{teamwork}

Lots of Gussy goodies are being mailed out today. Yeow!

You know what makes this especially great?
I sew, and ya'll buy.

Yeah, I work The Sweat Shop,
but you -- you work the sales.

It's a nice trade, right? :)

So, from the bottometh depth of my heart,
THANK YOU ♥ ♥

Actually, how's this for proof:
I was chatting with Nester the other day and I felt a big tear well up in my eye.
Of course I said nothing, so if you're reading this post Nester,
Sorry to have you find out this way.
Hah!

Every morning is another great morning because Gussy is going strong :)

Thank you, Jesus!

{lots of updates}

Good Morning :)

I spent some lovely hours in my sewing room last night, including cutting fabric for new items {including new product designs, yay!}. I hope to have a very productive weekend. Ya'll have been so supportive and encouraging. I keep thinking, How many evenings can Zack and I spend talking about Gussy? Yet the talks keep coming because the sales and support keep coming. We're really excited!!!

A few weeks my struggle was finding more time for me. Now my struggle is keeping my shop stocked. I know, big problem, right? :)

Pretty, pretty please continue to be patient with me. I'm working as fast as I can to sew new products, all while keeping the quality there. If you ever have an idea or suggestion, please share it with me. I'm working to add laptop bags for wide screen computers, as well as bags for netbooks!

Last night I added two more black & white damask work/laptop bags {pink or yellow ruffle}. LOVE THEM!!! But I know the shop is low...

How can it not be? This was me Thursday as I took 14 packages to the Post Office. Yeow! :) Good thing my Gussy labels arrived the same day! Hah!

Last night I finished this Custom Order knitting bag. There are 8 pockets for the needles and lots of room for yarn inside. Darling!

Alright, time to get to work! xo.

{I love God's humor.}

I'm having a million dollar fantastic day. I've been reading through the comments being left on this post about how to be better at our businesses and blogs. They are great. I'm getting some really great ideas for my follow-up post.

Aside from reading through the comments, Zack and I have had some really amazing chats so far this weekend. I have realized a few super important facts with Gussy. All great things. They are encouraging, helpful and stress-relieving.

Just as God has always shown me his sense of humor {like by taking away from need to plan by forcing all plans to come together on the very last day, hence showing us we need to move to Minneapolis in one weekend}, He showed me it again today.

I've been a little stressed about all the sewing that I needed to do this weekend.

Well.

He laughed at that.

I only have 10 Gussy tags left, so I could only sew 10 Gussy items. Not 30. Ten.

{More are in the mail, fyi.}

Not seeing the big picture, I didn't realize how amazing this would be for me.

I see the big picture now.

Seriously... thank you LORD for taking care of me.

See? I'm having a million dollar fantastic day.

I've been organizing Gussy, sewing a little, doing some photography, enjoying some coffee, enjoying my pajamas! :)

And in a few hours Hubby is taking me on a date.

Yes.
♥

I hope you are having a million dollar fantastic day, too!

{new items + gift with purchase}

new Gussies are now available in my shop


and for today only, every order placed
will receive a FREE set of 4 Gussy ruffle note cards,
sewn by Gussy herself.

oh right, that's me :)


and y'all know then were sewn in The Sweat Shop.
so that's like, double fun.




these babies are perfect for Valentine's Day.
perfect for spring.
perfectly ruffled-up just for you.


xo

Of course I have a few more things to say:

• Be sure to scroll down and read the names of the Giveaway Day winners! :)

• Become a sponsor on Gussy has a lot to say! Spots open up on the 30th -- contact me if you're interested in advertising here. Below is a chart of my blog's growth over the past 12 months. As you can see, the last few months, starting in September, have had exponential growth. If you'd like to be a part of something really exciting, please consider becoming a sponsor :)
  

• Tomorrow is Featured Artist post # 11. Come back for a soft surprise...
  

{new Gussy's are LISTED!}

This giveaway is now closed.


Yes, this is a surprise giveaway.
27 new items.
13 individual listings.
all can be drooled over by clicking here ;)

{please note that most items have 2 of each, some have 3 of each.}


***

I am sew proud of these Gussy's.
They are made from Heather Bailey fabric -- her new Nicey Jane line.

3 sizes of zipped pouches:
small
medium
large.




Which pouch do you want?


Tell me!
One winner will receive $25 shop credit :)

Yes, this is a surprise giveaway.

Open now;
closes when I say so.

xo
♥

{a sneak-peak}

Tomorrow, mid-afternoon {3 pm?} I'll have all 27 of these babies listed in my shop. I know my shop has been piddly-low lately. Thanks for holding out and being patient :)

PS. Most of the above Gussy items have 2 of each available, but a few have 3 of each...

{wait for them}

Gussy is getting closer...

...to having more Gussy's in her shop.

I just need to stay focused on my sewing...

...and then I will have all 27 items LISTED! yeow :)


I made some great progress last night.
Here's to a great, productive Saturday {cheers!}

xo.

{working hard...}

...by making LOTS more Gussy tags:



...by continuing to sew 27 new items:



...by getting my shop stocked for the weekend:



...by loving what I do and not noticing the many hours of prep work/sewing:



This pile may not look like much, but I assure you... it's got nearly 200 pieces of fabric or interfacing in there. Plus zippers. Plus a dash of Gussy love ♥


I anticipate these new items will be ready Sunday afternoon. Maybe Saturday night. Regardless, it's just a few more days!!!

What are you working hard on? :)

{sewing, Gussy tags, and nephews}

Read my guest post, My soul was telling me to sew, by clicking here.

***

Last night was such a productive evening for Gussy! Yeow :)

My friend that helped me get my job here in Minneapolis, Nikki, came over after work {we work at the same company}. She sewed on my machine while I cut fabric. And Tweeted. And checked my email. And then cut more fabric, hah!

I am so proud of myself. I have outside fabric cut for 27 pieces! Yeowwwwww. I think that is my largest batch ever sewn. Now I know I'm not anywhere near done: I still have to cut the inside fabric, the interfacing, the ruffle. Then everything needs to be ironed and pressed. Then I can start sewing.

BUT I'M SEW EXCITED! I've been waiting for over a month to work with my new Heather Bailey fabric. The time has finally come :)

My shop is so low in stock. Ick. Hoping to have that taken care of very soon. Like by this weekend, soon.

I've got fabric cut for larger zipped pouches, medium zipped pouches, and small zipped pouches. I suppose I should cut out some wallets, yes? OK, now I am talking to myself. As if I don't talk enough, I have to talk to myself?!

Whatever...




Gorgeous! I can't wait to see these with a signature Gussy ruffle:



Also, last night I kept on my Gussy tags. Funny how if I let them sit for a long time they still don't make themselves... Oh well. They are cute, and fun to make:




Looks like I caught myself {and my pajamas!} in this photo:



My MIL made this for me for Christmas. An official Sweat Shop sign, made from an old family quilt that was falling apart {Zack's great grandma's, I believe}.

I need a little shelf on the wall so I can set this babeh proudly up on it:



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

Nephews! Oh how I miss thee. Target made this bib just for me {!!!}.
I know it :)



These little boys are the cutest little boys I know. Here, Collin is wearing a super hero cape from Grandma & Grandpa. Jack has a red one. OMW, precious! Jack's cape is a little long and almost touches the floor. He needs to grow into it still :)


Collin is so interested in camping, hiking, and all things adventurous! Ask him to tell you a story and he will light up. He loves to share his imagination with you. One night while at my parents, Collin had his new sleeping back out on the floor. He was laying in it and I told him, I bet Aunt Maggie can fit in that.

No you can't, you're an adult!

Yes, I am. But I'm also small. I bet I can fit in there... Get up and let me try?

...Turns out Aunt Maggie can fit in Collin's sleeping bag. It must have been exactly 5'4" though, because my toes were snug against the bottom seam :)

See Collin, Aunt Maggie may be an adult, but she's a tiny adult. Hah!

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

I'm getting more and more excited as y'all continue to email me about Giveaway Day, set for Monday, January 25. If you'd like to be included, read the above link and then send me an email. ♥

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

Other recent Gussy news: I'm going to Blissdom!!! Yeow!!!!!!! I've bought my ticket and am working hard to get some roommates. I feel like I'm close. Next on my list is to find decent airfare.

I'M GOING TO BLISSDOM!!!!!!!! {Can you tell I am excited?!} So incredibly pumped to meet all sorts of great blogging gals! Are you going? I would love to know and if you are, meet you! Link up if you are going, please :)

Hope to see you soon!

{worries and risks}

UPDATE! I just bought my Blissdom ticket! yeowwwwwwwwwww =)

Original post:


Saturday night, when we returned home from Michigan, I told Zack and if Gussy got any bigger then I would definitely be lacking in my housewife skillz. And I have mad housewife skillz. I think he was scared.

Actually, I might be scared. Some times I blank out and can't believe that Gussy is Gussy. That I am Gussy. I can't believe I'm typing these words right now, either. Recently, I have been chewing on the thought of attending Blissdom 2010. Then I looked at what it would cost for me to go. Then I looked at my Gussy business. Then I looked into attending for another few minutes.

Are you going to Blissdom? There are soooooooooooo many great people going that I want to meet. I have to meet them! :) But I have to be patient and sit quietly while God shares His plans. It is hard to tell today what my final decision will be. I know I want to go, so super badly. But I'd also like to have a few more Etsy sales before committing because like I mentioned above, I haven't been planning on going. Weird. Wouldn't it be "funny" if I went, even though I didn't plan? Because that would be SO not like me :)

I am a gal of security. I like to be confident. I like to plan ahead {although nowadays I don't plan too far ahead. Things can change fast!} I like to play it safe. However... when I first started Gussy {and even some moments today} I wasn't able to play it safe. Being Gussy required a lot of risks. To make it work I had to be risky. At the time I didn't realize the magntude those risks could have, but now they are unfolding beautifully before my eyes. Some times I get a little nervous about all this... Where will Gussy take me?

Hah, More like where will Gussy take Gussy?!

However, with all the risk-taking there is no doubt I'd do things differently if offered the chance. I have too much love for my sewing machine and The Sweat Shop to stop and drop. Sigh... I am in love.

So. Still working on attending Blissdom. Still working hard to keep The Sweat Shop going full-time. Still working hard to focus on God and His plans than my little worries that come and go in a flash.

I have to stop typing now and cut fabric. Gussy needs to shush and sew :)

xo!