Hello again....

An impromptu trip to the Big Apple garnered an array of stunning photographs, documented by hawk-eye-behind-the-lens, Owen Deveney.

Here for your viewing pleasure are the highlights. 

For even more photos visit Owen's Flickr page here

Art in Transit

Over the next two weeks see my work in the Art in Transit exhibition, across Canada. 

From Jan. 14th - 27th 

in shopping centers all over the country

My animals heads as photographed by the best, Owen Deveney  

along with Andrea Vander kooij's photographs of her amazing skills in knitting, 

will be apart of  "Hard Twist: Greatest Hits" 

curated by Chris Mitchell & Helena Frei 

and Art in Transit, an ad/exhibition program 

with Pattison OneStop Network digital display billboards.

Read about the Art in Transit program and more about the artists involved 

in this Thursdays issue of  the Metro Newspaper 

or get it online here. 

Find out where to view the exhibition here

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Make sure to see
Hard Twist 7: Touch Me, Feel Me

before we pack it all up on Sun Jan 27th. 

On now @ The Gladstone Hotel, Queen West, Toronto

3rd & 4th Floor. 

Try on a felted beard made by yours truly and post it on twitter #HardTwist

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Owen has just posted a mountain of wonderful shots 

sharing them with us via Flickr. 

Please stop by and check them out here.

enjoy!

Update: Jan 16th 2013

News about the Art in Transit program landed on the west coast.

read Vancouver's online new source Straight.com 

for all the details. 

K + O Photo | New Shop

You may have noticed this little badge hanging out on the side of this blog ------------------>
 and wondered why it suddenly appeared and what it had to do with anything. Well ....

new K+O Photo logo click here and jump to our new shop!

Owen and I have decided to share our photographic series and collaborations with you and the world, extending accessibility to those who may not have the chance to visit exhibitions we participate in.

Part of the Animal Collective installation includes a series of narative photographs featuring each of the heads, taken somewhere near or around Lake Ontario. Up until recently, these prints were only available to purchase through galleries or directly contacting us.

We have selected just 5 photos, for now, to open our shop.
Prints are available in 3 sizes (12x18, 16x20, 24x36) and printed on incomparable and supa-fancy Hahnemuehle Photo Rag fine art paper. 

Prints are available to purchase online at our new shop 

                                  through Big Cartel. 

We're calling the collaboration K+O Photo. 

Melissa Christie, textile designer extraordinaire!

Never Sleep Alone! 

Chances are you'll recognize these sheets from textile designer Melissa Christie because they're blowing up on the internet right now. Spreading like wildfire since opening up her Etsy shop on Tuesday, Melissa is reaching zombie lovers from all over the globe through social media sites like her
tumblr, 
facebook and
twitter.
Selling out of all items her first day open, Melissa's Etsy shop titled 'It's Alive' sells OOAK handmade bedding featuring hand painted zombie hands! How creepy/brilliant are these sheets!

Melissa's zombie bedding is all handmade by her and made to order. Her shop currently offers standard size bedding twin - king for a flat rate in white cotton fabric. What a deal!
She is currently looking into different colour bedding options and sheets for specialty sizes like California King size. But a good option for those who can't wait is the pillowcase set which are made to fit 20" x 30" (standard size) pillow.

Melissa is working on a portfolio site that will feature some of her other works. Works like her killer Femme Fatal dresses. Over-dyed dupioni silk dresses with screen printed poisonous flowers and hand painted/sewn elements. Photographer/Developer Owen Deveney of Capture Scratch and model Alexandria Goldman of Fresh Poultry.  These dresses are not yet available in her shop, but are destined to be another successful series! Great job Melissa! Keep up the good work!

New year, new happenings

Happy Newest Year to you!

With last year being such an eventful year, I'm looking forward to seeing what this year has in store.

Some highlights of the past year include...

- Interning for admired artist Suzanne Carlsen

- Finishing four month long graduate project

- Graduating
- Winning 'Best in Show' award for my work in our graduation exhibition

Joe Lewis, writer/editor for fibreQUARTERLY wearing Lion's Head @ OCC Gallery, Toronto

- Exhibiting at OCC Gallery in Toronto

- Participating in group exhibition Surfacing in Hamilton

Lion's Head on display @ The Knit Cafe, Toronto

- Exhibiting the Lion's Head at Knit Cafe in Toronto

Felted Slippers workshop @ The Knit Cafe, Toronto

- Started teaching felting workshops
- Leikey Designs now a full-time company

- Went to Montreal - First trip within Canada, outside of Ontario

Amanda McCavour's installation @ The Beehive Craft Fair, Hamilton

- Participated in several craft fairs including the very successful Beehive Craft Fair, pieceWORK and 401 Richmond

Felted Bear Feet slippers - available online

- Opened up online shop
- Featured in the Finishing School edition of fiberQUARTERLY

- Work on display at the Gladstone Hotel (exhibition extended to Feb 26th)

- Started renovations on the new place
And those are just the highlights.

We rang in the new year with a mid-reno party; a great excuse to have people over to the house. We passed around the camera all night and there were some great shots. Take a look at the rest of the photos here. 

photo from Owen Deveney on Flickr

So far 2012 has been kind, starting with a feature on the lovely Polish blog Pick Me Up , selling my first pieces of work in gallery from the Hard Twist exhibition, and just this morning - a featured seller on 100 Mile Finds blog.
In addition, the Gladstone has announced they've extended Hard Twist until February 26th. So all you lazy bones who haven't had a chance to go see it, you'll have extra time to make it down there to see an incredible collection of Canadian Textiles Art at it's finest.

The exhibition will run during the Hotel's popular annual event, Come Up to My Room and Toronto's IDS event, happening January 26th - 29th! Opening reception for CUTMR is Saturday 28th 7pm - 10pm. So go see both shows while you're there.

For now, I'm off to the post office to mail out some orders! Followed by a copious amount of painting, de-carpeting, de-wallpapering, and trips Home Depot and the reuse centre. I have a feeling we'll spend the majority of 2012 in a Home Depot.

Holiday Gift Guide vol. 1 - Gifts for him

Why are guys so hard to buy for? 

It should be straight forward right?

Owen, is a pretty practical guy with very specific taste. Minimal, understated and well-made are his criteria for a successful present. Although, I'm sure he would say he'd be happy with anything I got him. Despite all that, I find it tough sometimes to find that one great gift he won't forget.

Well if you're having trouble like me, I'm starting a Holiday Gift Guide - for last minute shoppers to hopefully find that special gift for someone special.
First up is Gift Ideas for him...

Please click here for links to shops and full treasury.

This post will kick off my Holiday Gift Guide page, so follow the growing list here or on the main page in the top menu. 

Next up, Gift Guides for: Me, Moms, Dads, Kids, Babies and Her. Featuring my favourite finds on Etsy.com. 

Stay tuned for these special posts - hope you'll find something to buy or even a artisan you like!

Slippers Workshop

Felted Slippers Class @ The Knit Cafe!

Here are some photos of the felted slippers workshop I taught at The Knit Cafe in Toronto earlier this month. 

Thank you to the eager and patient students, it was a wonderful experience and a pleasure to meet all of you. I hope you enjoyed the class and your new cozy handmade slippers!

Great job ladies!

Photo credit: Owen Deveney

For immediate release

Just released today - the summer issue of fibreQUARTERLY "Finishing School" featuring an amazing collection of newly graduated Canadian textile artists. 

I'm very excited to be one of the artist chosen to showcase my thoughts and work in this latest issue, published by the dedicated Joe Lewis.

Read on and let me know what you think!

Joe Lewis striking a pose with the Lion's Head
 at the OCC: Shape of Things, graduation exhibition

Photo credit: Owen Deveney with Fuji Instax instant camera. 

*Stay tuned*

I have finished scanning the numerous instant photos of attendees wearing the animal heads, taken during the opening of both the Shape of Things exhibition at the OCC and the Surfacing exhibition at the James Buttrum & Son gallery. I am very excited to share these photos with you shortly.
If you have photos of your own from either event, please post em and share!

The Lion and the whale

Lion head
Animal head artist series
Felted; coopeworth, camel
2011


Artist Statement:

"The versatility and tactile qualities of raw fleece have inspired me to drive the boundaries to create felted sculptures. Using barbed needles, soap and my hands, I diligently sculpted strands of animal hair into a life-size wearable lion head. Symbolizing courage, this lion is worn to mask my insecurities.
In my work, I hope to project a sense of honesty rooted in the concept of each piece, to encourage relatability and connection with an audience.  My aim is to create art pieces, some functional others conversational, to articulate the substance behind them in the absence of my confidence. ”
- Keiley Stewart

Please visit flickr to see more photos of the Lion and Hare!
Photos by Owen Deveney 

© Leikey Designs 2010. All rights reserved.

ring-a-ding ding

Photos of my 3 submissions for the Lark Books 500 Rings edition.
The three mediums I enjoy working with the most...

Fox Knot

Wool, wire; Wet and needle felted

3.5cm x 2.5cm x 3cm

(of course I made a fox, I basically had to)

Gold 'n Chain

Metallic gold thread; Crochet

2cm x .5cm

(Crochet sewing thread, stitched into a chain)

Paper Ballerina

Cut paper

8.5cm x 4.5cm

(inspired by a recent costume party outfit and the influential work from the Star Alliance short,  Elsa Mora and Rob Ryan)

Photography by the handsome and talented Owen Deveney

Thank you to Owen for lighting and capturing my work, The Public Butter  in Toronto for the wood jointed hand model and the various artists that helped inspire these pieces.

crochet cramps

Combinations project Crocheted flowers, plating and chain neckpiece. leikey design 2010 fotos by Owen

planetarium

Large scale for interiors Paper globes lamps leikey designs 2010 Fotos by Owen inspired by the Benoit Veubled globes posted earlier. ps. no balloons were harmed in the making of these lamps.