Bittersweet and the little soap company

Autumn Nesting

I am a nester.

Its true,  I have always been soulfully content surrounded by my own space, and have always been smitten with the simple joys of creating an oasis wherever I landed.

Domestic chores have never been considered a chore to me. OK, maybe I don't like cleaning the toilet, but all those other tea towel scheduled duties have always been a pleasurable experience. I know, some of you are saying out loud, YUK, Jill . I can hear you!

For as  long as I can remember,  I've always received sweet satisfaction out of the simple things, and that simple satisfaction was and is usually found within my home sweet home. I guess you'd consider me to be old fashioned.

I really do believe that within our heredity make up, there's a tiny cell that makes some of us "chicken soup" content just being at home performing common domestic tasks. Maybe someday scientist will discover that, and all of the domestic diva's will be accepted knowing it's beyond their control, giggle.   

During this time of uncertainty within our economy, and what the future shall bring I have become even more domestically involved.

Quite possibly it's my way of telling myself that nothing has changed and it's my safety response to assure me that  I'm still safe and cozy and my oasis shall not be effected by the negative going ons within our world. Now that I think about that, I believe it to be part of the hypothesis.

At any rate, I am still a happy soul and even though I have a sense of what shall come ahead, I will remain a happy soul regardless of any obstacles that come my way. It's a GOD thing!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

 

Violet Pinnie And A Surprising Confession

One more pinnie, this one in violet. I love this fabric! It looks as though the pattern chose this fabric. Kind of like a designer picks their models to magnify their creations.

Why I'm on the subject of aprons and sewing, now is a good time to fess up to my readers, and admit a deep dark secret I've been carrying inside for years.

I FLUNKED HOME EC!

Yes, it's true! The truth is finally out for the whole world to know!

Here's the story..

I really wasn't much of a domestic goddess when I was growing up. I preferred Art and Wood working over sewing in school. I have always enjoyed baking, but somehow the sewing thing was always really intimidating to me.

Whenever the teacher would instruct us to sit at the sewing machine, some kind of weird phenomenon would take place within me. I got nervous and sweaty, and anxious as I gazed upon that Singer Sewing Machine that sat in front of me.

Put me in front of a band saw and watch me go! I made two coffee tables to prove my hand crafter skills. No intimidation there, no wishy washy feelings, nothing, but a sewing machine,different story, total confusion and kayos. A potters wheel, no confusion there. A rug loom, notta. I never figured it out.

I would sit hours sewing by hand before I would ever attempt to hit my foot on the throttle of a sewing machine. I did enjoy sewing by hand, so why not the machine? I wish I knew, knew, knew!

So let's go to present day, well maybe back a few years and then to present day.

I remember watching my Mom in awe, as she sat at her sewing machine whipping out anything her heart desired. I've mentioned stories about my Mom sewing. I would watch her and think I wish I could do that, knowing I couldn't, I had to face it, I just wasn't cut out to be a seamstress.

Then one day I decided I wanted to open my own brick and mortar store and sell all  non-sewing stuff I made. I was on a very strict budget, and was walking around my new store space making lists of what I needed for displays and what not, and noticed I had lot's of windows that were in need of curtains.

I knew I couldn't afford new curtains for all of the windows, so the thought of sewing some came to mind. Oh no, I thought to myself, how could I even think of such a thing!

Well, as I drove home that night, I thought to myself, I need curtains, and I can't afford to purchase any, so sewing curtains, I will do it! I went to the fabric store and picked out plain muslin fabric, it was inexpensive. The next morning I loaded up my sewing machine in my car, carried it inside my new store space, and began to sew the curtains. I made ten or twelve curtains that day, and to my amazement, they turned out quite nice, and were the perfect fit for each and every window. I even had customers ask, "where did you buy your curtains"? "I made them I replied proudly"!

That was the day I decided I could sew! A breakthrough day after all those years of thinking, I couldn't do it!

I had the shop downtown  for over five years, and during that time, I sewed too many things to count. Tea towels, tote bags, skirts, aprons, little bags, stuffed toys, lot's and lot's of stuff sewn on my sewing machine.

Just think, after all those years of thinking I couldn't do something, when all along I could, if I just gave it a good try. Quite possibly, without the desperation  I felt about the curtains, I might have never ever sewed.

I'm so happy I did! I love to sew now! I don't get nervous when I sit at the sewing machine nowadays. I get excited, but not nervous. I can't wait to see the finished results of my sewing projects, and display them throughout the studio.

I believe we each carry inside a passion for making things. Actually, now that I think about it, I've never met a person that didn't make something or other. Think about that.   

For our convenience and enjoyment, these passions are displayed on blogs, store fronts, magazines, and web sites.

Just as the artist's displays are unique, so are their creations, and no two are alike, adding more charm and soulfulness to each and every finished piece of work.

How do you specialize in something? You do it over and over, and over, until you get it just right!

Enjoy caring and sharing Summer 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) 

 

 

A bit old-fashioned nowadays, I suppose, but oh how I love old fashioned!

While I was making these, my mind begin to ponder as it often does. I began to think about how important and significant it is to journal one's life.

Nowadays computer blogging has somewhat replaced the pen and paper blogging, I believe.

Please, don't misunderstand me, I love blogging! I think its the greatest thing indeed! I'll be the first to admit my pen and paper quite often got left behind on the back burner, where it's much easier to set at my computer and write my simple thoughts.

Nevertheless, the paper bound hand written journals I have are such a joy to dig out of my trunk every now and then and read.

Just like looking at old family pictures you haven't seen for awhile, touching, feeling, and reading the descriptions written on the back, browsing my hand written journals ,offers those same soulful feelings.

I make and sell a considerable number of these hand made journals at Bittersweet. It makes me feel good to know, people are still writing down their thoughts the old fashioned way, as well as blogging on the computer.

I've been working on a pantry re-do. I haven't quite got it right yet.

     

I'll be announcing the Bittersweet Soap Giveaway tomorrow!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

*The Ages*

I've planned a small get together with friends on Friday evening. It's actually a get together for an early celebration of Lennis's Birthday, as he is turning FIFTY!

Isn't the age thing interesting?

Last week while setting in the doctors office waiting room I began to ponder that exact thought. As I set there I begin to think about the other people that were setting across from me, beside me, and throughout the waiting room. It's a Jill thing, instead of reading magazines like most, I prefer reading people.

My mind traveled back to when I was twenty and not a care in the world, well at least my cares were superficial and small. That's what I think now.  I was a single girl living the single life.

Then my thirties.. I still am carefree, happy, and life is pretty darn good!

I reach my forties, and my child is growing up quicker than I ever would have imagined. It's as though the days pass like seconds, and time somehow has increased to warp speed. My body has so many inconsistency's, as well as my moods, but yet I'm still happier than ever. Could it be true? Things get better with age. 

As I sat in the doctors office, I began to think about this. I see the elderly woman setting across from me. I think, this will be me some day. That's not something you think about in your twenty's or thirty's. It's a forty, fifty thing.

I saw many things as I sat in that office, and one thing stood out in my mind.

We are all here for a specific reason. Each and every one of us has a purpose. A purpose for living, a purpose for dying, and a purpose for loving. I do believe those three things are the sum of it.

Life isn't about how much money you make while you're here. It isn't about what kind of house you live in or the car you drive. It's about you! The choices you make determine the outcome of things to come, some choices being only temporary and some being permanent. Each day is a blessing!

I'm sure that many that sat in that office were not thinking life was a blessing. Many were thinking about the pain they felt in their body's and I'm sure some were thinking about death. I would imagine it's hard to think positive when your body is in pain.   

As we get older we begin to think about these things and many more thoughts that we never imagined when we were younger.

Funny, I never imagined I would ever live to forty, let alone fifty! Isn't that crazy? I remember when I was a kid looking at my thirty-something parents and thinking, "wow, they're old"!

It's all about how you look at things. Remember the positive, negative thing?

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

      

*Happy Busy*

It's nice to break with blogging every morning in between my studio re-mod. After a few days of doing the same thing, I get antsy to do something else. I'm sure it's a  form of Attention Disorder. Did you know there are over thirty-five forms of the disorder? What's up with that?

It looks cloudy outside, like it's going to rain. Sewing machine here I come!

I've mentioned before how I always get overwhelmed this time of year. It's a good overwhelmness though. The word overwhelmed maybe isn't the appropriate word. Well, yes I guess that's the right word. It's a good thing I'm a multi tasker! This time of year I might have ten or twelve things going on at once. Here's the kicker.. I love it! I like to plan, reconstruct, organize and put together, that's just me. I believe it stems from an inherited gene. My entire family is high strung, and over-motivated.  I'm afraid my fourteen year old son is too.  This is his business and web site.

Isn't it wonderful how we are all so different in this world?

I have days that I don't feel like doing anything. I cherish those days, as they are telling me to slow down a bit.  I have to tell you though, I am happiest when I'm busy.

You know being busy is a soulful thing.  Each and everyone of us looks at it in a different way. Some like being busy, others don't. That's the reason I enjoy reading other women's blogs. Their busy is different from mine , or maybe it's similar to mine. Maybe it's a mix. At any rate, I enjoy exploring other's busy goings on.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Please say a prayer for the folks in Minneapolis.

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)   

 

 

*Prep Time*

An enormous amount of Bittersweet's time is spent on prep time. Without it, stuff just sets, nothing fancy, nothing stands out, simply there.

When I was dating it was always the prep time that held the tone for the date. I planned what I was going to wear on the date hours before. I planned how I was going to wear my hair, which shoes to wear with the outfit I had  chosen, which purse, all these things, prep time.

Think about it for a moment... We spend an exceedingly amount of time prepping.

Gosh, I prep for blogging. I prep for the pictures I take, I prep for my family's meals. I prep all my business stuff. I prep for everyday life on a continuous constant basis.

What would a life be without prep time? I'm not sure...

I believe prep time is a favorite time for me. I thrive on planning and tweaking and fixing and preparing. I believe most of us do.

I'm prepping all the time. It's the final results of all that prepping I appreciate. You know, that moment when you've completed the preparation and you like what you see. The moment of satisfaction from all your planning and you can pat yourself on the back and say "good job"!

Yeah, that's what it's all about!

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Summer Slide

When one owns a retail business it's a bonus for the guy or gal to be a quick change artist as you are constantly, and I do mean constantly changing merchandise, switching seasons, switching colors, and on and on....Gosh it's a  full time job just making things look good. Wouldn't you shop guys and girls out there agree?

When I first opened my shop back when, I quickly realized how the word Retail  transformed itself into a complete different word than I once thought.

Personally, and notice I say personally, I once thought of the word in a rather simple way. Simple in not really thinking too much about the word, but thinking the word meant a person who sells things, and that was about it.

After opening the boutique my feelings and definition of this word quickly transformed into a new appreciation for the word.  I began re-thinking the word , and when I thought of the word I would now think of words like, ever Changing , ever Revolving, ever Moving, ever Transforming. Yep, I believe those words best describe the constant change of retail life. He or she must also have a keen awareness of their surroundings and always be one two steps ahead of their game.   

Don't get me wrong, owning your own shop is what I would refer to as one of  life's Royal Rewards and unlike anything you will ever have the privilege to do.

Once one owns their own shop and experiences all the exciting day to day changing adventures, challenges, and rewarding accomplishments only retail life can exclusively offer, then something happens deep inside you.

Call it what you want....

Call it, Retail Fever!

Call it, Gotta Have A Store!

Call it, Once Bitten, Always there!

No matter what you call it, every retail friend/person I've talked to has had these same feelings at some time during their retail life.

Sure it takes a lot of time to operate a retail shop. Depending on what kind of store you have, some take more time than others.

The dots are connected through retail's ever changing way it comforts your soul with it's pure exclusive feelings of satisfaction and personal rewards you experience. These feelings last throughout your entire life.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

Second Day

It's the second day after my car accident, and I have to tell you it's much better than yesterday. I was freaking out yesterday about how I felt. I felt emotionally torn all day. Even last night I was still feeling really sad. I was suppose to go to a party at my neighbors, but just didn't feel like being around people. Today though I am feeling better, and beginning to resume somewhat back to my normal. It is a slow normal.

By the way, thank you for your comments and concerns, they were a big part of my healing yesterday.

Am I sounding like a drama queen? I feel like it!

I'm seeing a whole new side of myself that I didn't know existed. I keep thinking about when my car was crashing into her car, and how everything went black. Why was it black? Did I blank out when I hit my head on the roof of the car?  Did I shut my eyes so as to not see, kind of a defense mechanism. It's driving me crazy thinking about it, no pun intended.

Then I'm thinking too. There's a reason for everything. That's what I believe. All a reason from GOD I believe. What was GODS purpose for me being in this wreck. Could it be that the young girl needed to experience a  scary car accident  to possibly avoid an even more life threatening accident? Maybe the experience was meant for me, maybe even for both of us. I may never know.

I did find out why the air bags didn't deploy. The mechanic said they have to be hit just right. If the impact is off by just a half inch of where the air bag deploy mechanism is, they won't come out. You know, that may be a good thing too. I set very close to the steering wheel when I drive. If the airbags were to have popped out, it might have possibly hurt my wrists.

Clarice, you are right. Someone was looking out for me. That's another thing that's bugging me about the accident. During the time of the impact, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I did not feel alone. I can't really explain it. The odd feeling happened at the precise moment of the impact.

OK, I know some of you are thinking, boy, Jill really must have hit her head hard! Seriously though and honestly, it was a weird feeling.

Today I'm taking the silver rental car in for a trade in. I don't like the car. Then I will clean out my little car for the last time, as it is headed to the salvage yard:( I will take my bent broken license plates off, and take any personal belongings that are left in the car home.

Then the process of finding a new car. I don't believe I will pick silver this time, maybe white or black.

I stopped by Sandy's yesterday. What a lot of stuff! The auction is Saturday.

Today is my friend Alan's birthday, and I plan to stop by and visit with him on his birthday.

I'm physically feeling fine. Thanks for being you!

Have a caring and sharing day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

Five Seconds

Here's something to think about. Have you ever had an idea or a thought, and said to yourself,  I'll wait awhile before I do that? How about getting ready to leave the house and thinking, you know what, I'll wait a few minutes. Yesterday afternoon was a day I wish I would have waited just 5 seconds. 

As I drive down the street, just a few blocks from my house, I come to the four way stop, the same 4 way stop I've been stopping at for some almost twenty years. I notice a girl in a car to my left, it's my turn to go, and next,   BOOM, CRASH, OH MY GOD, and then astonishment!

The impact was horrendous. During the impact, I blanked out for a few seconds, and my head and neck, I'm sure resembled a bobble head. 

I had proceeded to go, and she ran the stop sign so I hit her head on with my car. My car is totaled! At least I would think. I couldn't even get out of my door without pushing it really hard.

After the crash, I remember being really mad at first. I even yelled out my window to the girl right after the impact, "What the Hell were you doing? She's a young girl, maybe even high school? She's says, I'm sorry, and begins to cry while setting in her car.

I continue setting in my car and think to myself, am I hurt? I feel the top of my head and there's a bump, and it kind of hurts. I notice my neck is hurting too. About that time I also notice my air bags didn't deploy, and thinking that's really weird. Why didn't my air bags deploy?

The paramedics arrive within minutes, and at this point I get out of my car and head over to the young girls car to check on her. She's really shook up, but it appeared she was not hurt. I notice a cross around her neck, and remember thinking she thinks strongly enough about GOD to wear a cross. Then I think about yelling at her, and feeling really embarrassed about doing such a mean thing.

The paramedics ask me if I'm OK. I say, "I think so." One of them I knew from a past fund raiser I hosted after the tornado. He remarks, "I wonder why your air bags didn't deploy?" I keep looking at my car, oh my my.

A man walks over to me and says, "I was behind you, and saw the whole thing". He tells me the young girl ran the stop sign, and was busy talking on her cell phone.

I hate cell phones, then I think, but I wish I had one now, and I would call my family to let them know what has happened. I posted about the cell phone thoughts in another post. It's very unusual, I know, but I don't have a cell phone. Patrick and Lennis both have one, but I choose to not.

I walk over to the young girl again and apologize for yelling at her. I'm beginning to come back around, and thinking how lucky I was to be walking around.

The police officer arrives, and the paramedics push my car backwards down the hill out of the middle of the street.

The police officer fills out his report, and issues the young girl a ticket. She's still crying. The police officer says, "I wonder why your air bags didn't deploy?" My neck is hurting more.

The tow truck arrives and says, "why didn't your air bags deploy"? He lifts my car up to carry to the repair shop. The girls Father arrives, she's still crying. The business office worker across the street are standing outside watching everything. I hear four little school boys talking amongst themselves, "did you hear that crash"? "That was the biggest crash I've ever heard and seen"!

The tow truck driver asks if I need a ride, and well, I guess I do. I was even considering walking home, it was only around ten blocks. Then I'm thinking someone will come by I know, and I'll get a ride. About that time, my friend Sandy drove by. She had just stopped by my house and spoke with Lennis, and asked if I was OK, she hadn't talked to me and was concerned. Sandy was on her way to the auction house when she drove by the wreck, which by the way, that's where I was heading too when I was hit.

So many thoughts... So many emotions...Just 5 seconds..... Why didn't I wait just five seconds?

I've never had a wreck before. I consider myself to be a good driver. I'm always watching out for the other guy!

Sandy gives me a ride to the car shop, and I fill out the paper work for a rental. The lady asked, do you want a silver Taurus or a white one, I say, neither. She looks at me odd. "I'll take the silver", I say, "it's the same color as my car.   I'm thinking to myself, I want my car! My little car that I've had for five years that only has twenty-seven thousand miles on it that is energy efficient.

I'm very very very  thankful that I am alright. I thank GOD for allowing both myself and the young girl for being OK.

I get into the rental and drive home. Lennis is out working in the yard as I pull into the driveway. He doesn't even notice I'm in a different car, same color remember?

I tell him about the accident, he's freaked. I go inside and take an aspirin because my neck hurts.

I think, if only 5 seconds......

Enjoy a caring and sharing day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)