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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / featured artist / {Featured Artist: FernAndFloraDesigns}

{Featured Artist: FernAndFloraDesigns}

December 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Filed Under: featured artist

This giveaway is now closed!

Here at Gussy has a lot to say we love to look at all things beautiful. Beautiful wall art, beautiful accessories, beautiful stories about family life.

Today marks week #4 of my series on featured Etsy artists. It is my goal to introduce some drool-worthy eye-candy. Over the next few months I’ll be showcasing hand-selected Etsy artists that offer products that I think will appeal to you, my readers :) Please join me in welcoming Emily at FernAndFloraDesigns.


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What inspires you? I find inspiration in a variety of different places. Movies like Amelie and Chocolat lure me in with their settings, soundtracks and color schemes. Music like Puccini’s “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” or “Outro” by M. Ward makes me swoon. I love old things, too. Vintage jewelry, old magazines, retro Christmas ornaments, buttons — anything that takes you back or makes you feel something good or lovely when you look at it.


Where do you call home? Are you from there originally? Currently, home is Denver, CO, a town which I’ve grown to love over the last two and half years. Home home is Omaha, NE. Omaha is a cool place, believe it or not. They have a fabulous zoo, a strong art and music scene and the BEST antique/junk/vintage shops I’ve ever poked around in.


Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time? I’m a pretty lucky gal. I get to work from home as a floral designer. That’s sort of my day job and one I’ve always wanted. My background is in interior design and the floral realm is something I’ve always dabbled in. The exploration into the world of hair accessories stemmed from a desire to promote my floral business via local craft shows. I couldn’t sell fresh flowers at one particular show due to a non-compete clause with another shop, so I thought I would give headbands a go — and people bought them!


How did you come up with the name FernAndFloraDesigns? I decided to name my business Fern & Flora because it sort of has an old fashioned feel. It made me think of two old ladies who putz around together but also played nicely with the concept of all things related to flowers. I think it ties back to my love for old things.


Name your favorite thing about selling handmade. One thing I love about making things by hand is the personal element. I really think about each item that I make. I think about the colors and textures and the kind of feeling or vibe the item will evoke. Plus, with my work, each piece is one-of-a-kind.


Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop. Every day I’m discovering new Etsy shops that I adore. One of my current favorites is Mary Not Martha. It’s a lovely shop with gobs of beautiful millinery items and ribbons.

What is your most prized possession? I don’t have one prized possession, but I do cherish anything from my dear uncle Steve who passed away 4 years ago. He was a brilliant artist and one of the funniest and most creative people I’ve ever known. I have several pieces of china as well as a charming hutch that were his along with some illustrations that he drew. I’m so glad to have things that he created and loved in my home now.


List a few of your most favorite pastimes. Music is a big part of my creative process and life in general. Currently I’m listening to the latest Andrew Bird album, Blossom Dearie, Laura Marling and Bach, always lots of Bach.

What would you like to learn to do? One thing I would love to learn is the art of letter press. I want that workshop in the movie Seven Pounds with the old dusty letter press! It’s such a rich look and a wonderful and interesting process.

***


Now for some excitement!

Emily has offered to give away one Ginger Tweed Headband.



***

To enter, leave a comment with your favorite item from her shop.

For multiple entries:
-follow my blog
-tweet about this {come back and share the tweet URL}
-blog about this {come back and share the post URL}


RULES:
  • The giveaway will close Sunday, December 6 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
  • You ABSOLUTELY have to have an email address listed on your blog profile, blog, or the comment you leave. Don’t make me hunt you down {‘cuz I’ll pick someone else!}



Please check back Friday, December 11 for yet another featured artist post!

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Filed Under: featured artist

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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