Today's confession: Reetsweet is a knitwear stalker.

 

A few years ago we set up reetsweet because my friends and I were sick of two things - 1) bad craft fairs aka 'crap crafts' full of stuff that wasn't handmade and wasn't even nice and 2) we wanted to meet other makers and bring handmade to the highstreet!

Around this time one of us bought our friend a scarf from Knit & Destroy and thus our mission to one day have Kandy come to reetsweet was born and this year she's with us for the christmas show no less. OMG. Yes, we said OMG....you can expect crazy knitting and PERFECT GIFTS. Oh yeah.

April Event: New Maker 'Dual Nation' Jewellery

Way back in 2002 Tatty Devine in London kickstarted a revolution in modern jewellery, using plastics, and bold bright colours, they have inspired a generation of makers to think outside of the box and make fun, quirky, individual pieces that are affordable to all. As a big fan of this kind of thing at reetsweet, we were super excited to welcome on board Zoe, the designer/maker behind 'Dual Nation' jewellery...

'Dual Nation is an up-and-coming jewellery label spearheaded by designer and maker, Zoë Alexandria Richardson.  Draped in silver and adorned with bells, her love of jewellery stemmed from a young age and having already completed degrees in fashion design and marketing, Zoë then enrolled in a diploma of creative jewellery making at the London Jewellery School.
Focusing on handmade, statement pieces, Dual Nation draws inspiration from both British and Australian heritage.


Each piece of Dual Nation jewellery is lovingly handcrafted and we don’t mass produce. Our collections are created in small production runs as we believe in individuality and strive to create bold and curious jewellery that won’t be seen anywhere else. Our products also come beautifully packaged, making Dual Nation jewellery perfect for gifts or as a special treat to yourself.'

New maker preview: Becci Maryanne at the april event

I am so excited about the next event, I mean, I get excited about them all, but in april there's always a little more spring in everyone's step, the weather's getting nicer, the days longer and the heating needs to be put on less, I just love it. I am also in love with a new artist that will be with us on april 6th, her wonderfully weird and pretty work will definitely be something I'll be hanging on my walls this year;

'I’m Becci Maryanne – an illustrator/artist based in Leeds. I am somewhat obsessed with science magazines and evolution and things like that. I guess that as a result of that fascination, I’ve grown sort of obsessed with nature! 

I think that a lot of popular art now tries to make a statement. Which is fine - but mine doesn’t. I get asked all the time what my things mean. They mean nothing beyond the fact that I think that animals are stunning and ridiculously awesome. I like to imagine the lives that they have. It's shit to think that a bird just sits around all day waiting to die. I prefer the idea that when he's singing in the morning, he's actually yelling at his Mrs because she didn't come home last night and he heard from Tony that she was at Paul's. That's why I make the things I do. I like the idea that my art is just fun - it makes people smile and it’s weird/intriguing to look at. 

People can make up their own minds about what it means or what’s actually even happening in it! I much prefer that level of interactivity. I use mainly ink and watercolour to make my paintings, but sometimes I'll very lightly collage - generally I use science magazines, just to sort of fit in with everything else. I like the fact that my paintings of animals are sort of wrapped in people writing about the science behind animals.'

saying thankyou! (despite the weather)

 

(sophie wilson illustration)

Things have been a bit quiet around here as we have been booking in the Oct show for Leeds, organising some festival dates and planning in some new cities for 2013...so sorry we weren't around!

Summer has been a great time to take stock of what's going on in the crafty scene, and to look forward to what we want reetsweet to achieve...

I began reetsweet in 2009 with help from my friend Emily (who taught me press releases!), the support of many people, and encouraged by many folk - Michelle Duxbury gave me a ton of advice, John Baron from The Guardian helped me spread the word, as did Darren from 'mylifeinleeds'... And of course there's been the people at The Corn Exchange, and the other venues who have welcomed us in,the amazing makers up and down the land who have taken part and of course, all the super nice customers too!

I hope that you still enjoy our little art fairs, and we hope to keep bringing you our unique take on the craft fair genre and making it bigger and more interesting! 

Here's a preview of some of the lovely things we're taking to our very first festival next week - Kendal Calling (just click photos to buy online!).

Big love

Becki

x

 

(helen memo print)

 (kitschensink jewellery)

(jodie anna jewellery)

(louise smurthwaite by moonko)

june fair: new maker preview stephanie lawson

At reetsweet we love working with and promoting new local talent; Stephanie Lawson is new to reetsweet, only 19 and from newcastle, currently still studying her in 2nd year of Graphic Design at the prestigious Leeds College of Art.

 

'My work is very much influenced by my surroundings, if a song happens to be played whilst I have pen or paper, or if someones drinking or eating something I get an immediate want to draw it!'


She describes her work as light hearterd and decorative, primarily illustrative, working in range of medias, she says she is most influenced by Kate Sutton - through her hand rendered typography.  For reetsweet she will selling a range of cards and lovely summery screen printed totes, she hopes to one day open a store of her own to sell her work.  You can view her online portfolio here.

Our fair will be at leeds corn exchange on sat june 2nd from 10 to 5pm - see you there to take a peek at Stephanie's work!

june fair: maker profile sophie wilson

I can tell you the moment I fell in love with Sophie Wilson, it was at an exhibition a couple of years ago, trying on moustaches in her 'know before you grow' exhibit - I went for a classic black curly (no 74).  I picked up her card, and I think I tried to persuade her to get involved with reetsweet via email - she did, and at christmas last year we hosted her design + print stall and she has had great success.

What people love about Sophie - who is only 20 and still has a year of studying to go, is that all her work has a profound humour to it, and is uplifting without being cheesy. She wasn't initially drawn to art - she had a penchant for drama, and it was only late on in her school career, she decided to apply for Art & Design at College and was chuffed when she received a place and found that illustration and design was what she really loved and went on to study BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Leeds College of Art.

 

Musically she loves Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, The Smiths, Beirut and Regina Spektor, and enjoys the accordion - Yann Tiersen is a big love of hers as her boyfriend actually plays the accordion himself.  Blessed with some hilarious  friends, Sophie says that it is through them that she channels a lot of my inspiration and energy for her work.

 

 

'I like design to be quite clean, but sometimes a little decorative and quite pretty too. Some of my favourite designers and illustrators include Olly Moss, Robbie Porter, Gemma Correll and so many more (I could genuinely go on for hours).'

She will be finishing Uni soon, then she hopes to go into freelance design, specialising in print and illustration, and hopefully still making people smile. Aside from design, she is hoping to get a tortoise, and she will call him Winston...we like this girl's style and priorities!

Come and 'Kiss Prudence' at reetsweet this sunday!

'Kiss Prudence' is the alter-ego of Helen Smithson, lady-librarian by day and fervent crafter by night.

Helen makes handmade toys, accessories and pretty things out of vintage and contemporary fabrics from her ever-growing stash.

'Kiss Prudence' has been up and running for a couple of years now, this is her first appearance at reetsweet. For more pictures visit her Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovekissprudence/sets/72157602734029668/ or to buy online go to her Etsy store at kissprudence.etsy.com.

We can't wait to see what Helen has to show us on sunday!

I covet thee...

Some time ago before we were consumed by juicy couture, all took to wanting to style ourselves like the stars of Emmerdale (yes, you read it right, 'Emmerdale') by way of 99p gossip magazine guides with step by step instructions on how to look as boring as possible, there was fun in dressing up. People could wear clothes and have a laugh, even be ironic, or try to be unflattering to their figures for a bit of edge! Less 'chic', more geek!



YOKOO (see pic) is now a very well known accessories specialist on the fantastic Etsy.com, I highly recommend taking a lesson from this lady on style and business acumen. What a shame we don't get to read about people like her in our womens' magazines and instead get to hear what Cheryl Cole wants to change about her bodyshape. Hmph! There's a great interview with her on Etsy if you're interested...