Hi there!  Shoot, I've been meaning to post all week after being away last week, and things have just gotten away from me.  I really want to post more about daily life and not so much about business all the time, but things have been busy in that way, that there's not time to do it all.  But all good things!  Anyway, here are the rest of the pillow cases I've been working on.  I have a total crush on this pattern, especially the coral color.  The entire "pillow case collection" will be in my shop on Tuesday of next week.  I hope you will like them.  They feel so springy to me.  In the meantime, it's still so cold in my part of the world.  I'm going to go ice skating tonight, because, really, what else can you do??

Anyone else a little weary of winter?  I've been working on a collection of pillowcases to spruce up tired winter bedding and bring dreams of spring.  These will be coming into my online shop in the beginning of March.  All in 100% cotton, handmade by me. Each pair is one of a kind.  More colors to show you next week too.  Think spring!

Happy Valentine's Day!  xoxo Jill

Wednesday's vintage shop update: vintage, rustic, modern.  Beautiful in their simplicity and ever so useful in the kitchen!

When I was a kid, my mom always used these little brown crocks to store things like salt, sugar, grated parmesean cheese, or homemade jam and chutney.   So when I came across this one the other day it took me back to some great kitchen memories.

January and February are the months when I take some time to work on the business side of things...working on product development, updating shop policies, and investigating new marketing and branding ideas.

One of my goals for 2014 was to update my Facebook account to a business page.  My new business page is up and running (although it's a work in progress).  I'd be delighted if you have a chance to look and like or follow or whatever.  I still need to figure out how to install a Facebook button on my blog, but in the meantime, the link to Jill Bent Handmade and Vintage on Facebook is here!  Like Pinterest and Instagram, I'd like to get into the habit of using Facebook as a place to post shop news, but also little snippets of life, kind of like here on the blog.

I have a few new vintage kitchen goodies coming into the shop tomorrow, so check back in soon!

I've added these vintage wooden salad bowls and cutting board to my shop along with these pottery jars. There's something rustic, yet quite modern about them all.

Meanwhile, OLYMPIC FEVER has hit our house.  The winter Olympics are my favorite.  We watched the ice skating and snowboarding last night.  Can't wait to watch the opening ceremony tonight!

Stay warm this weekend!

Been working on a BIG shop update all day on this snowy day.  The soup bowls, the little mixing bowl, the lovely ceramic jar and the saucepans are all there...still plugging away at listing the wooden and pottery things, but they should be up by the end of tonight.

I made this pork and winter squash stew from the latest issue of Bon Appetit last night.  It was so good and enough is left over to feed everyone tonight too.  So I can edit photos tonight instead of cook dinner.

Enjoy the snow if you are in the North East.  I love it!  Although I realize not everyone else does.

The light was just right today to get some photos of some of the new things coming into my vintage shop in the next few weeks.  I'm really loving this new group... some sturdy white restaurant china, some vintage wooden bowls and cutting board, more enamel  cookware in great condition and some adorable pieces of hand thrown pottery (complete with the maker's signature on each).  Those are Asiatic lilies in the top photo from last Saturday's farmers market at the Somerville Armory.   I can't get over the beautiful color!

I'm also in the middle of sewing a new collection of handmade home goods for my shop...launching in the beginning of March.  I will post some photos as things take shape (literally)!