who lives in a haus like this?

reetsweet would kindly like to introduce to you Carla De Azevedo aka Maus Haus began in 2010 with the imaginings of Carla De Azevedo. Based in Leeds she makes limited edition, bags, purses, brooches and journals. Her work is often described as fun and quirky. She’s sold items across West Yorkshire, including Saltaire, Wakefield and Leeds and will be at reetsweet this coming sunday from 11am to 4.30pm..see you there!

who ate all the biscuits?

This reetsweet we introduce a new stallholder, Biscuit/Biscuit...it consists of one crafty art student from leeds met who escaped the deep south of england to come to the wonderful north! Hurrah!

There is something to tickle everyones crafty fancy, from hand sewn cushions to printed illustrations to hand made books!

"Everything inspired by anything cute, girly and very crafty! Although I've Only been running for a half a year but I'm still going full steam"

We can't wait to see what Fen's made...

cleaning up!

Hailing from near Manchester, one of our new stallholders is Bar Soap aka Kate and Dan, inspired by none other than Mr Sugar himself, they started tinkering in their kitchen and have now developed their own brand and test every new concoction themselves.


All their soaps are handmade and so they know -exactly- what goes into them. Namely, the finest, food grade, olive oils and for a wonderfully moisturing bar and the best quality coconut oil for a beautiful lather. They add the most luxurious essential oils for the most alluring scents based around your favourite cocktails which are both a treat for the body and the senses.


All bars are adorned with the hand picked artworks of Jules Cheret for a delightful burlesque style, making them stylish and affordable gifts or just a bathroom essential for anybody. Bar Soap bars are a good deal larger than supermarket fodder (large bars are 150 grams) and also contain the moisturising glycerine that most manufacturers suck out of their soap; Kate and Dan have soaps for every taste. We are delighted to have them onboard for feb 6th's fair!

leeds made this:

A little chat with Jil from Jilmadethis, a regular at reetsweet:

tell us a bit about yourself, did you grow up in leeds?

I grew up and was artsied up in leeds

what led you to making your own craft business?

It's something I've always wanted to do since I was about 5. I wanted to work in a shop, which I am doing and i wanted to make my own crafts which I've finally begun doing this year. After my degree in Printed Textiles & Surface pattern design, I wasn't sure exactly what to do. I began running a t shirt printing shop 4 years ago and developed my own unique and quirky range of printed items which now say 'Jil Made this' - I hope people can look at my items and think, wow, that is so Jil! I like to to take elements from my past, be it toys or conversations, and mix with my illustrations to create people, animals, robots and more!

what's the most fun part of what you do?

Coming up with new ideas, and seeing them through from drawing and printing to sewing and selling. The fun part is thinking what people think of their purchases or gifts! I love the colours and the characters I've created and am so pleased that I've finally come up with something to be proud of.

what's the least fun part?

I guess hours of sewing can be less fun, my fingers go numb but it's worth it! I struggle to decide things, which can be pain staking - things like deciding which fabric would be best, what colour hair and what sizes!

what's your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is one of my first proper plush items - my rainbow horse - i think I may keep him! Though I do love the others too!

Jil will be at the next reetsweet at leeds corn exchange on sunday 6th feb x

Deery me!

Introducing Deer oh Deer...

"Hi I'm Dianne, a compulsive Collector made in New Zealand, based in London, England. I am part mini lop rabbit, part unicorn. Mini-Lop-Rabbicorn. I'm inspired by taxidermy, collections, found objects, mythical creatures, horned beasts, birds of prey, space, Gaiman's 'Sandman', Narnia, lace and velvet. I hope to reflect these things here. My favourite book is The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle. Not many people have read it, which I think is a shame.

Here at Dear Oh Deer you will find jewellery and accessories made from feathers, as well as various other goods made from recycled materials."

See Dianne's lovely work this coming sunday at reetsweet craft fair - Leeds Corn Exchange!

take me away...

A new addition to reetsweet for spring, we introduce...

'King Top Takeaway is the brain child of designer Hanan Qattan. The whole project started as a simple idea of wanting to create a brand that sold bold t-shirts with modern graphics that didn't cost the earth. I wanted something that was eye catching both from up close and from afar and that catered to women primarily. With help from friends and family, KingTopTakeaway.com is born!'

Remember the next event is sunday feb 6th! Leeds Corn Exchange, free entry...

hot about cushions!

I love a nice cushion I do, I love a little pile of them on a sofa, or on the bed, nestled in a little corner preferable they must be vintage style and all mis-match! So, you can imagine how much I love Heather Linnitt's work at Eclectic Chair...Heather will be at the next event on feb 6th and was featured in the photos that Guardian ran in their Leeds blog about reetsweet...one two three...ahh!!!

i've never felt like this before...

Pardon the terrible pun, I couldn't resist! I suppose for many craft enthusiasts handmade is comforting, it takes us back to our past - simpler things we liked as children, handmade always seems s bit more lovable. Especially felt work..it evokes an innocence and cuteness just by way of it's soft texture. Lucy Bowring introduces us to her work today, which will be showing at the feb fair and is aimed at adults and children...

"My name is Lucy Bowring and I have been running my craft company George & Lilly Crafts and Gifts for the past three years. Though a trained graphic designer, I've always been interested in textiles, arts and crafts.

The George & Lilly range consists of a large collection of handmade felt gifts and accessories including decorated purses, felt brooches, baby booties and book covers. Accompanying these is a variety of special one off felt framed pictures which are completely original in both design and concept.

I have always be interested in designing and making textile products and really enjoy selling my items to the public as it's nice to hear first hand feedback and see people enjoy what I have made. I get the influence for my pictures from stories, nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Ideas for badges, purses, booties and book covers come from things around me and experimenting with different techniques and materials.

I sell my items through my website shop and in several shops around Yorkshire including a group venture called the Plum tree in the historic Kirkgate market. I regularly attend craft fairs and run a weekly and a monthly felting workshop."

only in my dreams...

"Imogen's Imagination is the result of desire...albeit my desire to have a new hat to wear to every burlesque night I attended and not having the funds to do so! I started the label in 2005 and within weeks I was stocking the alternative shop Ultravixen (coincidentally the founder of Peek-a-boo, the first burlesque night in Sheffield).

This pleasurable partnership lasted for over a year, during which my designs regularly being seen around the city and receiving a great response. I was also privileged to be featured in Total Tattoo Magazine as part of an Ultravixen fashion spread with the delightful Kitten von Mew as the resident pin-up. In September 2008 I re-launched Imogen's Imagination with vigour and now present to you the much expanded business you now see.




Whilst the original range originated with burlesque roots, it now aims to offer bespoke headwear to meet your needs whatever the occasion. Whether you need something for the weekend, a showstopping accessory for your performance, something to top off your race day outfit or to wow the wedding guests, Imogen's Imagination will always provide a timely, personal, professional and affordable service. I am currently studying millinery as an evening student at Leeds College of Art and Design...hopefully you'll see some of the fruits of my research in the library coming through in my designs!"

Imogen appeared at the Dec fair and was very well received, come see her new designs on feb 6th at leeds corn exchange...reetsweet!

you little scamp!

It was when sisters Stacey and Jennifer had children of their own that Scamp Baby Gifts was born. The company, which launched in 2010, began with an exclusive hand made collection of embroidered and personalised appliquéd pictures but the products proved so popular the range has quickly grown.

Now the Scamp studio produces everything from quirky bunting to 'Cuddle Up' buggy blankets and Little People Pictures, personalised with a child's name. There are also funky elephant mobiles, beautiful framed keepsakes and hand stamped new baby cards and gift tags. So whether you're looking for something a little different, need to find a special something for a new arrival or christening or just want to spoil your own little scamp,visit www.scampbabygifts.co.uk. Scamp Baby Gifts will be making their first appearance with reetsweet at the february fair on sunday 6th feb...

reetsweet mentioned in leeds guardian blog!

Fancy a nosey into my past and my inspiration behind reetsweet? Check out my little guest blog on the guardian leeds blog at http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2011/jan/07/reetsweet-leeds-independent-handmade-craft-talent . If you live locally I definitely recommend following John Baron's excellent posts to see what's going on in and around Leeds.

Going down a storm in a teacup!

Lianne Mellor will be joining us again after taking part in the November fair last year - here are a few images to tickle your fancy!! Lianne creates just the kind of craft I like, fusing vintage style with modern techniques to produce one of a kind printed chinaware. We are delighted to have her back in Leeds at the next reetsweet feb 6th.

Bears on tour!!

I love a good cuddly toy, I know at my age I should be over this and that perhaps I shouldn't have both a toy collection and a mortgage but that's just how I roll. Sian from 'Strawberry Kitten' is returning to reetsweet in february after a fantastic reception at the last fair...not only are they beautifully made these toys, but they even have accessories! Squeal!



In Sian's own words... "I have been creating plush animals for about 6 months now and love making something that makes people smile, young and old! I'm always expanding my range of creatures and developing my textiles skills. I also aspire to be an illustrator of some sorts, my life goal is to make a children's picture book! so recently i have been working on illustrations that are inspires by my plush animals."



Catch Sian's Bears whilst you can at reetsweet feb 6th in leeds corn exchange.

New to reetsweet? What should you expect?

We have quite a few new followers on the blog, and on the facebook page - so to welcome you all - happy new year! What is reetsweet and why should you come down and see our events?

Reetsweet began as a little blog I used to write about things I loved, mostly handmade beauties or expensive trinkets I could not afford, and then, like many bloggers I lost interest - but then I realised what I was passionate about - not just shopping, handmade shopping! Who wants to buy some mass produced rubbish made halfway around the world where the person working in the factory was paid tuppence to work too fast, with poor materials!? No, we want beautiful homewares, jewellery and oddities made here in the Uk, handmade, no mass produced rubbish - just quality one offs that are different - fun! And inject humour into the world.

And so last autumn we began reetsweet's craft fairs - here's some pictures of what to expect at the Corn Exchange on feb 6th...see you there x

Did you miss us??!

Hello!

Wishing all reetsweeters a bright and prosperous new year! Hope you had a wonderful 2010 and this year is looking even better!

Spring will be upon us soon, and with that we will clean our homes, brighten up our bedrooms, spruce up our hairdos and have some romance! On feb 6th we return to the corn exchange for our next craft fair from 11am to 4.30pm...Reetsweet's Valentine's Craft Fair!

I am very excited by the selection of new talents we are bringing to you - be sure to bob down and see us - it's free entry as always and I will give you a run down of who and what to expect to see on the day on the blog.

Happy new year

x