Client Photos

I just love when my clients send me photos rocking their AquaSeventy6 goodies!   It makes me feel all loved and tingly.  ;)

Here are a few of my favorite client photos...

For more client pics, visit my Facebook page!

Third Annual Shop and Sip Holiday Trunk Show

Hi friends!  Remember me?  ;) 

I'm sorry I've been missing in action.  Moving is tough!  So is living with relatives!  I won't even get into my daily routine, because honestly, it's late and I am tired enough already!

I hope you all have had an amazing new year so far!  I'm planning to rock the heck out of 2013!  Who's with me??

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to share some photos from the 2012 Shop and Sip Holiday Trunk Show.  This is the third year I have co-hosted this totally fab handmade shopping event.  My homie (and then partner-in-crime) Autumn and I hosted the first ever Shop and Sip in 2010 when AquaSeventy6 was mostly a dream.  In 2011, my friend and former neighbor Marcy and I co-hosted the second Shop and Sip.  This year, Shop and Sip had four lovely co-hosts: Marcy of Kaiya Designs, Kara of Simply Vintage Candles, Jasmine of R & E Avenue and, of course, yours truly.

I have to apologize in advance for the quality of these photos.  One day we will splurge on a professional photographer, but for now, my handy-dandy iPhone will have to suffice!  :)

Here's my table.  Do you remember this Rag Ribbon Table Skirt?

I made over 115 items!

I spy some Elephant Karavan Pillows!

My Mustachio Coin Purses sold out!

Fabric Button Jewelry is always a big hit!

I only made three of these Christmas trees, and one lovely client bought them all!

Loved meeting all of these beautiful shoppers!

What I loved most about this show is that it was also a toy drive for Toys for Tots!

Here we are surrounded by all of the wonderful toy donations!  AH-MAH-ZING!

Have you attended any of our Holiday Shop and Sips?  Tell me in the comments!  xx

Home Sweet Home{town}

Oh, how I've missed you my little blog!  I've been missing a lot of things.  In fact, that pretty much sums up where I've been and what you are about to read.

As many of you know, my hubby, our kids and I moved from Florida to Virginia two summers ago. As I've said in the past, the move was a challenge for me, but also a great adventure.  You see, other than the one month I spent in NYC for business, I'd never lived away from my hometown nor my parents.  Not in college, not as a child, NEVER.

The opportunity for the move arose, and we jumped at the chance to make a much-needed life change. We spent 18 months in the beautiful Old Dominion where we saw some breathtaking sites and made such lovely friends, but not without our share of struggle and sacrifice.

Being apart from our extended family was no easy feat, especially when it seems that everyone else is struggling financially, as well.  Trips back home were few and far between, and only a couple of relatives were able to find a way to visit.  Earlier this month, Hubby and I came to the realization that the next step in our journey would be to come back home.

We packed the 26' moving truck all by ourselves.  Being Thanksgiving week, we didn't want to ask any friends for help, so it took us 4 days and many aches and pains.

The drive was LONG----16 hours!  That was an hour longer than our original drive up, and 3 hours longer than the normal 800 mile drive home.  The good Lord was on our side, because we made it home safely after driving all night.

While I drove, I had a lot of time to think.  I thought about the last 18 months and what was to come in the future.  I knew I would miss my Virginia friends, the beautiful fall leaves and the possibility of winter snow. But at the same time, I began to get excited about seeing my old friends, being close to my family and summers at the beach.

It's been two weeks since our arrival, and we are still settling in.  We are staying with my in-laws for a few months to save some money and look for just the right place. I've gotten to see a few of my old friends, been able to participate in some family functions, and each day is getting easier.

I'm currently preparing for my winter trunk show, but I hope to be back in full swing after the new year.  Thanks for reading! xx

Mini Mustachio Coin Purse

You already know by now that I love the mustachio!  While contemplating  which items I would add to my shop for the holiday season, I knew I HAD to include the mustache. 

Here's a little preview of what I made...and it's no surprise this was the first item to sell when I restocked my shop!!

I decided  to make a line of coin purses, because they are a perfect gift for any age.  Kids can hold their lunch money, Chuck E Cheese tokens, etc. Moms can hold spare change, business cards, lipsticks, IDs and more.

Black with polka dots with white mustache.

White with polka dots with black mustache.

Black and white stripes with white polka dot mustache.

These were so fun to make! I can't wait to come up with some more designs!

Have you started Christmas shopping, yet??

 Click here to see where this and my other posts are linked

Halloween Deal {today only!}: B1G1 FREE Mini Wet Bags

Happy Halloween, friends!  I can't believe the month of October ends tonight!  I hope my fellow East Coasters are recovering quickly from any damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

I have a special Halloween Deal of the Day! All mini (sandwich-size) vinyl-lined wet bags are BUY 1 Get 1 FREE! Today only!! That's just $7 for 2 bags plus shipping! Good on any in-stock fabric. Message me on Facebook or email me to order or for more information. Offer absolutely ends at MIDNIGHT and won't be repeated before the holidays!

Mini wet bags can be used as sandwich bags, travel make-up bags, snack bags, first aid bags...keep them in your purse, backpack or diaper bag! Perfect time to start stocking up on teacher's gifts and stocking stuffers. 

 

 

Orders will be billed via Paypal and shipped within 2-3 business days.  Valid only on in-stock fabrics.  Email me for more info.  aquaseventy6 {at} gmail dot com.

 

Mad Haute

Every November, when Target has their costumes at 75-90% off, I pick up a few for my kids. These have worked beautifully in the past for the Halloween Parties, Trunk or Treats, Storybook Parades at school, and countless other opportunities my kids have had to dress up prior to the actual day of Halloween.  This is not only super fun for my daughter, but preserves her "real" costume until Oct. 31.

Last year was no different.  I picked up three adorable costumes at $3 each and thought my daughter was set for this holiday.  Boy, was I wrong!!

We are in a whole new world up here in Virginia.  We weren't invited to any pre-Halloween costume parties and her school doesn't allow them to come to school in costume.  Lo and behold, her school DID decide to try Trunk or Treat last Friday night, and since she knew she wouldn't get to show off her costume to her friends, I allowed my daughter to wear her "real" costume to the event.

So let's talk about this "real" costume.  Mommy has been very busy, so I assumed my ever considerate daughter would pick one of the three costumes hanging in her closet for the last 11.5 months---and she would have---had I not shown her a picture of an adorable Queen of Hearts costume on Pinterest.  My kid is a mini-me in every way.  Her wheels started turning, and even though we went to the fabric store intending to make her the Queen of Hearts, we came out with purple, black, and green tulle, some pink and black tights and The Mad Hatter on the brain. 

What we created was Mad Haute....

I made her skirt using 9 yards of tulle, elastic and a simple tie-on method.  Click here for a tutorial. I love how it looks torn and industrial...dark and moody.  I added some tulle to a mini hat hair clip we found at Pier 1.

Next I made the floppy bow tie, tying in the colors of her tights.  I safety pinned that into a heather-gray long sleeve top to continue that industrial look.

I cut the fingers off of some simple winter gloves we've had forever, and I dug up an old vest I've had since my hipster days.  JK, I was never a hipster, but I did rock the mini vest back in 2006ish.

I tied her hair in two twisty knots, and attempted to recreate Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter make-up, to no avail.  We ended up just using lots of eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and lipstick to finish off the dark, Tim Burton-esque look of this costume.

I have to say, I LOVE the way it came out!!  What do you think? 

 Click here to see where this and my other posts are linked

Two Year Anniversary HUGE Giveaway!!

This is a very special week here as I am celebrating AquaSeventy6's TWO year anniversary!  AquaSeventy6 would not be what it is without all of you, so as a special thanks, I am hosting an AMAZING giveaway!

Ten of my wonderful fellow handcrafters and bloggers have joined in on the fun and have offered up some unbelievable prizes totaling almost $300!!

To make this giveaway even more special, I will divide the prizes up among 3 winners, so that you have an even greater chance of scoring something special!

Here is what you can win:

Prize Package #1 ($103 value)

Two custom throw pillow covers by yours truly! These have been my biggest seller this season,and now you can have your very own set!

Adorable Pocket Wristlet by Tween Queen Designs -  Handmade Handbags, Accessories, and more.  Made for Tweens by a Tween...and her mom!

Mommy and Me Apron Set by Stitched by Jones.  Autumn is a former AquaSeventy6 blogger and designer.  She continues to write and design lovely things on her blog Stitched by Jones!

Prize Package #2 ($87 value)

Custom Designed Skirt by kaiya designs.  Marcy designs everything from kid's wear to mommy wear, including layette, accessories and home goods.

Spiced Apple and Salted Caramel Candle by Seventh Avenue Apothecary. Seventh Avenue Apothecary is a family owned & operated company pouring small batches of candles in Tampa, FL.  Their signature scents are reminiscent of the historical, cultural and culinary legacy of Ybor City and their own Cuban and Italian heritage.

Handmade Tree Domino Pendant with Necklace by Sweet Whimsy.  Sweet Whimsy is the way one stay at home mom shares her love of art, crafting and jewelry with the world. Jan creates most of her pieces using upcycled game tiles and adorns them with beautiful images. Love and care is in every item created.

$10 Shop Credit to Rustic Living. Ashley has an adorable shop filled with rustic inspired pillows, handbags and home goods.

Prize Package #3 ($106 value)

Handstamped and Personalized Sterling Silver Washer and Heart Necklace by R&E Avenue,  Jasmine makes a wide array of beautiful and original handstamped jewelry and accessories. 

Black Raspberry Vanilla Candle by Simply Vintage Candles.  Kara and Kathy are a mother-daughter team who are passionate about life, family, friends and their thriving business.  Their hand-poured soy candles are decorated with beautiful early-to-mid-century labels and prints and come in a variety of amazing scents.

Stylish Wristlet by Thirty-One is offered courtesy of Amy Saumell.  Amy uses her Thirty-One business to help in her community with fundraising efforts and also help empower women. The company is based on Proverbs 31, which talks of the virtuous women, with celebrating, encouraging and rewarding others.

XL Ad Space at Ma Nouvelle Mode.  Natalia and Christie encourage, motivate and inspire women of all walks of life to discover {or rediscover} their own fabulous panache.  They want to see women build the confidence to embrace who they are through the modes of fashion, beauty, home décor, travel and other creative passions.

Now that you have learned a little more about the prizes and the lovely ladies providing them, use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win one of the THREE amazing packages above!  Good luck!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Rules:
Winners will be notified by email.  Winners have 48 hours to respond to the email in order to accept prizes.  Prizes may be forfeited and a new winner chosen if a) the winner does not respond to the email within 48 hours, b) the winner has not "liked" the Facebook page(s) owned by the shop/blog(s) offering the winning prize package (as applicable).