April Event New Maker: Charming illustration work by Ed Boxall

We all need a little bit of magic in our lives, and we have a new maker for April who specialises in just that; meet Ed Boxall...

'Ed Boxall is an artist, writer and printmaker.  In Ed’s work, warm, earthy images of family life mix with magic and myth.

Many of his handmade prints capture moments from life: children’s encounters with animals, walking on the beach, eating porridge and peas. Other images have a more ambiguous poetry: people light fires in sea shells and drift on empty seas'

 

'His ‘Pearbox Books’ explore this world including ‘The Rooftop Garden’, and his popular ‘Storm Tree Stories’.

“The Books have... an almost spiritual sense of connection between people and places and the natural world” (Katriona Chapman)

Ed performs his stories with his own ‘magic lantern’ style projections and giant pop-up paper   cut out silhouettes, illuminated with fairy lights.

“Beautifully, wonderfully, inspiringly tingle-making” (feedback from a story telling session)

Ed graduated from St Martin’s College in 1999. He had several books published by Walker books before independently establishing his practice.'

Find out more at: www.edboxall.co.uk

 

New maker: Hayley Louise Crann

Over the years we have hosted some original and stunning illustrators, and I am delighted to announce a new maker with a fresh and dynamic style...

Hayley Louise is an Artist and Designer who has a passion for creating intricate hand drawings and designs. Focusing on different textures and details to create life like sketches Hayley’s bases her work around wildlife and their surrounding environment, she has always had a love of nature therefore it is the main inspiration behind the works she creates. 

Sketching all of the different aspects first she then creates a composition with them using Photoshop. Having had an interest in art from a young age Hayley spent five years studying Art and Design at Leeds College of Art and has recently graduated with a BA(Hons) in Printed Textile and Surface Pattern Design. Based in Leeds Hayley now has a collection of drawings in limited edition prints and greetings cards she is now trying to promote herself by taking part in art fairs and competitions and has been awarded a certificate of ‘Outstanding Art’ from the online gallery ‘Light, Space and Time’ and was awarded 2nd place in an arts competition held in Leeds.
 

Find us at Leeds Corn Exchange from 10am until 5pm this Saturday 2nd February, visit our online gallery here to see past events.

Oct Fair New maker: Jamie Mills

 

(jamie mills in disguise...spooky!) 

New to reetsweet, and doing some truly original work at the moment, we are proud to introduce you to the very talented Jamie Mills... an artist and illustrator currently residing in the hills of the Yorkshire countryside. There, he draws the textures, shapes and patterns of landscapes unknown and the stories in his head...

'I'm currently feeling really inspired by scientific, natural history drawings and how they are catalogued. I've always collected lots of things (bones, rocks, minerals, fossils, pine cones, plants etc) and have just started to really enjoy drawing these, learning more about them and cataloguing them in a kind of semi-scientific way. I think, over the last year or so, I've let the true observational drawing side of what I do slip a bit which is something I'm trying to rectify at the moment.'

 

Jamie has been a busy guy, the other week he was at the International Alternative Press Festival http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/ plus he's had a couple of drawings in exhibitions this month and he will be appearing at a few more fairs and exhibitions this winter.

We asked Jamie what kind of animal he would be, other than Jamie Mills, he said:

'I wouldn't mind being the lizard that I just found in my garden, aside from being a little lost he seemed like he had things pretty much worked out.'

Catch Jamie at the next reetsweet at Leeds Corn Exchange sat 6th Oct...it's free to come down, as always, and we have a free learn to knit workshop too!  Come see us!

Jamie's etsy store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JamieMilk

Jamie's blog:
http://jamiemillsillustration.blogspot.co.uk/

LIVE BLOGGING: Today's Fair at Leeds Corn Exchange Continued...

(et respice finem)

More of our favourites from the fair today - until 5pm at leeds corn exchange - it's free entry, and prices start at just £2....

(laura shelton)

(liu)

(zinc white)

(becky hodgson)

another amazing design by stephsayshello

Just wanted to quick post these new flyer designs by steph baxter aka stephsayshello reetsweet's resident illustrator and designer! Check her website here. We are loving the spring colours - just the ticket in january - yeehah! Roll on 2012...

reetsweet valentines fair: preview of becky hodgson

There are two things I love 1) bears and 2) illustration, so if you put the two together it's like crack for me - I'm so so excited that for our valentine's fair on sat 11th feb at the leeds corn exchange we have becky hodgson joining us - a very talented young designer and illustrator...


I'll let her introduce herself, but the bear above is part some of her newer work she showed recently at the lovely headingley arts trail...

'Bonjour! My name is Becky Hodgson. I like to illustrate, design and make a variety of things. I do enjoy drawing animals (bears in particular) and spent a good majority of my university time doing so. I have recently graduated from Leeds college of Art with a 2.1 in Printed textiles.'

And yes, below that IS a repeat pattern design of an owl with a handbag - I almost squealed at it:



Catch Becky at the next reetsweet leeds sat 11th feb from 10am to 5pm...go to www.reetsweet.com to register for our newsletter to keep your inbox updated!

Leeds preview: February fair featuring Kristyna Baczynski

As we continue our campaign against crap craft, I am very proud to announce that one of my favourite illustrators will be joining us for the next event in Leeds on Sat 11th Feb.




Kristyna Baczynski is an illustrator, designer and comic book artist with a Yorkshire accent and Ukrainian blood. Self publishing and freelancing since 2008 from her studio in Leeds, she has been awarded a Northern Design Award, had her work continually and internationally published and she was the 2011 Though Bubble Artist in Residence. She is happiest when she is drawing.


See her work at reetsweet's valentine's fair sat feb 11th from 10am to 5pm - free entry at leeds corn exchange!

a little bit of what you fancy...the alternative comics fair!

Little bit of news on the grapevine for you! Our favourite bar in Leeds is hosting the 3rd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair! Saturday 1st October in A Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds, just behind the Leeds City Art Gallery.

Featuring the best Northern, alternative comics makers, print-makers and illustrators, who will be selling their wares!

Don’t like comics? There’ll be lots more on offer, such as craft wear, badges, art and music.

This event’s guest list includes old friends such as Steve Tillotson, Hugh 'Shug' Raine, Gary Bainbridge, Andy Waugh, Helen Memo (a reetsweeter!)and many more...

The event will run from 12 noon until 5pm and is FREE to enter! So please do go up after visiting reetsweet and see them at the top of town - there are some very talented people to be seeing there!

Find them online at leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com, Facebook search “Leeds Alternative Comics” or follow @leedsaltcomics

totally sweet! : steph says hello's new design for reetsweet!

Hello there reetsweeters! You may find you'll be seeing a lot more of our flyers and posters around leeds so watch, this, space! Steph says hello (aka Steph Baxter) has once again surpassed herself and produced us an amazing autumn flyer for the august/oct fairs...thank you steph!! To see more of her fantastic work got to her website! Thank you please! x

the rise and rise of another reetsweeter! : matt saunders

I was a total stalker of matt saunder's work before I booked him for reetsweet, I am not afraid to admit it! His work caught my eye on etsy, and then at a lovely event up at the brudenell social club put on by my friend amy (aka amy panda - see her work here!) and then I would look at his website and get all dreamy! Matt, a Leeds graduate has been incredibly busy these past few months, not only has he done work in the past for belle & sebastian and channel 4, but he has just recently been commissioned by none other than CATH KIDSTON to do illustrations for their magazine,and they also interviewed him! Get in!

Matt has recently been designing some stunning prints that are just amazing - delicate, wistful and childlike (see top) - we love! They remind me of wallpaper I once had in the 80's! We wish Matt and all our fantastic reetsweet artists well for their future and may you have lots more success!

Bonjour miss o'mara!

Kayleigh O'Mara introduces her homely illustrations and gifts...

'I have a strong, and simple illustration style which is mostly hand drawn outlines and digital colouring. I enjoy making greetings cards, button badges, magnets, children's books, and zines.




I am currently selling my crafts to fund a course in screen printing to take my images and put them on anything and everything . I am hoping to print on to notebooks tote bags and t-shirts.

But for now i am creating new badges and magnets, cards and zines. '

Kayleigh has attended a few reetsweet's now, and her stall is always popular so please get down early to pick up some of her top treats!

debbie returns!

Returning once again to reetsweet this sunday is Debbie Greenaway, one of my favourite illustrators and printmakers.

Debbie creates narrative images and uses a variety of methods and materials, carrying a sketchbook with her wherever she can, Debbie draws from observation or when inspiration strikes!

At the moment she is developing her characters and experimenting with book illustration, combining mixed media techniques with printmaking methods. Debbie enjoys making screen prints, plushes, badges, buting, purses and has new badges and fish paintings for sale this reetsweet!

pencil me in....introducing kayleigh o'mara!

I have long admired Kayleigh O'Mara's work, she is a recent illustration graduate, currently working in a shop to fund her love for making and crafting. Kayleigh has a strong, and simple illustration style which is mostly hand drawn outlines and digital colouring. Kayleigh enjoys making greetings cards, button badges, magnets, children's books, and zines. Here we show off some gorgeous samples of her work which you will be able to buy this sunday at reetsweet fair craft fair, the corn exchange leeds!

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 :)

new exhibitor - 'i've made you something...' by Claire Bellia

An interview with Claire Bellia:

I'm a student in my last year at Leeds College of Art...

I'm an illustrator and love to create images through using various print methods, most commonly screenprinting. I also enjoy to hand cut and laser cut images and embellishments within my work.

My work concentrates on repeat pattern/wallpaper design and also illustration. But recent work has found me delving into the subject of 'the female body' and this idea of 'beauty' and 'perfection' within society today.

Through the print process and cutting, the images are all somehow a little different, this is important to me, in giving my work a personal feel and for anyone who buys my work, knowing they have a unique piece/image, made for them.

My latest project is working on putting together some pieces of wooden jewelry, but I've also been sewing and hope to bring you some of these new and excitingly cute goodies at Reetsweet in November, as well as my prints.

I sell my work at various crafts fairs and you can also find my work at 'On The Wall' - poster shop in Leeds. From the 16th-21st I have a residency at the 42 New Briggate in town, so pop in and have a peek :)


....Claire will be appearing at the reetsweet craft event on Nov 7th at the Leeds Corn Exchange.

Steph says hello to reetsweet!

I am really excited to announce our newest stallholder for the reetsweet craft event in leeds - Steph Baxter from 'Steph says hello'.... Steph is a freelance illustrator from the fair city of leeds. Her drawings are full of very bright colours and happy little creatures.





When Steph isn't illustrating things for people she can usually be found drinking lots of tea and crafting little lovely things out of felt and paper for people to enjoy. One day she would love a little shop selling only cute things. Steph has worked for clients such as Mother & Baby Magazine, Dentsu Agency, Goodbyn and Sainsbury's.




...Steph will be hosting a stall at reetsweet's art design and craft fair in Leeds on Nov 7th at the Corn Exchange...