the brilliant lives of reetsweeters continues...

At reetsweet our aim is to promote handmade shopping - providing you the public with a cool and local alternative to mainstream high street shopping - why buy something mass made abroad when you can support british handmade by coming to an ace fair? Exactly. You'd rather get something one of a kind and super cool - some of the best makers in britain are part of our network, just look at some of the press they've been getting - well done to all!

See some of these makers and more at our next fairs - feb in leeds, march in sheffield and april in leeds...go to www.reetsweet.com for deets...

Fenton have been the darling of the blog scene of late - featured here on the print & fabric blog, and also on the beautifully designed first2print blog.

Kim of Finest Imaginary is going from strength to strength also, she has been part of a number of big fairs last season, and has secured some great press with this sunday mirror feature - her 'golden' necklace:




In more jewellery news Rowan of Kitschensink had a piece on the telly box!! On none other than Mr Rusell Kane wore her POW brooch. Nice. And to top it all off her Jezebel necklace was worn by Eliza Doolittle!

reetsweet at leeds uni: MEGA ROUNDUP WEEK!

So, a week today on tues 8th Nov reetsweet finally hits down at the riley smith hall in the leeds university union for a special one off fair - free entry (as always!) we will be bringing you over 30 handpicked stalls of 100% handmade...so we thought this week we would have a big preview, showing you what we have to offer and what's new!


Kim from finest imaginary will be joining us with her new very hip navajo inspired wood jewellery, in the past she has always worked with a lot of plastic but I really love this collection and I am very excited to see what I'm going to get for myself!

(navajo inspired brooches)

We also have the multi talented matt saunders from rabbitportal bringing us his prints...

(matt's the cure poster - which has been
bought by robert smith himself!)

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few days for further previews!

last reetsweet...

We've asked our fans to contribute to our craft blog this week, and they've been emailing in what they bought last reetsweet for a competition....





First up is Hayley McColl...

''I love quirky, eye catching jewellery. It's such an ice breaker and conversation starter, people always come up and ask me where I got bits and pieces from or just to tell me they like a necklace I have on. It's a great way of making new friends because I can be a bit shy until I know someone. So when I saw this necklace I had to have it!

I loved it because it's so unusual, I've never seen anything else like it, it's a bit off a one off and I love things that are individual and make me stand out from the crowd a bit. It's really bright and eye catching and most of all it's FUN! It'll brighten up dull work outfits and make me and everyone else smile.

It's my new favourite thing because it just makes me happy to look at it. What more could you ask for?'' (Hayley's necklace is by Kim of Finest Imaginary)

I thought Hayley's description of what led her to buy it was just delightful and she is entered into our competition to win a voucher to spend at the next fair! Woop! If you would like to enter, email us over a picture of your last reetsweet purchase and a bit about why to reetsweetevents@gmail.com

Wrestle with finest imaginary!!

Kim Lawler is the genius behind 'Finest Imaginary' - a brand of fun, eyecatching, conversation piece jewellery. Appearing regularly at reetsweet, Kim has a brand new necklace I wanted to share with you. If any of you, like me, loves the mexican wrestler outfits...you'll enjoy this, her latest necklace called 'Luchador'!

Well hard, and well fun I think you'll agree, and certainly a fun way to brighten up anyday...who's ready for a fight!? See Kim's collection at reetsweet's craft fair, at leeds corn exchange april 3rd...

ms lawler i presume...

I heart Kim Lawler, aka Finest Imaginary, she creates irreverant, bright, hip accessories and art that most girls I know adore (great pressies boys ...hint hint!). She is a regular reetsweeter, and I just wanted to show off a few of my faves she makes... she will be with us too this sunday 11am onwards at the corn exchange. She has even been featured recently in the Metro. Boom! Epic.

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!

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...