Bittersweet and the little soap company

Time is on my side, yes it is.

We have admiration,  for blues, and whites... Summer is coming!

We're stocking new cotton tees and breezy blouses. Refined stripes, and natural hue colored wood necklaces. In love with our new Summer collections. 

We'll bring back our "Lake House", and "Country Fair" lines soon. Soap wrapped in calico dressings that are worthy of a blue ribbon. 

The excitement level peaks during this time of year. I ponder past favorite designs and hobbies. Prairie Quilts and pretty paper. 

It's a challenge for me to put into words how I feel about the growth of this budding little apothecary business. The sprouting that blooms each season blows me away! 

There was a day not so long ago, it seemed, that lining envelopes and making Prairie Quilts seemed to satisfy my soul. To think, it still would, is comforting, but time has changed. Oh no, another philosophical discussion! I won't, promise.  However, that thought does pose the question, does time change? I believe it does. 

Idle time...

There was a day when time dawdled, at least it seemed.

Now it is fleeting and flying and soaring!

Does time change?

Well, I'm moving on to another topic of conversation. 

Goat Milk

I'm always in awe of how inspiration grows from simple notions. 

My friends at Fox Hollow are raising goats! They've shared pictures of both baby and mama. It wouldn't surprise me if baby goat visited me someday at the shop!. The family knows how much I love farm animals.  This family is unique and living a back to basics life.  I'm excited to include this fresh raw ingredient in the making of Bittersweet Soap! My plan is to offer a series of Goat Milk Soaps. We're on our way as we've just finished our first batch of Rosemary Mint Goatmilk Soap!

Grandma Lucy's Dish Soap is one of my favorite things!

Summertime where the livin' is easy...

Keep the faith. 
Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a soap maker's view

I'm forever grateful for the gift that God has given me. Even more thankful and my heart overfills with joy when I stop and reminisce about those many years ago when my sweet soft-spoken mom graciously named my little soap business. My apothecary business has taken lots of twists and turns through the past twenty-one years, but one thing has remained the same, my dedication and passion. I'm also thankful for that! 

As I grow older and hopefully wiser those thoughts remain the central focus, and remembering that helps me to create a happy balance. 

I'm also learning to appreciate each day regardless of whether it be a bad day. My bad days are definitely, in fact, no comparison to what some are forced to endure. I'm also thankful for that. 

I'm also learning to embrace winter. For without her, I'd be lacking admiration and appreciation for Spring! Having said that, we've had a burly grizzly winter! She's been downright fierce and furious! 

While pondering thoughts of spring my mind wandered and then rested upon a heaping bundle of lavender. Can you see it?

With the thought of lavender bundles and dreaming of aromatic fields, I thought to myself, why not turn February into Lavender Month and celebrate my fondness for this golden herb.  

We're infusing February with Lavender!

Our new addition to our shop and a more open concept is being appreciated by both this soap maker and her customers. 

Many thanks to those who have shared how you love the new addition. 

My favorite view!

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

grazing and calm...

I've been grazing while relishing in the quiet and calmness of a winter pause. 

We've been whipping up new recipes and nibbling along the way. Some of the recipes were over the top, while other ones were simply mediocre. A pile of keepers, and a pile of losers in the recycle bin.

 Cream Puffs

 

I'm packing in a number of projects during my break. It always works out this way! 

Mr. Carpenter (aka Lennis), installed new flooring in the back area of the apothecary shop and then we opened up the room so that it flows evenly with the rest of the shop. It took me a while to figure out the layout because the room is oddly shaped, but after looking at it over and over and sleeping on it, it came to me. I'm one of those people that wake up in the middle of the night with answers to my questions! There's a metaphor between sleep time and break time. I can see and feel similarities between the two. Mainly, creative similarities. I'm definitely a left-brainer!  

Have you looked at our website? Not one bar of soap listed! I'm hoping to resolve that good problem soon...In fact, we've got the revolving soap door thing going on. New soaps ready, while other's soon will be. 

Our annual "Fill Your Bag" soap sale begins on January 12, our grand re-opening. We sell out fast! Hint, hint...

Along with a soap sale, I'm having a Winter Clearance on clothing and accessories. Time to clear the old to make room for the new!

New packaging ideas are in place and my excitement continues to grow as we approach number twenty-two years in business on April 15, 2019!

I strive to make pretty things, but sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

 

Thankful

Sometimes it feels appropriate to just sit and be thankful. Sometimes it feels appropriate to slow down and have time to be thankful. 

This soap maker is thankful for many, many things, including my family, , health, freedom, and home. Probably in that order, but all wrapped up in a big thankful box! So often we overlook our blessings or even worse don't recognize them when they appear. I believe each new day presents a new reason to be thankful, and those blessings fall like snowflakes but you don't always recognize them unless they fall into your eye. 

I seldom watch the news but happened to turn on the coverage of the California wildfires and felt a deep sadness. I'm praying the fire will cease. 

This Thanksgiving I'm making an effort to be thankful for the little things, which now seem to be big things, which now seems to make me more aware of each and every blessing that comes my way. Everyday...

From now until Christmas I'm going to keep a journal so that I can write down my everyday blessings. Then on Christmas morning when it's quiet I'm going to read them out loud to myself. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill  

- the smile

Our world is filled with good and bad, and ugly. It always will be, and there's really nothing you can do to change that, however...

Every chance you get, opportunity or even if it's a brief second to simply say hi, we must continue to be fiercely good to those around us. 

My heart is heavy once again. 

I'm praying for both the victims and the mentally disturbed and for those suffering. 

Just always remember, everyone is going through something. 

Kindness is contagious. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

 

 

first signs

It's incredibly easy to love the first signs of spring. 

Atticus and family delivered the two golden sunshine blooms this week when delivering our eggs. This family is indeed a special one. They spread their amazing love to everyone they meet. There's a lot to be learned about treating other's the way you wish to be treated, and we're not all good at it, but every now and then, a special gentle spirit human visits us, and I feel as though they're angels on earth. Very special to have these one and only folks in my life. 

The past few months there's been an enormous amount of bad spirit activity at my shop, and I don't need to further explain, but only to tell you that this kind and gentle God-fearing family has offered me knowledge of things that are beyond my minds reach. 

 I feel as though I've discovered a life secret through the unexplainable incidents that have occurred. I did, it's called love!

After the rant ceased, we discovered a family member has a health crisis. 

Life...

I'm thankful for my faith in God during challenging times. 

My shop is a peaceful retreat during these difficult times. The dwelling offers an escape from the challenges I face as a human.  I'm very protected of this retreat and avoid bad mojo at all cost for that reason.  It's a place surrounded by kind customers, and an atmosphere surrounded by beautiful things. 

It would be nice for me to share some of these experiences, believing it will help others. However, I'm not a share all type of girl, so only the lessons I've learned shall be released. 

I will tell you that I firmly believe God directs our lives if you're a believer. 

Okay, from God to taxes...

Ugh!

I've pushed this task off long enough. Today is the day I start the long drawn out calculations. I always feel great after it's done! Right brain, left brain, work. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

 

memory molds

I'm really starting to ponder thoughts of spring this winter. Our season has been Topsy turvy and extreme with its rigid cold, and wind. Then it turns mild and spring like, back and forth. Jacket to coat, gloves, hat, back again. 

The shop is keeping me busy and preoccupied, otherwise, I believe a warmer climate would be a  game plan. 

With the extreme cold comes unexpected inspiration. You see, there's always something good to grab from something not so good. 

Even though I offer and make a vast supply of face cremes and treatment oils, the arctic cold winds were running havoc on my face. Dry patches seemed to pop up over winter night. I studied and researched a bit, however, I've really wanted to create a jojoba facial oil for awhile now. We use the rich oil as a base in our perfumes, and it's a hard to beat oil for your skin. The oil resembles your own skin oil, therefore it absorbs very quickly. I'ts also an oil that is unlikely to go rancid. Most other oil's will eventually go bad, so that's a significant quality. 

After researching I came up with a jojoba oil rich with frankincense, honey absolute, vanilla, vitamin e, and marula. I rubbed the intense formula on my face, and by the next day, no more dry patches. Perfect...

I apply the oil in the morning, and at night. If I may, It's amazing!

Soap production is in full swing. I'm anticipating a busy year ahead. What we need is lots of soap! If you're new, that's taken from a children's book I used to read to my son. 

He grew up with his mom making soap, so reading the book was humorous to both of us. 

I'd be in the kitchen making soap, and he'd be pretending with hot wheel cars. I'd declare, "what we need is lots of soap", as I stirred the big kettle. We'd laugh, and giggle. 

Great memories. Still around to make it all so sweet, and really not Bittersweet. 

Alice Bracelets offer the same soulful thoughts, and my mind reflects on happy kid memories every time I snap a bead. 

Passion usually has a memory mold attached, I think.

Memory Mold... I like that. 

Those memory molds offer inspiration. 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

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feelings

My heart goes out to those people whom have been effected by the recent hurricane Harvey. I have little words to convey my heart felt feelings. Keep the faith, and know we're here for you, whenever. Yesterday, I had a moment of pondering about how fragile things are, and that things, are just things, and people are, well people, and that you can replace things. I thought about my shop, and how if this happened, starting over would be difficult. Please join me in praying for our fellow friends in Texas and Louisiana. You can't imagine, until you've walked in their shoes, what they're going through.

Sometimes when tragedy hits so close to home, I feel guilty.  I'm sure other's feel the same. Tiny things like having a bed to sleep in, and your mail delivered, seem to be an everyday occurrence, but when a disaster such as Harvey hits, tiny, overlooked day by day goings on take on a much different appearance. I'm thankful God made us resilient, strong, and determined.

My pink orchid held her blooms for months! My entire life I've been challenged with getting an orchid to bloom. This past holiday season, I placed her in the cold back room, neglected her completely, and one day during her abandonment, she began shooting, shouting, with new blooms. I believe she was shouting, and yes, I also believe the determined orchid to be a girl. She is pink! At any rate, you can imagine my joyful surprised face when I noticed the new blooms. Little things mean a lot. 

Keep the faith...

Jill 

   

 

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Augustine...

Happy August! Can you believe it's here? So fast, racing by, like a blink of the eye. That's how time works. Next thing I know, I'll be eighty! I wonder if I can still lift fifty pounds of soap oil's when I'm eighty? I often ponder that thought. 

Back speed...

That picture above is inspiration for this newly emptied out room. 

I just wonder can a person have too many projects going on at once? Taking on two at a time, while manufacturing soap, balms, and curing my cravings for Indian food. 

While searching for low carb, sugar recipes I spotted this web site, and recipe.

I wrote down the spice list and headed to the natural grocery store. This is my favorite store!

The folks that work there are so darn nice! That's one of the reasons, but not the main one. They offer great natural brands, and their produce is top notch. 

Back to the dressing room chit chat...

I went back and forth, forth and back, attempting to decide if I should make the empty room into an office, sewing room, or dressing room. I must have spent at least several days pondering those thoughts. After all that contemplating, I finally decided to change the once bedroom into a sewing and dressing room. It's always kind of tricky to make one space, two, but I feel it can be done in a way that's attractive and functional. I've been doing some homework. What I've discovered is that I'm in love with IKEA! 

These lights pointing at these...

Love this, especially in love with the light fixture. I can envision what it will look like, but I'll need this chair to complete that vision. Probably a couple of these. Did I read that right? Look at the price. Of all the rooms I've transformed over the years, this one is getting me excited. 

White and raw wood will be the theme. I really don't think we can live without that sheep skin rug either!

Great resource if you're thinking about expanding your dressing space. 

This is a picture of the little coffee bar off our kitchen. 

Good things come to those who wait. I guess that's an accurate statement, since my home remodel plans have completely changed due to no time to start them. It also pays to take your time. I have been shopping for specific items, and in awe over the price differences on the same items. 

Changing...

New and New... Rose Water arriving in September, and Dirti Hands, that's a soap for the guys, arriving tomorrow. Providing I have time to create packaging. 

Pumice is a great additive for soap. Do they still make Lava Soap? Pumice is volcano ash. Who knew that Volcano Ash would be good for something? 

I thought you might like a little more closet inspiration... I just love looking at those scarfs rolled up and organized under the glass tops. 

Then here's an idea of all ideas...I love my jeans, but it's always been a challenge to store them. What a great solution. I had a hard time finding those clips, but I found something that caught my eye and that I liked better. You guessed it, IKEA! Here's a link for the hooks. You're welcome!

Mercy me!  

Summer it up!

Jill 

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summer haze

summer porches

I'm giving the shop porch a makeover!

New rockers look fantastic and they fit perfectly on the big old porch.

I have a few other ideas up my sleeve. 

A checkerboard table comes to mind. 

When I was a young girl I loved playing checkers. Bringing it back...

Fast forward.

I'm on day number 5 of no sugar! I also created a face book group so that I can share recipes, and ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. 

As I began shopping for sugar free foods that were safe to eat, I was amazed to find how limited one is to located safe, sugar free foods. Almost everything contains sugar. What's up with that? That saying, "everything in moderation", is a challenge when it comes to sugar. You have to be very diligent and read all the labels to know there's no sugar in something. I kind of joked by saying when I go to the market now, it feels like I'm at the library. 

I'm also doing some extensive research on sugar. It blows your mind!

My goal is to not cut out sugar completely in my diet. However, I am at the beginning of this life style change. No fruit, wheat products, potatoes, etc. All contains sugar, or will turn into sugar. I've lost two pounds since I said no to sugar. My mind is sharper, no bloating, and all in all, I just feel better. 

I'll keep you posted, but better yet, if you wish to join the just say no to sugar revolution you can join the group.

I just launched it yesterday, and I've posted several tested recipes that I think will make it easier to face the challenge. I'm also posting brand recognition about products I believe stand up to their hype. 

The hardest part of eliminating sugar from you diet is finding good food. 

Anyhow...

I'm launching a new soap. 

This past week, I've received two requests from guys asking for an abrasive type soap. Guys, your request is my command. The new soap will be available in July. 

I'm also hosting a Christmas in July and making the popular Pumpkin Spice Soap for the grand event. 

I've never hosted a Christmas in July before. I'm kind of excited!

My cone flowers are in full bloom. Love, love, them!

Bachelor Buttons, Baby's Breath, and Zinnia follow behind the beautiful cone flowers. If I can keep the pesky Japanese Beetles from eating the blooms! Man, those little critters are destructive!

Happy Summer!

Jill

 

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