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