{knit baby blankets}

baby blankets!
Mama Gus was here this past week and she brought more knit baby blankets
You can find her work for sale here.

{I love knitted blankets.}

{fuchsia coming soon!}

♥♥♥

{a very cozy evening}

What a day here in the city! Yeow! No heat on my floor at work = a very {merry} cold Gussy girl. Brrrr. I love the snow here; hate the wind + temperature. OK, I need to talk about something else. Because winter just started and I am not a complainer! Nooooo-oh!

Gave myself a little pedicure tonight. Now I'm enjoying a tall glass of water. Checking email. You don't care of those last two. Or three, probably.

I'm all cozy warm in our Christmas-decorated apartment, waiting for Z to get home from work. Going to snuggle up on the couch and catch some TV shows tonight {and last night's episode of Glee!}




Haven't heard from the desk gal yet. Sure hope that means it's ours...?


I found an adorable tutorial on hand knitting. I'm going to try it soon. Isn't this cute?:



Tonight I must continue on on Z's scarf.
Like I mentioned 82 times already, it's cold here in Minneapolis.


OK, enough Gussying. Time to knit :)


PS. my new boots:

{baaaaaaay-bee}

Guess what. It's baby season.

Baby season?

Yes.

And I know a lot of gals that are having a baby. I bet you do, too. Did you know that my mom knits amazing baby blankets? She does. Her name is Mama Gus around the blogosphere. Sometimes she comments on here {watch for her!}

Mama Gus knits beautiful blankets and I'm lucky enough to have two in my Etsy shop. I sold one over the summer. I'd like to sell two more. Word on Michigan's streets is that she's knitting more baby blankets.

Ya know, because it's baby season.

Check this: I bet the mother-to-be that you know would just curl up in a comfy chair if she was given one of these babies. Not a real baby, silly, but a baaaaaaay-bee. She's already getting a baby. She needs a baaaaaaay-bee.

See? Huge difference.

Give the gift of a baby blanket knit by Mama Gus. And maybe include a 'lil Lovely Gus, too? For the mom, of course {nods head}.

Know what else is word on Michigan's streets? That one of the upcoming Mama-Gus-blankets-sold-in-Gussy's-shop is hot pink.

Yeow! ;)

***

{the straight up truth!}

Goodness gracious! You gals know what you want!!! :) I've had a dozen "where can I buy a laptop bag?!, and I want a ruffle like that!" that I decided to just start making some. Yesterday was a great, productive evening, but please bear with me as I finish what I started :)

Our Tomato Basil Bisque soup was delish, the Gourmet Grilled Cheese {and ham, for Z} sandwiches were tasty, and I spent a few hours drooling over, I mean picking out, fabric. I have five laptop bags prepped and maybe seven zipped pouches. Last weekend I found another gorgeous print, something similar to The Nester's bag, but also kinda not similar ;)

Tonight I'll iron and start sewing the ruffles. Making them is one of my favorite parts of workin' The Sweat Shop because it's all freehand. However the fold, puff, and gather is entirely unique.

Give me a few days and I'll show you when everything is ready?

In the meantime, a few teasers...




Do you see the new print? Can you find it?! It's gray and off-white.

***

Last night I also finished sewing my mom a knitting bag. Mama Gus taught Gussy how to knit and right now I'm working on a harvest-yellow cozy for our bookshelf. But you already knew that because I typed it yesterday.




Back to the story. Mama Gus loves to knit and needed a new bag for her projects. She's a busy mom + grandma. She's on-the-go a lot. See, she needed a new bag :)

This baby has a zipped inside pocket and magnetic snap closure {no zippers allowed!}. The print is so perfect. My mom loves blue, don't you mom? :) Plus, it reminds me of the ocean with the cream mixed in. Anything that reminds me of the ocean is perfect. This bag is so gorgeous and is sitting pretty in my living room right now. Standing tall, all by herself, waiting to be loved on.

Mom, I'll mail it Friday morning!

***

I'm not sure if this was mentioned, so I'll just go ahead and mention it now. Any item listed on www.shop.maggiewhitley.com is also included in the 20%-off sale. Hmm. Yeah. I'm pretty sure I didn't mention that. Whoopsy...

There are some super adorable items on there, like wallets and accessory pouches! I know my Etsy shop has 1 wallet available {THAT IS SO HORRIBLE! BAD GUSSY!}, but my Store has four. So if you need a wallet, or want one, or just want to look, here are a few photos:

{here's Gussy!}

As Daniella recently mentioned, Google is great for looking up advice. Or a test ;) I had been in a funk myself because every Wednesday I've had off work it has rained. Because of the rain I've had horrible lighting in our living room for taking some pics for my Etsy site. And so I had been sad. And a 'lil sassy. But sad for sure. Zack is such a great husband. Not only does he help me look for fabrics and neat/textured buttons, not only does he get excited when I am sewing, but he helps me with my projects :) It's really awesome. So this no-lighting on my day off work thing really had me in a funk. If I can't take pictures, I can't post a listing, and then we can't make some dough... The list goes on. But Daniella, you inspired me to hook up with Google this afternoon and take charge! ;) I found these awesome light bulbs that cast "daylight" lighting inside your house. 

AND THEY ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the problem is solved. No matter it be rainy, cloudy, night time, whatever, I can take pictures inside without that blue/yellow/orange/ICKY glow radiating on everything. Once I had the bulb inside my lamp I used a light box that Zack and I had made. I thought I wanted a clean background for my items. Once I posted four new things tonight, taken in my light box with my daylight light bulb, I decided they had to go. The style of the white background did NOT match the same level of sass in my shop. 

No sass? Get outta here...

I just rearranged my living room and took some more pictures. Notice the light box? Notice the amazing lighting on the two wallets? {Scroll down...}

That's my Gussy story. 

Goodnight friends:)

-------------------------------------

I came to making these MINI washcloths because the regular large {and in charge} washcloth I normally use is JUST! too! LARGE! My arms would be wet, I had soap everywhere... it was a 'lil out-of-control. One in gray-blue, two in guacamole. So here is the birth of these cute and dainty washcloths -- $5.00

Speaking of washing, why not wash your dishes in matching dish cloths? ;) Now how fun is that?!?! One in gray-blue, two in guacamole. {Minus any expired dip.} Click here for this TRIO of dish cloths -- $8.00

Now on to the juicy stuff ;)

The PINK chunky button wallet is back! I've already sold two... maybe you'll snag this third listing? Click here and check out this bold & sassy wallet -- $17.50

Do you have a pair of RED hot shoes? Maybe not. But if you did, wouldn't this wallet be SUPER cute with it? I added an eye-poppin' red button to the front, although it is a snap closure. Great for your checkbook and register ;) Click here and browse -- $16.50

yeah, I'm back!

I know it has been a few days since I've posted, so I apologize to my faithful readers for letting you down :( I'm sorry :( I have had such a busy and fun Christmas break with my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would'ya look at all those explanation points (!!!). I really, really have had a fun time. I guess you could say I've been a little busy talking to my mom (the other Gussy), sleeping in with my hubby, traveling to visit family, celebrating the SEASON on Thursday ;o) ... that type of thing.

Zack and I went out yesterday with my childhood bestie, A., and her man. We had dinner at the country club that our rehearsal dinner was held at, then went to see Four Christmases. Wasn't THAT great... but it was super fun to laugh constantly with A. sitting next to me. I think only we were given "the look" five times. It was so wonderful to be with A. I don't know many people where we now live, and finding someone to befriend is hard. It is especially hard when I miss people like A. who I have known for seriously half my life. Almost 12 years. She is a great friend :)

My parents gave me a gift card to Jo-Ann's for Christmas and let me tell ya... it's burning a hole in my purple wallet. Well, since I just took a trip to Jo-Ann's before Christmas, I think I'm "GOOD" for a bit, but... I still want to go and just Browse. Ya know, see what my options are.

Do you like that I initial capped the "b"?

It is SO necessary.

Browsing is a very, very important concept to shopping.

That's all I have to type about that (!).

So I think I'm about to wrap up my evening. I enjoy reading my friends blogs, and learning more and more about things like knitting, sewing, and being a better Christmas woman through other blogs I've found. The internet is a great resource ;o)

I hope your Christmas was pure bliss :)

PS. If you wanted to share my Etsy site with just... oh... three people, that would be so kind of you. I'm trying to increase my sales...

PSS. I suppose some of you want to see some new things on there... well, how about this. I'll add a new purse early January (honest) and you tell three people about my website. Deal? Thanks! ;o)

i'm a grandma-like wife

I'm afraid there's not much to talk about today. Zack and I had a very laid-back evening last night. Dinner was served in Heaven, I knitted afterward and Zack did his own thing. Maybe you're wondering what I made for dinner? Alright, I'll share:

Salsa chicken:
1 - 14-oz jar of Salsa (medium is good)
2 T. of brown sugar
2 squirts of mustard

Mix together in bowl. Place 2-6 chicken breasts in a glass baking dish, top with salsa mixture. If you have 2 chicken breasts, you'll have lots of extra salsa topping (great to serve over rice). If you have 6, then you'll have less ;)

Bake for 40 minutes at 325* F.

We also had long-grain rice, flaky butter dinner rolls, green beans & carrots, and a salad. And milk. For my strong bones that I am just POSITIVE are still growing. I have to keep the faith, friends.

I'm proud to announce we are going to a Christmas party this weekend... hosted by our friends Joel & Megan Lane. And their pup, Magglio ;)

OK so I fibbed earlier, I guess I did have a bit to share ;)

~~Eight days and 16 hours until Christmas xoxoxoxo~~