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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / {answering YOUR questions, parts 2, 3 + 4}

{answering YOUR questions, parts 2, 3 + 4}

August 30, 2011 · 23 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice, for fun, Vlog

…Better late than never, right? {Don’t hate me for not recording these until yesterday!!!} I’m here with parts 2, 3 + 4 to answering YOUR questions on anything relating to my business or blog. Here’s my post on part 1 in case you missed it –wink! And can I share something with you? I tried to record these like 8 different times, honest! But my thoughts weren’t coming out of my mouth correctly and I was stuttering and sweating {what?} and I looked like a dork. So I held off… until now. I hope you enjoy watching them, tee hehe :]

answering YOUR questions, part 2 from gussy sews on Vimeo.

answering YOUR questions, part 3 from gussy sews on Vimeo.

answering YOUR questions, part 4 from gussy sews on Vimeo.

LINKS I MENTIONED ABOVE:
+ Hire Blog Help eBook {hiring/being a virtual assistant}
+ Etsy vs. Big Cartel {the business of handmade}
+ Allora Handmade — thanks for the encouragement to wear my product! love you girl ♥
+ Allison of O My Family holds my hand on airplanes ;]
+ Bend the Rules Sewing – my favorite book!

Hey Cathy – in video #3, I have a question for you! You asked me to share advice on those “starting out running an indie biz shop or blog”, but I’m hoping you can be a little more specific so I can answer your question :] If you’re reading Kathy & you submitted that question, please leave a comment below that’s a little more specific. I would LOVE to answer your question but I’m not sure where to start. THANK YOU!

xoxo,
Gussy

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23 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice, for fun, Vlog

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Comments

  1. Alli - Life on LeRoy says

    August 30, 2011 at 7:51 am

    GUSSY- I was so excited to hop on the computer and tell you this! I was dropping my little guy off at daycare this morning and I saw another mom carrying a “Gussy” bag and we struck up a convo about how wonderful your tote bags are!!! Your bags are everywhere!! It’s amazing girl! LOVE THEM! Have a great day – XOXO

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      August 30, 2011 at 9:44 am

      WHAT? That is just too cool!!!!! Do you remember what bag she had?! eeeek, thanks so much for sharing :)

      Reply
      • Alli - Life on LeRoy says

        August 30, 2011 at 9:51 am

        It was the Lola vacay tote bag!!

        Reply
  2. Lisa says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Hi Gussy, Great videos today. Lots of great advice for us novice bloggers!

    Reply
  3. Sarah-Anne says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:28 am

    friend why are you nervous? it’s just us, your blogging friend! any vid you make will showcase off your amazing talent & hard work you put into Gussy.
    there, you should be encouraged now, haha! ;)

    Reply
  4. caroline {good times never seem sew good} says

    August 30, 2011 at 11:11 am

    thanks for all your tips. i LOVED watching your videos.. makes me want to VLOG more :) happy Tuesday, Maggie!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      August 30, 2011 at 4:31 pm

      i’ll be honest, when i see someone made a vlog i HAVE to watch it. so — let me know when you post a vidoe :) XOXO

      Reply
  5. Barbara - The Tattooed Housewife says

    August 30, 2011 at 11:41 am

    This was such a good post. I love hearing about the successes of others and how they got there!
    I also love your house! I love the houses in the city, they have so much woodwork and build in storage that is beautiful!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      August 30, 2011 at 4:32 pm

      i can brag because we rent, but THIS HOUSE IS AWESOME — so thank you :) at first i wasn’t sure how to decorate, but i’m finding a lot of layers and colors go so well with all the hardwood accents & built-ins. you rock, barbara ;) thanks for the comment!

      Reply
  6. Sarah Hefner says

    August 30, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    I just have to say… You are super cute! :) You did great on your Vlogs! Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  7. Heather says

    August 30, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Loved watching these! You rock, girl! xo

    Reply
  8. Lindsay @ Aisle to Aloha says

    August 30, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Aw, Gus, these are so cute. I’m laying here in bed watching your videos (too much info? Ha.) before I get up for the day. A sweet way to start my day seeing your smile. Loved what you had to say about living away from family, getting plugged in to a church and being in that place and season for a reason. I have definitely found those things to be true for us living thousands (and thousands and thousands) of miles from most of our friends and all our family.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      August 30, 2011 at 4:35 pm

      hey lindsay! yes, there is never a mistake in where we are & why. it’s easy to forget ~ i know, but it’s so important to remember. thanks for the comment ;)

      Reply
  9. HannahBee says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    If you are thinking about starting a handmade business, how do come up with a good name and where do you start it? Etsy of Big Cartel? Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Erin says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Thank you for answering my question!! You nailed it on the head! My hubby has work friends, but I stay home with my kiddo, so its been kind of a weird balance. But we have had a lot of success lately in making friends, and (weird as it may sound) it is nice to know that it takes other people a *while* to get settled in. :) Its actually been a little bit of a blessing in disguise because the extra time I have has been spent on my biz and it has grown a little! :) So yay!

    Thank you for the encouragement!!! xoxoxoxoxo

    Reply
  11. Allison in Louisiana says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    I hope this isnt weird but…I just have to say that I love your accent! It is adorable!
    Great vlog! :) You inspire so many of us (even those with a blog)…keep up the great work!

    Reply
  12. Allison in Louisiana says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    Oops, meant to say even those of us WITHOUT a blog! :)

    Reply
  13. Lacey says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:23 am

    You are just so darn cute and inspirational and honest. I love it! I love your videos. I’m really inspired to actually start {& hopefully finish} a sewing project today. I have a lot of trouble with tension, and I like to think I have patience, but after a while of things not going well, it’s so easy to just throw in the towel.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      September 1, 2011 at 10:47 am

      hi lacey! do you know which spool thread has the off-tension? top or bottom? email me if you have questions and i’ll see if i can help :] gussy AT gussysews DOT com

      xoxo

      Reply
  14. Ashley says

    September 4, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Thank you for all the tips and helpful information. I am thinking about starting a handmade shop myself, so it was great hiring your advice.

    Reply
  15. Hannah M. says

    October 10, 2011 at 1:04 am

    I just recently found your blog and love it already! I really enjoyed watching the videos, and hearing your answers. I’m new to sewing and love it so far. I made my first shirt and it was actually wearable which to me means it was a success! I’m also interested in starting a blog but I’m still deciding what I want my niche to be. Thanks for all the tips and inspiration!

    Hannah

    Reply
  16. Make and Do Girl says

    October 14, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    hi gussy. i just found your site via little miss momma. nice to meet you! you make beautiful stuff. i’m happy to hear about your success story.

    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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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
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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. 👏🏻📖
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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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