Mimsi Milton
My family and I moved from D.C. to Colorado in 1993, and I’ve been inspired by this state’s natural beauty every day since. After owning a gallery that featured many talented artists, I took up painting in my fifties. About ten years later, I discovered free motion embroidery and instantly became passionate about it.
When I’m biking or hiking in Summit County, I’m always scanning for well-composed scenes, thinking about which paint or thread will best capture them. I start all my representational pieces with a photo, then paint with acrylics on canvas or cloth. Next, I stitch over the painted layer using a simple manual machine without preset stitches. The final work reveals parts of all three layers, canvas, paint, and thread, adding depth and texture.
Thread work is slow because I must change colors often, and the needle is my only “brush.” I sew landscapes from background to foreground, which means I can’t paint all one color at once. Polyester thread is the strongest for this work, and I enjoy mixing sheen and matte finishes.
When I’m biking or hiking in Summit County, I’m always scanning for well-composed scenes, thinking about which paint or thread will best capture them. I start all my representational pieces with a photo, then paint with acrylics on canvas or cloth. Next, I stitch over the painted layer using a simple manual machine without preset stitches. The final work reveals parts of all three layers, canvas, paint, and thread, adding depth and texture.
Thread work is slow because I must change colors often, and the needle is my only “brush.” I sew landscapes from background to foreground, which means I can’t paint all one color at once. Polyester thread is the strongest for this work, and I enjoy mixing sheen and matte finishes.
