Bittersweet and the little soap company

Happy May Day!

This day evokes sweet happy memories!

When I was a young girl May Day was a day that stood out from the rest. I remember  mom picking fresh seasonal blooms from her garden and carefully placing them in tin cans. She embellished the May day bouquets with pretty tissue and ribbons. I have fond memories of helping pick the flowers and arranging them in the pretty little hand made posies. Mom would make holes on the side of the and insert pipe cleaners for handles. She'd usually tuck a piece of chocolate in amongst the blooms.   

Then with May day bouquets in hand we traveled here and there throughout the neighborhood mostly to elderly neighbors homes. May Day tradition of course was to hang the posie on the door and hide, but mom preferred knocking and presenting the May day bouquet to the recipient in person.

I can still to this day remember the smiles and happiness those simple little bouquets brought to the neighbors we delivered them to.

I guess that is why May day is special to me.

Sweet soulful memories wrap themselves around this day.

 
Enjoy a caring and sharing May day.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Singing Spring forever and ever...

I know every year you hear me say this! "This is going to be my favorite spring!" I guess the reason those feelings and that reoccurring phrase happen is simply because of the excitement and anticipation I feel when spring brings forth the birth of new idees and Bittersweet creations.

Centered around...

 A passion for making pure|clean|simple and those three words also help inspire me to create new things .

I can't imagine doing anything ~ else... 

To sum it up in a glorious metaphor. Just as Goldy Locks finally found the perfect resting place so have I!

This one feels just right!

My grandmother Lola used to tell that bedtime story in her unique extraordinary bedtime story style. I can still remember hearing her say those words. I loved it when we came to that part of the story. She needed no book with pictures to illustrate her story, only her voice.  Although I heard it over and over and knew Goldy Locks would eventually discover her perfect bed hearing my grandma tell that story evoked the same anticipated warm happy feelings each and every time I heard her tell it.  

As a child I thought the loving gesture of telling a bedtime story was the best gift ever! But as I grew to an adult I discovered my grandma blessed me with an even bigger gift. Sweet happy childhood memories that forever  remain a positive impact on how I live my life. Those memories have definetely helped to shape who I am.  

Spring is a time of renewal.

A time to reflect and take note.

To take things in stride.

A time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of Gods creations.

For me remembering those happy days gone by memories help to make spring feel more soulful and real.

Every day I take a break from my work and take Elle outside to run and play outside. Some days are testing as I'm usually so busy with work that  I feel there is no time for an interlude. However having said that I've also come to realize you must take time to stop and smell the flowers.

A most amazing thing happened yesterday!  Elle discovered butterflies! She became engrossed and began chasing them and trying to snatch em up. It was the funniest thing to watch!

I couldn't help but ponder that day last July 2,  as I sat in the car dealership with Patrick to help him purchase a new car.  I was extremely sad about losing Lily and even more sad as she died in my arms.  

That day I sat  patiently, mostly because of my somber mood awaiting the car dealer guy to present his next really good deal a song came on the radio.

It was that song, the seventies song that Heart sang. Dog and Butterfly. I remember how sad I felt hearing that song play  the day after Lily died in my arms.  You may remember me writing about that day.

Then yesterday as I watched Elle attempt to catch butterflies I once again remembered that song only this time a smile appeared on my face.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00  

reflection

Before I get to talking about home-keeping essentials and other stuff. How about those Oscars! I'm not sure why last nights performances fed my mood in a more exciting way than years past Oscars. Hollywood was on top of their game last night. The set, the stars, the dialog, the gowns, all Oscar driven and Hollywood at its best, I believe. I can't begin to imagine the work that goes into putting on such a show.  It's a glamorous life those Holly-woods have! Three cheers to hollywood! Three cheers. Oh I almost forgot...

My annual Oscar picture... Air-brushed of course...I had a tiny malfunction with my wardrobe similar to what J.Lo experienced but that aside, the camera captured the moment.  

I'd like to thank the soap guild and the Acadamy, merci.

The past few weeks have been non-stop. Between production, packaging modifications and manufacturing there aren't very many hours left in the days, nights to play. Last night offered some quality down time. Thank you Oscars.

On to business...

 
I love this line of fabric.Sandi Henderson is the designer. It's from her Ginger Blossom line of textiles.  Each time I look at this pattern I'm reminded of my grandma Lola. Most all of her fabrics capture some sweet memory of  soulful summers past. That's a picture of one of the little half aprons. You may remember the "sassafras apron" from a few years ago. I love the long flounce on these aprons! They're designed from a 1964 apron pattern.

The Enid apron. Inspired by my great aunt Enid.

You may recall me talking about my lovely great aunt Enid. She was a vintage version of  Martha Stewart! She had numerous talents and an expert in many. Two of which were sewing and baking. Her fascinating life story would make a wonderful book!

Sometimes I feel like I need to live at least two lifetimes to complete the many projects that swirl in my head!

I'm very blessed to have a rich family history and heritage. Most of my designs and idees are cultivated and inspired by the characters in my life and the souls that surrounded me while growing up. I also secure golden memories of the creativity that they possessed and attempt to pass those sweet memories into my designs. It's really all about the love that I feel for each of them. All memories soul satisfying and complete.

Whether it be the moment I push the nasturtium seedlings down into the dirt or the days filled making soap, an abundance of sweet thoughts and happy memories encompass and outline what's to come.

What we need is lots of soap! Remember the story behind that phrase, post  a few years ago?

Another treasured memory association.

Enjoy caring and sharing soon to be spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

    

      

 

 

 

    

friendship

Ah, it was sunny and warm again yesterday. I spent most of the day outside shooting Bittersweets.

A tweak in the original prototype "friendship savon" above. Actually a few changes were made.

Last night while laying in bed I began thinking about a dear freind that has passed. Her name was Gail. My friend possessed an endless number of talents. One of which included being a top-notch seamstress and designer. Her creativity had no boundaries and I was always amazed with her pioneer ideas. My sweet friend passed away from breast cancer 11 years ago. I think of her often and occasionally those thoughts lend a hand in my designs. I like to think that Gail is watching down over me as I sit at my sewing machine.

I have fond memories of days spent with my friend. A smile appears on my face as I recollect visiting my friend at her lovely home. When I first arrived she would always ask me if I wanted a cup of chamomile tea. We sipped our tea from beautiful china and discussed current goings on, usually the conversation was surrounded with creative ideas. She always had wonderful Bittersweet creation idees.  

Gail's garden was as delightful as she. I was in awe with her enchanted outdoor space. As I walked amongst the holly hocks and phlox  it felt as though I had traveled to a far-a-way place. She would always have her digging tool in hand and without hesitating or saying a word would stick it in the ground over a tiny young seedling of bleeding hearts or queen Anne's lace. Then she carefully placed them in a clay pot and assigned me as their new keeper. Those treasured memories shine bright!

Yesterday as I pondered new Bittersweet idees my mind flashed back to those soulful days.

I thought about how during those days my friend recognized that my sewing skills were in the developing stage. As she taught me some of her sewing secrets her patience remained steady and consistent and I can remember her pretty smile as she guided me with a new design.

As I cut the tiny friendship squares with ric-rack edges I think of Gail.

She had helped me design cloth bags to hold bath salt. Since I was so green with my sewing abilities she cleverly blueprinted a label that need not be hemmed but rather cut with ric-rack scissors. How clever I thought.

Those tender memories assisted me in creating the "friendship soap sacs."

What a joyful feeling to sit at my sewing table cutting tiny squares with ric-rack scissors reminiscing about my friend Gail.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

Creative thoughts

Firstly, thank you for the snow berry♥ love.  I know you will enjoy the beautiful berry just as I do. My home is filled with snow berries! I'm hoping my new supplier, grower, a local one, YEAH, will be able to keep up with supply and demand. However, having said that,  I know the berries blooming time is short and it is a seasonal item so every once in awhile we will run out of stock.

In years past, I've always felt New Year's resolutions to be too much of a burden but this year I did make a specific declaration.

For the past few years something has nagged at my shirt tail and pecked on my soul-der.

No I did not misspell that word.

Those feelings are centered around designing and creating.

As a designer I sometimes feel overwhelmed and overloaded by the many stimulating applications and visuals that are available nowadays. I know that is normal to have these feelings. The reason I know this...

I remember sitting in art class one day and my teacher asking me, "Jill, what do you feel like creating?" I would ponder his question and then reply, "I'm not sure, but it should be different and unique and speak to me in a way that comforts my soul both inside and out. The piece should flow ever so freely and capture that moment in which it was created. After all, that moment will never return and the creation will retain the moment forever.  Yeah, that's it! He agreed.

It seemed to take little effort back then to create. Place a pencil and piece of paper in my hand and let my mind wander. The human hand is a wonderful thing I thought to myself as I began drawing the fine lines and half moons, shadowing and contouring with only one instrument, a number two pencil. How remarkable!

I was fortunate in having what I refer to as "the best art teacher in the world!" Yes indeed. Mr. Kiesling allowed me to create whatever my heart desired.

Over the four years in that class I created a vast variety of unique pieces. 

Some of my favorite memories include creating jewelry designs on paper then making a cast of that design, filling the cast with silver or gold. I can still remember the anticipation I felt while waiting for the kiln to set the design. It seemed it took forever! Then once it cooled and the finished piece could be knocked out of the mold and polished and primed to original design perfection.

I made other kinds of jewelry too. Have you ever taken a thin piece of silver and shaped it into a ring? First of course you start with an original design on paper. Then you cut and solder and sand and buff the piece. I remember getting anxious and excited to be able to finally place the ring upon my finger!  

Another Mr. Kiesling art class creation that stands out...

The hooked rug. We're talking original hooked rugging okay. This is how it works... You create a design on paper then transfer the paper to burlap. You then hook follow your design by hooking yarn into the artwork. It's a wonderful feeling to hook your way to an original designed rug. You then spray the back with sealer.

I feel blessed and privledged to have had those artful oppurtunities.

To this day my creativity is at its best with minimal stimulation. Too much of the s word and I get lost amongst it. 

This New Year I pledge to be true to my idees.

If something appeals only to me, that's okay. I will follow my design heart and my creations will reflect those thoughts pure and simple.

I'm going back to my roots....

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one) 

  

 

  

Crafty Christmas continues...

During my childhood and teen years I was surrounded by family that made things. I don't ever recall  not LOVING to create with my hands.

In high-school a special opportunity came that offered both myself and some of my classmates four years of art rather than three. Needless to say, I could have skipped the Math & Spelling classes and hung out with art all day! That's obvious by my lack of proper homonym use and punctuation that appear in my posts. Although, I did become a bank manager later.

 I remember as a very young girl visiting my Great Grandmothers farm in Iowa. I must have been around six years old. After a brief greeting to grandma, I was off to explore the Iowa countryside. I was fascinated with the smooth round river rocks that were scattered throughout grandmas farm. I picked up a couple to bring home with me pondering on the car ride home just what shall I do with such beautiful creations? Those feelings so close I can feel them now! The two rocks sat in our home for several years and then one day I remember drawing our family cats face, Dandelion on one of the rocks. I still have that rock! Hard to believe the drawing still appears as I drew it with pencil.

Those soulful thoughts continue as I reminisce about our family traveling through this great countryside and how when we came across the wheat fields of Kansas I would ask my mom and dad to stop the car so that I could pick some wheat to make bread! I must have been around eight years old. I was flabbergasted with the beauty of those golden rolling hills.

Sweet handmade memories continue as I recall my sweet Grandmother Lola always had a blank canvas,oil paints, brushes and turpentine sitting in the corner of her bedroom. The artist ingredients were always readily availble in case grandma had the urge to create a masterpiece! That's what I thought anyway. No one on this earth could tell bedtime stories like my grandma! Her narration of the "Three Bears" was indescribable! Goldy Locks was a second runner up.

My mother was also a soulful craft er. I have oodles of  memories of making things with my mom. She put her love and creativity into everything. One day while at school, she decorated my bedroom with new wicker chairs and parasols and sisal rugs. (Now your know why I love parasols.) She made ceramic ginger jars to match the striped walls in my room. The excitement I felt when she showed me the ginger jars she had made still rings with me now! My mom shared something else too. She allowed me to be me!  She told me how beautiful my bedroom walls were after I painted them in cream, black and orange stripes. She made the coolest hippest halter tops and both her and my dad each had a motorcycle. I remember hearing them on Friday nights discussing and planning their itinerary for Saturday's bike travels. Usually there journey took them to old abandoned towns or forgotten farms. The bikes allowed them to explore further as most of the places were hidden deep within the woods. There love for days once had places was a common bond.

 Present day and needless to say those warm memories and growing up with kindred spirits made me who I am today! Some fifty-two years later and my life continues to be enriched with creative notions and evolving thoughts of handmade designing.

A favorite quote:

Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that you live, if you do.

Elizabeth Bowen

Gifts made from paper

A journey into past gifts made from paper...

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Wamly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

state of being...

 
The studio is in a mellow interim state. Boxes sitting, opened but not put away, holiday soaps sitting, waiting to be wrapped. It's the in-between stage.

By the way... After posting that the patchouli soap was available I forgot to say that it had not been listed on the web site yet. It is listed now! Sorry for the confusion Patchouli fans. 

Experienced some server issues yesterday, but have since figured out the problem and it has been resolved and we're up and running!

 Happy Day! Today is Patrick's birthday! For you new readers out there, Patrick is my son. He turns 19 today. Last night I began pondering more happy thoughts about the day this kid was born.

A personal story...

Water breaks, contractions a minute a part, but felt like a little pinch, no biggy. Called the Dr. she says, oh this is your first time, it's probably going to be awhile. I say, I'm not too sure about that, I feel like it's coming fast. She responds, you can come to the hospital if you like. I answer, yes, I believe that is a good idea!

Arrive at the hospital and park the car in the parking garage. Walk up 4 flights of stairs! Arrive into admitting and tell the front desk lady. I'm here to have my baby. I suspect she thought I was scheduled for a cesarean. Then I tell her, yes, my water has broke and my contractions are a minute apart. Oh my she says, shouldn't you be upstairs? I answer, I guess, should I?

She insists I sit in a wheel chair and takes me through the elevator to the 4th floor. The nurse examines me and says, you are at 4 centimeters. That's good I say. I tell her I'd like to take a shower and brush my teeth before giving birth. She says okay.

After the shower, the nurse comes in the room and says you should lay in the bed. No sooner than I lay down and everyone leaves the room I have a strange urge to push! I thought, should I call the nurse back in the room? I do and she comes in and I tell her, I feel like I need to push! She examines me and says, well, no wonder, you are ready to have this baby! Oh good, I say.

She looks at my white lace gown my aunt Viv had given me as as gift. You can't wear that gown, you'll ruin it. Oh yes, I will just pull it up, I say.

Dr. arrives and I overhear her talking with the nurse. Should we give her an iv? No I don't think we have time?

After a couple of pushes Patrick is born!

Don't be mad at me!

I had a more than natural childbirth at the hospital!

After giving birth, the nurse says, wow, you are going to sprint out of here aren't you?

Actually, I was eye balling the small bag of peanut m'm's I'd brought when I first arrived. That childbirth sure does make you hungry!

Patrick has been a joy to raise over the years. 

He's excelled in many things and continues to push himself to be the best he can be.

Now he's going to college, working a full time job and a part time job!

He's apartment searching too! News of that later....

Patrick has requested a special dinner for tonight. Brisket, scalloped potatoes, green rice and M'J's homemade rolls. Oh and chocolate cake!

Taking the day off to prepare all that!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs to Patrick) 

 

Vintage thoughts

 
I dug out my favorite old jean jacket the other day from the closet and placed her on the wicker dress form that sits in the studio.

Do you recall me saying how my grandma Lola used to call jackets, wraps? The very first time I heard her tell me, don't forget your wrap, it's chilly out. I did a double take. After thinking about the word, I thought, that is exactly what a coat or jacket is. Why don't we call them that anymore? Another vintage word! 

That jacket now considered vintage, was purchased in 1985. Believe it or not it was difficult back then to find a girls Levis jean jacket so I ordered it from J.C. Pennys boys department.

So funny how an article of clothing brings back memories. When it was purchased I was single and working as a bank manager. I wore it to the bank almost every day! Present day, and I still wear the jacket. even though it's tattered. Somehow it's managed to be worn in all the right places!  Isn't it funny how certain articles of clothing like this jacket evoke happy, feel good thoughts! 

I've used the old jacket for dispays at shows before and every single time ladies as me if it is for sale. I recall a lady getting upset when I told her the jacket was NOT FOR SALE! She stamped off with a boorish face, muttering why do you have it on display if it's not for sale. 

Needless to say, I can see why she was so upset. She was in desperate need of some happy feel good thoughts!

  1985 Levis jean jacket memories, priceless!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)   

 

Great grandfather no. 3

I'm switching up my usual soap talk to discuss civil war history.  

 
A year of so ago a man by the name of Jay Jackson phoned me explaining he was writing a booklet about the battle of blue mills which took place during the civil war. He had heard my great, great, great grandfather, Daniel Strope was one of the four soldiers killed during the bloody battle and was interested in information I might have to include in his book.

My mother had often spoke of Daniel and the battle.  I always had a strange yearning to research and find out more details about him but never found the time to pursue it.

One of the things that always bothered me was that mom always said Daniels body had been brought back to Wm. Jewell campus and buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on the grounds. Every time mom mentioned the old civil war story I would always ask her, so mom, you don't know where his body was buried? She would reply, no, somewhere on the campus in an unmarked grave.

I often walked the beautiful campus and always wondered if the ground I walked over was atop my ggg grandfathers remains. 

 
Always,  my feelings of concern stemmed from the fact that an unmarked grave didn't seem justified.

The same week I received the phone call from Mr. Jackson I received an email from my aunt telling me her daughter, and my cousin, Nancy was researching Daniels family and how she had dug up interesting facts. NPI.  

Jill,

 

My grandmother was MINNIE MAY STROPE GORDON ALEXANDER

Her father was WILLIAM K. STROPE

His father was DANIEL STROPE (therefore he was your Great-Great-Great Grandfather.

 

I am mailing you some printouts of the research Nancy has done but this will  answer the question as we know it for the professor writing the book.

 

Danielwas born in New York approximately 1830 or 1831, according to the 1860 Census  We don't know how he got to Missouri from there, but at Age 19 Daniel married Nancy Parker and they lived in Caldwell, County, MIRABLE, MO.   Sometimes those Census takers misspelled names and took things down wrong but if we can trust it, they had these children.

George B. boy age 9, J.F.girl age 7, William R. age 3, N.E.,a girl age 1.  There was also another girl age 7 (same as their daughter) named N.J. Sturgess,  and we have not found who this is.  It is likely she was orphaned and they took her in, OR she was possibly a slave child.  I know the Missourians were on the side of the South, and a bitter war was raging.  In those days GIRLS names were often left out or known by initials only.  Many relatives from the Strope family are buried in Mirable, Caldwell County, MO.  We often use a website "FIND A GRAVE" but find nothing on any of these descendants of Daniel.   It is somewhat out of the ordinary that we have not found any record of his marriage to Nancy either but there were gaps, scholars say, in record-keeping during the Civil War.

 

We have documentation of him at the Battle of Blue Mills in Liberty and that he signed up as a Private with the Caldwell County Home Guard in 1861 so he was 30 or 31 years of age.  I'll mail you his registration as a Private reporting to Capt. James (no relation to my James family).  It is hand written that he DIED IN BATTLE Sept. 16, 1861 and since he enlisted in the Army on  Aug. 30, 1861 that would mean he was killed in battle after being there only 17 days! 

 

In addition to the Home Guard record, I am mailing you a copy of his PENSION,  It was payable to William K. his father and ??? something indecipherable --could it have been his mother or ??? and why not payable to his widow?  We can't tell.  There is a line on the form for "Widow" but it is blank.

 

I hope this helps.  As Nancy progresses with our genealogy I'll send you copies of everything she finds. 

Love, 

Aunt Glenna (Glenna Walker James, granddaughter of Minnie May Strope) 

 

It is likely Daniel was buried on the battlefield, for I too always heard he was not in the cemetery in Liberty but had been buried on the land that is now William Jewell college. 

  

   

I was quite pleased to obtain the history details and in an odd way felt the phone call and email occuring within the same week was a sign. A sign from Daniel himself possibly, and an opportunity to experience feelings of closure over the folklore that surrounded the story I'd grown up with.    

Daniel fought and lost his life in the battle of blue mills on September 17, 1861.

The New York times published an article about the battle and you can read more here  if you're intersted.

Mr. Jackson emailed me last week asking if I could be present for a reinactiment on the court house steps this Saturday. He said I would be announced as a descendent of Daniels. I told him I would be honored to attend. I'm sure the event will touch my soul and feel my heart with content as well as add final freedom feelings.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)