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"Keep Delete is about turning digital messages on the verge of being forgotten, deleted, outdated or even lost into something tangible; into artifacts."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