Bittersweet and the little soap company

Interlude

We had a delightful May day celebration @ the studio. The guests all had smiles on their faces and the sky's were sunny and bright! It truly was a perfect day! Thank you to all that came!  

While I'm on the subject of perfect... Sweet Leah came to help with the event. If ever I were to select a perfect helper, her name would be Leah! Leah's sparkling personality shines through and her old soul personality takes her way beyond her years. In other words, in addition to her beauty, she's kind and considerate and a smart young girl! Thank you Leah for being there.

Several old friends dropped by.

My best friend from high-school, Nita. Isn't she pretty? We reconnected on Face-book a little over a year ago. The moment we saw each other again it felt as though we picked up right where we left off some blankety blank years ago. I believe childhood friends become friends for life. They touch a place in your heart that cannot be reproduced.  I'm blessed and my life is much richer now with Nita back in it! I feel the same way about the other friends that through social networking have come back into my life.

My long time friends Debbie, Zach and Margaret, (little Timmy). Doesn't Margaret look pretty in her spring hat?

Margaret is Debbie's mom? You would never guess she's 94! I was noticing how wonderful and radiant her skin looked. Debbie said she had been using the marula smoothie on her face. I noticed recently after giving my dad a jar of the smoothie how great his face looked too! It's comforting to see the positive results of Bittersweet skin care right before my eyes.

How sweet is this picture?

This is Nita's grand daughter. I ask you again, isn't she the cutest little button? Her mommy designed and made her darling outfit! You can check out her companies page here.

Another old friend stopped by and I was able to  have time to snap a shot.

Dana from the Stone Rabbit hopped by! You can visit Dana's blog here.

So as you can see a great day!

I made the fresh lemonade! You may remember the post stating how it was going to take 40 lemons or six cups of lemon juice to make the lemonade! I was up late Friday night squeezing lemons! It really was yummy!

The small red roses are from my garden. The peonies had not opened yet, but the pink and red roses had!

Packing orders this morning and doing last of the month duties, taxes, etc.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

A beautiful day!

Singing Spring forever and ever...

I know every year you hear me say this! "This is going to be my favorite spring!" I guess the reason those feelings and that reoccurring phrase happen is simply because of the excitement and anticipation I feel when spring brings forth the birth of new idees and Bittersweet creations.

Centered around...

 A passion for making pure|clean|simple and those three words also help inspire me to create new things .

I can't imagine doing anything ~ else... 

To sum it up in a glorious metaphor. Just as Goldy Locks finally found the perfect resting place so have I!

This one feels just right!

My grandmother Lola used to tell that bedtime story in her unique extraordinary bedtime story style. I can still remember hearing her say those words. I loved it when we came to that part of the story. She needed no book with pictures to illustrate her story, only her voice.  Although I heard it over and over and knew Goldy Locks would eventually discover her perfect bed hearing my grandma tell that story evoked the same anticipated warm happy feelings each and every time I heard her tell it.  

As a child I thought the loving gesture of telling a bedtime story was the best gift ever! But as I grew to an adult I discovered my grandma blessed me with an even bigger gift. Sweet happy childhood memories that forever  remain a positive impact on how I live my life. Those memories have definetely helped to shape who I am.  

Spring is a time of renewal.

A time to reflect and take note.

To take things in stride.

A time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of Gods creations.

For me remembering those happy days gone by memories help to make spring feel more soulful and real.

Every day I take a break from my work and take Elle outside to run and play outside. Some days are testing as I'm usually so busy with work that  I feel there is no time for an interlude. However having said that I've also come to realize you must take time to stop and smell the flowers.

A most amazing thing happened yesterday!  Elle discovered butterflies! She became engrossed and began chasing them and trying to snatch em up. It was the funniest thing to watch!

I couldn't help but ponder that day last July 2,  as I sat in the car dealership with Patrick to help him purchase a new car.  I was extremely sad about losing Lily and even more sad as she died in my arms.  

That day I sat  patiently, mostly because of my somber mood awaiting the car dealer guy to present his next really good deal a song came on the radio.

It was that song, the seventies song that Heart sang. Dog and Butterfly. I remember how sad I felt hearing that song play  the day after Lily died in my arms.  You may remember me writing about that day.

Then yesterday as I watched Elle attempt to catch butterflies I once again remembered that song only this time a smile appeared on my face.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00  

May Day Confections

Peonies, pink lemonade, shortbread, strawberry cake and s'more gooey bars.

All of those blossoms and confections help usher in a happy arrival for lovely Miss Spring!

Now I'll wish for sunny skies...

NOTE: The studio will be opening early and running later. Open 10 am - 5 pm for our May Day celebration!

I've posted shortbread and strawberry cake recipes on past posts. If you type those words in the search box, the recipes should pop up.

I found the s'more bar recipe here.  Think they sound yummy!

I have several recipes for lemonade but am making a gallon so click here  for that recipe if you're wanting to make at least a gallon of fresh lemonade.

I wish Bittersweet blog readers could attend this event! You would thoroughly enjoy it, I know!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

Week of...

It's the final week of prepping and preparing for the open house. Considering I thought last week was the week of, having an extra week has given me peace of mind and I'm I can't tell you how good it feels to not be rushed to get things done.

That is an image of the old apothecary cabinet that sits in the product room in the studio. I refer to the room as the little room because it is quite small. When I closed the shop and transplanted Bittersweet into my home the two vintage glass door cabinets fit as though they were custom designed to fill their new space. There's only an inch or so on each side of the larger cabinet.

The larger cabinet is used to store Bittersweet soap and the small one is used to merchandise and house skin care product.

Then of course, my laundry room which some of my readers already know also serves as part of the shop.

Moving my shop into my home was one of the best decisions I ever made. Always nice when a plan works out the way you wish it to, right?

The responsibilities of shop ownership remain in tact. The duties are the same as they were when I had the shop downtown. City license and all the legal boring re-sale obligations consistant and the same. Since Bittersweet is a manufacturer as well as a retail shop we're able to monitor and control our prices easier than if we were just a retail shop that purchases items from a sales rep. Having 0 middle man... It's always nice to operate a business with no middle man if you can. Middle man cost a business money!

Don't get me going on shop talk.

Back to the May Day celebration.

I've put together thirty hostess gifts. I can't share what's inside because some of my readers are planning to attend the event and I don't want to spoil the gift surprise. Actually I've shared the May Day gifts on  past posts so I guess it's not a biggy, but at any rate the anticipation of not knowing everything is much more thrilling.

I've put together the pastry menu and I'll share later. I'm making homemade lemonade with meyer lemons and coloring it pink. It takes a number of lemons to make a gallon of lemondade, (40) to be exact. Now that's a lot of lemons! You know what they say... When life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Not necessarily a metaphor for this discussion, but I couldn't resist.

The week of an event always bring with it excitement and happy thoughts.

Enjoy a caring and sharing spring day.

Warmly,

Jill 00  

 

Faded lilacs

I thought you might like to see more of the lilac setting shots. Some of the photo's were not used. The lilacs have since faded and won't return until next spring. We had the privilege of enjoying their charming beauty for an extended time since we're having the perfect record breaking spring.

In years past I've taken pictures of all the different flowers that bloom throughout our garden in the spring and summer. Since I have to wait so long to see them blooming,  it seems only natural to want to hold on to the short lived  joyful memory they bring to my world.

I'd really like to create a journal of sorts that showcases some of my favorite blooms. Sketches too along with the photo's.

I love flowers! You may remember how I once said if I had not chosen to be a soap maker I would own a flower shop. In fact, I've pondered thoughts of opening another boutique filled with antiquities, French inspired toiletry items and FRESH FLOWERS!

I can envision old white washed apothecary cabinets in ecru, lavender bundles sitting in vintage baskets, piles of beautiful savon assorted and neatly stacked and tied with beautiful satin and silk ribbon, trunk shelves layered with vintage linens, napkins and a rare array of  French ribbon and napkins, stunning fresh bouquets centering the round tables throughout. Can you see it?

I've even thought about a name, Floraison aigre-douce, Bittersweet Blooming!

I'm happy and content at the moment running my cottage business from home but it's nice to have creative thoughts to tuck away and reserve for a later date!

First things first... I have some other projects up my sleeve that take protocol. 

I know, I know, teasing is not nice. The big project can't be disclosed quite yet. I promise though when it gets closer to the proper time, I will certainly share.

Counting down to the final weeks before the May Day event!

My list remains long...

I wish you could sniff the new May Day fragrance!

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Love,

Jill 00 

  

How does your garden grow?

This little alcove sits in our back yard next.. Most of the areas in our yard are shaded so the flowers that choose need to be shade loving plants. We do have a few small sunny spots. That's where my rose bushes and zinnias grow. That's one reason I'm planting flowers in my garden. I love being able to walk through my yard and pick fresh bouquets throughout the warm seasons.

Lennis built the cub-by planting nooks along side the wall and steps. The nooks are filled with herbs. Bee balm flourishes during the hot summer months and the bees love it! It's fragrance resembles honey and the blossoms are pretty in a bouquet. I also have spearmint, thyme and chives that come up every season in the spot.

 The hostas transplanted well. They were droopy for a couple of days and then popped up as though they'd been in there new spot forever. Once they fill in the alcove they'll be ready to seperate once again and I can fill another shady spot with their hos-ta beauty.

There are several varieties of plants that benefit from being condensed and dug up every now and then. Peonies, lilys, iris and lily of the valley all flourish when their roots are cloned. Ground cover like English ivy and periwinkle also enjoy a short jaunt. The idee of having more plants at no cost is appealing to me!

Speaking of peonies! Mine will be blooming in the next couple of weeks! They're in a shaded area and bloom later than ones that are sitting in the sun. Their blooming time is short lived, but thoroughly enjoyed. I'm planning on cherishing their blooming beauty through some peon-ie pictures.

Do you remember the small pansy plant my friend Julie gave me a month or so ago?

Julie popped by on Saturday and could not believe how big and plump the pansy was now.   

The stone stepping stones that sweet Lennis created to make it easier and handy to walk up the hill. The hostas planted in that spot will fill the sides of the stones within a couple of years.

I can't wait to share some peon-ie images!

Enjoy a caring and sharing spring.

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

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

 

 

a week off!

Well not really time off from work, not yet anyway. For some reason I've been one week ahead. I was thinking the open house was this saturday. I've been scurrying around to get things ready and low and behold when I looked at the calender, I was a week ahead! It's a welcome surprise to know there's an extra week to get everything on the to-do list finished. A sigh of relief was in order.

Those vintage hob-nob lamp shades are available @ Sundries & Haberdasher, my Etsy site. Now that I've placed them on the wood candlestick bases I really want to keep them in the studio, but someone else will love them as much as I do. I picked the shades up at a recent vintage market jaunt. They look almost new!

The sweet william came from my neighbors yard. He lets his lawn get quite tall before mowing. He has several varieties of wild flowers throughout his landscape.

I picked up a packet of these seeds yesterday at the garden shop.  Can't wait to pick these lime colored blooms!

An extra week will allow me to get some soap wrapping done! The soap rack is in need of filling.

Later this week... My homemade lemonade recipe and simple but sweet hostess gift idees.

I'm also working on the top ten gift closet favorites.

I'm loving the new tree house porch Lennis built! I believe my summers will be spent mostly there. The mock orange is beginning to bud and when the wind blows from the west their sweet orange blossom scent surrounds the porch. Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers. It will put an entire new perspective on things.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days too.

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

Behind the scenes...

I thought you might enjoy some behind the scenes of the Bittersweet studio. The past few days I've been working on the flooring. Ripping up old black & white flooring and cleaning and painting, switching out some hardware. Sprucing up the place a bit!

I painted the little dresser that I purchased from my friend Dana white and switched the knobs with my favorite wood ones. I love em just the way they are, natural.

I painted the concrete floor with enamel floor paint and then topped it with a satin varnish. I can't tell you how many times I've painted flooring. I'm not sure what I want down in this high traffic area. I'm thinking ceramic tile, but have not made up my mind entirely. The clean shiny floor will due just fine for now until I decide.

I don't know that I've ever taken a picture of my cash register! This is where I ring up my Saturday customers.

When I fulfil orders, this is where I grab it from. Bittersweet merchandise fills the studio. I'm noticing there's a shortage of several things!

This is the apothecary room! The small room houses my handmade pinnies, heat pillows,  unwrapped soap and skin care products.

I took several more pictures but I'll wait and share later.

I also have a finished prototype made of the May Day Potpourri. The smell good old fashioned room freshener will accompany the new May Day Parfume! I will be listing both on the web site in the weeks to come. If you can't wait, drop me an email and I'll send you pricing, and a Pay Pal invoice.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Warmly,

Jill 00