When Mimi Hernandez isn’t working at her day job as a graphic designer for the Tampa Bay Times she is still most likely creating and designing a new creation for her company Mimibun. The 34-year-old is originally from Puerto Rico and has lived in Clearwater for over 15 years. Her love for creating pretty things came to her at an early age and her passion for art never stopped.
“There is an unexplainable thing that happens to me when I see design that inspires me or resonates with me. It’s almost like a little fire inside makes me want to run to my sketchbook or computer to get my ideas out.”
Hernandez started her etsy shop 8 years ago as a way to sell her artwork, illustrations and dessert-inspire shoes. Yes, desert-inspired shoes.
Photo provided by Mimi Hernandez
She made her first pair of ice cream shoes for a Vanellope von Schweetz (Wreck-it-Ralph) costume. When she posted them to Instagram she started getting requests for them and they became a staple in her etsy shop. She wears her ice cream shoe creations out and about and says that she always gets compliments and has made quite a few sales from people stopping her to ask about them.
Though not all of Hernandez work has to do with desserts, she does have quite a bit of dessert-inspired work in her shop. She says she is also inspired by other artists and crafty friends and has a love for anything Kawaii and Japanese Harajuku fashion.
If you have attended the Atomic Holiday Bazaar before then perhaps you have met Hernandez and seen her work. This will be her third year taking part in the event. This year her booth will feature a variety of things including those famous shoes, paintings, hand sculpted clay charms, pins and other dessert-inspired items.
Photo provided by Mimi Hernandez
While she will of course be working her booth the majority of the time, she admits that she too enjoys wandering the event and checking out all the other booths and making new connections and friends.
“I love to sneak away from my table to check out all the vendors! Stitch of Whimsy creations make me so happy and I’m really excited because one of my favorite local artists, Jennifer Kosharek, will have a table set up this year.”
Hernandez hopes in the future to start adding even more products to Mimibun. She would like to start making shirts and silk screened prints and add some fun new shoes designs as well.
Make sure to check out her etsy site before you head to the Atomic Holiday Bazaar.