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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / creativity / sewing / {The Sweat Shop :: before & after}

{The Sweat Shop :: before & after}

June 12, 2010 · 22 Comments
Filed Under: sewing

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.

You know when you fight something, despite how amazing it will be once you give in and take care of it? Yeah, this was definitely one of those situations. I didn’t want to move the sewing room and the office…


…but I didn’t want my productivity down, either. Zack and I decided we’d only move the sewing table and a side cart. So, I put some music on and together Zack and I moved everything. And as a result, Friday was so much more productive for me. YEOW!!!

Look at my new Gussy tags {look up}! Monday morning I’ll be able to use them :] These tags will read GUSSY vertically instead of them reading horizontally. And, I feel like they are more professional looking. Bonuses all around.

More fun things:
You can read the fabric hoop tutorial here. The bird painting on the wall was made by my pal Lindsay. My mother-in-law made me the GUSSY’S SWEAT SHOP frame. She embroidered a piece of an heirloom quilt and had it framed. The little buttons {also above} are from my zipper supplier. My Daily Docket to-do list on a fun clipboard.


Here’s my office now. It’s so hard not be be frustrated over the useless-ness of this room… but we can’t think of that. Right? We’ll be moving soon, so it would be a waste of a worry. Hah!

And here’s the sewing area. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s actually easier to work a little in the evening because I feel more a part of things. Like if Zack is watching TV, I feel like I can laugh out loud and he’s not thinking, Oh, she’s gone crazy again… Because he knows what I’m laughing about. Haha! :]

I’m already dreaming of our new home and what the Gussy workstation will look like. I told Zack recently that it would be such a DREAM to rent a 2-story house, and the upstairs could be all Gussy {skips around apartment at the thought…} Wouldn’t that be fun??? I could have an office, and another room would be the workstation for sewing & shipping.

OK, I better stop :]

A little reminder to enter the Bundled baby giveaway {win 2 carrot rattles} — it ends Sunday at 10pm CST.

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22 Comments
Filed Under: sewing

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Comments

  1. hiyaluv says

    June 12, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    fun! i have been wanting to see what you were talking about with your hot work space. Your work space is so charming!
    smiles,
    gina

    Reply
  2. kim says

    June 12, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    wonnnnnderful!!! :)

    Reply
  3. MJ says

    June 12, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    It looks great! Where did you order your tags? I want some too, but just to sew into my own stuff for fun really. Must look into that. Wonderful work space though! I only have a corner in the living room. Plus several wardrobes containing fabric though LOL

    Reply
  4. Jenni says

    June 12, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    I can totally relate. My sewing station is currently in the living room of our rental duplex. It’s nice to be able to watch TV with Liam while I sew, but I’m definitely looking forward to a bigger place someday with a sewing room!

    Yay for having a more comfy working space! Also. Fun setup!

    Reply
  5. kim whitten says

    June 12, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    As long is it’s working for you, I say just roll with it!

    Love all your sweet handmade touches – how sweet of you MIL!!! :)

    Reply
  6. Beverly Pennington says

    June 12, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    LOVE the new tags and even though I have a “workroom” (uhm, large storage closet) I still bring out my sewing machine to my dining table so I don’t feel so cut off from my family.

    Reply
  7. Lindsay-Girl says

    June 12, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Snazzy tags.

    I think you will really enjoy having the sweatshop in it’s new location.
    When I first started the shop and painted in the kitchen by myself I got so bored. I enjoyed switching it up and being in the LR with R. It’s not where you are but who you are with :)
    xoxo

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      June 12, 2010 at 10:03 pm

      amen!

      Reply
  8. Hannah Braboy says

    June 12, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Gussy Girl, your studio looks supah sweet! That *would* be awesome to have the whole upstairs dedicated to a home business. <3

    Reply
  9. Mama Gus says

    June 12, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    I LOVE IT when you “skip around the apartment”. When you do, I know you are really, REALLY happy!

    Hugs to you and Z…….

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      June 12, 2010 at 10:02 pm

      awww! mom’s know best <3

      Reply
  10. Katie @ Making This Home says

    June 12, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    fun! something tells me Monday morning will be a whole lot sweeter now.
    Katie

    Reply
  11. Heather says

    June 12, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    i think it looks lovely! dreaming about house stuff is one of my favorite past times. so much potential in decorating all of my imaginary rooms. haha :) have a happy weekend!

    Reply
  12. Franchesca says

    June 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    LOVE the changes :) Your workspaces are so adorable! I just organized my studio and it makes me SO happy to have a neat & tidy workspace! I hope you get that 2-story! Yes, what a dream :)

    Reply
  13. Adin says

    June 12, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    You sure have a neat and organized place. I can’t wait to have mine in order and cleaned up. LOL!

    Reply
  14. Moriah says

    June 13, 2010 at 11:32 am

    I had all of my sewing mess on our dining room table for months, and finally decided to make the upstairs loft my craft area. However, right now it’s just a big pile of boxes and fabric on the floor until I find a sturdy table for sewing and crafting. LOVE your new space that you get to have for your work, and still be able to hang with the hubs! :) Where’d you get that nice, big table?!

    Reply
  15. Melissa says

    June 13, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    i love it and it looks great. you know i was stressing a lot a few weeks ago about my sweatshop. with my new cart…just like yours!!! i am loving it now. i just roll out the cart and roll it back in the closet at night. and my sewing area is still clean, but in the wide open spaces of our family room downstairs.

    glad to hear friday was great. can’t wait to see you again!

    Reply
  16. Kara says

    June 14, 2010 at 11:16 am

    it’s darling! you have a great space.

    Reply
  17. Megan Lane says

    June 14, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    you’re going to move?? that’s exciting! when will that be? any places in mind yet?

    Reply
  18. Shannon says

    June 16, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Really cute spaces. I love your style. Sew cute! :) Btw, I got my headband! It is fabulous of course and I got lots of compliments this weekend. Thank you to the blessed person who made that possible. Your cheered this Mama’s soul!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {aww, happy 1 month + a winner} says:
    June 14, 2010 at 11:55 am

    […] Make sure your work station is comfortable *oh, isn’t this funny :] — it only took me all year to move my workstation! […]

    Reply
  2. {your questions, my answers} says:
    June 23, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    […] that the sewing machine is in the living room, this is much easier :] But I’m still pushing hard to NOT work weekends*… unless I want […]

    Reply

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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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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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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.

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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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