Posts by Gussy Sews:
{i’m ready to experience africa.}
May 3rd, 2012
my blog is going to turn into even more of a journal of my heart pretty quickly.
we have one more morning here in minneapolis before we start our travels to africa.
detroit, amsterdam, kilimanjaro. that’s our route.
did you know –
i’m going to be blogging the entire time we’re in africa?
oh yes, every day. and just like i shared on my facebook page this morning, i have no clue what i’m going to see + hear while there because i’ve NEVER seen or heard those things. and that’s strange to write… but it’s exciting at the same time.
some things i’m nervous about:
my feet swelling to the size of elephant feet from the long flights // forgetting my passport or immunization card {yes, i have a CARD! filled with them} // writing every single day — will the words come easily? // contracting some sort of stomach + bathroom virus {oh LORD, save me from that} // returning home and settling back in… but i’ll be changed.
some things i’m not nervous about:
flying, which is surprisingly funny // leaving my american life for a handful of days to experience an african life // knowing this is where God wants us to be.
i feel like my thoughts have been ALL OVER THE PLACE this last month or so in terms of work, what is my purpose?, creating a life with more margin in it, not trying to do it all, and the like.
and a few posts that have really spoken to me, like seriously spoken to me:
+ giving up on good via the tiny twig
+ on how i DON’T do it all by naptime diaries
+ it’s all too much by the nester
i’m going to give myself some space the rest of the day to finish work and just BE. i want some time to finish processing this trip we’re about to take and all the blessings surrounding me {the blessings you are in my life}, and then i want to see if some of these thoughts formulate more coherent thoughts because i feel like i have more to share on the links i listed above ~ but the words aren’t quite there yet.
please keep praying for zack + i, and our entire team. we leave so soon. SO SOON.
i am ready. there’s no going back. i need to experience this trip ~ i’m ready to experience africa.
PS. i would love some verses to read while on our trip. if you have a favorite bible verse, leave a comment below with it? XOXOXO
{learning how to rest + reflecting on what this means.}
May 1st, 2012
a few weeks ago i headed outside to our backyard with bauer, a book, and a hot cup of coffee. the air was chilly but the sun was piping hot, so it was the perfect combination of chilly + warm that i love about the spring season. if i remember correctly, zack was out of town so i was using the occasion as an opportunity to relax and have some fun myself :)
normally on the weekends it’s hard for me to relax. {tell me you understand what this feels like.} since i work from home, work is on my mind often, and if it’s not it’s because i feel comfortable letting it go for a couple days while i focus on doing other things. but that’s a rare thing, hah! no matter how hard i try i have a hard time letting work “be” for a couple days. that may sound silly, but it’s a struggle i have, and often.
and now that we’re getting ready to go to africa on friday i find rest happening way more easily. i think back to this weekend where it was just me and bauer, hanging out in the backyard — relaxing. it was like the thought entered my mind how it would be glorious to have more relaxing weekends and suddenly they were dreams come true… i simply can’t go on this trip if i don’t rest, i’m learning this to be true.
first, the shots we had to get for africa knocked me out for a few days. and now the final preparations {coordinating where bauer will go for the week, clothing, packing, paperwork, updating the shop + packaging orders} are knocking me out. my eyes are on the destination: tanzania. loving on the kids. facing my fear of flying by going to THE LONGEST flight(s) of my life.
trying to relax so i can be fully present to what God wants me to see…
that is my goal…
no matter how many times i feel…
like i can’t do this ~ i have too much to plan and do! oh, how i quickly learn this isn’t true.
like i can’t stop thinking about work ~ God will show me HOW to relax.
like i know what i’m doing ~ i don’t. i have no clue {giggle, giggle} but every day is a new day to try. right?!
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i think i want my reflective word for the month of may to be REST. this would be the first time i focused on something for an entire month but i think it’s a good time to start :) we leave for africa in 3 days. learning is something i love to do and so learning how to REST seems appropriate for this first day of may.
PS. while resting more i’ve learned how much easier it is to focus on work when it’s time to work. even though my days have more quiet time in them i am accomplishing more with gussy sews than i thought possible. it’s quite amazing ♥
xoxo
{weekly gussy shop update}
April 30th, 2012
hooray — it’s time to show off {tee hehe} two more items that are new to the Gussy shop: victorian tangerine + pink floweret market totes! this tote is a smaller version of our tote/diaper bag. but it’s just as cute — includes our signature ruffle, and measures 11.5″ x 15″ {horizontal} with two gray straps measuring 24″ each.
use our market tote as a purse, book/library bag, or to help keep the little people in your life quiet while sitting in church or in a meeting.
YEOW, and guess what?! our market totes are just $59!
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also noteworthy // i spent a few hours last week reviewing our prices, looking for a way to make our products MORE AFFORDABLE while still maintaining the high-quality product you’re used to. and i did it! a handful of product categories now have long-term lower prices, but there’s more! we also have a nice little SALE section, too! many items have been marked down by 20% — take a peek?
i’m sure appreciate your patience as i constantly seek to offer the best prices on our products :)
that’s all i got! we leave for tanzania this friday, which is F O U R days away! oh my goodness, the butterflies! ♥ i can’t wait for our adventure… it’s going to be heart-swelling.
xoxo
{free shipping friday!}
April 27th, 2012
yeow — HAPPY FRIDAY! i mentioned on monday that i would be doing Gussy Sews shop updates every monday. but guess what? we have A TON of new product and that would take months to get through everything we have here in the studio :) which means this: i have more NEW product to show you right now!!!
some of our new products include iPad cases for men, ruffled headbands, camera strap slipcovers + small zip pouches. LOVE!
{update: we are completely sold out of the Queen’s Grey tote bag, which was introduced on monday.}
this weekend only, SCORE FREE SHIPPING! purchase at least $45 of Gussy product + your order will ship for free! enter code freeship45 at checkout. [offer expires saturday, 4/28at 11:59pm cst]
♥ sign up for our newsletter to be the first to receive NEW PRODUCT updates + special promotions.
happy friday!
XOXO
{preparing for Tanzania + what is my purpose in this life?}
April 26th, 2012
zack and i went to the doctor’s tuesday morning to get our shots for our upcoming trip to Tanzania. that’s in Africa, which i learned of recently ;D i have been so nervous about the appointment because we thought it would be about $1,400 total for the shots — OUT OF POCKET — which makes me wanna pass out! but being the awesome husband zack is, while i was at snap! last week he made some calls and found a clinic that will accept our insurance. seriously, praise the lord!
so off to the doctor we went. the nurse chatted with us ~ she scribbled notes as we answered her questions. she left for a few minutes, then came back into the room with a TRAY of shots ~ 12 shots. that’s six shots, each. yikers! i volunteered to get stabbed first, but after the first two my arm was throbbing. four more to go, i told myself.
i started laughing.
zack was probably a little embarrassed, but oh well, ha ha! so three shots in each arm. i dropped zack off at work and headed home, then little by little i felt more + more worse. at first i was really tired, then achy, then nauseous, then hot. not to mention cramping from other womanly events. i was done; i didn’t think i could feel any worse, but surprisingly i kept feeling worse.
the entire time i tried to remind myself, “it’s not about ME. it’s about THE KIDS. it doesn’t matter that this hurts, this is short-term pain. going to Tanzania will be a long-term blessing. for everyone.”
but, i’m feeling nervous. i’m worried about not being able to sleep on our flights. we leave from detroit [A] and fly into amsterdam [B], then into kilimanjaro [C]. go ahead and look at the map.
i’ve spent these last few days feeling so restless, it’s unreal. yesterday i woke up and felt like i had the flu mixed with throbbing shoulders and cramping that was literally taking my breathe away. if you could take a moment to pray for me that would be really wonderful :) i’ve been spending a lot of time this week thinking about my purpose in this life… i’m sure it’s just the devil trying to challenge me, but it’s a little draining. i find myself wondering, what are my talents? what do i want from this life? how can i be more content?
do you ever have thoughts like that?
so tanzania is happening in 10 days.
i can SO do this.
if you’ve ever traveled to another country — or even halfway around the world — and you have any tips, PLEASE leave a comment below! i would seriously love to hear from you + learn a few! XOXO
{fun photos from snap!, a handmade conference}
April 25th, 2012well, i’m home from snap! and am already implementing a few things i learned. maybe not all the stuff on SEO, because let’s be real, that’s a BIG topic to implement ;D but fun things, inspiring things, restful things ~ i’ve already started on them and i’m sew happy.
snap! took place near salt lake city, utah at a location called thanksgiving point and was fabulously beautiful + amazing! i loved the location… the mountain view… the warm sunshine… the weekend full of friends. highlights included laughing so hard with jess + lindsey that i couldn’t breathe, speaking on a panel with gina, susan and becki {topic: inside a thriving creative business} and of course meeting/seeing bloggers like heather of just lovely things, ashley of lil blue boo, lizzy, alissa + meg.
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so i left minneapolis around lunchtime on wednesday, my flight was at 2:30 and i needed to take the train from the city to the airport. yeah, that was a lot of work carrying 2 suitcases, 1 duffel bag and 1 carry-on {my Gussy tote}, hah! i was super tired like three minutes into my travel journey ;D and here’s poor bauer below, snoozin’ while i packed ~
OH, guess what! i chopped my hair wednesday before my flight ;D yeow! totally loving my new angled bob! sorry long-ish hair, i had to quit you. // once i landed in SLC, jess and i met at the airport and picked up our rental car. it was SO GOOD to see her + lindsey! we got a hotel that night in SLC before heading to thanksgiving point/snap!…
and once i got to snap! i met a cute, new friend danielle! i loved her style and think she needs to come to minneapolis to shop for me!!! *nudge, nudge* // i bought these cute sandals from target before i left! everyone kept asking if i made them… but i did not… i bought them :) // one of the sessions i went to was on SEO, here’s dennis from @thenextcorner making my head spin around + around ;D // and then friday morning i attended a breakfast by michelle with simplicity patterns, LOVED that! ♥ do you see my pink lipstick on my white coffee cup???
here’s a close up photo of danielle from above with her Gussy headband, she paired it with a little bow headband from just lovely things ~
B E A U T I F U L tulips planted all over thanksgiving point ~
CUTE balloons from whippy cake // a super fun print from livy love designs // paper straws from bake it pretty // dinner, yum!
leaving town wouldn’t feel right if my nails weren’t painted ;D
the last night at snap!: a delicious dinner, dozens of raffle prizes and a dance party ~
such a cute print, also from livy love designs
and now for the market! this was my first queen bee market. i don’t do a lot of markets — i feel way more comfortable selling my products online than face-to-face, but i thought i would give this one a try since my pal mique was putting it on! even though it meant 2 extra suitcases with me on the plane i’m soooo glad i did. i surpassed my expectations for my booth design, yeow! i browsed flickr, pinterest, and my brain and came up with this for my booth ~
yep, LOTS of new product in there! and a few things i haven’t added to the Gussy shop just yet. click here to see the new items that are in there right now :)
call me a dork, but i’m super duper excited that our small zip pouches are back in the shop! they debuted at the queen bee market, you can see them below. i took them away in january when we re-launched but i thought it would be fun to add them back in and see how they do. we have had a few requests for them, and friends have shared their small zip is one of their favorite items from our shop. i suppose you could say i gave in to peer pressure here ;D
small zip pouches are perfect for coupons, as a small wallet, storing chapsticks/other small trinkets, business cards + MORE!
friendship shadows! lindsey + gussy + jess ~
jess and i went to forever 21 wednesday night and i found myself a new pair of sunglasses! {which i store inside here.}
and… this was my view back home monday morning when i waved goodbye to zack as he walked to the bus stop. my flight landed sunday at 9:30am so i had a full day with zack and bauer, which was fabulous!!!! i always love coming back home :) i was so tired from the weekend that i went to bed at 8:30pm. monday was a beautiful day… i unpacked my bags, organized the studio, kept it pretty easy.
…and of course, snuggled with bauer ~
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it’s so good to be home. even though i miss my blog + crafty friends terribly, it’s super great to be unpacked and having dinner with my man at night :)
have you been to a blog conference? if yes, which one was your favorite? if no, which one would you LOVE to attend? xoxo
{a Gussy Sews shop SALE, plus 12 *new* items!}
April 24th, 2012yesterday when i shared with you our new tote/diaper bag {in our SIGNATURE tote bag style!} i had no clue how many of you would love this print combo. i am so excited!!!
pssst! we have just 2 bags left before it sells out!
in the meantime… i have 12 more *new* items to share with you :D
ALSO NEW IN THE SHOP //
…small zip pouches in eight different print combos :)
…diaper/wipe wristlets in two new print combos
…and two new camera strap slipcovers
wanna save $10?
place any order of $50+ {before shipping costs} and save ten bucks off
your order with code SUNSHINE10 // click here to shop!code expires wednesday, 4/25 at 11:59pm cst.
PS. feel free to share this with your friends — spread the Gussy love!
xoxo.
{weekly gussy shop update, *new product*}
April 23rd, 2012yay, happy monday!!! today is the start of weekly gussy sews shop updates. I’M SEW EXCITED! seriously, this has been on my mind for months, and thanks to a super inspiring chat with my friend over the weekend at SNAP! i’m happy to be putting this back into practice. it feels so great! what else are mondays for if not to start the week off right?! ;D
NEW IN THE SHOP //
gray stripes tote/diaper bag ~ perfect as a travel, work or tote/diaper bag
[bag body measures 12" x 16"]
tangerine + crazy gray stripes, with a hint of gray blue + mustard on the inside…
so lovely and fresh and happy and perfect for spring/summer!
really, truly, seriously the most comfortable tote bag i’ve ever carried! the straps on our tote/diaper bags are padded [24" in total length] and this is my GO TO bag when i travel or run errands around town. our bags also super light-weight, which is perfection :)
WHAT FITS INSIDE A GUSSY SEWS TOTE/DIAPER BAG // {shown below} a 13″ macbook, weekly planner, medium zipped pouch, large zipped pouch, wallet, keys, sunglasses + more…
♥ click here to see all gussy sews tote/diaper bags
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REMEMBER // all items inside the gussy shop are limited in quantity! to avoid sell-out and to own a gussy, click here to shop :)
