Bittersweet and the little soap company

Happy Mother's Day

French Basket Savon has arrived!

Excited to announce the NEW FRENCH BASKET line is now available on our web site!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring day.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Country Fair Savon has arrived!

I believe yesterday was the most perfect of days! Even though the calender says it's winter our climate says otherwise. Yesterday was balmy and sunny and the perfect day! After I packed and shipped orders the day was spent outdoors tending to, well just focusing on being outside. I cleared the dead leaves from the flower beds and hosed off the driveway, trimmed the lilac bushes and sorted and organized clay pots in preparation for planting day. I believe an early planting is in store this season.

I'm so excited to plant the collection of seeds. This year larkspur will be added to the list. I've talked about larkspur before. Its blooms dry beautifully. Their color lingers after they've been dried.  

I also picked up a pack of fever-few seeds. By the way, aren't these little seed packets pretty? The fever-few plant is an herb. I like it because it has pretty yellow daisy like blooms and is hardy throughout most of the hot summer months. It also holds medicinal purpose as do most herbs.  

I also announced the arrival of the new Country Fair Savon on the web site!

I had accepted several pre-orders for the Blue Ribbon Rose savon. Those orders will be shipping today. Thank you. I know you will love the fragrance of this soap! It's base note is lemon grass topped with soft organic rose water. It's wrapped in pretty "Country Fair" wrappings and will be available during spring and summer months only.

Another new floral Country Fair Savon, Sun Fleur. Its scent is lightly infused with middle notes of lavender. It is a  lovely soft floral blend. It too is available on the web site.  

 Ah, Miss Spring is ushering in some warm thoughts.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

leaping towards some upgrades

Happy Leap day! An extra day in the month of February, yeah! The shops and on-line stores seem to be taking full advantage of the moment as my in-box was filled with leap day advertisements.  

Lennis and I are leaping towards some home repairs on our home. Some interior painting, new furniture knobs, towel racks, shades, curtains. Little cosmetic applications that offer a huge impact I believe. I was on the search for a roller shade for our bathroom window and fell in love with this one. What girl wouldn't fall in love with a ruffled roller shade, I ask?

I'm thinking I could make these quite easily.  

I'm also upgrading the window with curtains. Remember these?

Once again, I ask you, what girl doesn't like pom-poms especially ecru colored ones?

I ordered both on-line from this company.

We have one bathroom in our home! You know what I always say, less is more! It's also small. Since I have only one bathroom, I love it! This large dresser sits in our bathroom and houses are linens and towels. I'm thinking some new towel racks, curtains, hardware and that shade will be the perfect touch. I've also been thinking about moving one of the apothecary cabinets from the studio into the room to replace the dresser. I love the look of old cabinets with glass doors filled with fluffy towels and pretty toiletry essentials. Don't you?

This is the larger apothecary cabinet that sits in the shop. The one in reference is like this one only smaller.

 Paint colors...

Thinking about new bedroom paint colors.

All white, both warm and cool, but I always lean towards warm over cool.  Having said that though, I do like the pale grays.

Leaning towards these...

Making all of these upgrades on a soap-maker's budget.

Bathroom budget: $200

Bedroom budget: $200

If you carefully plan your makeovers they won't break the bank.

Pondering the bedroom thoughts next.

Specific little things that complement my favorite piece of furniture.

A small round spindle table and some long cotton or linen shear window panels and a fresh paint color will complete the desired look.

Bedroom makeover idees and new porch idees coming.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Jump with joy!

While on a recent jaunt to my local craft supply store I spotted these wood tags.

 I believe I nabbed up every single package! Seriously  I kind of stomped up and down with bunny loving joy when I discovered them! The tags come in a package of 8 I believe and were $1 each. Although I typically steer away from import items as often as possible, these tags were an exception to that rule. Not really a rule, but I try to honor those feelings. Extremely difficult to do by the way, not purchasing import pieces and probably not even possible to perform.

I'm painting the wood tags with a white wash and stamping them with a rabbit stamp. Then I began pondering more stamp wood tag thoughts like logo tags, hang tags, calling cards, etc., etc., etc.

While in the paper section of the store I found this.

Fabric paper with an adhesive backing. Please tell me what paper loving girl would not fancy such an object? Not I.

Wrapping up some last minute tasks before opening the studio today. Cutting soap and clearing table space so that I'll have a spot for the soap to saponify. Love that word!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Birth-Day

I've always carried sweet happy feelings on this day. For me, having a birthday so close to Christmas has always felt special. For instance, when I was young my mom would host a birthday party on this day, usually in the evening. Grandma Lola and my dad, brother and my sweet mother would always treat the day as special and their generosity and kindness was reflected always on my birthday. My Grandmother Lola would even get my brother gifts on this day so that he would not feel left out. She was the kindest woman I've ever known! The gift would have an enclosure card that read... "To Mark on Jills birthday."

    As I've gotten older the day remains a special day as all birthdays should, I believe.

I remember a few years back I had this crazy idee not to make a big deal about the day. No birthday wishes, no gifts, just another day! I felt like crap that day! Don't ever do that!

Your birthday is a gift from God I believe. A celebration and blessing from him. You've been blessed with yet another year of life on earth! Really that's a great birthday present in its self, isn't it?

Any-who, no biggie day planned. Packing last minute orders, opening the studio for some pick-ups and a quiet dinner with my best friend later tonight. Lennis is taking me to the new Indian restaurant! I love Indian cuisine! Curry, curry, yummy, yummy!

The baked goods have been delivered accompanied with Christmas hugs and kisses. I have a few more deliveries of some handmade gifts to friends. 

What a glorious time of year, this time of giving. I wish it could last forever!

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

Way up in the sky, little lamb...

Usually I don't start with the Christmas decorating until after Thanksgiving but this year it feels right to move the joyous occasion up some. Lengthening the happiness feeling of my favorite time of year feels good and what the heck, why do we need to wait for a certain day to commence with the celebration.   

I painted the paper ma-che letters and borrowed the large metal star from the garden shed.

I like having a theme when decorating for the holidays. It seems much easier to begin a design with a theme. A starting point to work off.

 I mentioned in the last Bittersweet post how the this seasons Christmas theme is inspired by baby Jesus. The star and the words Noel set the stage for, "Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb. A star, a star way up in the sky."

A fuzzy little lamb is going to sit in place of the basket of dried hydrangea's with a tree of white next to her. At least that is what I'm envisioning. Lots of burlap and natural tone on tone coloring mixed in with evergreen and pine.

I'll keep you photo posted. Working on the project in between packing holiday orders and stocking the studio shelves with fresh product.

The snow-berries are gone until next year!

Thank you for your orders. I truly appreciate your patronage, truly.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

There's talk of snow...

The weatherman on the six o'clock news mentioned we might possibly be getting snow within the next few days. I could hardly believe my ears when I heard him say that! Well, it is November 1 and time to ponder more serious thoughts of trimmings and turkey and I suppose snow.

According to the woolly bear caterpillars I've been seeing during morning walks, this winter is predicted to be mild. He has a pretty good track record I might add. Considered folklore now, but in the olden days before meteorologists the woolly bears brown and black stripes was much the topic for farmers conversing around the old general store coal stove.

This is how it goes...

If the woolly bear has more brown than black stripe then a mild winter is sure to follow. Then of course if more black striping a harsh cold winter ahead.

I've began the holiday decorating!

The theme is centered around the birth of baby Jesus.

The star above the fireplace mantle and the words Noel will set the tone. I'm also incorporating evergreens and pine branches and my favorite dried berry, snow-berry like the ones in the picture above. Speaking of the creamy dried botanical... My supply of snow-berries is getting low. They won't be available for harvesting until next year so it may be a long wait if you're wanting them. I still have them available on the web site, but soon they will be no more!

UPDATE: SNOW-BERRIES SOLD OUT!

Also thoughts of handmade everything gifts sitting under the tree.

Thanksgiving is November 24!

By the way... Thank you for your holiday orders. I'm working non-stop in between all that to make sure your orders are packed and holiday ready to send.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one) 

Joy to the world!

 
 This week marks the upcoming open house and the long awaited arrival of our holiday soaps featured on our web site!

On Sunday October 16 our holiday soaps and sacs will be available on our web site at 3 pm central time. I'm hoping we don't run out, but think we probably will!

If you need me, drop me an e-mail.

New puppy has arrived!

I'm  busy wrapping holiday soap and tending to the new little CP, aka (Cutie Pie) in between preperations for the holiday open house held on Saturday.

This week I'll be in and out, but mostly out!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

Autumn bliss 2

 Our local customers should or will be receiving one of these postcards in the mail.

 
Unless you happened to get a blank card like the one Debbie received. She sent me an email yesterday writing she had only a white blank postcard with only a return address and her address! I wrote Debbie back and said, "what the heck!"

So I guess when I was conversing with the post office man about how pretty and appropriate the stamps were he had given me Debbie's blank postcard was overlooked. The conversation continued with the post office worker as I noticed he was performing multiple duties, more than usual it seemed, so I also asked him if his work duties had expanded. He replied with a definite YES and a concerned look on his face. To repeat the phrase, what the heck!

I sure hope this country whips into shape! I know we will. After all, we're talking about her. You know, America the Beautiful

  

Makes you feel good when you watch and listen, doesn't it?

This time of year is overload! The word multitasking is actually multiplied and amplified this time of year at Bittersweet. I believe a better description of what goes on around here this time of year with three words, Diverse Multiple Tasks! 

Part of the day I'll be cleaning up the yard, the next wrapping soap, mixing up fresh batch of this, baking brownies, domestic duties like laundry need to be attended, painting the porch decking, detailing the car before winter comes, more soap wrapping, returning phone calls, ordering supplies, post office runs with orders, design work for clients and then dinner. That's one day! I'm getting old too, and not as fast as I used to be!

With those thoughts in mind and all the work involved to prepare for this time of year the excitement gathers and it always feels just like it did some fourteen years ago when Bittersweet was born! It's a joy to see friends and a thrill to offer to them quality merchandise and skin care products.

 Operating this little soap company for the past fourteen years is also how I pay my bills! The old cliche comes to mind, "you snooze, you loose." Seriously, that's the way it is with small business ownership! Along with the reward of owning my own business and doing what I love,  comes responsibilities and oodles of work! That's the way it rolls!  

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)