November Giveaway

 

Here is a new style of flower that I just made last night! It's kind of retro-chic and will look great on a purse, lapel or a headband! This particular one is multi cam and black tulle with a button center.  For your chance to win this flower pin all you need to do is comment below with your name, email address and answer the question, "What is your favorite ACUnique item and why?" 

I'll select a winner using random.org on Friday the 4th. Thanks everyone and good luck!

4th of July Giveaway

It's been quite awhile since I had a giveaway and I thought that since America's birthday is coming up there' s no better time than now!  Up for grabs is an Americana themed Coin Purse in ACU. It measures approximately 3x5 inches with a clear ID holder on the front and a credit card pocket on the back.  It comes with a key clip so you can easily fasten it to your jeans, keys, belt loop--wherever! That's not all though! Hero On My Wrist, a fantastic company with loads of wonderful paracord and support bracelets, threw in one of their beautiful bracelets as well! Her waiting list is insanely long because she's so incredibly popular so here is your chance to get a one of a kind HOMW bracelet! The Crochet Bracelet is made with 100% organically grown cotton. Features a Semper Fi wood button, Marine hat charm, yellow ribbon and a bow made from woodland MARPAT. Will fit up to a size 7 inch wrist and has a snap closure. 




So how do you win these awesome items? There are three ways to enter.

1. Comment below with your name, your email address and what makes you proud to be an American.  (one entry)
2. Refer people to ACUnique's Facebook Page. Each person who posts on the wall and says that you sent them will give you one entry.  I will delete posts after I see them to help keep the wall from being cluttered but don't worry, your referrals will be accurately tracked.
3. Submit a photo of you with your ACUnique items for my Customer Love album to info@acuniqueboutique.com (one entry)

The more times you enter, the greater your chance of winning! The winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday 28 June. Facebook rules do not allow me to announce the winner on my page so please be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you're the winner!  Have fun everyone and I hope you have a very happy 4th of July! Happy Birthday America!

So...What's New?

Wow, I've been horrible about keeping up with my blog. So, what's new? Hmm.... Well, I've managed to make over 1500 items in 2011, I have some pretty awesome new purse designs, I revamped my website and I took a little trip to England.

It was a fantastic time and it's been tough getting back to reality but I was missed--my waiting list is already long! I'm so fortunate to have such supportive and loyal fans.

My two new designs (yes, my designs i.e. I did not purchase these patterns from a store but drew them out myself) have already been blatantly copied by other businesses. Didn't take long did it? I'm glad to know that my ideas are so profitable for others. Some days I want to throw in the seam ripper and walk away but then I remember that I absolutely love what I do and no one is going to keep me from it. Recently, I had a friend from Fort Drum write me to order several items made from her husband's ACUs.  Her husband, CW2 Joshua Tillery, was KIA in Iraq on 25 January 2009. He was a battle buddy of my husband's and it will be an honor to make items from his uniforms.  This is why I love what I do. I give people unique items to honor, remember and support their heroes.  Why would I let anyone keep me from doing this?

 

The McKenna made its debut on 3 April

The Holly Bag made its debut on 16 May. Made for Sabrina of Hero on My Wrist

Well, it's been quite awhile since I last did a give away and since our nation's birthday is coming up very soon I thought it's about time I did another one! Stay tuned.

"When it comes down to it, I let them do what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them." - Marilyn Monroe

February Giveaway

I'm sure most of you know by now that I recently invested in an embroidery machine.  Over the past few weeks I have had a lot of fun experimenting with my new toy and coming up with new product ideas!  I know name tape bracelets are pretty popular so this weekend I took that idea and added a little more "personality and flair!"  

ACUnique Boutique's Camo Cuffs

For the month of February I would like to giveaway a custom version of "The Wife Cuff" to one of you lucky ladies.  You will be able to choose your accent fabric, font, thread color and branch of service.  It will be customized to fit your wrist size. 

"The Wife Bracelet" made in MARPAT with hot pink embroidery

To enter to win The Wife Bracelet all you have to do is comment on this blog posting by answering the following questions:

What is your name?
What is your email address? (I need this so I can contact you if you win)

What is your favorite thing about being a military wife?

This giveaway will run until 5 March.  Winner will be randomly selected and will be notified via email no later than 7 March. 

Good luck!
-Megan

January Giveaway

 
Hello readers,  I hope you all are having a fantastic start to 2011!  It is giveaway time again!  The prize for the January giveaway is this adorable Toddler sun hat (a $15 value!) This is the prototype but I wouldn't give away something that you wouldn't want to show off in public.  It's on the smaller side and would fit a head with the circumference of 20 inches or smaller.  I would like to start offering these on the website for custom orders. What do you think?
To enter all you must do is comment below with your email address and why you would like to win the hat.  The winner will be selcted using random.org on 19 January.  I can not announce the winner on Facebook (new rules) so please make sure you leave your contact info so I can get in touch with you if you're the winner! I will also announce the winner here.
Thanks for playing and best of luck to you!
-Megan

January Promotion

Hi all,
I recently added a page to the website where I will post the monthly promotions. The page can be seen by clicking here. The January promotion is as follows:

Order a custom purse (Mini-Purse is not included in this offer) and receive one large and one small fabric flower free!  These look adorable on purses, hats, scarves, coats, dresses, and more!
An $8 value
    
Choose from pointed petal or rounded petal flowers.
Flowers can not be substituted for any other item.
Cannot be combined with any other offer or used for credit on past orders. 

After adding your purse and your flowers to your cart enter code "Jan2011" at checkout to have $10 taken off your order ($8 for the flowers and $2 for shipping.) You MUST purchase a purse to be eligible to receive the free flowers. 

 

For the rest of today you can vote on what camouflage I should use to make this month's giveaway prize! Go to my facebook page and comment on this status:

ACUnique by Megan Okay, I need you to vote on what camo I should use to make this month's giveaway! Vote ACU, ABU, MARPAT, or NWU. The camo with the most votes will win and the giveaway will be on my blog sometime during January! ♥ Vote by commenting on this status. Voting will end 7 January.

I'm still looking for vendors to donate to the March for Babies Auction. Go here to see more info. Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you all have a great weekend! 

-Megan  

Team Aidan Auction: Check out these vendors!

ACUnique Boutique is in no way associated with these vendors or responsible for the outcome of the auction bidding.

Highest bidders are responsible for contacting the vendor directly to claim/coordinate their prize.

MANY, MANY THANKS TO THESE VENDORS WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE TEAM AIDAN AUCTION!

Allison Irons Etsy 
Allie's quilts are absolutely amazing!
Candy Couture  
Adorable and unique jewelery. I love the necklace I bought from her!
Bumble Britches
Upcycled woolies, diaper covers and more. Really cute stuff!
Lexi Rain Jewelry & Paracord
Beautiful earrings and 550 cord bracelets. Army Wife owned and operated.
DragonSpicenYarn
Crystal made my crocheted Mickey Mouse hats for my recent trip to Disney World.  She does great work!
Household 6 Creations 
Beautiful military themed items. Army Wife owned and operated.
Amanda Lloyd Photography 
A truly amazing photographer based in the area of Fort Lewis, WA. 
Magic Carpet Bag Etsy
Worldly inspired and hand folded origami ornaments!
Hero on my Wrist
Amazing and one of a kind paracord support bracelets.  I loved everything Sabrina has made for me.
Under_Construction Survival Bracelets
Keychains, bracelets, and more--all made from 550 parachute cord. 
Jennifer's Jewels 
I absolutely love Jennifer's labels and have been a repeat customer of hers for months. 
Philopolis Designs
Beautiful and military inspired children's clothing.
Folta Photography
A long time friend and an amazing photographer. Based in the area of Fort Huachuca, AZ. 
Army Way of Life Boutique
Custom made wreaths, signs, and military themed blankets.
Honor & Duty Designs
 Adorable headband, bows, and more! Also the creator of PTSD & TBI Awareness Ribbons. 
Hands of Faith Massage
A licensed massage therapist in the area of Killeen/Ft. Hood!
SkyOly Photography and Design
A photographer in the area of JBLM!
Diamonds and Dog Tags
Handmade Bow Holders
Homefont Photography
A  photographer new to the JBLM area!
Jennifer Magee Photopgraphy
JBLM photographer with a small studio! 
A Handmade Touch of Warmth 
Adorable crocheted hats! 
Chutes of Love
Custom paracord bracelets and more.
Bragg Bows and Bags
Custom Flowers and Clippies!
Sweet 706 Creations
Beautiful handcrafted jewelry.
It's the Detail
Custom Designed Jewelry
Silvereye Photography
A very talented photographer (and soldier!) in the area of JBLM.



If you are a business owner and are interested in donating an item or two to this great cause please go here for more information.  




This list will be continuously updated so check back often!

March for Babies Auction

Are you a business owner? Would you like to advertise your business while supporting a great cause? Please consider donating an item to my auction as I fund raise for Team Aidan and March for Babies!

Marching for Aidan in 2010

On April 30th, 2011 I will be marching in honor and memory of Aidan Christopher (keep reading to learn more about Aidan).  Last year Team Aidan raised over $4,000 for March of Dimes and the goal to prevent premature birth and infant mortality!  My fund raising goal is $200 and in an effort to achieve this I would like to host an auction  on this blog beginning on February 1, 2011 and ending on February 9, 2011.

How it will work:

1.  Make an item to donate to the Team Aidan Auction.  Gift vouchers would be gladly accepted as well! You will not receive any payment for your donation. All auction proceeds will be donated directly to Team Aidan and March for Babies.

2.  Email a picture of the item, the item's description, suggested retail value for the item, and your contact information to info@acuniqueboutique.com. By submitting an email you accept that you will receive no payment for the items you are donating and that you give me permission to use the images you've provided.You also agree to be responsible for shipping your item to the highest bidder.The deadline for submitting photos of your items is Sunday January 30, 2011.

3.  Once I receive the information on the item you donate, I will post about your participation on my facebook page and your business will be advertised in the newsfeed of my fans. Currently, I have about 1,100 fans so think about how many potential new fans you may get by participating in this auction! 

4.  I will create a blog post dedicated entirely to the auctions.  Fans will have a chance to see all the items for auction and can participate by emailing their 'silent bids' to me.  The auction will run from 1 February- 9 February.  The highest bidder will win the item and I will pass along your contact information to them.  The payment for the item will be sent directly to me via paypal and I will then donate all proceeds from the auction in one lump sum to March for Babies and Team Aidan. You will be responsible for shipping the item to the highest bidder.

I would like to have at least ten items for the auction or I'm not sure it will be worth while.  Thank you so much for taking the time to consider making a donation to the auction. You have no idea how much it means to me and to Team Aidan!  Read Aidan's story below.

On February 1st, 2010 my friend Maggie went in for her routine 28 week appointment where she was informed that her son, Aidan Christopher, was measuring two and a half weeks behind. After further testing the doctors discovered that there was a problem with the umbilical cord and that Aidan was in distress due to the cord being wrapped around his neck.
Aidan Christopher was born at 4:44 PM via emergency c-section. He fought hard for 8 days but very sadly he suffered from a brain injury that was too much to survive. He went to Heaven on 9 February 2010 and is survived by his grieving family, friends and his dog Snoopy. 
Maggie and Chris promised Aidan that they would do everything they could to help other premature babies. I'm joining their cause and walking in honor and memory of Aidan on April 30 in Seattle, WA.

"Goodnight stars Goodnight air Goodnight noises everywhere." Goodnight Aidan. Forever in our hearts.
Feb1st 4:44pm-Feb 9th 3:05pm
The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

MANY, MANY THANKS TO THESE VENDORS WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE TEAM AIDAN AUCTION:
Allison Irons Etsy
Candy Couture
Bumble Britches
Lexi Rain Jewelry & Paracord
DragonSpicenYarn
Household 6 Creations 
Amanda Lloyd Photography 
Magic Carpet Bag Etsy
Hero on my Wrist
Under_Construction Survival Bracelets
Jennifer's Jewels
Philopolis Designs

*The auction is in no way associated or sponsored by Facebook nor will Facebook have anything to do with the outcome/highest bidders.*

New Item for A Happy Housewife

Since most of you don't know me in person I will start off by telling you that I absolutely love all things vintage. I love Audrey Hepburn and Bing Crosby.  Big band music makes my heart skip and my entire kitchen and dining area is decorated in a diner motif. The walls are covered in pictures of Rosie the Riveter, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, classic cars and all things old Hollywood. It's pure rockabilly brilliance. Now that you know that little tid-bit about me it will help you will understand why I just had to create a reproduction of a vintage apron!


I just loved how this turned out. It reminds me of those old black and white pictures of women vacuuming while wearing pearls and high heels. I'm currently closed for the holidays but these aprons will be available for purchase on my website with ACU, ABU, MARPAT, NWU and the accent fabric of your choice in early 2011.

All that's missing is my high heels and pearls and I'd be a picture perfect 1950s house wife!

  

Full view of new ACU apron

Close up of pocket

That's it for now. I hope you are as stoked about this new item as I am!  I probably won't be blogging anymore before Christmas so I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe holiday!  Merry Christmas!

-Megan

NWU, ABU, and MARPAT are here!

I have spent the last few months scouring the web for these fabrics and after waiting nearly two weeks for delivery, NWU, ABU and MARPAT are finally here and in stock on my website!

 

There are a couple things I would like to address. Firstly, there will be a small surcharge for the ABU, MARPAT, and NWU. Why is there a surcharge? As an Army Wife I have almost unlimited resources for ACUs and my prices include the cost of  re-purposed ACUs provided from my stock.  This is not the case for MARPAT, NWU, and ABU. I've spent months trying to find these fabrics and hours of research trying to find a company that wouldn't overcharge me on shipping. For those of you who are wondering where I order my fabric from, I hope you understand why I don't want to reveal my supplier after all the work I put into finding them.  

All you have to do is select your camouflage choice from the drop down menu as seen below.  If you request an item made with NWU, ABU, or MARPAT it will not be made with a re-purposed uniform; it will be made with fabric that is the same weight and quality that you would find in a uniform.  I charge a small fee for use of these fabrics in order to offset the extra cost I spend in order to have MARPAT, NWU, and ABU in stock.   The fee will vary from item to item.  Please contact me if you have any questions and thanks for understanding.

Secondly, I realize that I am not the first person to take an old Army uniform, cut it up, and make it into something new. I know I'm not the only ACU business out there. However, I work extremely hard to come up with new ideas and creative designs. I will never duplicate the designs of another business. I believe in expressing my own creativity, not that of someone else. I am very proud to say that I make most of my own patterns so it is pretty clear when a design of mine is being duplicated.  Once again, I respectfully request that no one copies my ideas and uses them for their own profit. 

Christmas is only a week away and this will be the first Christmas in as long as I can remember that I won't see snow. Though I have to admit that I'm pretty happy not to be at Fort Drum anymore since they're already buried in snow!  I know that if you are reading this then you are a supporter of me and of my business and I can't thank you enough. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful and blessed Christmas. For those of you who will be celebrating Christmas without your hero at home, please know that I am sending you extra Christmas wishes. I've been in your shoes...twice. I know how hard the holidays can be. Thank you for the sacrifices your family is making and Merry Christmas from ACUnique Boutique!

-Megan

New item: Quilted Blanket

I'm pretty excited about this. I love to do free-motion quilting--it's almost therapeutic.  I'd like to introduce my newest item--The Quilted Blanket.

"This ACUnique Boutique exclusive item is certain to keep your little one snug as a bug! The Quilted Blanket features ACU on one side and a cozy flannel on the other. It is made with a machine washable, high- loft, non-allergenic batting and is machine quilted in a topsy-turvy pattern.

Measures approximately 30x36 inches. It is small enough to keep in a diaper bag, great to throw over a car seat, and the perfect size for small children to carry while toddling around. Your little one will love to snuggle up in a piece of their hero!"

As of right now I am only offering the blanket in one size but I am always willing to work with a customer to meet their wishes.

The Quilted Blanket can be ordered here.

I will post better pictures of the blanket tomorrow once the sun is out again. :) Time to go make dinner! Have a great night everyone!
-Megan

Changes to Coin Purse

Hi all,
I just finished making an adorable coin purse for an Army wife here at Fort Lewis. I love the Candy Skull fabric she picked. I've had it for months and months and I finally got to use it! :)


I made a slight change to my coin purse design. The coin purses now come with a small loop that will help you close the zipper more easily and also doubles as a key holder. Now you can attach your coin purse to your keys and always have your ID and cash at hand!

Front of Coin Purse

Back of Coin Purse

Coin Purses can be custom ordered by clicking here. 


I'm also working on a new item that I hope to debut by the end of today. We'll see how it goes...Here's a sneak peek!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!
-Megan

Happy Holidays from ACUnique

My business has changed and evolved so much this year. When we moved from Fort Drum earlier this year it was still just a shop on Etsy. In May things kind of started to take off but I was still only sewing a few bags a month. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and i had some awesome customers who were getting the word out (Amanda!) By August/September things were really starting to pick up and I needed to make some serious changes.  On 6 December I launched my new website in order to showcase my items and streamline the entire ordering process. I now feel like a full fledged business and can't wait to see what amazing opportunities are brought my way.

By now some of you may have received a holiday post card from me. I wanted to do something special for all my customers, for their wonderful support this year. Without it I would still be be lost among the ranks on Etsy. So thank you to each and every one of you who has placed an order with me this year, whether it was through Etsy, webs, or ACUnique Boutique. You have no idea how much I love to sew and create things for all of you. Thank you so much for all of the opportunities you have given me and I wish you and your family a very happy 2011 full of blessings!

Merry Christmas everyone!
-Megan


Please note: If you are an ACUnique customer and have not yet receive your holiday post card please email your correct mailing information to info@acuniqueboutique.com.

December Giveaway

 

I am going to try to have at least one giveaway a month on this blog and I'd like to announce the first one! I will be giving away one of my newest items, a set of four quilted coasters! Featuring a beautiful Americana print on one side and ACU on the other, these coasters would look beautiful in your home.  Each is quilted in its own unique pattern and measures approximately 4.5 x 4.5 inches. These coasters would make a great gift for teachers, family members, and soldiers!

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is comment on this blog with an idea for an item you'd love to see on the ACUnique Boutique website. The winner will be selected on Monday December 13 by using random.org and announced on this blog as well as the ACUnique Facebook page. 

Good luck everyone and thanks for playing!

-Megan

You can order your own set of custom quilted coasters by clicking here.

Q&A with Megan

Want to know more about me and my business? I would like to invite readers to submit any questions you may have to info@acuniqueboutique.com. I will post my answers on this blog entry. =)

Megan

Welcome to the Blog!

Hello everyone and welcome to the official blog for ACUnique Boutique. I created this blog because of the recent crackdown on giveaways by the creators of Facebook. In the future, any giveaways I do will be done on this page!  I think this blog will be a useful tool to connect with my fans, receive feedback, and to write about the projects I am working on and hope to work on in the future.


In recent news, I launched my new website last Sunday night! I think it is going to work out well for me as well as my fans. I love the new streamlined ordering process that allows customers to customize their order exactly how they want it. To see the site go here.  Right now I'm waiting to receive a supply of Navy, USAF, and USMC camouflage and I'm really excited for the possibility of expanding my client base and working with wives in other branches of the Armed Forces.

I guess that's it for now.  Don't forget to share the blog with your friends!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Megan