leeds made this:

A little chat with Jil from Jilmadethis, a regular at reetsweet:

tell us a bit about yourself, did you grow up in leeds?

I grew up and was artsied up in leeds

what led you to making your own craft business?

It's something I've always wanted to do since I was about 5. I wanted to work in a shop, which I am doing and i wanted to make my own crafts which I've finally begun doing this year. After my degree in Printed Textiles & Surface pattern design, I wasn't sure exactly what to do. I began running a t shirt printing shop 4 years ago and developed my own unique and quirky range of printed items which now say 'Jil Made this' - I hope people can look at my items and think, wow, that is so Jil! I like to to take elements from my past, be it toys or conversations, and mix with my illustrations to create people, animals, robots and more!

what's the most fun part of what you do?

Coming up with new ideas, and seeing them through from drawing and printing to sewing and selling. The fun part is thinking what people think of their purchases or gifts! I love the colours and the characters I've created and am so pleased that I've finally come up with something to be proud of.

what's the least fun part?

I guess hours of sewing can be less fun, my fingers go numb but it's worth it! I struggle to decide things, which can be pain staking - things like deciding which fabric would be best, what colour hair and what sizes!

what's your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is one of my first proper plush items - my rainbow horse - i think I may keep him! Though I do love the others too!

Jil will be at the next reetsweet at leeds corn exchange on sunday 6th feb x

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."

Going down a storm in a teacup!

Lianne Mellor will be joining us again after taking part in the November fair last year - here are a few images to tickle your fancy!! Lianne creates just the kind of craft I like, fusing vintage style with modern techniques to produce one of a kind printed chinaware. We are delighted to have her back in Leeds at the next reetsweet feb 6th.

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