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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / {In LOVE with my new blog design. // Viva la Violette}

{In LOVE with my new blog design. // Viva la Violette}

January 26, 2013 · 22 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, Gussy

*If you’re having trouble seeing the new designs simply clear your cache + close/re-open your browser. It may take a few tries before your computer loads the new design.

I can’t quite remember how Heather of Viva la Violette + I first “met” — but I do know my Bauer has a serious dog crush on her Piper. And I’m pretty sure Piper has mailed Bauer a love letter. And I’m pretty sure that’s the cutest thing ever ;)

For almost two years now Heather + I have been in contact with one another — she even featured Zack + I in Piccola Magazine — and now I finally have the opportunity to say, “Yeahhhh, she’s also my blog designer.”

I’m super excited about that! :)

{a few other blog designs by Viva la Violette}

If you’re reading via RSS or email subscription, be sure to click on over! There’s lots of “Viva la Gussy” eye candy on the blog ;)

Working with Heather has been super easy + fun. Once we set a date for the blog design chatter to start she emailed me a link to a form so she could capture my design goals. Then we talked on the phone to go over my ridiculous list of design goals, which — looking back — I basically could have summarized with, “FRESH! I just want my blog to feel fresh!”

Tee hehe, sorry Heather for all the extra words on the phone!

Then Heather worked her magic, and the most obvious results are this: a fresh sidebar, a revamped primary + secondary navigation, a fresh color palette + an updated footer. Heather even installed my new tagline {see it up there in aqua?}:

Those dreams you have? Let’s chase ‘em! // Sharing life + handmade love.

I’m so excited to be sharing more about chasing dreams. So much great stuff has happened since I started Gussy Sews and a more-focused tagline will help bring my thoughts full circle.

And perhaps the best part? Heather’s offering 10% off of any design package with coupon code ‘gussy’ until February 14th. Send Heather an email or connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. Tell her what you want and she’ll make your blog design dreams come true in the most perfect way. :)

125x125-VLV

 

Thank you Heather! xoxo

 

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22 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, Gussy

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Comments

  1. Monique says

    January 26, 2013 at 5:52 am

    I love it! It’s fresh and clean and not too busy. It looks great!

    Reply
  2. Cindy says

    January 26, 2013 at 6:19 am

    Heather is a wonderful designer! She designed my site too :-)

    Very easy to work with and a classic designer. She has the talent of picking out your suggestions and ideas, then makes you blog have a pop of *you*.

    Congrats and enjoy the new look!

    Cindy

    Reply
    • Cindy says

      January 26, 2013 at 6:21 am

      @Cindy,

      Reply
  3. caroline says

    January 26, 2013 at 7:30 am

    love it! xoxo

    Reply
  4. Heather Jones says

    January 26, 2013 at 7:48 am

    I am definitely feeling the love this morning ladies, thank you!!! xoxo

    Reply
  5. Alli says

    January 26, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Looks great Guss!!! It’s simple and the colors are great! xoxo

    Reply
  6. Gina_AcuteDesigns says

    January 26, 2013 at 8:08 am

    looks awesome!

    Reply
  7. Chelsea says

    January 26, 2013 at 9:11 am

    Looks great! So clean!

    Reply
  8. Tiffany C. says

    January 26, 2013 at 9:19 am

    Looks great. I know what you mean about wanting it FRESH. I had my blog redone last month and that’s the look I wanted too. I’ve seen a lot of Heather’s work, she’s so talented. I believe we live in the same city.

    Reply
  9. Teresa says

    January 26, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Its so cute & FRESH Maggie!
    Just like you!
    Love the G with the heart!
    Of course I love that!
    It’s precious!
    Snuggles to Bauer!
    Congrats on the new design!
    xo

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 26, 2013 at 10:20 am

      @Teresa, Hey sweet Pacific coast friend ;) THANK YOU!!!!! xoxo

      Reply
  10. Katy says

    January 26, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Looks fantastic! I liked it before, but this is lovely too!

    Reply
  11. april kennedy says

    January 26, 2013 at 10:28 am

    yeow!! it’s magalicious. looks good. blog redesign must have been in the air…you, me and jeannett all revealed a new look this week. so fun. and i totally agree with keeping it fresh. geez…we stare at it the most while working!! love your tag line.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      January 26, 2013 at 10:43 am

      @april kennedy, OHHH seeing you call me that reminds me of some of my high school friends ;) it’s been so fun reading your comments! xoxo

      Reply
  12. Rosi Rodriguez says

    January 26, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    It looks great Gussy! It is so “you”- I love how the new logo has your signature “G”, the scallops, and that fun pink which are all part of your brand!!

    Reply
  13. Alice says

    January 27, 2013 at 3:38 am

    Looove it :)

    Reply
  14. Ann says

    January 27, 2013 at 5:48 am

    Adorable, Gussy! Super cute and fun!

    Reply
  15. sarah says

    January 27, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    Love the design! Its cute!

    Sarah=)

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage

    Reply
  16. Katy (lil' alice) says

    January 28, 2013 at 4:53 am

    Love the new design and layout.

    Reply
  17. Kate @ Songs Kate Sang says

    January 28, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    Oh, it looks amazing! Love this!

    Reply
  18. Ashley Urke | Domestic Fashionista says

    January 28, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    Looks beautiful and cheery just like you Gussy girl! xo

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {Oh, you need your blog re-designed? // a feature + giveaway with Viva la Violette} says:
    February 8, 2013 at 3:00 am

    […] of Viva la Violette {who re-designed my blog a couple of weeks ago} is our XL sponsor for February and y’all, she’s so talented! Her […]

    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 🧺🌿💓✨

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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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. 

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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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