HEY GOOD LOOKIN'

So, it's been a while! Reetsweet had a bit of break in 2014 due to my ever so hectic schedule as a social media monkey for a fashion brand!  I've learnt a LOT in the past year and I miss the buzz of the fairs and so I'm back and planning a fair in Nov and again in Spring '16...

This is my face - hi!

Submissions are open, and you can apply here until 16th August, the after careful deliberations the stall holders will all be notified by Aug 23rd so you have plenty of time to get yourself ready!  A big thanks to all the makers who have said such kind things about the fairs, the Leeds Corn Exchange for hosting us and the awesome customers who make it all happen!!

See you in November and look out for sneaky previews and competitions on here and on our new Instagram page so get you in the mood for some awesome handmade...

Pretty little thing: Meet Deborah Ballinger returning to reetsweet

Pretty stoked to have Deborah from @DBIllustrations on board for dec with pieces like this, perfect for gifts...we love her style, especially her new fake tattoos...ahh!

Deborah did her degree at Norwich University of the Arts where she graduated with a 2:1 and a hunger to get creating.

Inspired by history, culture, flora and fauna and traditions, Deborah uses these themes and more to create beautifully dark, natural and traditonal illustrations. Striving to keep many traditional and handmade elements within her work, Deborah uses the process of collage to begin breathing life into her pencil drawings before translating these onto textiles, stationery, giftware and printed matter.

 

Feb fair preview: Print making heaven...

We seem to be building up teams of makers here at reetsweet who are also best friends, or shall we simply say, two for the price of one? Two other awesome ladies will be hitting us up with some handmade goodness on saturday...

Kirstie Williams 
Kirstie is a practising designer and printmaker. Her current practice focuses on screen and relief printing and she makes cards, gift wrap, gift boxes and limited edition prints. She has an MA in Textile Design from Chelsea College of Art, where she specialised in resist dyeing techniques. She currently works part time as a print technician at Leeds College of Art and is studying for a PGCE in Further and Higher Education. www.kirstiewilliams.com.

Mintprint by Miriam Trent
Miriam’s surface patterns and print designs concentrate on good colour, shape and form. References to the decorative arts from the 1920’s until the 1970’s can be seen in her work. Her stylish, contemporary art prints (monotype, linocut prints and screenprints) function to decorate walls, in home interiors and commercial premises. She has a new range of hand screen printed lampshades and kitchen textiles under her brand Mintprint. www.mintprint.org. 

Oct fair: Something a bit different...'That old chesnut'

For the oct fair we wanted to try something a bit different on the foodie stall, and so we are honoured to be hosting a vegan bakery stall for the very first time!...

 That Old Chestnut is a vegan bakery and catering company run by Chris and Elly. 
  
'Our range started with a few classics like Coffee & Walnut Cake, Carrot Cake, and Chocolate Orange Cake. Ever growing it now includes: Liquorice Cake, Coconut & Lime Bundt, and Peanut Butter Tiffin. 

 

We've also started making savoury options, tarts, pizzas and pasties, using seasonal ingredients such as beetroot, leek, and spring greens. To go with the savoury options we put out a spread of salads, like our 'Local Leaf Salad', which uses salad leaves grown at Bardon Grange in Leeds. We are constantly thinking of new ideas and experimenting with different ingredients, obviously there's a lot of tasting and sampling, but we don't mind!

We supply to a number of eateries in and around Leeds (a list of which can be found on our website: www.thatoldchestnutishere.com), so you never have to go far to get your fix!

All our food is 100% vegan, and we run our business using the following values as much as possible: local, sustainable, ethical, and homemade.'

We can't wait to get sampling and buying from these two sexy vegans!...www.reetsweet.com/events for more info!

Oct Fair: new maker 'Pickled tees'

We always strive to give new makers a chance to showcase their work, and we are in love with the artwork that Lisa Pickles aka 'Pickled Tees' sent to us to get into the Oct fair.

'I illustrate and hand screen print my slightly quirky and unique designs onto quality, fashionably fitted Tshirts.
I use environmentally friendly water-based inks that have a nice soft feel on the fabric...'

There is exquisite detail, craziness and awkward femininity in these illustrations and as soon as we saw her submission we thought that Lisa is maker that will definitely be going far in future - just remember you saw her here first!

Oct fair preview: 'Ladybird Likes'

 (maker zoe)

 

I can't get enough jewellery, it's an OBSESSION I have, that I have to be careful of.  Tatty Devine, Mawi, and many many etsy makers...my pinterest jewellery board is overflowing!

So, I am delighted that one of my all time top makers is coming to the Oct Reetsweet fair on Oct 6th at Leeds Corn Exchange...so exciting!

 

'Ladybird Likes' was started by Zoe Jade as a way to sell the things she created out of repurposed vintage doodads. It has since evolved into a business selling handmade jewellery and paper goods, all of which are still heavily influenced by the things Zoe finds at car boot sales and junk shops, and many items are made using original vintage papers and fabrics. 

From wooden butterfly necklaces made using French nature illustrations, to vintage ephemera packs containing papers handpicked from Zoe's personal stash, there is sure to be something to please everyone!

My Blog - http://ladybirdlikes.blogspot.

com

My Etsy Shop - www.etsy.com/shop/
ladybirdlikes

My Twitter - http://twitter.com/
ladybirdlikes

hello leeds: easter fair previews!

Wow doesn't time fly? It seems like yesterday we were putting up christmas trees, and here I am about to talk to you about the easter fair! Well, it's the perfect time of year for craft easter I think, spring is springing, and there's chocolate eggs and lambs in the fields. It's awesome. A great time to spruce up your home with something lovely a handmade, and you can't go wrong with anything made by these guys...






Foxbunting are always a big hit at reetsweet, Brionny and her friend both try their hand at a range of crafts - from illustration to crocheting, to cushion making! Their biggest hit with the crowd (and one that gets a lot of people talking) is the crochet taxidermy heads, I think these two will go on to BIG THINGS, they have imagination in buckletloads and are lovely ladies...

Catch them at reetsweet's easter fair on sat 7th april - leeds corn exchange, see here for more info....more updates in the next few days, featuring more new makers and news!

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

(katie kitzpatrick's lasercuts)

One hour to go, catch us until 5pm at leeds corn exchange, then we return on sat 7th april...

(Kristyna Baczynski)

(fenton)

(alexia claire)

Thanks Leeds!

Wow what a great weekend reetsweet had at The Corn Exchange! Thanks to them for hosting us, all the very talented makers that showcased their work, and all the lovely customers we had!

Best quote of the day? A cool looking girl and her friends walked past the welcome desk, saying 'Oh my god - reetsweet's on! Yey!' - it's great to know we have fans! Reetsweet is now 1 year old, see you in 2012 for more crafty shenanigans! Go to www.reetsweet.com and sign up to our newsletter to stay in touch!

reetsweet leeds: ahoy there my christmas shoppers!

Wow! What a great response we have been getting about our fair this weekend! Thanks to all our fans who have been in touch and for the lovely emerald street mentioning us in their weekend guide...now on to the rather serious business of who and what to expect to see...






We have a few extras up our sleeves including the lovely katy kamikaze of 'hard as' nail boutique (with us sunday only) for some reetsweet nail art, the marvellous tea dance co are with us all weekend selling festive cakery, and more makers, more talent, more handmade independent shopping, this sat and sun at leeds corn exchange....www.reetsweet.com

The reetsweet and handmade Super Fair lands soon!

(a picture of one of amy's best finger puppets)

Are you ready? Cake, craft, GO! reetsweet aka me and handmade aka amy panda have joined forces for a huge, almighty craft extravaganza - Nov 8th, Leeds University Riley Smith Hall.

It's FREE! And runs from 11am to 4pm featuring over 30 one of a kind stalls - prints, jewellery, accessories, homewares, we even have a nail art stall offering quirky nail art by the amazing katy kamikaze, and the marvellous tea dance on hand with a cake fest! So, with christmas creeping up on us, it's time to make that list, add some stuff on just for yourself and meet us there! I may just wear a panda suit to celebrate. FACT.

a big thank you to leeds!

A big shout out to everyone who took part in our fair at the weekend, especially all the customers that supported us, and a fond farewell to Kayleigh O'Mara who is bidding us goodbye as she moves down to the big smoke! See you all again in December at the leeds corn exchange on the 3rd and 4th! (if you can't wait until then we have our super student fair at leeds uni nov 8th, and the amazing sheffield fair at the millenium gallery nov 27th!)

Watch out for reetsweet.com launching shortly too!

LIVE BLOGGING SUNDAY: Today's fair

Carrie Ann Coupe brings more of her intricate and delicate designs to reetsweet's fair - from prints to useful paper goods!

LIVE BLOGGING TODAY: reetsweet sunday!

Hello! We will be continuing our coverage of the reetsweet fair today at leeds corn exchange as we open from 11am - come down! As always - it's free entry and you can even stop for a gourmet hotdog in primo's and look around all the great new shops opening at the corn exchange!

Reetsweet is on! NOW!

From 10 am today and 11am sunday at Leeds Corn Exchange we will be blogging live from reetsweet's autumn fair (doesn't feel like autumn with this weather does it? tsk!) you will find only the very best handmade handpicked for your perusal!

Entrance is free, and you'll find prices starting from as little as £2 for a little piece of handmade loveliness - keep in mind as well that this will be Kayleigh O'Mara's (work pictured above) last reetsweet as she is moving down south..Nooooo!

oct fair preview: the usual suspects!

We have a few regulars at reetsweet who appear now and again at our fairs, we consider these folk to be our vip's - and they represent the very best of handmade, and what reetsweet is all about! Let us introduce you to a few!...




Jil Smith is a very talented textiles artist, using beautiful vintage style fabrics with super cute handrawn characters, she creates homewares including cushions, decorations, badges and all kinds of fabric wonderment! Recently she has been delighted to get stocked in the mecca of all arts and crafts shops in leeds - at The Bowery, Headingley...she continues to sell out of many items at our fairs despite her ever growing amazing selections of stock!




Kayleigh O'Mara is a one-off! This adorable little lady has a quirky take on the world, illustrating in a sketchy, childlike style that is totally accessible and loveable and has some big fans! Badges, prints, cards - you name it - you can own a little bit of these cheerful, wistful little pieces for as little at £2 for the badges! And she tells me for October's fair she has some new works! Woop!




Heather Dobson has a knitting obsession! If you have a wee one in the family, or just like me, love a nice toy that takes you back to your childhood then you need to make a beeline for this lady's stall! She sold out of many of the 'Amigurumi' she creates last fair - you can buy cuddly toys and toy rattles as well and they are made with such attention to detail and love!






You will find all these amazing folk - and more, at our next fair October 1st and 2nd at Leeds Corn Exchange! x