Bittersweet and the little soap company

Beginnings

The beginnings of staging a twig Christmas tree. Can you see the little ginkgo leave attached to the branch? Lennis insisted this branch needed to be trimmed from the tree. So it seemed right to recycle the limb into the twig Christmas tree.

 Did you know the Ginkgo tree is one of the oldest living trees?

As you can see, the twig tree needs some more pine branches. I'll be trimming some  pine stems and branches from our very large white pines. They will also generously give me enough branches to make garland. I love you white pine! When we planted the pines they were a foot tall and we paid $1 for each. Now they are over 75 feet and serve as a privacy fence along our property. I love you white pine! 

Hot and heavy into displays and that assembly soap wrap line is moving at full speed!

I wanted to show you my flea market find filled with holiday soap and little boxes.

"What we need is lots of soap!"

Enjoy caring and sharing Autumn days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Just Sitting

After an extended Monday morning and afternoon stay standing in long lines at the KCI airport, systems down, Patrick boarded the plane for Chicago and then, off to England, Heathrow.

I slept in a bit this morning. It's a  rainy cloudy Tuesday, and it felt nice to sleep in. It's quiet too. 

I'm in the midst of so many different Bittersweet projects at the moment, but mostly stuff just sitting.

I'm working on new business card designs for Bittersweet.

I finally decided on this one.

 

 

I chose new fabrics for Bittersweet Summer line.

I love this strawberry fabric! I'm making little bags to hold the strawberry sachets out of this fabric. I also thought that it would make cute summer totes.

This fabric caught my eye too. I like the birds and the calico petals.

Again, great Summer totes!

Then, this one, I really really like this one too! I'm thinking pinnie's for this one.

My weakness for textiles is never ending, and I most often get overwhelmed with all of the choices available.

I'm also easily taken thinking about what I'll make out of each print. I have a system now that seems to work wonderfully.

I first purchase the fabric prints I really like, regardless of knowing what I'll make, then I lay each swatch onto the table, labeling each one in my head with what it will be used for.

For instance, pinnie stack, little bag stack, tea towel stack, tissue pouch stack, bunting stack, tote stack,  etc. This way I have a good fit for each and every piece of fabric, and I'm usually pleased with the marriage of the two.

Off to work with the stuff just taking a seat.

Enjoy caring and sharing Summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

Do the flowers talk?

In the Garden Mermaid book the flowers will certainly talk.

Each time Garden Mermaid swims along the shore the Camellia's shout out to her, "please choose me Garden Mermaid", knowing what an honor it is to have been chosen by such a beautiful sea creature.

The Gerber's converse with the peonies, and the lily's converse with the pale pink roses.

Miss Rose is a bit stuffy. Garden Mermaid doesn't quite understand why Miss Rose has such sharp razor like stems. Garden Mermaid gracefully finds a clam shell and glides it down Miss Rose's stem to remove the sharp pointy edges allowing her to place the rose inside her fin so she won't get cut.

Enjoy a caring and sharing day.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than none)

Visions Of Pot Holders Danced In My Head

Not just any old pot holder though. These are stylish and so cute! Support de pot, let's say!

The cherry fabric will be perfect for making some of the little handy kitchen helpers. I'm going to wrap contrasting trim from different fabrics around the sides.

The only problem.. This project will be exclusive for home and not for shop so...  

First I need to make those holiday best sellers so that I can make some $$. I need quite a bit of $$, since I've been spending so much on manufacturing supplies. Yes, "the ever ending put it in, take it out." For those of you that have had a shop before, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Today's schedule is busy. Make more "infamous brown sugar lip balm", more little holiday boxes, bath salt bags using the damask silk with the tiny rosebuds, "Velvet Spice" and "Cranberry Spice" room sprays, and  that list goes on. I made "Velvet Spice" soap yesterday. I completely understand why it's so popular, it smells yummy! I'm gearing up for those holiday shoppers. I will put the entire collection on the web site soon. It will be non stop for me from now until Christmas Eve. Then... Rest, lot's of it! Until then, don't even know what that word means?

It's things that make my life more interesting.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

Delightful!

Aren't these fabric covered boxes delightful? I am planning on making some soon. I believe I fancy  them as much as the little bags.

I also love these fabrics as well. The pillows! What can I say, but oh I do love the color selection and all of the different sizes and shapes.

I discovered them at http://www.flappergirlfabrics.com/ideasprojects1.html

You must check out the aprons!

I love the photos! What wonderful ideas too!

GS tomorrow and Saturday..  I haven't even priced any of the stuff. It will probably be a late night.

My friend Julie told me a funny gs story.

She and her family were having a gs a few years ago. When they awoke the morning of the sale, they woke to a  heavy fog throughout their neighborhood. The were hustling to get all their stuff set out to sell. Julie opened the door and..... People were suddenly appearing from nowhere. She said it was like  "Night of the living dead"? People were stumbling over one another and scurrying to get to see all the stuff.

OK, not that funny when I told it. Julie told it much better.

I bet there are tons of garage sale stories out there.

They are things that make our life a little more interesting...

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)