Bittersweet and the little soap company

If it feels good, do it!

Back in the day, Hippie days to be exact, folks would always say, If it feels good, do it! You may have heard this phrase but really didn't know what it meant.  

When I say it my meaning kind of takes on a tad bit different than the original. Minus all the phycologists and folks analyzing what other's say or mean. Yeah, we won't go into that. When those words come out of my mouth I simply mean if something makes you feel good, don't listen to if it's the proper time, place, or situation, just do it! Does that make sense? Probably not, but if I could explain in person it would. 

If you want to start your fall decorating, just do it! There's no right or wrong time just because someone says it isn't. Follow your if it feels good, do it thinking, and don't follow anyone else.

I can't help myself with this fall decorating! I'm not a fan of Halloween so much, but given an opportunity to infuse shades of cinnamon and pumpkin into our home I go for it! Between soap making, which by the way, is nonstop this time of year. The oils are cooling as I type! After mentioning cinnamon, I'm leaning towards creating a Warm Vanilla Cinnamon that will probably be included in our Twelve Days of Christmas collection. What! First talk of fall and now Christmas! No, you mustn't ! You simply must not! Welcome to the wonderful world of manufacturing. I love it! Even more so t then I did some twenty-four years ago! Counting my blessings one by one...

I shot a soap wrapping video the other day, and I couldn't help but think about how valuable my hands are and that I'm thankful that they're strong and flexible and able to wrap and label two bars of soap in less than a minute. Yes, I have timed it! That calculates to over one-hundred bars in an hour! 

I know that I mentioned ordering in some of that gooey and delightful nectar on the last post, but it's worth repeating! By the way, other's love it as much as I do! I can see it, a fall basket filled with aromatic soaps and that honey! We have the golden goodness available in small, medium and large sizes. A size for everyone!

Although I'm not a fan of faux leaves, twigs, etc., the fall hued money plant got my attention. I picked up several sprigs at our local hobby store. Of all the choices available those stood out from the fall crowd. I'm particularly fond of their height. It's so interesting how size and scale play into a design. Both can make or break a finished look. 

Something as simple as a packet of soaps can be easy to the eye. However, they require special packaging so as with most collections that Bittersweet offers, they're only here briefly. Short but sweet...

We received a shipment of jackets from my favorite jacket manufacture last week. The colors are a modern take on fall colors. Soft blush blends so nice with goldens and rusts. You might not think that until you put them together. 

I've always admired maker's of earthenware. The process of shaping the clay to create a useful vessel has always been appealing to me. It's right up my alley! I remember dabbling with pottery in art class, but it never felt natural to me, so I left the art up to folks that do. I recall a funny pottery time when whatever I was trying to make flew though the air! It's always a good practice that if you fail at something not to give up, but after the flying pottery incident, I did!  I'm always amazed with the artists choice of colors, shapes, and designs. When I spotted these small vases it was love at first site! The small vases fit into minimal design. Add a sprig of fall to the tiny vase to create a fall motif on a shelf or table. 

We also added some cool leather jewelry to our Safari Bain Collection. It wasn't a surprise when we sold out within a few days! I have put in another order, and can't help but feel that the unique light weight pieces will quickly become favorite's and go-to pieces. 

I'm off to do this thing called soap making. 

Keep smiling. 

Jill xo

 

 

in between pumpkins...

What does it mean to be in between pumpkins? It simply translates into pre-fall, and we're jumping up and down with fall joy while we collect our ideas, notions, and yes, pumpkins! 

The fall soaps are made and they are headed to the wrapping station. When you've been in the manufacturing business for a long time you set up stations for each product. Think of it like an assembly line. Over the years Bittersweet has operated many assembly lines. We're thankful for that. 

The Fall Soap Menu is complete, and our curated collections for fall are going to WOW you! 

Elderberry Honey is one of the items that we're most excited about! Have you ever tasted elderberry infused honey? I've mentioned many times how this wild plant is one of my favorites. The elderberry plant grows wild in my neck of the woods. In fact, a couple of years ago while turning down the alley I spotted on growing in a small patch of dirt next to the road. It was practically growing in the concrete! Hardy little specimen's! Bittersweet is proud to carry this artisan brand with you! We've also ordered in bottles of Elderberry Tincture. I swear by this stuff! If I ever feel like I'm getting something I pour a teaspoon or two of elderberry syrup or tincture and my symptom's magically disappear. 

I am mildly obsessed with todays faux pumpkins! Maybe not mildly either! We're getting in faux pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. I mentioned in the last post how we'd ordered real dried gourds. I can't wait to style the natural gourds with the faux pumpkins! I can envision exactly what it will look like in my mind. I love fall!

With our extreme hot summer days I grow even more eager for autumn to arrive. 

Grandma Lucy's Household Cleaner smells of clove and cinnamon and it's blended with lemon and eucalyptus and rosemary. Using the natural essential oil cleanser makes cleaning a whole lot more enjoyable. I'm a nose girl! If if smells good, I'm in!

I also want to share a recent sourcing find for gemstones and the most amazing artist. I've always loved the process of choosing a stone and then artfully setting it in silver or gold. It doesn't feel so very long ago. So when you discover another human that has a talent for setting stones, you respect and appreciate their work. It all started when I lost my favorite turquoise pendant awhile back . I had it for over twenty years and it was one of my favorite pieces of all times. I accidently through my search for a replacement found Rosehunter Jewelry.  Actually Annie, the proprietress of Rose Hunter had posted some recent stone pictures. It was love at first site when one of the pictures was of the green and brown turquoise. I'm so picky when it comes to turquoise! I prefer a green colored stone mixed with brown and not the traditional blue. I contacted Annie, and we chatted back and forth. She then went to work to create that stunning pendant! I love the shape of the setting, the brown leather band. Perfection! If you're a jewelry junkie like I am believe me, Annie is your girl. If you order, please tell her Jill sent you. 

I posted a little bio about how Bittersweet was born a few days ago. It feels right to share it again. 

You may not know that twenty-four years ago Bittersweet designed their own soap recipe. I quit my day job and dedicated my time to perfecting a soap recipe with intentions of selling it to other stores. It was what most would call a leap of faith! The recipe that I constructed was a tricky one to get right as it contained over seventy-percent olive! There weren't very many soap maker's at that time, and only one book that detailed this modern method of soap making. I remember stirring for hours and hours before receiving a trace back then. Trace is what you need to happen before you pour the liquid gold in to molds. Through time I remained determined to learn this craft and inspired by how my skin felt soft and silky smooth after using a bar of Bittersweet. Not to mention the amazing scents and smells! Little did I ever imagine that I'd be manufacturing and wrapping thousands upon thousand of bars and still be making soap twenty-four years later! My motto is never give up, and I've always stood strong in those thoughts.

I never listened to naysayers but remained steady with my passionate feelings about what I loved.

There will always be naysayers, just say 'in. Be polite and listen to them, or pretend to listen, but never let them convince you to stop doing what you're doing. Stay strong and determined and you will be rewarded with success! Trust in yourself always!

 

Keep smiling.

Jill xo

flavorful fall

I started fall decorating at home. A few sprigs of autumn and some rattan pumpkins. Who knew that they made rattan pumpkins? I love them! I also ordered dried canteen gourds to use both at home and the shop in displays. Years ago Bittersweet used to order a surplus of canteen gourds. I had a small saw and would cut off the tops to make a lid. Then I'd put scented sea salt inside. It was kind of cool. I can't take the credit for the idea. It came from my creative mom. She always had the neatest ideas, and shared the love of her daughters business before she passed. I miss her soft spoken voice and her advise. She was smart!

I've been putting together a few fall gift boxes. The boxes are handy to fill with Bittersweets especially if you're wanting a gift. 

The dining room table that has been in my family for three generations. It was amazing how new shiny black chairs revived the oval oak piece. I love blending old with new. I visited our local hobby shop and picked up the dried arrangement. Adding the dried bundle to existing jars and vases is an easy way to bring fall into your home. Not only is it an inexpensive option, they may be stored for safe keeping once the season changes and you can use it again. 

A few months ago I discovered wood flowers! I'm intrigued by these unusual tree flowers. I picked up this book too.  I must warn you, if you don't have plants in your home and you order this book, you will! Did I ever tell you how right after high school and in my first apartment I had eighty-six houseplants that happily made my apartment their home? Yes, I know that I have told you before. Reading that book reminded me of my first apartment! It's funny I don't recall the time that it would have taken to water eighty-six plants, but I'm certain that it took some time. Back then I felt that I had all the time in the world! Still do, but the time is spent with my hands in action. 

When I envisioned the new Safari Bain Collection those boots were a part of my vision. As was the long linen shorts and the white cotton top.  

The last hanging on to summer posy of paper flowers is amazing! They are available at our store. 

Bittersweets fall/winter soap manufacturing has more than started. In fact I've been working on if to a month or so. That translates into the studio being filled to the brim with fall bars of goodness! I've even began making our holiday soaps. This also means that within the next few weeks both the studio and shop will be overflowed with a bounty of bricks! Which then means, those bounty of bricks will need to be labeled and wrapped. The luxurious soaps will start hitting the shelves mid September. It's hard to believe that is just around the corner!

Meanwhile the store is filled with Patchouli, Sandalwood, Charcoal, and other varieties of popular scents that are here, and then gone before you can say, Jiminy Cricket! 

The new Safari Bain Soap is in cure mode, but it will be included in our fall soap menu. 

The buttery soft belt bag is a great alternative to a bag. It fits snugly on the hip and if the perfect size for carrying phone, credit cards, keys, and lip stick. I don't travel without my lipstick! 

I ordered some pretty fall papers for our wrappings and can't wait to start packaging all of the new autumn soaps. 

Keep Smiling.

Jill xo

 

 

keep smiling

I feel like something needs to be said about our current state of being. It feels like folks are spread out too thin nowadays. The world in which I once knew does not feel the same, and it's easy to stress with the uncertainty that surrounds us. I have some advise... Keep smiling! I'm not trying to make light of our current conditions, I'm simply offering a compassionate response to this everchanging world in which we live in. I will stop there. 

I'm one of those people that when chaos surrounds me I dive deep into my work. Deeper and deeper I go until I'm so busy and wrapped up into something I don't have time to watch the news or spend too much time on social media platforms. When I do have down time it's spent studying the stacks of books on recent genealogy finds. Which by the way, I've hit a dead end for months. I feel like the only resolve will be to travel to Scotland and Ireland to research. That seems to be on hold for the time being, so my studying continues as I investigate the history of migration of my Scot-Irish relatives. 

Meanwhile, this past week was the release date for Bittersweets two new lines. Each collection is very different from the other. Sunday morning is all about self care, while Safari Bain borrows inspiration from African Safari's and wilderness. The two scents are on opposite attractions too. Sunday morning has top notes of raspberry and vanilla, while Safari Bain lends its notes to sandalwood, cedar, and amber. In store...

That cup! It's a favorite now! In store...

The new glass propagating tubes for the wall, amazing! Great for our fiddle leaf fig starters! In store...

The Bittersweet collection of natural skincare continues to expand and grow. Folks ask me how do you decide on what type of skincare product to make. That's easy, it's always out of necessity. My skin always tells me what I should make! Sounds easy enough, right? I must confess it is fabulously rewarding to make skincare essentials that offer positive and productive results, but there's a lot of work that goes into researching the ingredient list that goes into each and every one. Over the years there have been numerous skincare trends come and go. They start out hot and then cool down over time. My philosophy when making these products is to always offer something that doesn't follow trends, but results. That means old school ingredients are sometimes used simply because they remain to be the best no matter what is trending. Ingredients like glycerin, lanolin, bees wax, and vitamin e, are considered tried and true and not only offer clean and natural, but bring amazing results!

It finally started to cool off a little, and I can't help but feel the fall bug! I started going through paperwork and clearing out some areas in our home. When you have a small business paperwork seems to accumulate quickly. There's taxes, more taxes, bills, expenses, reports, etc. Even though I've switched most of these trails of paper digitally it still seems to pile up. I'm guessing that a person should sort out and go through a little more often than this business owner does. In my line of work it's all about priorities. Some are more important than other's. 

It's a blessing to have the honor of sorting for some twenty-four years. After awhile even if you don't know how to perform a task, you learn. I also believe that when you own a small business there are things you just aren't good at. Sometimes it's best to farm those tasks out to an expert. It will save you time and money in the long run. I used to do our taxes, and after a few years, I decided that this was not my thing. We know have accountants, and my life is sweeter since. Don't ever be afraid to admit that you're not good at something. You can practice till perfect, or you can delegate the chore to someone that is familiar with whatever that is. 

I refinished our dining room table a few months ago. The table has been in my family for three generations! It still needs a couple more coats of varnish and sanding in between. Did you know that when you strip a piece and then begin to varnish that you should lightly sand in between? I learned this many years ago. Sanding between the coats of lacquer will make it smooth. Smooth is good!

We have a tiny pantry in our kitchen that we've made into a coffee bar. I hug metal hooks to hang the cups and we store our coffee spoons, coffee and coffee maker in the small pantry. I have a thing about coffee spoons! The round shape of the wooden spoons fascinate me! Now you know, it doesn't take much to fascinate me!

Bittersweet's fall is short and sweet. Since we're a manufacture we move quickly into holiday mode in November. We always release the start of our Holiday Soap on the third week of November, and continue offer two new soaps each week for six weeks. Believe it or not, I've already began holiday soap manufacturing! The four to six week curing time forces Bittersweet to be a few months ahead on everything. Retail in general is kind of like that too. Bittersweet has always referred to it as Summer is winter, and winter is spring... That's how we roll. 

I can't help but feel that my grandmother Lucy would be proud of her soap making great granddaughter. I wish that she was still around so that we could share soap making stories. My aunt has shared a few of her stories, and I find them fascinating! Great Grandma Lucy made her soap in an old black kettle and stored her bricks of soap in a trunk and on the back porch. She used the valuable essential for cleaning her home, bathing, and laundry. Look at as zero waste before zero waste ideas existed. Personally, I believe she was a professional zero waste expert, as were most woman of her time. Times change, and I really believe that one get's overwhelmed with all of the choices we have nowadays. Not to mention, it's a challenge to know which one is good and which one is bad. Both are available to the consumer. 

Keep Smiling.

Jill xo 

 

 

 

 

play it again...

I'm probably beginning to sound like a broken record, but if I may once again play it again, I love, love, love each and every one of our new Bittersweet fall/winter collections! 

There's something about the newness of a fresh season. It is inspiring just thinking about it!

I am finding myself adding things here and there to the new limited editions. Being a manufacturer does have its perks and I plan to share some Bittersweet love with all of the new additions. 

One of the items I'm super excited about is Elderberry Honey! Have you ever scooped up a teaspoon of Elderberry Honey to your lips? I love anything elderberry, and I also love honey. The best of both beautiful worlds, and the flavor that the elderberry infusion adds to the honey is tantalizing! A lovely friend sent me a jar of Elderberry Honey while traveling, and I was hooked! Anytime I discover something that hooks me, I love sharing it with our customers. Share the love...The lip smacking honey love... The new sticky goodness will be added to our Sunday Morning Line. 

I've already dug deep into holiday soap manufacturing! 

You're going to love the scents that I'm using to flavor the holiday soaps!

The Sunday Morning items are trickling in and I'm hoping to have the collection presented this week when we re-open on Thursday. My end of making things for the line has come together so we're just waiting on the items that we ordered to arrive. As they do we'll be merchandising this self care addition to our store. 

That other line that I mentioned is also coming along. Two new lines for fall into winter! Exciting, and I know without a doubt you will love them both! The only problem I foresee is that since the items are limited, we will sell out quickly especially as it gets closer to fall and the gift giving season. If you see something, grab it while it's available because we won't be making more or ordering more as we will be working on our Holiday assortment of artisan goods right after the release. 

I dropped by our local home goods store the other day and spotted this plush fat pumpkin. I couldn't resist purchasing it. 

The picture of the chocolate bar...

What self-care line doesn't include chocolate? Just say' in. 

The brown eye Susan's are one of my favorite little flowers. They thrive in the hot dry air, and they remind me of sunshine kind of like a sunflower. 

My bountiful crop of hydrangea. I have so many that they're taking over our living room! The faded flowers will be added into dried flower arrangements when I get the time. 

I have some nifty plant wall vases coming and I think I'm going to cut the fig starters and do an entire wall with the fast growing plant. They begin to root after about four weeks. Once they start rooting, you are welcome to take one home and plant it. 

Most everyone is a transitional time once August arrives. Bittersweet is already in fall/winter manufacturing. Remember summer brings fall, and winter brings spring. That's how we work around here. 

Jill xo

 

 

falling in love...

It truly feels like Christmas in July, August at Bittersweet. In between soap making, which by the way is in stable condition! What I mean by that is while summer is a slower time for most retail stores, Bittersweet is busier than ever working on our new season lines, and collating our collections until we get them just the way we want them. It's a hard job, but a fun one at the same time. Every new season that rolls around also grants me the opportunity to get creative and style new prototypes that will line our shop shelves. So the changing of the seasons is an exciting time for that reason and more! 

It's funny that I never know before hand what direction I'll be going in when it comes to making new lines. It always seems to just appear, and then once those ideas begin to flow everything falls into place. 

Every fall, winter I always say the same thing. This is the best collection that we've offered, and each time that I've said that it's been genuinely sincere, however I do believe this season will top them all! 

With all of the everchanging world in which we live in...

I strongly felt that we needed a line reserved to self care. Not just any self care, cut a carefully curated bounty of make me feel better essentials. When it came to ponder a name for this new collection, there was no loss for words. 

Sunday Morning...

Perfect, I thought as I gazed upon the hand picked collection of fuzzy pajamas, herbal tinctures and soap, sheep lined slippers, and all of the other pampering essentials that help refresh you. 

Bittersweet will offer two new lines for fall into winter. The other one is equally as amazing as the first. Then believe it or not, I'll start working on holiday packaging. 

These next few month will blend and mingle with one another as they do every year, and I'm happy to extend some good cheer along the way. 

One of the new items we will be offering is an amazing assemblage of Artisan Sari Gift Pouches. Every now and then I happen upon a hand crafted item that blows me away. This is the case or in this instance the bag! Love them to pieces! The recipient of this beautiful bundle of artisan joy will be excited to receive such a treasured gift. After the aromatic soap is gone, the stunning bag will live on and on forever. This is a style of gift that I love...

The colors are rosy mauve and the mood is relaxing...

The scent that was chosen for our Sunday Morning Collection smells amazing! I can't wait for the soap to be completely cured, wrapped and displayed. 

Heads will turn and people will talk...

This we know.

We are also beginning to unveil our fall clothing medley. Once again, we're super excited to introduce lines that are crafted with fabrics that feel good and breathe while you're wearing them. 

Not it's time for me to start clearing tables and shelves to make room for the fall batches of goodness. 

Jill xo