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Jill McDowell Lincoln
I'm feeling like it's a wonderful New Year already. The finishing touches are being added to the new parfumerie. After I finished staining the custom perfume counter that Lennis built, I took a deep happy breath and a tear fell down my cheek. The new counter and set up for creating perfumes is almost completely finished. A few more oil's to add to the fragrance menu and the sign to hang above the counter, and I believe we're ready to start formulating yummy one of a kind perfumes. Choose, Spice, Floral, or Citrus and we'll create you custom perfume. The little funnels arrived yesterday. They are cute. The cute dress in the back drop is a new line of clothing that Bittersweet is carrying. In addition, bags, scarfs, jewelry, and home good items. All of which are hand picked and offered through Bittersweet.
Next week a chalkboard artist is coming to do her magic on the big chalkboard wall. I can't and see what she does! I'm torn between a new logo or this.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest, of course! My envision is minus the frames, just the top part with the swirls and curls. Maybe even the logo above that?
We're having a snow day and making homemade waffles. Snow and homemade waffles kind of go together don't you think? I finished painting the extra shop room yesterday. Once I start painting, I tend to continue until I finish. Windfresh White is my go-to color. The new room will have a good paint flow and is the same color as the other room. The perfume counter that Lennis built is perfect! I will stain the wood with a dark finish and then attach two heavy duty drawer pulls. The plans said it will take eight hours to build, but my carpenter husband had it built in a couple of hours! The new industrial looking stools are going to match and look amazing. The baskets will store extra perfume bottles, droppers, and apothecary stash. We used this plan, but I adjusted the size to four feet so that it will fit better in the spot. The height is comfy and also perfect for resting your arm as you sniff your way to the perfect custom perfume.
I'm thinking of cleaning my closet. It's been neglected. Maybe make some lavender sachets to add to the new shelving. I'm creating a new lavender body butter that smells amazing! Dig in and lavender up! Supplies are on their way. Essentials needed to create new product, items.
The shop re-opens on Saturday, January 9, 2016. The new addition shall be divine! A perfumery and new lines of clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
This morning right before leaving the house I received a message from Beth and Heather letting me know they wanted to drop by and say hello. I feel blessed to know these two girls, sister's. You may recall past posts chatting about Heather's amazing magazine. If not, you can probably put the word Heather or Gatherings in the search bar located on the left side bar and the post's, should come up. Both girls are talented beyond words and their kind generous spirits sparkle and shine.
I have the holiday shop displays dismantled and put away and I'm prepping walls in the back room for a fresh coat of wind fresh white. Love this color! Lennis is building a custom perfume counter for the new perfumery. Have I told you about the perfumery? I'm so excited about the new addition to the apothecary shop that I can't sleep! I have a couple of signs being made by the sign guy and the counter will accommodate customers as they fastidiously choose their custom fragrance's to create a signature perfume. The perfume will then be named after the creator.
New home keeping essential prototypes being created and an amazing new lip balm flavor that might just evoke some sweet memories as you glide it over your lips.
This is the steady, fast production time for Bittersweet. Each and every January for nineteen years has been filled with new creations and ideas. It's my favorite time of year next to Christmas. A new clothing line and accessories including a unique collection of jewelry will be added to both the Vintage Boutique and Apothecary Shop. We're refining and priming our collection. My guess is, you will love it all! I do!
New soaps and skin care products ideas flowing like a river. I love it when that happens. Let me say, good things come to those who wait. My favorite word, anticipation.
In the next couple of weeks I'll be slowly adding new lines and prepping the apothecary shop.
I have contacted a young artist to create some unique chalk art on the chalk board wall. Shelving designs being tossed and pondered.
Hope you had a magical Christmas!
My family spent Christmas Eve at our home and I laughed so hard I cried over a crafty gift that our son got my dad. The Aukaushi Beef Brisket was amazing! The turtle cheesecake, took me about six hours to make, was rich and decadent. Homemade caramel sauce and a chocolate ganache tops the ultra rich dessert.
Holiday blooms and fresh fruit, nuts fill this Christmas home. Love, sweet love, and preparation for the holiday feast. We're baking and wrapping and mixing and dreaming all at the same time. It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Thank you for the birthday wishes. I often wander, since it's the shortest day of the year, it that's why the day comes and goes so fast. A beautiful birthday this year. A hug from my dad, flowers from my son, cards that made me cry, and oodles of birthday wishes from near and far. A special candle light dinner prepared by Jules. She made a savory pastry dish with that contained jicama. So yummy! I'm feeling blessed!
I received birthday moola, and am going to treat myself to a linen bedspread that's been on my wish list for a long time.
Our Christmas Menu:
Akaushi Beef Brisket smothered with spice
Glazed Carrots
Fresh Cut Green Bean and Onion
Green Garden Salad
Cheesy Potatoes
Honey Biscuits
Turtle Cheesecake
Café Late Dessert Coffee
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!
Surprise gifts and exciting new ideas at the apothecary shop.
I'm creating a perfumery at the shop. You will be able to blend a custom perfume and it shall be named, what else, your name. We will keep a little notebook filled with the recipe for each unique perfume. Choose from spice, floral, or citrus. I'm so excited to have a perfumery. I have an idea of what the new area shall look like. Lennis is building a tall counter so that you can sit and slowly, carefully, fastidiously blend your perfume.
Baking cookies to be delivered to special friends.
Oh how the ideas are streaming! Every year it's necessary to modify and make changes to different things. Sometimes it's logo design, often it's packaging, new product, the list goes on. Sometimes the list is long while other years it's short. This year the list is long. New soap flavors are being studied while a paint swatch is pondered. I'm also exploring new shelving ideas and a table smack dab in the middle of the expansion area filled with stacks of unwrapped soap. Near by, a roll of brown Kraft paper for wrapping the moisture rich bars. A new sign cloned from the new logo, and honestly I can hardly wait to jump into the nouvea explorations.
Creamy linen sacks, vintage beaded hearts and ivory cotton tunics are arriving after the winter break. Shiny pearl necklaces draped with leather bands. Oh my! Soaps infused with aromatic perfumes and essential oil's. Smooth and silky to the skin and whipped with moisture rich coconut oil.
By the way, I'm into these and this.
http://www.plumo.com/products/Quincy-blouse.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/73746512617875895/
With only six more shopping days left @ the brick and mortar the Christmas excitement I'm feeling is almost unbearable. This soap maker seldom takes time off during the year, so a winter break is much appreciated. Hoping we get snow so that I can dig my sled out and go sled riding. If you frequent bittersweet blog, you're surely familiar with the sled stories. If not, you can search sled riding on the search side bar and read past blog posts.
In between last minute gift buying and the wrapping of the gifts under the tree I managed to start working on the re-brand for Bittersweet. Since my company is growing and expanding it seemed a good time to start creating a new logo. The logo will be incorporated into new designs, signs and packaging. I'm always amazed on how one little thing can transform tons of other things. Typically the New Year brings change. This year we have exciting new changes, adventures in our future. I'm kind of keeping the new adventures under wrap until the New Year arrives. With a new year, comes new beginnings and exciting adventure.
The brick and mortar apothecary shop has only six more shopping days left! Then a short winter break that will allow me time to explore, rejuvenate and create. I have some ideas up my sleeve and have been pondering the new ideas and embellishing them in my thoughts. January is always an exciting time at Bittersweet. New prototypes and sketches will be filling the notebooks. After the many years of creating over one-hundred essential items, adding new one's, dissolving old one's, excitement and refinement continue to grow.
The shop will also be making some esthetic changes. A fresh coat of paint and some unique apothecary merchandising ideas have me anxious and happy.
I dug out my amaryllis and placed them outside during a spring like rain today. I do believe the plant was singing a little Christmas song while the rain drops dropped upon its waxy leaves. I can't wait for it to bloom.
A new family present was ordered and it should arrive on Christmas Eve. I can't spill the beans because my family reads this! I will definitely share after it arrives. The gift is specifically for my dad and brother, me. We can all three use this gift and we're going to have a blast with it! I know, your curiosity is growing, right?
It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's also my busiest. It's always a joy to stop and smell the evergreen.
After an all day Bittersweet marathon yesterday, I'm breaking to prepare our home for Christmas guests. We're experiencing mild spring like weather. In fact, I believe we're suppose to break records this week! A trip to the car wash in shorts and a sweatshirt, yeah! Lots of explanation points. Our little faithful companion, Elle, no I did not place her on the dining room table. She maneuvers the dining room chairs with her little body until she has enough chair space to jump onto the dining room table. Then she sits there. Just sits there. She's a funny little creature. We love her so much! She walks with me every day. Her tiny tail stands straight and she struts along happily. She's been walking with me for many years. When it's cold, we both put on our heavy sweaters before heading out in the Missouri tundra. It's not Alaska, but sometimes it feels like it during winter's end!
Bittersweet is growing! I've reached a point in which keeping up with supply and demand is posing to be a challenge. Having said that, I love challenges and after nineteen years of operating and managing a small business, I'm up for the challenge. During Christmas break I'll evaluate things and make some changes in the way production is handled.
Guess who is sitting on my lap?
It's an exciting time for both my business and my person. Opportunities await, and the best is yet to come! Feeling blessed ♥
Hard work and determination, especially perseverance get a shiny gold star. Those human emotions, a must have in order to rise above the small business clutter that forms.
I dug this picture out from the vintage boutique back room. For some reason, I'm drawn to it.
Below the oil painting, a favorite periodical created by my friend Heather. The magazine is no longer in circulation. I really miss it! In my opinion, it should have received some form of gold medal for being the best magazine on the market! (explanation point) My friend Clarice was the foodie editor for the magazine. The photography was amazing! ditto! Seasons change and grow. I have a feeling though, great adventures await both girls!
Lastly, but most important...
I'd like to thank you for your patronage.
Bittersweet was born with humble beginnings. She's all grown up and seems to be making her way. I could not have done it without the support of loyal, kind and considerate folks like you!
I wish you the very best this holiday season. Hoping it's filled with mercy, compassion and love.
I'm dreaming of a loving Christmas. The tree is up and the mantle is covered in evergreen. Presents are in need of wraps and the Holiday Soiree was Christmas Hopping and Bopping! Thank you, if you were present. It's an honor and privilege, and a gift from God, my artisan company, Bittersweet.
There's only ten more open days at the brick and mortar before the big day. Then, a winter break for this soap making girl. Small home projects in the oven and just like every past season in January, spring soap production kicks in. New product prototypes will be introduced and then transformed into actual touch and feel shop essentials. Simple things inspire me and help to create a blueprint for future Bittersweets. January is a favorite month at Bittersweet Soap & Apothecary.
It's a month of creative growth and new ideas. A walk in the first falling snow through my neighborhood or a winter hike through the woods helps expand a creative flow.
I'd like to introduce you to Bailey. She's assisting me during the busy holiday shop season. She's an excellent assistant and has great work ethics.
It's hard for me to believe there's only ten short days left at the shop for this year. A shiny new year will take its place. Several new adventurous projects in the beginning stages. One of which, is a new book. I'll start working on the book after Christmas. I really need to set a deadline for publishing. I haven't gotten that far yet. My business is growing and my attention is focused on that growth. Happy and Thankful...
Love the new packaging on the aroma mists!
Enjoy caring and sharing holidays and with all good wishes,
I have a preferred saying for shopping small. Live it, love it! The four simple words sum it all up. The holiday season is fast approaching and this girl is shopping small and living it as well as loving it. The recipient of the shop small gifts will surely love it!
Christmas mania @ the apothecary shop! I will indeed be ready for a long winters nap after Christmas.
I shot a short video of Saturdays Shop Small, but for some reason I'm not able to paste it? I give up! I'll try and share it later. Something is going on internally, I think.
The week of the Holiday Soiree! I'll start baking today. The shop tables are being transformed with holiday treats. My way of showing a fond appreciation to my customers and friends. Presents to wrap along with hundreds more bars of soap!
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