Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

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{My Soul Shines :: feature + giveaway}

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Filed Under: giveaway, shop feature

This giveaway is now closed.

Do you remember this print? I blogged about it here.

“Sew much time & sew little to do.
Strike that. Reverse it.
Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

My blogging friend Becca made it for me. Just for me!!! Of course I loved it instantly and had it framed and now it sits on a shelf just outside the Sweat Shop. It makes me so happy to have met great people like Becca. Life is about the journey — Becca has definitely been a part of mine.

Becca loves to design things that touch souls. She is an artist, has two Etsy shops {this girl is so talented!} and she’s a wife & mom :]

Her most-recent Etsy shop, My Soul Shines,

…is a place to come and be inspired to let your soul shine. In a cold world, we all need little reminders to get us through, and help us remember that we are, indeed, miracles.

Becca and I met last summer from blog hopping {visiting one blog, that leads you to another blog, and to another, and another…}. We’ve been in contact more recently, and here’s what she’s up to:

***

What inspires you?

I am truly inspired by SO much in life. First and foremost, I’m inspired by God and his awesome creation. Everyday I see glimpses of His handiwork, and am awestruck.

I am very inspired by strong women who follow their dreams. A few of my favorites are Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Marilyn Monroe. I love quotes, as you can tell from many of my prints.

I have very eclectic taste, and have trouble committing to one style of anything! There is so much out there to be inspired by, that I’d just have to say that I’m inspired by LIFE!

How did you come up with your shop name?

I came up with the name My Soul Shines just playing around with words I like in my head. I love words and language. To me, when people are truly happy, they just seem to radiate light from their souls (Gussy does, for sure!)

Lovely Yellow Ribbons came to me in kind of the same way. I knew I wanted to incorporate a military-ish theme to the name (hence, yellow ribbons) but I wanted it to sound a little more girly. I enjoy all the “L” sounds in the name too. ;]

Share a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Lebanon, PA. My father was (is) a minister at a small church there, but when I was about 4 years old, he felt called to join the Navy as a chaplain. So my family and I packed up and moved to the Marine Corps base in Albany, GA. We spend four years living there. After his service in the Navy was up, my family moved back to the Allentown, PA area where he became the pastor at another church, and we’ve been there ever since!

When I met my husband, he was going to college and had already enlisted in the Navy and was going to be going to Officer Candidate School after graduation to become a submarine officer. So I knew what I was getting into going into it ;] I’m from a military family (my dad was a Naval officer, my brother and grandfather are Marines, my other grandfather was in the Army, my uncles were in the Air Force and Navy) so I was excited to do my part as a Navy wife, haha!

My husband and I will be married for 5 years this July, and we’ll have lived in Charleston, SC; Groton, CT; San Diego, CA (where we are living now); and we’ll be moving to Blacksburg, VA this summer. Whew! It’s exhausting, but SO exciting, and I LOVE every minute of it!!

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?

Whimsical.

What made you decide to open up shop?

My husband is a Naval officer on board the fast attack submarine the USS Albuquerque. When we found out that we were expecting our first son, I decided that I’d like to decorate his room with sort of a submarine theme. I couldn’t find anything that I liked! So I decided that I’d just have to make some artwork for myself. I started off just doing paintings and mixed media pieces for myself and friends on base (in Charleston, SC) who were also having babies. Someone suggested that I try selling my military artwork, so I decided to give it a try! I opened my first etsy shop, Lovely Yellow Ribbons to sell “Whimsical Military Artwork.”

My work has evolved so much over the few years I’ve been selling. I’ve worked with acrylic on canvas, watercolors, gouache, and I’m really into digital designs and blog designs these days.

As much as I LOVE supporting our troops and military families with my art, I’ve always been interested in opening a non-military shop. That’s when I decided to open my My Soul Shines etsy shop to sell inspirational and happy artwork and prints.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?

I am a stay-at-home mom to my 2-year-old son, Noah (he’ll be three June 2!) so I’d say that “Baby Wrangler” is my full time position. I work on my Etsy shop part time, although I’d LOVE to be able to start working more, possibly get it going to a full-time job as Noah gets a little older and starts preschool.

What would you like to learn to do?

This is SUCH a hard question for me, I have so many goals I’d love to accomplish in this lifetime! I’d love to learn to play guitar, and I’d love to learn several foreign languages fluently. Specifically, Spanish and Russian. Maybe Japanese. I want to learn how to ski (I hate the cold, and am DETERMINED to find something that I enjoy about cold weather, lol!)

What are you listening to right now?

Right now I’m completely obsessed with John Mayer (I could listen to “In Your Atmosphere” and “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” all day!) and Joshua Radin (“Brand New Day” and You’ve Got Growin’ Up To Do”). I also love to listen to Ray Lamontagne (“Empty,” “You Can Bring Me Flowers,” and “Sarah”) while I design. So I guess I’m into brooding male singers at the moment. Ha!

***

Becca is offering one reader an 8×10 print from her shop

To enter, leave a comment sharing what you’d pick out!
This giveaway is open to US residents only.

For additional comments {leave a comment for each one}:

-become a follower of Becca’s blog

-become a follower of my blog

-tweet it: Enter to win a soul-inspiring print from My Soul Shines, @beccasw via @GussySews http://u.nu/6mxq8

-blog about this giveaway

Giveaway ends Thursday night at 10 CST.

Winner announced the following day.
Good luck!


Comments

  33. Bethany Keepman says

    I LOVE the one that says “I believe the happy girls are the prettiest girls”!!! I have a 6 month little girl and would love to put that in her room! what a great message! :)

  45. MeganO says

    I love the Happy Girls Quote print. It would be perfect for my baby girl’s room, plus I hold a special place in my heart for Audrey Hepburn.

  59. Sandy a la Mode says

    omg these are all sooo whimsical and cute that i can’t just pick one favorite! i think the “this is how we roll one” is hilarious and i really love the “i like my money right where i can see it – hanging in my closet” because it defines me, LOL! =)

  64. Lisa G. says

    such a sweet shop! Hearted it for future reference, since I’m moving soon and will need decoration. I would get either the “It’s a brand new day” print or one of the “boys will be boys” print.

  67. Heather D. says

    Super duper fun…love the quote boys will be boys for my sweet little boys’ play room.

  76. Pamela says

    Wow. Beautiful. I am originally from Allentown, PA.

    Amazing to see someone so talented, generous, and open. Thank you for sharing your gift – where you are.

    I love Just Like the Butterfly and the Fly. Would love either. Just like the Butterfly took me to almost tears. Fly makes me feel like soaring. Possibilities.
    Blessings to you and your family. Safety and thanks to our troops and their families who sacrifice so much.
    beehope3 at gmail (dot) com

  84. Jill says

    I would definitely pick the “Be Still and Know..” print. My daughter just recently learned that song in our Children & Worship program at church, so we sing it every night before bed! :)

    Jill

  91. Jaimie says

    I would pick EVERYTHING. We are moving to a place with A GIANT master closet though, so i would pick the “money right where I can see it” print. : )

  104. amy @ twirl bird's blog says

    Oooh, definitely the Sylvia Plath quotation! I love it!

    Also, I have to say that Becca and I seem to have EXACTLY the same taste in music. Not only the artists, but the songs themselves. It’s uncanny!

  112. April in CT says

    I would definitely get the Never Trust a Skinny Cook with the skeleton. Hilarious!! How cool that we’ve lived in Charleston, SC and near Groton, CT as well! We’re Coast Guard though! :o)

  115. Nicole says

    I’d pick the Audrey Hepburn quote with the paint splatters. She’s one of my favorite actresses, and I love this quote!

  117. Kristen Marie says

    This is the best giveaway! I would have to choose the ‘stupidly optomistic’ sign, and it would be hanging in my kitchen!!! Oh I think I need one!!

  119. Lyndsey says

    What a great shop and giveaway! It think it’s fate that I visited the Gussy blog today and saw the “It’s a Brand New Day Print”. I’ve been having a really hard time lately, and I’ve made this my new mantra. The past is the past and tomorrow… I start fresh :) I find joy in knowing that it’s never too late to start over!! I’d like to hang this in a place where I can always be reminded! Thanks!

  121. Karina says

    I love the Shakespeare Go, Girl print! It would look just lovely in my new apartment!

  128. Amanda says

    I found Lovely Yellow Ribbons through my Navy Wives board and fell in love! Such incredibly beautiful artwork! I have to say though I am head over heels for the Stupidly Optimistic and It’s A Brand New Day prints!

  134. Kelly O. says

    I like the sign she made for you :P

    but choosing from her shop I love the “stupidly optimistic” one!
    or the “be still and know” sign…

  141. Sarah says

    I LOVE the “This is how we roll” print and the “When you pray for rain…” print! Either would look great in my house!!! =D

  143. Julia says

    i love the to-do list!! that is so cute! i also like the customized “happy girls are pretty” quote. that would be awesome!!

  147. Jenda says

    I follow yours & Becca’s blog. I would love the Marilyn Monroe quote love love love her! Love the give away ladies.

  151. Kathy says

    What great prints and great lady, too! She’s actually from my neck of the woods, too!
    I love the Be still and know print and I will definitely need to get back there for the ‘fly’ and ‘when you pray for rain’ paintings, too. Love those!!

  166. *Alex* says

    I am a follower! And I LOVE all the Marilyn Monroe prints and the Audrey print! Can you tell I love classic Hollywood? My boyfriend’s vote is for the “never trust a skinny cook” print though ;)

  171. Joanna says

    I’m not sure how to pick one, but I’m pretty sure I’d get the “This is how we roll” print. I have a wall in my bathroom that needs a print. I’ll probably buy it if I don’t win it because I’m in love.

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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 and delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their five young children, live in northern Michigan. She has been writing online since 2008. CLICK TO READ MORE ♥

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