reetsweet 2012: campaigning against crap craft

Okay, it's time to level with you all, we've all been there, we've been to shoddy shops selling badly crocheted hats, or gone to a craft fair that seems full to the brim of a load of badly stitched hair accessories, falling apart christmas tree decorations etc - at reetsweet we are campaigning this year against crap craft. (If you want inspiration for what we mean, have a look at regretsy, one of the funniest things I have read in ages and you'll catch my drift.)

There are many fairs cropping up, and lots of people jumping on the crafty bandwagon in mainstream shops, but at reetsweet we will continue to book only the brightest, and the best makers - and sift through the rubbish to bring you a fair that's really worth a free visit to! Giving a much needed platform for new designer/makers in your area.

Come and see us this saturday 11th feb from 10am to 5pm at the leeds corn exchange, just a 2minute walk from briggate...not in Leeds this weekend? Then come to Sheffield next month for our next event on March 10th at the Millenium Gallery - 2 minutes from the train station...you know it makes sense!

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reetsweet

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield: previews

Here at reetsweet we try to always find new and exciting makers for our events, we are particularly excited to have this young lady next fair - Katrine Brosnan - an illustrator and printmaker based in Nottingham, Katrine studied fine art and since then has explored her love of simple line drawings and illustrations, she turns these into screen prints and lino cuts.

'I love printmaking, the smell, the presses, the plates, the thickness of the ink and all the beautiful ephemera that goes with it. I find it really satisfies my urge to make! The inspiration for my illustrations come from everyday life, visiting new towns and cities or letting my mind wander when doing the washing up. I like to draw people I see who look full of character, whether these are familiar icons or perfect strangers. I sometimes collect surreptitiously drawn or snapped images of strangers to edit into print designs later on. I have started to categorise these, for instance I have a collection of strangers I’ve seen sleeping, men on public transport with their dogs and a series of images of people at airports (airport-raits.)

I have recently finished a commission for a menswear store called LiFE in Manchester. I’ve also just completed making my own range of shiny new wooden brooches and ceramic mugs. I’m a member of Leicester Print Workshop and am often spotted showing my crafty wares at fairs and markets across the East Midlands and beyond....'

Catch her at the reetsweet in sheffield on sunday 27th nov (that's next sunday folks!). For more info see www.reetsweet.com/events.

reetsweet's christmas at sheffield

This winter we are delighted at reetsweet to carry on the work of our friends at craft candy in sheffield and will be at the prestigious millenium gallery near the train station on sunday 27th of this month from 12pm to 4pm! For more details see our events page here.

Meanwhile, we have an incredible amount of maker talent from the next fair to preview to you right here on the blog! We are very proud to introduce hayley wright of born restless...

'Born Restless is a collection of embroidered art and jewellery, made by someone who is trying to live a little better and work a little less. Currently living in Manchester, I make most of the things you’ll see here in my bedroom at night, whilst listening to ghost stories on the radio. I’m inspired by ideas of home and memory, the occult, my regular nightmares, as well as anything else that seems like a great idea at the time.'

We love her work - it's refreshing and modern and very quirky! Check back this week for more previews...