Bittersweet and the little soap company

design by design

Spring is here! Change a corner!

During my decorating frenzy at home I'm realizing how important it is to start with a small corner as a starting point to complete the rest of the room. Small corners are, well small, and they offer a great beginning so that you don't get overwhelmed and confused as you work your way around decorating a room. Also, when you start decorating a small corner it's amazing how the colors and textures blend into a smooth transition. 

This is how I design my shop. I always start with a corner. 

Black...

It's a great grounding color to use in your space. You should always have a least one black piece! I've been leaning towards  more than one black piece lately. It's super easy to change the paint color of a piece of furniture or picture frames to change a space. Another reason to love small corners! You can easily make a few inexpensive changes like what I just mentioned and transform the look.  

Source: 

Black Shelf Brackets

Raw Wood Shelving

Black Frames

Milk Paint

Hand Loomed Throw

Dried Grass

Pictures were switched to black and white on Photoshop and then sized to 8 x10 and ordered here. 

I'm slowly moving into the kitchen. My office sits right off the kitchen and there is a small pantry across from my office space. I have a vintage Hoosier cabinet that houses my office supplies and I'm going to continue to use it because I love the functionality of the piece. I also believe that it's a good thing to utilize pieces that you already have.   I'm re-organizing both areas to my liking. I'll be sharing pictures and ideas as I move closer to completing the areas.  

We enjoyed visiting with dads that visited the shop shopping for Mother's day gifts this past week. I'm always impressed with their choices. Even more impressed when the kids tag along and pick out soaps for their moms. They seem to have a six sense on which ones mom would love! I also enjoy watching them choose the perfect flavor and packaging. Little things...

I put together some special Mother's day soap packaging, but fell short of offering more than a few because they sold as quickly as I could design them! The nature of handmade...

My mom. She was soft spoken and smart among many other things. She was a published writer, decorator, chef, and gardener. Her talents were too numerous to count. She passed on some of those talents to her daughter. I feel forever grateful that God chose her to me my mom! She named my business those many years ago, and helped to shape Bittersweet to who she is today. Did I mention how beautiful she was? She was that as well!

It's been officially announced...

Our Porch Sale will kick off on Thursday, June 3 and continue until June 12. The once in a lifetime sale will take place on our shop porch during our business hours Thursday through Saturday. 12 pm - 4 pm. So, Thursday - Saturday the first week and then Thursday - Saturday the second week. 

This sale is an offering of merchandising pieces that we have used to decorate or shop over the past few years. A collection of home goods and items that customers have often admired and asked us if they were for sale. Now they are for sale! We are continuously switching out pieces and adding new ones in our shop and our storage room is overflowing with lamps, baskets, and other amazing items that we simply cannot continue to take up valuable space in our back room. Please Note: We are not offering soaps, sundries or items that are currently in our shop. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill xo

 

 

 

 

 

Stocking Up!

I spent the week getting our store ready for the arrival of our holiday assortments. I need to make room for the artisan collections and new items as I make and build our holiday inventory.  Like the rest of the year so far, the holidays seem to be arriving at warp speed! Since covid, our store has encountered an assortment of twists and turns and I've felt like each new day brings with her unexpected surprises. In between, life seems to move on, but the days are not at all what they once were. I am learning to take one day at a time and to be thankful. 

The holidays are a special time for Bittersweet, but they're also fast-paced!  Beginning in October, each hour of my day is filled with manufacturing and planning for the upcoming season. Then it feels as though once it arrives it's over in a blink of an eye!

This year and since we've been forced to reduce our hours with covid, our store is open twenty-five more days before Christmas! That seems unreal to even say that! However, it is true and I'm learning to embrace each day by marking off to-do lists and wrapping up the final ideas on packaging and store displays. Deadlines are met at the last moment and plans change at the drop of a hat. 

I'm closing the store this week to complete holiday manufacturing and get a jump on things. I'll be making and bringing back some popular Bittersweets that will only be available during the holiday season. 

The final touches are being put in place for our holiday packaging, and then I will begin wrapping all that soap!

We are stocking up and making plans to keep our inventory well managed. 

The magic is coming!

We look forward to presenting and releasing our holiday collection on November 13. 

 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

 

 

engineering

The first time I saw this image it was love at first sight! The modern design is clean looking and the proportions are well balanced. Then there's the topic of functionality. 

Since we've moved our store outside to the porch I'm finding that there needs to be a balance put into place. This Apothecary Cart will serve the bill and help to showcase our products specifically on the porch, but also a great piece for demos and samples. There are no instructions so my carpenter husband is going to build it by looking at the picture. I'm not going to torture him by having him design the water basin, However, I love the detail of the shelving and that wheel and those proportions! 

I will keep you posted on our progress. 

We opened the store on Saturday! It was a Super Soft opening and very impromptu. I had not planned on opening, but I'm yearning for one on one with my customers. After all, it's been almost three months since I closed my shop to the public! We allowed two people to shop at a time, and we also continued our Porch Apothecary. The plan is to offer both methods of shopping to our customers. Some folks feel more comfortable shopping on the porch while others really want to come inside and look around. It's a blessing to be able to offer both options and we will continue to switch up your shopping experience.  

We're also making some design changes inside. I went over the details yesterday with my mind and have a structural plan in place, in my mind. It's always nice to have an idea of where things are going before you dive into a design project. Once you have it played out in your mind, it goes together pretty quickly. You can add layers and color and texture and before you know it you've created a masterpiece!

I have always been a sucker for French Market Bags! I ran down to our local Farmers Market yesterday and filled my bag with all types of fresh fruit and produce. The apricots are in their prime and the peaches are soon to follow. 

Yesterday my sweet friend Judy brought me a bouquet of Feverfew from her garden. It's one of my favorite herbs! It reminds me of chamomile. The blooms are a tad bit larger and they don't have the same scent, but they're beautiful in their own Feverfew Beauty! I believe it's about time for our floral supplier to have Feverfew. I'll check with them and see if we can get a few bouquets to offer at the store this Saturday. Judy said the last for a couple of weeks in water. 

Little things...

A new stash of summer frocks arrived just in time for our gentle re-opening! This gauzy embroidered top will be your go-to summer top!

I constructed this sign long before the crazy hit! Little did I know how those words would help to ease everyone's minds that sees it, and assure you that it's okay to piddle and do, well nothing. It that's what you feel like doing. No shame, no guilt. Replace those feelings with gratitude and happiness and peace. The latter is the most important. 

On Saturday, June 20, we will invite three customers to our shop to explore our latest offerings. We will continue to offer shop online and pick up at the store porch. We will also have our Saturday Porch Apothecary open and our Flat Rate Shipping on all of our web site apothecary. Whew! This girl is busy! I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill  

 

You are unstoppable!

Seriously, we can be pretty darn hard on ourselves sometimes, wouldn't you agree? Let us stop being so critical of ourselves and take time to appreciate each moment whether that be a good moment or a bad one. Each of our thoughts is crucial in determining our mood and the outcome of those thoughts intertwine with our lives. Why not be appreciative of it all and know that those steps take you to a higher level of being more spiritually in tune, and quite frankly, we are all human and we're going to make lots of mistakes. Whether that be saying the wrong thing at the wrong time,  or simply beating yourself up over something that didn't turn out the way you had hoped it would. It's one big life pot that should be stirred softly!

If you feel uncomfortable with something, don't be afraid to speak your mind. You have a strong mind! Those feelings are there for a reason! Trust them! Think of those feelings as a trigger switch that runs by an automatic pilot, every now and then you will need to manually fly the plane. 

Never doubt your beliefs, morals, standards, or the fact that you are a good person. You will be tested. Stand your guard and don't take any &%$^!

The Soap Maker's take...

We're moving on to seasonal delights and I'm surrounded by those delightful thoughts throughout our store. 

The store is a reflection of our love for nature and artisan. It always has, but it's especially soul-satisfying during the gift-giving season. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and the pinecone garland was strung while humming a holiday song. 

The red and green plaid soaps are wrapped like little packages. The recipient is in for a holiday treat!

Fresh Eucalyptus was delivered on Thursday, and we can't stop sniffing it! We'll probably continue to offer the fresh greenery through the season. I think a large vessel of Eucalyptus would look stunning as a tablescape! During the autumn you can sit pumpkins and gourds around the fresh greenery and at Christmas mix and match pinecones and pomegranates. Again, I'm always drawn to nature with all of my merchandising. Every shop display always centers around nature. We love blending these elements into our decor. 

 We are offering two new Lip Balms! It will be hard to choose!

We love it when customers create their own scents! We're here to assist you, and we know without a doubt you're going to create some amazing blends! You already have! It's interesting when someone but the soap maker blends fragrances, and I'm always impressed with your ability to blend those amazing scents! Tell your friends and family and share the news about our Mixology Station!

As always, I'm moving fast speed ahead. I just finished making the Twelve Days of Christmas Soap Series and feel that we're right on target! That's a great feeling!

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  

 

 

 

 

 

old shoes...

I picked up these vintage shoes last fall at an antique sale. Just happens, they fit my feet! They're pretty comfortable to wear, but not near as comfy as shoes made today. They fit really narrow. I just like looking at them, and thought they would serve nicely as a vase for dried flowers. 

Freshly made lip balms fill the tin container. Peaches and Creme is a new summer balm. I also made Brown Sugar for the upcoming Christmas in July. Bittersweet offers a variety of moisture rich lip balm. Old school ingredients like lanolin, and vitamin e are packed inside that small tube. Both ingredients offer amazing healing properties that can't compare to new school ingredients. 

Summer just wouldn't be summer without flowers in product shots. Even orange and yellow marigolds mingle nicely with brown eye Susan's and Zinnnia. 

The Lavender Cleansing Cloths are popular at the Apothecary Shop. In fact, it's hard for me to keep up with manufacturing. I'll make thirty something, only to have them dwindle down to single digits in a matter of a couple of days. When I created the formulation, unforeseen happy results occurred. I love it when this happens! The lavender cloths stay cool and moist for a very long time. Even in our one-hundred degree summer hot days, you can whip out a soothing, aromatic cleansing cloth and be instantly cooled. 

I'm already beginning to ponder fall thoughts. When it gets so hot and three digit temperatures, I can't help but yearn for cooler days. It happens every summer once it gets unbearably hot. Did I mention how I hate the heat? Ugh!

We've added gift cards to our web shop. Now you can send a personalized gift card anytime your heart desires. They can be redeemed at either the web shop or at our brick and mortar, located  just off the beautiful Liberty Square. 

Busy just got busier! I've got the show on Thursday, and next week is Christmas in July along with late night Friday. I ordered the wrapping paper for Pumpkin Spice today, so we can start wrapping the soap. I'm also ordering holiday wrappings, and gearing up for the busy real Christmas season. 

Soap manufacturing is already into late September. Meaning, the soap I'm making now won't be ready for wrapping until September. Good things come to those who wait!

The Japanese Beetles are taking over! What to do? What to do? I've heard conflicting solutions, most of which are not a cure for the pesky bugs. 

My good friend Clarice shared her yummy ice cream recipe.   

I can't do the artificial sugar thing, with the exception of coconut sugar or nectar. The nectar isn't quite as sweet. I've discovered the darker the sugar the less the sugar content. 

I made these and followed the recipe. So good! I wrapped them in parchment and then placed in baggies, popped them in the freezer to have for snacking. The dates and nuts mixed are delightful to the buds!

I also made this Simple Ketchup to add to meatloaf last night. Honestly, I really don't know why I've never made homemade ketchup before? It taste so good! 

Thank you Paleo Leap!

Yes, I'm still forging on with low carbs and sugar, and it feels good!

Happy Summer!

Jill 

Related articles

Christmas in July!

Ireland held a "special place" in Johnny Cash's heart

summer haze

day by day

Here's What Causes Brain Freeze

Amazon Prime Day: Amazon's not-so-secret plan to rule the retail world

cedar planks

Just absolutely thrilled with the way cedar fence planks transform a space. Not to mention they're inexpensive and aromatic. I started getting ready for Friday's sale, and while doing that, Lennis went to the shop and added cedar inlay around the ceiling threshold. I'd already added cedar to the front of the counter, and thought it would help tie in if it was layered upwards. Before I start a home or shop project, I'm always on the hunt for materials that can be used in a different way than they're accustomed to be used. I believe the front cedar counter inlays cost around twenty bucks. The upper around forty. Cedar is a long living wood that's used outdoors a lot because of it's durability. It's even sweeter when you bring it indoors!

Super Lennis also installed a new ceiling fan in the shop dressing room. I searched for a long time before finding one that blended with the pendant lighting. This one was perfect and I found it here. I always find what I'm looking for here. 

As I begin sorting through shop stash I'm in awe over the number of everything. If feels great to cleanse our home. Parting is such sweet sorrow... A girl simply can't keep everything! We're talking twenty plus years of amazing and unique items. I'll have vintage clothing, furniture, lamps, lots of lamps, really cool lamps, fixtures, merchandising galore, and oh my goodness!

I'm going to set up vendor tent in our driveway and hope for a calm and clear day. 

Friday peoples!

You won't want to miss it!!

Take time to stop and smell the flowers. 

Jill 

 

Related articles

falling

S is for Shop

uncomplicated inspiration - Bittersweet and the little soap company

summer haze

hot topic

little town summer

flower thoughts

The Historic Downtown Liberty hosts a number of events throughout the year. These events are centered around, what else, our beautiful downtown. The other night I was headed to one such event. Parking was limited, and I was searching the downtown streets for a parking spot. I found a spot in front of a friends shop and as I was getting out of my car I noticed her shop lights were still on. I decided to poke my head in and say hi. The shop owner's name is Beatrice, and her little boutique is named after her, Bea's Design.  She offers her hand made jewels in her shop. In addition, she also offers a variety of  frocks and hip accessories.

Every time I stop by Bea's Design I'm enchanted by both her spirit and generosity. She's atop my favorite people on the human list. Yes, I have a list!

During our short visit the other night, Bea was creating beautiful fresh flower arrangements. She wouldn't let me leave her shop before giving me a beautiful rose bouquet. I was thrilled and very much honored to receive the aromatic bouquet. I carried the bouquet of white roses to the event and placed them in a wine glass sitting on our table. Then when the event was over, I brought the bouquet to the shop, where I placed it in amongst the sundries.

You see, folks like Beatrice are precious. Her caring and sharing spirit shines.

If you've never visited Bea's Design, I'm thinking you may wish to check it out.

Thank you Bea for being you!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes, always.

Jill 00 

 

Related articles

S is for Shop

shasta

I took advantage of the overcast day to capture a few outdoor shots. Having an apothecary shoppe inside a century old home co-mingled with vintage and topped with a photography studio and hair salon is kind of cool! The huge front porch that cascades in front and the entrance to the water street shops is amazing! It really feels like a second home away from home to me. It's also a somewhat surreal feeling I get knowing this was my original location fifteen years ago. In my wildest dreams, I never would have imagined I'd be back in this same spot.  The fact that I share the main level with my bestie makes it pretty darn close to heaven on earth. Not to mention the blessing of doing what I love in the midst of all that atmosphere sometimes feels like a dream. I count my blessings each and every day. If you're a regular reader than you already know how I experienced two livid dreams about once again having a brick and mortar. So many gifts priceless in value that warm my soul.

Spending my summer on water street is pretty darn nice too!  

The Shasta's are blooming! Those tall purple flowers, that I believe are wild are sprouting in between the English Ivy on the south side of our yard. They look like bell flowers. Maybe they are. The rock garden is full of soon to be blooming cone flowers. Just as I envisioned, but really didn't expect them to explode and fill the entire garden. Flower girl happy!

It's hot and when it gets hot I prefer easy simple less is more meals. I made this the other night. It was tasty and summer side dish yummy. I also made this dip. Again, summer delish!  I'm quite fond of Skinny Taste recipes. I've been making the recipes for several years and have always been pleased with all of them. 

A fun packed weekend of girlfriends and concerts. Radio show coming up and I'm going to learn how to run the board! I call it a board, I'm not sure what its official name is. It's all computerized. The show runs off of three computers and I'm going to learn how to maintain and operate the technical aspects of it all. Should be interesting and I'd imagine the next show shall be a bit of a learning experience. Not within my comfort zone, but I believe one should, every now and then, remove themselves from those zones. That's how you learn. Never stop learning. It will be wonderful to be self contained. I'll keep you posted and I will podcast the next show. If you dare to listen. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

With all good wishes, 

Jill 00

 

Related articles

blueberries, chocolate & purple

clicking

just whistle

side tracked

I got side tracked this morning before this post. Typepad offers a new design platform called Nimble. It seems it's not quite ready completely. It's no secret that I'm a sucker for any new programming. If the options have increased, I'm in!  

New Aristocrat Cuffs have arrived! A modern vintage accessory to be added to your spring & summer wardrobe. They are popular at the brick and mortar. 

The Aristocrat Cuffs are available at my web shop. 
Soon to be a May Day assembly line at the B&M. I'm assembling May Day Baskets. I wish to share the design idea, but I can't give it away before the event. I promise to share later. I'm re-purposing a common every day item and incorporating it into the basket.

New Botanical Sacks too! This season I'm also offering a variety of everlasting wreaths. 

I know, my heart skips a beat! Wreaths created from real herbs, don't figure. Kidding aside, one of my favorite things, dried flowers and herbs. The new wreaths should be in stock towards the beginning of May. 

Oh and I added a favorite spring soap to the web shop this morning. Lilac...

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

With all good wishes, 

Jill 00

 
 

Related articles

spring frenzy

flourishing floret

in the spring moment

Spring Steady