In the Spotlight with
mr x stitch Name: Karen Grenfell aka Mimilove Medium: Watercolour &/or acrylic paints with embroidery Story: I have been painting and messing about with art since I was knee high to a spacehopper. After a spell at Uni, various jobs and the advent of internet, Mimilove was born! I had always provided a portrait service, selling on eBay, word of mouth etc. and had been pretty successful, including a few celebs’ signings and even selling a painting at Sotheby's, but I just felt there was something missing. I have never really been taught to stitch‌ as you can probably tell ;0)... but always felt it was something I wanted to do even from an early age. I remember watching a programme on TV, way back in the mists of time in the 70's about stitching, handicrafts and so forth; a kind of a *"Paint Along with Nancy" but with sewing! That whetted my appetite. Then as time passed, pocket money increased and I was allowed access to sharp objects, I decided to stitch myself a bed cover. I had visions of flowers in all sorts of glorious colours, encrusted with jewels and sequins etc. Unfortunately, I bit off a bit more than I could chew and all I managed was a very ropey satin stitch "rose" and when push came to shove the pocket money invariably went on the latest Smash Hits or Jackie and that was the beginning/end of my stitching career until fairly recently! My nan and dad were pretty nifty with a needle, (my dad made some of my mum's maternity clothes when she was pregnant with me so it could be osmosis!) and I've since found out that a great uncle was also a dab hand at embroidery, which was a surprise, so it's in the genes...and jeans! :) So I've always had a love of embroidery/stitching but never actually got round to trying it again; I just felt a bit 25