Bittersweet and the little soap company

blowin' in the wind

Back and forth, to and fro, twist and turn... and then it happens! What a great idee, we think, "soap on a rope!" That's why we've brought it back. However, it's not the same soap on a rope from the seventies. This one is artisan created and loaded with over seventy percent moisture rich olive oil. If you're looking for a great guy gift, soap on a rope flavored in cedar wood is an ideal choice. Just say-in!

My excitement builds when a nip or tuck or tiny embellishment adds the perfect final touch to a packaging idee. I'm always amazed how one little change can have such a big impact on your final design. I love that!

We're in love with the new spring blossom tea towels! I've always had a thing for pretty floral and linen tea towels. The cotton pretties are embellished in vintage trims. I ask you this question... Who doesn't like to have a pretty floral tea towel hanging from a kitchen hook? What a silly question! 

Bittersweet spring production is keeping me busy. The new soaps, Wild Poppy, Sandalwood Rose, and Champs Des Fleurs are almost ready to be dressed in their new spring outfits. I'm still working on Miss Poppy and pondering the final changes. I was inspired by old seed packets. Again, who doesn't like to look at a pretty colorful seed packet? A peek...

We're dreaming of spring at Bittersweet. Wild poppy's blowin' in the wind and fields of flowers surround a green meadow! That was our inspiration for Bittersweet Spring 2013. 

Enjoy caring and sharing soon to be spring days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00 

 

 

 

calico petal thoughts

A little ensemble of calico drawstring bags are sitting on the shop table. I sew a small gusset in the bottom of each bag so that it sits upright. What's not to LOVE about the construction of a drawstring bag? I'm making hundreds! 

They don't take long to make. I'm envisioning a vintage crate filled with an assortment of calico's. A spring collection of sorts. 

The pink star flowers are a favorite too! They were popular in the seventys, but I fancy them today just as much! 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

dosey doe

Thank you for the lavender ♥ love. I know without a doubt your Valentine is going to adore and love the herbal sachets. I'm making more! 

It's been baumy and unseasonably spring, summer warm the past few days. This morning a fierce cold front is arriving and the dawn sky appears mottled with shades of gray. Midwest weather can turn at the blink of any eye. Yesterday is was seventy-something and tonight's forecast,  twenty degrees something and snow! Old man winter 2013 seems to have a split personality. 

I'm anxious and excited for spring to arrive. The anticipation of cutting fresh forsythia to place in my frogs. Thoughts of seeing the wild wood violets that carpet our back yard helps to make me even more anxious. Yesterday while walking through the neighborhood I noticed the magnolia trees have fat unopened bloom clusters just ready to explode! It's a tad bit early for spring plants and trees to blossom but those thoughts are heavy on my mind simply because I love spring!

I forgot to mention my fondness for red bud trees in bloom. These pictures were taken last spring during the peak of springs early arrival. 

These images will help to suffice until beautiful Miss Spring has proper time to dosey doe. 

Meantime. Lunch today with a dear friend and apothecary talk at the shop. 

Enjoy caring and sharing soon to be spring days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

 

 

soft squares

I started another prairie quilt! This one is pieced together with Durham fat quarters. I have been fond of the Durham collection since it first came out. If you're wanting to explore quilting but intimidated by geometrical designs and such then making a fat quarter quilt is for you my friend. I haven't decided whether to tie or quilt yet. Both finishing techniques appeal to me on different levels. I also believe the two are equal in skill level and time involvement. The next step is to piece the front to a back and then make the binding. If you're on the fence and think you don't have time to make a quilt you should know I whipped this up in around 30 minutes! You can read more about machine quiliting from a past post. I prefer fast crafts!

Then, my little stash of Liberty fabric that is reserved for doll and rabbit dresses. If you're like me and pondered why the beautiful fabric is so costly. This video explains it! What a glorious day it would be to rub my fingers over those vibrant textiles. I'll take one of each please! Thank you. 

It's that time once again. Tax time! UGH! Have I told you how much I despise tax time? I'm sure I have. 

I'd rather be wrapping soap or making prairie quilts!

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

nat·u·ral /ˈnaCHərəl/ Adjective Existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.

The herbal stash is getting a spring cleaning. The apothecary herbal powders and fixatives are used to enhance a variety of products. The collection consist of rosemary, peppermint, patchouli, elder flowers, chamomile, orris root, sandalwood, roses, lavender, shave grass, calendula, and a few other necessary dried botanical. 

Interesting to me... That the definition of "natural" is fast becoming a bad word. The insert above was copied from Webster. I really feel the definition sums up what I've always believed "natural" to be. What's your take on the subject of "natural?"

I have always had an interest in herbal medicine. For the past thirty years I've studied and read a number of books about natural remedies and days gone by apothecary. Having said that, I don't believe a person could ever explore everything there is to learn about this subject.  My passion for wanting to advance in learning about plants and herbs and their wonderful healing abilities also directed me to create Bittersweet natural skin care. 

That was sixteen years ago!

Present day and  that same apothecary passion continues to be nurtured and cultivated and is evolving each and every day during my mix this, weigh that, smell me method of learning along with the aid of wonderful books. I'm mostly a do-it learner though. My philosophy has always been. If you don't try it, then you'll never know! Some of my best creations have been born by using that method of learning.

I have always believed strongly in the use of natural herbs for healing and good health.  I also believe God created each and every herb, plant for a reason. What an astonishing feat when you stop to ponder those thoughts. 

Just think about this aromatic food enhancer for a moment and then this one and this one. Then think about your life without them. I love to bake so those thoughts are quite disappointing if I stop and ponder. 

Busy day at the shop planned. I can't believe February is approaching! We're that much closer to spring with every passing day.Yippee! I can't wait to tip-pee toe on cool green grass and pick fresh bouquets of aromatic lilacs! You Midwest and Eastern homeys can relate to my spring anticipation feelings.

I'm thinking about starting the dreaded taxes this weekend. After that, I'll be ready for some natural inspiration. 

Enjoy a caring and sharing day.

Warmly,

Jill 00 

 

 

fancy that!

Each season around this time of year I begin yearning for spring. Vivid thoughts of green grass and yellow daffodils push the neutral toned winter color images off to the side. Those flowering idees trigger a desire to dip each new Bittersweet I make with flower dust. 

We're bringing back some of our popular soaps that will be available in our Spring 2013 collection.  Botanical Blooms will include Wild Poppy  and Sandalwood Rose in addition to our spring, summer savon, Champs des fleurs. I'm excited to offer our moisture rich olive oil soaps in a trio of flower flavors! Lilac savon will follow.

Summer soaps include, Coconut Cream, Vanilla Almond and a few other new scents that we're excited to bring you. We also believe you'll love each and every new soap!

The other day while out and about town I ran into an old friend. Our conversation quickly moved to apothecary. He commented how Bittersweet Soap Company was similar to that of the olden day occupations.  The word he used to describe my business was Alchemy. I've always fancied the word and its meaning. Especially the meaning! After that conversation I pondered the word further mainly because of its definition. The word describes what Bittersweet does, is, in a pure|clean|simple WORD. ALCHEMY.  Gotta love it!

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

the a word...

This is an old picture taken three of four years ago. It's one of my favorite images. I was prepping for an upcoming show.  The enamel ware, round soap wrapped in cotton cloth, terracotta and lavender, and the floral prints and labels are what I'd consider to be a reflection of my style. It's nice to have a style, I believe.

This is another favorite picture. It was taken last spring. My lilac bushes were producing huge clusters of blooms last spring. More than I'd ever had! I remember it was hot the day I took this picture. Funny how you remember things like that. The picture is a favorite because of its simplicity. I also love the green grass! The hat is a favorite hat I picked up at a flea market years ago while browsing for antiques with my friend Julie. I remember first seeing the hat and falling in love. It's quite old and considered very vintage. I would say from the 1920 era. Very Gatsby indeed. I'm going to start using that term to refer to some of my vintage stash when I show and tell. "Very Vintage." Meaning, more than vintage. Ha!

I enjoyed a delightful day yesterday with my dad on his birthday. I took dad and M.J. to lunch and then later for dinner we went to dads house and had a pizza party. M.J. made her delicious chocolate cake. My brother and his wife came. Patrick too! It was nice to have everyone I love together in one place. We laughed and talked the evening away. 

This morning I'm packing orders and cutting soap. I'm getting anxious about the new soaps arrival. It feels as though time is moving in slow motion while I wait for the soaps to season and cure. The packaging ideas that once floated around are now sitting, waiting. Do you remember my favorite word?  More than a word to me. The word and its meaning inspire me to create. ANTICIPATION! Is making me late, is keeping me waiting... I've always loved that song!

 Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Post taken from January 23, 2008. 

Today is my Dads birthday!

My Dad is an extraordinary man. He's smart, good looking, compassionate, kind, and generous. He's the whole deal!

I'm embarrassed to say, I'm not sure how old he turns today. It's a denial thing I know, as I know he's getting up there in age, and I want him to be here forever!

My belief is that GOD chooses your parents. For whatever reason we are raised by who we are intended to be raised by. I won't get philosophical or talk religion and bore you with my personal thoughts, but in a nut shell, no one comes into your life without a purpose.

I think about that as I look at this picture of my Dad.

The lessons he taught me, the late nights he waited up for me when I was a teenager, there were lot's of those! The way he always helped people when they were in need of something. This guy was the man they called! Growing up I was always proud of my Dad for offering his help to others and still am! 

His unselfish ways always, and still do shine through.

My Dad grew up during the depression. His Father was an alcoholic, and his Mother, my Grandma Lola, owned and operated a restaurant in a small near by town, Lola's Cafe. He pretty much raised himself, with the help of his older brother, Richard.

I've heard many a stories about these two boys.

Dad married his high school sweetheart and went to barbers school and opened his own barber shop in his small home town. He told me he got tired of setting in the shop on slow days, and decided being a barber was not for him. He then, keep in mind this is the early sixty's, applied for a computer programmer job. At that time there were very few computers, and no one knew how to run them so they sent you to school to learn.

He went to school and learned all about computers and soon became the programmer for a large corporation. He remained at that same company for over thirty-five years, becoming again, the guy to call when they needed help. I remember my Dad getting calls at two-O'Clock in the morning from people working at his office needing help fixing systems. He'd always talk them through and fix the problem. Kind of like tech support now, only this was some almost fifty year's ago!

Today if I can't figure out a gadget, or having problems with electronics, I call my Dad and he comes to the rescue always figuring out what I was not able to do.

I'm thankful to have my Dad! My Mom passed away six year's ago from leukemia, and I don't think I could bear the thought of  life without both parents!

I gave them both a run for the money during my teenage rebellious years, but they always stood beside me through thick and thin.

Dad, I thank you for that, and the many lessons you've gracefully taught me over the years. I am a better person for having you as a parent!

This is a picture of my Dad when Patrick was little.

Do you see those eyes? They are caring and sharing eyes!

Happy Birthday Dad.

I love you! xoxo

Now you know where I get the caring and sharing...

Enjoy caring and sharing Winter days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

You might also like:

charmed

When first creating the lavender heart sachets I had a thought of adding charms of some sort to the hanging pomanders. The process of picking and choosing the right charms was just a click away. These are so much fun to put together. They're easy and quick too! You do need to allow them to dry for several hours before handling, but as far as assembly, easy and fast. I ordered the brass hearts and charms here. You may wish to spend some time on their web site. I did.

Whether you're considering incorporating your charms into a jewelry piece or adding frosting to an existing design. They are a delightful addition to either. I'm particularly fond of the brass hearts. I thought you would enjoy seeing a Valentine gift idee. 

You will need to order some adhesive and the glossy topping along with the charms. I clipped my own designs from various papers, but you can order some of their collage sheets if you prefer. I simply placed the charm onto the paper and drew around and then cut. It is quite easy to fit the image onto the charm with a little practice. Make sure you don't put too much of the glossy topping over the design. It only takes a tiny bit. You only need enough to cover the image. If you apply too much topping then it will be difficult to see the image clearly. 

While I'm on the topic of Valentine gifts it would be difficult not to mention these. Who wouldn't love to have a few of these pretty handmade envelopes? You can create a lovely stationary package. Linen paper with a few of these envelopes would be so very Valentine nice! You could stamp the stationary pieces with monogram stamps if you wish.  I ordered the template from the same web site. You can view the templates here. 

I also think these hand lined journals would be a heart felt Valentine gift. I've talked about and given you supply vendor information about the unfinished journals on a previous post.  

It's always fun to whip up some crafty winter creations. The new creations will be well received by friends and family. I chose easy to make ones for Valentines Day. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

 

 

 

 

this thing

I have "this thing"for drawstring bags! I'm always drawn to any hand-made item that is simply constructed and offers an array of uses. Bittersweets floral drawstring bags are used for housing our moisture rich soap and apothecary. Sometimes it's nice to receive a gift wrapped in a pretty cloth bag instead of the traditional paper and bow package, I believe. The gift lives on as the fabric bag may be used for something else. 

As some of you know "this thing" feelings continue and more heart felt joy surrounds my  fondness for lavender sachets. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Warmly,

Jill 00