I used to make those tops. The pattern is timeless and honestly, I don't believe that this style has ever been considered a past style as it has strong staying power over the years. I even remember wearing this pattern when I was a teenager. That's one of the reasons that I love fashion. The cuts or layout of the pieces are usually the same, and it's likely the fabric will change before the pattern does. I wish that those days were back sometimes, but sewing, if you've ever done it takes quite a bit of time.
Have you ever used a simple beeswax finish on a piece before? I love the low shine and feel of a beeswax-finished piece. Bittersweet used to make a beeswax finish a few years back, but it was slow to go. Whenever a new product doesn't fly, we typically discontinue it and replace it with something else.
Do you worry? A lot of people do. I stopped worrying when I became a born-again. There's something supernatural in the way that a human overcomes worry through their faith. I wrote a book about it. The manuscript is sitting on my desk along with my editor's notes and such. I just finished my tax preparation work and turned in my findings to my accountant. Now, I feel like I can put the finishing touches on this book of faith and get it to the publisher. I can't wait to hold it in my hands. This is the second book that I've written, and let me just say when you hold the finished book in your hands it's like holding a newborn for the first time. So many emotions run through your mind. Especially when a book is about personal experiences that line the path with the story behind the story.
Our spring soaps are rolling, rolling, rolling along. It's hard to keep up with the new arrivals as we introduce a new soap each week. That's a feat considering it takes four to six weeks for Bittersweet Soap to cure. The pH becomes gentler as the weeks roll.
Now and then I come across something that captures my heart. The Sari Bags are indeed one of those things. I'm not sure if it's because I am a fabric girl and quilting girl or if it's simply because the silky sari cloth intertwines with colorful color blocking. I think that's it. Either way, we offer these unique handmade bags at our brick-and-mortar and webshop. They are the perfect size for a bar of our beautiful soap. I have a few that I use for stashing jewelry. They've taken a few years to gain popularity, but folks are starting to realize the craftmanship involved and the stand-out style.
I'm loving the photo shoots using the bags. It's kind of fun to color-match shoots now and then with the products that we make.
So I'm doing some spring garden planning. This year I'm going to get some raised beds and plant, squash, green beans, tomato, jalapeno, and cucumber alongside a small bed of cilantro so that we can have fresh pico de gallo. I feel like I'm inching my way to a seasonal garden alongside the homemade sourdough bread that I make every week. I could easily live off of cucumber and tomato sandwiches the entire summer. Just add some iced coffee and this girl is happy.
I've also ordered seedlings for pussy willow, forsythia, and elderberry. All three of those plants can easily be started by tender plants because they grow fast. If you cut a stem from a pussy willow it will take root in no time. Once it roots stick it in the ground and watch it grow! The forsythia is the slowest growing, but I'm just throwing that in so that I can have lemon-yellow bouquets in early spring. I can envision the pussy willow blended in the bouquet too. I also like it on its own. My mom used to have a couple of large bushes in our yard when I was growing up. I remember her trimming the bush and bringing in fresh cuttings in the spring. They are one of the first plants to bloom along with the forsythia.
I'm going to ask my dad to plant my tomato plants as he's an expert on growing ripe red tomatoes. I'm not sure exactly what he does, but he's got secrets.
With the first day of spring just a couple of weeks away, I've got a dose of spring fever! I'm also going to order my zinnia seeds. I use a lot of seed pods from last year's bounty, but I add a few fresh seeds too. The result is a beautiful mound of candy-colored blooms! I happened upon a unique marigold that is white. I believe it's considered an African Marigold. I'm sharing links to my sources.
I'm on the lookout for a person to deliver a truckload of black dirt. I'm spreading some around my foundation before cedar mulch and the rest will go in my new veggie beds. I think that I found a farmer who has some great fertile soil that will give my veggies a jump start.
I'm also needing some pavers to switch out a few cracked bricks on the patio. My spring is looking like it's going to be action-packed between soap-making, home projects, and shop goings-on!
Happy Spring!
Jill
