Bittersweet and the little soap company

May Day ~ the fragrance

This is an image of the finished potpourri prototype. The mixture contains a mixture of petals and blossoms. Tulip leaves,hydrangea, lilac, lavender, velvet flowers, statice, and rose buds and softly scented with Bittersweets new fragrance, May Day.

In addition to the potpourri, May Day parfum. Both new products will be available on the web site in the weeks to come.

There are still some finishing touches that need to be added to the packaging, but all in all complete. The size, label design and embellishments are a go ahead.

I'm putting together samples of the fragrance to hand out during the upcoming May Day event.

I've been wrapping House Blend bars the past few days. You know what we say at Bittersweet... What we need is lots of soap!

If you're a patchouli loving girl or boy then you'll love this soap! It's infused with patchouli, sweet orange and vanilla.

Enjoy a caring and sharing spring.

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

Old-fashioned blooms

The spirea and snow ball bushes are blooming! I couldn't resist picking a large bouquet to place on the back porch.

The little round blossoms of the snowball bush are a favorite of mine.

Yesterday I packaged some pretty gift soap sacs for a customer. The customer requested gift soaps for her wonderful employees and in recognition of  this day. I hope she likes them!

I believe these sacs would make pretty wedding favors too!

Keeping in Bittersweet tradition with doilie trim and a sprig of dried lavender. A moisture rich bar of olive oil soap inside! The two p's... Practical and pretty!

I also spent the afternoon working in the yard. I dug up and moved several limestone rocks, transplanted hosta and planted a few flowers. A bit early for planting most flowers, but getting closer. The tiny radish seedlings have sprouted in the garden! I planted two long rows. Radish are extremely good for you! Did you know? Read about the health benefits here.

I'm experimenting this season and planting seeds over mature plants. There's something soul satisfying to witness the birth of seeds mature into an actual veggie or flower. Not to mention, much easier on the pocket book.

I can't wait to plant the everlasting flower seeds in the garden. I'm reserving half of our garden space for flowers only! Stat-ice, Larkspur, Baby's Breath, Straw Flowers, Lavender. I still need to locate straw flower seeds. I have looked everywhere and can't find them! So strange as in years past I always see them in the seed packet aisles.

I'm also spreading some aster and bachelor button seeds. The two old-fashioned blooms are quite similar and I love both. Also on the seedling list, Flax. Last season I discovered how pretty Flax is when it blooms. The blooms produce a stunning blue!

My rose bushes have oodles of blooms. I can't believe they're blooming so early! I can't wait to cut my first rose! They will be a treat to have on the May Day table.

Speaking of May Day... I sent the invitations out yesterday! Those guys and girls at the post office are always so nice to me. I can't say enough good things about our local post office employees. I've been doing Bittersweet business with them for over 15 years and not once have I had a problem. Not once! Pretty good record, I'd say!

The last of the lilac product shot blooms! Lilac, sweet lilac... Such beauty you posses! You grace us with your stunning hues and aroma for a brief interim! Until we meet again. I will curtsy and greet you with a smile.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

more than spring

I shot this just a few minutes ago from our dining room window. You may recall other posts detailing and discussing my lovely neighbor that resides within, Mrs. P.  The picture captures her cascading red buds in full spring bloom and the crisp greenness that surrounds them. The huge old oak trees are always last to leaf out.  If I were to travel a long distant and return to my lovely town those grand old oaks would not knowingly disclose exactly how far we are into spring by their exiguous leaf coverage.

Each and every tree, plant or flower has precise timing and knows when to take center spring stage!

That's what I love about spring ! An interlude of sorts. For everything, turn, turn, turn... Reminds me of that song.

  I'm so excited to be sprucing up our home, (pun intended.) Lennis was off yesterday and began the prepping process. Not my favorite part as you know. I like to jump right in with painting.

The other day while in the paint store a profesional painter began chatting with me as I waited for my paint. He gave me some great painting tips. For example, if you're covering red or hard to cover color, have primer tinted to match the new color. He said it will save you time and money. Like that idea, don't you?

Funny too... He started the conversation by saying, "You need to get some paint on you!" If he looked close, he would have seen small paint traces left stuck on the tips of my fingers. He told me that he gets it all over him! Good to hear coming from a professional painter, isn't it?

I changed the coloring of the blog to the sea salt color mentioned yesterday. I'm really leaning towards this color to cover a dresser and some other pieces.

I love color matching web sites and blogs. Are you familiar with how that works? Maybe I should offer a tutorial on the subject. If you're interested in that leave a message so that I'll know and we will do it. The process comes in handy if you're designing banners, creating business cards, etc. Quite easy too, I might add.

Shipping your orders out today and tomorrow!

Wrapping soap and Bittersweeting it today and probably most of the week, behind!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

I love spring!

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than none)

 

 

spring'in it

The vibrant blooming red bud can be admired throughout the wondering spring landscapes.

Like most everyone else in the United States the midwest has experienced a record mild winter and an early spring.  

I can't say that I oppose to Mother natures casual mood. It does take a little getting used to as I don't recall ever in my lifetime having such a easy breezy winter.

All of the spring foliage is blooming and we're expecting rain for the next couple of days. After the rain the landscape will transform into lush greenness and more blooms. 

Yesterday just like most other Sundays I piddled around and pretended there was nothing to do. That's why I like Sundays!  

My friend Julie dropped by after we went to the antique show and surprised me with a beautiful geranium plant and pansies.

By the way, the antique show was a bit of a dissapointment. I found nothing on my list and the items were extremely over-priced for a retailer to purchase. Collector prices I believe. Dealers know exactly how much a collector will pay! I had not been for a year or so and Jules had kind of given me the heads up as we drove in the parking lot explaining how the past few times she had been it was a disappointing venture. Disappointing in the fact that we used to find so many things and now we don't. That's the beginning of a good show turning not so good. The dealers are to blame. They're placing too high of prices on their wares. At least too high for this side of the pond.  You know that saying? Pricing yourself out of business. It happens! Especially in a down economic times. By the way too, we're still experiencing them. It's getting a tad bit better, but still very sluggish and turtle slow to recover.  

Oh lets not discuss the economy, so boring...

How about some more spring-in it!

Back to yesterday... After I planted the velvet leaf geranium and the cotton candy colored pansies I began looking around our property. It really is quite pretty.

The earth is still brown and leafy on the surface but colorful blooms are popping up like toadstools. 

I pondered some outdoor landscape idees. Now I can't wait to put them together!

One of the flower bed plans consist of this one.

First, I love the tall steeple like topper on the mailbox and the rocks surrounding the flowers. Just so happens we could use a new mailbox!

 Here's the plan if you're interested also.

Download Mailbox_GardenPlan

I wanted to mention, if you're on a flower budget, the flowers shown in the plan can easily be started from seed and will sprout in no time.

I'm working indoors now since the rains are coming. Paint sitting in the corner of the studio, just sitting for a week or so. Now with the rainy days ahead I have an excuse to open it!

By the way, thank you for your French Basket and Country Fair soap orders. I know you'll love them!

Heads up... I'm not quite satisfied with the Country Fair soap packaging. I feel it needs to be more colorful. I'm leaning towards fabric wrapped soap once again.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

spring blue is singing

Spring just wouldn't be spring without a swatch of spring blue here and there. Would it?

The botanical blooms savon made a debut last spring around this time. She'll be back!

 Also in the collage, my favorite jean jacket that I've had since 1985. I can still remember ordering it and the excitement I felt when it came in. I was a bank manager at the time and wore the jacket to work! Times have changed haven't they? I still wear the jacket when I'm feeling nostalgic.

The little bird boxes I began working on several weeks ago.

Painted in spring blue and a special bird tag attached. The little paper ma-che baskets would be cute filled with treats for Easter or May Day. They're the perfect size and I love the tiny handle! Soap will fill these.

The linen tea towels trimmed in my favorite cotton fabric pattern. I never get tired of this pattern. I'm thinking I need a summer blouse made from it. You may remember the tea towels are made from re-purposed tablecloths. I'm always on the hunt for linen when shopping the vintage markets.

Hydrangea's from a couple of summers ago. I remember this bouquet in particular. I had pink blooms and blue blossoms right next to one another without treating the soil. Somewhat of a hydrangea miracle.

I've written several post about drying hydrangea. If you're curious to find out there's a search box to the left. Simply type in the word hydrangea. The past posts should pop up.

A favorite thing, the fabric lined journal. So easy to construct. I've discussed those too. Ditto on the search, fabric journal I believe.

Spring blue is singing!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

  

favorite spring

I'm thinking spring is probably my favorite of the seasons. If not only because the flowers and trees come alive and the robins begin to sing and longer days transform, but simply the thought of outdoor parties and days spent in the garden.

In addition to that sweet spring excitement. Open windows whisper in the soft aroma of lilacs and white hyacinth into the home sweet home.

New light and airy recipes appear on the dinner table along with a bouquet of those lilacs.

The farmers market awakes from their winter hibernation. Fresh spinach and root veggies, asparagus and farm fresh eggs await me!

Country flea market shows in old barns.

I pull out my Keds from the back of the closet and move them to center stage (have just about every color ever made) and can't pass up getting a new pair every spring. I'm a Keds girl! Sandal girl too!

New spring soaps are sitting in the studio and I'm anxiously  awaiting them to saponify before wrapping. Then the  delightful event!

Easter egg hunt at dads and M J's. Waching the kiddos search for the golden egg. Not really, but it sounds good, doesn't it?

Miss Stephanie enjoying her new book from the Easter bunny. Picture taken several Easters ago. Gotta love it!

Pondering new handmade blouses and skirts in flirty bouncy prints mixed with simple spring linens and cotton.

Straw flowers and larkspur seeds propped up in a still pose sitting on the dining room table. Thoughts of harvesting the flowers for everlasting bouquets this season makes me heart skip a beat! The sweet package sent from my Aunt Glenna filled with her favorite flower seeds, moon-flower among the other flower seeds. When I glance by the table a smile appears thinking how sweet the gesture.

Spring oh spring you are a grand event!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00 (two hugs are better than one)

 

 

pot de fleur

 
While digging through my paper closet I found these paper mache flower pots. With a dusting of paint and a decoupaged lid they transformed nicely into a perfect Easter or Mother's Day vessel for Bittersweet products.  
I absolutely love that linen ribbon! I'm not sure if it is readily available at the craft store. I purchased the ribbon through one of my ribbon wholesalers. I'm a bit of a ribbon freak! I have so many spools of ribbon that it becomes difficult to locate sometime.

 
I'm working on some other container projects. I also a container freak and have a large selection of cardboard boxes. I've been making them pretty with decoupage. Share later...

I'm off to the county courthouse. Our taxes went up over 35% in one year! I am appealing their assessment. I will let you know how that goes. What's that old saying? You can't fight city hall...  Don't pay much mind to that!

UPDATE: Such nice folks at our courthouse!

GARDEN DUG!

Lennis came home from work with a rented tiller in truck. He worked the rich dark soil for several hours and now the once clumpy dirt when picked up in your hand feels like flour! We're getting a nice spring rain and once it drys up I'm headed to that dirt! It's been cool and the ground temp is still chilly so I'm going to attempt to get some spinach, lettuce and radishes in.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Happily,

Jill 00

the wild violet...

 
Her beauty cannot be denied. She arrives each spring promptly on cue and fills our landscape with her ever so sweet violet beauty. Her velvety heart shaped petals are unique and special.

Violets!--deep-blue violets!   April's loveliest coronets!     There are no flowers grow in the vale,       Kiss'd by the dew, woo'd by the gale,--         None by the dew of the twilight wet,           So sweet as the deep-blue violet.       - Letitia Elizabeth Landon (Mrs. George MacLean)

 
more sweetness...

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days

Jill 00

Your Victory Garden

 
We have decided to dig up a spot in our back yard and plant a garden. With the cost of grocery's at an all time high and prices continuing to increase I believe having a garden can help ease the cost of eating healthy.  Not to mention my love for fresh produce during the spring and summer months. We will still frequent the farmers market, but filling in the gap with our own produce will surely be nice. 

Not so long ago most everyone had a garden of some kind. Town folks proudly nurtured and cultivated their patch of veggies or berries.

When I was growing up our neighbors had a strawberry garden in their back yard. I remember my mom getting calls from the neighbor notifying her that my little brother was once again in their strawberry patch picking and eating their strawberries! It seems like only yesterday as I gazed out our kitchen window watching my brother Mark sneak a berry snack. I remember being able to see only his little head poke up every now and then and when he came home his mouth and face were covered in red from the juice of the fruit. "You've been eating the neighbors strawberries again, haven't you?" He would only smile with a face of contentment. Those were the good old days indeed and so happy to have those memories.

The topic of vegetable garden growing is long and complexed. My first concern will be how to keep the critters out. You may remember a couple of years ago how I proudly had 87 green tiny tomatoes growing on the three tomato plants I planted. Yes, the excitement of seeing the many tiny tomatoes urged me to count. The next morning I looked down from the kitchen window and noticed the tops of the plants were completely gone! I was crushed. (no pun intended) To make it worse, they left me one tomato!

We live in a residential populated area with outskirts woods. Those residing within those areas, deer, rabbit, raccoon, possum, all of which will eventually make their way into your garden. Keep in mind my story of the 86 tomatoes consumed in one night!

So what can you do to protect your garden from these unwanted guests? I have presented this question to many old timers. Each one has a different solution. They range from dog hair clippings to well I can't even tell you the others, they would not be an option for me.

Gardening is not difficult. It's more of a learning as you go kind of thing. Each season will present different issues. The weather is an important factor.

I will be planting spring veggies, arugula, spinach, parsley, radishes and then replace them in a month or so with more heat resistant plants like peppers, squash and tomatoes.

My friend Debbie keeps going on and on about these radishes. She inspired me to grow them in my new garden. I found a source for the seeds and ordered some. They are called watermelon radishes. Have you ever had one? Aren't they pretty?

 
I ordered the seeds here. I"m also very much into planting heirloom seeds in our garden.

I will plant rows of marigolds around the perimeter of the garden. They help to ward off the unwanted smaller creatures.

If you would like to learn more about heirloom gardening this is a great book.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Jill 00

rocky path

 
I love rock pathways, always have. Lennis constructed this new rocky pathway on the south side of our home. My job is to plant ground cover along the sides of the rocks. This project is no cost one. Lennis picked up the heavy stones at his job site and I will dig up and transplant English ivy from other areas of our yard. Scatter some alyssum seeds to trail down the earthy rocks and my once boring walk to the backyard is an enchanting one.

Next outdoor project...

Raised garden beds. I have to hurry to get in spinach, radishes, arugula, parsley and then put up wire around the beds so the rabbits and deer don't destroy my fruits of labor.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Jill 00