The great british january!

Hello people!

I hope you have all enjoyed a nice festive period, and the doom and gloom of rain smacking your face with a 60 mile an hour wind isn't crushing your january buzz too much! Reetsweet is back on the scene, we have new dates for your diaries - bigger, better events, new collaborations and secret plans....

Leeds February 11th The Corn Exchange - Our Valentine's Fair
Open 10 am to 5pm, free entry

Sheffield March 10th The Millennium Gallery - Our Spring Spectacular
Open 11am to 5pm, free entry

Leeds April 7th The Corn Exchange - Our Easter Fair
Open 10am to 5pm, free entry


Makers, head to www.reetsweet.com/submissions to apply to take part, visitors - get ready as we are already amazed at the work coming through for the 2012 events - the economy may be pants, but the makers of the north are going wild with their talents!

Big thanks to everyone that has visited or taken part last year, plus all the people helping spread the word - we hope you continue to enjoy reetsweet events...in 2012!

Over and out!

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: previews

At the Sheffield fair we have two new artists to reetsweet's events - Carla and Ella. Both of these women are leaders in their field, producing modern and fashionable work using age old materirals and techniques...to produce fresh and exciting ideas. A delight!


'My name is Carla Murdoch, I am 23 years old, my craft is ceramics but I also use textiles and wood. I have been a graduate for a year from the University of Sunderland.

I recently bought a kiln and some clay to get myself back into the crafty world.


I mainly make small trinkets like buttons and pieces for jewellery.
My work is fun and sometimes humorous, I make work for people to enjoy and admire. I have been a member of a photography group for almost a year and have been using photos of animals and plants to draw into the clay, adding these images to tiles and pots.'

'Pewter is an age-old metal which is seeped in history and tradition within the metalwork industry, which as a designer and maker fascinates Ella. Working from a small workshop in Clitheroe, Lancashire, this influence and inspiration can be seen in her work and has lead to an exploration of old methods of production.

Simplicity of form is used to challenge traditional pewter ware which tends to be heavy and over embellished. Ella's interest in the history of pewter used in our homes, as well as her modern, slightly graphic edge to her designs blend to create pieces that are striking and effective. Pewter is a metal which mellows over time and develops its own patina which gives each design a new character as it is aging. This is something that doesn't just make pewter a one-off purchase but a life long investment that develops as time goes on.

Ella graduated in 2007 with First grade Honours in Designed Metalwork and Jewellery from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University. Since being introduced to pewter in 2006 and winning the Pewter Live student competition run by the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, Ella continued to work with pewter whilst at university and took this time to learn more about the metal. This love of the metal has continued and now all of her work is based on pewter and its unique characteristics...'