Funky Mother Clucker!

Ey up my bloggy chums. 

First off, I just want to say a truly heartfelt thank you to all you lovely folks who commented and emailed me after my last blog. It was a horrible time, on top of what is a pretty crappy situation already. The temptation was to pack the art/stitching/internetting in, crawl under a duvet and never come out but your kind words and messages really touched my heart and have helped and encouraged me to keep going with all this gubbins....so really, from the bottom of my crunched heart, thank you. xx

 Right, s'nuff of all that serious stuff eh? Let's get... FUNKY!

Remember the BIG chickens?

Well the girls were getting restless so I thought I better get stitching. I decided after seeing my work on display at the Hemmed In exhibition that I really should start working on a larger scale...a decision I instantly regretted as soon as I started stitching! But inspite of the sore fingers and the hating one minute/loving it the next I'm kind of glad I persevered. So here they are embroidered within an inch of their lives!

Putting the FUN in funky! A walloping great stitchy "FUNKY" outlined in an olivey green silk and then filled with a range of threads and cottons in various greens including my favourite luminous one. I've also added wee pink sequin flowers and tiddly green glass beads for bit of added fun!

Hand stitched wheat or possibly corn in just about every colour I could shove on there!

Stitchy chicken wire...very fiddly!

A big, fat silky white egg with a small but very glittery golden egg waiting to hatch out to join their fellow chicks!

There we have it...chock full of colours and textures and chickens, check 'em out over at the ol' Etsy emporium.

I'm currently working on another larger sized piece which I thought you might like to see in the really early stages... MOOO!

...and also franticly putting together a few more pieces for the British Stitch and Quilt Village in Uttoxeter.  The show takes place April 26th, 27th and 28th at the Uttoxeter Race Course.  I will be visiting on Sunday 28th so if you are in the area pop along and if you see a badly dressed lunatic with a purple mohican (I've had a radical new "do") come and say hello! :)

I'm also putting together a wee collection of bits for a chickeny/birdy themed giveaway which I hope to announce on the next blog so stay tuned!

So once again yet another HUGE thank you for all your love and support...really does mean the world to an old bag like me
Big loves homies and thanks for droppin' by! :)
xxx

Goodbye my friend

 

 

 

A lot of folks think I am actually called Mimi, unfortunately my folks weren't that exotic and I was christened Karen. The story goes that my mum wanted a name that couldn't be shortened; she was the first one to call me Kaz.

Anyway when I first started this internet mularkey with the painting and such I was a little nervous at worldwide exposure etc so I hid behind a nom de plume/brush and my kitty Mimi was my helper, from poking my paint brushes, chin rubbing the canvas edges and sleeping in my floss box, she seemed the perfect choice!

She's been my constant companion for nigh on 16years. She was found by the local vet, she'd been abandoned and was in a pretty bad way. A bag of bones, riddled with just about every parasite known to kittykind, bald as a coot and a VERY bad tummy. The vet had put her in a cage on the reception desk with a sign saying "Please take me home"...so I did.

Despite her issues she was a purry love from the minute I got her back and within a few months weight was creeping on, various cooties gone, the tum settled and the fur was growing back.

She's was a trooper from day one, became a one kitty champion ratting machine, survived a nasty anesthetic overdose and took our 2 long distance moves around the country in her stride.

When she was diagnosed with diabetes 2yrs ago I fretted about how on earth she was going to cope with injections/blood tests etc. We needn't have worried as she hopped on my lap every morning/evening, waited for her insulin to be mixed and took her jab with a shrug and a purr.

Just before Christmas we noticed slight changes in her, nothing major but just not quite right. A blood test revealed hyperthyroid on top of the diabetes and an infection that followed a couple of weeks later, her health went downhill rapidly. Despite everyone's best efforts she eventually stopped eating and became very weak, very quickly. With a seriously heavy heart we said no more. The vet came out to us and she slipped away peacefully with her head in my hand on January 25th.



 

 



 

She'd been by my side, sleeping on my pillow with her paw wrapped round my arm, poking my nose til I woke and loving us both without conditions 24/7 for the past 16yrs. I still expect to see her around the gaff and there is an awful big gap in our hearts and lives.

I miss her so much it hurts but I'm thankful we met and for the joy she's given us for all those years. So it will always be Mimi love forever



So before the snot n tears that are dribbling down my boatrace at the moment hit the keyboard, I thought I'd finally unveil the latest commission. I've hauled myself back into some sort of routine now, albeit a little hollow, and have been stabbing away at a bit of stitching etc to keep the brain from mulling.

This was finished just before Christmas but what with everything happening the blog and everything else was stuffed away.
So if you're still hanging on in there, I'd like to re-introduce Pidge, a fluffy white persian. She was described to me as having an underbite which "reminds me of my grandma", gunky eyes and a nasal problem which causes her to make a kind of "cooing" noise.

 

 

 

I was asked to include a pigeon, gerbera daisies and given a few photo's of the recipents decor to give me an idea of colours etc, and this is what I came up with.

 

Pidge accompanied by a feathery friend and festooned with flowery bits

Pigeon detail...all sorts of thready bits

 

 

 

COO!

 

 

Flowery bits

 

 

Watercolours and hand embroidery on canvas.

 

 

I've recently started work on these girls too...



I've decided to work larger this year, a decision I instantly regretted, but I'm ploughing on with it...swinging between really enjoying it to threatening to throw it out of the window, but it's keeping the brain distracted and that can only be a good thing at the moment.

Nowt much else to report although I am off to my very first Embroidery Guild meeting in Lichfield soon which I'm looking forward to, so stay tuned for stitchy news.

Apologies for the downer guys and thank you for putting up with me...again!

Big Mimi loves homies and thanks for droppin' by :)
xxx

 

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas...

 

 

...when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

Hmm...

Not strictly true in our case as our patchwork kitty decided to dish out the Christmas presents early by tearing through catflap at 11.30pm Christmas Eve with a live mouse in her chops. Much kitty merriment followed with us and the 2 toms in hot pursuit trying to catch it. Unfortunately due to the 2 chaps being lazy gits, me and himself hideously unfit and her in full thrilled mode she made it to the bathroom and promptly let it go, where it immeadiately stuffed itsself behind the bath.

Fortunately we're old hands at this now and have an impressive collection of humane traps which are currently loaded with peanuts and scattered around the house in vague hope we get it before she does. But tis a bit disconcerting when you're trying to carry out your morning abloutions with a derranged kitty trying to tunnel its way under the door!

So, anyway a very belated but Merry Christmas to you all! I'm afraid the ole blog has been bit on the neglected side past couple of months, I shant bother you with all the gory details but suffice to say I'm more or less caring for my ma-n-law full time now and trying to juggle work, home and various duties I've been a bit cream crackered and the internettin' has taken a bit of a back seat I'm afraid.

But all sorts of good things have been happening too and I've lots to show and tell you so I'll shut my face and get on with it!

First off super exciting booky action! My work has been featured in not one, not two but 4 publications this year...huzzah!

8 of my piccies were used by Nelson Medina in the October issue #38 of Revolution Art Magazine, which you can read for free here

The wonderful Sarah Whittle included 3 pieces in her frankly fabulous Needlecraft Style Directory, chock full of stitchy goodness: ..."a comprehensive and accessible guide to stitch craft, for crafters of all levels."

And face it folks if I can do it anyone can! ;)

Available from Amazon here

You might recall a while back I made this wee fella?

Well he can now be found tittering behind his toadstool in KeepDelete by Andrea Wilkinson!

"Keep Delete is about turning digital messages on the verge of being forgotten, deleted, outdated or even lost into something tangible; into artifacts."

Available from Amazon here

And finally poet Buddy Wakefield and author Stephen Snook very kindly approached me to use a couple of my chicken portraits for their paperback HenHouse Magazine. Billed as "like Penthouse for chickens" how could I refuse!? It features all sorts of magnificent photo's, articles, poems and chicken themed art:

"This is absolutely hilarious - and one-of-a-kind. Sure to be a cult-classic one day. It's hard to classify, but will be equally enjoyable for both artist and hen-keepers alike."

Available from Amazon here

The chaps also very generously sent me a copy which I will be offering as a giveaway in the New Year and I have a little something to go with it, so stay tuned!

I also ventured out in public...which believe me is no mean feat for a housebound hermit with fear of open/enclosed spaces like me! Jamie "Mr.X Stitch" Chalmers generously invited me to include some of my work in the "Hemmed In" exhibition. I was completely thrilled to be included and to have my work hanging alongside the likes of Beryl Dean and Tilleke Schwarz, well words can't describe the thrill and I feel immensely honoured to have been included.

My Arthur Brown Guinea Pig getting checked out!

(yoink! Photo courtesy of Katherine Fitton)

Hemmed In: Embroidery and Needlework from MK and Beyond presents work from the 1930s to the present by over fifty practitioners, organised with MK Embroiderers Guild and Jamie Chalmers. Ranging from the local to the international, the exhibits include needlework through unusual media, techniques and unexpected subject matter, including street art, rock music and internet spam. The exhibition at MK Gallery runs until 6th January 2013, and admission is free so if you're in the area do pop along!

Hanging with my homies (I'm the slightly terrified ginger one on the end!)

(yoink! Photo courtesy of Katherine Fitton)

YEAH!! (I'm not entirely sure what face I'm pulling here?!)

(yoink! Photo courtesy of Katherine Fitton)

 

And finally (still awake?!) some actual pictures! A public apology to a very lovely lady called Thelma for making her cry! This is a memorial portrait of her much loved brother Eddie who sadly passed away this year. Watercolour on paper...terrible photo but you get the idea!

And this is a sneaky peek of Pidge the Persian, she has an underbite, gunky eyes and a nasal problem which causes her to make a soft "cooing" sound, but I think she's utterly adorable!

She's only just arrived in USA and the recipient has yet to see her in her stitchy finery so I will unveil the final piece in the New Year too!

Well I hope I haven't bored you rigid with all that! I just want to end this post and indeed this year, with a MASSIVE THANK YOU to all you fine folks. You have put up with me and my drivvling and have not just supported my work but have helped me through some pretty crappy times, especially at the beginning of this year when we said our final farewell to pa-in-law Bri.

So before I go and get all snivvly I better go and check the traps...I have this awful feeling I'm just kind of gift wrapping it for her...eurgh!

Thank you all and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

Big Mimi Loves to y'all and thanks droppin' by! :)

xx

Funky COOL Medina!

 

Ey up my bloggy chums! ;0)  How's it all hanging then...wild, free and groovy I hope?

So kicking off today with some jolly exciting MimiLove action!

I'm a subscriber to the online magazine Revolution Art; the magazine is bi-monthly and put together by Nelson Medina, artist, art director, Cool Hunter and general all round good guy.

The magazine is chock full of inspiring artwork, photography, design etc. and has interviews with well known designers, photographers, film makers, rock stars...you get the idea...and highlights global trends, issues, politics etc.

The most fabulous bit; it's COMPLETELY FREE to download...how generous is that?!

Anyroad, each issue has a different theme and absolutely anyone can join in and submit pieces for consideration, October's theme was "Animal" so how could I resist?

To be honest I was little apprehensive as the mag has featured some pretty hardcore artists of the "proper" variety as opposed to work from an old bag with failing eyesight, aversion to excercise and rocking a hair-do/fashion sense which I'm far too old to pull off but far too old to care about

But I thought "Stuff it, let's give it a bash!", so I dropped Nelson a line with a few images and then hid behind the sofa in a panic. Well he very graciously replied and included not just one but 8 of my works in the latest issue!

I naturally responded with my usual grace and dignity by skipping round the house and "woohoo-ing!" for all I was worth...not a pretty sight!

So a huge public THANK YOU to Mr. Medina not just for including my work but also for his continued efforts in putting together such a valuable publication and resource and giving it to the world for FREE

You can download October's issue here and also back issues here

My euphoria over all this was pretty shortlived however, as I went down with a stinking cold at the beginning of the week. I HATE colds, partly cos there's never soft tissue in the gaff when I get one, so I end up using kitchen roll to staunch the perpetual nose dripping..."Juan Sheet" may do "Plenty" but it also leaves me looking and feeling like I've been going at my hooter with a cheese grater.

But I mainly hate 'em cos I get little in the way of sympathy from himself, unless you count the occassional Lemsip thrust at me at arms length with head turned away and breath held, followed by death threats if he catches it.

Having said that, by day 3 and feeling particularly rancid, he did make lunch, although I suspect it was mainly because there was imminent danger that he wouldn't eat that day.

I requested a plain piece of toast as it was all I really fancied and drifted back into a snot induced coma. An hour later he came into the room slightly flustered but looking quite proud of himself and presented me with 5 slightly overcooked scampi and a slice of bread...

"I found them in freezer! I gave you some of that mayonnaise from the back of the fridge, I think it's on the turn"

I was too feeble to argue and figured if I did I'd never be fed again, so crunched my way through what were essentially burnt breadcrumb balls as any actual scampi had melted away after the hour in oven at reglo 9 (he only knows the one setting), fortunately the rancid mayo helped them to slide down and I eventually slipped back into an uncomfortable daze, slightly bewildered and a delicate tang of burnt fish in the back of my throat...bless 'im!

Anyway the cold hasn't been the only reason for my snivvling as I was moved to teary eyedness by my mate Claire ...(you know Claire; Aussie bird, International jet-setter, makes gorgeous stuff, super talented son and lives in a positive paradise!)...Anyroad we've been mates for nigh on 4 yrs now and I've been clogging up her inbox with my painfully long, boring emails and generally off loading all my misery on her and Gawd bless her, she's not changed her email address or anything!

So as you've probably gathered, I'm not much cop on the ol' wordsmithing front and I really wanted to thank her for putting up with me and supporting me with her love and kindness and especially over the past few months, so I did what I do!

I've had this planned for a looooong time after I secret squirreled a photo she posted of her No.1 son Rich (you know Rich, international jet setter, makes stunning music, lives in positive paradise!) and kitty Tig.

No.1 son having a wee cuddle with Tig

 

 

Lyrics are from The Doobie Brother's "Drift Away"

Stitchy Zinnia's (apologies to Rich for sticking walloping great pink flower behind his ear'ole!)

Stitchy chooks

 

 

So once again a big public THANK YOU to my bonzer cobber for putting up with me, your friendship means the world to me! x

Now stay tuned homies cos more exciting news is a-brewing involving chickens...

 

...but I shall save that for next time as I'm still trying to shift the taste of burnt scampi and he's heading for the kitchen with a disturbing air of determination!

Stay groovy, big Mimi Loves to y'all and thanks for droppin' by :)

x

G'day mate! Wanna see my Dangly Bits?!

Ey up my bloggy chums! ;0) Well you're all looking gorgeous...have you been working out?!

So it was my birthday this week...Russell Grant, the horoscope fella, said this:

"Find this toffee dipped earthling ensconced in its own little palace a stone's
throw from the markets in Marrakesh, rose petals strewn on the courtyards and
barefoot exquisites stepping forward to serve iced goblets of aphrodisiambrosia.
At home, in less exotic locations, it's wise to remember that even in age there's an aura of glamour about September 10, which makes people look up when they enter a room and want to hear what they have to say."

I thought that when himself came into the bedroom that morning, kissed me gently awake and whispered the words every girl wants to hear on her birthday:

"The cat's had diarhhea on the floor"

That pretty much set the tone for the day really...I exited the boudoir sharpish in case the dog got to it before I did.  On reaching the kitchen, alas no "barefoot exquisites stepping forward offering blahblah". No, a tippy-toed husband dry heaving out the backdoor.

Mopping up kitty's gift with a wodge of newspaper I shot out of backdoor n headed for the bin, which thanks to the local council's insistance of fortnightly collections only, is by day 13, a seething mass of squirming nasties. I slung the offending package in the bin and watched, almost in slow motion, as the lid slammed shut sending a positive confetti of maggots up in the air which promptly began to rain down on me

I was last seen running up alley, arm's flailing, squealing like the proverbial stuck pig n slapping myself about the head. Hoofing the heaving husband out the way, I cracked open a bottle of disenfectant closely followed by a bottle of red and spent the rest of day in a Zoflora "Hint of Hycinth"/rioja daze

"Toffee dipped earthling"...."Aura of glamour"....remind me to punch Russel Grant in the face one day

Anyroad, that aside there has been a ray of maggot free sunshine this month, when these popped through the letterbox!

A beautiful ray of Aussie sunshine from my mate Dot over at Creatarian:

Innit gorgeous?!...my ropey photographs really don't do these pieces justice as they are encrusted with tiddly beads and wee stitches, just joyous.

In return Dot copped this:

Dot gave me a few guidelines including birds and sunflowers.  So inspired by all things Australian I did a bloody great Galah! (no offence) :)

Pretty in pink he's perched casual style against  a bunch of French knotty vivid sunflowers, stitched up in a variety of silks and threads
　

By now you probably know I do like a bit of dialect/slang so it seemed fitting to include this message:

"G'day mate!! Yer lookin' right ripper today, fair dinkum!"

Watercolor, hand embroidery and Aussie slang on canvas...prints are available if you're interested, gimme a shout!

Also available over at the ol' MimiLove shop are my new DANGLY BITS!

Yes a swift change of medium, I've made some wee clay pendant thingies, which I've then hand painted with all manner of doin's!
  First up!
Batman n Robin (sorry but sometimes these things just have to be done)

Bright robin red breast with Super Hero side kick.
I painted our red breasted chum against a soft sky blue background, he sits amongst the holly (Ouch!) and is surrounded by a flurry of snow flakes.
Holy Holly Bushes Batman! Robin is kept company by his Caped Crusader sidekick, a hand painted Batman!

Our feathery friend is hand painted in acrylic paints in shades of brown, black and white and vibrant orangey/red. I made the pendant from air dry clay in an off white tone. He's varnished in a nice glossy varnish for added sturdyness and hangs from a length of baby blue chiffon and cord.  Available for your dangling delight here

 

 

 

NEXT!

Twit twoo! Bright eyed, permanently surprised owl!
Inspired by all things woodland, I painted this feathery chap onto a clay disc peeking out from his woodland hidey hole. 

Our feathery friend is hand painted in acrylic paints in shades of blues, black and white and vibrant yellow, I made the pendant from air dry clay in an off white tone. He's varnished in a nice glossy varnish for added sturdyness and hangs from a length of golden brown chiffon and cord.  Hand painted words read "Twit twoo!". Available for you to dangle here:

 

 

 



NEXT!

Dingly, dangly pug! Ideal for any pug lover. Inspired by all things puggy, kitch and little bit rockabilly, I painted this tiny pug puppy sitting against a soft sky blue background. I was inspired by a vintage tattoo rose design so festooned Mr.Pug in a garland of pinky red and orangey yellow blooms

He's obvioulsy been a very good boy as he's surrounded by a golden halo made up of tiny drops of metallic paint which glitter when the light catches them!  Hang out with him here:
 

 

 

 

 

NEXT!

Ahhh, a wee love hearty gnome!

Brrr!
Inspired by all things wintery, Christmassy and gnomey I painted this jolly wee chap onto a clay heart and surrounded him by a positive blizzard of hand painted snow flakes. I've added tiny shimmery dots of glittery metallic paint which catch the light for added twinkliness! 

In his hand, a wee hand painted lantern glowing with gold metallic paint to see you home safely. Available for your gnomey needs here:

 

 

 

 

And last but not least...Yes, I will even customize your Dangly Bits!

A wee Border terrier, currently living in the Netherlands with his mum!

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect for funking up the grooviest of Christmas trees or if you're daring you could even pop them on a cord and wear them...I hope they sell cos I owe my mother-in-law...don't tell her, but I knackered her rolling pin making them...sssshhhh! ;D

So another year older, reeking of disenfectant and a vague whiff of depression, I bid you adieu my bloggy chums (I'm officially giving them up...birthday's that is, not husbands...or cats...although....)
Stay groovy, big Mimi Loves to y'all and thanks for droppin' by :)
xx