your creations, or simply just make and sell a few things, there's one word that always holds the key for everyone, balance.

Enjoy caring and sharing May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

 

 

Vintage Memories, The Carefree Days, and Some Pondering...

   

Before I begin writing the last page of my Grandmothers letter recalling her sweet child hood memories, I'd like to say a few things about my interpretation of the letter, and how I felt after reading it.

The letter got me thinking... You know how I am about that!

I began to ponder the similarities from my Grandmother's era in comparison to the times of today.

If you watch the news you're most likely to see how they portray our country in dire straits, and it's all  doom and gloom.

Grandmother's letter helped me to realize the many difficult times we've had throughout history, and how families and individuals overcome those countless obstacles by loving one another and making due with what they have, and being perfectly content in doing so.

I'm thankful that I live in a country that allows me to follow my dreams, and make a living doing what I love.

I'm thankful there are caring people in our world that help one another in times of need, just as they did in my Grandmothers days.

I'm thankful for the teacher that takes the extra step in making sure her student understands their assignments, and stays after class to help the child, while her own family waits for her at home.

I'm thankful for the choices I have, whether they be right or wrong, they're my choices.

............................................................................................

The Carefree Days and Happy Childhood Memories

by Christine Walker, my Grandmother

page 3

As free as the wind that whispers in the cotton wood trees, I can never recall a time when my parents said no to me. Now the young parents leave valuables on the coffee tables and the first word the baby hears as soon as he or she can stand is no, no.  I wonder, wonder?

I never remember learning to ride a horse. Mother said my father had me on a horse before I could walk. I had my own horse, Charly, and a dog named, Watch, and we roamed where our fancy took us.

With a lunch packed on the saddle, and my worms and fishing pole I would spend the warm lazy days at Rocky Ford, a beautiful ford of tiny water falls on a large creek that was about three miles from our house.

There were cotton wood trees along the bank and I loved to just sit and listen to the whisper they made in the breeze. Old Watch always lay at my feet, and it was a lovely wooded area.

Then came the times when Mother tucked a flour sack under her arm and said, "all come, it's time to pick gooseberries."  There were lot's of groans, but we picked berries until the bag was full. Now that's a lot of sour berries!

This area was my beloved woods. The red birds would fly from tree to tree and flash their beautiful color. The blue jays and squirrels would scold us for invading their privacy.

And then she writes.... To be continued.

I quickly turned over the page to see more, but nothing. I was sad and disappointed, "oh no, this can't be!"

I yearned for more of her writings, but realized this letter was the last.

So few words, but yet, more powerful than any book I believe I've ever read!

I now wish I could have spent more time with her, as I now see my Grandmother was truly a loving and caring soul. I of course knew that, but somehow after reading the letter, a more intimate picture is conveyed.

I can see my Grandmother through the way my own Mother raised me, and the loving patient ways that have been passed down through the generations of Mother's.

A Mother's love lives on forever and ever and ever.....

Happy Mother's Day!

Enjoy caring and sharing May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one especially on Mother's Day!

   

Vintage Memories, School Days

School Days, some happy, some sad.

by Christine Walker, my Grandmother

page 2

The sad time was I could not see, and never had glasses until I was 16 and went to work in a grocery store. My first day of school was in a small town, and my teachers name was Miss Steel. She did not understand I could not see the black board words she had written. I was a very nervous child due to this handicap.

I had a wonderful teacher in Prairie Dell school named Miss Willis. I believe the school still stands, (1989).

Between Miss Willi s's help and the patience of my beloved Mother, I graduated from the eighth grade. So much for the sad years.

There were so many more happy times, and funny ones also, like the time old Fred our buggy horse slipped on an icy hill and fell on his back in a deep grader ditch. Fred was alright. A farmer came to our rescue. We did not make it to school that day.

On bitter cold days my Mother heated bricks and put to our feet and hands to warm them.

We drove 3 1/2 miles to school. Mail delivery had nothing on us! Come rain, wind, snow or sleet we made it to school.

We had a neighbor girl, "very poor people", who rode to school with us part of the time, and one day the teacher whispered to me, "you hitch up your horse and buggy and take Bell home. She has lice in her hair. Needless to say I cried all the way home, and just knew my head was crawling, and that I could feel them. So much for imagination!

I  remember the annual "school box suppers." It was a very exciting time when the girls decorated a box with crepe paper and filled it with all kinds of fancy foods and fruit to be sold to the highest bidder. The school boys would bid on the boxes. Your Father always got mine.

Christmas time and school plays and marches. The songs we sang and the school lunches of today have nothing on us. We had the first hot lunch ever served in schools. One child brought to school, potatoes, one butter, another milk, and Miss Willis prepared and cooked soup on a tall coal stove.

A Mr. Morgan, a man from the neighboring town would visit all the schools in our County, and oh, what excitement! He was a very wealthy man and would come at Christmas time with a big truck load of gifts. Each child could choose a gift. The one that stands out in memory, a manicuring case with ivory handles and a mirror on the lid. Oh how I would "buff" my nails. The style tool at that time. No polish, just buffed.

We played basket ball in the school yard, a far cry from the elaborate halls of today. One day I played guard and accidentally hit Eunice Henderson in the eye and she fainted. We all thought she had died. We all ran to the far side of the yard and not a word was spoken. Miss Willis saw the whole thing and gave us all a lecture, and Eunice went home with a black eye.

There was a sad time in my life when I was six, and my little two year old brother died. Little John was my play mate after school evenings. I adored him. There was no embalming in those days, they placed a three-hundred pound cake of ice under the table where he lay.

So many neighbors and people around and they would not let me see or go near him. Some old man took me to town and bought me a large bag of candy.

That night as people sat all night in the kitchen, I slipped into the room where he lay, and patted his little hands and touched his face and hair. It seemed to ease the ache in my breast.

We took his body at 10 am to the cemetery. Two white horses pulled a white coach draped with white curtains.

All the passing years I never went back to his grave. Mother told me once someone else was buried atop of his grave, and that both souls rest in peace.

To be continued, "The Care Free Days"

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Vintage Memories

This is a picture of my Grandmother Christine, my Mom's, Mom. Wasn't she a beautiful woman?   

I recently received a letter from my aunt Glenna, and tucked inside the envelope contained a letter that my  grandmother Christine wrote some years ago before she passed. The letter explains in detail her life as a young girl growing up on the farm.

As I was reading the letter, I was taken back, and touched by her sweet recollection of life as a young girl on her Little House On The Prairie Farm.

Although the pages number in few, the writings are truly sweet vintage memories that I thought would be appropriate to share with you on this Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!

Haying Time On Our Farm

by Christine Walker, my Grandmother

page 1

After the red clover was cut and stacked into rows to cure and dry, then a special wide horse drawn wagon driven by a man, lowered a large hay fork. The man on the hay frame pushed the huge fork deep into the hay bundle & it was my job to ride the horse that pulled each load into the hay loft.

I guess the most exciting time for a ten year old was when a big thrashing machine with it's steam engine came to thrash our oats we had put in shacks. We had been waiting for the day when it was our turn, as the thrashing machine traveled from farm to farm.

It was my job to take drinking water to he thrashing crew of twenty-one men with my horse & buggy. Sometimes I went with my Father for a load of oats and gathered the baby rabbits that were hiding under the oat shacks. I guess the Mother came to our lawn and turned them loose & took them back, as they all disappeared.

We had lot's of pigeons in the cattle barn. I used to climb up high above the hay loft and catch the squabs. We did not serve them under glass, but rather, we served and prepared pigeon pie.

It was my chore to take the two crates of eggs, thirty dozen each, to town on Saturdays. We had a lot of chickens!  I drove my horse and buggy to town, where all the stores purchased the eggs, and we used the egg money to buy groceries.

One time after getting the things on my Mother's grocery list, I noticed a big "Post Toasties" box setting on the market shelf. I had never eaten store bought cereal, so I called my Mother and asked her if I could have a dime to purchase a box of the cereal.

Not anything in my life ever tasted so good!

I also recall my first loaf of fresh bakery bread, when I was a teenager, yummy!

To by continued,

School Days, next

Enjoy caring and sharing May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Spring May

I took a break from Bittersweet work yesterday while waiting for my supplies to come, and worked outside in the yard. I ended up spending the entire day outside spreading cedar mulch, fertilizing and planting.

I don't like chemicals at all, but when it comes to poison ivy, chemicals are my best friend.

I had not worked in the rock garden since my horrible bout with poison ivy, so one of the first things I did was mix up some poison ivy killer and  sprayed the noxious weeds. Now that its leaves are showing, it's easy to detect, and there was a considerable amount growing next to the garden, and I saw the exact spot where I came in contact.

I planted some vegetables this year in my garden. I have had gardens before, but it's been a very long time. My back yard is shielded by trees, and I don't believe gets enough sun for a full blown garden, but  I am experimenting in the rock garden to see what I can come up with, and planted rows of onions, red peppers, and tomatoes.

We eat lot's of spinach salads, and I thought those veggies would be tasty in our summer salads.

I've had the thought lately of making our entire back yard a green produce growing facility.

With produce being not so great from the store, and prices soaring, I am seriously considering  just that.

I can grow fruit trees, and blueberry bushes, and cut a few limbs, and have a huge veggie and herb garden.

If I recall, gardens are lot's of work, but rewarding at the same time. These thoughts are in my mind, and I will ponder them until next Spring.

I moved the red wicker chair to a tranquil resting spot. I have been spending a considerable amount of time in that chair, just setting, looking, thinking.

 

I have some seeds that require soaking before planting. The snow berry bush, and morning glory both need a little soak to help them sprout. So I'm soaking my seeds tonight so that I can plant tomorrow. Then the fun part of watching the seedlings sprout and grow. That's my favorite part!

One more thing..

I've had a few people email me regarding our recent tornadoes.

Obviously we were not hit by the tornado, but just one block from where my brother lives on the outskirts of town was, and it's a horrible site! I have always been fascinated by this weird weather phenomenon, while being horrified at the same time.

Tornadoes can destroy everything in their path, while leaving a lawn chair setting untouched a few inches away from their destruction. I think that is too weird!

Five years ago we had a large tornado go over our home and hit just one block away. We were terrified, when we heard out basement drain suck in air from the air pressure. It completely destroyed many, many homes, and hit our beautiful college on the hill.

The other night at two O'Clock in the morning we all awoke to that same sound. It's an eery sound, a sound of too quiet. I guess that's where the phrase, "calm before the storm" came from.

Above the calm though is total kayos, and if you've ever heard that roaring sound before, there is no doubt you will recognize the sound immediately the next time you hear it. I even fill the pressure change, it feels as though someone is pushing me down from the head, very strange. I have talked to others that have experienced this same feeling.

The other night at two O'Clock, fortunately for my family and my neighbors, the tornado stayed high above our home.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)   

Standing in a pink cloud of spring

Yes, just as the picture shows, I'm standing in a pink cloud. A pink cloud layered with big flower blossoms, and smell good bars of soap, and bottles of this and that.

I'm working on creating new  Dreamy Creamy Ephemera Petite Book Boxes, some pink strawberries along with the red gingham ones, as the pink berries seem to be first pick at the Saturday Studio.

I'll be quite busy making more Bittersweet in the weeks to come. Bug Off , gone, Extreme Body Creme, gone, Room Fragrance, gone, and  my most popular toiletry item, soap, not gone, but going!

It's that time once again to make more soap, and new summer soaps.

For some retail establishments, business slows down during the hot summer months. I'm fortunate that I'm busy year round, and I am forever grateful for having such wonderful customers that  support me throughout the year.

I've had some of the same customers since Bittersweet was first created over ten years ago.

Merci, to all of you, I truly appreciate your patronage.

Doesn't Loralie look lovely wearing the flea market hat?

 

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Pretty Spring Party

Sweet, sweet, spring.

Garden parties on the lawn, sun tea brewing on the stoop, bumble bee's buzzing over the tulip blossoms. Fresh clean linens hanging to dry on the clothes line, and the many other sweet spring happenings that I'm so fond of.

May day celebration was all this and more.

The desert table was filled with lavender cookies, fluffy white cupcakes, pink punch, and freshly picked lilacs in the same hue.

The cupcakes had little cards inserted that read "Happy May".

Each guest left with their May Day Basket, and the day was filled with laughter and fun.

Here are a few shots of some of the delightful guests I was honored with on this beautiful day of May.

Enjoy caring and sharing May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

A flea market break

I took a  break yesterday from the preparation of tomorrow's May Day party.

I've been working non stop creating spring displays and creations for this Saturday's get together.

Coincidently, yesterday marked the first day of a favorite flea market event in Sparks Kansas, about an hour and a half from my little town of Historic Liberty, Missouri. 

My sweet dear friend Julie and I loaded up our shopping carts, and headed north for the journey. Julie and I are equally fond of flea market recreational activity, so the two of us always have a spectacular time.

There was a threat of bad weather yesterday, but it held off, with the exception of the very strong winds and heat. I felt sorry for the outdoor vendors, as they struggled to keep their goods protected from the wind. I could see the concerned look on there faces knowing bad weather was predicted for that evening. I understand how they feel, as I used to participate in shows years ago .

My hair was flying around in my face and causing me flea market despair, about the same time I noticed this really cool vintage hat calling out to me. The hat, a Great Gatsby style 1920's hat, had Jill written all over it, and when I asked the price, $5, I exclaimed, "sold!" Not only was the hat a perfect fit, and the perfect price, not once did it even come close to blowing off in the extreme wind, and added to the flea market ambiance. (Pictures coming soon.)

Here's a shot of Julie in the booth where I purchased the hat.

Julie found some pretty little pill boxes in this booth. Who doesn't like antique pill boxes? Remember my recollection of my Aunt Enids treasured pieces?

Notice Julie's cart. Funny, I always thought having a cart helped to create the serious flea market chic look, and I rarely saw the carts during my journeys, except but with my friend, and a few shoppers, but yesterday I saw too many carts to count! Everyone had carts, and there were carts for sale in several booths. Carts of every color and era, a cart here , a cart there.

I couldn't resist purchasing one, I found one priced at $12, and politely asked the vendor if he would take $10, and he politely replied with a yes. (picture soon.)

I now have two carts, a modern retro styled cart, the orange one in this picture, and a vintage metal cart. I guess that officially makes me a SFMC, Serious Flea Market Chic!

Sparks Kansas was once a small metropolis of a town with a population of over two-thousand. A few of the original structures remain, and the population now, last count, 6, I believe, yes I said six!

This is the old bank building. A few  of the old buildings remain, like the depot, and a few old homes, but most have faded over time. Once the main highway  moved that went through the town, and the trains stopped coming through, the town quickly became an authentic ghost town.

I had a conversation with an older woman inside the old general store that was familiar with the history of Sparks Kansas. I enjoy talking with people about history, and find it adds to the excitement of the journey.

Isn't this old building cool? I love the old windows and the stone steps. I sat and rested on the stoop and nibbled on some popcorn. I felt good energy all around me on the first day of May, May Day.

Lookie who I saw so far away from home! Heather and her friend. You remember Heather, she makes the cute leather clutches and hand bags.

I also saw Debbie Dusenbury from Curious Sofa. I noticed Debbie had a cart, a SFMC too.

I probably caught Debbie off guard. I just walked up to her and introduced myself. I had never met her, but recognized her from magazine's and her web site and blog.

After the fact, I realized I was probably a nuisance to her, as I bet she gets that every time she's shopping. Sometimes being recognizable can be a pain, I'm sure. She was very kind and again, good energy.

Last night's storm knocked out our electricity for the night and into most of my morning, so I'm playing catch up around the sweet home.

I'm still preparing May Day baskets, and making lavender cookies now that I can use my oven. The weather has changed from summer to fall in one day, and tomorrow's forecast, cool, but dry:)

I'll have lots of things to share next week including Patrick's first day at the Market, May Day Celebration, Flea Market stories and pictures, and some wonderful soulful writings my Aunt Glenna recently sent me of my Grandmother Christine recalling her charming vintage child hood memories.

Enjoy caring and sharing May days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

 

 

 

Happy May!

May Poem

by Jill

My favorite month is here, and I'm shouting a huge cheer

For with her comes flowers in bloom, and after that, a Junie Moon

Her smiley face follows me wherever I go, and I'm taken by her mojo

In honor of her special day, a posy of daisies I gathered from the bay

I dream about the days to come while I travel to and from

A happy face I'll carry, as I frolic in the May of Merry

Here are some things I've been creating in honor of Miss May and hoping for a Happy Springy Saturday Studio May Day.

Enjoy caring and sharing May Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Bittersweet Green Spring

I have some time this morning to share with you things I've been working on for Bittersweet Spring.

I am aware of the fingerprints that my little company leaves behind. I am always on the look out for creative ways to limit extra baggage.

I recycle old labels, use and re-use what I have as often as I can, package products in recyclable containers, and create products that are earth and people friendly.

Whew, I've been a busy girl!

May Day celebration preparations are under way, and while making ironing spray and lavender linen spray I'm thinking about wrapping soap, and addressing invites, and making more strawberries, and, blah, blah, blah, bloom!

I spent the entire day yesterday wrapping soap! Now that's a lot of soap! I love the way the soap rack looks when its stuffed full of fresh Spring Soap

The May Day tokens are coming along nicely, and I dug out the May Pole I made several years ago. It's kind of cool,  a bamboo rod, a top sets a large posy of Shasta daisy's, ribbons of every color hanging down loosely. I'll share some pictures with you later. I need to fill in some small holes with more blossoms.

Todays schedule calls for more green work.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring Green days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Peek a Spring boo

Just a little peek to let you know I'm still here, but preoccupied with some Spring creations.

I'll be in and out for the upcoming weeks to come.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

blog-a-tion:INTERMISSION

I'm one busy little bee! My hive is empty and there's work to be done, and since I'm the Queen Bee, that means I better get to work. Yes indeed, that's right, a Queen bees work is never done!

With the May Day celebration approaching, and new spring creations in the works, and inventory running low, I have been more a busy working bee, and not so much a Queen.

The May Day invitations are on there way, and the May Day baskets, well, let's just say, I've only just began making those, and the new stuff that's been floating around, still floating.

The strawberry sachets are a huge hit at Bittersweet, so I'm making a large patch of those, and couture cartons, all gone, sold out, making more, I love those little sewing kits! The Chicky clip boards, all gone!

I'll be taking a blogation.

Not sure how long I'll be gone.

I'll be back, once I get everything caught up.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)   

Roses are pink, violets are purple, and the little blue bird sings her song

Missouri hosts one of the prettiest springs you'll ever see!

Last spring was wishy washy. She couldn't make up her mind to stand on her own, and leaned on her brother winter. Winter decided we needed a few nights of freezing cold wintry nights, not knowing he was killing the young tender spring flowers and plants during their grand finale of opening blooms and blossoms.

Hopefully this spring, winter will remain in hibernation, and not be abruptly awaken like he was last year, so that we can enjoy and take in Springs glorious natural beauty.

We have wild violets throughout our yard. I love wild violets. They are a small blossomed flower, but when mixed with many, become a stunning spring posy. I can see why my mom and her sister chose them for their May day baskets.

We have both white and purple in our yard. I also have a cluster of lily of the valley. They aren't quite blooming yet, but will soon be sprouting their unique white crown cups soon, probably around the same time as the peony's begin budding, another favorite short blooming spring flower.

My friend Dana brought me this little blue bird. Dana, the small ceramic bird is perfect for showcasing my posy of purple violets.

Blue birds are Missouri's state bird. They are not frequently seen, but when you do see one, you won't soon forget there unique beauty and their vibrant feathers of blue.

The species prefers nesting approximately five feet off the ground, and no taller than six, and if building a bird house for these lovely little creatures, they also prefer a 1,1/2 size entrance to their homes. I know this simply because of my dads admiration for blue birds, and he has built several blue bird homes throughout his yard.

Monday, Monday.. The beginning of a new Spring week!

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

 

 

 

Burlap & Roses

The other day when I went to the fabric store to pick up more burlap to wrap the garden soap, I noticed some new rosy calico's had arrived.

While holding the burlap, I noticed how well I liked the two textiles setting aside one another. The calico adds a bit of softness to the textured burlap, and I like the balance.

I was inspired to create these little draw string bags. I've always been fond of this timeless textile, especially this mushroom color.

The little bags are available on Bittersweet's New for Spring site.

I have lots of plans in the works for using the days gone by cloth in other Bittersweet projects, and I can't wait to share with you my creations. My head is just a spinning with ideas. I love it when that happens!

I scrambled to get packages sent out yesterday afternoon. If you happen to read this, samples, giveaways, and orders, all headed to their destinations, instead of just setting:)

I clicked a rainy afternoon shot of my porch. The curtain behind the table is temporary. I am covering up the huge gas grill. I was over ruled by two men that insisted we assemble the grill on the porch for easy access off the kitchen.

I have to admit, I do like having the cooking contraption so close to the kitchen, but I hate the way these things look. I'm planning on replacing the curtain with a bamboo blind.

Lennis's sister is coming to visit this weekend, I can't wait to serve Sunday morning coffee and tea on the porch.

Dishtowel schedule calls for cleaning of the sweet home. I seem to be stuck on this lately, spring cleaning mode.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

In between the blooms

The owls hooted me to sleep last night. Just as I lye in bed thinking about them, they began to make that soothing sound only owls can make.

I planted seedlings yesterday, and quickly realized I chose the windiest day of spring, as I watch my poppy seed packet fly around to the side of the yard, I notice my weeping cherry tree is in full bloom. 

Lennis purchased and planted this tree for our anniversary several years ago. I've always thought this small ornamental tree was beautiful when it's in full bloom.

While out and about in the yard I noticed we're in between the blooms. Meaning, the tulips, flowering trees and shrubs, and bushes are just beginning to showcase their colorful hues.

Remember how I told you I don't plant my flowers until Mothers Day? It's the in between the blooms time that adds to the anticipation of the final moment when I can finally dig the dirt, and transplant my flowers. In between those times I gather forsythia blooms, and even cut some of the weeping cherry blossoms to bring the outdoors inside the sweet home.

We have a small back porch that sets off our kitchen. It's one of my favorite retreats outside our house once the weather warms. There's a red bud tree directly below the porch that's branches reach up to the top of the porch. The tree hasn't opened it's heart shaped leaves yet, but once it does it fills the entire space around the porch, and you feel as though your in a tree house. I could easily eat, sleep, and live on that porch during the warm spring and summer months.

I was going to show you a picture, but it seems typepad is experiencing some problems this morning.

I'm off to do some Bittersweet work.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

   

Owl love and a special friend

The past few mornings I've been awaken by the soft sound of hooting owls outside my bedroom window.

When I was around twelve or so, my best friend Nita lived across the street from the city park in our small town. During the summer months after dark, Nita and I would set on her front porch and watch in awe, as for some mysterious reason, the owls in our town seemed to enjoy congregating at the park after dark.

Like clockwork every night, twenty owls or so would fly around the small park, as Nita an I watched from her porch.

Ever since those nights on Nita's porch, I've been taken by these large fly by night birds.

I have a love for all birds big and small, but owls in particular, probably because of their mysterious keep to themselves nature, and fly by night preference, have always fancied my bird loving feathers.

I hope the owls continue to find refuge in our cedar trees outside our bedroom window throughout the spring and summer. I love waking to their unique soothing sounds.

From owls to rabbits I say!

My friend Dana is getting ready to launch a new blog and web site called The Stone Rabbit. Dana and I met when Bittersweet had only been in business for a few years, as she was close friends with one of my wholesale customers, and mutual friend, Donna.

That was around nine years ago. Dana and I just found out that we both grew up in the same small town I mentioned above. My world has always been small, and no acquaintance is by accident. Wouldn't you agree?

Dana makes and has created some of the cutest patterns and stuffies that I've ever seen, and I can't wait until she gets her blog up and running so you can see for yourself. I'm really excited to check out her patterns, and will, I'm sure, be one of her first customers.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

May Day Pouch

I began constructing the vellum origami pouches that I'm giving my guests during the May day celebration at Bittersweet.

I had some reserve 8x8 sheets my friend Ramona had given me from her print shop. The vellum will work perfect, and be water resistant, just in case I want to tuck in a few real flowers.

The picture is a bit different than the actual prototype. Rather than a bow, I inserted ribbon for hanging on each side of the pouch and then tied knots in each side so that it wouldn't slide out of the hole. By the time I got around to taking the picture, I had lost daylight, and the picture came out too dark.

I'm tucking in a small amount of excelsior, some millinery flowers, a tulle filled pouch of organic lavender, and the cookie recipe, so that my guests can bake the Spring cookies too.

These little origami pouches are the perfect size for creating darling May Day baskets.

You can redesign them using vintage wallpaper or pretty hand made paper. You can have your children share their art work, by drawing pictures on the front, before hanging on your neighbors door knobs.

 

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

May Day at Bittersweet

 

With May Day around the Spring corner, and the need for a boost of my psyche during our extended winter weather, I began pondering some more thoughts of May Day.

This is a letter I received from my Aunt referencing her sweet memories of May Day.

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

Personally, May Day sets a top most of the other holidays for me, with the exception of Christmas. My admiration for this day, and the reasons, are almost too many to count.

I'm certainly fond of the sweet gesture of leaving flower blossoms at neighbors doors and the caring and sharing act of affection. The happy memories of doing this when I was little far exceed a lot of other child hood memories I have or don't have.

I think about May Day and I think of setting on the lawn sipping pink lemonade and nibbling on short bread cookies sprinkled with lavender, and cupcakes iced with fluffy white frosting adorned with sugared violets. I think about wearing pastel colored sweaters matched with a new twirly skirt.

May Day is the induction to Spring.

Everything in my little town comes to life. Splashes of color start to appear and replace the ashy hues of winter, and festivals Spring into action, and fresh home grown produce begins to line the Saturday downtown streets at our local market on the square. The sound of doves cooing outside my kitchen window, I love that sound!

Those are my personal thoughts of May day.

Bittersweet's Lavender Cookie Recipe

Here are some pictures of past Bittersweet May Day celebrations.

    

I'm working on the May Day favors for the Bittersweet May Day celebration on May 3rd, and I'l be sharing the instructions for making the simplest, but cutest little May Day baskets so that you can make them too.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Comfort Food, Comfort Life, and Congratulations

Firstly this morning,

thanks to everyone who's sent me well wishes via email. I believe for the time being, anyway, my server is working, and I am in the process of returning your kind considerate emails.

Having poison ivy hasn't been all bad. In fact, it's allowed me to slow down and do some baking.

I have always been a baker of apple deserts. From, apple dumplings, apple cobbler, apple pies, apple muffins, and especially apple crisp.

I'm intrigued by recipe's that call for minimal ingredients, and still come out tasting yummy.

I wonder who created this recipe and when? I would be interested in getting a copy of Isabel Ely Lord's cookbook. It was printed during my favorite era, the twenty's.

I noticed they had one on EBay, but I believe I'll add this book to my flea market list.

Apple Crisp Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 3 cups apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• vanilla ice cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine, sugar, oat's, flour, and butter. Mix until crumbly. Place half of crumb mixture in pan. Spread the apples evenly over crumb mixture. Mix cinnamon and sugar together, then sprinkle over the apples. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
3. Allow to cool, and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Well apple crisp and bug repellent aren't exactly two things you associate together, but after baking the apple crisp I made Bittersweet's famous Bug Off! I say famous not because it's been on television or in a magazine, or misted on a famous movie star.

No, it's none of the above. Famous in the sense that it really works, and my customers trust it to keep pesky bugs at bay.

I developed the concoction after researching old Indian remedies, and how they kept the small creatures out of site, out of mind.

   

Did you happen to notice the typo on the label? Well, unfortunately I did after the fact, and am in the process of correcting all fifty labels. I hate it when spell check doesn't acknowledge miss spelled words. I used to win all the spelling bee's at school. Gotta love it!

Dish Towel Schedule calls for some cleaning of the sweet home.

It's been rainy and cold, and doesn't feel like Spring one little bit, so cleaning seems like a indoor comforting thing to do on this dreary of a morn.

UPDATE: Right before I finished typing, we got word that Patrick got the Farmer's Market Manager job he applied for.

Congratulations Patrick, you're the perfect man for the job!

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)