Welcome to another edition of my new blog series: Pursuing Her Passion. I've had this topic on my heart for a long time and I knew that I wasn't alone. There are so many creative and talented women out there chasing their dreams, pursuing their calling, and taking risks in order to fulfill God's plan for their life. There are also many creative and talented women who haven't quite found their passion just yet, or may be feeling held back from being able to pursue their dream. This series is meant to inspire women who are currently looking for that passion in their life if they haven't found it. And if they have, then this series should be an encouragement to get out there and start pursuing it head on!
Next up is the adorable Maggie Whitley, A.K.A. Gussy, of Gussy Sews. I've been lucky enough to hang out with this gem several times. She has such a sweet heart. And gives really good hugs. Currently residing in Minneapolis with her hubs and pup, this creative gal is living it up and pursuing her passion in the handmade biz. Hear Maggie's inspirational story of how she turned her dream into reality:
Hi everyone! My name is Maggie Whitley and I'm the owner + designer of a ruffled fashion accessory boutique called Gussy Sews. I also write a lifestyle blog where I share little bits of my day-to-day, encouraging blog/biz tips and of course updates on my ruffled items. I started sewing three years ago ~ at the time my husband and I were living in Detroit and I had recently found Etsy. You've heard of Etsy, right? ;] I was literally fascinated by the fact that girls my age {mid-twenties} knew how to sew and were managing an online shop. So what did I do? After spending a little time dreaming, off to the library I went. Thirty books later {seriously!}, a handful of YouTube video tutorials later ~ I had opened an Etsy shop.
In the beginning my Etsy shop was purely a hobbyist income for my family. However, pretty quickly after I opened it my husband and I BOTH lost our jobs, and to make a crazily-detailed story short, we ended up moving to Minneapolis because we couldn't find work in Michigan. Throughout that long period of unemployment, and after our big move, I continued to sew and develop my brand. The positive response my shop and blog saw was that last push I needed: it was time to quit my day job, the one we JUST moved to Minneapolis for, so I could pursue Gussy Sews full-time. Shortly after we moved to Minneapolis my husband found a salaried position, too. So we weren't completely crazy, hah!
BUT OH MAN, WE WERE SO EXCITED!!!! ;]
It's been about 18 months since I left my day job and looking back it's easy to connect the dots to see the bigger picture. The LORD has always made it clear to my husband and I what His are plans are, and so I'll be honest, that has made knowing what to do pretty easy. I mean, when the only job you're offered in 7 months is in Minneapolis it's not that hard to know which job to pick, right??? Hah. But at the same time, moving 400 miles and 3 states away was not easy. In fact, I absolutely fought against the idea of moving out-of-state. Obviously I lost :]
My authentic gifts and passions in life are to be of encouragement to others. When I process these last few years of marriage and all the adventures God has taken Zack and I on, I instantly think about the encouragement others gave us and how helpful that was. It made me want to be an encourager to others as well ~ to pass on that simple gift. And lately I've been encouraging others to simply DREAM about the journeys they want to experience, then to write down 5 simple ways they can accomplish them. Yes it's scary, yes it may be out of your comfort zone, but YES it will be worth it.
And remember -- you have unique talents that no one else has!!! Sometimes it's easy to see them as setbacks, but try to see them as gifts :]
The thing you are constantly dreaming of -- what is that? Write it down, give your dream some life by spending thirty minutes journaling about it. When you're finished journaling, gather your family and share it with them. How can you bring it to fruition?
xoxo, Gussy
The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing ~ Zeph 3:17
Comments are closed for the Pursuing Her Passion Series. Here's how you can connect with Maggie:
blog // shop // facebook // twitter // pinterest
