Mimi G Sewing, Fashion, Style Conference 2014

Whew!  Hi you guys. The Mimi G Sewing, Fashion, Style Conference was this past weekend in Los Angeles and I'm still recovering.  I drove down with the family on Friday because registration started early on Saturday.  The weekend was full of information.  There were . . .

Presenters

Giveaways

And swag bags

And major announcements!!!

During the conference, Mimi announced her Mimi G Style patterns for Simplicity #MimiG4Simplicity which are part of the Simplicity Fall 2014 line available in stores in August. This was so exciting and she's so deserving.

And of course shopping

 There was plenty of eating too.

 The best room service burger ever!

Crab Cakes

Crab Enchiladas

  

Made to Order Guacamole - This was SO good

 

The Crew

 I wore this slit front maxi on Saturday reviewed here but somehow avoided being photographed in it.

I wore this Sunday, the top is B5753, which I'll review in another post.  I knew we'd be walking around downtown LA so I wanted to be comfortable.

 

  

 

This is the third Mimi G conference I've been to and each one is better than the last.  If you ever have an opportunity to attend I suggest you do.  The fellowship and sense of community is unparallelled.

Mimi G's Front Slit Maxi

When I first saw this dress on the Stitched9 site I knew I HAD to have something similar.  Since the  dress sold out in less than 10 hours, Mimi G was gracious enough to offer a tutorial for those of us who sew so we could recreate the exact dress. 

 

 Pattern Description: Wrap front, slit front maxi with elasticized waist and fabric belt.

Pattern Sizing: Custom pattern made from tutorial

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Absolutely

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Mimi is such a great teacher, and she doesn't disappoint in this tutorial.  She takes you through each step explaining what she's doing and then sews with you to show you how. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  This is one sexy dress.  I love how you get such a sexy dress but are still completely covered.  I also like the twist on the regular maxi patterns of the front slit. Best of all, this dress features a fully lined bodice which makes it a dream to wear.

Fabric Used: I used and ITY I found at fabric.com

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations needed as you create a custom pattern.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I would completely recommend this to other sewers of all skill levels and as for sewing it again, I already have my second one cut out.

Conclusion:   This is a great maxi dress, a fast sew and great for beginners and sewers of all levels.  Another Home Run for Mimi G.

OOTD Black and White Stripes

 I have been SUPER busy you guys working like crazy.  I haven't had much time to sew at all and to make matters worse, there are a ton of things I can no longer fit.  As a result, jeans and tank tops have been an integral part of my wardrobe.  I had an appointment this morning and then had a bunch of errands to run but I still like to feel pulled together so I thew on these black and white striped jeans from Forever 21 and a black tank.  I love these tanks and have one in every color and a few prints.  I get them from Wal-Mart of all places and like them because unlike many plus size tanks, that aren't super boxy and they have a nice amount of stretch so they have great recovery.

I do have a few pieces planned to sew so hopefully I'll have something to show you very soon.

I'm Walkin' . . .

Thanks to you guys for following me on the app mapmywalk (Kelly Horton).  You keep me motivated and accountable.  I've been trying to walk every day while the weather is nice and have been taking my boys, ages 10 and 7 with me if I walk in the afternoons.  We stopped by and picked up one of their friends the other day and he walked with us.  I was only going to walk a short distance because I was concerned about their stamina but they wanted to walk 2 miles, partially up a pretty steep hill.  I guess that will teach me to underestimate them.  I like walking with them because we get to spend time together unplugged and I hope I'm encouraging them to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.  I hope to increase to 2.5 miles this weekend and maybe, just maybe my legs will stop being so sore.

Determined

I generally do yoga during the week because I get home too late to walk.  However, I usually have at least 3-4 opportunities to walk over the weekend so I try to make sure to do it because I enjoy it and there is an instant sense of accomplishment.  I got a late start today so instead of the early morning when the weather is still cool, I walked at about 3:00.  I knew it was 100 degrees out, but I was determined not to wimp out.  One thing that I have learned about myself over the years is that if I start allowing myself to make excuses about not doing the right things, pretty soon, I won't be doing them at all.  I decided to get my boys (10 and 7) in on the action because I want to set a good example for them early on to be proactive and include fitness in their lives as part of a normal routine rather than being forced to do so after their health has been compromised.  We only walked about 3/4 of a mile but between the weather and dodging the wasp, it seemed like we were out there an hour rather than the brief 20 minutes.  I've started wearing a heart monitor when I work out so that I can make sure I'm getting the most benefit from my work out.  You can find them at Target, Wal-Mart or any sporting good store and I got mine on Amazon.com. 

Black and White stripes - Mimi G Off the Shoulder Maxi Dress

I made this dress months ago but hadn't worn it.  It's made using an ITY which of course you know is a thinner knit.  Since the dress is designed to be body skimming, it was telling all my business months ago but it has since learned the value of discretion. For those who are interested, I am trying a new strapless bra by Goddess Bras that I found at JC Penney but that is available through other retailers.  So far it's the best one I've tried as it stays in place, and holds up to the weight.  In fact, the only downside I see would be trying to get into by yourself because the structure is so sturdy, it really works best to put it on and have some one fasten it from the back.

Butterick 5645 Weekend Wear

 

I love to dress up.  But when I'm not dressed up, I still like to look pulled together.  Here's my twist on jeans and a T-shirt.  This shirt is soooo comfortable and it wore very well.  Sometimes I have trouble with tops like this because of my sloping shoulders but not with this one.

 

Pattern Description: MISSES' TOPS: Close-fitting.

Pattern Sizing: Combinations: Y(XS-S-M), ZZ(L-XL-XXL)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? I think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't need them but I read over them and they were good.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I like this modern spin on the basic "T-shirt".  Split sleeve, draped neckline and elastic waist.

Fabric Used: Bamboo Knit

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No design changes.  The pattern does have a lot of ease so I cut according to the flat pattern measurements rather than the size indicated on the pattern to get the fit I wanted.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would definitely recommend this to others. I may make this again in the future but I have lots of others I want to try.

Conclusion:   Definitely and easy and versatile pattern.  Great for beginners.