Strawberrykitten.com

Recent, current and future reads

By: sian

19-05-2012

I’ve always had a passion for books and my amazon wish list is full to bursting! With my recent decision to take a bit more time for myself i have begun to re-indugle myself with books. These are my recent and current reads…

(Top left – bottom right) 1. Terrarium craft - something i’m hoping to try out soon! 2. Organize now - still haven’t propally looked at this since moving, but I’m hoping to implement its tools soon to get my house and life more organised! 3. Positive psychology – This is something i may touch on in a few weeks but i’m really getting into self help books, sad i know, but they are helping me through a difficult time. 4. Playful parenting – hoping i’ll learn a lot from this book and i’ll write an in-depth review/catch up about it soon. 5. The happiness project – All about one womans journey to become happier, a really enjoyable book and some good tips on being a better and happier you!

Future reads slash my endless amazon wish list!!

Gah! just too many books i want! those are the next on my purchase list so i’ll be updating the blog when they are bought for sure! I’m also planning on doing a tour of my craft books, including things to make

Oh DSLR i miss you!!

By: sian

18-05-2012

family, photography

So i sold my DSLR at christmas, i was fed up of carrying it around when we went on adventures, or i just plain leave it at home. I thought if i bought a compact i’d use it more and take it everywhere. I got the canon powershot 220 – it is a real nice compact with some features i really like, such as 1:1 aspect ratio, simulating my have app instagram and miniature effect etc. It does create nice shots too but just not good enough for me, i’m used to having a larger sensor camera with super fast lenses. So, much to my husbands dislike i am looking at selling a few things to return back to DSLR goodness!

My problem is, i don’t know which to buy…I’ve always had a canon but part of me wants a change. Heres my choices..

The canon 600d with the cheap but awesome 50mm 1.8 lens or one of the nikons, either 3100d or 5100d GAH! JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!

I have however also been looking at other things such as a bag. i’d like to be able to carry it around with me in a normal bag not a ‘camera bag’. You’d think it would be a simple item to find…no! they are all american companies and cost a fortune, i love these jo totes bags but again too expensive and american! I think i’ll end up resorting to buying a a nice but strong bag and making a padded insert for it oh and i also want one of these… (click for link)

On a final photography note, i bought an app from the mac store the other day, camera bag 2 – its an amazing filter app that again feeds my obsession with instagram but with a higher quality and more options. Here’s some old shots i’ve played with.

I’ll keep you posted on my camera choice!

Mega catch up

By: sian

17-05-2012

craft, Me, News

Damn it! i’ve abandoned my blog again haven’t it?!?! well yet again i will promise to try and keep it up and due to the long gap between posts i thought id give you a big update…

A few weeks ago i was involved in the Saltaire Arts trail. A massive 3 day makers fair and open house type event in the beautiful saltiare village. I had been preparing for the event for some time but was still a bit nervous about how well i’d do. It surprised me actually, especially the products people were buying from me, my jointed bears hadn’t really sold much in the past but i almost ran out! There were some amazing makers there and i even got a lovely comment from linda barker who visited my stall! Heres some pics…

Thanks to everyone who came along and said hi and bought something! It was an extremely tiring weekend and before i’d even done the event i was pretty much decided on taking a break from the business. So sorry to anyone who maybe wanted to purchase something soon online, i won’t be opening my shops up for a bit. I’ve decided i want to take a break and concentrate on my family and crafting for myself rather than for profit.

major news in the wheatcroft home is that we finally got the call from guide dogs! After being on the waiting list for nearly a year, we met our dog the other day. He’s called Ascot but he answers to scotty which i prefer. He’s a lovely white lab/retriever and i can’t wait for him to join the family. Here he is meeting grayson, they are gonna be the best of buds!

Simon has to go away for 2 weeks to train with him, which i’m not looking forward to as it means I’m a lone parent for 2 weeks! eek! He should be coming home on the 8th of june so will do some doggy updates then

Simons been getting a lot of publicity recently so it’s all go go go here, he has a ultra coming up the day before his training called the marathon sandwich, which is a marathon sandwiched between 2 half marathons! he’s crazy lol but if you want to help[ raise money for the event then please visit the website and donate, all the money goes to a great place called sheffield royal society for the blind (SRSB)

Ok I’m going to leave this update here and continue writing some posts to delight you all with over the next coming weeks! i’ll leave you with my fellas <3

Coming up

By: sian

07-04-2012

craft, process, shop

As well as moving house over the next few weeks i also have to prepare for a massive craft fair – the saltaire arts trail - a three day event, my first ever multi day fair, so I’m a bit nervous about how much stock to take, a friend of mine has done it before and said they did amazingly well. I’m extremely behind with the making due to packing the house, stress and poorlyness and other commitments but i’m sure i can pull it all together. Im going to try and get some crochet sculptures made and maybe some prints – gah got so much to do!!

moving

By: sian

06-04-2012

family

im super excited as next tuesday we get the keys to our new house. We currently live in a three story house, where the kitchen and living room are on different floor which is starting to be a real pain in the ass!

So the new house is wait for it…two floors! and the downstairs has got so much spare, cant wait for grayson to see it as hes gonna love running around it

As excited as i am, i am getting fed up with the packing! You read all these things about making sure your super organised, labeling all the boxes etc, but alot of my boxes contents could be put anywhere excluding obvious things like bedroom and kitchen things. So i’m hoping i can organise my stuff at the other end…we’ll see LOL

Im hoping the new house will be a kind of new start for us, we have gotten into some bad habits, lazy ones and i want to be super organised, more structured and fun household, ill keep you posted on how that works out although i may be a looooong process

The weekends achievements

By: sian

02-04-2012

family, running, travel

Some of you may know that this weekend was quite a big weekend for the wheatcrofts! Simon was lucky enough to be picked to run in the national lottery olympic park run which was a 5 mile race around the olympic village, ending in the stadium, crossing the track finish line. He chose me as his guide runner! i HATE running but seeing as he wanted me to share the moment with him i thought i best do it lol, i didn’t train amazingly well but i made it! it was tough and we came like 4000 and something out of 5000! but I’m proud of us and it was ace running into the stadium although it was bloody freezing!!

The next day simon was involved in a 100m sprint with the RNIB which was fun to watch, heres some pics of the day oh and simon came third in his race

Now the weekends over, time to pack as we move house next week! i’ll be blogging all about it soon

new bear and blog feature

By: sian

27-03-2012

bears, craft

I’ve got a lot of bears and things to make for an up-and-coming 3 day fair at the saltaire arts trail. So it’s tuesday, the day grayson goes to nursery and i’m not at ‘work’ so i’m getting cracking on some making. This morning i’ve made this cute dog jointy and added to my etsy shop

Also this morning, my good friend Kim over at Hip hop side project – owner of the fab Finest Imaginary has featured me on her blog with a massive hook yeah giveaway and tutorial. check it out and enter!

Indie Compass E-Course

By: sian

20-03-2012

craft

I’ve wanted to do one of these e-courses for a while, i follow all these peoples blogs and admire there work and currently i feel i need some kind of direction, something to help point the way. Also i love having tasks to do and homework etc. So i’ll be keeping you up to date with my progress. After this one i think i might do the red velvet blogging e-course.

shop is now open!!

By: sian

19-03-2012

craft, shop

I finally have the strawberry kitten easy shop back open, i’ll be getting more stock in there shortly and retaking my photos as I’m not over the moon with them but at least its open!!

http://etsy.com/shop/strawberrykitten

Hook Yeah

By: sian

13-03-2012

craft, shop

Anyone who saw me at the recent fair or that follows me on twitter will now that i crochet (and knit, but i don’t get on with knitting as much!) I have recently been creating objects that i really love and decided to test them out at the fair, they went down a treat and so have now opened an easy shop (soon to be folksy shop too)

I’m so pleased with how it came out, the shop is so cohesive and looks great, please pop in and have a peak

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hookyeah

Reetsweet fair

By: sian

10-03-2012

bears, craft, shop

I just wanted to thank everyone who popped by my stall at the reetsweet fair at the millennium galleries today, it’s good to get back into the swipe of it and my new products went down a treat! If you picked up a business card to visit my shop, i will be adding my current stock to it this week.

Also keep a look out as i’m planning on opening a new shop soon, details to follow…and i promise to start blogging more!!

Thank everyone!