Bittersweet and the little soap company

December 21, my birthday for fifty years...

I turn 50 today!

Funny, I used to think 50 sounded really old, but now, It's  just  a number. Considering last years mix up on the age thing, do you remember? I thought I was turning 50 last year, but to my surprise, 49!

I'm blessed to be healthy and happy, and my body minus the menopausal pop-ups doesn't feel fifty at all.

No big plans today. Dropping off Christmas presents to friends, picking up a few last minute good cheer items and going out to dinner with Lennis.

It's the shortest day of the year you know, so the day will go by quick!

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Pondering some serious Mellow Thoughts...

 
I can't put my finger on it. It's there, kind of hanging from a string in my Christmas corners, just hanging...

As though a spotlight is shining on just part of the picture and you feel as though something is hiding in the shadows, dark shadows...

That's how I feel...

I'm so very thankful for all that I have, so thankful... 

Christmas is my favorite time of year, usually...

This year my mind travels back and forth...

Thoughts of our countries future, really trying to keep the white light gleaming within my heart and soul...

 Concerns about others...worries...and saddened by others selfish ways... All of those feelings I have...

Dealing with those feelings, sometimes a challenge...Keeping the white light of GODS love glowing brightly within my heart and thinking, Peace on earth, Goodwill towards men... and,  Do Unto Others, yes... I really try to live by the last three words...

Pondering these mellow thoughts...

We all have them... I'm just like you...

Oh Holy Night, The Stars are Brightly Shining...

Enjoy caring and sharing days...

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Some Stuff

Christmas is a busy time for Bittersweet. The hustle and bustle of preparing  hand-made soaps and goods is pretty much non-stop. In between the craziness though is some planning for my family's holiday meals. I mentioned I'm using some of Mary Jane's  recipes for Thanksgiving, excited to try those. I'm also composing a menu for Christmas Eve.

I love Christmas Eve! My family comes over, we have a small family, Dad, Step Mom, Brother, and his lovely wife.  The meal I prepare is important to me, as I want it to be special.

This season, Holiday 09 I've decided to prepare this..

 

  Cornish Hens with Barley-Mushroom Stuffing. Yummy! I found the recipe in an old Southern Living cookbook.

At the moment my home looks anything but holiday ready. I've moved my sewing machine upstairs into the dining room and pinnie fabric is strung from corner to corner. Cookbooks line the studio as well as shipping boxes and oodles of unwrapped holiday soaps. It's the not so calm before the storm I call it!

Relax, take a deep breath and don't stress the small stuff. That's what I tell myself this time of year, every year! If I didn't, the joy of the season would be carried off and wasted...

Christmas is a time for caring and sharing, I believe and I try not to loose sight of that.

The days and weeks go so fast anymore that I try to cherish each and every one. Even if they are bad days, don't have those too much, but if I do, then I cherish those too. For without the bad, we would not appreciate the good!

I have a few more things to share from the market. I received a gift from one of the vendors, and my dear bloggy friend Leigh Ann visited me and presented  a gift too. Leigh Ann you are the sweetest!!

Blabbering on again, aren't I?

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

  

A lighter approach

 
This holiday season Bittersweet will be taking on a lighter approach with their designs. I'll probably carry those less than more thoughts through to my personal seasonal decor too.

Those lighter feelings seem to be shared by others too. I have noticed more and more,  shops and little boutiques are merchandising with much less these days. I can't hide those feelings and thoughts that current days are challenging for a great number of people. Some have lost their homes, jobs and livelihoods. Men and woman continue to secure our great country, for us, only for us! 

I would be lying if I told you that I was not concerned about our current state of nation. As a small business owner that feeds my family from the fruits of my labor, I am always focused and concerned about the future at hand.  

Wait, I don't want you to get the wrong idea here!

My concern..

I want to continue to live in a country that is the home of both ,"the land of the free, and the home of the brave." Just as our founding fathers intended, without either, our country would not be any where that it is today! Just my personal thoughts friends...

My ideals center around those two words, and probably always have. Even when I didn't put much thought into the subject, those two words always stood tall in the back of my mind.  

Bittersweet continues to survive as a small business through  hard work.  That has never changed, regardless of what the economy is doing. Those old sayings like, "the early bird gets the worm", and "hard work pays off", aren't just made up phrases. They hold true in most  business ventures, and I'm sure were written by a small business owner! I work harder owning my own business than I ever did working for someone else! You small business owners know how it works!

There are so many things to be thankful for in our country. Our founding fathers knew what they were doing!

We mustn't forget those two important words in our national anthem. They mean a great deal and should not be taken lightly.

As the holiday season approaches, less is more will continue to be in my thoughts. We mustn't forget, the most important things in life aren't from holding something in your hand, and less of course it is a hand!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)    

the last blooms of summer..

 
These are the last summer blooms in my garden. The Cosmo's and Marigolds hang on to Summer, just barely.

In the Midwest the seasons Fall into perfect balance with one another. Sometimes they twist and turn and go back and forth, but eventually balance out to what is expected of them.

I had Bittersweet feelings as I took this final shot of Summer. You know that feeling... A yearning for something different and new, but yet still wanting to hold onto what's left behind. That big word, CHANGE.

As I ponder those simple thoughts I have to admit I'm really excited about the upcoming seasons, and although the unknown is kind of scary sometimes, the thought of knowing can me scary too. Oh no, I'm headed for another one of those philosophical Jill discussions!!

Anyway... Just some private thoughts I'm sharing.

I hope your future, Summer, Winter's, Spring and Fall's are filled with love and caring and sharing moments. Personally I believe that's what makes them so special.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Pop-u-lar

Many of you have asked, what sold at the show?

The answer, soap, little boxes, lavender liniment, and herbal hand spray were my most popular Bittersweet items sold.

 

The Nouveau packaging was hot as well as the brightly colored packaged soaps.

 

It's funny how different things sell each time. Most of the time my instincts can give me some insight on what will sell, but I have been wrong too.

The lavender liniment is always popular this time of year and the new Bittersweet product, The Herbal Hand Spray, with all the talk of flu so early in the season, I can tell folks are concerned. As they should be. It really is a matter of keeping your hands clean.

When I had the shop downtown, there were runs on different Bittersweet products/items each day. It was quite interesting to watch and see which items one the popularity award for the day/week. It assisted me in doing market research for my little hand-made company. 

My to-do list is continuing to expand. Holiday Soaps in the works, Open House, not sure when though, Garage Sale, next weekend during our Fall Festival. I figured if I'm going to have a dreaded garage sale, I might as well plan it when there are oodles of people in town. I'll let you know how my strategy works. 

Studio is taking on some new curves and I'm planning on designs for the next Vintage Market show which is coming the second week of November. 

 The Saturday Studio is open this Saturday.

I'll be on a BB for a short time getting caught up on some projects and getting some orders shipped.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Cupcake Wine

 

Recently at a trip to the market I happened upon this wine.  I've been experimenting and trying different wines, both red and white.

It's still really hot out, but I need to go and get car licensed inspected and all that fun stuff. My car has very little mileage but our state still requires a vehicle inspection, kind of silly, I think. I just go to my regular mechanic, the same one I've been going to for some twenty-five years, he's a great guy too.

Orders are all shipped and should be arriving soon.

Pondering some sad thoughts about Saturday nights dinner with Lennis's family. I kind of have to keep those thoughts to myself, but feel that sometime's family members can be your worst critics, can't they? Moving on..

Enjoy caring and sharing Hot Summer days.

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Reflecting

The past few days I've been reflecting on Saturday's show. Pondering the experiences and thinking about the people I met  that day.

To my right sat Patty, a fifth grade art teacher and  a twenty nine year veteran.  She was very nice and talked passionately about her teaching job, and as she talked that large white flower Patty wore on her jacket began to come to life, well not really, but oh how I love to hear a teacher talk passionately about their work. I so appreciate the hard work that teaching entails. I believe it is one of the hardest jobs, especially nowadays. When Patty's not teaching, she enjoys painting. She had some lovely paintings, and I too admired her talent. 

 \

Over to my right, Linda. She was one of those people you can't help but like. Cheery and kind. I felt like I already knew Linda, and we struck up several great conversations. Linda offers really cool baubles and fun funky chunky jewelry. 

 

I met lot's of nice people on Saturday.

Working on this Saturday's May Day event now. Planning the deserts, Lemon Bars and Magnolia's Vanilla Cupcakes, and cleaning the studio.

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Pondering thoughts..

     

This picture was taken about this time some three years ago when I first began blogging.

Little did I know during those first few months how blogging would transform itself into this wonderful  tool that allows me to channel my simple soap makers life stories.

Today, three years later I ponder those thoughts even more. 

During this time of tattered economic times I believe blogging is more meaningful than it was three years ago, but first, let's go back, I'm jumping ahead.   

The other day I was thinking about  how after three years of blogging how it would be so very easy to stop!

Yes, I know you are surprised to know that, considering my posts are consistent and frequent. It's true. I had almost made my mind up to stop blogging. I mean seriously, this blogging thing, can it last forever? Isn't it becoming wore out and depleted?

The economy is falling apart, the country is cluttered and jumbled  in a way I never ever imagined it could become  in my wildest Midwest simple girl dreams. 

So why blog, doesn't it seem frivolous and insignificant during these battered times?

No it isn't!

Now more than ever, blogging is efficacious and sturdy.  I believe it to be a beneficial tool in the economic recovery process within our hearts and souls. I know, that's deep Jill! 

For some, blogging is an affordable recreation. For others, like myself it offers therapeutic down time and a positive flow of energy that usually starts my day. 

Regardless of the motives for blogging, the  friendships we build through blogging are honored and cherished. None of which would exist without this corresponding tool. 

I believe blogging will continue to hold strong. I hope that it does. It's comforting to know that some things don't change even in uncertain times. 

I'll continue to write my almost daily posts as they put a smile on my face and a skip in my jump!

Enjoy caring and sharing happy blogging days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

One Day

Oh my, I feel so much better this morning.

Thank you for allowing me to beg for your sympathy, I apologize, the cry for your affection was driven by my fever that held me hostage the past few days.

As soon as I awoke I could tell that the fever had broke.  I even had this strange feeling of euphoria and happiness take over me. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. 

I'm a pretty positive person anyway, most of the time, but the feeling I had this morning was distinctly different.

Firstly while I was sick and soaking in the tub I had some amazing creative ideas float directly to me. 

I have been pondering the doom and gloom talk about the state of our nation and how everywhere you turn, most everywhere, it's black rather than white. Not to be construed literally, but more on the level of positive versus negative, black being negative and white being positive. Okay, now that we got that cleared up, if I may continue. 

I began to think about my business, my family, my future and my health and as I pondered those thoughts, I too began to see how many white things associated with all of them.

I began to think about how although I am not a wealthy person with riches in the bank,  I am indeed abundantly rich within my heart and soul.

I also turned my thoughts towards my future where I saw clouds of whiteness surrounding it. I see shades of bright white gleaming through each and every day that I am here on earth.

I refuse to focus my energy towards the black and will only look towards the white. I see wonderful  great things ahead for both myself,  my family and my business.

I see amazing things for you too. 

Don't allow those negative thoughts to direct your path. Line your  pathway with shimmering peaceful white and follow it wherever you go each an every day. 

I assure you, if you follow the white, you will come out a true winner. Your soul will be filled with love and that love will be shared and passed around by those around you. 

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Happily, 

Jill00 (Two hugs are better than one)