Top picks from today's sheffield fair - come see us for your christmas shopping!

Hello!

As promised, we are live blogging a bit today - and posting some of the top picks from the makers of sheffield here today at the millennium gallery - we are up the escalators in the arundel room - it's free - and we are just opening up shop for the day!

(tape measure print accessories by alison moore)

(magpie printed leather by kathyrn sillance)

(jointed teddy by sian wheatcroft)

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: final countdown previews

I think it would be fair to say that I am a big kid, and here at reetsweet I get to let my inner child take over - the ethos behind reetsweet is about bringing a piece of handmade joy into people's lives, getting them away from the high street, buying local, handmade beautiful things!



One of my first reetsweet moments of amazement was seeing this lady's work the first time...Sian Wheatcroft of strawberry kitten; she makes utterly original toys (for big kids) that are so well made...a total joy! Sian began with the larger bears you see here, but has now moved on to making stunning jointed bears, and she also offers a range of prints, small accessories and the bear cushions. She will be at reetsweet's fair in sheffield's millenium gallery this sunday 27th with us from 12pm to 4pm...see you there!

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: previews

Another new reetsweeter, and former craft candy regular, on sunday we will be introducing you to Joey Ramone.

Joey lives in Sheffield, and has been making cute fabric brooches, bags and other accessories since 2008 which she sells from her Etsy shop. She has been a contributor of sewing projects to the magazines Sew Hip, Making Gifts and Quilt Scene 2010 and was delighted to win the Feeling Stitchy Rainbow of Stitches online contest in May 2010 with her embroidery, “Little Tiger's Orangey Celebration”.

Joeysdreamgarden.blogspot.com

Our fair this sunday runs from 12pm to 4pm at Sheffield's Millenium Gallery click here for more info...

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: previews

Here at reetsweet we try to always find new and exciting makers for our events, we are particularly excited to have this young lady next fair - Katrine Brosnan - an illustrator and printmaker based in Nottingham, Katrine studied fine art and since then has explored her love of simple line drawings and illustrations, she turns these into screen prints and lino cuts.

'I love printmaking, the smell, the presses, the plates, the thickness of the ink and all the beautiful ephemera that goes with it. I find it really satisfies my urge to make! The inspiration for my illustrations come from everyday life, visiting new towns and cities or letting my mind wander when doing the washing up. I like to draw people I see who look full of character, whether these are familiar icons or perfect strangers. I sometimes collect surreptitiously drawn or snapped images of strangers to edit into print designs later on. I have started to categorise these, for instance I have a collection of strangers I’ve seen sleeping, men on public transport with their dogs and a series of images of people at airports (airport-raits.)

I have recently finished a commission for a menswear store called LiFE in Manchester. I’ve also just completed making my own range of shiny new wooden brooches and ceramic mugs. I’m a member of Leicester Print Workshop and am often spotted showing my crafty wares at fairs and markets across the East Midlands and beyond....'

Catch her at the reetsweet in sheffield on sunday 27th nov (that's next sunday folks!). For more info see www.reetsweet.com/events.

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: previews

Two more brilliant women appearing at the sheffield fair - we have a boutique accessory maker - Alison Moore - whose bright and playful designs are the perfect gift for any vintage loving woman, and then the very 'hardcore' Jessica Flinn who has a stunning range of silver jewellery including her unique concrete collection...

'Alison Moore began designing and making for the public in 2009, after a lifetime of creating. She enjoys working with tactile media; her current project being 'Kitsch and Stitch', a range of accessories made with beautiful cotton fabrics.




The designer's inspiration comes from a variety of places, from her surroundings on the edge of the Peak District National Park and memories of the six years she lived in South Texas, to old prints and ceramics.

Alison's aim, is to provide people with new products that will become treasured vintage items of the future.'




'I am Jessica Flinn, I design and make handmade contemporary Jewellery from my workshop in Sheffield, I use a variety of traditional metalwork tools; some of which are 100s of years old! I use "hardcore" metalwork techniques - think blowtorches not beads! My current collections are made from Stainless steel and sterling silver. I have four ranges in my current collections: Mosaics, Lace, Spices and finally the concrete range.




I have just over 40 pieces in my collections and these range in price from £20 - £100. I also offer a bespoke design service for one off orders. Your wish is my command!'

See these makers and more on sunday 27th nov at the millenium gallery in sheffield....free entry! For more information on our fairs and future events please go to www.reetsweet.com