Resolution - FMP, end of year Exhibition... It's Done!!

What a year its been! Finally made it to the finale of what the 3rd year of Uni has been leading up to -  An End of year Exhibition held at the Grande Theater in Swansea called Resolution. Oh yes!

Here are some final images of my work displayed at the exhibition.

Final Family of Chair Shelves

Ali cat Necklace/decoration - Mixed media (laser cut wood, hand crochet wool and flocking)

Hugs and Kisses game (The lovable naughts and crosses)  - hand drawn, laser cut and spray painted hugs and kisses.



The exhibition was worth all of the hard work and has taught me valuable lessons in presentation, organisation and to always have a passion an belief in the work you produce. :)

Chairs, Chairs, Chairs!!!

Since my second year of University I gained a passion in up-cycling old chairs that were in need of a new & uplifted identity. This interest came from professional studies were myself and the group I collaborated with set up a profession to up-cycle old chairs, calling ourselves: Chairish.

Here are 2 examples of an up-cycled chair and stool I created explaining the techniques I used to create both examples.

This up-cycled chair was originally just a chair frame. I sanded the chair down gave the frame two coats of red gloss paint and covered the seat with a chair pad to give extra comfort.  I crocheted a classic granny style cover for the padded seat which I attached using a staple gun.

Photograpy by Callum Burns

Photography by Callum Burns

This upholstered stool was originally rusting and the seat was falling apart. To give it a new lease of life I rubbed down the metal frame removing all of the rust. I then used two coats of powered pink paint on the frame that was suitable to use on metal and bought a new round wooden seat which I covered with a seat pad. I then crocheted a heart design cover in pink and yellow to match the frame and staple gunned it to the wooden seat.

Artist Statement

Leona Curtis is a Surface Pattern Designer/Maker, designing textiles and products that can be applied to both interior and fashion design. Her work has a comforting influence that takes inspiration from the home using individual characters of her family that she creatively reinvents into her textile designs, surreal products and accessories. The main processes she uses are laser cutting/engraving into wood that captures the detail in her drawings, flocking, crochet and digital printing. A sense of the surreal home is a key charm in her designs that’s formed through the contrasts of textures created. This charismatic element of reinvention relates to the symbolism within fairy tales that society subconsciously relates to, allowing a retreat into enchantment.

Laser Cut, Engraved, Flocked and Crochet Necklaces/Decorartions

Following on from the scarf designs that represent my family members, I have been working on my designs for the major project.


I have created laser cut and engraved mixed media necklaces that could also be hung as a decoration for the interior. These are a reinvention of certain family members identities, by symbolising them with a certain animal, colour and pattern that I feel best represents them.

 Photography by Callum Burns.

 This is my Deer mixed media necklace that is a representation of my mum; from the colours used and the animal, both elements being her favorites. The deer has been laser cut/engraved onto 1.5mm interior birch ply wood. The eyes nose and ears have been flocked and the bow and fastening have all been hand crocheted.

 

This is my Ali Cat mixed media necklace/decoration which is a representation of my oldest sister. The colours red and the animal I used of a cat are again both her favorites and is something that always reminds me of her. This has been made using the same combinations of tecniques.

 

 My Ele necklace/decoration is not so much a reinvention of a family members identity, it is more of a memorabila accessory of a small woodend elephant i brought at a fle market in Amsterdam. The colours used are reminisant of my other sister who I was with at the time, reminding me of both her and the trip to Amsterdam.

The Ali Cat, Deer and Ele!

 

INDIGO PARIS!! :)

As i am sharing my goings on throughout my last yr of university,  leading up to our final exhibition,  I want to post what I have been up to the last couple of months begining with the lead up to Indigo Paris :)
I have decided to submit some fabric designs for Indigo in Paris this year being held on the 14th-16th Feb, here are some of my previous fabric designs that are being submitted, along with 3 new designs I have been working on.

 This is my Owl and Embroidery fabric design submitted for Indigo. Digitally printed onto crepe de chine i then needle punched it onto wool gauze and embroidered into it.

• Digitally printed onto heavy silk habotai
• collars were acid dyed, screen printed, needle punched and finished with a handmade crochet droplet trim

These two images are from a previous project that focused on designing a textile fabric for fashion, a different  take on my usual designs for interiors and lifestyle, but I really enjoyed the making of them..especially the collars! :)