Bittersweet and the little soap company

Vintage Valentine's

 
 
In honor of Valentine's Day and my love for vintage graphics I put together a collage sheet of images that are perfect for creating a pretty V card or box.

Enjoy

Download VintageValentines

a splash of pinnie

 
Popping in from project Bittersweet to relax a moment and say hello.

I did not like the white lacy curtain on the kitchen door. Instead I dressed it up with a practical pinnie.

So many of you have asked about the little bird design on the door.

I had the design custom made. It is a type of decal I had the sign guy make. Pretty much permanent  once you place it. I'm thinking about having the sign guy make some more.

Enjoy a caring and sharing Sunday.

Jill oo

Pocket Love

With the numerous projects ongoing and blasting from room to room in my home and studio I felt a yearning to stop the many tasks at hand and sew! Sewing has become a form of relaxation quite similar to writing for me and offers some down time from making and wrapping soap.

I have been amused and mostly grateful lately when ideas pop into my head during the night while half asleep, half awake, or even funnier when I dream them. Funny in the fact that during normal business hours my mind has been somewhat blank when it comes to new ideas. Okay, I guess your mind really doesn't distinguish normal business hours between sleeping hours, but I could not resist saying that.

The most current idea struck my fancy and so I followed my dream...

Who created the pocket?  Don't bother googling it. I searched high and low to find the answer but to no avail.

Did the creator of the pocket get the amazing idea from mama kangaroo? Quite possibly, they dreamt about it!  I'm guessing, and I stress the word guess, that the pocket was created out of necessity. Money used to be carried in leather, well read this. I think this is a more logical explanation on why the pocket was invented.

Does anyone really care who invented the pocket? Well I did but I'm losing interest!

Back to my bedtime story...

While lying in bed I dreamt of these the other night.

 
Pocket Lavender Hearts

made with vintage trims and tokens.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Jill 00 

  

♥ Vintage Beds

I don't know about you, but I love vintage beds. We have three beds in our home and all are vintage. Recently I told you the story behind one of those beds. I also posted how I wanted to blossom up my bedding. Although I'm sitting change aside to someday have the luxury of affording and encountering linen sheets against my body while I sleep I'm temporary pleased with the new 400 count Ralph Lauren sheets.

By the way, I shop here for great deals on bedding, especially sheets and pillows. This is a shot of the new less expensive bed look that mimics the Country Living inspiration pic. I'm still on the hunt for the little round spindle legged table, but really haven't began the search, busy making soap!

 
The bed would not be complete without lambie! That extra large crochet throw I recently found while thrifting for $2 and almost a perfect match to the CL one. (see picture below)

 

Rather than buying the tan colored linen pillows, I'm going to sew some, much more cost effective.

My purchases for the Blossom Up...

Cotton Bed Skirt: $10 (half off at the red store)

Sheet Set: $25 (at the store I mentioned earlier)

New Rectangle Pillow with white ruffles: ($19 at the store I mentioned earlier)

Hand Crocheted Creamy Throw: ($2 at my local thrift shop)

Total Bed Blossom Makeover: $56

Great feeling I get for not breaking the bank on a

Blossom Up: PRICELESS!

It sure doesn't feel like winter slow down around here! Busier than ever and more projects going on at once than I ever recall. Note to self: Must take time to breathe deep and exhale slowly.

So many things to share too. I haven't forgotten about the list!

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Jill 00

Kitcheny

 
 I gave the kitchen a small makeover yesterday in between soap making. By the way, that patchouli mint soap, new flavor, smells minty good!

Once again my decorating items have been taken from other parts of the home. I like to call it a Re-bloomng Ornamentation. Meaning: Something old transforms into something new!

I found that bread tin while passing a garage sale on a morning walk. Cost, .50 cents. I paid the same for the white pitcher. It was used for storing paper in the studio, now it will store food items.

 
Before the kitchen had touches of red, now after the re-bloom it's mainly whites.

   

The re-blooming of a room can be messy, but I believe I've found the best method for the process.

Before I  begin the changeover I place a couple of sturdy plastic bins with lids so that I have a safe place to store the old items. Someday I will dig into the bin and discover that the old is once again new. After all, I purchased or saved the items because I loved them when I purchased them.

 

 
 

    
 
 Home Sweet Home...

Soap making now.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Jill 00

Thank you

   
I received this beautiful handmade thank you card the other day in the mail from my friends Deb and Zach.

I was in awe as I looked at the colorful illustrations and sweet wording.

Aren't thank you cards the best? What a special treat to receive one that someone made.

Last night on the evening news I saw this and was moved by this mans sentiments.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7279317n&tag=related;photovideo

 Wasn't that a great story?

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Happily,

Jill 00

Bittersweet Land

Saturday I began making linen Valentine hearts. While lying in bed an idea appeared once again! I'm going to incorporate the idea into my next design.

 
We spent Sunday morning at my dads. It was his birthday and MJ prepared a lovely brunch for my family. Fresh fruit, French toast and egg dishes lined the dining room table. The food was delicious and much welcomed over my traditional winter breakfast menu of juice, almonds and oat's. 

After brunch while still sitting at the dining room table we were treated with a nature show, birds eye view in fact. Dad's back yard is surrounded by woods. Several different species of birds can be found gathering their winter seed from the many bird feeders dad has placed in the corner of the forest.

 
Quite honestly, I could sit and watch the birds for hours, very relaxing. Then while gazing at the fat woodpeckers, this family of deer began to appear.

 
 
This little guy was cute.

The home sweet home is turned upside down and topsy turvy.It always is this time of winter. Sugar Baby jars awaiting tags, soap molds here and there, linen spread over the tables as well as soap in need of cutting. Piles everywhere. Tax time too! Soon there will be fresh piles of paperwork, adding machine and receipts.

I like it when our home looks like this. Those little piles are comforting to me. I  know the work in progress will eventually bring new designs and ideas and completed projects.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Jill 00 

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

 
Tomorrow's my dad's birthday!

I'm so blessed to have such a generous, caring, thoughtful, loving, "do unto others" human being as my dad!

Dad I love you with all my heart and always will!

See you tomorrow!

Love,

Jill xoo♥

Snowberries

 
I know you've heard me talk about snow-berries before. They are one of the plants Lewis and Clark brought back to Thomas Jefferson while on their discovery travels. I was not familiar with the species until I saw a gathered bunch sitting on a shelf at an antique store several years ago. Julie was with me and we were both intrigued by the bundle of dried berries.

The plant is actually a bush and grows wild in my woods. Although through my many walks in the woods on winter days when I was younger never did I see such a bush. Back then I was looking for rabbits and quail instead of snowberry bushes. I hunted when I was in my early twenties.  

There's nothing like a walk in the woods right after a snow and for hunters it's the best time because they can spot their game more easily in the white landscape.

 I found the little snow-berry wreath while antique shopping a couple of weekends ago. It was hanging on an old wooden shelf. I got excited when I saw it knowing what a treasure it is. The lady at the antique shop had no idea what it was. In fact, she thought the dried wreath was made of Styrofoam. Oh no, I say, this is a snow-berry, very rare and precious. She probably thought I was a bit off talking so passionately about a dried berry!

Anyway, of all the things I found that day, that was one of my favorite! I will get the other wonderful finds together soon and share. One in which is amazing and I can't believe how I found it, interesting story to tell.

Oh and since we're talking snow-berries, how about a snowy picture of me on the famous snow hill right outside my kitchen window.

 
All of sudden we're getting oodles of snow each week. More coming this weekend! I love snow!!! I love playing in the snow!

I went up and down the hill seven times yesterday morning. Felt great! I wish I had an action shot but my camera man couldn't get it! Poor Lennis, he's intimidated by any kind of digital instrument. I start at the very top of the hill and then full body and sled as one,  land chest first, the best way to sled by the way.

Lily was chasing me all the way down the hill nipping at me and barking until her little legs could not keep up with my speed and then here she comes jumping on me at the bottom of the hill, priceless!

 
Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Happily,

Jill 00

Snowiness and a home keeping recipe to share...

 
This is what is looks like in my neighborhood. Snow and lots of it! You know how I feel about snow, right?

The boys are home and I'll be completing several on going projects, soap cutting needed, and lots of relaxing for them. That's the way it usually is during snow days around here. Patrick has requested brownies. I'm looking outside at the street seeing the snow plow left a narrow band of packed snow for sledding. It's pretty cold , but my body is telling me it might be good to get some exercise in. Isn't it cool how your body tells you those things?

Oh yeah, the home keeping recipe. The secret one! 

I've been keeping an eye on the mixture for almost two weeks now and I believe this prototype recipe will work just fine. I've been using it too and absolutely love it! I ordered spray bottles but made a mistake in ordering trigger sprays and those just won't work. A find mist is needed for this product. Have I got your curiosity up? GOOD!

I also believe this would make a nice Valentine gift along with a pair of pretty vintage pillow cases or tea towels.  

This is a great winter project. Follow the directions completely.

 
Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Happily,

Jill 00