The Simone Skirt

I found a fabric that is so beautiful that I can stare at it for hours. 

The texture is soft yet sturdy.  The pattern is simple but interesting.  And the color is perfect.

Introducing the Simone Skirt.

(with pockets. i heart pockets.)

She is made of a substantial cotton and linen canvas that gives her a nice, sturdy shape but is soft enough for movement.

Because I have a girl who likes to be on the move.

The faded rose pink is so romantic and sweet, but the metallic tiles give this skirt just the right amount of edge.  

Pretty and feminine . . . 

But tough and ready for adventure.

This skirt can be paired with . . . 

. . . .a dressy cardigan and metallic gold ballet flats for an important event.

. . . a denim shirt tucked in (or untucked) for a day of adventure.

. . . or with a simple white tank and flip flops for a walk around the block.

The really amazing thing about this fabric is that it can be paired with boots and tights in the cooler months.  Love some versatility.

 But here is what really sets Simone apart from the other skirts.

Her glitzy gold exposed zipper.  What a knockout!  

(Don't worry -- there's a fabric placket that keeps that zipper from touching skin)

 It's true I can only make a limited amount or this girl starts to feel neglected . . .

So you want to know how to get one?

Here's the scoop:

I will make the skirt in girls' sizes 2-14.

Thursday night.  May 21st.  8:00PM CST.

mimimack.bigcartel.com

Set your alarm and get your spouse, neighbor, mom, or babysitter to watch the kids so you can lock yourself in the bathroom with your laptop.  Not that I have ever done that before or anything . . .

As much as I would love to have these skirts pre-made and ready to ship, I decided that doesn't make sense.  I will take custom orders that will ship within 2-3 weeks.  What does that mean?

It means you can purchase the skirt and then send me your wonder girl's measurements -- just her normal skirt size along with waist and the length you want the skirt to be.  Since the skirt is fitted, it actually needs to, well, fit really, really well or it will "look all wonky" as my Meemers says.  Don't have a tape measure?  Just use a piece of string and then measure that with a ruler.  Simple enough, right?

The only method of payment I can accept right now is Paypal, so set up an account if you haven't already:).

I would love to sew for you all but quantities are limited.  Thanks so much for understanding my tiny business plan and for being awesome customers!

 By the way, this little photo shoot took place on a very important day.

It was my birthday :)

 And a beach day along with a Baker Boys' cupcake was all I ever dreamed of . . . 

yummmmmmm.

*The fabulous denim shirt is Circo from Target.  (I'm not even kidding!  How great is that?)
The turquoise sandals are Mimi's new favorites and are from Tom's.
The awesome bearded guy is courtesy of Baker Boys in Highland Park, IL.  Memphis friends, think of it as the boy version of Muddy's.  You get me, don't you?

Quick recap for the newbies

Whoa, I didn't realize I'd been neglecting the blog for so long.  Lots of updating to do -- on what has been going on and what is yet to come.  First thing's first -- WELCOME!!  Many of you have discovered my tiny business recently, and I am so, so happy you found me!

Just a little background if you're new around here.  I am a mommy to a 6-year-old wonder girl and a 4-year-old stinky boy, and I began sewing about five years ago after becoming a children's clothes shopaholic.  I kept buying and buying trying to find those designs that were in my mind until I realized I could use a sewing machine and make them myself.  After my daughter's closet rack almost broke in half, I knew it was time to share the love.  And so Mimi & Mack was born.

I sew in my spare time, so for now Mimi & Mack will stay tiny.  The items may be hard to come by because of this, but when you are able to get your hands on the perfect outfit for your child you will know that she will probably be the only child at her sister's dance recital in that perfect outfit.

Right now I am a part of an amazing group called the Brownie-Goose Online Showcase (rolls off the tongue, right?) on Facebook.  This is a group of over 20 fantastic designers who have come together to sell our creations and possibly inspire other designers.  We mainly use patterns made by the fabulous Amy of Brownie-Goose, but will also use our own designs and patterns from other designers.  We have a sale this Monday night and then the next one will be at the end of July.

Here are a few items that I have sold on BG this spring:

My daughter is lucky to be in a fantastic school, and I was happy to help out with the PTO fundraiser, Cocktails and Couture, this spring.  Some fun pieces that sold from that event:

I recently took a break from public sales and made a few things for family and close friends so I could test out some new ideas, but I am now working on new items for all of you.  The fabulous SIMONE SKIRT will be at mimimack.bigcartel.com very soon!  

Busy, Busy, Busy :)

Welcome to all the newbies around here!  I am so happy you found Mimi & Mack!  I have had several questions about how to order and what is coming next, so I'll try my best to fill you in.  I just downed two chocolate, chocolate chip muffins and a big cup of coffee, so fingers crossed I'm not too spastic to get through this before my wild children come barreling downstairs to beg me to feed them.

First of all, I am a one-lady tiny shop just north of Chicago (was in the city for several years and am just now getting used to this Mayberry life).  I am originally from a small town in Mississippi, and I love merging the two styles of Southern and Big City.  I only make about 1-10 pieces of each style at a time so that you know what you order will not be seen on every child in your town.  What your daughter will have is not made overseas in a large manufacturing warehouse.  It is made early in the morning, in between school drop offs and swim lessons, and sometimes late at night in my home.  I probably should be folding more laundry, having more coffee with girlfriends, or propping my feet up to watch a little television, but instead I choose to lose myself in fabrics.  Please know that I spend weeks (sometimes months) sketching and shopping for just the right fabrics and patterns that take my breath away . . . and it is sometimes very difficult for me to let go of items!  Especially the ones in Mimi's size :).

As my time allows, I try to come up with new pieces every month, so please keep checking here, Facebook, or Instagram (mimi_and_mack) for new items.  I sell my items on mimimack.bigcartel.com, and you can check there to see what items have sold in the past few months.  Right now I do not take custom orders, and I will not remake someone else's items.  Other designers work hard to come up with their own creations, and while it is flattering to them to have someone love their items, it is also painful to see a remake.  

Recently our local newspaper, The Glencoe Anchor, featured Mimi & Mack in the Life & Arts section, and I am thrilled with the article!  I was expecting a back page corner and was given two full pages.  Very beautifully written and has made me so very grateful they stumbled across my little business.  The author went to high school in Alabama, so he totally understood my Southern roots.

In January, I joined the Brownie-Goose Online Showcase (which is how many of you found me), and will be selling 6-10 items on their Facebook page every few months.  Last night I sold this sweet little number in a matter of seconds!  I was blown away!  The first four to comment SOLD were just a few seconds apart.  Very exciting!

Our next sale will be April 20, so set your alarms!  I will remind you on Facebook and Instagram and will show sneak peeks of the items I make prior to the sale.

On March 12 I will be selling some items LOCALLY in the Glencoe PTO Cocktails and Couture Fundraising Event from 6-9:30 at the Renaissance Hotel.  When a friend called to ask if I would be interested, I immediately said OF COURSE!!  I am rarely able to help with more than an occasional Valentine's class party, so I am happy to give back to this organization that provides so much for this  amazing school system.  I am so nervous and excited (Mimi calls this nervexcited) to see how my items will sell in this area.  And I'm debuting something new that so many of you have asked me about . . . more to come on that soon.  If you are local, please come by and check this out!  

Also, I will have a few items in a local shop called Black Sheep General Store this spring!!  I cannot wait to stroll by the store front and see a few little Mimi & Mack items hanging on a rack.  The owner and all the groupies that hang out at the Starbucks across the street are going to be so annoyed by my constant strolling -- like at least 10 times a day I'll yell, "Hey, kids!  Who wants to ride scooters to downtown?"  I will become a stalker for sure.  And then God forbid someone actually buy something while I'm strolling by . . . never mind.  Maybe I need to limit myself to one stroll a day . . .

And then the Brownie-Goose Online Showcase will take place on April 20th.  Somehow, some way I will sneak in a few items to sell to YOU through Big Cartel.  Life will be very busy over the next few months, but it is a good busy.  A satisfying busy.

If you have any questions or suggestions (or pics you want to share of your little in Mimi & Mack!), just e-mail me at mimiandmack@yahoo.com.

XOXO,

Jeri Anne    

    

Surprise Sale!!

It has warmed up to 12 degrees and snowflakes are floating down outside my window.  The big flakes are lovely, but I'm already dreaming of warm spring sunshine and my favorite spot on earth -- the beach.

My family has fallen madly in love with the white beaches and turquoise waters along 30A (but please don't go there because we fear it will become too crowded!), and my favorite memories are digging in the warm sand with my children.  When making this next item, all I could think about was the spring I was pregnant with Mack and Mimi was a silly little toddler walking up and down the beach like a penguin.  This was when I first began sewing and I so wish I had begun before this time so that I could have packed this dress in her little suitcase for the beach . . .

The Seagrove Tilly 

Mint and white fabric with baby pink mini pom pom trim.  This dress makes me want to squeeze somebody. :)

A sweet little flutter sleeve . . . 

And my faaaaaaavorite part of the outfit -- the sweet little bloomers.  I remember when Mimi's little chubby legs wore these.  Your little can even wear them with a simple t-shirt on a hot day.  Or without one :)

The pastel colors make me dream of the pretty sun-bleached homes in Seaside and Grayton Beach . . . 

How precious is that trim peeking out at the bottom?

My other favorite part -- the big wooden button in the back.  One nice part about this outfit is that the neck is large enough to put on your little one without fussing with a button.

*HOW TO MAKE THIS YOURS . . .

Go to the Brownie-Goose Showcase Page on Facebook on Monday, February 23rd, at 8:00 PM Eastern and be the first to type "SOLD" and your Paypal address.  (If you aren't comfortable posting your PP address, then please send a private message to the page immediately.)

Here are the deets on the Seagrove Tilly:

Size 18M
The dress is 16" long and measures 21" across the chest.
The bloomers will fit a waist size 17"-20".
One of a kind!!  Your sweet little one will be the only child in this exact dress!

And, please, for the love, promise me you'll snap some photos of your little one wearing this dress on a beach somewhere!