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You are here: Home / creativity / craft project / {on sewing a pretty curtain :: turning a dream into an accomplished goal}

{on sewing a pretty curtain :: turning a dream into an accomplished goal}

December 14, 2011 · 31 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, inspiration

A couple Saturday’s ago I came home after an amazing day spent at craft stores and decided to finally do something about the curtain-less closet in my office. After spending hours looking at pretty paint, the rainbow of available embroidery floss and the rows + rows soft yarn I was feeling inspired. I walked into my studio and found the fabric I wanted to use. I measured the closet opening. I turned on my sewing machine. I felt alive. After ironing it smooth, pressing the edges and adding a red band of color at the top, my pretty new curtain felt complete.

So does my office, and so I do :]

Like I talked about on Monday, I wanted to welcome 2012 with new goals — without the baggage of my old goals. Sewing this curtain has been on my wish list for months {sadly}. And just like I talked about on Monday, adding a deadline to a task is how you turn a dream into a goal. Dreaming is super fun, but adding another tick to my “list of things accomplished in 2011” is even more fun.

What dream are you going to turn into a goal? What’s holding you back? If you accomplish this, what will that mean? :]
XOXO

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31 Comments
Filed Under: craft project, inspiration

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Comments

  1. Zack says

    December 14, 2011 at 8:38 am

    Yeah girl! Now my boxes of cords and off-season clothes aren’t staring you in the face. Very nice. :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:49 pm

      ::blush::

      thanks hubby

      Reply
  2. Cindy says

    December 14, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Love the curtain! We move a bit, so when we moved into our current house one of the *icky* things we had to do was fix some doors. The laundry room doors were broken and old so I ripped them out, got a cute curtain rod and found 2 panels that matched our kitchen decor and up they went. I must admit though, your fabric is far cuter than mine :) Cindy

    Reply
  3. Michelle {the Momma Bird} says

    December 14, 2011 at 8:49 am

    In 2012 I really want to find my “niche” in blogging. With that said, I have a few ideas that are just starting up that I can’t wait to see happen! So scary, this blogging world can be, but I’m ready! :) Thanks for the inspiration :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:50 pm

      you know what i love to do? keep a running list of blog post ideas. some times i like to stretch my ideas and challenge myself to think about my niche in a unique way, and that keeps it fun + challenging for me. {and hopefully my readers think so, too!}

      YAY — i’m excited for you. you’ll have to keep me updated ♥

      Reply
  4. Ada says

    December 14, 2011 at 8:51 am

    The curtain looks great! Thanks for the reminder that sometimes you just have to sit down and get things done!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:51 pm

      i imagine my mom setting the timer on me… HAH! like she used to do at dinner. can you believe i’d talk so much during dinner that my food would get cold, so then i wouldn’t want to eat it?

      …and then she turned the timer on ;D

      Reply
  5. Tiffany A. Nelson says

    December 14, 2011 at 8:53 am

    Keep up the inspiration!!! Love it. Don’t you hate when you procrastinate for days sometimes months and then the tasks takes you mere minutes. Ugh! But cheers to getting it done.

    Reply
  6. Tara says

    December 14, 2011 at 9:10 am

    looks great! Love it! I am currently working on my 2012 business goals! And I hope to be posting it today or tomorrow! :)

    Reply
  7. Brittany says

    December 14, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Love the curtain!! Nice work and way to make a wish into a reality ;-)

    Reply
  8. Kasey M. says

    December 14, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Nice curtain!

    My big goal for this week is to consolidate. I have too many planners, notesbooks, lists for my own good. I’m a huge fan of writing things down and checking them off the list – but if i’m not keeping track of each list nothing actually gets done.

    What does everyone else use? I know I need to track appointments, blog to dos, craft to dos, and then personal to dos (like grocery lists etc). Anyone have a book, iphone app, etc that they LIVE by?

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:53 pm

      i have an iPhone app called Calender – it’s different from the standard app that came with my iPhone, i think i had to buy it? but it allows me to sync multiple Google calenders into one {the app that comes with the iPhone doesn’t allow this}.

      so i use this for everything related to my Gussy Sews schedule, events i go to, meetings, when my team is over working, etc.

      for my blog i use a paper calender that stays in my office. this way i can write notes/move things around and i don’t feel like i have EVERYTHING online {that kinda drives me nuts}.

      Reply
  9. Southern Gal says

    December 14, 2011 at 10:14 am

    I love your curtain. I’ve put off sewing curtains for my kitchen for years. Yes, years. Now I hesitate because it’s time to repaint the kitchen! And I always second guess myself in fabric selection…always.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:54 pm

      girlfriend — sew some curtains!

      i want you to send me a photo of them by january 7th, that’s three weeks from now :)

      Reply
  10. Skye @ Neathering Our Fest says

    December 14, 2011 at 11:48 am

    My biggest goal for 2012 is to find a way to budget my income and figure out the best way to advertise my blog & shop. I feel like I have been willy-nilly with it this year which is fine because I am still learning. But in 2012 I want to be purposeful about it and really advertise where I will get the most bang for my buck. Another goal for this year is to paint my china hutch. That might take me all year. ;)

    Reply
  11. Skye @ Neathering Our Fest says

    December 14, 2011 at 11:49 am

    You sound like my husband! :) We have to keep every cord that ever makes its way through out house just in case we *might* need it one day. Glad to know he isn’t alone! :)

    Reply
  12. Jen says

    December 14, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    it’s so cute. p.s. i love that zack was the first to comment on this. precious!!!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:55 pm

      he really is THE BEST ~ he’s soooo good to me. i’m so thankful :)

      Reply
  13. katy reitz (lil' alice) says

    December 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    to paint….. not artistically but to paint walls. we built our house and moved in 11 years ago tomorrow! i still have painters white in my foyer, half bath, up the stairs and upstairs hallway & i need to redo my 9 year old’s room and make it comfy for him as he enters the 2nd half of his childhood.

    that’s a lot of painting! and i will do it all except the stairs case, ceilings are too tall!

    oh and i am so done making my own drapes, getting some new treatments and having a consultation with an aquaintance who is an interior designer!

    Reply
  14. Autumn says

    December 14, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    My dream is to have a successful handmade biz! Time is holding me back{and moo-lah}. WHEN I reach my goal it means that I can stay home with my sweet girls and do what I love!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:58 pm

      these things will always challenge you. but i don’t think they have to hold you back. there are times when i feel like i don’t know how to continue without having a line of credit as a buffer, but i always figure it out and here we are, 18 months later, and the business is STILL debt-free. (i do not even have a credit card!)

      the secret is you have to get creative. and you have to have faith – believe in yourself and your talents and this business you want to start!!!!!!

      tell me, what money struggles are you facing? maybe i can brainstorm with you a solution?

      XO

      Reply
      • Autumn says

        December 17, 2011 at 8:38 am

        Thanks for the reply! My husband and I are both teachers and we now have 2 sweet little girls. ( enough said right?) I think I’m just scared to take the leap of quitting my day job and taking my biz full time. However, I’m struggling with doing it all and I know my biz can’t really grow anymore until I give it the time. I definetly want to stay debt free!! And I would love the time at home with my girls!! Any suggestions would be so appreciated!! Thanks again.

        Reply
        • Gussy Sews says

          December 17, 2011 at 1:59 pm

          could you list out a few questions you have? that way i can offer the best type of feedback :)

          Reply
  15. Angie says

    December 14, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    The curtain is so pretty- love the fabric you chose :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 16, 2011 at 11:59 pm

      it’s heather bailey, baby!

      Reply
  16. Heather G. says

    December 14, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Pretty, pretty!

    Reply
  17. Seriously Sassy Mama says

    December 15, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Did you really learn to sew from reading books from the library? It is something I have always wanted to do.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 17, 2011 at 12:00 am

      i did! i did! this book was super awesome — Bend the Rules Sewing. i have a few other sewing books in an Amazon widget in my sidebar, check ’em out!

      but i also used YouTube. especially when it came time to sew in a zipper. ahem ;D

      Reply
  18. Kasey M. says

    December 17, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    That’s great! Thanks for the app recommendation :]

    Are you a list person? I think my biggest problem is managing my to do list, ideas, plans, and other notes which get jotted down and then forgotten.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm

      oh yes! how i get this to work for me is i keep a running to-do list and then every day i re-write it based on what HAS to happen first, second, third, then what SHOULD happen first, second third, etc. some times this takes 15 minutes but it’s totally worth it because i am so productive on those days.

      keep a journal for ideas/sketches, then another one for to-do.

      Reply
  19. Sarah-Anne says

    December 20, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    goals are so important, thanks for sharing your thoughts about them friend!

    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 loved our time together! 🥰🧒🏼👩🏻👧🏼🧒🏻

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Give yourself (and your family) the joy of an adventure away from the home. 

🌾Visit my blog for the full post, link in profile or #maggiewhitleydotcom
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Many times we are out & about in the neighborhood and I think, “oh the flowers surrounding your porch are lovely!” Or, “wow” (to the elderly man) “you have such a great smile, thanks for sharing it with us!” Wouldn’t it be great to jot that down in a card and send it through the mail as well?

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