Can I knit it? Yes you can! : Meet Studio Aitch

I don't know about you but at reetsweet HQ (also known as a chilly flat in Leeds) we are itching to put the heating on, but trying oh-so-hard to wait until the last moment. So knits is what we need, and Harriet from Studio Aitch will be back on Dec 7th at reetsweet with her utterly gorgeous pieces including her handhuggers which will keep us toasty, and her prints and brooches - which will warm your hearts instead. Hurrah! 

She's a local gal, hailing from Sheffield and works from her home studio there. Here's just a taste of what you can expect from this awesome maker:

 

Reetsweet's Christmas Wonders from Dec 1st...

Hey campers!

Are you feeling christmassy yet? Here at reetsweet we certainly are after last saturday, there were so many talented makers and so many lovely things! Here's a few photos of our very favourites, plus you can check out the whole fair's gallery here.

We have a nice long christmas break now, so get your biscuits out, your big socks on, and have a wonderful, handmade christmas! We will see you again in February (meanwhile click on the pics to buy from the maker!).

Love

Rebecca @ reetsweet
x

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

reetsweet at leeds uni: MEGA ROUNDUP WEEK!

Well good evening! More bits to tempt you in to tuesday's fair at the uni....






Louise Taylor of Louise Taylor Originals is based in her home studio in Flockton, Wakefield. Where she works creating art work, gifts and stationery. Inspired by her interest in textiles mainly embroidery, focusing on hand stitch. She gathers inspiration from from around her home in Yorkshire, looking at flowers and her veggie plot! Louise explores natural forms and structures, producing abstract drawings which focus on line and form...and very charming they are!

We open at the riley smith hall 11am to 4pm Nov 8th...

it's like xfactor, kind of...

So, this makes me cringe to ask, but please reetsweet fans will you vote for us in a competition? If you have recently enjoyed one of our fairs and are happy to endorse us, we are up for an award on the 'best of leeds' site here - sneak in a vote before it closes! Ta!

leeds uni fair preview: wivwuv!

I am delighted to introduce you all to 'wivwuv' a sweet and delectable jewellery label appearing at reetsweet's university fair in leeds nov 8th...

'Lineke, originally sprouting from somewhere in Africa, is a self taught designer and maker who founded 'wiv wuv creations' in 2010. Her collections include contemporary jewellery, interior decoration pieces, paper cut art and bespoke wedding stationery. Inspired by nature, literature, travelling, music and playfulness (amongst other things), she is drawn to the beautiful and unusual side of everyday life, moving her to create elegant and quirky pieces. Lineke fills her creations with all her care, attention, passion and love for design - hence the name 'wiv wuv'.

Her designs are dynamic, imagery bold yet organic, and she continuously evolves her hand-made collections with new designs, techniques and use of materials. You can find out more about Lineke & her products at wivwuv.com.'

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

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: omg i love you fluffstuffs!

FluffsStuffs is the brainchild of Rosanna Brooks, and her range of accessories has a unique indie and kawaii feel, she has been featured in Elle Maagazine France, Make Jewellery Uk, NEET and Quick and Crafty! (to mention just a few!) You can follow her on facebook here.

To see her work in person, and buy some goodies - get down to Leeds Corn Exchange in two weeks on Oct 1st and 2nd...see you there!

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)

reetsweet's events are nearly 1 year old!

hello friends!

just a quick update from reetsweet as we come up to our 1st birthday! we have a few dates for your diary this autumn...

firstly, our regular fair at leeds corn exchange returns on oct 1st and 2nd, and in dec on sat 3rd and 4th...then for the first time we bring our fairs to the leeds university union on tues 8th Nov at the Riley Smith Hall!

secondly, and very excitingly - we have our first fair at our new venue in sheffield - reetsweet arrives in style on sunday 27th nov at the millenium gallery! all our events are free to attend, we are always bringing new talent through as well, so no fair will be the same and you will always see new and exciting works!

take care reetsweeters and watch this week as we give you the autumn stallholder previews!!

xxx

thanks for a nice weekend!

Thanks Leeds for hosting one of our best fairs yet! Check it all out here lots of new and established stallholders, and cake, and leeds pride on! We all had a great time! Special thanks to Lianne Mellor, James Green and everyone from Zinc White and to all the shoppers who came out despite the drizzle this morning - see you next in October on the 1st and 2nd x

what are you up to this weekend?

...you're coming to town, and you're coming along to reetsweet! At the Leeds Corn Exchange! Woo! From 10am saturday, and 11am sunday... We've lots to tempt you with...starting with!

(kayleigh o'mara)

(kayleigh o'mara)

Kayleigh O'mara returns with her awesome prints and little accessories, check out her blog!

august reetsweet: awesome new artists!

Hello again! Just wanted to hit you with some of the latest stallholders who will be appearing at the next Leeds fair on August 6th and 7th! I am completely in love with this:

(pretty great isn't it?!)

These lovely pieces are by Mitty of 'Witty hearts' who's coming to reetsweet as her first fair oop north! So let's give her a warm welcome! ...and ceramics will also be featuring at this fair, we have some stunning work by Lucy Worne (these are so nicely made, and so original!)to share with you so bob down - entry is free and we have a great selection of original art, accessories, jewellery and homewares for your perusal!...Sat 6th Aug we are open 10am to 5pm, sunday 7th it's 11am to 4.30pm!

O-M-G it's nearly nation time!

brilliant flyer by stephsayshello

I am very excited that it's only two days now until reetsweet @ nation of shopkeepers, for those of you with your heads in the sand, or you have been too busy knitting/dancing/drawing/traveling/any of the above...here's what you need to know...
Nation of shopkeepers is a cool little place in Leeds on Cookridge street (between the Leeds art gallery and Millenium Sq), it's very homely and equally well informed...it usually showcases the best new music loooong before the music press even get whiff of them. The XX played there when they were like 5 - they get every major new alternative act first. Added to this they do lovely food, have really friendly staff and a wicked courtyard and lots of comfy seats, it's basically dreamy.



So, this sat, if you know it or you don't, come down to the first 'Reetsweet @ nation' which is reetsweet's first mini - fair. It's a smaller affair than our main events, and is meant for new crafters and graduates so they have a starting point for growing their business, we'll be selling work, and be joined by the marvellous tea dance co with their very ace cakes! It's free to come, and crafts start at £1-£2, cakes from £2.20...the perfect way to start the crazy bank holiday weekend!

More of the reetsweet @ nation preview : sat 28th may

Reetsweet is very proud and excited to be hosting it's first mini fair at nation of shopkeepers leeds on sat 28th May, featuring...
Claire Bellia (pic of her lovely self above and her prints and brooches), this is Claire's 2nd fair with us - she produces gorgeous wooden brooches and accesssories, along with a range of charming prints!...

...Claire is an image and craft maker living in Leeds. She brings to you her growing jewelry brand 'Lady Coppice', which see's her producing one of a kind, pretty wooden brooches with a vintage feel.

Paintbrushes and inks are the beginnings of all Claire's creations, however this branches out through exploration in printmaking, woodburning (pyrography), pattern, wallpaper and poster design. Final outcomes are always done through traditional mediums, feeling personal and unique. This and the playful humour within her images are what shops and clients enjoy about her work.

Her latest project is a series of brooches which tell a story. Named 'Ages of Womanhood', telling the story of a young girl who grows up to be obsessed with her appearance, then falling in love for it to fall apart and find herself indignant towards men...'

Then we are delighted to finally be able to showcase Derrian Bradder, aka Lilybones, who creates a full range of handmade crafts, from earrings to hand printed shoes! Yey!

..." 'Lily Bones’ was born from a love of all things creative as well as the need to bring affordable, innovative design to a wider target audience. Run by one graphics student (Derrian)from Leeds college of Art and often helped out by good fellow creative friends, we create handmade and upcycled ‘stuff’ using anything we can get our hands on, including mass-produced products, found objects and modified buttons. Our quirky jewellery and accessories will make the ultimate statement!


Influenced by attending many vintage and crafts fairs, we often take inspiration from these events and try to incorporate themes into our designs. We are always trying out new ideas and welcome any commissions. Our stuff looks good enough to eat, but we wouldn’t advise that! We are based in Leeds mainly but aim to sell at vintage and craft fairs in and around Yorkshire, we will add dates when we have them! We love what we do and we hope you do too! "










Check out our further previews in the next few days x