The great british january!

Hello people!

I hope you have all enjoyed a nice festive period, and the doom and gloom of rain smacking your face with a 60 mile an hour wind isn't crushing your january buzz too much! Reetsweet is back on the scene, we have new dates for your diaries - bigger, better events, new collaborations and secret plans....

Leeds February 11th The Corn Exchange - Our Valentine's Fair
Open 10 am to 5pm, free entry

Sheffield March 10th The Millennium Gallery - Our Spring Spectacular
Open 11am to 5pm, free entry

Leeds April 7th The Corn Exchange - Our Easter Fair
Open 10am to 5pm, free entry


Makers, head to www.reetsweet.com/submissions to apply to take part, visitors - get ready as we are already amazed at the work coming through for the 2012 events - the economy may be pants, but the makers of the north are going wild with their talents!

Big thanks to everyone that has visited or taken part last year, plus all the people helping spread the word - we hope you continue to enjoy reetsweet events...in 2012!

Over and out!

reetsweet at leeds uni: MEGA ROUNDUP WEEK!

So much more leeds based talent to tell you about that will be at the leeds uni fair nov 8th...

We have my lovely friend Carla aka maus haus -started in 2010 and based in Leeds she designs and makes limited edition, bags, purses, brooches and journals. She sells items across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire, we love her attention to detail, her humour and rich colours and fabrics...

(vintage telephone brooch by maus haus)

Then there's also miss slow - rebekah slow, who is a graduate from norwich school of art in 2008, and particularly uses vintage pieces to make new accessories...we love these hair pieces!






More to come tomorrow and friday...

LIVE BLOGGING SUNDAY: Today's fair

Karen Lewis is here from blueberry park with her bright and cheerful handprinted textiles:

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

it's upon us! reetsweet's summer extravaganza!

Tomorrow and sunday, at Leeds Corn Exchange we bring you a cupcake fuelled extravaganza of uber cool crafts! We open from 10 am tomorrow, and 11am on sunday, and are running a competition to win work by some of our artists and makers...get down on it!

introducing...this saturday's reetsweet!

(the vintage jewellery box)

(julie cunningham)

Two more reetsweeters to keep an eye out for - Julie Cunningham brings us her unique textile jewellery and scarves, she also has some amazing knitwear if you're thinking ahead for xmas and winter! Plus, Beky from The Vintage Jewellery Box returns with her lovely easy to wear pieces for every stylish girl!

We are open from 10am to 5pm sat, 11am to 4.30pm sunday at Leeds Corn Exchange...

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!

...more for august...

Carrie Ann Coupe continues to delight us with her lovely designs...

From Greeting cards to notecards and bookmarks to magnetic notepads, Carrie-Ann Coupe offer’s a variety of handcrafted paper goods. Having recently developed her range further to feature some non-paper products there are now badges, pocket mirrors and tote bags on offer!

Zinc White return to reetsweet with some more uplifting upcycling! Check out these new necklaces! Zinc White's mission is simple: to create accessories and homewares by reusing old matericals - they are always very popular so get down early! August 6th and 7th Leeds Corn Exchange...

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!

saying goodbye to craft candy...

On saturday me and my good friend Bianca headed out in the rain to sheffield to make a farewell trip to craft candy's last fair in sheffield...

We had a great day...sheffield is so friendly and so laid back! We loved the mirrored fountain that greets you walking out of the station and we thought that the Millenium Gallery was stunning! Craft Candy did not disappoint, we were loving Elodie G (above) as usual who's naive illustrations has us smiling and cooing, plus I finally saw the prints that Sarah Waterhouse one of the Craft Candy's organisers makes and we were bowled over! Funny! Cute! Stylish...awesome!(see below) We especially liked her speech bubble designs but the birdcages are also so pretty!




Plus I got two of dreams fulfilled in one day...by meeting 1) an amazing leather designer and 2) finding some fudge-ice (fudge with coconut ice with it) at the fair.

...Fairwell Craft Candy! Reetsweet is delighted to be continuing your work in Sheffield but honestly, many many people commented on how your fairs will be missed and we can only try to carry on the work you guys have done in bringing craft to sheffield...see you in November Sheffield!

much love reetsweet x

august reetsweet preview: spotlight on james green

James Green has appeared at one of our earliest reetsweet fairs and continues to support us and promote his work with reetsweet, you can also see him this weekend at craft candy's last fair in sheffield, James took some time today to tell us a bit more about what he does...


'I'm a printmaker based in Sheffield and I specialise in linocut prints. I've been working in the medium for around eight years, and I'm a little obsessed with it. I produce prints of people, animals, landscapes and the occasional absurd dream. I've produced commissioned work for Domino Records, Paul Smith Menswear, Tramlines Festival and I also run linocut workshops, teaching people how to make prints. Oh, I've also recently produced some mugs with my prints on (with the help of Lianne Mellor), so might bring them along to Reetsweet!'


Find James's work at: http://www.folksy.com/shops/jamesgreenprintworks http://jamesgreenprintworks.blogspot.com And of course at Reetsweet's august fair, the corn exchange leeds august 6th and 7th!

August reetsweet preview!

OMG! Doesn't time fly when you're having fun? Just thought I'd post as it's been a few days and give you all a sneaky peaky of the august fair - it's coming together nicely! As usual, we will have lovely refreshments in cake form from the marvellous tea dance co, and we have a number of new crafty people to surprise and delight you! With prices starting at just £2 for a real piece of gorgeous handmade craft!



We have Jodie who has some great new nautical jewellery, ahoy! Some great new luxurious jewellery by Ruby Spirit designs - nicely does it! And last but not least - Laura Black rejoins us with new knitted loveliness!

Dreamy! See you at the corn exchange on sat and sun 6th and 7th august! Reetsweet!

Exciting times @ reetsweet!!

We love it when we have good news about our fantastic stallholders!! Lianne Mellor aka Mellorware, creates stunning chinaware with intricate and delicate animal illustrations, hares at tea, hedgehogs eating cake...pretty amazing! And obviously other people think so too! The one and only Liberty of London are now selling Lianne's range at their stunning London store...



We spoke to Lianne about her success! "Having the opportunity to work with an incredible store like Liberty is really wonderful. To have them match my own faith in my products and see it go on sale within their prestigious London store is really special! Its a dream come true and I can't wait to work on new products for them in the future"



We wish Lianne every success for the future and we are so proud of her achievement!!

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!

get down and dirty...

'A Manchester based soapmaking double-team, city lawyer Kate (the love) and freelance music journalist come musician Dan (the science). Together they dreamed up BarSoap, cocktail inspired handmade masterpieces using the finest ingredients and a passion for soap.


Their bars are adorned with hand picked works of art of 19th Century Parisian Artist Jules Cheret for a delightful burlesque style and classical vintage feel. BarSoap will debut their new lip balm range at ReetSweet Leeds on 3rd April in the first step of their expansion in indulgent skincare for the decadent!'

They first came to reetsweet in feb and they did really well, we welcome them back and love having them on board again!

Visit our friends!

Craft Candy's next event is coming up people...an excellent fair, very well established and just over in sunny sheff!

The Craft Candy Spring Fair 2011 is THIS SATURDAY!

10-4pm

Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

FREE ENTRY - ALL WELCOME

This March, the Craft Candy team is out to Galvanize their reputation as most capable hosts of contemporary craft fairs. Now in their third year of producing highly successful maker fairs and showcasing cutting edge crafts, Craft Candy have teamed up with the Galvanize metalwork festival to bring you their biggest fair ever!


Spring Fair 2011 is to be held at the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield on the 26^th March, and more than 50 hand-selected exhibitors will represent the cream of the UK craft and metalwork scenes, cramming two galleries with on-trend, one-of-a-kind pieces. The guest experience is very important to Craft Candy and as always their fairs are completely free to attend. You are most welcome to browse the stalls, enjoy a coffee in the cafes, and soak up the creative atmosphere. Choose from a huge selection of jewellery, bags & accessories, stationery, home-wares and ceramics!

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.

reetsweet mentioned in leeds guardian blog!

Fancy a nosey into my past and my inspiration behind reetsweet? Check out my little guest blog on the guardian leeds blog at http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2011/jan/07/reetsweet-leeds-independent-handmade-craft-talent . If you live locally I definitely recommend following John Baron's excellent posts to see what's going on in and around Leeds.

reetsweet says hello to stephsayshello!

I think I would like to stake a claim as being Steph Baxter's no 1 fan (aka stephsayshello), I first stumbled accross some of her work in the fab 'oh comely' magazine and noticed she lived nearby. Never in a million did I think she would want to take part in reetsweet and come have a stall (woop!), so I was even more delighted when Steph agreed to design our next few flyers - frame them guys, and collect each one as one day I promise, this girl will be very very famous...here's Steph telling us a bit more about herself! See her at reetsweet on sunday!...

Whats the name of your stall and how did you choose it?
Aw, I'm quite boring really - Steph Says Hello is just the name of my Illustration business, I wanted to keep some continuity so I stuck with the same name. I can't actually remember the reason why I decided "Steph Says Hello" was a good idea. I think I just wanted something simple and happy. Like me, pretty much!



How did you start out making handmade?
I've always been into making things. I think its just my creative nature. I remember when I was about 6 making everyone painted flower pots for Christmas. I mean literally everyone. They were pretty terrible, looking back.. But I've always loved making things. I'm really getting into it now and would love to have a business doing it alongside my illustration work.

What keeps you inspired?
I've found the internet to be my biggest source of inspiration. You can find so many lovely, pretty things to look at - I have to limit my time on here because I could easily get nothing done at all. I particularly like looking through Flickr, Folksy & Etsy. You can find some really, really beautiful things to buy and be inspired by!

What kind of customer do you find enjoys your work? I actually don't think I could answer that! I always think that I have an idea of who would typically buy my things (female, 20's, into arts & crafts.. So me really!) But I'll continually surprised and get a complete mix of customers, which is really nice. Generally everyone is who buys from me though, is pretty playful and maybe has a childish sense of humour and fun :)

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