Christmas Competition and a christmas cat!!

Hey there reetsweeters, have you heard about our christmas giveaway yet? We are on a mission to bring you a veritable feast of handmade goodies for christmas, all for free in our reetsweet facebook competition!

Your goody bag will include - a handpuppet theatre by little fingy, a zinc white ring, a signed print by alison deegan, a signed print by stephsayshello (our resident flyer designing wizard!), a item from imogen's imagination, a cushion by eclectic chair, a necklace from finest imaginary, a tee by rockbabyrock, a brooch by jilmadethis and even more!


All you have to do is sign up to the reetsweet fan page on facebook by Dec 5th and one lucky reetsweeter will be picked at random and receive our special lot of reetsweet treasures...you'll be able to check out the prizes at the fair, so sign up, sign up and follow us!

reetsweet x

It's cold outside, but not at reetsweet!

Reetsweet is proud to introduce to you all 'Strawberry Kitten' - aka Sian, a very gifted designer and maker of plushes, Sian told us a bit about herself...

'I am a self taught crafter who currently creates plush animals. Crafting is what I want to do in life, I recently became a mum and am using this somewhat hectic time to set up my crafting business. I am new to the craft fair scene but am loving it so far and hope to make it a regular thing. Im always on the look out for new products to sell and crafts to learn, I love photography and drawing and hope to start selling my own illustrations very soon, I will also be expanding my range of plush toys and pushing my textiles skills as I feel I have so much more to learn!'

I think you'll agree with me that these are something very special and the attention to detail on them - including scarves, fang teeth for halloween, the cute little paws - give them a truly luxurious feel for a plush! Come and buy some of Sian's beautifully made gifts at reetsweet this sunday!

reetsweet says hello to stephsayshello!

I think I would like to stake a claim as being Steph Baxter's no 1 fan (aka stephsayshello), I first stumbled accross some of her work in the fab 'oh comely' magazine and noticed she lived nearby. Never in a million did I think she would want to take part in reetsweet and come have a stall (woop!), so I was even more delighted when Steph agreed to design our next few flyers - frame them guys, and collect each one as one day I promise, this girl will be very very famous...here's Steph telling us a bit more about herself! See her at reetsweet on sunday!...

Whats the name of your stall and how did you choose it?
Aw, I'm quite boring really - Steph Says Hello is just the name of my Illustration business, I wanted to keep some continuity so I stuck with the same name. I can't actually remember the reason why I decided "Steph Says Hello" was a good idea. I think I just wanted something simple and happy. Like me, pretty much!



How did you start out making handmade?
I've always been into making things. I think its just my creative nature. I remember when I was about 6 making everyone painted flower pots for Christmas. I mean literally everyone. They were pretty terrible, looking back.. But I've always loved making things. I'm really getting into it now and would love to have a business doing it alongside my illustration work.

What keeps you inspired?
I've found the internet to be my biggest source of inspiration. You can find so many lovely, pretty things to look at - I have to limit my time on here because I could easily get nothing done at all. I particularly like looking through Flickr, Folksy & Etsy. You can find some really, really beautiful things to buy and be inspired by!

What kind of customer do you find enjoys your work? I actually don't think I could answer that! I always think that I have an idea of who would typically buy my things (female, 20's, into arts & crafts.. So me really!) But I'll continually surprised and get a complete mix of customers, which is really nice. Generally everyone is who buys from me though, is pretty playful and maybe has a childish sense of humour and fun :)

antiform by lizzie harrison comes to reetsweet!

Reetsweet is proud to introduce a new and exciting stall for our dec 5th fair...'Antiform' is a recycled fashion brand based in Leeds. They make directional women's wear from discarded materials creating ecclectic and bold clothes. All the garments are made from their studio factory in Hyde Park by local ladies.

Their ethical and striking fashion has recently come runner up in the Observer Ethical Awards Fashion Category and is getting lots of attention! Take a look at their oversized tweed cardigan coats and bomber jackets for Yorkshire inspitred winter fashion and printed leggings and shoppers for the perfect christmas gift.

Come and take a look this coming sunday Dec 5th inside Leeds Corn Exchange - it's free and full to the brim of handmade!

Little Fingy - a stall with a difference!

'Little Fingy'are also making an appearance at reetsweet on sunday, they are a little different from most stalls as they donate a large chunk of all their profits to Cancer Research Uk, and environment projects in the UK and South Africa. They produce high quality, kiddy safe hand and finger puppets - real old skool toys for you to enjoy! We wanted to include a few toy exhibitors this time so you can find something for every genaration in your christmas list! Enjoy!

Charley dreams @ reetsweet next sunday!

'The name 'Charley dreams' came about from my name (obviously!) and the fact I always have a dream in my head about one thing or another, usually about being at home warm and cozy watching a good film while crafting away. My passions are vintage stuff, cute things, and crafting .....My creatures combine all of these! I have always been a crafter from being small. Everyone got hand made gifts for birthdays and christmas's.....and nothing has changed, I just can't help making stuff!


I have a love of pattern and colour and all things vintage. Inparticular vintage fabrics from the 60s and 70s the patterns and colours are just so fun. I am also a hoarder, so after amassing a huge collection of these fabrics, I had to work out what to do with them. I love the Japanese cute Kawaii design style and love plushies and soft toys, so I started making simple little plush creatures. It seems fitting to make something cute and fun out of these cheery fabrics.

Each one is individual due to the vintage fabric used. These little guys are great to add a bit of vintage cutness to any home perched on a shelf or on a settee and Kids love them too!...look out for my new squeaking ones! they have a squeaker in their tummy!'

Meet Charley from 'Charley Dreams' sunday 5th Dec at Leeds Corn Exchange!

COMPETITION TIME! An amazing chance to win a reetsweet goody bag for christmas!

Now guys, we know we get lots of readers on the blog, but are you committed? Are you interactive? How much do you love handmade? We are on a mission to bring you a veritable feast of handmade goodies for christmas, all for free in our reetsweet facebook competition!

Your goody bag will include - a handpuppet theatre by little fingy, a zinc white ring, a signed print by alison deegan, a signed print by stephsayshello (our resident flyer designing wizard!), a item from imogen's imagination, a cushion by eclectic chair, a necklace from finest imaginary and even more!


All you have to do is sign up to the reetsweet fan page on facebook by Dec 5th and one lucky reetsweeter will be picked at random and receive our special lot of reetsweet treasures...


So add us if you haven't already started following us, bring your friends, sign up your nan, your cat and that ex boyfriend who stalks you - make use of him for once!! Good luck! Thanks to all the stallholders for donating prizes for this! Merry Christmas!
reetsweet x

The vintage jewellery box..a treasure trove of loveliness!

Whats the name of your stall and how did you choose it? 'The name is The Vintage Jewellery Box and it’s basically just what it says…I’m a pretty straightforward kind of a girl! I offer hand-designed vintage inspired jewellery with a modern twist made up of a mix of vintage and reproduction charms.

How did you start out making handmade? I’ve been making jewellery for as long as I can remember but got back into it more seriously 3 or 4 years ago. I love the idea of being able to create and wear something individual and different to what’s around in most shops.

What keeps you inspired? That idea of making something new and unique and the pleasure that I get from having other people choose to wear my pieces as well! I also just really enjoy browsing for new charms and lockets whether this is in antique shops or on-line and just getting inspired to make new pieces out of the things that I find, I’m currently most inspired by all sorts of different lockets, cameos and cabochons and finding new ways to use them.'

...Come and see Beky's stall at reetsweet's christmas fair next sunday 5th dec at the leeds corn exchange!

Make your home pretty with 'Eclectic Chair'...

Heather Linnitt, owner and maker of 'Eclectic Chair' told me a bit about herself, her business and inspirations today... Heather makes pretty and arresting handmade limited edition cushions in kimono silk and vintage fabrics.

Whilst reading a feature in an interiors magazine about an upholstery course in Wales a few years ago, Heather took on a totally new career path. She signed up for the course and never looked back, setting up her own upholstery business in 2005 alongside developing a range of handmade cushions in rare and vintage fabrics.

Favourite piece? The acid hydrangea cushion is my current favourite. The colours are amazing, almost fluorescent, and the design is so pretty and unusual.

What’s your passion? Looking for fabric. I often spend hours at the computer, searching for silk scarves, vintage fabric and kimono silk. I love it when the kimono fabric arrives as it’s always exquisitely packaged, wrapped around a small tube, sealed in cellophane fixed with pretty floral tape. It’s like receiving a gift!

What’s special about your collection? It is extremely limited edition because the kimono fabric, for example, will often never be found again and each piece that I buy will only provide me with enough to make 3 cushions.



What inspires you? Many things! I am attracted to pattern and colour. From folky bohemian to Scandinavian minimal to 1950s floral to 1970s geometric. A real eclectic mix. I am always buying interiors magazines and I keep them for years as they are a wonderful source of inspiration. I am also a massive fan of Emily Chalmers’ eclectic styling (of the London boutique Caravan) .

Press! On seeing Heather’s range of cushions, Suzie Forbes, Editor of Easy Living magazine, immediately bought four cushions for herself and featured them in the June 2010 issue’s editor’s letter. Heather’s eclectic cushions are a chic and cheap way to add a designer punch to your living space.

See and buy Heather's work next sunday 5th dec at Leeds Corn Exchange!

Jil made these...how cute are they!?

'Jil made this' is simply all made by Jil... Jil has grown up making, and after a degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art and lots of experience under her belt, she decided to set up her own range of quirky, illustrative and innovative crafted items.
They are all hand drawn from Jil's imagination, hand printed and hand stitched together, with items ranging from tote bags and Handmade cards, to Plush horses and old lady badges! Her work is fun and aimed at all ages. She is inspired by everyday mundane things and memories from childhood. She hoards, she clutters and she creates and loves toys, cats, illustrations, Rob Ryan and nostalgia.



Each item is unique and made with lots of love and care! Jil has sold illustrated fashion fabrics in paris and whilst now managing a T Shirt print shop in Leeds, she's available for commissions and is looking forward to expanding! See her at reetsweet next sunday! x

Prints by Alison Deegan!

Introducing Alison Deegan in her own words...

'My stall is the unimaginatively titled "Handprinted by A. Deegan", so no mystery there...I've always been a maker but in a sort of scattergun random way without any focus. After I had my son I realised the value of time and began to concentrate first on watercolour painting and then on printmaking. Pretty soon the printmaking became a bit of an obsession and I rarely get around to painting these days.

I draw inspiration mainly from nature and old stuff. I am an archaeologist by training and profession and spend a lot of time looking at old aerial photographs so landscape is important to me. Rarely a day passes that I don't catch a glimpse of some little vignette that I would like to re-create in relief print, but unfortunately few make it that far.

I like to think that a broad range of people would be happy to give a little wall space to one or two of my prints. I have sold to teenagers, to people in my parent's generation and all ages in between. Some of my prints have a simple aesthetic appeal, others are a little darker or have smidgeon of humour'

See and purchase Alison's work at reetsweet's fair in the corn exchange leeds on sunday dec 5th!

New and exciting reetsweeter Mr PS!

Mr PS is Megan Price and all her work is designed and screen-printed by hand by Megan in Salford.

Megan studied Printed Textiles and Illustration at Middlesex University, London and holds a BA (hons) degree in Visual Communication Design. Megan loves print, and wanted to create a range of contemporary interior accessories based on her adventures at home and abroad. Her works include the signature range of tea towels, as well as mugs and screen-print artwork.

Tea towels are cut, printed and finished by hand, so each has a touch of handmade charm. Colourful prints are inspired by vintage signage and the great British seaside, as well as a love of tea and cake.

Magazines and publications which have featured Megan’s work include The Guardian, British Vogue, French Elle, Easy Living, Ideal Home. Now Megan brings her fantastic wares to reetsweet@ the corn exchange on dec 5th!

Imogen's Imagination will be at reetsweet 2 dec 5th...

Come down on Dec 5th to the corn exchange to see first hand the beautiful millinery of Sophie Cooke who owns 'Imogen's imagination'. Here are just a few pictures of her recent works, Sophie uses indulgent velvet, felt and netting to produce pretty one off hats, fascinators and hair clips to suit any taste. The perfect gift for any vintage lovers or burlesque queens!

Zincwhite by Lidia and Paul...

'Lidia and Paul are ‘zincwhite’, a creative adventure that started two years ago when we decided to combine talents (art and architecture backgrounds respectively). Our hoard of found treasures, known as ‘rubbish’ to other people, became the source and the inspiration for creating unique pieces. Zincwhite then became the place where discarded objects become desirable again.

Against the throw away society we live in - particularly in fashion, we enjoy re-inventing with waste materials, to bring them back into life to campaign for a new way of thinking and living.

We also aim to bring fairness into fashion by recognising the need to avoid falling into the trap of superficiality and frivolity. We wish to offer an affordable alternative to spending hundreds of pounds on what many believe to be designer ‘tat’.

Having already modified our way of looking at typewriters, colouring pencils, shirts, zips, buttons, audio cassettes, tents, plastic toys, records and cutlery we are still on the look for new challenges and materials.

Come to Reetsweet 2 to discover all the new goodies we have been working on.'

Mother Eagle @ reetsweet christmas edition..

Mother Eagle is the brainchild of Katie Tume and appeared at our last event, Katie continues to keep up the standard of her fantastic work, creating timeless pieces of handmade jewellery.

Whats the name of your stall and how did you choose it? Mother Eagle...the reason is a bit of a secret, but if you listen to the song Wrong Girl by Jane's Addiction, you might get it ;)

How did you start out making handmade?

I guess back when I was about 11 or 12 was when i can first remember seriously making stuff. it was even jewellery back then actually - i used to sell it at school. Miss Richardson my textiles teacher was particularly keen on my hand painted peruvian clay earrings as i recall.

What keeps you inspired? Halloween, love, Japan, pirates, Rock and roll, toadstools, pumpkins, skulls and bones, Deer and Owls, all of which can be made better by being zombies.

What kind of customer do you find enjoys your work?

I am always surprised by this, as I'm always thinking of a specific kind of girl i'm making for, but I think it has a pretty wide appeal - I think most people can find something in there they like.

...Just a taster here of some more of her work. See her on Dec 5th at the Corn Exchange, Leeds...

Steph says hello designs our new flyer!!!

A preview of steph's new flyer for our next event - Steph will also be exhibiting her work to buy at the event at the corn exchange on dec 5th! See her more of her work at here website. Thank you so much to Steph for her fantastic design!

Debbie Greenaway @ reetsweet in dec!

As you can probably tell I love illustration! It's one of my passions collecting and enjoying the work that other people do, and I want to introduce you to a new stallholder for the next reetsweet... Debbie Greenaway works on ceramics, canvas and fabric creating limited editions of her optomistic uplifting works. Circus animals, smiling characters and weather feature strongly, she graduated from the northen school of design in 2008 and is currently working on a children's book. Here are a few snippets of her work to tantilise you!

Mr Monocular D'bean by Finest Imaginary

Kim Lawler, designer and owner of finest imaginary has confirmed for reetsweet 2 on dec 5th. What I love about Kim's work is the way she incorporates little characters with lives of their own into her work. Monocular D'Bean is a character that recurs in her work, and is loosely based upon Sherlock Holmes. This is his pipe! Many of her newest pieces are made from wood rather than plastic - and this rather lovely pipe brooch is quirky, fun and has a nice wintery feel to it in the wood.

See you all dec 5th!

Roll up, roll up!

...We have a new events page set up on facebook for the Dec fair, we will be updating it regularly with previews of stallholders' work...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reetsweet-craft-events/156352357718032?v=wall#!/event.php?eid=131454576908539&index=1

x

HANDMADE NATION @ nation of shopkeepers Leeds!

Get down to nation of shopkeepers on sunday this week for a treat! It will be your chance to see the amazing documentary Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft & Design, directed by Faythe Levine.

The fun kicks off at 4pm and it is all totally free, so why not come and spend the afternoon - make some new friends and pick up some crafty skills and get ahead with your christmas shopping! For more info check out the equally awesome craftsville website and read on!

Velvet noir return!

One of the busiest stalls at reetsweet's last fair was Velvet Noir by Luke, he creates stunning jewellery which is very fashion conscious yet handmade and stunning! Here's a few tasty pictures of what's to come, I hope you ladies (and gents) are ready for Dec 5th!

Hot off the press from the last reetsweet...

Hi all you reetsweeters!

For those of you who came down sunday - take a trip down memory lane and check out our photo coverage - for newbies - look what you missed! Get down to Corn Exchange Leeds Dec 5th to get a slice of the craft action!...more photos on the facebook page here!

Reetsweet the sequel!

It's just been confirmed, reetsweet will be returning to Leeds Corn Exchange on sunday 5th Dec...more information and booked stallholders to follow...are you excited?! Iam!

Have you got a sweet tooth? Then get down to Craft Candy!

Some of the lovely supporters for Reetsweet also run an amazing art collective in Sheffield - only a short train ride from Leeds! They have regular fairs under the name 'Craft Candy' and have a christmas event coming up...Check here for the details and go have a look at their superb selection of crafters...amazing!

A bit of info from the guys at craft candy...

'Craft Candy organise several quality contemporary Craft Fairs a year in Sheffield. Our Main Fairs are held in Spring, Summer and at Christmas in the Millennium Gallery, a wonderful purpose built gallery space in Sheffield City Centre. We also organise monthly Mini Fairs at Bungalows and Bears, these fairs are a great alternative to Saturday shopping in Sheffield City Centre. All our fairs are free for the public to attend.'

Thank you very muchly!!

A big thank you to all the stallholders and attendees who came down today to the reetsweet fair at the corn exchange, we had a great turn out and there was a ton and a half of talent! We hope to be back again soon with some more reetsweet treats so keep checking back on the blog and on the facebook page and see you all soon! Meanwhile, we will be posting some pictures in the next few days so if you came you can find yourself in the mix or if you missed it you can see what you missed out on!

Thanks again!

Becki from reetsweet
x

(special thanks to elodie g for her lovely crafty picture to the right!)

Reetsweet neo craft fair is JUST 2 DAYS AWAY!

In the words of a my friend Lee who enjoys speaking in text speak just to be silly...O.M.G.!!

Reetsweet is in two days...this sunday 7th Nov at the Leeds Corn Exchange! If you haven't read about us already or need all the deets please go and check out our facebook event page here. Alternatively if can't make this one, join our group to stay in the loop!

Can't wait to see you there and for Leeds to get to see all the fresh crafty talent it has at it's finger tips!!

Becki from reetsweet
x

'Forget me notes' by Katie Marie Knapp..

'My name is Katie Marie Knapp and I tend to have two real joys in life... The first is a nice cup of tea and the other is making Forget Me Notes, sweet nostaligic cards and postcards to send to your friends.

I currently display and sell my work in the award winning 'Sunshine Bakery' Chapel Allerton, where the mis matched teacups and vintage decor send me giddy with excitement, much like a child in a sweet shop! I would describe my work as that of a magpie, somebody who collects all those lovely things from times gone by and stores them in their head or under their bed incase one day they find some use for them! Lucky for me, I've managed to relay some of this childhood nostalgia to paper, just in time for the Reetsweet Craft Fair this sunday at the Corn Exchange!'

You are my 'Finest Imaginary'...Kim Lawler

I have always loved the clean and fresh, and our next exhibitor has a wonderfully upbeat and happy take on crafts...

FinestImaginary is the working name of designer/creator Kim Lawler. Kim graduated with a BA (hons) in Interactive Arts back in 2007 and then FinestImaginary became the outlet for all the things Kim creates. She uses paper, plastic and print to express her multitude of ideas - throughout the past couple of years FinestImaginary has produced many items of laser-cut jewellery, with designs ranging from the comical to the peculiar.

Kim references fables, stories, monsters and make believe in her jewellery and this range sits alongside her printed apparel and plushes!

See her work at the corn exchange on sunday 7th nov (this sunday!) 11am to 4pm...

Re-used loveliness by Zinc White

It's amazing how differently people can approach their art and design work - Zinc White produce some truly original work featuring reused, and recycled materials, from found objects to cast off fabrics. At reetsweet this sunday Zinc White will be showcasing their handmade homewares and accessories....

Worn men’s shirts become handbags, old tents are reinvented as wallets and from melted audio cassettes we mould lampshades. Children’s toys are transformed into personal memories to be loved again and we use broken typewriters and recycled colouring pencils to create jewellery.

Zinc White have gift boxes that are created from unwanted record sleeves and product labels are printed onto artists’ canvas off-cuts.

None of this is your typical handmade from recycled either, cool design is also their primary driving force. Zinc White are Lidia & Paul and they come from fine art and architecture backgrounds...see them at reetsweet this sunday 11am to 4pm!

Ginger is the new blonde...'Knock off ginger' By Hollie Kritikos-blades

My natural colour is a murky blonde, far from the warm ginger my Dad naturally once was, so I help nature along and go all out ginger because the little hints of it I have naturally just aren't enough. You could say that I am a 'Knock of ginger' (cringey link but who cares?) which is the name of the label Hollie Kritikos-blades is presenting at reetsweet this sunday...today Hollie tells us a bit about what she does...

'I use archival paper scraps, found objects and images to produce handmade zines and artist’s books, as well as illustrative prints. Being specifically interested in the aesthetics of memento, time, and human interaction, the outcome of my work often resembles that of a diarist. By combining old, and often kitsch imagery, with gritty prose my prints can be at once charming and melancholic.

After working within this medium for almost 6 years I have recently enjoyed exhibiting work around Leeds; including Woodhouse, Headingley, Holbeck, Hyde Park, and Burley.'

Hollie will be appearing at reetsweet art design and neo craft fair this sunday in the Leeds Corn Exchange!