“Crafty Culberts” Presents Julia (Whiteford) Holmes

 Julia Anne (Whiteford) Holmes (the great-great-granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward) was born 25 August 1959 in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada to parents, Hilson Whiteford and Eula Herdman. Julia currently lives in Woodstock, Ontario.

Here’s Julia to tell you a little about herself and her crafts, followed by some photos…

I was born and raised in Ingersoll, Ontario. I spent a lot of time entertaining myself as a youngster; enjoying reading, writing letters, getting together with friends and cutting, pasting and colouring so now I do that with my cards. 

I graduated as a Registered Nurse from Fanshawe College’s Victoria Campus in London, Ontario in 1979. I’m also a Trained Professional Organizer and had a business called "Ticketyboo Organizing" for four years. I now work as an Church Office Administrator, as well as a nurse immunizer. 

I did scrapbooking for many years and found I had a lot of leftover paper and embellishments. That just naturally led me into card making. I enjoy making cards to send to family, friends and acquaintances as I love to stay connected with people; sending a card with a little note tucked inside is a great way to do this! I get a lot of joy from creating the cards. People seem to find joy in receiving them so it's a hobby that is purposeful as well as fun.

Here's a selection of some of Julia's cards. Click on images to enlarge them...

Thank you, Julia!

Family Tree for Julia Anne (Whiteford) Holmes:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (2xgreat-grandparents)

Rebecca Ann Culbert & William Whiteford (great-grandparents)

John Silas Whiteford & Sarah Maud Parkinson (grandparents)

John Hilson Whiteford & Eula Mary Herdman (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Brent William Holmes

Kathryn Anne Holmes

"Crafty Culberts" Presents Mary-Lynn Culbert

 Mary-Lynn Culbert (the great-great-granddaughter of John Culbert & Mary Ward) was born 10 August 1959 to parents, Kenneth Arthur Culbert and Helen Needham.

Mary-Lynn Culbert at Saratoga Beach on Vancouver Island during their first snow fall upon returning to Canada in December, 2019. Photo by Mary-Lynn's husband, Paul Ciglen.

Here's Mary-Lynn to tell you about her passion for photography, followed by a presentation of some of her photographs. 

I was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada but my family moved to Toronto just before I turned two years old, so I have no memories of La Belle Province. I grew up in Toronto, met my future husband, and moved to New York City, in 2001. After 14 1/2 years in NYC, we decided to take over a family property in Largo, Florida. After almost five years there, we'd had enough of the heat, humidity, and the rapidly degrading sociopolitical situation in the United States, and decided it was time to return home. We chose Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, as our new home.  

My interest in photography began in childhood. My dad, Kenneth Culbert, was a ferocious chronicler of family events, large and small. My childhood was punctuated by the pop of flash bulbs. One of my favorite family activities was to sit around a table covered with photo albums, listening to my parents tell stories of the people and places captured therein. 

And every summer, I would look forward to a visit from my brother, Campbell Culbert, who spent many years earning his living as a professional photographer.  Dad would bring home a screen and projector from the office, and Cam would give us a slide show of the work he'd been doing all over the world for the past year. Every image had a tale attached to it; some scary, some funny, all of them fascinating.

I was also inspired by my cousin, Terry Culbert, and his behind-the-camera work.  As a journalist, writer, and illustrator, he used the medium of film to bring a news item to life, or to compliment his written words and graphic images. My parents would get so excited, and we'd all gather around the TV whenever "one of Terry's pieces" was on the evening news. His books were proudly displayed and showed off to every visitor.   

I've always associated photographs not just with imagery, but with story telling. Sometimes it's a big, dramatic story that's obvious to anyone passing by. However, a photo can also tell a small, quiet tale about something that may have gone unnoticed.

Something that surprised me about photographs is how they can be utterly mundane and emotionally evocative at the same time. Having lost three family members over the last two years, I've been going through a lot of old albums and boxes of photos; and I've been so often stunned at the depth of emotion a single image can stir.

I've never offered my photos for sale or exhibited them. In fact, this is the first time anyone has ever showed any interest in them (thanks, MJ!). It's always something I've done for myself, simply to document a trip or event. However, after my mom, Helen (Needham) Culbert gave me the gift of a digital camera for my birthday about 10 years ago, it made it much easier to begin to use it as a way to tell my own stories. Having a camera with me makes me much more aware of my environment, and to see things in much more detail. I'm much more aware of light and shadow now, than I ever was; of patterns, movement, and stillness. I can't wait to get out and photograph more of our beautiful new home!   

Click on the any of the following images to enlarge them... 

Black and white study, Metropolitan Museum of Art sculpture garden, New York City, Sept. 9, 2016.

 

DUMBO ("Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" - the actual name of the neighborhood), Brooklyn, Nov. 25, 2011.

Passing through, Central Park, New York City, Sept. 9, 2016.

Golden creature, Largo, Florida, Oct. 28, 2108.

Mist-covered feather, Discovery Passage, Vancouver Island, Oct., 2020

Driftwood and stones, Discovery Passage, Vancouver Island, Oct., 2020.

Dogwood sunset, Campbell River, British Columbia, August 21, 2020.

Stormy skies and seagulls, Campbell River, BC, Aug. 6, 2020.

Ridges, Campbell River, BC, Jan. 11, 2021.

Eye of the Beast, at Miracle Beach, Vancouver Island, BC, Jan. 3, 2021.

Thanks, Mary-Lynn!

Mary-Lynn Culbert's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)
Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (great-grandparents)
Myron Manford Culbert & Effie Pearl Taylor (grandparents)
Kenneth Arthur Culbert & Helen Needham (parents)

"Crafty Culberts" Presents Wendy (Schloendorf) Reid

 Wendy Lyn (Schloendorf) Reid (the 3xgreat-granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward) was born 24 October 1965 in London, Ontario, Canada to parents, Vicky Culbert and Earl Schloendorf. Wendy lives in Goderich, Ontario with her husband, Ken Reid. To read Wendy’s biography, click here.

Wendy (Schloendorf) Reid wearing a poncho and scarf she crocheted.

Here’s Wendy to tell us about her crafts…

My crafts vary depending on what catches my eye on Pinterest.

I’m an expert knitter, having learned to knit at age seven. I’ve been crocheting since age nine and consider myself to be average. I also enjoy cross-stitch, driftwood crafts and rock painting. My rock painting isn't worthy of a photograph. I didn’t get the painting and drawing gene, but my daughter, Jacqui, did.

I picked up macrame at age 11 but that was short-lived. However, I'm going to get back into macrame now that it's “a thing” again. I'm glad it's making a comeback. I have the best selection of driftwood and an unending supply of rocks at our beach.

I retired almost three years ago and have kept very busy knitting, to the point that my shoulder was getting very irritated. I started to crochet again after many years because of it. Now my shoulder hurts in a different spot! It’s a good thing that I have lots of options to keep me busy.

I sell some of my creations but most items are given to family. What I love most is making blankets of all sizes, and knitting baby clothing. 

Here are some examples of Wendy's knitwear and crochet. Click on the smaller images to enlarge them... 

Cable knit sweater that Wendy made for herself.

Knitted purple afghan.

This crocheted baby blanket can also be used as a floor blanket for baby to play on.

Click to enlarge to see the cute buttons Wendy attached to the baby sweater.

All of these items are knit. The blue set is mittens, a neck warmer and a headband. The others are baby hats. In the background is a large, cabled afghan.

Baby blankets, lap blankets and crocheted antimacassars.

Crocheted toddler coat.

Thank you, Wendy!

Wendy (Schloendorf) Reid's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (3x-great-grandparents)
Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (2x-great-grandparents)
Myron Manford Culbert & Effie Pearl Taylor (great-grandparents)
Ivan Hector Culbert & Elvira Hutchings (grandparents)
Victoria "Vicky" Culbert & Earl Schloendorf (parents)
Descendants (Children): 
Jacqueline Nicole Reid
Scott William Reid

“Crafty Culberts” Presents Ashley Culbert

 Ashley Danielle Culbert (the 3xgreat-granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward) was born 11 May 1986 in London, Ontario, Canada to parents, Ian Richard Culbert and Nancy Jane McGarrell.

 

Ashley grew up in London, and graduated in 2008 from the University of Western Ontario (King’s College) with a Bachelor of Arts degree (major in History, minor in Psychology.)

After graduation, Ashley started working at the Toronto Dominion Bank in London. After taking a leave of absence to travel around Europe for two months, she moved to Toronto in 2010 to work in the downtown corporate world. She then went back to school; attending Ryerson University while working full-time and taking night classes to get her Public Relations Certificate. Ashley worked in Corporate Communications at the TD Bank up until her son, Wyatt was born in 2015. She had always planned on going back to work, but her priorities quickly shifted and she knew she was meant to be a stay-at-home mom, also known as a domestic engineer.

Ashley, her husband, Braedon Guy Hebert, and their three children, Wyatt, Ruby and Ella moved back to London in December, 2020. They currently live in London’s Wortley Village neighbourhood.

Here’s Ashley to tell us about her interest in tie-dye and show us some examples of her creations…

I started a tie-dye business called smashdye in the past year since COVID-19 started. Smashdye started out as something fun to do with the family during the pandemic. As a stay-at-home mom to three kids ages five and under, it’s been a great creative outlet and a welcome distraction to everything that’s been going on.

Here we are, all wearing the first items we ever made together...

Left to right: Wyatt Hebert, Ashley Culbert, Ruby Hebert, Braedon Hebert and Ella Hebert.

I just loved doing tie-dye so much that I started dyeing all of my white articles of clothing (haha!) It spiraled from there. Now my entire basement is full of blank inventory ready to be dyed! 

Friends started asking me to make matching tie dye sweatsuits for them. After several such requests, I started up an Instagram page and it’s been going strong ever since! I also sell my items on Facebook. My favourite part is seeing everyone rocking their tie dye outfits and how much joy it brings them.

My aunt Chris Culbert (1955-2020) also loved tie-dye and I think about her anytime I’m making an order.

Here are just some of the items I’ve made…

 

 

Thanks, Ashley!

Upon request, Ashley can make other items, too such as t-shirts, tank tops, socks, boxer shorts, bedding, dog sweaters, etc. Just ask!

You can visit Ashley Culbert’s smashdye Instagram page here and her smashdye Facebook page here.

Family Tree for Ashley Danielle Culbert:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (3xgreat-grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (2xgreat-grandparents)

Myron Manford Culbert & Effie Pearl Taylor (great-grandparents)

Ivan Hector Culbert & Elvira Hutchings (grandparents)

Ian Richard Culbert & Nancy Jane McGarrell (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Wyatt Hebert

Ruby Hebert

Ella Hebert