Recent art school graduate Christina Easton is quickly pursuing her dreams after receiving a FIRST Class Honours in BA Honours Degree course in Contemporary Textile Products.
Plans for ‘The LILLIANDAPH Store’ are well underway in hope that the concept interiors store will be launching in the North East towards the back end of the year.
Combining hand selected products from around the globe with the work of British designer makers, design graduate Christina is making it her mission to champion the skill involved in beautiful artisan interior and home ware products, bringing them together to create a unique sensory shopping experience.
Christina say’s “ I am passionate about good quality design and artisan craft. The LILLIANDAPH Store will bring both to the North East area, like nothing else we’ve seen here before. I’m so excited about this artistic venture.”
Christina has an exciting time ahead of planning of her business venture, after being selected by her college, Cleveland College of Art and Design to showcase her final collection of work in London’s biggest design Graduate exhibition.
The textile maker has created a stunning collection of bespoke hand sewn dolls based on elements of her Grandmothers personality, as a way creating a positivity around the saddening truth of her deteriorating memory.
“This past month has been a whirlwind. After working so hard for the last nine months, to be picked to take part in such a reputable exhibition is a privilege and makes the hard work all worthwhile.”
Christina’s Grandmother was a local business lady, establishing a successful Tyre and Exhaust company in the late 1960s. She lived a fabulous life but is now suffering with the loss of her memory.
“The concept of my haute couture dolls focuses on the enchantment of storytelling, and how beautiful things can be used as an outlet to share personal memories with strangers, who often have these family memories in common.”
Christina Says “My Grandmother has always had such a positive impact on my life, recent years have seen her memory deteriorate and I wanted my fairies to be a tribute her once happy-go-lucky persona. I find people have these kind of memories of Grandmas or Mothers in common and my dolls will become an outlet for those memories to be sparked and enjoyed.”
Many at her Degree Show saw Christina’s charming collection last week and the maker is overwhelmed with the feedback she has been given, “Many who visited commented on how emotional my show made them feel, it is really heart-warming to hear that people like my work.”
Receiving sponsorship from Stokesley Company ‘Cynergy’, and support from local baker and friend ‘That Cake’, Christina is well prepared to exhibit her fairies at New Designers in London from29th June – 2nd July 2016.
Thereafter they can be seen in Christina’s exciting new interiors store The LILLIANDAPH Store, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea come Autumn 2016. Follow LILLIANDAPH on social media to stay updated and catch up with her weblog to hear the full story and making progress,www.lilliandaph.co.uk
“Lot’s of exciting things are happening in the next few months, I feel so grateful to be sharing work that I love and that means so much to me.”