Culbert Family History: “Crafty Culberts” Presents Ashley Culbert

Wednesday 24 March 2021

“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…