• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities PDF
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / {“it’s getting hot in here”}

{“it’s getting hot in here”}

June 10, 2010 · 17 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice

Since quitting my day job, each night I sit down to organize orders and other tasks I want to accomplish the next day. To be honest, I can’t quite imagine getting anything done any other way. Taking the time the night before to do this makes the next morning so much more productive. Instead of spending an hour figuring it out, each morning I can get right to work. And who doesn’t like a productive Gus? Yeow!

For awhile now, the damask tote/diaper bags and laptop bags are my best sellers. They are selling like crazy {yay}, and since they’re a “custom” item, they are sewn as they are sold. The best way, I’ve found, is to organize all damask bags by ruffle color. Oh, how I heart lists…

However, there definitely are times when it’s hard to organize things because I’m just so stinkin’ hot.

{awkward pause…}

Last night, after finally giving in to my husband’s request, we made the den into our office and made a corner of the living room into the Sweat Shop. I mean the sewing room. We now have a h-u-g-e office and ummm, hi darling sewing table that is large enough to seat 8 adults sitting in the living room. Hi!!!!!

Umm.

Ummmm…?

I no likey that the sewing table takes up so much space, but as I wrote yesterday, our den is a sauna that I’m not interested in sitting in any longer for 8+ hours a day.

{shoots nasty glare at den.}

I swear there is a point here…

The point is that it’s been hard to concentrate on all the things I need to accomplish each day because I have been so miserable working in the den. Like so miserable I am wasting my time, which is precious you know, causing me to work late into the evening when I need and should be doing other things. But not any more… :]

{thanks Hubbs!}

So while today is my first day sewing in the living room, where the a/c is, the OCD in me is trying hard not to think about all the thread that’s about to decorate the living room floor. Because like Zack said last night, This is very important for the business, and if I come home to a messy apartment I’m just going to smile because that means you’ve had a productive day.

WOO HOO, my hubby is the bestest!

I’ll show you some photos of my new workspace soon! But for now…

A few things I learned/remembered from our chat last night:

  • talking about organizing orders, ordering fabric/materials, etc. can really make my head spin
  • always, always find new areas to take business “risks” + SET GOALS!
  • all the head-spinning is totally worth it if it means we stay debt-free, keep to our plan, and are productive

[photo credit]

***
Thoughts?

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


17 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« {this Gus is tiiiiiiired}
{Featured Artist :: Bundled Baby} »

Comments

  1. Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia} says

    June 10, 2010 at 7:21 am

    Aw, your hubby’s the best! {well, almost…I’ll admit I’m a bit partial to my amazing man.} ;)

    I think that if your original Sweat Shop is really turning into a *Sweat* Shop, the move will probably be good for you. Our house gets very warm {living in hot, humid FL and all}, and I usually point a fan right on me when I sew. Heat really is distracting! Makes my head hurt, too.

    Oh, I got my new Gussy pouch! It’s adorable. :) I will say that blue + orange is not my *favorite* combo…but this pouch makes it infinitely better in my eyes. Adorable!

    P.S. I’m getting my hair cut today and it made me think of you. ;)

    Okay, I’m done. No more rambling today. Sorry, Gus!

    Reply
  2. Blair@HeirtoBlair says

    June 10, 2010 at 7:53 am

    you married a good egg!

    Reply
  3. Pamela says

    June 10, 2010 at 7:53 am

    Thanks for the inspiration to get focused. And also for the reminder about partnership and support. These are valuable gifts to aid success.

    Lastly, the goal that impresses me the most is your focus on debt free. This does help one focus on the truly important things. Self discipline is the best lesson reaping so many rewards!!! You know this at a very young age. Who knows where it will take you and hubbs!

    Reply
  4. hiyaluv says

    June 10, 2010 at 8:52 am

    You have a great man Gussy Girl!!! So I am taking this job! Yikes! And that means moving in with my fiance because my old job provided housing for me…so I am a ball of nerves. However that means combining 2 peoples belongings into his house full of belongings and that is going to be quite a chore. He has a house full of stuff and I have an apartment full of stuff and we are trying to navigate all of this…I’m a little freaked out about it to be honest.

    I am glad that you both were able to move the space around a bit and hopefully you will be even more super productive Gus now in a cool work environment!

    smiles,
    gina

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    June 10, 2010 at 9:18 am

    i totally understand what you mean about not loving/liking your work space. i so wish i had a room to put all of my sewing stuff in, but i just don’t in this house. so i am making it work best i can. i think you will enjoy your new space, you need that! i can’t wait to see the pictures.

    thanks for a great lunch yesterday! enjoy your day!

    Reply
  6. Renee CandyStickLane says

    June 10, 2010 at 11:14 am

    Rock On Hubbs! I cant wait to see pics! XO

    Reply
  7. mandiegirl says

    June 10, 2010 at 11:41 am

    yay for AC! Ours has been acting up quite a bit lately….gonna have to look into that!

    Reply
  8. Tiffany says

    June 10, 2010 at 11:53 am

    Exactly. I thought of you yesterday at a local shop called Choo-Choo toys for kids (boutique in town) – your stuff would be perfect! Do you ever sell to boutiques?

    Reply
  9. Sandy a la Mode says

    June 10, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    awww what a super sweet post! your hubby is soooo sweet and it’s great he is soo supportive of your fabulous business! and i am glad you are not HOT anymore.. i mean you are hot, but not temperature hot hehe!!!

    Reply
  10. lisap says

    June 10, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Hi, Gussy! I discovered your blog a week ago; subscribe now and find it so interesting! I have a business that I have kept very local and off-web, with the intention to expand. I noticed that you have “more courage” on your list. I’m so surprized; you seem completely couragous! I realize that it may be personal (if so, mea culpa!), but recently I realized that the smallness of my business is not about the economy, it’s about my lack of courage. (ug, hangs head in shame!) I would love to know your thoughts on this!!

    Reply
  11. becca says

    June 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    i love your husband. he just seems so very, very thoughtful. & totally considerate. can’t wait to see the new office!

    Reply
  12. Paige Borda says

    June 10, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    Yay for making positive and productive changes! Thanks for sharing! I know I don’t always comment, but I love reading your blog– it’s so encouraging :)

    Reply
  13. Emily says

    June 10, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    Yeah for husbands that totally understand how important it is to completely rearrange furniture for our health and well-being! :) PS I’m a list girl too! I think I have lists for my lists! ;)

    Reply
  14. jodi @ back40life says

    June 12, 2010 at 11:55 am

    can’t wait to see your pics! we started using a google docs spreadsheet a few months back to organize all our orders, and it has been fabulous! no matter if I’m upstairs working, or downstairs in our office, it’s easy to access all the info I need…it was definitely a great move. staying organized is super important, for sure!

    Reply
  15. Hannah Braboy says

    June 12, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    You are not alone, Gus. I can so relate to that.

    Reply
  16. Nguyen says

    March 18, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Death is a part of life but nothing rlleay prepares you for it. I enjoy being around the elderly and it hurts when their time comes even when I know in my heart they are in a better place.I agree with you on the other two specialties. The videos for eye surgery are pretty eerie and makes me shiver just thinking about it.Simuka

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {The Sweat Shop :: before & after} says:
    June 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    […] Thursday morning I talked about how unbearably hot the Sweat Shop has been lately. This isn’t really “news” to us, but since it’s now summer outside, it’s even hotter inside. Many of you commented with ways to help, and that was so sweet. Unfortunately, with no windows {it’s an inside room} and the fact that even with the a/c on it’s just too much, we had to move it. To sum it up, the productivity of Gussy was suffering. And that’s a big issue. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

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.
.
.
.
.
.
#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. 📖✨🤍
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.