The Firecracker Fairy: Press/Reviews

Just wanted to give you an update about your cd and t-shirt. They are a hit!!!!! Every night since the party one of the girls or both listen to the Firecracker Fairy CD in order to fall asleep. Not only that but most of the children who came also listen to your CD in the car or before bed. I gave one to Lauren's teacher now they listen before nap too. Thanks for a great party and the wonderful music. It truly is a hit here.

The Firecracker Fairy attended our Women's Day Event at Clear Creek Elementary. On this day, we celebrated women with interesting jobs in the community. The Firecracker Fairy came and shared her music, her job, and her fun, lively personality with us. She even left us a disc of her songs to enjoy. The Firecracker Fairy was entertaining and educational at the same time. We plan to have her work with our students this summer at our Fine Arts Academy, where she will assist them with creating their own music using GarageBand software. Thanks Ashleigh!

Ashleigh Wehmeyer is an inspiration to children, teenagers, and adults. She shares her artistry and love of music through performances, workshops, and encouragement.

On Saturday, February 9, Ms. Wehmeyer was a featured author and artist at the Young Authors and Illustrators Conference. Sponsored by the Central Texas Reading Council and the Harker Heights Public Library, this conference brings together budding writers, songwriters, and illustrators with professional authors, performers, and illustrators.

Ms. Wehmeyer’s versatility and exuberance added a mixture of fun and education to the conference. In just one day she presented a multi-age inspirational performance, led several “Firecracker Fairy” interactive programs for younger children, and presented a songwriting workshop for teenagers. The workshop was so successful that the attendees even performed their group composition in front of the entire conference!

We look forward to working again with Ashleigh Wehmeyer, the “Firecracker Fairy” who brought magic to the art of songwriting for our Young Authors and Illustrators Conference.

The students had such a great time [working their poetry into lyrics and setting them to music], that they shared what they learned with their teachers and their teachers are now talking about how they can get the school to hire her in the fall to come and do workshops like that to improve fourth grade writing skills!

Professional women teach girls an important lesson: You can do it
March is Women's History Month; on Wednesday, Clear Creek Elementary School students got a head start on learning about women in their local community.

Professional women from the Killeen community came to talk to students about what their jobs entail and how students can work to get the jobs they want.

Students saw presentations from an attorney, city councilwoman, news anchor, drama director, musicians, veterans and veterinarians.

Donna Bownds, campus technologist, said she hopes all students – especially girls – will see that their career choices are limitless.

"They can be or do anything they want in today's society," Bownds said.

Ashleigh Wehmeyer, a children's musician who calls herself the "Firecracker Fairy," sang interactive songs with students at Clear Creek. "The Firecracker Fairy" persona comes from the outfit she typically wears when she performs: a pink tutu, sneakers and jacket.

Wehmeyer taught students music theory, lyric writing and melodies. She said she encourages students to use their imagination and write their own songs.

The children at Clear Creek sang along with Wehmeyer as she played guitar. She said she hopes to open children's eyes to the possibilities of what they can do.

"There is no limit to the number of things they can pursue," Wehmeyer said.

Students should pursue things they are interested in, whether for job and personal fulfillment, Wehmeyer said.

Rebecca Griesmyer, children's theater director at Vive Les Arts, encouraged students to find something they love to do and make it into a career.

Griesmyer said she started performing at a young age and was encouraged to study drama in college.

"It's not work for me, I love what I do," Griesmyer said.

After hearing all the speakers, students said they enjoyed listening to the women talk about what their typical day is like.

Several students said they learned that some careers are not always as easy as they seem.

Bownds said she wants students to learn about women's contributions and how far they have come.

Contact Candace Birkelbach at candaceb@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7553

Thank you so much to the Firecracker Fairy for making Payton's 6th birthday so memorable! We love the songs and now Payton has her special Firecracker Fairy shirt that she proudly wore to school following her party. She could not wait to tell her teacher. The show was perfect for the little ones on up to the adults who loved the Fairy's quick-witted comments. She was excellent with the kids and really was a hit!

Conference Coming for Young Authors
The Central Texas Reading Council will be offering local, young writers a chance next week to learn about their passions.

The council has organized the Young Authors and Illustrators Conference 2008 for Feb. 9. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parker Academic Center at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"Overall what we want is to encourage creativity by writing, storytelling and illustrating," said Lisa Youngblood, Harker Heights library director, who helped organize the event.

The conference is a chance for writers from the first through 12th grade to meet published authors, said Nichole Broemer, Central Texas Reading Council president.

Speaking about their publications will be Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, a children's author; Richard Trout, an adventure novelist; and Ashleigh Wehmeyer, a local songwriter.
Knowlton has written picturebooks titled "Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On" and "Red, White, and Blue."

Trout writes adventure novels that target middle and high school students. They include "Cayman Gold: Lost Treasure of Devil's Grotto" and other books from his MacGregor Family adventure series.

Wehmeyer, of Fort Hood, writes her own music to entertain children and also has written and produced music for adults and young adults.

"It is good for them to meet the authors and illustrators, but it is also helps for the children to talk to their peers," Youngblood said.

Young writers and illustrators are encouraged to bring their work to the conference. Attendees will get the chance to discuss their works with each other in several workshops and breakout sessions, which will focus on a variety of genres: mystery, poetry, fantasy, comic books and manga.

"I can tell them 100 times, but it is more meaningful coming from their peers," Youngblood said.

The conference is for anyone who shows interest in writing, Youngblood said. It doesn't matter whether the children are novice writers, write every day, or just need help on their writing skills; the conference will have some to offer them.

"It is just to show them a positive recreational side to writing," Broemer said. "It's to show they can have a passion for writing that is not school writing of TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge Skills) writing."

For those interested in attending the conference, there is a charge of $25 for the first child and $15 for additional children.

People interested in attending the conference can pick up information and applications at the Harker Heights Library, located at 100 E. Beeline or at the Harker Heights Parks and Recreation building, located at 307 Miller's Crossing.

"We want them to have a positive reaction to reading, writing and illustrating," Youngblood said. "We want them to walk out of there thinking: I can write, I can read, and I can draw."

Contact Mason W. Canales at mcanales@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7554

Musical Accompaniment
Garbed in her taffeta tu-tu and pink high-tops, Ashleigh Wehmeyer shares her alter-ego, the Firecracker Fairy, with youngsters at Kline Whitis Elementary during a recent Family Reading Night. Youths were handed instruments and played along to original and traditional songs, shared by the visitor. Ms. Wehmeyer also made several appearances during the annual Herb/Art Fest held this past weekend on downtown Courtyard Square. Click on the link below for the Lampasas Dispatch Record to see a picture of me and my band!

Thanks AGAIN to the Firecracker Fairy for performing at Allie's 4th birthday party. Allie loved having the Firecracker Fairy at her 3rd birthday party so much she couldn't wait for her next birthday so that she could be an honorary firecracker all over again. Everyone had the best time singing along with the Firecracker Fairy and this year it didn't have to stop at the party all the kids got to take home a Firecracker Fairy cd and keep singing in the car on the way home. Til Allie's 5th birthday! Thank you.

Herb & Art Festival Growing Steadily
An excerpt form the October 11th article in the Cove Herald:

Expanding well beyond its informational roots, the festival also offers a smorgasborg of family fun and activities. The featured guest this year hails not from the world of gardening but rather from the field of children’s entertainment.

Ashleigh Wehmeyer, also known as the the Firecracker Fairy, will be performing an interactive and educational musical show incorporating traditional children’s songs with original compositions. The young audience is encouraged to sing and dance along and have the chance to play instruments on stage and be part of the band during the grand finale.

“We encourage children to use imagination and write their own songs to tunes they know,” Wehmeyer said. “I’m thrilled to be part of a festival that has such a reputation for being so much fun and just great for kids. It’s known to be a great family event.”

The Firecracker Fairy, along with the First Street Church of Christ men’s choir and other musical acts, will keep crowds entertained at the Courthouse Bandstand all day.

“This year is really focused on the kids. We want to get some neat entertainment for them,” Jones said.

A tradition decades in the making, the Herb & Art Festival has something for people of all ages with different interests. Whether looking for information on antique roses, a fine collectible painting or just some family fun, the event features the best the town has to offer and more.

“We worked real hard to keep it going over all these years,” Hill said. “And now it’s one of the premier things they have in Lampasas.”

Ashleigh Wehmeyer performed at our annual Taste Addison event in Addison, TX as the Firecracker Fairy. She is an excellent performer who knows how to interact with children of all ages. It was a pleasure
working with Ashleigh because of her positive attitude and professionalism. We plan on continuing to book the Firecracker Fairy at Taste Addison and Oktoberfest.

We were so thrilled with the Firecracker Fairy's performance at our house!! My daughters' 3rd birthday was all the more special because of the special spark she brought. Everyone from 2yrs old to 55 yrs old, boys and girls alike, clapped, danced, and sang along. For days after, my daughter sang and hummed "Mice in the Kitchen." We loved every minute the Firecracker Fairy spent at our house and we can't wait to see her perform again!!

The Firecracker Fairy sparkled at the 2007 Month of the Military Child Fest. A huge hit with the little ones!

I really thought you were quite a hit with the girls at the Day of the Child. Girls really do like fairies.
I think having you for a girls special t-party or birthday party would be an excellent fun thing to do.

Firecracker Fairy Sprinkles Audiences with Inspiration
-Songwriter encourages children to play music

With a wave of her magic wand and a sprinkle of fairy dust, Ashleigh Wehmeyer can make anyone an Honorary Firecracker Fairy.

Performing at birthday parties and other children’s functions, Wehmeyer transforms herself into her self-proclaimed alter-ego, the Firecracker Fairy. With a guitar on her lap and a bag full of instruments at her side, the Firecracker Fairy performs original songs as well as familiar nursery songs like “Wheels on the Bus” and “Old MacDonald”

Wehmeyer also incorporates music theory into her act, allowing her young doe-eyed spectators to play an instrument of their choice.

Yvette Jerlow, a mother of two, first heard about Wehmeyer’s act through a luncheon date.

“She told me about what she does and I was about to have a birthday party for my 3-year-old,” said Jerlow of Harker Heights. “Everyone loved her. The parents who didn’t make it were disappointed. It was so much better than hiring a clown or something like that.”

Most of Wehmeyer’s business is done through word of mouth and on her Web site at www.firecrackerfairy.com.

“I always carry a couple of her cards,” Jerlow said.
But don’t let the signature pink Converse sneakers and tutu fool you. Wehmeyer’s songwriting is no child’s play.

Through her years as a cadet at the United States Military Academy and serving her country in the 82nd Airborne Division, she continued writing, absorbing all of life’s experiences and translating them into touching, truthful and humorous songs.

“I love Texas,” she said. “There’s such a great support network for songwriters. You can play only in Texas and make it big.”

Wehmeyer is a member of the Austin Songwriters Group, Nashville Songwriters Association International, American Society of Composers, and Publishers, and Just Plain Folks Online Music Community where she has served as the Songwriter Forum’s moderator for nearly five years.

She’s won numerous awards for her songwriting and anticipates a child’s album to be publisher at the end of this year.

“I thought it would be something good as party favors or just to sell at the performances,” Wehmeyer said.

She also sells a self-produced CD of her original music at the performance. Her next shows are at 7p.m. Friday at the Gatesville Opry and at the Cove Country Opry at 7p.m. on Feb. 3.

“I wanted something that wasn’t going to exclude boys, like “princess,” Wehmeyer said. “And firecracker…well, they’re just loud and fun, like me.”

Thank you for presenting "The Firecracker Fairy" program to our pre-kindergarten students. Your presentation that included student involvement made the assembly a worthwhile experience.

Your comments in song and music showed you have a deep understanding of the joy and needs of our little children. All the parents and teachers who have spoken to me were equally impressed.

You could see on the little faces how much they enjoyed "The Firecracker Fairy" program.

Thank you, Firecracker Fairy, for delightfully entertaining a cafeteria full of children at Meadows Elementary School for our annual Fall Festival! The games and songs were enjoyed by the pre-school set and the music was enjoyed by all! The costumes and the silliness were a BIG hit! You kept the atmosphere upbeat and fun. A perfect addition to our BEST Fall Festival yet! A great time! We love you so much, we hope you will come perform for us again! Thank you for sharing your love of kids and your musical talents with us!

The highlight of my three-year old's birthday party was a visit from the Firecracker Fairy! My daughter and her friends had a blast and were especially excited when they were able to play different instruments while singing along with the Firecracker Fairy. What I liked best was that while the kids were having fun they were also learning about music. Fun and educational, can't beat that. Thank you so much Firecracker Fairy!

Thank you so much for taking the time to come and be the Firecracker Fairy for Abigail's birthday. We all enjoyed watching you. The children absolutely loved it! You really put together a fun-filled event with age appropriate songs. You also did a wonderful job keeping all the children engaged. I know you will get many more opportunities!

The Firecracker Fairy performed at our daughter's 6th birthday party. It was a blast. The kids had a great time singing and dancing along to the music. When the Firecracker Fairy brought out her speacial tote filled with instruments, the kids became part of the band, learning about rhythms, and playing along with the music. I'd definitely recommend her for your next event!

We hired the Firecracker Fairy for my five year old's birthday party. The kids thought that she was fun and fabulous. Everyone loved her music, stories and sparkles – they even learned a little bit, too! I would recommend her anytime for some organized fun!