Calling all designers/artists in and around Preston.

Fresh on the Market is an exciting new initiative that has been set up to provide local artists and designers with an outlet to sell their work in the heart of Preston.

Who: Anyone is welcome to take a stall to sell anything creative. It could be paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, fashion, music, furniture, toys, photographs . . . . As long as you make or produce it yourself!

Where: Old Fish Market off Earl Street, Preston.

When: 16 July, 20 August, 17 September 2006 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. There will also be a Special Christmas market on the 17 December.

How: For further details and an application pack please contact PAD on 01772 561615 or e-mail pad@preston.gov.uk

I’m going to be there on the Aurora Bloom stall, so come and say hello!

The Keeta Collection is a riot of sunny colours, quirky fabrics, ribbons, buttons, polka dots, stripes and other adornments. Owners Robbin Mills and Vicki Ray put their heads together one sunny Florida day and the Keeta Collection was born. Their totes, diaper bags and messenger bags are all handcrafted at their sewing studio.

The ‘Bounty of Buttons’ bag (above left) has been made with pretty, floral fabric and is adorned with a mixture of buttons. It includes pockets across each side and a magnetic closure. The ‘Ribbon, Ribbon and More Ribbon’ bag (above right) mixes ribbon (of course), polka dots and stripes for a fresh, feminine look. Again, there are practical pockets across both sides and a handy Keeta key clip to hold your keys.

The full collection is available to buy from www.keetacollection.com.

If you like to discover exciting, new talent before anyone else then you should definitely take a look at new Brit fashion designer, Natalie Pond. Her debut graduate collection was selected for Graduate Fashion Week and her designs were quickly spotted by the press.

Natalie’s bold garments are not for the faint hearted. Mixing quirky, edgy style with raw sex appeal, they are aimed at the self assured, confident woman.

The Natalie Pond Spring/Summer collection is now online at www.nataliepond.co.uk. And for anyone living in or around Leeds, Natalie will be be selling her exclusive designs at the Corn Exchange on 8th July.

If you’re lucky enough to be in or around Brooklyn this weekend, don’t miss the Renegade Craft Fair.

What: The Renegade Craft Fair began in 2003 and now takes place in Chicago and Brooklyn, NY. There are over 150 stall holders at each event selling a huge range of products including comic books, zines, jewellery, clothing, craft patterns, gig posters - the list is endless.

When: June 17 and 18 2006 - 11am to 6pm (Get there early because the first 500 shoppers each day who stop by the Renegade Craft Fair booth will receive a FREE Goodie Bag filled with magazines, postcards, stickers, buttons and more.)

Where: McCarren Park Bedford Ave. & N. 12th st., Brooklyn, NY.

More Info: www.renegadecraft.com

I’ve heard so much about the Renegade Craft Fair. It sounds like such an exciting event. It’s such a shame that we don’t have something similar in the UK. It’d be such a boost for the craft/DIY scene. If anyone has any ideas, I’d be very interested to hear them.

An ingenious idea to glam up your denims. Hunki Dori Jean Jems, put simply, are brooches for jeans. They clip easily and securely onto the buttons of jeans and denim jackets and skirts. There are a number of glitzy styles to choose from, from sparkly Swarovski butterflies to velvet and silk flowers.

Hunki Dori are also involved with the charity Jeans for Genes. They are donating 25% of all sales of their most popular design, Crystal Sunflower, to the Jeans for Genes appeal. Full details and the collection are available at www.hunki-dori.com.