We're celebrating May Day a few days early, starting tomorrow and on Saturday since the shop is closed on the first day of May, Tuesday.
Tomorrow and Saturday are special days overfilled with love and sweet flower memories from when my mom would gather early spring flowers from her garden and assemble a paper cone from construction paper and then hang a pipe hanger to hang the posie on front doors. Lucky recipients would be surprised and overjoyed with the simple floral spring basket, aka, May Day Basket.
These sweet and simple thoughts will fill the next few days with spring memories that live on and on. I enjoy sharing these happy reflections with friends of Bittersweet.
You can read past posts about our May Day event by simply typing the words May Day in the search box. This year marks twenty-one years of hosting this event!
We're really into pink clay! You know, the stuff that makes calamine lotion a cooling and effective ointment against poison ivy. The pink clay soap is still in their molds, but it's ready to be cut and then cured. I added tea tree oil since it carries fabulous antibacterial properties.
The soap machine is spinning. That's me!
Then we have a Juicy Peach Lip Balm waiting for their labels and then they'll be stuck in a shiny Juicy Peach Jar.
Introducing two new guy products. Lucky Man Beard Conditioner, and Lucky Man After Shave. Both a long time coming. Simply because it seems I leave the guys out sometimes. Sorry guys.
Oh yeah, A spray before you go too. This train is rolling round the bend with its spin. Ha!
Strike the iron while it's hot. Isn't that an old saying. I understand what it means.
We've made brownies, and pies, and this dish that was out of this world tasty fab!
We have new neighbors moving in, and the weather is finally breaking towards warmer more seasonal temperatures. It's about darn time! I've put oodles of outdoor plans on hold, thank you.
This basket of sage really draws folks in. Just say'in. I've ordered tender sweet grass starters to plant so that I can cut it and offer it at the apothecary shop. Sweet Grass and Sage two peas in a pod.
The shop is getting a makeover and before you know, May Day Celebration hits in a few short weeks.
Patchouli Soap, just because I love it so.
Introducing Prayer Notes courtesy of my sweet friend Angela. She's donating the proceeds of sales to someone in need. Sharing and caring we call it at Bittersweet.
The past few days have been spent researching clays, powders, and enzymes. What an exciting avenue to visit, and just when I believe that there's nothing new to learn, bam!
After the research and the arrival of the new ingredients comes a prototype. Then there's a test period on actual people. Usually, family members that willingly offer their skin for me to test new products. Typically and after twenty-one years into this, they're kind of used to it.
Do you remember a while back when we were working on an eyelash conditioner? We've decided not to manufacture this product. I'm leary on offering a consumer product that the application is close to your eyes. Sometimes you just need to trust your gut. It's always right.
Pink clay has been on my mind for a few years. It's what makes calamine lotion pink, and the main ingredient. I've been wanting to incorporate the rosy pink clay into a soap formulation, and my idea is that it will be beneficial for poison ivy. The rich clay offers a cooling effect to the skin.
Also on my formulation list is a variety of flowers and herbs. Dried Jasmine petals top the list, and calendula petals follow. I've always added calendula powder, petals to all skin care products that are explicitly created for sensitive skin. Calendula is super easy to grow, and are in the marigold family. I use an old-fashioned mortar and pestle to grind the flowers to a fine powder, and then incorporate the powder into a variety of products including French Clay Mask.
It feels good to use this old-fashioned tool to perform such tasks. Feeds my soul, and the aromatic scent bellows above the wood bowl.
We just finished completing the May Day Baskets for our upcoming May Day Celebration. The construction and making of these are my way of saying thank you to my amazing customers. I can't disclose what's inside, it's a surprise! A little hint, butterflies, and hummingbirds, strawberries, and may flowers.
I used to go crazy baking for two days for this event! I've kind of cooled it limit the confection menu to just a couple of home-baked goodies. This Mayday we'll have lemon cake and chocolate covered strawberries and a spring punch. I shared the lemon cake recipe a couple of posts ago if you're interested in making it.
While I'm on the subject of baking. We've been making and eating these! Definitely not on the low carbohydrate menu, but man oh man is that homemade pie crust tasty. I double the pie crust recipe and roll enough dough into a ball and then freeze. Once you have the pie dough made they're super easy to whip up. Blueberries are reasonably priced right now, and probably my favorite bite-size fruit, so we went with that fruit. Some recipes call for jam from a jar, but I would encourage you to make your own. Super easy and fast, and fresh tasting.
We are enjoying a few days of early summer weather, and then the weather people have said it's turning back to winter for a few days. Ugh! I just ordered sage plants, and vanilla marigold seeds, and anxious to plant some tiny starters. Elderberry and a slew of succulents on my plant list.
Living one day at a time lately. When I ponder those thoughts my mind wanders and then stops. Each day is a gift, and somehow when you treat it as such, life is even more precious and I do believe you appreciate it more.
The Apothecary Shop is gearing up for our May Day Celebration. The storage room in the back of my shop just got a major cleaning and sorting, and countertops are cleansed and not filled with all the shop goings on that seem to somehow be like a lint brush. I'm one of those people that feels uneasy when things get messy. A shop has a lot going on, especially one that makes most of their merchandise. Messy is a commonly used word when referencing shop talk. There is kind of a language on its own type thing. There's always a variety of seasonal merchandise pieces scattered here and there. We're working on Spring now. However, it certainly does not feel like spring! I vowed to not dig out my winter coats, but then quickly changed my tune when that brutal north wind blew me around. Hat, gloves, coats, boots, still handy in my closet, even though I wish them not to be.
A few months ago a sweet customer dropped by and shared information about a local lavender farm. I'm in! Joan delivered this bundle on Thursday. Ah, the smell transports you to a peaceful and calm place. Her daughter Melissa owns a bakery in my hometown. She's a sweetheart and I"m anxious to visit her bakery!
I picked up a bunch of bright yellow sunshine daffs this week. With all our unseasonal wintry weather I needed a pick me up. There's something about that yellow that cheers a soul and brightens one's day.
We're getting in new creamy and white delights. This oyster colored blouse is the cutest ever! It's all about the details. It really is.
Keeping busy at the shop, and building our customer base every day. These boxes are being constructed for a special order. Bittersweet puts together a variety of special orders throughout the year. I have this thing about building gift boxes. I love putting them together!
We're making a big pot of chili since it's so cold.
I made these hand pies the other day. They were a blast to make! Extra yummy, even without icing. Years ago I purchased special pop tart like molds to make these, but I have no idea where they're at. I made a double recipe of pie crust and rolled them out the old-fashioned way. That pie crust is pretty tasty. Even though it's loaded with carbohydrates. Worth the cheating on my low carb, sugar diet. Just say'in.
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