Bittersweet and the little soap company

Feeling Groovy Contest

The Apothecary Shop is filled with new artisan goods.

Spring is enriched with fresh smell good soaps and sundries.

Taking center Spring stage...

Lilac Savon

A simple spring hue tissue wrap. Less is more.

Thoughts of basil seedlings and grilling.

By the way, we picked out a new charcoal grill and I cooked a ham for Easter. The technique is intriguing and has my mind spinning with all kinds of meaty recipes.

Prepare the grill with a pile of charcoal. Allow the coals to simmer until white. On the opposite side of the grill, away from the fire, that's where you place your meat. My grill stays on about 350 degrees. I placed the ham in a pan of apple juice and then dabbed it with a mixture of soy sauce and apricot preserves. I added a few pieces of apple wood. You can place the wood pieces in a pocket of foil and then slit the foil a few times so that the smoke can escape and work its way into your meat. No need for a fancy smoker when you have a charcoal grill. Who knew? I'm digging it!

Changing the subject...

Saturday was hand made coin purse day! At my shop, anyway. Those little puppies were flying out the door faster than I could flip stitch them!

As always, Fostering the Spirit of Handmade...

Enjoying seasonable comfy spring days and thinking I'm trying to rush spring. Slow down, you move too fast. You've got to make the morning last. Just kickin' down the cobble stones. Looking for fun and feeling groovy.

Speaking of fun and groovy...

I'm feeling like hosting a spring giveaway!

Simply leave a kind comment on Bittersweets blog, twitter, facebook, instagram, etc., SAY, I WANT TO WIN!, and on April 15, I'll choose a winner of a Bittersweet Product Giveaway.

What do you win?

What else, fabulous soap hand made by a fourth generation soap maker, along with some yummy skin care and artisan goods.

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00 

Apothecary talk...

This time of year, Spring, and the soap mountains begin to grow.

The olive oil soap is wrapped in pretty in house paper and a variety of creative packaging. The coffee soap is wrapped in coffee filters! I just finished pouring two-hundred bars of Vanilla Coffee Bean. I whipped up the edges and added dark brown beans in between waves. Oh, and it smells amazing!

I'm creating a series of gift boxes. The boxes are embellished with pretty feminine in house paper. I would imagine most soap maker's are paper freaks. I am!

The boxes will be dressed in a variety of looks. For example, May Day Boxes, Mother's Day, Birthday, Special Occasion, etc.,. depending on the occasion, and I can personalize each one.

Spring has sprung! New perfumes are being formulated and the parfumerie is beginning to fill with appointments. A few growing pains since it's becoming popular. Some of the perfumes have blown me away. The last one we created on Friday evening was the bomb! Meet Shana. The perfume she created smells amazing!

If you're interested in making an appointment to create your signature perfume this is how it works...

First, you will need to schedule an appointment. (We're booking up quickly each month and already into May)

The bookings are reserved in groups of two.

We will start by asking you if you prefer, floral, spice, or citrus. That gives us a starting point and distinguishes which scents you like or dislike.

We happily pour you a glass of wine, and we begin to create your amazing custom perfume!

Depending on the complexity of your perfume and the layers we allow an hour to create each one.

Typically, a custom perfume takes up to one half hour to create.

There you have it...

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

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Easter Treasure...

Dad and M.J. hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt, Treasure Hunt on Saturday.

The events are well orchestrated by my dad and stepmom, M.J.,  and has been a tradition since Patrick was a wee one.

Last year dad thought it would be fun to add a treasure hunt to the egg hunt. He was right!

Here's how it works...

There are a number of clues hidden throughout the property.

Little Mockingbird nooks and holes that were once unoccupied are now filled with clues and treasures.

There are a number of clues to be discovered in order to win the grand prize of one-hundred dollars. There are two teams, red and blue. Girls against boys!

 
No stone is left uncovered!

Even Tucker got in on the action this year!

  If only Tucker could talk! Mums the word Tucker, no assistance please, and do not dig up the clues! Yes, some of those clues are buried!

Ready, set, go!

It was a bit chilly. However, it did not put a damper on the thrill of the hunt.  

The boys won! The prize, not too shabby!

Later that day, as the evening drew to a close I began thinking.

My mind traveled back in time with soulful Egg Hunt past memories.

They're bigger now...

 As my mind traveled back in Easter Egg past, a certain thought stood out...

How very blessed we are to have such wonderful memories that will live on in our hearts forever.

I would say that's the biggest treasure of all.

Thank you Dad & M.J.

Happy Easter!

May it be filled with joy and love. 

Jill 00 

 

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In love with the new frocks!

I dug out and carried the pink door from the shop basement. The black door knob against the pastel pink chippy wood is a work of art. I'm thinking the old door has been opened and shut many times. What do you think?

Another Frock, this one in white cotton. How could you go wrong?

 

 

In Season early, Lilac. Both Aroma Mist and soap will be ready in the days to come. I spy, with my little eye, my reflection shining through the amber colored bottle in the picture.

Easter Egg Hunts, Treasure Hunts, Frocks, Shop Going's On, and that's about right...

Enjoy a caring and sharing Spring.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

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home stay ♥

 

A change in routines and a welcome home stay away from shop on Wednesdays.

Jules is filling in at the shop while I take some much needed time at home.

I'm often asked, what does your home look like?

We live in an old home. It was built in the thirty's during the war and probably the depression. Evident through our home by the different woods used to build mantle, banisters, molding, etc. Ash, Oak and Walnut, pine, and a mix of woods.

We've lived in our home for twenty - seven years!

Every tree, bush, flower, porch, outdoor structures were either planted or constructed by the home owners. 

From the moment I laid eyes on her, it was a heaven home at first site. Obviously after twenty-seven years that is evident.

Only one bathroom, and it's high upon the third floor! Ha!

A Modest and Humble Home it is.

My dear friend Clarice, the author of the amazing book sitting on my desk. We met though blogging many years ago. Clarice is like a sister I never had. I love her to the moon and back!

Her talent is beyond words...

I'm eager to build the beds and mow the grass!

Our Home...

Love where you're planted!

Our house is a very, very, fine house with two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard, Now everything is easy cause of you...

That song always reminds me of this house.

Check out the new brick steps leading you to our back yard! Aren't they spectacular?  Lennis Spectacular! Spectacular Lennis! Or as our friends Tom and Jules say, "Super Lennis!"

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

 

 

 

 

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Don't you just love those prints? I offer a variety of them at the apothecary shop. Slip one in a vintage frame and you have a dab of instant spring!

From Spring to Taxes...

I've had my paper work, calculator, expenses, piled high upon our dining room table for a couple of weeks. I have been waiting on a required form so that I could turn in our taxes to my man. If you're a visitor to Bittersweet blog, then you may recall the many years past that I performed the dreaded task. Last year I'm proud to say, we turned the whirlwind of forms and those piled high files over to an accountant. Whew! I can only say, why oh why, had I not done this many years ago?

I've mentioned lately how Bittersweet is growing and has become a fast paced setting. Unless something unforeseen comes, it will continue to grow. With growth of a business, comes more responsibilities. Retail can be challenging, but with the right planning and structure, it can also be lucrative. Not to mention, and don't hate me, but I love what I do! While I'm on this topic... No matter the journey, stay true to your soul. Always remain humble, and treat other's the way you wish to be treated. Three important key ingredients, I believe. Do you recall the past post from a few days ago? Balance.

The Roux...

I made M.J'S chocolate cake last night and topped it with my favorite icing. Seriously, how could any icing recipe with two sticks of butter taste bad? Nope. Here's both recipes if you wish to bake a cake. I believe the cake recipe is very old and it's my go-to chocolate cake recipe because it's super fast and easy, while being good all at the same time.

Here's a link for the Roux Icing...

SEEDS...

http://www.burpee.com/flowers/chrysanthemum/chrysanthemum-tricolor-daisy-prod000156.html

http://www.burpee.com/flowers/moonflowers/moonflower-giant-white-prod000281.html

http://www.burpee.com/perennials/monarda/monarda-bergamo-prod001096.html

http://www.burpee.com/flowers/strawflower

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/tomatoes/tomato-baxters-bush-cherry-organic-prod000961

http://www.burpee.com/

I could spend all day here!

We're going to plant veggies in pots this year. My brother and sister in law have large potted veggie plants on their porch that sits right off the kitchen. They flourish and produce.

The shop has been getting a Spring cleaning. I dismantled the soap cubby and cleaned it with Murphy Oil soap. Do you ever use this veggie soap? I love it!

I absolutely love this old mail holder. I was told when purchasing it a few years ago that it came from an old boarding house. It houses Bittersweet Soap Bars quite nicely, I believe. It was very dirty and dusty. That's where the MOS came in handy!

The beautiful china discovered on a recent antique shopping jaunt with my Aunt Viv. Aren't they stunning? This is what I did with them. Only one left at the shop!

 

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

With all good wishes,

Jill

 

 

 

 

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Can you tell by the recent Bittersweet marketing that I'm already missing Downton Abbey?

I really do!

Having said that, I was pleased as pudding, (a phrase from Mrs. Patmore, I'm sure), with the final episode.

The shop is presenting new Spring arrivals.

Oh and here's the version for Jules shop...

I'm certain that Lady Mary, Edith, and Rose would approve and fancy our shops. No explanation points, because I feel they were probably seldom used.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

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tin time spring flower love

  

I'm a sucker for vintage tins. Whenever I'm on the hunt, tins always stand out. I often talk myself out of purchasing them simply because of limited space, but I still admire their tin beauty.

A few summers ago I dug out my tin stash and hammered holes with nails in the bottom. Then I planted herbs and flowers inside.

photo courtesy of Pinterest

Start saving your cans...

I had just carried the big house plant from inside to out and it started to rain. Little basil starters are in cans and the rain drops pushed the tiny black seeds into the soil. They'll be sprouting soon.

When Aunt Vivian was in town we went antiquing. She discovered these colorful china saucers. I snatched them and placed, what else, soap bars on top.

Nothing says Spring like colorful china and a bouquet of flowers!

Spring on!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

 

 

 

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I can safely say that all of us share one thing, balance. Or should I say, we wish to have balance in our lives. Balance is seldom achieved, however. So what do we do when our lives lack in balance? We simply do the best that we can, and move on. I'm not sure why I'm even bringing this up, but it seemed to be important for someone to hear this morning.

Blessings often create balance...

Miss Glorious Spring is attempting to push her way through as the mild warmer days are shining. Lennis has been working to re-build our brick steps in the back yard. He just finished them and they look amazing! He even built larger built in plant boxes on the sides of the steps. I can't wait to get my hands dirty! I promise to share pictures, later. I'm planning on planting a small herb garden along with some edible flowers in the new spot.

 

The little porch swing received a facelift. New pillows! Seriously, new pillows can enhance your mood, I believe...

Another new sign created by sweet Katie... The shop just received a makeover too. I spent the entire day, changing, adding, placing, pondering, and along with new pillows. Changing the scenery also lends to cheering one up!

My obsession with hand made dolls. Miss Minnie. I made her years ago, while on a hand made doll kick.

Currently, I'm on a hand made coin purse kick!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

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I've developed a soap wrap technique that helps save time. My little hands are still involved with the task, but I have found that when you wrap soap, it's faster if you attach label after you wrap. It doesn't quite make sense to me, but I believe it saves time to wrap and then label. Love, love, soap mounds like the one in the picture!

 

 

The Apothecary Shop is filled with Spring!

New Soaps and Apothecary line the shelves.

Spring will be here before you know it!

I'm anxious for it to officially arrive. I ordered a coconut broom. Let me say, it's a sure sign Spring is right around the corner when one orders a coconut broom.

Settling in for an early spring. One that brings bright colorful blooms and warm spring rain.

Enjoy caring and sharing Spring days.

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

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