If you are going to be in or near Leeds on Sunday December 5th, and fancy doing a bit of Christmas shopping away from the usual high street hustle and bustle, then you need to get yourself to the Corn Exchange, where you will find the latest Reetsweet craft event in full swing! Reetsweet is ‘an art, design and neo craft shopping event featuring the very best of Leeds’ local talent’, and will feature a range of crafts including jewellery, photography, textiles, homewares, and plenty of other arts and accessories, all of which will be handmade and one of a kind. This is the second Reetsweet fair taking place at the Corn Exchance, the first one was back at the start of November and was a resounding success!
Reetsweet poster designed by Steph Baxter - for more info about Steph and her work, see below...
The Reetsweet shopping events are organised and run by Rebecca Drury, who says “I’ve have always been a bit of a magpie, collector and maker. I started at the age of ten selling fimo jewellery from a little lunchbox at school, and then ended up in my twenties doing personal shopping and helping style people. I love one-off accessories, homewares and art”.
Becki Drury - founder of Reetsweet in Leeds
She continues “I’d had a blog for a while, but had lost my inspiration with it, then I just thought to myself that I love craft, I spend so much time making things and searching for handmade gifts for people myself – why not make a small business out of it? So that’s what I did a few months ago, and it’s grown from there”.
The Corn Exchange, Leeds - home of Reetsweet
Speaking of Reetsweet and her plans for the future, Rebecca says “The first fair went really well, we had a great quality selection of stalls and I am hoping to maintain that, and build a following. In the new year we will be doing monthly events, and a website will be following soon to compliment the blog and Facebook pages. Our fairs try to be modern, eclectic and high quality – with a focus on the fun, colourful and innovative. I hope people enjoy the selection we have for December – we’ve expanded, and have some fantastic new stalls! Reetsweet!”.
Craft Candy's very own Kay Guccione, of 'lilidrawspictures', pictured behind her stall at the November Reetsweet event, with husband Ed.
http://www.lilidrawspictures.com/
Another Craft Candy member, James Green, at the November Reetsweet
http://www.folksy.com/shops/jamesgreenprintworks
Charley, of 'Charley Dreams' behind her stall at The Corn Exchange
http://www.etsy.com/shop/charleydreams
'Dig the Earth' stall at The Corn Exchange
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/digtheearth
Leeds based Steph Baxter, of ‘Steph Says Hello’ has designed the lovely December Reetsweet fair posters and flyers.
Back view of the Reetsweet flyer, by Steph Baxter
Self professed illustrator, doodler, crafter and tea drinker, Steph explains a bit about her way of working “I basically live for art & design in all its forms. I’ve never really got video installation though?! I’m pretty simple in my tastes – give me something bright & cheerful, and I’m happy! I spend about 93% of my day creating cute things. Sometimes for other people, sometimes it just cheers up my day. When I’m not illustrating or working at my part time sweet shop job, I love crafting. Its something I’ve only just recently got into properly. I’ve always made and sewn things – but never really had the courage to put myself out there until now. I love making little things out of paper and felt. There’s something really satisfying about taking simple materials and making something lovely. And when I’ve done all that, I can usually be found drinking tea (Earl Grey, milk, no sugar) and cuddling my new little puss-cat Sukie. I’m easily pleased!”.
Making Future Magic, design by Steph Baxter for Ad Agency Dentsu London
I love sewing, by Steph Baxter
Steph’s designs are really happy, bright and uplifting! She has carried out a range of different freelance work, from logo and poster designs, to magazine and print work…she’s even had one of her designs made into a window decal!
Stephs design work featured in Mother & Baby magazine in July 2010
Steph's Go Green 'Eco' design, as a window decal!
If you’d like to view more of Steph’s work, you can check out her Flickr photostream here – The Pink Robot (Steph Says Hello). Or, why not take a browse round her Folksy shop, where she has lovely prints, notebooks and calendars for sale – Steph Says Hello on Folksy. Better still, you can visit Steph in person at Reetsweet on December 5th, where she will have a stall, selling an assortment of lovely things!
Steph Says Hello, pictured here at the November Reetsweet - she will be back in December, so make sure you pay her a visit!
So don’t forget – Leeds Corn Exchange, Sunday 5th December 2010, 11am – 4pm, and it’s FREE entry!!! For more information on Reetsweet here are some links -
If you would like to contact Rebecca for further information on the fair, or if you would like to enquire about exhibiting your work at a future fair, the contact email address is reetsweetevents@gmail.com
Good Luck to everyone at Reetsweet! x