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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / {design updates + a Gussy Sews community survey}

{design updates + a Gussy Sews community survey}

January 9, 2012 · 24 Comments
Filed Under: for fun

Over the weekend I finally did something I’ve been wanting to do for weeks: update my blog header with something a little more timeless. I love the idea of including photos but they seem to become dated as the seasons change {something I’ve learned over the last 3.5 years; more on this in an upcoming mini-series!}. And it’s hard to pick just a few photos when I take sew many every week {hah, Instagram!}. It’s been on my mind for a bit now to update my header with something a little more lasting so Friday night I made it my goal to design something I’d love! Even Zack helped out ~ he drew the outline of my first sewing machine, I love it!

The second design update I worked on is the “welcome” box in my sidebar. If you have a second, click through the tabs to see how we can connect online OR meet-up in person at an upcoming blog event ;]. If you’re reading this post in a reader be sure to click over to see what I’m talking about.

* * *

Twice a year I like to write up a short blog survey {10 quick questions} and then share it here in hopes to get to know the Gussy Sews community a little better. As soon as I hit “publish” I run off and say a quick prayer that most everyone that reads Gussy Sews takes it and that no one comes to hate me for asking what seem like silly questions, like “how old are you?” or “why do you read this blog?”. But the truth is, these questions are anything but silly. They’re actually incredibly helpful in many areas, including mapping post content, sidebar sponsor ‘guidelines’ and the like.

If you read Gussy Sews frequently {whatever that means to you}, would you take this survey? kiss kiss, smooch smooch

PS. All 10 questions are anonymous…

H A P P Y MONDAY!
Start the week off on the right foot ~ remember to check off your to-do list one item at a time. XO

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24 Comments
Filed Under: for fun

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{what’s on my mind? another uncut and fun version.} »

Comments

  1. Chantel Day says

    January 9, 2012 at 7:42 am

    Thanks for the survey

    Reply
  2. Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia} says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Survey taken! & you know how I feel about your new header. ;)

    Reply
  3. linda (burlap+blue) says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:32 am

    Hadn’t commented on here in a while, but had to say that I luuurve the new design! What a talented hubby you have:) Love the welcome section, too! xoxo

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 9, 2012 at 9:32 am

      hi linda! so good to see your name here — and thanks for the comment + compliment! xo

      Reply
  4. Gina @ Oaxacaborn says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:42 am

    I <3 your new header! And of course the survey questions are NOT silly :)

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 9, 2012 at 9:32 am

      yay – thank you Gina! :)

      Reply
  5. Skye @ Neathering Our Fest says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:01 am

    The new header is precious! :) I took the survey but 10 words just wasn’t enough! Your blog & business remind me EVERY DAY that:

    1. Dreams do come true!
    2. Setting short goals and attaining them is doable!
    3. Running a handmade business on a trial & error basis is a great way to learn!
    4. Finding inspiration is so important.

    Thanks for all that you do for all of us who dream of spreading our wings and flying one day! :)

    Reply
  6. Stina says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:20 am

    I tried to fill out your survey but it wouldn’t let me send it. I had to fill out wich state I’m from, it wouldn’t accept me just filling in the box below, stating I’m not from the US. Well, I love what you’re doing here on your blog and I’m so happy I found it (whenever that was.. time flies by!). So keep it up and I’m excited to follow your journey in life, craft and business!

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 9, 2012 at 9:31 am

      eeek! try the survey now? {thanks for letting me know!} xoxo

      Reply
      • Stina says

        January 9, 2012 at 10:07 am

        Yay, it worked! xo

        Reply
  7. catie says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:22 am

    LOVE the new look! I took the survey, but I’ll tell you that it was hard to put the last one into 10 words or less! ;)

    Reply
    • Gussy says

      January 9, 2012 at 9:31 am

      awww, i know! you can always email me! gussyATgussysewsDOTcom ♥

      Reply
  8. Katy says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:21 am

    You are super inspirational! I’ve been wanting to open a shop for a while, but with two kids under 3, I just don’t have enough time. I just keep, keeping on and trying to find the time :}
    P.S. Can’t wait to see your new items in your shop!

    Reply
  9. Nichelle says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Ah! I love it! Your header really is timeless, but I will miss seeing pictures of your lovely face! Is there a way you could have an instagram tab in your welcome tab thing-er. ( I obviously do not know the correct name) You know, like those twitter boxes that show twitter updates. I would just get an iphone and follow your instagrams or however you do it, but my phone is old school. But really, everything ALWAYS looks so great, and I love you and your blog, and all my gussy’s. Thanks for being such an inspiration and helping me out so much!

    You’re a rockstar!
    Mucho love.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 9, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      YOU ARE THE BEST! totally making me blush over here! so i found an instagram app for my sidebar –great idea!–, i’ll have to see how i like it ;)

      Reply
  10. Jessica says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    Survey complete!

    I love that you have events you’ll be attending in the sidebar too. That’s where I looked to help me decide which blog event I would attend (in addition to emailing you). I thought it was funny that you said to see where bloggers I look up to will be attending being ever so modest because I do look up to you! I’m excited to attend Blissdom as a first timer and hopefully get to chat with you a bit!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 9, 2012 at 1:16 pm

      hooray!!!! that’s so great — see you next month ;)

      Reply
  11. Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:47 pm

    Love the new header! So cute! :)

    Reply
  12. Cathy says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    I love your new header! Survey has been taken. :)

    Reply
  13. Ada says

    January 9, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Consider the survey taken! (Because I just did it ;)

    Reply
  14. Mindy Harris says

    January 9, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    what do you mean by “mapping post content”…i’m always asking the bigger bloggers questions like this to make sure i’m not missing some secret of being a successfull blogger. :-) off to take survey!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 9, 2012 at 6:32 pm

      like a guide to post content — what i’ll write about, planning, etc. :)

      Reply
  15. Lisa~The SweetTalk Shop says

    January 9, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    Love the new header and the survey was really a neat idea!!

    Reply
  16. ashley ¦ domestic fashionista says

    January 13, 2012 at 10:42 am

    Took the survey! Xo

    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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“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
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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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. ✨

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