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Jill McDowell Lincoln
I know that I'll never grow tired of brown paper wrappings mixed with lavender. Some things, you just simply know. I started cleaning and organizing my studio. I've chatted over the topic of a soap maker's studio many times. A manufacturing studio is much different than most. Large containers of soap making ingredients and formulations fill the space, mostly. A makeover and tidy up party was long over due!
I can't believe were upon Labor day weekend! Where or where has summer gone? Realizing there's still some left, but autumn is yearning to follow. I can see the signs. The onset of falling leaves and crisp cool mornings, a sure sign it's just around the summer corner. I'm ready.
Holiday soap production has officially kicked in and I'm churning out a variety of yummy scented clove and cranberry soaps. I'll package the early holiday soaps in neutral wrappings.
I'm mildly obsessed with sage green burlap. I think the textured green cloth glides into autumn.
I love the industrial rack Lennis made for bittersweet aprons! It rolls and fits tight spaces with ease.
We're grilling blue cheese burgers for dinner and baking a yellow cake with rue icing or what you might know as red velvet cake icing, yummy!
It will be a busy production week filled with lots of soap making. In between bursts of sewing and lip balm formulations. A soap maker's life...
Over the years I've received more than a few requests for the 1967 pinnie pattern that I use to make the bittersweet apron. I'm happy to announce I'll be sharing the pattern in a kit. I spoke about the new kits a few days ago. I'm finally getting around to cutting out a few and putting together apron kits. This pattern is for beginners, but may be embellished with ruffles and trims, etc. The kit includes a small remnant left over after I cut the pattern pieces that may be used for a variety of trimming. I've added the apron kits to my web shop. I'm offering the kits in a variety of different fabrics. Each pre-cut pattern piece has a sticker that details instructions. The apron kits also include a delicious seasonal recipe. Don't forget to wear your new apron while you're baking!
The holiday season is fast approaching for a retail girl. If you own a shop and don't start pondering thoughts of pine cones and cedar, you'll be wishing you had. A soap maker has these thought even earlier than a retail person. I know, it's a crazy life! I love it though!
That's a large brick of round one, holiday soap. I ask customers to sniff it! Each time someone bends down to sniff they say, "oh my!" The fragrance blend was a mix of this and that, so it won't be reproduced. Two-hundred bars will fly at warp speed right out the shop door. I'll be cutting and wrapping in the weeks to come and it should be fancied up by mid September. The name of the soap, that comes later. My nose will determine the name of the new soap. I love that!
We had our first Twilight Soiree last Thursday. I as so busy with radio show, shop, new packaging, life, that I really couldn't remember how many folks I invited. Jules asked me, and I replied, "I'm really not sure." A few no shows early on, so that helped me to recall the invite list. At any rate, I had a blast with three amazing women. We moved the party outdoors onto the shop porch and then we laughed the twilight away.
Some new fresh packaging that I'm fond of. Inside the box, two bars of moisture sudsy soap! A soap maker's life...
So funny, this pic of Jill & Jules and Eco Elvis, our guest on the show! I told Jules we look like a mature version of Charlie's Angels! Both of us not knowing how we posed along with Eco Elvis doing his karate move. I'm laughing...
I'm having a blast with this radio thing! By no means have I learned even the basics, but we're rolling. I talk more while running the board. Interesting and running a radio board while interviewing guests puts an entirely new meaning the word multi-tasking. I had no idea. I feel wonderfully blessed and most appreciative that KCXL Radio has graciously given me the opportunity to explore and learn new things.
The shop is hopping and I'm feeling an urge to create new bittersweets for the holidays.
Our Twilight Soiree was so much fun. I'll share later. We have so much going on it's hard to talk about it in one setting.
About an hour away from Liberty is a small farming community by the name of Hamilton. The town rests atop the old Mo. 36 Highway. If you continue driving east you'll end up in Hannibal Mo, the birthplace of Mark Twain.
A few years ago, I'm not sure how many, a gal by the name of Jenny decided to open a quilt shop. Low and behold, a star was born!
Jill & Jules enjoyed visiting the quilt shops in Hamilton. Yes, I did type "quilt shops!" There are six! Floral shop, Batik shop, Solids, Juvenile, Holiday, a quilters paradise without a doubt.
We dined at a restaurant that served up gourmet style tenderloins and bacon and tomato sandwiches with brie, oh my gosh! I was knee deep in bolts of Downtown Abbey! Need I say more?
We saw lots of out of state plates during our visit. New York, Colorado, Iowa, and California, just to name a few.
The marketing director, Caleb happened to walk be when Jules and I were taking photos. He happily and kindly took our photo. We chatted awhile, I couldn't help but mention his amazing marketing skills.
Puts an entirely different meaning to the phrase, "If you build it, they will come!"
The apothecary shop host our first Twilight Soiree last evening and our radio show featured a special guest. I'll share on some upcoming posts.
I love hob nob milk glass. It's getting harder to find. I'm particularly fond of the fat mouth vases with a scallop rim.
Softness hues, hand made pinnie's!
Road trip and Soiree's, Radio Show and Style Show and shop life keep me on the high road and always, practice makes perfect. Falling into, can you guess? Autumn...Just at the shop, home sweet home is always a bit behind, it seems lately. Starting to feel that homey feeling. Aren't you?
My most recent fascination. Soap bags created by a number of unique folds. No glue or tape, simply folds. Amazing! See the little pocket the bags form?
I'll podcast the next show and post it on the Jill & Jules Facebook page.
I love the French style wrappings of the Champ De Fleur Savon. The buzz at the apothecary shop is fall. Everyone around here is anticipating crisp mornings and pumpkins!
Soap packaging is even moving towards fall. The first of the holiday soaps is curing. One sniff, and the words can't begin to describe the festive aroma! Yummy to my nose! I have a big chunk sitting on the soap table at the shop and customers are freaking out with the scent. Always a feeling of awe, when customers sniff and reply, "oh my!"
An amazing new packaging idea came about the other day! No words to describe it, other than amazing! Yes, lots of exclamation points lately.
The shop is buzzing! The beer crawl on Saturday and next week, radio show. twilight soiree, and I'm beginning to feel like the world is spinning at warp speed. I'll spare you from another exclamation point.
By the way, I'm having some formulation issues with the herbal wipes. I won't go into it other than, I'm working on a solution for the problem and I believe it's figured out. I've pulled the wipes from our web shoppe. Production has halted and I'll need a couple of weeks for testing, possibly three weeks will be needed. Whenever I introduce a new product sometimes issues arise. Case in point with the herbal wipes. No worries, I will introduce a solution. Let me explain that when a formulation of less is more is created, more work to make it perfect is sometime needed.
It always brings a joy to my heart when a new Bittersweet product comes to life. Let me say, I don't use toner, but now I'm going to! If you traveled to our face book page then you know the details about this wonderful facial toner. I'm slowly planting shades of Autumn in the shop. We move so quickly towards the holiday season in soap making, Fall premiers briefly. I cherish each and every crunchy auburn leaf that crosses my path. The air is crisp and the wooly bear caterpillars' are abundant. I'll be able to predict our winter by their black and brown stripes. An old wise tale, and one I take to heart. You may recall posts about that!
One word shall best describe this Bittersweet Fall, 2015, soft...
Twilight Soiree's and Crisp Autumn Air.
We're gearing up for a busy holiday season. So much to do, so little time. A soap maker's life...
A zinnia bouquet dipped in lemon grass and brown eye Susan's. I have a huge mound of lemon grass that I planted in a clay pot. If you've ever planted any then you know how fast it grows. Start with an extra big pot when you plant otherwise you will be replanting quickly.
The shop is hopping! I'm a little freaked out because the busy season has yet to kick in, and it's busy. Since I offer new items at the shops on a frequent level, my busyness just got busier! I like that, busyness just got busier. Probably not proficient grammar. My weakness for sure. We can't be good at everything, right?
The Twilight Soiree is booked through October! A notion that puts a smile on my face. I've got a notion. Kind of an old word, notion. I'm fond of that word too! Back to... If you've requested to be on the private Twilight Soiree guest list, you should be receiving an invite that looks like this.
A few capturing images of some new product packaging. I'm getting great reviews @ the apothecary shop.
Attempting a soft gentle look similar to the products I manufacture. Makes sense, I think. Isn't if amazing how ideas bloom? Seem to be on track. However, I've been in the skin care business a long time and that track can choose to derail if it so desires. Steady the pace and expect the unexpected, always. Keep a positive mind no matter what.
Little mounds of stacked artisan soap. My favorite thing in the world!
Do you remember when I said that I'm almost ready for fall? Well, now I am. I've been wandering, looking at and creating new items with one thing on my mind, Fall. The seasons usher in inspiration. Each one turns a new leaf, (no pun intended). I can feel fall while on my morning walk. The air begins to cool in the early morning and even though it's still very hot and humid, I can feel Autumn whispering, let me in, outside the summer door.
I was a guest speaker yesterday at a women's group. I'm fond of talking, in case you didn't know that about me. The ladies were the nicest! I saw a few familiar faces. Always nice to see familiar faces in the audience as you speak. At least, it helps me to relax. I'm going to start recording my speaking engagements so that I can expand and learn from them.
The Twilight Soiree... A little idea that has transformed into one of my favorite notions. A quiet evening spread out over the months to come, once a month gatherings filled with small groups of ten. Friends, family, and patrons invited. Both the vintage boutique and apothecary shop will host the once a month event. Wine tasting, bites and sample of new products in amongst visiting with dear friends, customers. An opportunity to share inspiration and appreciation. Sweet memories being born that will stay with me in my old days.
Jeans, boots, sweaters, shawls, hats and scarfs, excite me with anticipation. One of my favorite human feelings, anticipation.
The other day I took little Lily downtown to our old fashioned mercantile. She had her own money and loves to sit and gaze into the vintage apothecary cabinet where the old time candy is. Then we browsed the boutiques on the square to find a gift for Jules. Her birthday is coming up on Saturday. Lily had two dollars left after purchasing her candy. She found a gift for Jules for five dollars and I told her I'd cover the three dollars. On the way back she commented, "you know, I may not have a lot of money, but I love to browse and visit all the shops downtown." Pretty good for a ten year old, don't you think? She's a sweetie! Jules and I both look after her while she's visiting her dads coffee shop and enjoy her company. It's nice to have a kids perspective, sometime. Especially a sweet little girl like Lily.
We do occasionally spoil her with gifts...The girl on the shirt reminded me of Lily.
Yesterday during my speaking engagement I mentioned how it's important to spread little seeds of love. More than likely those seeds will grow into amazing blooms and the cycle will grow.
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