ashleyannphotography.com » be creative {DIY}

popcorn, painting & paper valentines

AshleyAnn — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:11 +0000

So, I went nearly three weeks without using my camera. Crazy. That is the longest we’ve ever been apart. When I went to pick it up, I was informed how incredibly dirty it was inside and out. I felt embarrassed and a bit ashamed. It was like someone coming to my house and telling me it was nasty dirty. I know it is dirty…that is why I brought it be cleaned. She took my camera completely apart and cleaned everything. When I took it in in January 2011, the shutter button was broke. This time, I found out I had broken the back focus button. It was still working, it wasn’t until she got it out that she saw it was in two pieces. She told me I take too many pictures

For those that asked, my most used indoor lens is my 24-70mm f/2.8 (it is a very expensive lens, just fyi before you gasp at the price). My favorite lens is my 85mm. You can find out more on my equipment by clicking on the FAQ tab on the top of the blog. Well, my 24-70mm auto-focus isn’t working and I have to send it in to Canon. Yuck.

Anywhoooo, after the laundry explosion from the weekend was taken care of, the kids had places to sit and enjoy popcorn & a show. While they rested….I got to play with my camera again! It felt good.

Some of you asked about my canvas. There is no tutorial. Not much to it. Meg had some great Heather Bailey fabric. I used a bit in my bunting (the green floral), and really liked it. She had an un-cut piece I used as reference to make a painting. I sketched a bit of it on a canvas and then painted it. It isn’t exactly like the fabric, but close enough for me to enjoy. Sorry there’s not much more for me to share…draw design from fabric inspiration and paint. Nothing fancy.

It is next to a Katie Daisy card and a China cut-out from Jess in my pencil frame. Love. China. Love Little One.

Hip Hip Hooray for having my camera in my hands. I missed it.

My monthly post over on Design*Sponge is up today….

Whatever Craft Weekend {1.12}

AshleyAnn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:38 +0000

Craft Weekend.
So, so good.
Meg‘s home…almost as beautiful as she is.
Kimberlee‘s cooking…I gained at least 10lbs, she’s phenomenal.
The women that came…my new sweet & funny friends.
Antique & thrift shopping…came away with bargain goodies.
The drive to Kansas…3 hours alone…enough said.

I learned all kinds of new things over the weekend. The biggest…did you know you can delete photos and comments from Instagram?! Yep, I didn’t know that. I’ve misspelled things and didn’t know I could go and correct it. Hello technology, I am sorry I haven’t taken the time to figure you out. I thought once you post it…no turning back. Changed my world. I also learned that you can set your phone to “airplane mode” and take photos with Instagram without it posting to your feed! (thanks Julie via Jessica)

Aside from technology lessons, I got to craft with some amazing women. I’m so thankful I had the chance to join in on the fun.

{All the photos were taken with Hipstamatic app on an iPhone 4S: Buckhorst Lens, Ina’s 1969 film}

Jess came by Saturday morning for breakfast with baby Griffin…he is SO CUTE! It made my heart happy to see them. All the ladies got SWAG (“stuff we all get”) from amazing shops and crafters. You can find more information on all the sponsors by visiting the Craft Weekend Blog.

Lots of cameras…it drove me crazy not to have a good indoor lens. I am ready to finally return to normal photography instead of iphoneography. I was also reminded over the weekend that I said I’d do a post with tips for photography using your phone. So, if I remember I will try hard to do that this week or next!

The drive home was really long. We stayed up way past midnight both nights…so tired, but worth it.

As much as I enjoyed the weekend, it is always so good to come home.

Here are some blogs of some of the other woman from the weekend:

craft hope {a project for little warriors}

AshleyAnn — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:13 +0000

I really like making things with my hands.

I really like finding ways to help others.

I really, really, really like when those two things come together.

I’ve posted about Craft Hope several times over the past few years. I don’t always participate in every project, but when I do I am so grateful for the opportunity. Last spring when FireCracker spent all that time in the hospital we made bracelets for a Craft Hope project. Back then I wrote about how our daughter’s middle name means “fair warrior” and how we hope she grows to be just that…a warrior for others. I wrote, “in the years to come when she hears the story (of her hospital stay), I want there to be something more than a broken bone for her to associate with this time.” I wanted her to hear about the beauty of how friends and family gathered around her hospital bed making bracelets for orphans and laughing as she filled her arms with them. You can read more about that day by clicking here.

This picture is from Easter Sunday 2011. She and I sat in that hospital bed making bracelets. I felt so powerless to do anything while we were there. She was on her back for 19 days…for an active one year old that is rough. In those 19 days, I only left the hospital once ~ to get bracelet fabric and go on a date with my son.

These are my grandpa’s hands making one.

Bracelets and stickers were her favorite thing in the hospital. The more we made, the more she put on her arms.

This picture sums up our time together in the hospital. She was a rockstar. I was a mess. She probably comforted me more than I comforted her.

Around the second week there, we got permission to roll her crib around the floor to go on walks. She was on the pediatric oncology floor. We would roll past rooms with tiny bald heads fighting like warriors. She simply had a broken femur. She did not have cancer. She was not fighting for her life. But….so many were. As much as I hurt for my daughter, a great deal of perspective is gained when you walk the halls of the pediatric oncology floor.

Craft Hope recently announced its most recent project: collecting handmade hats/beanies and bags for pediatric oncology patients. I don’t know how to knit or crochet, but there are other ways to make hats. There are tons of ways to make bags. Below you can find some links to posts related to this project and tutorials for how to make hats/beanies & bags. This is a great project to do with kids…or teenagers…or other adults.

FireCracker was smothered in love while she healed from a broken leg. Every visit and little gift brought her pure delight. How amazing to be able to do that for little warriors fighting cancer? What a gift it is to bring others joy!

Click on the red type below to be taken to those links:

More information on this Craft Hope Project

Extra details and info found on the Craft Hope facebook page

The 20 minute tote by Purl Bee

Messenger bag from cargo pants tutorial by Noodlehead

Polar fleece hat tutorials by Martha Stewart

Tutorial for a no sew fleece hat by Creative Jewish Mom

A quick search on Pinterest will bring up a TON of tutorial options for tote bags and hats

Update: The Craft Hope site works fine from my computer, but I had trouble getting it to open correctly on my phone. If you have trouble getting it to open, please leave a comment to let us know how you are trying to open it.