Oldies but goodies! Come meet Bec, Jill and Brionny at Reetsweet Dec

We have a few regulars at reetsweet who epitomise what the fairs are about: the original, the fun, the quirky and cool.

Bec Gilray, obsessive letterpress operative behind 'Do you punctuate?' will be back to sell at the Dev show with a new collection of Christmas paper goods, plus some old all-year/round favourites:

Plus we welcome back Jill Smith from 'Jil made this' who now hosts her work at the lovely 'Handpicked Hall' at the top of town, Jill was one of first reetsweeters to join our gang with her hand printed cushions and gifts:

And last but certainly not least, we can't wait to see what Brionny from 'Foxbunting' has been beavering away making. Her iconic 'crochetdermy' heads have become part of reetsweet's biggest hits and we always look forward to seeing her excellent fringe (nb: wish mine would stay that straight!):

Catch these beauts and more at reetsweet's Dec 7th show in Leeds.

insider info leeds: bird's yard

Handmade is definitely a collaborative pursuit, and not only do we all inspire one another, but we all like to celebrate one anothers' success! I just wanted to take time before beginning the BIG countdown to the Leeds Uni fair and introduce you to Birds Yard...

Bird's Yard is a 3 floor emporium of local designers, crafts, vintage, jewellery, milliners, homewares, crafts, street wear, ladieswear designers and a hair salon.

Having just celebrated its first year in business, it recently was shorlisted in many categories in Leeds Retail Awards, and managed to walk away with Best Vintage, Best Designer and Best Jewellery, and came a close second to Harvey Nichol's in best department store.

The owner Michelle is always on the lookout for new designers, anything goes (within reason), and the quirkier the better need apply! She offers really affordable rates, and a 50% off for your first month to anybody that joins mentioning reetsweet... (just £10 per month, plus 10%sales) Get in touch with her by email michelle@birdsyard.co.uk - Or pop down to 83 Kirkgate, just near the very lovely Leeds Corn Exchange.

www.birdsyard.co.uk

it's almost autumn..

(by kitschensink)

I'm not really a huge fan of summer, the pressure of getting my pasty pins out in the sun and having to work when it's too hot all make me a bit resentful of the whole thing (though I'm sure it's ace if you are off work and it's sunny!) - but I love autumn! As we head into the middle of august, our next fair isn't until the beginning of oct but we have so many new artists and makers to show you, plus more cakey goodness from the marvellous tea dance co, that I couldn't resist a bit of an update. So, the dates for your diary - oct 1st and 2nd at Leeds Corn Exchange...and a sneaky peeky...

(louise taylor originals)

handmade at the brudenell...

Vintage button earrings by reetsweeters lilybones

Illustration by reetsweeters fox bunting (above)

Painted log by Matt Saunders of rabbit portal

Some amazing things today at Amy Mcdonald's handmade 6 at Brudenell...check it all out! We thought the cakes were ace, (tea and cake for a quid...can't argue with that!). Plus we especially liked new work by Derrian Bradder aka Lilybones - one of our reetsweet stallholders, and the works by Matt Saunders who had done illustrations on logs which make perfect book ends. All in all, a perfect end to bank holiday weekend! Congrats Wills and Kate and cheers for the extra time off. Nice one!...

Cute finger puppet by Amy Panda the very talented event organiser

Me in my new headband with ears from reetsweeter Laura Black

panda-monium!

Amy Mcdonald is a craft wizardess and the genuis behind 'handmade' the brudenell's craft events (which I highly recommend you see as well as reetsweet!)...april 3rd will be Amy's first reetsweet and we are proud to have her on board...





'I have been hand-sewing little felt friends under the name "amypanda" for around 4 years now. Sewing is only a hobby at the moment, but I think like most crafters I cling onto the dream that one day I could make a living from my creations. I'm heavily influenced by my ever growing list of obsessions; buttons, cats, pandas, hand stitching, tea; and a love of children's books has led me to move more into items for children...I'd love to produce a children's book one day to accompany my finger puppets. The sense of pride I get from someone picking up one of my brooches and coo-ing over it makes all the hard work more than worth it, I love it!'

foxy ladies!

I love to rummage around Leeds, in and out of shops, markets and craft fairs, trawling for new stallholders and finding gems! Fox Bunting are a regular fixture on Leeds' craft scene, a team of two, creating heartbreakingly funny, cute and original prints, paper craft and felt pieces. I have a few peices of theirs and they raise a smile on everyone's face when they see them - I think you'll love them and they will finally be working with us at the april fair showing us their latest works on a reetsweet stall!





Fox Bunting is Lucy and Brionny, they have been working together as a team since they began to give their crafts to friends and family as gifts. Living together, Lucy's illustrations seemed to perfectly compliment Brinonny's felt work and their brand was created.

They've done a couple of the Mini Craft Candy Fairs in Sheffield and last summer did the Craft Candy Candy Floss fair, they've also exhibited in Bradford and Armley.

Come down and meet Fox Bunting at the corn exchange, sunday 3rd april 11am onwards!

She's the one....

I first fell in love with Steph whilst reading the excellent 'Oh Comely' maagazine, a magazine for women full of creativity and fun, recipes and intelligent writing, rather than rubbish quizzes on 'should you dump him?' or 'how do lose 6lbs in a week'. Steph's work was a main feature. Steph aka Steph Says Hello will be appearing at reetsweet again, as she continues to design for us and is, and always will be our little vip!



See you april 3rd @reetsweet Steph! And thank you for everything x

Next reetsweet!

Our next event will be on sunday April 3rd at the Leeds Corn Exchange, thanks to all our crafters who made yesterday such a pleasure, full of original ideas and beautiful things, and thanks to all the shoppers who came out to see what we had to offer!

Our next event is open for submissions from Mon 14th Feb at 9am - closing date is 25th Feb at midnight, just email me between these dates with a biography and photos of your work to be considered.

Due to the limited tables and our commitment to quality and giving a varied show, please do not be offended if we cannot showcase your work right away, if you are successful in your application we will contact you.

all the best for a year of craft!

xxx
reetsweet

michelle, my belle...

Leeds based jeweller Michelle O'Regan, works exclusively with vintage buttons and creates one-off quirky pieces for the girl who isn't afraid to be different. I for one think these are a brilliant bit of fashion upcycling and she has a great selection!

She will be appearing at reetsweet on sunday, and you can also see her work in Harrogates's The Stalls, Hat Therapy in Hebden Bridge and Ropewalk gallery in Barton Upon Humber.

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...

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."

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

COMPETITION TIME! An amazing chance to win a reetsweet goody bag for christmas!

Now guys, we know we get lots of readers on the blog, but are you committed? Are you interactive? How much do you love handmade? We are on a mission to bring you a veritable feast of handmade goodies for christmas, all for free in our reetsweet facebook competition!

Your goody bag will include - a handpuppet theatre by little fingy, a zinc white ring, a signed print by alison deegan, a signed print by stephsayshello (our resident flyer designing wizard!), a item from imogen's imagination, a cushion by eclectic chair, a necklace from finest imaginary and even more!


All you have to do is sign up to the reetsweet fan page on facebook by Dec 5th and one lucky reetsweeter will be picked at random and receive our special lot of reetsweet treasures...


So add us if you haven't already started following us, bring your friends, sign up your nan, your cat and that ex boyfriend who stalks you - make use of him for once!! Good luck! Thanks to all the stallholders for donating prizes for this! Merry Christmas!
reetsweet x