Bittersweet and the little soap company

Who cares about Halloween when Christmas is coming!

On the risk that I might offend someone, I must confess, I do not care for Halloween that much.

When I was a kid I guess I probably liked it and remembering dressing up, if I remember though I always dressed the same. I was a bum! I dressed in overalls, bandanna handkerchief and an old hat. Hmmm, guess I never really got into it then either.

My all time favorite holiday has to be Christmas! I like everything about it! I like baking Christmas cookies, and decorating my home with fresh pine garland while I listen to Christmas music, and hanging our stockings on the fireplace mantle, and watching anxiously when the weather man calls for the first snow.  I love the spicy smells that fill our home, as the holiday soaps aromatic smell travels through our heat ducts with it's fragrant aroma of   cinnamon, orange, and cloves. I love picking out the perfect gift! I love sled riding down our huge hill! I love to look up at the dark night winter sky stars on a cold November night, somehow they look brighter to me.

So you can surely see how little old Halloween easily gets lost with me.

Having said that, I feel comfortable telling you that I have began decorating Bittersweet with Holiday Cheer! I can tell from recent orders that I'm not the only one thinking that way. The Cranberry Spice Soap is almost gone! I have but a few bars left. It's cutting it close to make more to have ready by Christmas, so I will ponder that thought carefully.

I am decorating the studio with simple holiday touches here and there. The next time you see this little corner, I'm sure it will look much different. I'm digging out the Christmas tree's and the pine cones.

While Julie and I were flea gazing last weekend I spied a holiday decorating idea I liked. The idea although  simple, captured my eye. Someone had painted a basket of pine cones different colors. There were green cones, red and white cones, yellow, a mixture of colored cones. I think a basket of different white hues would be stunning in a large glass vase and even more stunning with white lights glittering amongst the white and ecru tone on tones.

My blogging will soon become short and sporadic as I am heading into my busy time of year.

 

I will keep everyone posted on the Bittersweet Giveaways, and will be announcing a winner next Wednesday afternoon. This months lucky winner receives a bar of Cranberry Spice Soap included in the Pretty in Pink October Giveaway!

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays.

Happily,

Jill 00

Two hugs are better than one

*Bird Love*

 

While re-doing the studio and merchandising some of it's corners I wanted to adorn the new table with Love Bird ephemeral.  

Although I placed soap and facial brushes inside the bird cage I also like the love bird packets and the bird note cards setting on the table.

I've been working on new stuff the past few days. I have decided since I make over one-hundred things that I should assign a number to each one. This is a project that will surely take both Fall and Winter to complete, but nevertheless I feel will make it easier to keep track of stuff, offer better inventory control, and too, be a cool way to market my products.

Today I am seriously setting at my sewing machine and making more wide leg trousers! I am completely out, and I just know the wide legs are going to be a HOT Item on customer's Christmas lists. Part of the problem.. I don't want to sell the pants after I make them. I want to keep them for myself! Enough already!!! I have more than enough trousers to see me through Fall and Winter.

I'm already envisioning Spring Wide Legs.

Enter the Bittersweet October Giveway!

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

*Peachy Transition*

Even though it's mid July, it's also that time of year that Bittersweet begins the transition of the "slow change." The "slow change" that I refer to is better described as gearing up for the busy Bittersweet holiday time of year. Every July the transition begins.

The studio gradually takes on warmer hues and its air is filled with spicier scents. There's messy corners throughout and stuff scattered. Instead of making flowery boxes I switch to Fall and Halloween and then what seems like just a few days after that Christmas.

Yes, I said *Christmas.

You know I'm getting tired of people telling me I can't say that word. When I did the television show I had to say holiday and no mention of the word Christmas. I can't tell you the number of takes it took to switch to saying holidays rather than Christmas. My whole life I've grown up calling it Christmas! I believe there is something sadly wrong with that thinking. I'll tell you, I'm calling it Christmas and that's that!

Enough of that foolish talk...

The Peachy Transition has begun. Here is a glimpse..

Origami pouches to hold Bittersweet Bath Salt in warmer shades. I love origami! Peachy Cilantro soap packaged in orange and brown wrappings. Bittersweet Soap sticks tucked inside a little bag. I love little bags!    

I'm heading downstairs to the studio to wrap soap.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Studio Saturday & Sel de bain

As I lay in bed this morning I was thinking about what I needed to do this morning, and suddenly I realized I didn't really have anything to do. Pinch me! Now let me just tell you, this doesn't happen very often around here. I'm one of those high energy people that is always doing something, and fortunately, or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, I've passed that on to Patrick, so not only do we have one hyper fast moving Mom, the son is ditto.

Yesterday, after really not getting much done the entire week, I managed to finally get caught up. I sent orders out, and even was finally able to get the sewing machine out, and sew:) I will show you later next week what I'm working on.

Speaking  of orders, Patrick my triple type A kid, has researched the different shipping company's, and has concluded that we should also use Fed Ex, when shipping Bittersweet & Vintage Two orders. He assures me that I will save time and money.

I've always shipped with the good old USPS in the past. They're hard to beat, I think. They send me free boxes for shipping, and then they pick up my packages at the front door, and charge me a flat rate of $8.10 up to seventy pounds. Anyway, Patrick assures me Fed Ex is much better, and they fly the package rather than ground. I somehow think the flying has something to do with his choice. The kid is almost always right, so how can I argue. I will give it a try.

H'm, nothing to do... Well that's just impossible!

Oh I know, let me show you some more flea market finds from last Saturdays trip.

I mentioned last week how I found some really unique items while flea shopping. I am always on the look out for vintage toiletry items, and was truly flabbergasted when I spotted this, a very vintage stylish container of bath salt. The container still has product inside and even a hint of fragrance when I opened it.

Then I found these dainty spring ribbon flowers, and I stuck them in with the facial brushes in the Bittersweet studio.

 

  One of my favorite finds was this not so old paper cutter with pretty shiny robin egg blue paper included, and under ten dollars!

One good thing about living in the Midwest compared to East coast or West coast, flea market prices are usually lower.

I was taken by these little feed sack doll dresses.

Even though this isn't old, I really, really liked it. I looked around to see if there were more than one, nope, so I was convinced I should have it, great marketing!

I also found during the trip, some great vintage linen fabric, that I incorporated into bath salt bags. 

Enjoy a caring and sharing St. Patrick's Day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one pinch)

Shadowy Studio Saturday...

This is the Saturday that Erin, the college student from Northwest Missouri State University comes to shadow me. I am flabbergasted and honored that Erin wants to shadow little ole me. I'm a bit nervous too. I have never ever had anyone watch as I work. Well, I take that back, One of my good friends, Debbie wanted to watch me make soap one time, but that was different, since we knew each other. At any rate, I'm sure it will be fun, and I am looking forward to meeting Erin.

 

Remember some time back I mentioned having a sale to clear out some of my shop stuff and extra furniture? Sandy recently moved just two doors down from me, and still has her old house several blocks away. We were going to have a type of garage sale inside the old house. I have to be honest, I just don't like to have garage sales. They aren't my cup of tea.

Anyway, Sandy called yesterday and asked if I would be interested in having an auction instead of the gs. Oh my gosh! I am so jazzed about having a real live auction with an auctioneer. She has a friend that is an auctioneer, and he is going to ..... This will be a great experience. I mean, usually auctions I've been to, your looking at deceased peoples stuff, I'm glad I'm not dead to be able to experience having an auction.

I don't think we've decided on a date yet, but it will probably be sometime in May. This will be a first hands on look, and the ends and outs of setting up, selling, pricing, and the colorful people that I'm sure will be present at my auction. Hey, I enjoyed saying that! I can't wait to add it to Vintage Two's Journey page. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Saturday Snow Outside, Saturday Spring Inside!

Oh yes, as I gaze out the kitchen window I can't believe my eyes. It's snowing! It is also very cold, but inside the Saturday Studio it's warm and cozy, and Spring is popping up everywhere you look. The product apothecary case is stuffed full with new Bittersweet products, some of which are new Spring aromatics.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day cleaning the upstairs or what we call in this household our living quarters. It was very much in need of a good cleaning. I used to be a fanatic about having a super clean house, but have somewhat mellowed over the years. Not to say, it is one of my true pleasures to have a shiny clean house. I had other motives for cleaning too. I'm getting ready to create a new housekeeping line for Bittersweet. The first product I'm going to make will be furniture polish with carnuba wax, and smell of lavender. I received the little tins yesterday, and I had requested from my sheep farm friends to make a lambswool dusting puff, which they did, and it is going to be a perfect dusting puff. I dusted with it yesterday, and am very pleased with the results.

Back to the studio.. I seem to be running out of space for curing my soap. Before when I had the shop, I could take it there, but now with the merchandising studio, eek. What do you think? Do you think my family would mind storing some in the living room? Maybe I could create some sort of soap art!

I still have Tupperware storage bins that I haven't gone through from the shop. I found my collection of glass apothecary jars the other day while going through a bin. I have a collection of these glass jars, and I just love the way they look. They remind me of the jars you'd see in an old time general store filled with penny hard candy.

Don't these totes just look like Spring? I love making totes!  These are one of the items to make on my list. More totes...

Today, shop Saturday. I know it will be a busy day. I have had several of my customers call to say they are coming by today. I am looking forward to seeing them and visit.

Next week is going to be busy with a big B, and I should have some exciting blogging posts. Tea party's, and a college girl named Erin coming to shadow me. H'm, I hope she's not disappointed. I plan to get some new Vintage Two done also. I am interviewing my friend Julie about her vintage shop for my first interview to post on the web site.  Oh, and going to a huge antique show. I'm taking my camera.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

The Red Studio and A Moment of Warm Satisfaction

Yesterday while making the lavender mint soap I experienced a feeling of warm satisfaction while I was mixing and stirring and pouring and smelling. The warm feeling only lasted about twenty seconds, but was nevertheless a feeling of comfort, and happiness, and a feeling like Patrick's teachers say, warm fuzzies inside!  I had not made soap since Christmas, and had forgotten just how much making it fills my soul with complete content. If I did nothing but make soap, I would be a happy person. How can something so trivial be so satisfying? I guess that is why soap making is my passion.

After making soap you need to allow it to set overnight under warm blankets so that it will set up. I have always covered the soap with this same pink quilt that Lennis's Grandmother made by hand. 

I must have tons of blankets in our house, but I always grab this pink quilt to cover, and keep the soap warm and free of drafts. Covering it with this beautiful quilt just adds to the soulful feeling. By the way, if your wondering...  Drafts can be a very bad thing for soap setting!

More soap making today, Nag Champa..

The red studio is really coming along. I added a few more storage baskets, and the big B for Bittersweet.

 

I have some little corners of the studio that I enjoy gazing at.

I made my first pinwheel last night. It had been so long since I made one, I had forgotten, and had to print the directions off from Martha's web site. I think these would be really cool if they were big! I plan to fill the merchandising studio with lot's of them. They remind me of when I was a little girl. I really think these are too cute for Spring!   

Speaking of the merchandising studio.. I love Spring decorating! I am planning on working on that a bit today too. I still have items in the trunk of my car that are for Spring merchandising.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Six Hours and.....

The red studio is taking on a whole new look. Boy oh boy, six hours of going through boxes, and storage, and digging, and I do believe the little work room is coming together. I really like the red, and the warmth it brings to the room. Although my sewing machine is not in the picture, this room will be mainly used for sewing, just haven't gotten that far yet. I was going to sale the wood shelf on the wall, but decided to keep it for extra storage, now I'm glad I did, it's a great area for my ribbons, and trim. That tall woody bench needs a lot of work. After I took this picture I realized it needs a soft fluffy cushion, and lot's of pillows, and I think the little skirt will help it too.

The vintage display rack has come in handy for storing my ribbon, and I really like having two work tables. Do you notice Mr. Reginald Smith is resting on some fabric, still waiting on the arrival of his quads. So many Jill projects to do...  

Don't you just love this cute twiggy dress? I got it at my friend Julie's shop. It still had the tags on it, so it's never been worn. This dress is great inspiration for me. I absolutely adore its simplicity, and it has a happy daisy personality.

I awoke last night, and was just lying in bed thinking, and I thought to myself as I lay there, that it would be fun to ask Julie if she would consider being my first shop proprietress interview for Vintage Two. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!! Put that on the top of my list for next week..

 

    OK, here it is, no more not knowing what I have inside those tins, and boxes. I am tagging each one so that I know what's inside, especially needles and thread, never can find either.

Oh too, I did get orders out yesterday, so they are on there way. Yesterday I received one of the packages I had been waiting on for the beginning of a new project. I can't wait to show you! This morning, make soap morning, lavender mint to be exact. Making soap is somewhat of a ritual. Even though I've been making soap for over ten years, I still feel the excitement, and anticipation each time I whip up some more. Tomorrow, another soap making morning, Nag Champa, a popular soap at Bittersweet. It smells so good!

I will begin decorating the merchandising part of my studio later this week, and am chomping at the bit to make those paper pin wheels. I just love em! I can't wait to show you the Easter things I'm working on for both Vintage Two, and Bittersweet! So busy, need to take a deep breath...

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

The Organization Begins

One of the main reasons I decided to upgrade the studio was to hopefully along with the re-decorating,  also organize my stuff so that I can easily find it. Having such a small work space, and then also having a studio that merchandises its products can be tricky. Tricky in the fact that I need to use every inch of space for storage, and then the inches I have left use for merchandising.   

I am so tired of not being able to find things! Today I'm turning over a new leaf, and organization shall begin. I'm early in the project, and already finding out just what a project it will be indeed.

I wasn't going to show you pictures until I had it finished, but thought it would be fun to journal the process. 

I am going to save so much time, and probably money knowing where things are. I'm already opening boxes, and seeing things that I didn't know I had. Speaking of boxes, I have some I use for storing ribbons, lace, and other sewing essentials, but am noticing if I use these items on a regular basis they need to be in clear jars so that I can see exactly what I have. In the past, if I was looking for something particular, it was always in the last box I'd look in. No more! Today is the day!

I ran over to this place Saturday night and picked up this red fabric to make cushions for my tall woody bench. I believe I will also, if I have enough fabric, sew a little skirt for the bottom so that I can hide stuff behind the bench.

I have a feeling I'll be working on the studio most of this week. I need to make soap tomorrow though, so behind on my soap making... Lavender Mint, and Nag Champa.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Rainy Shop Saturday

I awoke to raindrops hitting the roof this morning. It's one of my favorite sounds. Even better rain drops hitting a tin roof. Have you ever experienced that? It is a soothing comforting sound.

I had a paint-a-thon yesterday, and let me say I'm happy it's over. I dread painting ceilings. I hurt in parts of my body I didn't know I could hurt in. The red studio is absolutely stunning! I love it! My darling husband began laying the black & white floor tiles last night. Now it's time for decorating! My favorite part!!

I have some messes to clean up this morning before I open the studio at 12, and I have a special Oscar Party Order I need to do. A customer is having an Oscar Party on Sunday. The guests are to dress up in fancy attire, and pretend they're glamor Hollywood people for the evening. FUN!! I'm wrapping bars of Bittersweet Soap to go inside little goody bags for her special guests.

Bittersweet donates soap to go in the goody bags that go to the Hollywood events, although I passed up the Oscars this time, just to busy, and did you see all the stuff they're getting? Mega Tons! I have been invited to attend the green room before these big events, and showcase my products. You set up a little area similar to a booth at a flea market, although some of the stuff is far from flea market merchandise. I can pick a star from the room, and usually the stars are mingling inside the green room, then I kindly ask if they would be so kind as to let me take a picture while they're holding a bar of Bittersweet Soap. Camera flashes everywhere, stars smiling holding various products, just like me. Great marketing, but between you and me, just not my cup of tea.

I will eventually fly to Hollywood and participate. How could I not, but it's a timing thing again.

The studio is going to be busy today. I can feel it... I better get to work..

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Gypsy Red

I'm still on my red kick at the moment, Gypsy Red to be exact. I might have freaked everyone out yesterday when they saw the flamboyant pink Liberace bedroom, pretty flashy!  I also forgot to mention when painting with red, expect at least two or three coats. This red is turning out to be three. Darn it, why did I choose red? This picture is what I am calling my before pictures.

The next time I show you a picture of the studio it will look totally different. I've decided to do black and white on the floors. It will look really snazzy with the red walls, and the black will help ground the red. I love black and white floors, always have. They have been around for a long time. That's another thing I've never tired of, black and white.

See the tall wood thingy in the back of the picture? It's a piece that I'm not real fond of, but was my Mothers. I have quite a few pieces like this that were Moms. In case you hadn't read some of the other posts, my Mom passed away five years ago from leukemia. I just can't bear to part with her stuff. I am going to jazz this piece up with fabric. I haven't decided what color to use. If I use red fabric then the piece won't show up as much in the room, but if I choose blue or another color far away from red on the color wheel then the piece could turn out to be focal point, and I don't believe I want that. So I will ponder that thought.

When re-decorating, I like to take a picture of the room I'm working on. It helps me to see things in a different perspective than just looking in the room. I can see things that I can't see when just looking in the room.

Here is a nifty link for re-pro table cloths, and they're on sale! I'm partial to the strawberries & cream tablecloth.

This will be a busy day, painting, filling orders, and then cleaning up my mess so that the studio can be open tomorrow. Whew, I'm already tired!

I hear birds chirping this morning, that's a sure sign that Spring is right around the corner..

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

 

Let's Paint It Red!

I love the color red! It's a color I never grow tired of. Then pink, I never grow tired of pink either. Which makes since, if I like red then I should like pink too. The studio is painted what I would call Prison Gray at the moment, and I have been bouncing around the idea of painting it for quite awhile. Now that I'm getting caught up on the web sites, I'm ready to get started on this painting and decorating.

First I had decided to paint the studio juicy pink, but now I believe I'm leaning more towards RED. I'm going with bright colors and a bit of a flamboyant look. For me, since I work from home now, it is important that I have a up-lifting refuge to be able to create. I'm painting the walls red, and accenting with pink, a little like this picture. I have always been drawn to this look.

The anticipation of Spring has got me going on bright cheery colors. I believe my inspiration for re-decorating the studio/work space is Spring. Lots of greens, yellows, and blues, and of course pink! These are colors that I normally don't decorate with, but I'm ready for a change, and hey, anything would be better than the prison gray that's on the wall now.

When I decorate, I really try to make use of the the things I have, and then just pick up a few little odds and ends, and make quite a few things, which allows me to customize.

I'm thinking paper pinwheels!

They are a great inexpensive way to add some whimsy and color to your space. I noticed Martha has a great tutorial on making them. I used to make these at the shop, and place them inside my store window. They are easy to make. You can make them big or small, and with the enormous choice of beautiful papers out there, the sky's the limit. Don't forget to make a few extra to stick in Easter baskets.

I can't wait to get the studio looking all Springy and Colorful, and share with you it's new look!

Sandy dropped by last night and showed me her Silhouette Art that will soon be on Vintage Two. I really like this idea. It's an original idea created by Sandy, and you will love it too!

Enjoy a caring and sharing day!

Happily,

Jill 00(Two hugs are better than one)