Gifts from friends...

I feel blessed to have caring and sharing customers/friends that honor and treat me with gifts.
Last Saturday a customer and friend, Marcy presented me with this adorable vintage bunny.
She also shared the story that came with the rabbit which made the gift even more special.
She had spotted the vintage bunny at a thrift shop years ago when her daughter was a wee one.
Marcy said the little pink rabbit had sat in her daughters nursery when she was a baby.
She recently began to clean out some of the old and thought it appropriate to return the rabbit to the thrift store in which it was purchased so many years before.
She returned to the thrift shop some weeks later only to find the pastel rabbit was still sitting on the shelf at the thrift shop.
She was saddened to see that no one had purchased the vintage rabbit.
Knowing that the thrift shop destroys items after a certain amount of time she quickly picked up the rabbit and purchased it once again.
She presented me with the sweet bunny and told me that story.
I am thrilled to have the ceramic rabbit as he proudly sits atop the apothecary cabinet in my shop.

Thank Marci for caring and sharing.

Jill 00
Two hugs are better than one

Keepsake Box

I've talked about the little keepsake boxes Bittersweet makes before and how the original idee came from my creative Mom.
My Mom said, "Jill, you need a little box for the soap to fit into." That's a great idea, I said, and the little box was born. Appropriately called, "soap box" around the studio since a bar of my hand crafted soap fits perfectly inside the box.

Over the past thirteen years and since Bittersweet was established I've made thousands of these little boxes.
When I had the shop downtown they sold as fast as I could make them.

It was funny to see the soap box assembly line sitting on my kitchen counter, in the dining room, and in every corner.
I always made them in the same order. Decoupage, allow to dry, paint, allow to dry, varnish, glass glitter, and once again allow to dry. A few secrets too that I learned while creating the little box.

I was thrilled when HGTV called and wanted to feature the little box on their network. They called shortly after my Mom had passed away from Leukemia, and it meant so very much to me to share a creation that came from her especially on national television. I feel blessed to have had that wonderful experience.

Let's see, that was probably 8 or 9 years ago. I'm always amazed on how fast time goes.

So nice of them to still have the episode featured on their web site. Thanks HGTV, especially to you Celia!

Enjoy caring and sharing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Not so stuffie...

It's a true blessing to be able to create and make things for a living. I've never taken one moment of the blessings for granted. 

Having worked as a bank manager, code inspector and marketing director in my younger days allowed me to appreciate and respect the precious gift that comes with creating. 

Not that those jobs were disliked. I enjoyed and respected each of them without a doubt, and learned a considerable amount from each.

 Having said that I also know that my yearning to create has and always will not only offer a source of bread & butter, but a true genuine feeling of peace that helps me go become a better human.    

As I sit and begin creating a soulful interlude of happiness runneth over my entire psyche.  

The quiet pluck and tuck moments are ever so soft and nurturing. 

Enjoy caring and sharing nurturing days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one) 

Vintage Postcard Pocket

The little birthday pouch was made from a vintage postcard.
Simply cut out a half moon shape on one side, fold and sew together.
You can stick money in the pouch or maybe a gift certificate or even a little posy of flowers.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,
Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Forget- Me- Nots...

A single stem of a forget-me-not stands tall. I do believe this is my favorite little flower!
Even though considered a spring blooming flower the plant seems to be holding up in scorching 100 degree heat.
The blessing with this flowering blue is that most always when planted it does not flower until the following season. Having said that, I felt privileged to have this lovely bloom appear with the first planting.
Next spring, early I am going to plant oodles of this favorite blue and yellow blossom!
I'm engrossed with the folklore tales and ancient stories that surround this delicate beauty of nature.

The forget-me-not flower lives on forever in my mind.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00 (Two hugs are better than one)

Those Lavender Sachets

They are so sweet! Tuck a berry here, tuck a berry there.

Calico Petals and Bittersweet and Jill for that matter have always had a liking for any kind of lavender stuffed sachet.

The skies the limit on what to use for fabric. Vintage textiles make soulful little sachets.

Seal the berry with a hand sewn topper.

There's something about hand sewn items. They make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Enjoy caring and sharing summer days.

Happily,

Jill 00