HI DARLINGS! I wanted to just share a few pics of our latest posts over at TIEKOANDMIMI.COM in case you are not yet following us 😉 I love having the Mimi G blog be mostly DIY so having another blog with my bestie lets me share my non-sewing looks. BUT… since my darlings here love to sew I wanted to share THIS pattern to make a parka similar to the army one we have on. You can get some cool appliqués and turn this into a serious DIY! Be safe this holiday weekend and I will see you guys on Tuesday!

HI DARLINGS! you ever get home with the kids and they sit down to do homework and next thing you know they are asleep at the dining table? Yeah well that was happening often around here so I decided I would use the same sleep habits I am learning from my collaboration with Sleep Number® on the kids. Ever since I started focusing on better sleep I have been obsessive about learning how sleep affects our entire life so I made it a priority to ensure my family was getting the rest they needed…. I even have talked my friend’s ears off about it. After about two weeks or so on the new schedule I started to notice a change. Instead of crawling out of bed in the mornings they were more awake and it took me less time to get them going. I also noticed a lot more healthy energy after they got home from school. Sleep Number® i8 for about two months now and I love it! It’s funny how much we think we know until you are looking at facts. I use to think that I liked a soft mattress but after sleeping on my Sleep Number®  i8 I noticed that I got better sleep when I had my mattress much firmer. The other really interesting thing I noticed is how restless I became around 3am. Now that I have found my correct Sleep Number® setting I see very little restlessness throughout the night. Waking up and checking my SleepIQ score became a fun game, LOL! Every night I tried to beat my previous score. I sleep great now! Now we try to make sure there is some fun playtime scheduled into the day (after homework of course) so that they get all worn out for a good night’s sleep! You may want to try some of these tips and please let me know if they help you. To learn more sleep tips for kids make sure to visit the Sleep Number® blog HERE Sponsored by Sleep Number®

HI DARLINGS! I hope you are having a great week so far. I am filming all week and then headed to NY soon so I am going to keep my next several posts super short and just share my #DIY look details. The top is from my dress and top TUTORIAL and the pants are from my SIMPLICITY PATTERN #1019 I love this top/dress tutorial because it is super simple, you can make it as a dress or a top or mini etc. and these pants are EVERYTHING!

HELLO DARLINGS! You guys know I am always looking to keep my babies happy and healthy, like all moms do so when I partnered up with Olly I was really excited to see how the kids would react to their new vitamins. Happy Tummy”, Super Brainey, Growing Bones and Mighty Immunity. *Make sure to check out he amazing giveaway at the end of this post* “Super Brainy” because she says it makes her smarter than her brother, LOL! CLICK LINK to enter to win over $1,000 in prizes for super kids and their super moms and dad’s! (details on the giveaway and prizes can be found HERE)

HI DARLINGS! Its probably not a big surprise to you long time followers that the closer we get to the ANNUAL CONFERENCE the less time we have around here to post so I thought I would give you guys some restyled looks from old DIY’s that I still have in my closet. It’s been pretty chilly here in LA so I have been able to take out some card’s and wraps to stay a bit warm. This one I made in November of 2012! I couldn’t believe it was still in my closet, lol. I loved this fabric so much when I bought it but let me tell ya…it is itchy! LOL The pattern is now out of print but there are similar patterns to get this look. I like it because its list enough to wear in the spring and I can make it lighter weight fabrics if I wanted. You could try searching online for the pattern V8696

HI DARLINGS! I give away most of my DIY clothes every season unless it’s a piece I really love so when I was going through my closet the other day I found this little number that I made about two years ago. I love this dress so much so I wore it out the other day and photographed it again. It was a little more snug in the waist than I remember, LOL! but it fit. The original pattern review is below along with fabric options. I wore my STEVE MADDEN HEELS and some FOREVER 21 SUNNIES Pattern Sizing: I cut size 6 Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern once you were done with it? Yes Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, they are clear and easy to understand. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the neckline and I am a total sucker for a girly, flowy dress. Fabric Used: Rayon/Poly Blend (options) HERE, HERE and HERE Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did not need to make any changes to the pattern and only ended up removing about 2″ of ease in the bust. I lined the bodice with the fashion fabric but did not have enough for the skirt so I used a lightweight tricot for the skirt lining. I made this dress in a knit although the pattern calls for a woven. Would you sew it again? Yes I think I need this in black. Would you recommend it to others? Yes!!!! #butterickp #DIY #pattern #sewing

HI DARLINGS! I get asked about fitting all the time…It’s the toughest hurdle to overcome when you learn to sew but with time, practice, good instruction you will soon learn YOUR body and what fit adjustments you need. All our bodies are different so fitting becomes a very personal thing. I plan to cover fit issues on the blog but I wanted to share two books that taught me SO MUCH!! I am telling you to run and get these two books if you don’t buy anything else because they are clear and easy to understand. First one is FIT FOR REAL PEOPLE I hope this will be helpful to and I promise you will not regret these two books. Order HERE and HERE

HI DARLINGS! Well my mind is officially BLOWN… I can’t believe how well SEW IT! Academy is doing. Today is the LAST DAY to enroll. I am taking the registration down until June so no one will be able to enroll after 12pm PST today. We will re-launch in June at a new monthly rate of $11.97 so if you or your friends haven’t signed up for the $9.97 rate this is your last chance. Unlike the six month or annual membership the monthly membership remains $9.97 for the life of your membership if you sign up today. ATTENTION!!!! I  have been made aware that some of you have not been getting notifications of new blog posts. Please sign up for email notifications in the sidebar. This will notify you of every blog post I publish. Enter your name and email address and you are good to go. This is a new form so if you were subscribed already you will need to do it again. Sorry…. Thank you!! Okay now on to this fab two piece that I am obsessed with and plan to make  A LOT!!! New Look #6461 is an awesome pattern. (pattern review for both pants and top below) Pattern Sizing: I cut the the 8 in the tunic and a 10 in the pants Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes! Oh my gosh I LOVE this pattern. The pants are so easy and have an elastic waist and the top/tunic is perfect. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved how easy and comfy it looked. Fabric Used: I used a beautiful LINEN KNIT from Michael Levine for the tunic and a gorgeous SILK/RAYON print I picked up at THE FABRIC STORE on LaBrea Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? YES! I plan to make this two piece at least twice, lol! STYLE IT: STEVE MADDEN fringe heels , FOREVER 21 Sunnies, H&M and F21 Jewelry

HI DARLINGS! OMG I can’t believe how many students signed up to the SEW IT! ACADEMY in just two days…My mind is blown and I could almost burst into tears. It’s so great and I am so thankful for how excited everyone is. This is the last week to sign up for the special rate of $9.97 a month so if you haven’t done so yet or haven’t told your friends who keep asking you to make stuff for them (LOL) send them over to the SITE asap… you have until May 16th and then I am closing the academy and not opening back up until June. Okay…Now on to this amazing top which I drafted for myself last week. I have been wanting to make one for so long and figured I would do a test with my top and if it worked out I would do a full tutorial so…expect a new tutorial VERY soon for this top and a dress version… yay! See you tomorrow my Darlings… xoxo click image to visit www.sewitacademy.com #school #sewing #project #academy #sewit #DIY

HI DARLINGS! I have some awesome news for you…Remember that great online tutoring service Chegg that I was using for Imani? Well I have been so impressed that not only have we continued using the service but Imani’s friends are all using it too and Now you can get a 30-minute FREE trial to try out Chegg Tutors. Sign up HERE to receive your free trial — just in time for finals! The service is on demand so no scheduling is necessary unless you want to schedule it and most times she only needs help for 20-30 minutes so that is all I pay for. I love not having to pay for blocks of time that she may or may not need. We really enjoyed working with David L. he is so responsive and makes it easy for her to grasp the lesson (I on the other hand would need several lessons, LOL) David is a California Institute of Technology Graduate and majored in Physics. The ability to access Chegg tutors that are current students or recent graduates of top-tier colleges and universities around the world is priceless! Sign up HERE to receive your free trial!

HELLO DARLINGS! WE HAVE LAUNCHED… I am so excited I almost can’t stand it. Okay it is official we have launched SEW IT! Academy and you can now go enroll and get started learning. Make sure to look around the new website, watch my welcome video and get signed up with your special membership rate of only $9.97 a month. **BUT REMEMBER registration will close on May 16th and won’t re-open until June 1st at a higher monthly subscription rate of $11.97 so hurry! SEW IT! ACADEMY MEMBER WEBSITE! The SEW IT! Academy website is so fabulous and has all the information you need. Once you choose your membership you can log on and start watching the first lesson. Remember the videos do not expire and once you are a member you can log in and watch the lessons at your own pace. Thank you so much for the support and I will chat with you soon. Make sure to have your friends join SEW IT! ACADEMY so they don’t miss out on the special pricing! If you any questions please read the FAQ page on www.sewitacademy.com or email hello@sewitacademy.com #academy #courses #lessons #sewit

HI DARLINGS! I am so excited about launching SEW IT! Academy and since I have received so many questions I thought I would post some answers to those questions below. Make sure you are signed up for the newsletter which will have a bit more info and will also include you in the MOTHER’S DAY SEWING MACHINE GIVEAWAY!!!!! GIVEAWAY ENTRY: If you are already signed up for the newsletter then you are all set and are automatically entered in the giveaway. If you are not signed up make sure to sign up at the end of this post. I will announce the winner on MAY 9TH! Watch the video below and tell your fiends!! Starting this journey with someone else will make this experience even greater and will help you stay accountable. ABOUT SEW IT! Academy The SEW IT! Academy is a membership site that will host a series of courses designed to help you learn to sew and then take your sewing to the next level. After registering, you’ll have access to the first course in the Academy and every month you will have a new course and other monthly benefits. These courses are designed and taught by Mimi G. HOW SEW IT ACADEMY WILL WORK SEW IT! Academy is a membership site that hosts a series of courses designed to help you learn to sew and then take your sewing to the next level. Registration for the SEW IT! Academy will open on Monday, May 9th, and close on Monday, May 16th. Registration will not open again until June 1st. Be sure to mark your calendar. After registration, you will have access to the first course and every month there will be a new course(s) added that will be a continuation of the previous class. This will help to make learning easier while learning new skills with every new course. The courses will be pre-recorded so you can start and finish each course at your own pace. Every month a new course is made available to you. Once a course lesson is made available you will have unlimited access to it as long as you are a member of the SEW IT! Academy. You will have the ability to contact and connect with me and my staff to ensure that you maximize each lesson. There will be a members-only Academy Facebook group where you can connect with other members for support, encouragement and accountability. The SEW IT! Academy will also host monthly live chats, online events, giveaways and live mini-lessons for members only. WHAT IS THE COURSE ROLL OUT? WILL THE REGISTRATION LINK BE EMAILED? When registration opens on May 9th, the current course below will be available. Registration links will be emailed so sign up for the newsletter below so you don’t miss a thing and also receive a special launch date rate! LAUNCH DATE COURSE! Learn to Sew: A Step-By-Step Course on the Basics of Sewing! Intro: Introduction to the class and what to expect. This Is a Sewing Machine: I will cover my sewing machine recommendations including my number one choice for beginners. I will do a complete review of all sewing machine parts staring with pulling it out of the box and going through all the functions, buttons and accessories that come with your machine. You will learn what all of those buttons do before we even get started. -Printable list provided Setting Up Your Sewing Kit: I will go through all the necessary supplies you will need to create you starter sewing kit. I will share my favorite tools and what they are used for. -Printable list provided Learning To Sew a Straight Line: The first thing to master is how to control your speed and foot pedal pressure. I will help you get use to the pressure of the sewing machine foot pedal, how to control your speed and how to practice sewing in a straight line before threading your machine using my printable paper guides. I will share my tricks to sewing in a straight line and how to stay focused on your guide. -Printable practice sheets provided Threading Your Machine: Most issues arise from incorrect threading of the machine or bobbin so I am going to walk you through the threading parts of the machine you need to become familiar with, how to read the guides on the machine and will walk you through threading the machine. Winding And Threading Your Bobbin : I will walk you through winding the bobbin, how to engage it, thread it and insert it. Basic Stitches And Terms: I will cover all the basic stitches we will be starting with and what the basic terms mean. Sewing Project 1 and 2: We will be completing TWO full projects during this course. In these projects you will learn new terms along with creating casings, inserting ribbon, finishing seams, placing fabric on the machine, understanding seam allowances, attaching and fusing appliqués, pinning, marking fabrics, basting, gathering, folding seams and pressing and attaching a zipper. -Printable supplies list provided All these skills will get you prepared for the next course in the SEW IT! Academy “Intro to Garment Sewing PART 1: An Intro to Sewing Your Own Clothes” COMING SOON…. Garment Sewing Part 2:  Garment Sewing Continuation/ Skill Building
 /Pattern Understanding Garment Sewing Part 3:  Garment Sewing Continuation/ Skill Building
 /Pattern Fitting Garment Sewing: Step-By-Step Course on Sewing with Knits Draft Your Own Basic Top Pattern: Part 1 Draft Your Own Basic Top Pattern: Part 2 Creating Multiple Styles with One Pattern There will be new courses every month! The Instructor(s):I have been teaching sewing for over 10 years and one thing I know for sure is that no one can show you how to sew like I can. I have spent the last 4 years teaching online by way of my “one project” tutorials and what I have learned is that step-by-step instruction via video makes learning fun and engaging.  I also plan to add handpicked instructors to add to the knowledge base. The SEW IT! Academy Forum: The SEW IT! Academy forum is for members only and will be in a private Facebook group. It will provide an private place for members to share, ask questions, receive encouragement, and hold each other accountable. The Live Events: The SEW IT! Academy will host monthly live online chats with me and SEW IT! Academy Instructors. During these “Ask the Sew-lebrity” events you will have the opportunity to watch, learn, interact and ask questions! We will also have mini live classes and fun monthly giveaways. The Why:I began Mimi G Style, Inc. to share my expertise to everyone I possibly could reach. I felt that the art of sewing was not being taught in a way that was making a real difference and engaging people to try something they never thought to do. I launched SEW IT! Academy because I want to help women feel empowered by learning a new skill and possibly turn that new skill into a small business. HOW MUCH WILL SEW IT! ACADEMY COST? The SEW IT! Academy will cost a monthly fee of $11.97 (SPECIAL LOWER LAUNCH DATE RATE IF YOU SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER BELOW) The Academy will close registration on Monday May 16th and will open back up on June 1st. At SEW IT! you will never pay for more than you need…Instead, you will always receive more than what you are paying for. **Your special launch date rate will not change for the life of your membership so make sure to sign up between May 9th and May 16th.** The SEW IT! Academy is an ongoing continuing education lifestyle. You can maintain your membership for as long as you like. New courses will be introduced EVERY month along with monthly giveaways, FB group exclusives, Live Chats and more. CAN I SIGN UP AT ANY TIME? Yes however registration will open on Monday, May 9th, and close on Monday, May 16th. Registration won’t open up again until June 1st at a higher monthly rate of $11.97 (you can cancel your membership at any time) WILL THERE BE ADVANCED COURSES OFFERED? The SEW IT! Academy is an ongoing education with a skill building curriculum. We will begin at the very beginning and increase in skill level with each course. There will be intermediate, advanced and special project courses offered as we progress. CAN I PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP AS A GIFT FOR A FRIEND? You can certainly give  SEW IT! Academy memberships as a gift! Register the name and email of the person you want to give the gift of membership to on May 9th, but provide your payment info when you buy the membership. SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER!! and MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR MAY 9TH! I’M READY TO “SEW IT!” Email Address First Name