Grateful Katrina Survivors

We were all together again in Slidell this Saturday, August 29, 4 years after Katrina. Luke Alexander Hebert is the newest member of the family (1 year old) and a big Saints Fan just like is big brother Eli.

Weekend In The French Quarter -New Orleans

What better way to end my summer vacation than with a relaxing weekend in my own hometown! My husband and I recently attended a wedding at the St. Louis Cathedral and stayed overnight at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, which is directly behind the Cathedral and in the center of the Historic French Quarter. The accommodations at this well known hotel were first class and the price was excellent considering it's location. We did not have a view, but who needs it with everything that the French Quarter has to offer just steps away. We walked to the Cathedral, and second-lined to the reception at Pat O's on the river.

Flourish Collection For Fall

Flourish Collection For Fall
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

I love these prints together and can't wait to get started with some ideas I have for the new Fall Collection!

Restyling is Fun and Rewarding!

IMG_3606
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Don't rule out thrift shops as a source for designer fabric.

Fun Summer Bag

Mimi Baxter Designs was recently featured in Welcome To Acadiana:

Fun Summer Bag

Shared via AddThis

What can I do with all these scraps?

IMG_3524
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

My sewing table was a mess. I started folding my fabric into neat little piles. I really liked these colors together.

This optical illusion gave me inspiration.

IMG_3532
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Once I started I couldn't stop!

IMG_3538
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Cool Blue and Green

IMG_3527
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Hot Orange and Red

IMG_3526
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Op Art Inspired Handbags

IMG_3514
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

They were so much fun to make.

IMG_3493

IMG_3493
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

IMG_3491
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

It's Flea Market Day

IMG_3492
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

I made these adorable little purses for my younger customers.

New Baby On The Way- Boy or Girl?

Before my children were born, in the dark ages, there was no way of knowing if you were going to have a boy or a girl, unless you count the wedding ring test, or the clorox test (you don't want to know ) . Lately I have noticed that more young couples , like my niece and her husband, want to be surprised. When trying to decide on fabric colors, I played it safe and checked on the color of the stroller. Since the color was blue, I went with a pale blue and yellow fabric for the diaper bag and stroller blanket. You can't go wrong with dots and stripes. They go with everything! I hope she likes it!

What's Blooming in My Garden?

Large reversible totes featuring Heather Bailey's Pop Garden / Pop Garden in turquoise.

It's "Topsy Turvy" Time

My grandson Eli loves to help me in the garden. What could be more fun than today's task, planting upside down tomatoes in the famous Topsy Turvey planter.

Merging My Passions - Sewing/Gardening

IMG_3330
Originally uploaded by mimibaxterdesigns

Pop Garden Pop Daisy by Heather Bailey has long been one of my favorites. When I found it in stock again at Fabrics.com I ordered 3 patterns. It was hard not to order every pattern!

I found the inspiration for my latest tote bag inside one of my favorite magazines, House Beautiful. I just love Black, White, & Bright! Add in an animal print and the Go Wild Collection is born!

Go Wild Collection Coming Soon!

These hot colors will be featured in the new Go Wild Collection of large tote bags coming soon to Mimi Baxter Designs. These bags will be both practical and stylish. They will feature roomy pockets and hold just about anything that you can think of.

Blue Jean Babies are Born

I made these little purses from some old jeans and cotton print fabric.  They were fun to make . Check out more photos on my flickr.  

Technical Difficulties

Be careful what you wish for.  Had a little time on my hands a few days ago. Lightening caused me to loose my internet connection for a while.  This was very frustrating to say the least!  Now there was nothing stopping me from tackling that messy closet. Found some jeans that didn't fit . I was still not over my recycling mood and got to work.

In The Mood To Recycle

Happened to run across a yard of fabric that I had forgotten about.  It has "Save The Trees" on it and that made me want to recycle something.  Decided to make a simple shopping bag . I even recycled an old belt to use as handles.  

I really need to clean out my closet. Maybe while I'm in the mood I'll find something else to recycle!

Batch of Summer Prints

 Today I went shopping for thread and found these cute summer prints. I am thinking about making a collection of wristlets. Time to get sewing!

Mimi Baxter's World

This is the view I have of the yard from my sewing machine. In order to fully appreciate this you would have had to have worked in a classroom all day with no windows for the past 9 years. The recent cool weather has allowed me to have the windows open much of the time.  

This is Mimi's (That would be me) shop.  I found those chairs in a neighbor's trash. My husband (Jimmy) fixed one of the legs and I painted them blue. I have to do something with that out of control climbing rose!

I would like for you to meet Baxter. He is our beloved 11 year old dachshund  and head CEO.  He is fond of soaking up the sun in our backyard.

My Inspiration

I have rediscovered a passion for sewing. It all started last year when my husband, Jimmy, bought me a sewing machine for mother's day ( my old machine was lost in Hurricane Katrina- but that is another story...). It stayed in it's box for about a month.  May is an especially busy month for a teacher, especially one who teaches first grade (that would be me for the past 22 years).  Alas, the last day of school arrived . After I packing up my classroom and hugging the last child goodbye, I eagerly anticipated the next two precious months of summer vacation. I imagined leisurely times spent relaxing, sleeping late, gardening, reading, traveling, and sewing (now that I had a sewing machine). The next day I opened the box and pulled out my brand new "Inspiration" Singer Sewing Machine.  At that moment I was transported back to the summer before I turned 12. That was the summer that I learned how to sew. My grandmother Mimi was an experienced seamstress as well as a  patient teacher. I sewed that entire summer . By the age of 15 I was sewing most of my own clothes. Fast forward 42 years ( college, marriage, 3 children, career, 2 grandchildren, and a devastating hurricane). It has now been almost a year since I received my "Inspiration".  Sadly,this will be my first Mother's Day without my mother, who passed away in September. It will also be the first time that I will not experience that last month of school filled with hugs and tears. (I took off a year to take care of my mother.) On a happier note, my passion for sewing has turned into a business designing and sewing bags, totes, purses and other accessories. Mimi Baxter Designs officially opened online this month. I make things that I love and would want to buy and hope that you and others will too.