Friday, February 5, 2010

{Special Project: (in)courage laptop bags}


Hi friends!


Today is a unique day, a special day. Unique because there will not be a Featured Artist post; special because this post reveals a truly incredible project I've been working on for about one month.

Some of you may be familiar with the website
(in)courage. If not, here's a little background info for you: (in)courage is an inspirational/encouraging (hence (in)courage) blog where you can read posts authored/contributed by about 30 different Christian women. The site is supported by DaySpring, the Christian subsidiary of Hallmark, and it's super fantastic. It really is.



Back in December, I was contacted by (in)courage to sew up something special for the Blissdom conference {which I'm at right now!!!!!!}. The request was to sew 18 Gussy laptop bags for those (in)courage authors and contributors attending the conference.

Immediately I thought, Wow God, you are incredible! Really, you're giving me this opportunity?!



And He said, Yes!

So I said, OK, time to bust a move in the Sweat Shop ;)

I cranked up my radio player and got right to work. Ahhhh, I so {sew} did!!!



We were in Michigan for Christmas when I received the request, so when we returned home I spent some major hours picking out fabric, consulting with Stephanie, cutting, ironing, sewing, sewing, and sewing up these bags.

This project is by far my largest project to-date. But boy! It's also my most favorite project :)



Up until today this project has been a surprise. Only very few people knew of it. I wanted to share the news right away but I knew that wasn't possible. So instead I teased you with some photos :) Do you forgive me yet?!

Something else completely incredible about this project is that some of my most favorite blog writers are a part of the team of (in)courage authors and contributors. People like The Nester, Emily at Chatting at the Sky {Nester's sister}, Angie with Bring the Rain, Lisa Leonard, and Lindsey with The Pleated Poppy.


HOLY GOODNESS, they're going to be carrying around a Gussy?!?!?!?!?


Yeowwwwwwwwww!




Aside from this project, I've been so blessed to be connected with the above-mentioned women. Some of them have been incredible mentors to me as I've had the true pleasure to speak to some of them on the telephone-o. These women have invested their personal time into Gussy -- I'm incredibly grateful for their help in bringing Gussy to where it's at currently.

I kid you not, Gussy is the true result of a girl having a dream yet the ability to reach out to others to help her run with it. You know that saying, a city can't be build in a day. {I hope I have that right...} The story of Gussy is very similar... Yeah, I'm the gal behind the sewing machine, but without the help of my family and blog friends I wouldn't be where I'm sitting today. And I write this with goosebumps on my arms.

This entire (in)courage project is just an uplifting and utterly amazing project/story for Gussy. It's phenomenal and it makes me so happy.




And!!! To add to the phenomenal-ness of it all, I've just finished having breakfast with the (in)courage authors and contributors.

Ummm, yeah.



I hope no one noticed I was way more excited than I ever thought possible. Whatever, I'm sure they didn't notice. Or maybe they did? Or didn't? Hmmm, not sure. Hah!


I owe another huge Thank You to Mel, who sews my Gussy twill tags. She made the (in)courage tags and they are so beautiful. I'm very, very happy with them. Besides, now the tags match and that is just darling :)



If you're at Blissdom and you see these bags, well... now you know the story behind them.

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The excitement that is inside me... the nervousness of this putting a face to the bags... the inspiration from this story -- I can't put the right words to what I'm feeling right now. I'm Gussy, a girl with an unexpected desire to sew. That about sums up my story.

xo.





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44 comments:

Paige Borda said...

This is so cool Maggie! What an honor and what a cool experience! I was super curious about the 18 laptop bag project! Hope you're having a WONDERFUL time at Blissdom! :)

Leigh said...

OMG this is Fabulous! I'm so excited for you! What a great opportunity, and I would be just as excited/nervous about breakfast with the incourage team as well : )
Can't wait to see how Gussy continues to grow!

Anonymous said...

Maggie, this is so incredible!! I kept checking your blog this morning for the big surprise & I'm sooooo happy for you! Congrats & those bags are lovely!

Unknown said...

Yay! I KNEW IT! :) S cool, and SEW excited for ya! yay Gussy!

FiftyCentLove said...

WOW! I have been following you for about a month now and I just ordered my first Gussy a few days ago! I am so excited for you! I can't wait to get more! You are very sweet and talented

Amanda said...

I've never really commented on your blog before though I do own an adorable ruffle gus wallet :). I just wanted to say that I am so excited for you. God has a way of simply astounding us when he reveals pieces of his plan. It excites me so much to see that in my life and just as much in the life of others. What an awesome way to have your talents used for God's glory! just so excited and I look forward to see where Gussy and Maggie go in the future! It has been a blessing to follow both your tweets and your blog everyday!

rebecca said...

Oooh, Maggie! Congrats, lady! You deserve it!

btsoi. said...

Those bags are absolutely beautiful! I'm sure they'll all enjoy their Gussies.

Unknown said...

Today's blog post has brought tears to my eyes; tears of joy for my beautiful daughter who is living her dream. Thank you God for blessing me with this beautiful child!

Mama Gus

Biteofpunkinpie said...

LOVE THEM!!!! can't wait for you to come back and sew up so more beauty... your creativity is inspiring.

Enjoy Blissdom!

Anonymous said...

Oh yay Gus!!! I'm so happy for you! I have loved watching you business grow. Hope to say "oh Maggie? I blog-knew her when...." and Mama Gus brought tears to my eyes! She must be so proud!

Jenna said...

whoohoo! so exciting! i too, kept checking to see if you had posted your exciting news! that's fantasic, way to go Gussy!

Celeste said...

Oh. my. GOODNESS! Maggie! This is *AMAZING*!! :) God is truly raining blessings upon you! I agree, (in)courage is a group of fantastic people...and it's even more fantabulous now that you've entered the group! (:

God is so good!

Monica said...

I love that! Great job!

Melissa G said...

Oh Gussy! That is so exciting!!! You go girl!

And oh Mama Gus's comment brought tears to my eyes!

It's so inspiring to me to see others using their talents and living their dreams. I'm so happy for you!

bailey said...

That is so great! I'm so happy for you! The bags look adorable, too! Of course!! You made them :) Hope you're having lots of fun!!!

Meg said...

I am so happy for you Maggie! Everyday you inspire me to do what I dream! Thank you for that! You are an amazing person and I am so happy to have found you, your Gussy's and your blog! Have a blast at Blissdom!
xoxo~Meg

ZWhit said...

I've never been so proud of you honey. Keep kickin' butt out there!

Mindy said...

WOW! Congrats on such an awesome opportunity!!! I can't wait to see how your business will continue to grow! Your talents and gifts will take you far, I know it!

the shoppe owner said...

What a blessing to get to give something so absolutely fabulous!!! You are so talented. I want one!

gina said...

AWESOME!!


when you get back can we talk about a simple- even premade canvas bag but with a cool ruffle of yours added for my shopping/errand runs?


Have fun!!!!!!!!

Lindsay - Pen and Paint said...

These are grrrreat! Gussy must have arms of steal holdin up all that gus.
Have a blast!
I am moving in 12 hours. Love you girl!

Anonymous said...

Soooo cute! Congrats!!!

Heather @ Glitter and Gloss said...

That is awesome, Maggie! I'm so happy for you and hope you're having a ton of fun at Blissdom!

emily freeman said...

Maggie, I love my Gussy bag. just....thank you so much. Love.

Amanda said...

Way to go, lady! I wish I could have seen your excited face when you arrived at Blissdom. I truly thought about driving down to the hotel w/ kids in tow to take a peek around. Haha! Sounds like an amazing weekend for you and everyone involved.

I'm loving my new laptop bag myself. It is PERFECT. :)

mel @ the larson lingo said...

This is such a fun & exciting post! Congrats!!! So happy for you...God is SO good! And, this post just so happens to be on the day that my Gussy laptop bag arrived in the mail. I LOVE my bag....THANK YOU! :)

Peach Rainbow said...

beautiful post and beautiful bags!

Two Little Tots said...

Maggie-that is wonderful...enjoy your experience and I can't wait to hear all about it.

Enjoy the rest of your time at Blissdom!

Jenny86753oh9 said...

You are the coolest girl at Blissdom. I'm SO honored to have you as roomie...and a friend! (Can I be in your shadow? ;-) )

Shannon said...

I am so happy to find your blog. I saw you stand up and ask a question and wrote down your blog to check out. When I saw this post about the bags I was excited. I saw these around the conference and wanted to ask who made them. Will you be selling them? Adorable!

SoBella Creations said...

Congrats that is so cool and awesome! I love the (in)courage website.

Jessica Turner said...

I love, love, love my bag. Thank you so much! xoxo

fiddler's wife said...

Those are so stinkin' cute they make me want to buy a laptop! You go, girl!
God is good.

ginnymae
handcrafted at wit's end

Unknown said...

Congratulations!! I was in the session at Blissdom when you stood up to ask a question, and it was like a ROCK STAR had spoken!! :) Just love your laptop bags, saw several of my idols carrying them!

Angela Moore said...

That is awesome! Congratulations! I saw those bags and thought "Wow. I WANT one of those!" Congrats again and such beautiful work!!

Kimberly @ Raising Olives said...

I saw those bags at BlissDom, lovely. What a great product you have and a wonderful opportunity.

God is good!

Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect said...

I LOVE my Gussy bag!! Thank you SO much!!! (And, P.S., I LOVED meeting you!!!)

Corrine said...

Congrats!! Those bags r super cute!

Muthering Heights said...

These are beautiful!!! I poked about in your shop...do you make laptop bags to sell normally?

Ann @ The Scrapbooking Housewife said...

Those are beautiful laptop bags!! You are very talented! :-)

Dawn Camp said...

My bag - it's in the pictures! :-)

I love my bag. I actually had a new laptop bag, so I'm using mine as a reading bag. I'm really picky about reading bags. I don't want the bottom of them to be too wide, or the books just slide around and the covers get ruined, unless it is completely packed (and then, of course, it's heavy!).

My laptop bag is perfect (maybe you can market them as laptop/reading bags?), and I adore the special (in)courage tag on the side.

xoxoxo,
Dawn

Heather said...

they are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

These are SO cute. I so love the green one!!!