Bittersweet and the little soap company

"Preparations, Scents, and Thoughts: A Glimpse into Our Porch Sale and Beyond"

As we prepare for our upcoming porch sale, we're thrilled to create a clutter-free workroom. Our monthly shop rotations mean that our merchandising pieces accumulate over time, making storage a challenge. The planning for this sale starts months in advance, and we eagerly anticipate the satisfaction of completing it successfully, paving the way for all things soap and summer.

Excitingly, our shelves are now showcasing our fruity soap collection. Today, I crafted a delightful blend of Palmarosa and Cedarwood. Personally, I'm drawn to forest-inspired scents that evoke the fresh aroma of white pines after spring rain. There's truly something captivating about the blended scents of the forest.

As summer approaches, it always takes me by surprise. Seedlings are sprouting, and soon the graceful zinnias and vibrant bee balm will communicate their secret messages to hummingbirds and bees. Did you know they have their own secret language?

Recently, we had to replace our washing machine. It took me a couple of weeks to research and find one that met our requirements. Many models disappointed me due to negative reviews. Nowadays, it's challenging to find reliable appliances. The previous washing machine didn't sprinkle enough water to even cover the soiled clothing, leaving me uncertain about the cleanliness of my clothes. Fortunately, after careful consideration, I found one with positive reviews and decided to purchase it. So far, it has exceeded my expectations, handling even bulky items like mattress pads and sheet sets flawlessly. It just goes to show that taking the time to research and make informed decisions can pay off, especially when it comes to appliances.

Speaking of appliances, the modern trend of discarding rather than repairing them is perplexing to me. Often, the cost of parts and repair services rivals that of buying new. It's disheartening to think about the impact on landfills caused by the disposal of used appliances. It's a pressing issue that needs attention and more sustainable solutions.

We hope to see you at our porch sale. The sale offers a great chance to grab some bargains while styling your home and body. 

 

Warm Regards, 

 

Jill 

 

In my hands

Well, I ran down my UPS guy to see if he had Taste & Eat on his truck and wouldn't you know it was on another driver's truck? Never happens. Then later this afternoon I received an email letting me know that it had arrived at home. I ran home and grabbed a box and stacked them in a nice neat tower at the shop. It feels so good to finally have the book in my hands. My goal was to have one cookbook with an array of my favorite recipes. One's that I use regularly. My go-to recipe for shortbread, and all of the savory receipts as well. Holiday celebration recipes and quick and easy ones followed by my grandmother's and mom's trademark recipes. Old-fashioned recipes and newer more modern ones line the pages of this book. Notes about each recipe. Personal stories and soulful tidbits. 

Feeling blessed. 

Are you a dry brush girl? There are many benefits that dry brushing offers. It increases circulation. We have some amazing dry brushes at our shop.

Mother's Day is fast approaching!  I get excited about Mother's Day because here in Missouri we consider that day to be a safe day to plant flowers. The Midwest has unpredictable weather in early spring. I've been getting my beds ready for planting. I have added a few new beds this season and I'm anxious to design the new beds with colorful blooms. Each gardening season is different. Some years you have abundant blooms of hydrangea while other years you might be lucky to have just a few if any at all. Some years my roses flourish and other years they just don't do that well. Keeping a garden journal is a great idea because it's fun to look back on years past and see how the gardens revolve. Take pictures and if you really want to go all out get yourself a dried flower press. A couple of years ago I brought in flower presses at the shop. They were not well received. I believe that most people don't know how to use them or get caught up in the fast pace of the world and just don't take the time to stop and smell the flowers. I encourage you to slow down and take in some gardening this spring and summer. Plant a tomato plant in a pot or grab some herbs at the nursery. Thyme and Chives, Parsley, and Rosemary are some of my favorites. Don't forget about Lavender. A few posts ago I shared my source for lavender. If you missed it, here's a link. 

I have a hedge of lavender growing in front of our home and I love it! You can harvest the lavender in late summer and make sachets or dried bundles. It's a good thing. 

White Tea & Rose. Need I say more? We are digging the tree-free wrapping paper!

We received a shipment of the cutest denim jackets. The whites are in stock and we also shared our denim short collection. I've been wearing shorts at home. It feels great to slip into my shorts after work. 

My brother texted me a picture of his new rescue dog. He said that he wished that he would have also got the female that was at the shelter. He went back today and rescued her. You should have seen her face. He said that she would not leave his side. The male rescue dog is going to freak out when he sees his little friend and learns that they are going to be together in their new forever home. This story made my day!

We have a busy Saturday planned at the shop. The release of the cookbook is exciting!

 

 

 

 

Opening Day!

This last picture is a reminder that Spring will be here soon! 

Well, it's officially here, Opening Day at Bittersweet. I'm back from break and eager to get back in the groove of being a shop proprietress. We have a re-stock on some outsourcing items, and my basement is full of new items that I'll be gradually bringing in. The back room definitely looks like storage, but I'm happy to be able to leisurely go through past and present items and prepare for our big June Porch Sale. It's always the first Friday and Saturday of June. What sounds like a ways off will be here before you know it! 

I believe we're stocked up on all of your favorites, and the new essentials that are coming are in full swing ahead. I mentioned a few posts ago how Taste & Eat had been sent to the editor. We're in limbo mode until the proof comes and then we should move pretty fast to get the books in. Exciting! Book number two is almost complete. I keep adding chapters as things pop up in my mind. 

Our shop has had an overhaul. Fresh paint and thorough cleaning along with significant updates and organizing. A few repairs, and there's nothing left but to be excited about our grand reopening and soap sale. I've been working on some new packaging, and for some reason, the scent combination of lemon and ginger is holding tight to my thought process. I always go with the scent urges because they're always spot on. 

I believe you're going to love our fresh picks and thoughtfully curated collections for 23. I really like the current shop design. It has a good flow about it.  

I'm anticipating a soulful arrival into the new year along with amazing new opportunities. They seem to pop up when you least expect them. I've remodeled the foundation of my business and explored all of the new opportunities with eagerness and excitement. The forecast sounds dim for retail, but I refuse to believe that! Don't listen to everything you hear. Typically, it's never accurate. 

I keep a steady eye on sales and statistics, and I don't believe that what works for one will work for another. It's time for small businesses to dig deep and take a good close look into the internal goings on of your business. Stay focused and consistent. You're going to be just fine. If nothing else look, to this time to visualize what you want and move in a positive direction to achieve all of your goals. Re-examine your priorities. Continue to stay grounded and true to your values and heart. Okay, that was your pep talk for the day!

Focus your energy on well-being and it's time to not base your joy on the circumstance, but to appreciate each day as it is presented. Okay, I'll stop, maybe. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

The New Year

As we approach a new year I can't help but ponder what a great year this one has been!  I'm anticipating exciting new things coming ahead that I never imagined this time last year. Those thoughts are centered around two new books being published and a cluster of new products that are designed around thoughts of less is more. I'm also focusing on simpler times. My brother gifted me an old-fashioned glass lantern for Christmas, and my mind traveled to thoughts of how someone once read their favorite book or family bible by golden lantern light. The lantern represents a nostalgic time when life was slower.  Christmas is a magical time of year and I feel like her arrival is conducted by a craving for a quiet pace and tranquil moments filled with peace and joy. 
We're taking a break from social media until after the new year so that we can heighten those thoughts and take in the beauty that wraps itself around this past year's gratitude and reflection. We're excited to share our new designs, books, and ideas in the upcoming year ahead!

I started clearing out Christmas and cleaning at both the home and shop. I've also removed everything from the shop tables and racks so that we can do a deep winter cleaning. Whenever I style the shop I always clear out everything and start from scratch. But before we begin styling with new products we paint and clean. 

Breaking from social media was a comforting thought. I'm constantly promoting Bittersweet and sometimes it feels good to simply walk away and revisit at another time. Do you feel that sometime? I'm always amazed on how much more I get done, and my spirit is also happier when I don't spend a lot of time on these platforms. I'm rethinking how we market our brand and feel like it's a great time to reflect before the new year arrives. 

I'm also restructuring our apothecary shop and placing a focus on what we do here at Bittersweet. We, I do a lot! The restructuring will be centered around our Scent Bar, Skincare, and Soaps. We're simplifying our designs and tweaking our style some. Every now and then I believe it's good to stop and take a close look at your buiness as an outsider. How do other's see your business? For example, we are a soap manufacturing company. The name is French, Savonerie, and it's translation means "Soap Factory." It best describes who we are here at Bittersweet. I am proud to say that I'm a soap maker and those thoughts have been wrapped around my heart for almost twenty-six years. It's a spectacular moment when you realize what you're doing in life is what your suppose to be. I give the glory to God.  

We're also making room for some three-hunded pounds of soap that we'll be offering during our annual soap sale. The end pieces are tucked away each week and then we release the lot of chunky unwrapped bars at our sale. 

Wishing you a happy new year!

Jill 

 

Style It Green

 

 

I'm always drawn to a specific color once the holidays edge their way closer. This season it's green! We should be getting our annual shipment of preserved cedar. If you're not familiar with preserved greenery it's real cedar that has been preserved to last forever. It doesn't crumble or shed and along with the stems staying green and flexible, so does the cedar scent. It's been one of my favorite accessories to use in styling our home and shop for the holidays. It's stunning on the mantle or even if you stick a sprig in a stocking. I store it in a plastic bag and bring it out every holiday. The stash that I have has been around for almost ten years! It still looks like the first day that I opened the bundle.  

We couldn't help ordering the buffalo plaid pajamas in. We're on a pampering and relaxing kick lately. We also have furry jackets and suede boots with fur toppers. So cute! 

The soap studio is packed full of holiday soap and I've already begun wrapping the Twelve Days. You're going to love the papers that we've chosen to wrap this seasonal and special soap! It's stunning!

I love the skinny birch trees. They were actually picked up last year at my local craft store. I believe that I like them, even more, this season.  There are great selections of holiday lights and when I saw these my heart skipped a beat. Star Gazer lights probably won't catch on this year, but I can guarantee you they will next year. I love keeping my decorations to a minimum. One piece is all that you need for the eye to focus. 

The paquets are back, but I can safely say that they will not be for long. These bundles of soaps are time-consuming to assemble and with the holidays approaching full speed ahead they will be in limited quantity. We call it the nature of handmade. The packages that we offer our one of a kind and soulful. Much consideration has gone into the process of design and packaging, and the prize is the actual product itself. 

Those little match holders with strikers are the cutest! What a great gift along with a candle. Perfect. 

We also received our shipment of artisan stockings. I love the print on these very well-made stockings. We switched out some white stockings with these and it completely changed the look. Another favorite holiday essential that I've used to style for many years is the sugar cones. The extra large cones add the perfect touch if you're into natural styling. You can pick up a bag of three here. 

There were quite a few other pictures to share, but it seems that there experiencing issues with the platform. 

We look forward to seeing you at the shop! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

freefalling

We're freefalling at both our home and at the shop! After all when the electricity goes out for seven hours what do you expect a girl to do? We're getting so close to the next glorious season, that I can almost taste it! I love to bake in the fall! Pumpkin bread, cookies, stews, soups, and slow cooker meals have always been my favorite! I've mentioned time and time again how fall is such a short season at our shop. Honestly, we just want to take in her bounty for as long as we possibly can. I can feel fall in the air too. The leaves are starting to fall from the trees and this morning I gazed upon a golden red maple leaf. She was alone, but a sign that autumn is in our future. Missouri touts a wondrous fall! The south winds usually turn to the north and cool the once southern breeze down to a tepid temperature. Sometimes we have what you call an Indian summer which is my favorite. The days stay warm and dry and the mornings are cool and crisp while the leaves start to glow with their golden hues. Autumn.

Behind the scenes and things move at a faster speed. Layouts are played out, and new designs are contemplated. Style boards dance in my head while all along I'm gathering notions of soap packaging and holiday trims. Manufacturing also moves at warp speed. We've already produced our fall soaps, and next week I'll start making winter blended soaps. 

I'm amazed at the faux pumpkins that are available. They look so real. The one on our dining room table is faux, but even up close you'd be hard-pressed to recognize it as such. I'm in total awe and in love with rattan pumpkins too. I had purchased several last seasons, but I don't really feel like they were as popular as they're going to be this fall. One of the reasons I enjoy the rattan pumpkins is that they mix and mingle well with real pumpkins and faux of all colors, shapes, and sizes. They offer a grounding effect with their texture.

I'm a bit of a wreath snob! I've had the corn husk wreath for years and it's my favorite over any artificial wreath.  I guess that's it. I am not a fan of anything artificial. Fake flower wreaths are atop my list of pet peeves. I've always had those feelings. We typically incorporate dried flowers or everlasting stems at our shop. Every now and then I'll find some faux stems or flowers that pull off the look of real, but it's rare to find them. Anything that does not look real goes against my style.   

We're bringing back some of your favorite soap blends and towards the end of August, the fall soaps will begin to hit the store shelves! 

I'm working on writing and adding new recipes to the cookbook. It's funny how when my mind is calm the words begin to fall into perfect place. When I'm busy with soap-making and shopping things my mind is very much preoccupied and busy, but when I allow myself to break from these things my mind is able to focus on writing. I've learned over the years that each task is outlined with good days and bad days. Some days I can whip out extraordinary graphic designs while other days I feel that my ideas are mediocre. I believe that life itself can be compared to this way of thinking too. However, if you grant yourself some downtime the rewards will flourish and your mind will wander to places of peacefulness and quiet. At least that is how I operate. We of course are not all created equal in those thoughts. 

The overnight bag choices are few and far between, but I recently discovered a company that makes the coolest overnight bags, and we have a shipment arriving soon. I can't wait to share these bags at the shop. For me, an overnight or carry-on should match your personality. Kind of stand-out from the crowd. Not too flashy, but not too reserved, just right. We found them!

Elle looks so cute after her haircut! The end-of-summer haircut is my favorite on her. 

The kids are headed back to school, and the sun is setting a little lower. We are approaching autumn and I couldn't be happier for it to arrive. 

Jill 

 

 

 

Indian Summer

The dog days of summer are urging me and encouraging me to be eager for fall. Just saying. When I chat with customers they have similar thoughts. We're all so tired of the heat of this summer. Some summers are like that, and I'm trying to continue to appreciate the season as I know that I'll be wishing for it to come back soon. 

Both the studio and shop are knee-deep in fall planning. I released the fall soap menu, and thoughts of new designs are in the works. A soap maker's life. 

The shop is getting a fall makeover, and this week I'm going to be polishing our website with some upgrades. We've come a long way since 1997 in technology. The advances are mind-boggling and now in retrospect, I'm thankful that I have had an opportunity to learn the computer ropes from the ground up. The days of pure stubbornness and hours spent figuring out computer issues and waiting for sites to come up while all along the strange noise runs in the background while the transmission ran through the phone line. Dial-up! More like dial down. I might add the entire process put an entirely new take on the phrase patience is a virtue. We've come a long way baby!

We've been unboxing our collections of new fall bags and clothing and we're impressed with our picks. If I do say so myself. 

It was fun pondering new soap names for our fall collection. 

You can tell by the names that my romantic side came out while choosing names.

Fall, glorious fall let your light shine. 

Jill 

 

  

 

 

 

homeward bound

Yes, it's back! Our popular Cilantro and Lime Cleansing Bar is once again hitting the shelves! This invigorating Soap will happily take you into Spring. Added to our soap menu and back again, Charcoal, and Oats & Goats. Both of these soaps fly out our doors. We make every attempt to keep them in stock, but sometimes with the curing period, we have shortages. We suggest that if you are a fan of either stock up while it's available. You have shared some amazing skin stories and how both soaps have helped with different skin issues. This adds a spring in our step, and music to our ears! This is why we do what we do. In addition to those three, we've also added Lemon Up. Clean and fresh-smelling, but mellow. Sometimes it's a challenge to describe scents. The moment you smell it you understand. 

We had a shipment of jackets arrive this week. The Light-colored denim jackets surprised me. I am not a fan of light-colored denim, but I have to make an exception with this jacket because I love it! 

Our shop was buzzing with lots of people and we all chatted about how anxious we are for spring. Even though we really haven't had a bad winter, it seems to drag on. When you live in the midwest, you start to get antsy this time of year with expectations of warmer days. There's that word. I have a love, hate relationship with the word expectation. I am still learning to not set myself up with the notion of high expectations in things. It is a setup. We were just chatting about this at the shop. Our belief and we stand strong at Bittersweet is that whatever cream, serum, soap, or essential that you purchase in our shop won't simply meet your expectations, but exceed them. We say this all of the time and it comes from many years of low expectations with other products that I've purchased. These feelings of disappointment have attached themselves to clothing, home goods, and skincare. This is why it's so important that Bittersweet products stand out from the crowd!

This month at home...

Well, I've dug into the project of clearing and cleaning out closets. Literally, I say, digging into! You should see all of the boots, sneakers, and shoes that I've accumulated over the past several years! It makes a grown woman want to cry! I've always loved shoes and clothing so I guess that explains my excessive amount hanging in my closet and sitting on the shelves. Our home is old. Some of you know what I'm about to say while others if you've never lived in an older home you probably have plenty of closet space. Back in the day, and not too very long ago I must add, homes were built with the anticipation of housing one suit, one pair of dress shoes, and if you were lucky an everyday pair. Maybe a few houses dresses for the lady, but probably only a couple. All this chitter-chatter about living minimal kind of tickles me because I've lived long enough to know that we lived this way before. However, with the convenience of finger shopping, and the extreme number of clothing manufacturers it's the opposite of what was once. I find it kind of sad and even disappointing. One would think that oodles of choices would be great, right? I believe quite the opposite. 

Those same thoughts carry through to my ideas of less is more and we even transfer that notion to our shop by offering one special brand of clothing. The pieces that we carry in our store are well made and timeless. I know from experience that my closet always leans towards timelessness. I find myself grabbing these go-to pieces all of the time. I kind of keep the idea of if I were traveling abroad which pieces would I pack. That is how I design my closet. If I haven't worn something for a while it's out of there! 

We have a brick patio just off our back door. I noticed that some of the bricks were cracked and brittle. I'm slowly digging out the damaged bricks and replacing them with new ones. I took my little car to the home improvement store and picked up fifty or so new bricks. Having an older car also has perks. I treat that little compact car as a truck sometimes. I never worry about filling it up with bricks, mulch, or two-by-fours.  I can't begin to tell you the different things I've transported in my car! 

Once again the home project list is long. We have some upgrades coming. Last fall my dad and I trimmed all of the trees and got rid of dead branches that had fallen. I'm glad we have that project out of the way. There's always something. Again, an old house. I wouldn't trade her in for a new one! Her walls are thick, and sound, and she's got great bones. We've planted every single tree, bush, and flower in our yard, and I've designed the gardens with my favorite plants and herbs. It's a home sweet home. 

Peace be with you. 

Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

make believe spring

I ordered new lab coats. The white ensemble will help an apothecary girl to look the part when blending and mixing oils to create body essentials. At least that's what I think. 

We've been moving fast speed ahead towards Spring at both our shop and home. I spent the day last week browsing home good shops searching for the perfect this and that to fill some styling gaps. It's always funny how when you're looking for a particular something how you usually don't find it. Nowadays and with the style experience under by belt, I hold out until I locate precisely what I envision or dream up. It doesn't make sense to settle anymore. It's also funny how when styling you determine exactly what that piece may or may not be by the more you dig into the project. I have learned to be exact and not to waver in my choices. Otherwise, you end up tossing that object that you settled with and eventually replacing it with the one that moves you. It's worth the wait! 

Our latest and greatest soap offering is packaged in cherry blossom paper and inside the aroma of this soap is floral, but not in a traditional floral way. It has notes of vanilla that actually helps to balance the blend so that it's not too floral. 

We replaced our crystal chandelier with a more modern one. The lighting feels and looks like it's always been here and blends it nicely with our style of vintage and modern. 

We have fresh bottles of Cleanse. Or should I say we did! We sold out this week. This popular home keeping essential is flavored with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon. We love the scent! This household cleaner is used to clean our shop and home. The essential oil scent lingers in a most wonderful way. 

We did not sell out of Headache Sticks and Lavender Sticks. A fresh lot of both are available at both our web shop and brick and mortar. 

Those petite cupcakes with their heart candy toppings and fluffy pink icing. I ate it after capturing that shot and if I'm being honest, I ate more than that one!

I spent an entire afternoon making this.   

It seemed the recipe was abundant in its ingredients. Carrots, onion, leek, celery, and an entire bottle of red wine. It was well received, but way too much. I shared some with my family.

Then we made oatmeal whoopie pies. Most of the recipes are quite similar. The icing varies and it's a matter of preference I believe. Seven- minute icing would be good on these. I made an old-fashioned butter cream. Next time I'm going to make the seven-minute icing. Its silky texture would be a better fit.  

I'm working on the web site getting the new soaps listed and adding them as they become wrapped and ready. 

Yesterday was filled with an amazing group of customers and our conversations and visiting allowed me to realize even more just how blessed I am. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

xo

Jill 

 

 

thankful

The glorious season of thankfulness approaches. What are you thankful for? I try and find something to be thankful for each day. Believe me, there is always something to be thankful for! 

Today I'm thankful that the axe that fell and hit my head didn't do me in! 

I've been cleaning around home, and while sorting out under the porch the heavy killer axe fell from its nail above and hit me hard. I'm thankful that I have a hard head! 

I'm also thankful for strong arms and healthy body. Without it, I would not be able to perform the labor intense process of making soap. Everything starts fifty pounds!

As the weather cools and the north wind starts to blow, I become more thankful of my warm and cozy home. It's by far perfect to most, but absolutely perfect to me! 

Feeling thankful...

For so many things. Count them up! You will be surprised just how many thankful thoughts are roaming around in your head. 

This week marks the arrival of our Twelve Days of Christmas Soap! It starts releasing on Thursday, November 18, and we will continue to bring in two new holiday soaps each week for six weeks. Then it's Christmas! 

After that Bittersweet closes our store for a long winters nap. We usually shut down the shop for at least three weeks. Typically, and if this year is anything like years past, we sell out of almost everything that we, I make!

I continue to manufacture items as we sell out until a few days before Christmas. We get our inventory down to almost nothing.

Then after Christmas I'll start all over again making while all along being thankful. 

Don't let the all of the worlds problems rob you from your thankfulness. 

Keep your chin held high, and put that huge thankfulness smile on!

Keep the faith. 

Jill xo