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some answers to your questions

Well here are some answers to the questions you asked last week. I am sure to get behind on the questions in the comment section again, I apologize…..

1. How about a tutorial on the Anthropologie pillow?

Well, that would be easy if I had made one at the time, but I was making it up as I went along. Basically I used a small square pillow, wrapped the tea towel around the pillow, hand stitched all the way down one end, folded the other ends and tucked them inside. Finally I made a small stitch on two sides to keep it all together. That is a terrible answer, but hopefully it will give you a jumping off point.

2. Where is the headband from that the cute girl is wearing in the backpack post?

Her talented aunt made it for her. Maybe I can convince her aunt to come over one day and let me photograph her doing a tutorial on it for all of us….beg Jamie in the comments and maybe it will work. Until then, you can find some similar on etsy. Here are some more super cute ones.

What is your favorite lens, camera, photo tips?

You can find a list of all my equipment on the About Me page under the “info” tab. I need to update all that with new pictures, but it has the basic info. My two favorite lenses are my 50mm f/1.4 & 85mm f/1.8. If I am out with the kids and need wide angle and close up shots I grab my 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.

Here is Sweet P (aka my amazingly cute niece) taken with my 50mm lens.

50mm, ISO 320, 1/200, f/2.8

This is the son of some of our friends…we (obviously) were at the park. I shot this with my 85mm. I love the backlighting. I know a lot of photographers would do a skin correction on his face to remove the yellow cast from the slide. If I actually knew enough about Photoshop to do that, I might, but I kind of like it because it is real….but if I knew how I’d probably like that better!

85mm, ISO 200, 1/160, f/2.0

The 24-70mm is considered a zoom (it goes from 24mm all the way to 70mm)….I use it for most of my indoor wide angle shots.

Here is FireCracker following her brothers out the back door, I am ‘zoomed out’ as far as the lens will let me.

24mm, ISO 400, 1/200, f/7.1

This is the same 24-70mm lens, but ‘zoomed in’ as far as I can. This is my friend’s daughter at a BBQ.  Yes, she has amazing hair.

70mm, ISO 160, 1/320, f/3.2


Where did you get your kid’s Arctic Cat?

Walmart, about 4 years ago. FireCracker prefers to drive herself.

Have you ever thought of homeschooling your kids? Yes….just like we think about private and public schooling. Our approach to schooling is Kid by Kid, Year by Year….our kids are all so different and we recognize what is best for one at a particular time may not be best for another….or that same child at a different time for that matter.

Where do you get your fabric?

Locally, I shop at Sew Flakes in downtown Broken Arrow. Online I just search around etsy by color or designer. You can find some great deals and many more options online.

On average when do you go to sleep and when do you wake up?

I usually get about 7 hours of sleep a night….often interrupted a couple of times….usually I’m up by 6:30am. My friends are trying to convince me to join them at the gym at 5:30am. If Jillian Micheals would meet me there every morning and yell at me (and promise me arms like hers), I’d be all over it….totally my kind of trainer, I don’t want fluffy sweet Bob talk at the gym.

What are your favorite local flea markets, antique shops?

Southern Hospitality & The Hitching Post in Broken Arrow, The RiverCity Trading Post in Jenks, the Saturday Flea Market at the expo in Tulsa.

Where did you get your baby wrap from?

Loveyduds on etsy. In the photo below my mom actually sewed the Amy Butler fabric over the original fabric that was on it when I used it with Littlest Brother. I just wanted to change it up a bit for FireCracker.

How do you organize your kid’s art projects?

We make way too many to keep. I usually display them for about a week and then recycle, compost or trash them. I keep only a handful each year. Right now they are just in a file folder. I am not one to keep stuff very long….

What is going on with the sweet potatoes you are growing inside?

I am not actually growing them for a long term purpose. I like houseplants, but I also kill a lot of houseplants. Sweet potatoes grow in water really quickly. Basically, I like how they look (roots, potato, leaves, water) so I keep them around until they get too big…then I compost them and start again. Like I said before, I am random….thankfully my hubby loves my randomness.

Sarah M - Here is a DIY of that cute headband from blogger Rubyellen from CAKIES! blog:
http://mycakies.blogspot.com/2010/01/braided-headband-tutorial.html

Easy peasy!

Sarah M

Stacia - Love the q & a session. Thanks for the sweet potatoe a, by the way. I googled it. Hit Michaels for $1 mason jars. Rescued some sweet potatoes on the verge on suicide in our veggie bowl and now have similar houseplants on our shelf. They are mysteriously beautiful growing this way. Once again, thanks for the inspiration!

Hollie - Thank you so much for your answers! and Jaimie – I’m begging begging begging for a tutorial on the to die for cute headband. They would make the perfect handmade gift!! Please??

Tammy Kay - I love what you have done to your couch! The sweet potato is random but cool. Great post.

Shannon - What a fun q&a! I hope you don’t stress about doing those for us! I love love your blog no matter what you post, and shoot, you can’t share ALL your secrets! Sometimes people just need to find their own creativity and make something new! You are amazing Ashley! Keep it up!

Jme - I’m cracking up that something I made is on your question & answer! ha! I actually saw it on a blog, Cakies…. it’s super easy. Here’s the link:

http://mycakies.blogspot.com/2010/01/braided-headband-tutorial.html

RachelC - I LOVE that picture of L. Her serious face is so cute. Love those CURLS!!

Sarah - Thanks for sharing your wealth of information :)

Shannon - What a fun post! I hope you don’t stress about doing those for us! I love your blog no matter what you post and shoot! You can’t share ALL your secrets! Sometimes people just need to find their own creativity and make something new! You are amazing Ashley! Keep it up!

ashley jensen - I am so glad to hear some of your favorite antique shops! I will definitely have to check out the ones in B.A (since I am there a few times a week). There are a couple in Collinsville I visit occasionally but the prices seem high to me. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it needs to be expensive, especially if it isn’t in great condition!

Mandy - Coincidence, I just posted about braided headbands today – they’re so easy and fun to make! We did them as a moms group.
http://craftedition.blogspot.com/2010/09/braided-headbands.html

Brooke - Thank you darling. :) I appreciate you answering everyone’s questions.

Kara P - I LOVE that you don’t want any “fluffy sweet Bob talk” at the gym! haha! That cracked me up and I am totally with you- Jillian is my FAV!!! You should come work out at Cross Fit with Tim and I. It’s in BA, everyone does the same workout, its competitive, its encouraging, and fun!

Amy - Thank you for all the answers!!! Is Sew Flakes open on Sundays? I live in Tahlequah so Sunday is just about the only day we make it to the Tulsa area.

Holly Lesue - Thank you for being so real! One of the many reasons why I love your blog!

Mara - Thanks for the fun Q&A – I agree, I hope you don’t stress over doing those – but it’s so fun to read them when you do. You have such great ideas, and I love your style. I look forward to reading your blog every day :)

amanda torres - Jillian Michaels is my kind of trainer too! I don’t need to be encouraged, I need someone to hack me off. She’d do the job. It reminds of childbirth class. The instructor told the husbands to, “Keep encouraging your wife. Tell her what a fabulous job she’s doing.” I told Steven if he did that, he’d get the look of death. I knew I’d be trying my dardest to get my baby out, and didn’t need some mushy gushy pep talk.

Elisabeth - Thank you so much for answering questions. I have one more–but no pressure to answer soon! I like natural light the best, but am realizing that I need an external flash for times when I just can’t get it (like photos in the art studio at my son’s school, and nightime projects). Can you recommend one?

Jenny B. - Yea! Some of the questions I was thinking about asking got answered! :) I’m very happy to know that you are, in fact, a normal human who needs sleep. ;) OK, so here’s a question (forgive me if you’ve addressed it in the past, or if there’s a photo somewhere that would make the answer obvious)… Do you have a TV in your home? If so, do you have cable/satellite, or do you just use it to watch DVDs? I’ve often thought my whole life might be more productive without TV.

Jenny B. - P.S. I was shocked to read that your house is only about 1500 sq. ft. You work wonders with that wide angle lens! :D

giozi - Wow.How many question. And you said that there are more. ha ha ha.
I was interested too about lens, but I have to confess I don’t understand very well. I’v just change my compact camera for my first reflex.
Thanks for the tips about it. (lenses)

Lacey McKay - Oh what fun questions! Thanks for sharing! I love the photo of Firecracker looking out the back door at the tree. One of these days, I would like to come see that famous tree, and maybe have a little picnic beneath the shade of it.

Taylor - I made a headband that looks just like that! I posted the tutorial today. Hope it helps those who were commenting about yours :)

http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com/2010/09/braided-headband-tutorial.html

Colleen - I hate to add another question when you’ve already been so nice answering so many above, but I am in love with the headband Firecracker is wearing above in the fabric question photo. The one with the red flower and the thin black band. Wear can I find that? I want one for me and my baby girl. So super cute! Thanks a million. I love your blog!!

Kristin - You where on my blog with the headbands! :) When I linked to you. They are pretty simple and I don’t have a picture tutorial, but I do give basic instructions with the pics. :)

Desiree - I thought of you today when the landscapers were cutting down a birch tree in front of my apartment. I thought, “Ashley would snag some of that wood and make something adorable out of it.” I really wanted, to but I couldn’t justify grabbing the wood and having it sit in my backyard for nine months before I decided to finally throw it away. I was sad that I couldn’t think of anything to do with it.

May of MayDae - Yay! Thanks for answering my question about bedtime and wake time:)

amber - Crackin me up that in the picture with big brother, he’s not the least bit concerned that he’s upsetting his firecracker sis. Boys…I love em! And amen to Jillian Michael’s arms.

Heather - i like random, too. :)

kim - i think rubyellen from the cakies blog came up with the braided headband…i made some in high school that were very similar but she has a tutorial on her blog!

now back to reading this fun post!

GRACE HAPPENS - hello! just found your blog and am so glad i did. do you mind sharing the source of the red and yellow floral fabric on the sofa? i am in love with it! off to catch up on your blog. :) grace

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