Gussy Sews

{snapshots from the week: fabric, friends + sunshine}

By Gussy Sews on May 25, 2012
in for fun, Sewing, the pup, Zack

Can I share something with you? I’M SO GLAD IT’S FRIDAY, yippeeeee! I’m not sure what happened this week but I’m exhausted! Currently yawning as I type this. So many emotions + thoughts have run through my mind this week. I’m loving what’s happening with @SheReadsTruth and feel like I’m being nudged in a bit of a new direction. I can’t wait to see what comes of this :)

Once again Nester blogged something that shot straight to my heart. She’s the best blog mentor I could ever imagine having. I hope to journal some more of what her post made me think about this morning… You probably don’t know how I pulled that precious of a thought from her post on BH+G but I did :) Tee hehe.

So some photos of my week! Everyone loves to be nosy and peek at these types of things, right? Duh duh duh.

Yesterday I took off to my favorite fabric store + stocked up on materials. This store is insane ~ it’s a 30,000 square foot warehouse filled wall-to-wall with fabric, thread, felt, fleece, lace, tassels, zippers. Oh my word, here’s just one wall, of the thirty or so walls. Having weekly shop updates is a great excuse to drive over here a few times a month! ::

And Mr. Bauer! He’s so good, seriously one of my favorite memories of living in Minneapolis. We got him about 1 year after we moved here ~ he was just 12 weeks old when we adopted him, and he’s my very best daytime companion. Yesterday I packaged orders and Alyssa {our cousin} was nearby when I stuck this sticker on his head… and then we giggled. Poor Bauer ;D ::

Earlier this week my Heart Friends and I “celebrated” our friendship by wearing our skull + hair bow matching shirts on the same day— ha! Ellen, Emily, Hayley, Nester, Tracey, Caroline + me. We share in the good/bad/exciting/scary/funny, together. Who cares about the miles between our homes, we’re Heart Friends! PS. Caroline made our shirts! ::

My boys — Zack + Bauer. When they see me walk in the door from errands or coffee with a friend they both get excited, AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD! :D Ahhhh! ::

Last week I had a little photoshoot in the studio for this week’s shop update. In case you missed it, see what’s new here! Sneak peek photos on Instagram {I’m @gussysews} are fun, dontcha think? {snicker} I think so! ::

OH WHAT IS THIS? {see last comment above} ::

We’ve been eating a lot of Cobb salads lately. I know Cobb salad means something specific, but around here we like to make up our own recipes, tee hehe! Here’s what I’ve been adding to our lettuce: hard boiled egg, bacon, avocado, feta or bleu cheese, grilled chicken, almond slices, strawberries, sugar snap peas, cucumber + homemade ranch dressing. DELICIOUS! Do you like to eat salad for dinner? We do, but only if they’re yummy! ;) I normally make Zack’s salad twice as large as mine. And with an extra egg — husband needs his protein to stay full, otherwise he’ll be back in the kitchen 15 minutes later. Here’s our ombre lettuce ::

Sunshiny days are my favorite. Wishing + hoping this weekend is filled with them…

What are your favorite memories from this past week? What is your favorite daily moment with your family? For me, I love mornings, but only when I get enough sleep at night. Bauer is extra snuggly and it feels like a mini date when Zack + I sip our morning coffee together on the front porch before he leaves for work. When we are able to spend time together before our workday starts I almost always have a super great wonderful day :)

{ 17 Comments }

{seeking more Truth.}

By Gussy Sews on May 23, 2012
in Faith, inspiration

spending more time in the Word... ahh, it’s been so long.

walking around the lake with Bauer = sooooo relaxing!

another morning in the Word, but this time while still in my jammies :}

the lake, just blocks from our house. so dreamy + perfect

* * *

Do you ever feel like you don’t have the right words to describe how you feel? Or you don’t know where to start so you just don’t start? I feel like this all the time… like my words are a jumbled mess and I can’t find the right way to transfer what I’m thinking + feeling onto paper. Or a keyboard :) Even though I feel this way I do think I’m getting better at sharing in general. {Even though I think I’m a master at building walls.} Life is getting hard — all the scary, challenging, throat-tightening hard things that you don’t want to be processing. When did life go from kid happy to adult serious? I want to go back to our college days where we were carefree… It’s hard and to get through them I think I build walls. They start small, one heavy, ugly brick at a time. But I build them. Like I’ve shared before, it’s been almost three years since we moved to Minneapolis. We still don’t have a church — that may have changed though? — and I don’t feel like I fit in here. And now I fear I’m rambling and/or hurting others. But I’m not going to delete my words. They may be jumbled but I need to get them out. I want friends and I want more community, but I don’t think this city is our forever city. It’s like I hold my breath, anticipating change.

Except we never know when it will come.

If you have a anxious mind over what I’ve written, let me share this with you to settle your thoughts: none of what we’re going through is a surprise to God. None of this! NONE! I am super grateful for the amazing relationship + friendship Zack and I have. He’s a great tower to lean against. I should lean against him more… instead of those silly walls I build :)

Last week I tweeted that I need to be reading the Word more. Those red letters, they fix everything. I’m reading a daily devotional called Soul Detox, it’s on the Bible app by You Version (they also have a web version ~ click the link) and it’s helping so much. On Sunday the pastor spoke about audacious prayers… what it means to pray audaciously and how the Lord is actually offended when we pray simple prayers. Surely He can handle our difficult prayers? Yes, yes He can :)

So anywoooo… if you’re on Twitter + Instagram and would like to join us in Truth we’re including the hashtag #SheReadsTruth in our updates. It’s been AMAZING to see others reading those red letters, it’s so inspiring and I love that we’re sharing in the Truth.

I have more jumbled words to share.

I feel a bit lost since coming home from Tanzania. That first Monday home, I sat in our living room and just dazed. Suddenly our home felt TOO nice, TOO clean, TOO beautiful, TOO ours. I keep saying this, but I really feel like my thoughts are jumbled. Which makes my words feel jumbled. Which makes me feel antsy and silly so I sit silent. But I don’t think that’s right… I don’t think that’s what He wants.

I’ve got on a shield to help me be more brave with decisions.

I’ve got on a mask to help me feel more bold with my words + feelings.

I’ve got red letter words wrapped around me as I seek more Truth.

…and that’s all I got ;D

{ 51 Comments }

{Handmade Husband >> Work From Home Survival Guide}

By Zack Whitley on May 22, 2012
in blog/biz 411, handmade husband

THE MOLD OF THE AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN. Many SAHW’s {stay at home wives} I know have found their way into a business of one sort or another, or are running their household in new, more productive ways. I think to myself, people have not suddenly needed less sleep over the last [...]

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{ 27 Comments }

{weekly Gussy shop update}

By Gussy Sews on May 21, 2012
in new product

nook-kindle-case-zipped-gussy-sews-ruffles

*NEW* large zip pouches — organize cords, make-up, or the small toys that collect inside your purse :) *NEW* medium zip pouches — PERFECT for sunglasses, lip gloss, coupons, as a small wallet *NEW* nook/kindle cases — our cases are 8″ x 6″ and fit the following eReaders: Kindle, Kindle Fire; Nook 1st Edition, Nook [...]

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{ 7 Comments }

{Did you know we’re looking for a non-demon church?}

By Gussy Sews on May 20, 2012
in Faith

coffee-starbucks-notebook-gussy-sews-ruffles

Do you ever feel like you FINALLY put yourself out there only to have something super embarrassing happen, and everyone sees it and laughs at you? Cuz that was so me yesterday. I had a few hours to spare yesterday afternoon so I made myself cozy at Starbucks. I have new products to add to [...]

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{noteworthy links — staying inspired, a recipe, sponsor discounts + more}

By Gussy Sews on May 19, 2012
in noteworthy links

{living with kids :: Design Mom} NOTEWORTHY LINKS FROM THE PAST WEEK: * online shop hosting by elise blaha — a detailed post on how to use e.junkie * how to stay inspired as an entrepreneur {video} * on how I DON’T do it all by naptime diaries — oh how I heart this [...]

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{ 2 Comments }

{CELEBRATING two years of Gussy Sews-ness, yeow!}

By Gussy Sews on May 17, 2012
in blog/craft events, giveaway, Gussy

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is comment #120, Denise — YAY Denise! Please check your email :) Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating one year of indie biz, and now two years have gone by? Amazing. Really, this is a celebration of YOU! Because YOU support Gussy Sews we have something to [...]

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{wanna snoop inside my Gussy bag?}

By Gussy Sews on May 15, 2012
in for fun, Gussy

Last week I shared over on The Small Things Blog everything I carry inside my Gussy tote and today I invite you to click over + take a peek. Or snoop. Or stare — whatever you wanna call it :) Warning: this may look like a lot, but the truth is I could fit even [...]

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