Bittersweet and the little soap company

rosy spring

We're making preparations for the upcoming May Day event. I happened upon these beautiful rose sugar cookies while browsing Pinterest. It was love at first site! Added to the confection menu for May day. The little May Day baskets are being assembled. Can you guess what they're made of? I'll give you three guesses. Okay, I'll share. Toilet paper tubes! I know!!!

I covered each tube with fabric that contains adhesive on the back. Simply cut to fit the tube and crimp the bottom. No need to glue the bottom. A fold seems to hold just fine. You could insert a small piece of plastic inside the tube if you wished to use real flowers. My petite baskets are going to contain bittersweets. I can't reveal. I did want to share the baskets though. You can start saving your toilet paper inserts.

 

I glued a piece of vintage trim to each one and added a custom round sticker. Made a small punch and inserted a pipe cleaner. I think that's it. I believe a tiny bouquet of real flowers or even a single lilac bloom would be the perfect touch.

I ordered the suggested items to make the pink rose icing. I also ordered some of the round cutters. I am attracted to the small circle cutters.

 The May day event is one of my favorite things. Always has been. You would love it. The friends mingle and the sun shines. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

With all good wishes,

Jill 00

 

Related articles

side tracked

creative compass

Easter Banner

On the last post I mentioned a freshly made item. The Easter banners are quick and easy to make. 

This is what you will need. 

A package of twelve inch dowels

Cotton fabric, I chose muslin

Heat Transfer paper

Jute Twine

Sewing machine

Iron

Vintage Trim if desired

I started by printing my rabbit design onto an 8 1/2 x 11 heat transfer sheet. 

Then I placed my heat transfer piece onto my muslin. I cut around and left about an inch on all four sides.

Then I turned my iron to hot setting or cotton and transferred the design onto the piece of fabric. 

With the sewing machine I made a simple hem around the entire four sides. 

Make little hang pieces. Your dowel will hang from the two hang pieces. You can make them whatever size you wish. Just make sure they are the same size. Attach the hang pieces about one inch into muslin by sewing a simple stitch.

I then attached a thin vintage trim to the bottom with a simple straight stitch. Insert your dowel and tie a fisherman's knot around the dowel. Hang your new Easter banner on your door knob, mantle or wherever you wish to bring a touch of hand made Easter cheer.

You will have enough supplies to make several if you want.

How cute would these be customized for a wedding or party?

Enjoy caring and sharing warm days.

Jill 00 

 

Related articles

spring on my mind

Easter Bunnies and Ducks - Almond Shortbread for Easter

How to Host an Easter Brunch

Children's Aprons using Heat Transfer Vinyl

parsley and prairie

week of

just about right...

A stocking prototype. The vintage lace can actually be tucked inside if you wish to not have it showing. A creamy button from my stash of old creamy buttons. A silk ribbon with holiday sentiments is removable. Thinking I can cute it up even more by adding a personalized ribbon with an actual name or maybe simply Merry Christmas. 

So now you know what I'm doing! The stocking assembly line is in full speed ahead. Burlap, linen and lace fill the working tables. 

Enjoy caring and sharing holidays. 

Warmly,

Jill 00

Fluff & Stuff

That's a picture of the plump hand-made lambs wool powder puffs. Bittersweet offers the puffs at our shop. We've always carried them. They remind me of the puff my grandma used to use. However, please, please, don't use talc powder. It's not good for you. Choose a natural powder and one made with arrow root or corn starch. I've touched on the talc topic before. 

Yesterday the carravan continued. I made three more drop-offs of goods to the new shop. This morning when I go in I'll have my computer and lunch to take, that's it! When I get there I'll have lots of soap to wrap. 

The sun has popped out and even though it's still very cold it's bright out. Especially with the snow cover, mounds we still have on the ground. It's starting to get patchy though. This is the part of snow I don't care for. It melts and oozes out and turns into dirty mud puddles. All of the dirty snow dislike will help to LIKE Spring even more!

By the way... The puffs aren't listed at the web shop. However they are listed at Etsy. I think only two left with the pink ribbon and then I have a supply of puffs with white ribbons. Send my an email message if you would like me to ship you one. They are $22 each. 

Off to my new job!

Enjoy caring and sharing days. 

Jill 00

 

Summer pantalon court

Sometimes inspiration comes from the simplest of things...

The flirty girly summer sleeping short is making an exclusive appearance at the studio. 

I was inspired by of all things the extreme heat we've been experiencing. Don't figure???

I am envisioninga row of freshly made sleeping shorts in a variety of cool lightweight cottons hanging from the line just a blow- in the hot summer breeze! 

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Warmly,

Jill 00

Wrap of vintage continued

 
Soap making continues and the wrapping of each and every silky rich bar is not too far off.

This is a prototype of some new wrappings. I'm not quite there yet with the look I had envisioned.

So often the designs I have swished around don't live up to the anticipation. That's when I toss the project to the side and begin working on something else. Simply because I have learned that craziness will take over and I'll spin my wheels relentlessly to no avail.

The kitchen smells like Peony! I even ran out in amongst the dark rain to cut a fresh bouquet. Realizing how short lived they are, I want to take advantage of their beauty for as long as I can.   

By the way... I posted information on our Face-Book page  about proceeds of our orders will be sent to the tornado victims of Joplin.  The money will be sent to the American Red Cross to help with the efforts of recovery and healing.

For those of you that shopped Bittersweet yesterday, thank you for your patronage and your donations. Both are very much appreciated.

In between design work and soap I've been mixing up a few things around home. A switch in furniture pieces here and there and a back porch with more relaxing space.

Isn't this flowering plant pretty?

 
It's hanging in my back yard. Researching the species is on my list of to-do's.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

 

 

Lavender days♥ pure|clean|simple

"lavender, sweet lavender;
come and buy my lavender,
hide it in your trousseau, lady fair.
Let its lovely fragrance flow
Over your from head to toe,
lightening on your eyes, your cheek,
your hair."
Cumberland Clark Flower Song
Book 1929

Bittersweets lavender line of natural home keeping products are a favorite summer pick me up.

Each large batch of cleaning essential is happily hand mixed. The aromatic laundry powders are  flavored with pure lavender essential oil. While bed linens toss and turn in your clothes dryer rich lavender fragrance escapes into your space. You can read more about our pure|clean|simple| laundry powders here.

And since lavender is my favorite herb and I fancy fresh flavored linens it seemed appropriate to continue sharing my lavender love and create  linen spray and sachets for the dryer. 

Olden day toiletry formulation's and home keeping recipes have always been my inspiration for creating Bittersweet products. 

I'm quite fond of less rather than more when it comes to ingredients. I also know less can work equally as well as more. In fact more often than not, less can be much more efficient. Not to mention the pleasure and satisfaction you experience while nurturing your psyche and caring for your home sweet lavender home.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are most always better than one)

♥Vintage bottles & glass

 
I have this thing for glass bottles. When I was a young girl I used to search abandoned farms for old bottles, take home and clean with soapy water. The once worn dirty glass was now shiny and new looking. The admiration continues today and if you look around the studio you will see remnants of that bottle love.

 
When setting out to design new packaging I usually try and duplicate days gone by looks.

 
Those archaeological digs influence my designs today. 

 
Brown glass is a favorite.

 
But clear glass vessels, ♥! They don't have to be old.

 
These glass knobbed jars are my favorite. They are snatched up at first glance at the antique shops if I'm so fortunate as to find them. I love their apothecary look.

 
 
More glass in the pantry.

Enjoy caring and sharing spring days.

Happily,

Jill oo

 

Haberdasher

 
Remember when I mentioned some new Bittersweets were coming? The new line, "Haberdasher" will include notions and hand sewn items. Silk ribbon, creamy vintage buttons, couture cartons and the "Enid Apron" will be making their debut on the web site.

 Here's a peek.

 
creamy vintage buttons

  

 
couture carton

 
vintage bird ribbon

The "haberdasher" collection will be available in the weeks to come. If you're interested in an item before it is listed  please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I may list them here before the web site.

The couture cartons are especially cute for Easter. The petite egg cartons are filled with a tape measure, strawberry pin cushion, a card of creamy vintage buttons, thread card with red & white twine, French safety pins, and a few little other surprise notions. They cost $32 plus shipping. 

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Jill 00 

Goings on...

 
I have always been interested in vintage baskets. This particular basket is quite old, and it's not often you see one like this. I was drawn to the brown wicker basket, era 1920, the moment my eyes saw it! The perfectly tattered hangers and the iron brackets, all favorite things.

Once it warms up and all the snow melts I'll head outside for some merchandise photos with some of these finds.  
I have yet to share the big find that day, big to me anyway, later.

 
I have a small pantry in my kitchen. Over the years the nook has had many different looks. At one time decorative doors covered the small space and you could not see inside. I have always preferred being able to see its contents and the door has been long gone for years. The other day while searching through my vintage trims I found some wide scalloped trimming. The trim had been quietly sitting in a glass jar with other trimmings awaiting a sewing project,  but on this snowy indoor day I saw the trim in a different light.

  Sac de savon...

My golly! I have this thing about bags you know, don't you?

I love the idea of a pretty bag filled with handmade soap, always have! I think, I would love to get something like that!

 
I am quite fond of natural linen too. In fact, my two fastidious choices in textiles when making these bags would be linen or burlap. Both equally loved and what I consider timeless fibers that have withstood the test of time.

 
The trim is from the French General collection.

My taste in fabric is eclectic to say the least. Although I fancy shabby prints and cabbage roses, I ditto rich antique prints like the ones Fr. General designs.

The past few days I've been trying to pull together the botanical bloom collection. Still hours of work to do, but it's beginning to take shape. I will be sharing. Sometimes my show and tell posts get knocked behind other projects so I apologize to you if you check back and they're not here.

Old man winter is on his last leg I believe. After all the groundhog did see his shadow. Realizing his 39% accuracy rate should not be counted on if planning an early spring picnic.

Enjoy caring and sharing winter days.

Jill 00