Bittersweet and the little soap company

summer is blooming!

I'm beyond excited! Everyone is loving the new collections, and I'll just say that you're keeping me busy replenishing inventory. Thank you, and I'm thrilled that you love it!

My gardens haven't peaked yet, but they're getting close. The Bittersweet garden habitat contains flowers that aren't just pretty, they also have stories. For instance, my grandmother Lola grew sweet peas alongside her garden shed and I remember as a small child she'd grab her scissors and her granddaughter to cut fresh bouquets. It's funny how you remember certain things and how those memories stay glued to you for the rest of your life. I know that you have memories like that too. It's always been a thing around here to not just have flowers and soaps, and apothecary, but that each blossom, wrapping, or formulation is wrapped in memories. As I design and formulate new essentials this is always front and center on my mind. Whether that be Grandma Lucy's Zero Waste collection or an Alice bracelet each item is soulfully curated and planned. Sometimes you're familiar with the stories behind Bittersweet and sometimes you're not. The story really helps to enhance the product no matter what that may be. As a maker, it builds confidence and pride. Not in an arrogant way, but in a thankful and proud way. 

You know what they say, It's all in a name. At least I've heard it said. Not so much anymore, but you used to hear this phrase all of the time. Did you know that Bittersweet names each and every product that we make? I'm often asked how we come up with the names. This is how I do it. I love old words! Flower words are my favorite, and that is why most summer soap names reflect that idea.  My mom used to wear a perfume called Bluegrass. I never remember anyone else ever wearing this scent so I always felt like it was her signature scent. The soap does have a hint of amber, so you have it, Amber Bluegrass! Winter is also a fun time to create names for soaps and apothecary. Sometimes the name simply reflects what's in the soap. Lemongrass + Grapefruit. The mere combination of these two essentials captures my attention, and it's also one of your favorites. 

You may also not know that oftentimes a customer will suggest or request a new product. It used to be I'd take their idea and sit it on the back shelf, but I have learned that just like the saying, the customer is always right holds true in more ways than one! The Lavender Stick is a perfect example of this theory. 

I've mentioned many times how I love glass bottles with corks. We received a large shipment of an assortment of corked bottles last week. The shapes and sizes are intriguing and aesthetically nice to the eye. We will be filling the bottles with bath salt. 

Our store is blooming! 

If you haven't been in for a while, you're going to love our latest offerings and styles. 

Happy Summer!

Jill 

 

Healing and Well Being

 
I believe that one should nourish their mind, body, and spirit. You're probably saying to yourself, well who doesn't want that? It's not difficult to get wrapped up in everyday life to the extent that you sometimes neglect yourself. You take care of others before taking care of yourself. It happens, especially if you're a woman. These feelings are wrapped up in all that Bittersweet believes in. A hot bath, smell good skin essentials, clean pampering products that are honest and pure that's our thing. 

I get asked where we come up with our graphics and photos all of the time.  It's funny as I look back from years past design work it seems like a different person did the designing. My taste changes frequently, and sometimes I'll go back to past designs and perk them up. My computer has numerous files of pictures and graphics that I generate into marketing for Bittersweet. Being a one-woman show does have its perks. When you do it all, you in turn learn it all. Most companies hire out such work, but I have always loved designing promotional advertising for my company. Not only do I save a tremendous amount of money, but I also get great knowledge of how to maneuver in today's marketing world. So much has changed in twenty-five years. The advancements in software and graphic images have expanded in a way that I'd never imagined. It's quite fun to design and curate marketing designs nowadays. I can't imagine hiring someone to do it for me. I'll also add that learning on the ground up has always been an advantage. Even though software and programs advance, they kind of stay the same. So that make's it easier to grasp the way it works. I often wonder how many hours I've spent studying and learning how to do this and that, but the reward is rewarding if that makes sense. 

We're going to have a few classes this summer! The first, and actually you'd probably not call it a class, but rather a tutorial. The first tutorial is going to be about making hydrosols. Talk about rewards, there's nothing more gratifying than making your own hydrosol. Well, that is if you're into such things. I certainly am! You won't believe how easy it is and the liquid gold that you create will put a smile on your face and gratitude in your heart. I'll feel you in on a date, later, and I'll more than likely share the video on this platform.

Changing the subject... Last night I had a dream that my tumbleweed blew away. I was devastated in my dream. Aren't you glad that your dream state isn't your real-life state? Well with the exception of flying dreams and lucid dreams. I've had both, and nothing compares to either. I'll have to share that another time. 

Introducing, Honey Peach Lip Balm. Our latest added to the Lip Balm Lineup, and one that stands out from the lip balm crowd!

Sweet Grass is back! We're not sure for how long, but we're enjoying its amazing scent while it's here.

Sandalwood too!

Did you know that it takes Sandalwood thirty years before you can extract the oil? Not only that the tree only grows in two places!  It cost around two thousand dollars a pound for this reason. Needless to say, if you believe a soap or body product that mass-produced to contain pure sandalwood, you are mistaken. Typically, a small amount of the real deal is added with synthetics to create a sandalwood fragrance. I'll also add that not all Sandalwood fragrances are created equal. This is why they don't often smell the same from company to company. The components to make the oil are always different. 

I hope that you're taking time for yourself. It's important you know!

We're planning a busy day at our shop today. Saturdays are usually a bit crazy, but we love seeing our customers and sharing conversations. 

Try and take in some spring. I always say that I'm going to, but get preoccupied with work. This is a reminder for me to stop and smell the roses.

Jill  

 

 

 

  

 

French Toast & Sunshine...

Who doesn't like French toast smothered in real maple syrup? Who, I ask... Since today was planned as a prepare tax day, I believe French toast was the perfect choice for Sunday brunch at our house. 

Then there's the sunshine and mild temperatures that get you anxious to dig in the dirt. We cleared flower and herb beds from dried pine needles and gingko leaves. Flower pots are dumped and the left over dirt fills my beds for this season. It's a annual practice, both taxes and spring garden cleaning. It feels good!

We're going to grill out tonight and make strawberry shortcake. The next time you make strawberry shortcake try making fresh cream to go on top. It's super easy and fast. Pour a pint of whipping cream into a glass bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium to high. In a matter of a few minutes and after it forms stiff peaks you'll have the freshest and tastiest cream ever! you can add a pinch of sugar is you want, but we like the creamy taste of it without. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla, but you don't need to. It's great all by itself.

We had our Spring Open House at the shop this week. It was fun to share the new shop layout and all of the new items with some of you. If you didn't have a chance to make it in, we look forward to sharing our new lines with you when you do. 

 I mentioned in my last post that we've brought back this yummy Lip Balm for spring and summer. I'm sort of obsessed with peach! When I was a teenager they made a peach dishwashing soap that I absolutely loved! It's funny how those fragrance memories stick with you. Today, I've brought back those memories by introducing and bringing back Peach! A Peachy soap is curing in the studio! Yesterday a young girl came in and guess what fragrance she chose to scent her own? You guessed it, Peach!

We're also sharing some of our favorite fabrics by offering the treasured linens and cotton in clothing offerings. A new line of aroma therapy jewelry like an Aroma Bracelet and a Silver Locket that holds your favorite essential oils and blends. How fun is that?

These adorable overalls are made from French Terry! No sooner than they arrived on our showroom they disappeared into shopping bags! I did try to order more, but sometimes our suppliers inventory is sold out too. I'll find out soon and post updates on our social media pages. 

NEW!

New Aroma Aid to the rescue! Available in three different essential oil blends, and I'm anticipating an offering of a few more. 

 The picture of the first generation soap maker in my family proudly hangs on the back wall of the shop. I'm reminded of the seeds that have been planted along with a smile on my face.

New Dry Brushes are here! Have you tried this method of shedding dry skin? It makes sense.

Oh my! It just made sense for it to come back! In my head there's an entire spectrum of new ideas centered around this shape of soap. It's new too, and coming down the spring road. 

We started getting fresh flowers back at our store! Each week we will offer a new fresh flower for you to purchase and take home and admire its beauty just like we do at our store.  This old fashioned bloom is one of my favorites. It makes an amazing cut flower in arrangements while proudly carrying old fashioned charm. It comes in a variety of colors. 

The Mini Soap Boxes, well I will just say if they are available, grab them! We're selling out as quickly as I can get them packaged. There will be a limited number available. 

We mentioned that we're bringing back our diffusers. We offered the aromatic reeds about fifteen years ago, and we're excited to share them once again. We're starting the scent lineup with an amazing scent that we're calling SPRING! The eight ounce glass bottle is filled with the scent blend so all that you are required to do is pour it into the diffuser and add the sticks. Turn the sticks to control the intensity of the scent released. 

A New Pink Clay Soap shines! As does the new organic cotton washcloths! 

The Ladybug Necklace. Simple and small, but oh so sweet!

Our new Spring lines are starting to appear live and in person at both our web store and door store. 

It's an exciting time at Bittersweet. 

Keep the faith and share some kindness. 

Jill 

It's Rosy!

The calendar turned to February and since it's February it seemed like a great time to welcome a New Skin Care Essential! We will soon be lining our apothecary shelves with an aromatic Rosewater Body Creme that is not only lush and whipped to perfection along with its soft rose petal fragrance that will blow you away!

Bittersweet offers an entire line of skincare products infused with rosewater and we love them all!

Our back to basic approach when creating body essentials with roses is simple with less is more thoughts. We love that!

Our Soap Sale lasted about an hour. At the top of that hour, we had a healthy inventory of about one-hundred pounds of soap! If you were one of the lucky one's that filled your bag, congratulations! I probably won't see you for a while because by filling your bag you have a six month supply of soap!

We get lots of customers asking where we get our store fixtures and merchandising pieces. It's always fun to change up the store with new pieces and keep it fresh and new. I'm excited to announce that we're going to begin offering some of our home accessories collections with you! This cluster of hand-picked home goods is mixed and matched to create a blend of Bittersweet Home Essentials that will enhance your adobe with the most perfect of pieces. 

This assortment of home items will be available for a limited time. We will replace the items that we sell with fresh ones. It will be fun to change inventory and offer new items each month!

We just added new fragrances to our Perfumery! Bittersweet believes that it's time to get excited about Fragrance again!

We're keeping our store fresh and new, for you!

Keep the faith.

Jill 



 

 

less is more...

It's a behind the scenes week at Bittersweet. Winter break is spent working at home developing new formulations and natural blends. The season's change and so does Bittersweet. I'm always amazed at how each new season brings with it inspiration. The season's influence on packaging and ideas, along with roaming thoughts.  One of the most important things I've learned over the years is to keep things simple.  A less is more approach has always seemed to come out on top. Not just now but the many years that Bittersweet has been around. 

For instance, I love the picture of the unwrapped soap above. Capturing a naked bar of soap or a mound such as the one in this picture always grabs my attention. 

This yummy Facial Serum is a perfect example of simplicity. Its formulation was well thought out and planned with those less is more thoughts. It's blue tansy and lavender hues are golden!

Less is more!

Even my photography images seem to stand out when this concept is used. I find myself always going back to it. 

We're getting excited to share all of our new items with you!

Until then I'll be mixing and blending amazing new soaps and putting the final touches on new wrappings and such. 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

white thoughts...

Oh, I'm loving the new cotton whites that are arriving at the shop! We're getting another shipment next week. 

I'm also loving the fresh flowers, Queen Annes Lace that arrived last week. It's kind of fun to have the flower van pull up in front of your shop and hand you an oversized box of fresh flowers. A different flower each week will be announced. If you're hosting a summer party or simply wish to bring summer blooms inside, Bittersweet has you covered. I've always wanted to be a flower girl almost as much as a soap girl!

This has been a whirlwind of a week! We hosted Make Music Liberty on our shop porch! This is a national event that does not get enough recognition in our town. These performers offer their talents free of charge and I believe deserve a grand audience. This is the fourth year we've hosted the music event. We had a couple of fewer performers than last year and past years so my mind ponders those thoughts of lack of appreciation. Some folks don't even seem to like music. I'm definitely not one of those people! Music is nothing short of amazing!

It's officially Summer!

Remodel projects and garden tending are on my summer list. I'm thinking of taking a little home vacation during the week of the fourth so that I can focus on home sweet home. When you're a shop owner especially one that makes most of their inventory, there is seldom little time for home hggee. I'm one of those people that requires a balance between home and shop. With my business continuing to grow, it's a challenge to maintain that balance. All focus goes to a growing business. Having said that, it's a great feeling to see such growth. I've met my goals that were put in place last year. It's funny how when you set goals, you're encouraged to meet them. Exceeding them is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. 

We made chicken enchiladas for dinner. The recipe is basic and free of frills, but you'd never know that by tasting them. I've posted the recipe before, but in case you want to make them here's a link to the post. 

I'm getting ready to turn the calendar over to July!  The firecracker month ushers in new soaps. I'll visit the soap curing room and sniff four different soaps until I get their names. Then I'll post the chronology. An idea that came from a customer, and a grand one indeed! Helps me keep on track fifty-two weeks of the year. 

Our Farm To Skin Series of Milk Soap is amongst July's new soap arrivals. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

Meadow Maid

Oh, I'm excited to bring you organic cotton terry face cloths! The only problem is that I can't make them fast enough! We've sold out not just once, but twice in two days. I eagerly spent most of the evening in the sewing room cutting and sewing these ultra soft plush puppy face cloths. Too many adjectives? Nope! They make me happy!

Our New Shampoo Bars will be ready to wrap next week! I'm getting lots of emails and comments on social media asking when they're ready. Another new product that I'm equally enthused about. 

Spring is making every effort to arrive here in Missouri. Nature will shine brightly in a few short weeks and I can't wait! I don't recall ever being so impatient for Spring. It's been a long cold, snowy, icy winter and the fresh warm air and shades of green will change one's mood into sunny and bright. Speaking for myself. 

The shop has been hustling. We're introducing our Spring clothing collections and new soaps are filling the bins and cubbies. Fresh face serums, cremes, and perfumes are being introduced.  

Once the trees and grass green up I'd love to host another fashion shoot with all of our new spring lines. 

Our Scent Department awaits you with over one-hundred fragrances to help you create a classic aroma. Citrus and Floral are hot right now at the shop. 

One of my favorites! The Meadow...

Soon we'll be enchanted by the wildflowers and raindrops. It's the little things that stand out. 

If you haven't been to Bittersweet Apothecary before, Spring is a grand time to visit. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

The Natural Collection

In the twenty-one years of Bittersweets life, packaging has come and gone and magically appeared more than I can recollect.   It's the neutral tones that usually make a return show. Introducing, The Natural Collection by Bittersweet Apothecary. We'll continue the motif into early Spring. 

The Natural Collection is carried forward in a New line of Artisan Papers and Packaging that we're offering at our shop. 

During our break, we installed new flooring and opened up a closed area of the shop. The openness offers a more even flow and extends the opportunity to expand with more Bittersweet items. 

Our Soap manufacturing is running full speed ahead. We're whipping up amazing new Spring Soaps, and introducing wonderful new products as we glide into Bittersweet Spring 2019. 

So much time, planning, and work go into creating new products to line our Modern Apothecary Shop. We're bold with our originality and strive to bring our customers one of a kind items that they simply will not find anywhere else. We love introducing our customers to new creations!

Spring 2019 is not an exception to those thoughts. We have some surprises and a few of your long-time favorites that will continue to shine. 

Our Once A Year Soap Sale was short lived. We sold out in two days! It's such a great deal! In fact, when I did the math I said out loud, WOW! It will return next year after our Winter Break. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

shop life

Much fun was to be had at the Bittersweet Fashion Show! It's always nice to plan an event and then when you go live everything falls perfectly in place. That was this event. The models were spectacular! We should be getting pictures of the event soon. 

Our fall collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories stand out in a crowd. 

I'm at the halfway mark with Holiday Soap manufacturing. We'll start to bring the special soaps in on the second week of November and continue with four-hundred bars each week for six weeks. Then it's over until next season. Much thought, as well as steady work, goes into making, curing, and wrapping this surplus of artisan soaps. Being a seasoned soap maker helps, and honestly, if I weren't it would be a challenge to pull it off with those thoughts in mind.

The holiday season churns like a blink of the eye for this soap maker. 

I'm still in love with it all!

My local newspaper featured a nice article about my business. 

  Very important for me to mention my family as they've had a great impact on my psyche over the past twenty-one years. It's important to have cheerleaders. 

My assignment is to introduce a new kind of shopping experience to folks. One that will inspire and light a fire of excitement as you enter. 

Create your own scent, complimentary coloring, and a shop filled with pure and natural skin care that helps crack the skin care code. 

 When we go on our morning walks it's fun to pick up little pieces of nature along the way. 

It helps me to stop, and take in falls bounty as well its beauty. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of everyday life can interfere with simple pleasures. 

It really helps to ground one's soul when you get close to nature. Speaking personally, as I often do. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill  

 

 

 

 

 

quiet time

It's Fall Festival time of year. This event offers up a mixed bag of feelings. Some good, some not so good. When I used to have my shop on the downtown square the festival meant no business. My customers stay clear of the congestion and frenzy.  It was like a torture treatment seeing forty thousand plus visitors to our downtown, but very few explore the shops! Nowadays, not too much has changed even though I'm off the beaten Fall Festival path. I will say, I love watching the homecoming parade! The floats and our high school bands rock it! That's about the only enjoyment for me. When Patrick was little the festival always coincided with his birthday. I always felt he was cheated because I'd be crazy busy managing my shop and little time for a birthday celebration. I've learned a lot since those days. I've learned that sometimes you need to follow your heart and trust your instinct. In years past I never listened to either. This year I'm listening!

This year I've decided on being closed during the festival. The two-day downtown craziness will not be missed. The extra two days off from the shop will help beef up holiday manufacturing. I'm really looking forward to spending time at home and having a Friday and Saturday off. Well, not really off, but away from the shop. 

Our first ever Fashion Show is the following Saturday, so I'm focusing my attention towards that. We'll go get mums for the runway at the mum farm and prepare notes, cross off errands, and I'll whisper a few hallelujahs. I've already yelled out some!

I'm so very proud of our 2018 Fall Collection! 

We're introducing new offerings every week. So many that it's hard to keep up! 

I'm offering a new and exciting addition to the Scent Your Own department. We'll be creating a new monthly perfume each month and bottling the rare scents in pretty atomizer bottles. There's something about a spray perfume that's appealing. By the way, my friend Debs idea. Thanks Deb. 

I had a customer last week that was wearing this jewelry.  

What a blessing to have this talented designer in our realm. I can't wait to receive my new artisan jewelry!

We reintroduced a retired product last week. It's back! Thank you for requesting it. Typically I don't bring something back unless we receive more than several requests. It was odd, all of a sudden more than several requests appeared in just a few days.  Rub a dab below your nose, breathe in and RELAX...

 We've also brought back our "Fizzy Balls!"

We can't leave out the men!

Much thought went into creating a new and improved Beard Oil. Let me be the first to say, it smells amazing! Again, more than several requests for this potent healing beard oil. I haven't even had time to capture a promo shot yet. I have created a label for the spicy oil. 

The soap studio at home is filling with yummy fall scents. I've added lots of new soap flavors to this seasons menu, with even more planned. Our holiday soap manufacturing has begun, and I'm more excited than ever to share the fall bounty. Apples and Pears, Cinnamon, and Musk, just to name a very few. 

I've been dabbling with my sound system at the shop. I purchased some wireless speakers and have been filling my library with favorite tunes. It's really fun to pick and choose your favorite music and then share it with others. Share and Care... That's an oldie phrase I remember using when back in 2006 when this blog was launched! Should hold true forever. I purchased these speakers. 

I do believe my ears are happy!

In case you're in the area and wish to shine some autumn glow dust on your shoes. 

Keep the faith.

Jill