Bittersweet and the little soap company

*Applesauce*

There are but a few things that compare to a bowl of warm chunky made from scratch apple sauce!

My Grandmother used to make the best applesauce in Missouri. Sometimes she would put a drop of red food coloring to make it pink. I always thought the pink applesauce tasted better than the plain.

Yesterday after making the applesauce, I browsed the Internet for a recipe on applesauce. In the process, I discovered a new recipe blog, and a great recipe for applesauce. I was impressed with the site, and after reading the about page detailing the proprietress of the blog, Elise I was even more impressed. I liked the blogs/websites personality. I liked the fact that it has a personality. I've been to so many that don't! I liked the short bio about her parents and the cute picture of the two of them. I liked the fact that most of the recipes come from her family, which are what I refer to tried & true" recipes. If you're not familiar with "Simply Recipes", you must visit.. I'm sure you will find a recipe or two to share with your family and friends.

I've enjoyed the past few days of puttering. Now it's time to get back to work. I'm sewing wide leg pants and making more holiday soaps.

Bittersweet has another open house coming up December 1st. It's my 10th holiday open house. It's the biggest event of the year for me. Autumn Market went so well,  I'm really looking forward to a sparkly red & pink festive holiday in the studio.

Enter to win the Bittersweet October Giveaway!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Let The Autumn Breeze Direct Your Path...

Once again, the days are spinning by before my brown eyes can have a moment to focus and adjust to a new week. I spent the entire day yesterday running, which was a welcome change from my normal work at home routine. I grabbed a crocheted hat, and jumped into my car, rolled down the window so I could feel the crisp Autumn air blow against my face as I drove around my little town stopping here and there in between errands. I popped by Alan's to thank him for the flower arrangement he brought for Saturday's Market day. Alan and I have a bartering system. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to get beautiful flowers at a moments notice. Alan has been in the flower business for many years, and is truly a flower arrangement genius extraordinary!

I'm needing to do an inventory in the Saturday Studio. I sold out of some things the day of the market, and need to check to see what I need to add to my make this list. At this very moment though, I'm feeling a need to relax after such a busy weekend. The wide leg trousers are a big hit at the studio. I was hoping to have the trousers on Bittersweet's web site, but have yet to catch up with the studio demand. I am concentrating on flannel trousers at the moment and picked up some fabric I thought would make cute wide leg's.

  I wore a pair of my pants to the market on Sunday and to the fabric store. I had several people ask me where I had gotten the pants. I'm sure some were wondering if the pants were appropriate attire to be worn out. I encountered a sense of freedom while wearing the pants,  and they made me feel happy while having them on.

I had ordered balloons for the market, but had forgotten to  pick them up on Saturday. As I walked by the floral department in the super market I see my pink, red, and white balloons just floating in a large white plastic bag. My memory instantly returns.  Oops! I paid for the balloons and then headed directly to the customer service counter, balloons in hand, saying to little kids, "would you like a balloon follow me!"

Picture this.. Lady wearing wide leg lounge pants holding a huge plastic bag of balloons coaxing small children to follow her. Wouldn't you know a friends husband comes in and is standing directly behind me at the counter. He says, " I would not trust a lady wearing her pajama's holding a large bag of balloons!" I began to hand out the balloons to children, while being engulfed in my wide leg lounge pant moments, and enjoying every one of them!

This weekend Julie and I are going to our twice a year flea market. I can't wait! I always find some super duper stuff.

Enter the Bittersweet October Giveaway!!!!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

Sunday Bliss, The Day After...

Can you say rain, and lot's of it? We certainly did see plenty of the drippy wet stuff yesterday while attempting to set up the Autumn Market outside.

As Bonnie arrived yesterday morning we sat contemplating over a cup of coffee on just how we were going to rally on and have the event. After all, what's a little, buckets of rain gonna put a damper on our party! Pun intended!

We pondered awhile and then decided we'd move the Market inside the studio. As I told one of the customers, we're crowded but comfortably cozy.

Why is it that sometimes when things don't work out the way you want, they work out better? Well, I'm not gonna get started on a long philosophical spiritual discussion like I usually do, but let's just say, you could feel the love in our small little corner of the world yesterday.

We had a marvelous time! We had a great turnout, and even though it was sometime bumper to bumper I enjoyed each and every moment. We had giveaways throughout the day to help brighten the gray skys outside.

I could have not been surrounded by better company! Both Heather & Bonnie are truly the sweetest souls, and they make the coolest stuff. Heather's husband Tate, is a great guy too! Their little company, "Catfish & Tater" is going to blow you away! They should have their web site up and running soon. You must check it out! Heather makes the cutest leather handbags, clutches, tee's, hoody sweat shirts, and , well, you must see for yourself. Heather's husband Tate, tattoo's the leather bags and they are incredibly cool and uniquely special!

 

Bonnie creates vintage style folk art. I wish I would have gotten more pictures of Bonnie's stunning work, but I was busier than a bee and every time I attempted to grab the tripod, I got lost doing something else. I purchased a couple of Bonnie's folk art pieces. I absolutely love both of these hand made creations! The little house is frosted with vintage glitter that Bonnie picked up at a flea market, and the Halloween Hat is soooo cute! She made this Bittersweet wreath too. She gave me the wreath as a gift, and I proudly display the orange wreath on my checkout table. Thanks Bonnie!

If anyone is interested in any of Heather's or Bonnie's work, send me an email and I'll hook you up. 

My friends Alan & Kurt from the flower shop dropped by with this beautiful arrangement. Alan incorporated a recycled lavender laundry powder bucket filled with fresh lavender. Too cute! Thanks Alan and Kurt, your the best!

I have many precious moments I'll carry forever in my soul from yesterday's event.

MERCI to all of my dear friends that stopped by yesterday.

Here are shots from the Autumn Market.

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

A Really Big Show!

Good old middle of the week. I am packaging giveaway goodies and preparing for Saturday.

The weather man has predicted a wonderful day for Saturday and it will soon be time to bake the Autumn treats and set up a tent or two.

I can't wait to share with you pictures of Leigh Ann and I, and friends of Bittersweet.

I'm planning to have an Autumn Market Saturday every Fall. I'm excited about the first one though!

I'll be signed off for a few days while busy working.

Don't forget to enter Bittersweets October Giveaway!

More sharing and caring giveaways each month from now until Christmas!!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Bittersweet

The past few days I have been receiving questions asking about Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens the plant.

Questions like, how to grow, when to cut, how to dry Bittersweet.

You may grow Bittersweet. You will need a female plant and a male plant to produce the orange berries. 

You may cut Bittersweet at any time, but unless you are familiar with the foliage or it's leaves, you may wish to wait until late Autumn, as the berries are beginning to open and the plant is easier to detect. I have always found Bittersweet growing next to fence rows along country roads.

I have fond memories of my family traveling country roads on a cool Sunday Autumn on the hunt  for the treasured twiggy plant. Bittersweet is becoming harder to find and requires a bit more driving in the country to stumble upon nowadays, but if you live in the areas listed above on the link, you will eventually come home with a bundle. Take a good cutting tool with you and some newspapers, as Bittersweet is sometime hard to cut, and the berries will stain if smashed or broken. When you find your treasured spot, don't cut all of it! You want to be able to return to the spot next Autumn to freshen your bundle.

Drying Bittersweet is simple. You simply cut the plant and arrange it in the container you've chosen. The orange berries open within a few days after it has been cut. You may strip the leaves of the plant if you prefer the orange berries without the green leaves.

My Mother would always wait until after a frost or two before picking Bittersweet, as then the leaves have fallen off and your left with the showy orange Fallish looking berries.

Bittersweet may be purchased already cut. Because of its rarity, and the fact that it's hard to find, it can be expensive. I've seen tiny posies sell for $20 or more.

Once cut, Bittersweet will last forever. I have found the best way to store the dried plant is to carefully wrap it inside newspapers. Some of the orange berries will fall from the plant, but if gently wrapped, you will enjoy your Bittersweet for Autumn's to come.

I hope this answers most of your Bittersweet questions.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Quiet Rainy Monday

I awoke this morning to a quiet rainy Monday. I love hearing the rain drops drip upon the roof of our cozy home.

I'll be sticking indoors today working on  last minute items for Saturday's Autumn Market. My list includes little Halloween Boxes, and wrapping lot's of soap!

Bonnie's bringing bundles of Bittersweet to sale at the market along with her unique and special folk art designs. I can't wait to see!

Heather is bringing her darling leather clutches, and her cute baby designs.

I've added pumpkin bars to the desert menu and the Bittersweet Gourmet Coffee is in house awaiting the large coffee pot. The  outdoor Autumn Market air will be filled with the aromatic coffee brewing.

I haven't gotten any pumpkins yet this season, so that's an item on my grocery list along with all the desert goody ingredients. It's been an unseasonably hot Autumn, and would imagine the pumpkins would have shriveled up from the heat.  I also need to purchase a new cash register. My old one shot craps!

I'm feeling excitement as the Market Day draws closer.

How about a new blog to checkout! Carol has a beautiful shop close by to Bittersweet.

I love it when I get to meet another local shop gal!

The October Pretty In Pink Giveaway is underway. Good Luck!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

 

Happy October

Happy October!

October is a happy month you know. The word October looks like a happy word to me too, maybe because it's representative of the number eight.

October marks the beginning of this little elfs busy season of preparing Christmas gifts for good little girls and boys to open on that special day. Considering the fact that I consider it to be a happy month, and pink is a happy color, the October Bittersweet Giveaway is appropriately chosen to be "Pretty In Pink"!

Pretty In Pink gifty box is filled with skin embellishing items like.. a bar of Bittersweet's signature Holiday Soap, Cranberry Spice, an Aromatic Room Fragrance in the same spicy sweet smell, to help you to have an aromatic holiday, a Lavender Liniment, just in case you get a cold and need some soothing relief, and a White Chocolate Lip Balm so you'll have lip smack-en soft lips to kiss with. Since it's happy October, you'll be doing lot's of kissing!

To enter..

Simply send me your name and write, I want to enter in the subject box.

Good Luck, and happy October!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Sweet Smelling Saturday Studio

Yesterday I was in the re-decorating mode and began changing the scenery in the Saturday Studio. I also bagged up some Bittersweet Potpourri and packaged some incense. I then merchandised the smell goods into the little English cupboard.

Incense is challenging to package. I don't like it wrapped in plastic. I wrapped a dozen of each scent into white paper tissue, similar to how flowers are packaged and then tied each bundle with red and white string. I used a vintage milk bottle holder to separate each fragrance stick, and hung little tags so customers will be able to tell what fragrance they are.

I whipped up a fresh batch of Shea Butter Face Creme and merchandised it on top of the apothecary cabinet on glass cake tiers.

The apothecary has always been a challenge to merchandise for me. I believe part of the problem is I have too many choices on display items. Things I pick up while out and about flea shopping. I spent a good part of the day merchandising the cabinet. My Aunt sent me these vintage style postcards a couple of years ago. I've always been fond of the cards, but wasn't sure how I was going to use them. I thought of framing each one, but that seemed pretty ordinary. I like the postcards in the apothecary cabinet. They make a great back drop for Bittersweet products. I had the soap in glass jars, but somehow I prefer the soap simply setting in the vintage cabinet.

   

Off to work I go...

Only a few short days left to enter the Bittersweet September Giveaway!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn Days....

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs to you Clarice)

Black Coffee and Seven Hundred Invites

   

I've been updating my mailing list the past day. It's not one of my favorite things to do. I believe it reminds me of work I don't like, so I have to psyche myself out and harbor good happy thoughts while inching away at the process. Setting and setting, and weeding through some three thousand names and addresses.

During the time I had a shop on the square, I always had a guest book for my customers to sign. I went through four guest books during those years Bittersweet was downtown!  I have placed the list on a data base so that I can utilize this significant marketing tool.

I was always surprised on how eager people were to sign the guest book. I initially thought most people would not want to take the time to sign the book, but I was wrong, again!

The guest book data base has been a valuable marketing tool, and it didn't cost me a dime.

For the Autumn Market I'm mailing out seven-hundred invites. Why seven-hundred? I don't know, just seemed like a good number to me.  During events such as this, I've been researching demographically which names/address were working in a productive way for Bittersweet. I'm finding they are all working, and productive, and I'm happy and proud to say!

I've made labels for each postcard, and I'll run each postcard through this machine. This was Patrick's idea, and a great idea too! Thanks Patrick, you never cease to amaze me with your Great Ideas! The postcard were printed, four to a page format, both front and back, and then black and white on antique card stock. Why? This is the most cost effective way to send seven-hundred invites.

Over the year's, I've found the best time to send invites is around two weeks before the event. I've tried three, even one, but two week's seems to be the magic number.

The magic number is coming right up! I can't believe it's already the end of the month! I'm gonna be eighty before I know it! Sure hope I'm still sending out invites and hosting events then!

Speaking of Magic Numbers!!There's still time to enter the September Giveaway! The computer will pick a lucky random magic number on Saturday, September 29th. Good Luck!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are most definitely better than ONE)

 

Plump Pumpkin, And Some Sweet Treat Recipes..

Yesterday morning while working downstairs, I heard Lily barking upstairs. I came upstairs to see what all the commotion was about, and as I looked out the kitchen window I noticed a  truck over- filled with pumpkins driving off. I knew immediately the knock on the door was our friend Jack. Jack sells real estate in our area, and has been a friend for a long time. Every Autumn Jack discreetly sets a pumpkin or two on our front stoop.

He sets pumpkins on all his real estate customers doors too. I think that's a wonderful gesture!

Back to our pumpkin.. I open the front door, and what to my wondering eyes but appear, a gigantic forty pound very plump pumpkin. I began to laugh and giggle as I looked at that huge pumpkin. We love the plump pumpkin! I had some difficulty rolling it over to the side stoop!

Speaking of plump pumpkins.. I'm planning my sweet treat menu for the Autumn Market.

I recently made whoopie pies, as seen on Martha's show. Talk about sweet to the lips, ---- for the hips. Three sticks of butter! Oh my!! Very tasty though, and what a great sweet treat for Halloween. I did not have muffin top pans, which by the way, I did not even know there was such a thing. I put the pans on my Christmas list! I used regular muffin pans, and I have to tell you, this is the best chocolate cupcake recipe I've ever used!

The chocolate cupcakes are part of my sweet treat menu. I'm icing them with orange icing.

I'm also making cookies. I'm using some new cookie recipes. Cookie Cutter Ginger Crisps sounded really good! I have a cookie cutter shaped like the leaf, and can't wait to fill a plate with these Autumn cookies.

It's such a good feeling to be caught up with everything! I even tidy ed up the Bittersweet work space. I'm thinking I will need the extra space for the Market.      

Patrick is turning fifteen next week, and we're having a birthday celebration on Sunday. We ordered the cake from our wonderful cake lady, and I've made the frozen punch. (I use strawberry banana jello.) We will make homemade ice cream on Sunday.

Jill's Homemade Ice cream Recipe:

1 quart of half & half.

2 pint of whipping cream

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

2 cups sugar

2 vanilla beans, open and remove vanilla seeds with sharp knife.

1/2 bottle of pure vanilla

Fill rest of ice cream container with milk to fill line.

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Plump Pumpkins And A Pink And Red Holiday

My plan to go to Leann's farm and get bittersweet yesterday afternoon was interrupted by a rain storm. I was as happy to see the rain, as I'll be to see the bittersweet. We've had an extremely dry hot summer in Missouri. The leaves have not began to change to orange and red yet, but I feel like it's just around the Autumn corner. I hope we have a colorful Autumn! Bittersweet will be colorful anyway!

I noticed the pumpkins are beginning to roll into the stores. I'm not sure where the stores get the pumpkins, but they all seem to be healthy plump pumpkins.

I am planning on having some white pumpkins this Fall, and I promised Kelly I'd send her some of the white pumpkin seeds. Usually our Fall Festival, which I believe is next weekend, always has white pumpkins.

Just a short distance in the country sets a huge pumpkin patch. Carolyn the owner, usually has a large variety of pumpkins and gourds to choose from. I might journey out to Carolyn's farm to check it out. I have a great idea for her!

The past few days I've been piddling. A little this, a little that. I made some new business cards for Bittersweet.  

I made these little boxes for a customer. She wanted the boxes for holiday gifts. Even though the boxes aren't the classic holiday look, I really like the colors. They are the same colors I'm using for Bittersweet Christmas 07. In each box I stuck in some Bittersweet potpourri, and then a bar of Cranberry Spice Soap. They are the cutest! I made more of the flower girl boxes since I like them so much. The little boxes are a soulful little gift!   

The goody bags are filled with a sample stick of Cinnamon Spice. I wrap each little stick to resemble an old fashioned stick of candy. They smell like Christmas! UPDATE! CINNAMON STICKS AVAILABLE WHY SUPPLY LASTS..

I'll be working on the web site today. I have items to list on Vintage Two. UPDATE! NEW ITEMS ADDED..

UPDATE! NEW BITTERSWEET ITEM..

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Bittersweet, the plant..

One of my favorite Fall plants has to be Bittersweet. I love its bright orange blossoms and its vine like twiggy stalks. In Missouri, the plant grows wild along country roads. I have a few secret spots that I go to every year and gather and cut its long stems so that I can use the colorful vine for Autumn decorating. I always and I stress the word always, bring home too, poison ivy. Well this year it is going to be different! A dear customer by the name of Leanne has Bittersweet growing along her fence at her farm, minus the poison ivy! She offered me the opportunity to come to her farm and pick some.  I'm heading out to the country this afternoon to do just that.

You can grow Bittersweet, although I have not, but would consider it in the future. Some believe Bittersweet to be a obnoxious plant, with its curly vines and tenors yearning to wrap its strong brown vines around any plant within its sight. I do not feel this way however. I have grown up with this lovely Fall plant.

I remember many Autumn Sunday's as a child driving out to the country with my Mom and Dad hunting for the orange blossomed plant. My Mother would bring the bittersweet indoors and place it in her brown country crock, and proudly display it on the fireplace mantel. For me, seeing the bittersweet on the mantel was a sure sign Autumn had arrived.

  I would much prefer real Autumn foliage over fake any day! I also go out to the country after the first frost and pick and cut other Fall foliage. That is the best time to cut it. It's kind of freeze dried so to speak. The woods are full of beautiful Autumn plants.

The graphic is a drawing of the plant my friend Gayle drew for me before she passed away. When Bittersweet first began back in 1997, this was the image I used for my logo. Times changed and along with that came changes with my company and my life, and I began  seeing Bittersweet and its definition in a different way, rather than naming it after a plant.

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn Days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none) 

Turn Around

I've been turning things around at the Saturday Studio the past few days. Merchandising old stuff with new stuff, and getting Bittersweet ready for the Autumn Market. I'm not purchasing new stuff, just making new things, and utilizing the old. I love to do that!

I'm having a difficult time finding a merchandising spot for the Morning Trousers in the studio. During the Autumn Market I plan to hang the Trousers and the Pinnies from clothesline, but in between, and in the studio I'm challenged by my small space.

Speaking of Autumn Market.. This is my back yard just outside the studio. My husband built this little house several years ago. I use the little house to store merchandising stuff, shipping items, and share a small corner with him. Isn't that terrible? I'm stingy with my space. The little house is equipped with electricity, so I'm going to use its front porch to serve the refreshments and coffee. Ladies love that Bittersweet Coffee! I only offer it during the winter months.

I am going to purchase a banner for the event that says, Autumn Market, The banner is  something I can use over and over, as I am planning on hosting this event each Fall. Banners are pretty cost effective advertising if you choose a basic one. I'm just going to ask for white banner with black font, maybe get a fancy font for the words. If your planning an event, it might be worth it to purchase a banner for the event. Banner's usually cost around fifty bucks.

Yesterday I used some of the new fabric to make more Dainty Tea Towels. They make a lovely gift accompanied with a bar of Bittersweet's olive oil soap, especially the Holiday Soap. I trimmed them in  vintage embroidered trim and they are so pretty! The studio, even though it's a small space houses most of my creations in a lovely way.

I love merchandising the vintage with the Bittersweet, it's a soulful thing.

We're half way through September.. Don't forget the September Pamper Hamper Giveaway!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

More Stuff

The third of the holiday soaps is setting waiting to be cut. Then it will have to set longer, several weeks to cure. I'm cutting it close, pun intended, to have the Velvet Spice ready by the Autumn Market, but it should be fine. Since I'm offering a new holiday soap this season, Cinnamon Spice adds some excitement to my holiday soap making. I still get excited when I make new soaps.

I'm working on a shampoo bar formulation. Basically it's the same recipe I've formulated to make Bittersweet, but with a few other oils stuck in, like Castor. Castor adds to the lather. Interesting too, I'll add a bit of  nettles. Nettles, according to folk lore is suppose to stimulate hair growth. Tea tree oil of course is a must have in a shampoo bar and lavender, and why I'm at it, I might as well stick in some Eucalyptus. Now I have a doggy shampoo bar as well as human bar.

I have been continually busy, both in planning the Autumn Market and making new stuff.

Yesterday I made this little apron. I got off track a bit after trying to figure out my camera on line and began visiting other blogs and stopped by Calamity Kim's where she was sharing this apron pattern from Better Homes and Gardens. I like BHG web site, and always think it's nice when anyone shares a pattern, reminds me of the olden days. Their web site, I thought was kind of Martha looking, nice web site with lots of info and ideas. You should check it out and check out Kim's site too, as it also has some great info listed.

Well anyway, once I saw that apron I knew I must give it a go. So here she is. I call her Marmalade Apron. I would like to add a version of this apron on Vintage Two. I like the style and the ruffles. I also figured out my camera. I was trying to set the self timer so I could get some shots of the pinnies. The manual wasn't much help, but the Internet was. Ya hooh!     

I've also repackaged the Natural Home Keeping Line of Products.

I like this vintage style label, it captures the product!

Those Wide Leg Loungers are sure comfortable, and another item I plan to have on Vintage Two soon.

  I have several pairs made, but I am having this little problem of giving them up. I'll soon be on the hunt for some flannel, so that I can make the wide legs even more cozy to wear.

Lastly, the Holiday Soaps.. I'm really pleased with the packaging on the Cranberry Spice. It's time consuming, but hey, it's only available once a year and besides, my customers deserve the BEST! The ribbon was on sale at my suppliers, so I stocked up knowing I was using it to wrap the holiday soaps.

Time to cut that Velvet Spice, and make Vanilla Mint. The combination of both vanilla and peppermint is true aromatic pleasure!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Crispy Missouri Autumn

I love Missouri Autumns! The mornings are heavenly crisp. You can feel  Autumn  pushing her way in front of summer. Summer finally stands aside and allows Autumn to stand alone in her short lived glory for the few short months to come. Miss Autumn discreetly paints the trees with colorful shades of orange, red, and yellow. Summer flowers are replaced with Chrysanthemums, and bright orange pumpkins begin to appear all over my little town.

As I walk through my neighborhood, the aroma of evening meals travels through open windows escaping in the cool Autumn air.

I begin to ponder the thought of baking, and switch my mind toward Oatmeal Raisin Cookies rather than Chocolate Chip. Pumpkin Bread, Cream Puffs, and Rice Pudding, three of my favorite's this time of year.

My Bloggy friends capture Autumn too. You must check out my friend Clarice's blog, and her charming take on Autumn.

Autumn scurries by so fast, we need to allow ourselves time to enjoy its arrival, for it will soon depart and allow it's big brother, Winter to take its place.

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

What was I thinking?

Maybe it was the cooler mornings, or possibly the long evening walks through my neighborhood. Could it have been since this is my busiest time of year, I didn't feel like it was busy enough?  What the heck was I thinking?

Yes, I began working on Bittersweet's web site again. You know, there's always room for improvement! For the moment, and I would really like to stress the word MOMENT, that I am happy with the progress.

One of the things that really bugged me about the site was the fact that I had so many different products listed on the same page, and you would have to scroll down to see the entire list of items. I really don't like that! So, I'm tweaking those pages, and adding a new page for each product.

Now I'm scrambling to get it finished so that I can finish orders and get back to the planning for the Autumn Market. Have I told you how excited I am about that market? Oh yes, I know I have, but again, I am so excited!

Sandy dropped by yesterday and showed me some of her wares she'll be offering at the market. Too cute! She will share both Autumn and Christmas items. 

I picked up a few Autumn flowers at the nursery, and the details for the market are falling into place. Pun intended!

I'm still soaping, and sewing and gluing, and varnishing, and glittering, and have some new ideas up my sleeve for the upcoming holidays. I have some of the holiday soaps packaged in their festive wrappings, and they look so pretty, I can't wait to show you. I feel like the kid in school before "show and tell!"

September is rolling by. Don't forget to enter this months drawing where you'll win skin nourishing products from yours truly, and my favorite little company, Bittersweet! You will love the face creme!! Drop me a line, I want to enter, and your name, I'll add you to the list.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

*Autumn on my mind*

My mind is stuck deep into Autumn. Every year about this time I begin to wish for cooler weather and a change from the same old same old. Yesterday Bonnie and Gretchen stopped by the studio and we began talking about how we all start getting tired of summer around this time. I do believe my yearning for Autumn  has arrived a bit earlier than past years. This feeling usually doesn't appear until late August.

Yesterday afternoon I began transforming a few Saturday Studio corners into glimpses of Autumn.

Both Lennis and Patrick commented.."Isn't it a bit early for Fall decorating"? I replied, "NO"!

I would agree in non-retail life it is probably a bit premature for Fall decorating, but here at the studio it's never been a more perfect time. It jazzes me up for my busy time.

A splash of Fall leaves here and there, that's it!

I have a little shelf lined with couture cartons, and hanging below, some dainty tea towels.  

I have huge plastic containers I store my herbs and potpourri in. I began digging through the containers for cloves and allspice so that I can mix the two with lavender and make more vintage quilt sachets.

I'll be making new soaps, and sewing more heat pillows, and.....

I'm also planning on hosting an Autumn Celebration sometime in October, so I'm planning for that too.

Yes, I have Autumn on my mind again today.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none) 

Festival Delight

Today starts the beginning of our annual Fall Festival on the Liberty Square. I've talked about my town before. The event is sponsored by our local Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce.

The festival runs the entire weekend, attracting people from surrounding towns and cities, usually totaling around thirty-thousand attendees before the weekend ends.

Included in this event.. Arts & Crafts, Festival Food, Live Music, Barbecue Contests, Tons of Children's Activities, Parade, and lastly, hopefully, browsing in the charming little downtown shops..

Saturday morning around eleven, the parade begins. I love parades! Who doesn't like parades? We also have a Christmas parade in December. Santa arrives in Liberty on his shiny red sled.

Liberty is an extraordinary town, and houses extraordinary people.

It's things that make my life a little more interesting..

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)