Spring Trunk Show 2013

Last month, some of my fellow small-business mamas and I came together for a spring trunk show. I had all of the best intentions for this event, but time ran simply away from me.  Before I knew it, it was the week of the show and I had very little inventory (YIKES!) 

Somehow, though, when everything was laid out, my table didn't look as empty as I had feared. (Thank goodness!)  It was one of our smaller events, but it turned out lovely nonetheless.

My fabric necklaces were a hit this time around.  I find it so amusing how certain items sell out at one event and are completely overlooked at the next!  That's why I have such a variety!!

I debuted some flannel burp cloths and those were popular as well.  I think I only returned home with only 2 burp cloths out of the 15 I brought.  The necktie applique burp cloths sold out!  <3

Mustachio coin purses, anyone??

I adore getting together with these ladies!!  We have already started discussing a back-to-school event...keep your eyes peeled!

Budget-Friendly {DIY} End of the Year Teacher's Gift

I can't believe that there is less than one week left until the last day of school!  This school year has been a bear, to say the least.  My poor kids had to deal with a HUGE move, new schools, new teachers, living at and commuting from their grandmother's house for 6 months, and another big move just before the end of the school year. For the first time ever, we battled tears during morning drop-off, nervous tummies, anxiety over finals, and like my son put it this morning "way too much pressure for an elective" (referring to the final exam for his band class).

Thankfully, there are only a few more days until my kids can turn in their schoolbooks, empty their backpacks and R-E-L-A-X.  (I did have to convince my son that he was NOT going to sell his trumpet on Craigslist over the summer.)

The end of the school year is a time when we show our children's teachers how much we appreciate them. But it's also a time filled with expenses...donations for class parties, yearbooks, summer camp registration... In our case we just moved and had to pay all of the deposits required to set up services and utilities on top of the bills that are already beginning to trickle in.

As much as I would like to be that mom that brings everyone from the PE coach to the lunch room monitor a fabulous gift on the last day of school, it's simply not in our budget. My middle-schooler, alone, has 6 different instructors he sees daily.

Last year I came up with a cute and inexpensive End of the Year Teacher's Gift.  I featured this project here and pinned it to my Pinterest account.  Just in the last couple of weeks it's been repinned over 200 times! I was going to recreate it this year, but then I saw these adorable mid-size Ball mason jars and decided to try something new.

I filled the jars with Herhey's Kisses and designed labels that I tied on with twine.  Now their teachers can enjoy some yummy treats and have a cute container with endless uses---and I didn't have to break the bank.

I love mason jars! I use them for everything from holding hubby's sugar and creamer to storing tacks, paperclips, nails and more.  I have several friends who use mason jars as drinking glasses (Google: "redneck wine glass")

The jars come in a set of 4, and together with the chocolate, each individual gift comes out to about $4. Not too bad, especially when your kids are older and have several teachers!


Happy end-of-the-school-year! xo

Settling in and back to work!

Holy moly, it's been forever and a day since my last post!!  Three whole months, to be exact.  Well, a lot has gone on in the House of AquaSeventy6!

First and foremost, I am out of my in-laws and into my own place!  I am still in the process of unpacking and putting together my design studio, but my goal is to have it up and running by the time the kids get out of school (June 4!)  I'm so excited, not only to be back in my hometown, but to have found a home in my favorite neighborhood.  I lived here for 7 years prior to moving to Virginia, and I haven't felt more at home anywhere, ever. ♥

I participated in a spring trunk show this month with my same handmade posse, and we are planning a Back-to-School event for the end of summer.

I've also been busy working apart from AquaSeventy6.  I was hired on in January as the Event Manager for a super cute local party hall. (Check out Pretty in Pink Party Place for more information.)  This has kept my weekends busy, but I love having my weekdays free to be with my kids and work on my designs.

Speaking of designs, I can't leave you without sharing a couple of new applique burp cloths I've been working on for little girls!

Elephant Applique Burp Cloths

Flower Applique Burp Cloths

Since I am no longer commuting 100 miles per day...yes, you read that correctly...I have much more time to blog, sew, DIY, etc.  So, keep your eyes peeled for much, much more!  xoxo

Awkward!

It's been forever since my last post. If you were able to go through my saved drafts, you would see several long-winded explanations about how busy I've been and how difficult it is to write out of my mother-in-law's house, or sew out of my mom's house. But, those will have to wait for later.

I wanted to share with you a funny (now) and awkward (then) story of something that happened to me recently.

I was on my way to dinner with some friends when a photo text arrives of a mutual friend's baby.  Friend #1 turns to me and says "I really don't like this outfit" and hands me the phone to see the photo.  The baby in the picture was wearing an AquaSeventy6 necktie onesie!  I smiled and told her that I had made that outfit as a gift from my (very popular) line of Little Man Layette items.

Of course, she was embarrassed, and explained that she just didn't like the fad of the neckties. "It's ok!" I told her. "A lot of people do!" I'm not sure which one of us felt more uncomfortable that evening! Yikes! ;)

All is well, though, and I leave you with some photos of my favorite little men!

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