Where does my loyalty lie?

Lately I've had this nagging feeling that I've got it all wrong.  I started my business almost 4 years ago fresh faced. I was ready to serve God and honor Him in all I do. When Kerrie and I started this together, we would  meet together and pray for our business. We would faithfully tithe 10% of our earnings, so that someone else could benefit from the blessings God has given our business.

Then Kerrie moved, and I no longer had that accountability. I was building my business on my own, and watching God at work, from a comfortable distance.

Sure, I still thank Him with each order I see. And  I tell people all the time how much God has blessed Gathered & Sown. But is HE still a part of what I am doing? Not really. I somehow found myself working harder than I used to, getting frustrated more than I had before and not appreciating my business for all that it is. I am in a place where I'm not sure what to do next. I am feeling overwhelmed with my blessings.

And why is that? Because...


I forgot that God is the pilot.  And that I, as an inexperienced pilot, stupidly grabbed the controls from His hands and tried to fly the business by myself. 


Which brings me to now. With His endless patience and mercy, God has shown me where I am falling short. He is showing me that things will be so much easier if I allow HIM to be in control. And I'm in a place where I'm simply asking Him "How do I do it?" It seems I've forgotten how to let God be in control.

Credit:  Jeannewinters

I've decided that I'm going to start this new year intentionally seeking Gods will for my business and my life. I'm not sure what that looks like yet, but I know that " .... God is able to bless me abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work...." ( taken from 2 Corinthians 9:8)

He also promises me that He..." is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me..." 
(adapted from Ephesians 3:20)

I invite you all to join me. If you are feeling like you struggle with allowing God to take control, I'm with you. But I know that with a little faith, and a lot of trust, God will get me to where HE wants me to be, which is far better than where I think I need to go.

Photo Credit: RedLetterWords.com

My Latest Batch of Inspiration

I'm in that time of year where I get to focus on new designs. I love the process of finding inspiration, and then playing and working to create something new for my handbag line! I am working on some great new products to reveal, but I'll be honest. It will be a while before you get to see them! I'm still filling orders that continue to come in {thank you, by the way!} and my Etsy shop is keeping me on my toes. So my post today will simply be a few things I found on pintrest that are inspiring me right now, which might give you some clues as to what I'm working on. Hint, hint!

...and I want to build on this design I did earlier :)

So, I'll be busy, but hopefully I'll have a fresh new batch of bags to show off very soon. Thanks for checking out my inspirations. So tell me....What inspires you????

Entering a whole new realm of pursemaking!

I recently hit the leather jackpot, thanks to  a hookup from a  friend in the furniture biz!
See these three boxes? They are mine...all mine!

See the words..19.05? Thats pounds. Of leather!
Oh, and there are 3 of them...

This is the 67 pounds all dumped on the ground, waiting for me to sort it. Ugh.

Mid sort, I swear...I have a system here! The angle of the picture is deceiving, you can't tell from looking but it is taking up about 10x10 feet of floor space!

My sister hopes I have enough black to make her a purse. I think we'll be ok....

A preview of my new leather line. Thats all you get til I've got more to show :)

I've already started playing with it today, and have big plans. Now to find somewhere to put it all.....hmmmmm!

Score Your Purse for Less Than it's Worth(s) ..hehe

Lots of people have been asking me about this big sale I'm launching this Thursday, so for those who don't know, here's how it's going to go :)

This Thursday, January 12 at 9 am, I will be posting a link on my Facebook page. The link will be for  one item in my Etsy shop with a one time use discount code attached to it. That code will be for a substantial discount, ranging from 20 up to 50%! 

The first person to use the code gets it. Once the code is used, the item is no longer on sale. So you have to be quick!

Wristlets
 ($20 regular price)

Bible Covers
($18 regular price)

 I will be posting items and codes at random times of the day and evening through Saturday. (Hours WILL REMAIN between 9 am and 8 pm central time) I will try to give a little warning of the time of the next offer, but won't reveal the item until I post it. I have to keep some element of surprise, right??

Ruffle Bags
($45 or $50 regular price)

I am not trying to clearance my inventory, so these will be items that are new, popular and currently in my shop! So if you were eyeballing anything, now would be the time to follow me on Facebook....hint,hint!

Kids Crayon Bags
($18 regular price)

If you are not on facebook, ask a friend to watch for the codes for you. Facebook is where they will be revealed, so while you don't have to be following Gathered &Sown on FB, it will definitely give you an advantage.

I welcome and appreciate your questions. Please post them in the comments below. I will answer them here to keep all the info in one place.

Finally, to make this sale a success, I need your help! Please pass this on to anyone who might like to be a part of it. Your word of mouth referrals are priceless to me!


So what items are you watching for? I'm trying to decide what to offer first :)



Are you ready??? I know I am!

New Year, time for a makeover...

Ok, we are settled again. The hubs is back at work, the girls are back at school and I am back in my studio. I am completely caught up on orders (I think it was this time last year that I was able to say that!) and I am able to relax!



But of course, I wouldn't be me without getting that ridiculous itch that something needs to change. Nothing life altering, nothing that involves anyone else. My target? My blank slate of a blah dining room!

My dining romm is small, and it is the darkest room in my otherwise sunshine drenched house. 

The walls are grey, the trim is white and the table is Oak.

Dark, heavy red oak.

Mission style dark, heavy red oak, in a house that has NOTHING mission style in it. But alas the table is solid, well built and cost us a small fortune when we bought it 11 years ago, so it will stay.

We have this awesome 6x6 foot window that opens to our front porch and I love looking out of it. But look how stark it is!

In an inspired mood, I made the hubs take the china cabinet off the top of the buffet. So it is now a piece of furniture I can use. We love to have friends over to play games, and we always end up in the dining room, but there was no where convenient to place our snacks. You can't play games without snacks! So now I have a buffet, perfect snack place. 

Also note the light fixture that is really high in the picture. When they built the house, they placed it off center in the room, so we moved it by the chain which was cut for the place it was, so for the last 4 years our light has hung funny. We'll get that fixed eventually. In the meantime, don't look up if you are in my dining room, ok?

That fixture had some awful mission style lamp shades on it which didn't bother me until last week. Then all of a sudden I couldn't STAND them! So the hubs ran out, bought plain white shades and removed said, ugly mission style shades. 

{disclaimer: I have nothing against mission style, I actually quite like it, but my house is clearly not built mission style, so it doesn't fit, capishe ?}

Here is my plan so far...curtains. For sure.

I'd love to see the carpet fly out the window, but it's not in the budget, so my hardwood dreams will wait. 

I think this Emily Burger print would look great in here, with a family pic somewhere...

..or this one....

I can't decide!

I am also thinking of copy catting curtains similar to these.... love that ruffle!

This runner makes me want to squeal it is so cute!
{I can make that!! }



What else can I do? I'm looking for great ideas! What do you all think? My dining room is the worlds canvas....