{Custom Order :: Meg's knitting bag}

This particular Gussy Custom Order means a lot to me, because it's for a very special blog reader. Meg always, always, ALWAYS leaves me comments. And they are so awesome, because they are ALWAYS positive. She usually writes me each morning, telling me how much she loves my blog and wishes me a great day.

Well, Miss Meg, I want you to know I look forward to your comments every morning :) This Custom Order is a knitting bag and I've stuck some of my lonely yarn {the sewing machine steals all my time...} in the bag for the photo shoot. There are 8 pockets for knitting needles and a large opening for about a half dozen skeins of yarn.








This bag rocks! I normally don't become too attached to my Gussy items because I know they are to be sold. But... I wanted to keep this one :) Hah!




I love the extra-wide Gussy ruffle.




This is a prime example of why I love to sew. It definitely fills my need to interact with others, feel needed, and show myself daily that "I can!"




How many of you could get lost in this bag? ;) It's huge and amazing.





So Meg, this bag should be on your doorstep by now.

I hope you love it, create many wonderful projects while using this bag, and let it be a reminder that we all have an impact on one another. You are so inspiring :)

xo.

{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.

***

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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{4 custom orders, done!}

Saturday I was able to complete a huge task from my to-do list: sew custom orders! I had four to do for January and I just HAD to get them done this past weekend, especially because I'm going out of town this coming weekend. Also because January is almost over and SERIOUSLY Gus, get. some. work. done.


I can only photograph my Gussy products on weekends, so you can imagine how difficult it can be to schedule everything I want to do each weekend. Maybe if I didn't schedule 2.1 million activities?! hah. I basically have from 1-4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays to shoot.

Some day, if my dream comes true, I'll have allllllllll the time in the world to work on Gussy. A girl can dream, right? :)




Some times Custom Orders can take a lot of extra work, but I really feel that with all the orders I've received lately {hence all the experience I'm gaining running this business} I'm able to enjoy them so much more. I know that might not make any sense, but hey, it makes sense inside my brain :)

And! To make it really fun, you guys come up with some seriously cute ideas! :)

Hello?! Why didn't I think of a double ruffle?!



Talk about sassy!

If you'd like a custom Gussy, just type me an email. We can work something out!

Also, if you're thinking of ordering a Gussy {new shop or Etsy} for Valentine's Day, please order by Friday, February 5 to ensure on-time delivery within the US ♥

{a little surprise...}

I'll reveal the surprise SOON!
:)

{for Jessy}

This hot number is a Gus for Work laptop bag {custom order}. It was placed in November to be given as a Christmas gift to one of my college friends. I, of course, couldn't post any of these photos in December. No, no, no. I had to wait until Christmas was over :) Gussy didn't want to ruin a good surprise!

But this way I now have lots of lovely photos to share with you! See, it all works out in the end ♥

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{custom order: for Katie}

Here's another Custom Order I finished. Christmas is nearing so the buyer must remain anonymous! {I never know who might be reading this blog!} The buyer wanted a bag for her ______ to carry lotions and other liquid products in. The inside is wipe-able {wipeable?} and it's beach-themed. Or, as Gussy calls it: mucho mega relaxing to look at :)






I am now caught-up with my Custom Orders. For 2010, I'll be accepting 3/month. January is booked and I have one commitment for March. A little random, but Gussy likes random things :)

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I know I am a broken record on this, but it's just so true! I've got a huge itch to be sewing with my new Heather Bailey fabrics. The big question: What do I make with them?! If you have an opinion {aka: suggestion} be sure to leave a comment. Hah!

Now that the year is winding down and tomorrow is my last shipping day {**place your order by TONIGHT if you want your Gussy item mailed this year**} I have more free time than I ever imagined. I've been so used to working full-time elsewhere, then coming home to sew/Gussy full time in the evening... What am I supposed to do with this down-time as I relax before the Holidays?!

Duh. Just do some light sewing. I can't stop. It's like an addiction. Or a mom telling herself to not be a mom for a week. Yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Impossible I tell you.

*My shop will still be open while we are gone, but all orders placed tomorrow morning through Monday, January 4 will be mailed on Tuesday, January 5.