By Faith Alone

Flip Flops

2010-09-29T19:02:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if it is ever going to be fall....so... it's still time to accessorize with your very own custom flip flops! This is by far the coolest new product I have offered in a while! Your logo, picture or just about anything can be printed on these unique shoes.

A Fun Trip Memory

2010-09-27T20:59:00.000-06:00

More stuff from our Germany trip! I printed this 16 oz. stein w/ a print of Martin Luther and Germany Lutherland Tour 2010...on the back...Celebrating Liquid Bread (with 76 of our closest friends) cost is $18.95 + shipping

Leave it to the expert!

2010-09-26T20:59:00.000-06:00

A few days ago I posted that I was making a quilt with pictures from our Germany trip........Well, I am soooo out of practice in this area...so I went to my friend Judy Martinez of Tithmart Quilting. She will finish my quilt and I know it will be beautiful! If you have a quilt project just sitting there....Judy can finish it for you! Call me for her info and I will put you in touch with her! She is awesome!

Tips on "Photo Quilting"

2010-09-19T10:52:00.001-06:00

I am 2 blocks into my "Germany" quilt! I ALWAYS recommend to people that they be very careful about how many pictures they put in a quilt as it gets to "busy"...practice what you preach...More later.

Can it be done? Choosing pictures for a new photo quilt!

2010-09-16T17:37:00.000-06:00

This summer we traveled to Germany. "Luther Land" to be exact! What a cool experience to visit the places where Martin Luther and others started the reformation of the church! He also translated the New Testament into German while at Wartburg Castle...a very interesting story. So....I am starting a new photo quilt...with pictures from the trip. A new challenge...................stay tuned!

November.....and Southern Dressing!

2009-11-02T21:01:00.007-07:00

Well, it WAS snowing when I started this post! October is over....snow starting to fall even before the leaves do! November brings to mind Thanksgiving, and oh......dont'panic...........gift giving season!

I admire people who plan ahead for this upcoming event. I am not one of them!

Seriously though, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are special times to create family memories and family heirlooms that can span generations. In our family, my mother-in-law's Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe is recreated every year. It has been handed down from her generation to mine, and now to my daugter. It is a recipe that is " learned" not followed! There is no actual recipe, as in cups and teaspoons and tablespoons. It is homemade cornbread....about half a 9X9 square pan. (You can actually make this ahead of time and freeze it) Next is about a half of a bag of Pepperidge Farm original stuffing (the original directions call for croutons) Now, saute about half an onion (chopped fine) and 2 or 3 stalks of celery (chopped fine.) Cook until transparent and the smell permeates the house! While all this is going on, boil a couple of eggs. When cooked, peel, chop and add to the cornbread and stuffing mix along with 2 raw eggs. Stir in the onion and celery and add 1 can of chicken gravey (any brand). Mix together, salt and pepper to taste. The original recipe calls for sage if you like. Add some juice from the turkey that is roasting in the oven. Add some water to make the mixture very moist, but not too soupy. Turn into a 15X19 pan and bake for about 45 minutes.

Enjoy! The family this recipe comes from is a hard working family descending from Germany. Large barns, small houses and immaculate farms held more weight than worldly possessions. Good food, family get togethers and lots of laughter were the key ingredients for making memories that last! Happy Thanksgiving!

A Picture is worth a thousand words....

2009-09-18T20:12:00.000-06:00

http://www.byfaithalone.com/

I have always been fascinated by the photo albums that my mom put together for us in her later years. She created several books full of old and more recent photos and other memorabilia like greeting cards and postcards. Looking at mom's albums can make me happy or sad, bring to the surface all sorts of emotions. Lately though, I have had a desire to learn more about the people in those old pictures. What connection do they have to me? Will my young grandchildren have any idea of their ancestors when they are older? Something tangible to touch and feel has great appeal to people of all generations. Have you seen some of the photo quilts being made lately?

I am so excited about all of the possibilities available for quilting with photos. Fabric and photos go together like peas and carrots! OK, well, if you don't like peas and carrots, how about peanut butter and jelly? Anyway, below are a few examples of photo quilts. Pictured is a family tree quilt that was designed by my husband and made by Judy Martinez.

I would be happy to discuss project ideas with you! Contact me at sara@byfaithalone.com

Changes from By Faith Alone

2009-09-18T19:22:00.003-06:00

It has been quite a while since I last posted. I'm sure no one remembers when it was...not even me!

Alot has changed at By Faith Alone. We now offer Photo Printing and Promotional Products.

This blog will be mostly about all of the amazing things that can be done with Photo Prints....on fabric!

A Professional Look for Your Company

2007-10-18T16:58:00.001-06:00

A professional look for your company. It is so important in today’s marketplace to present your company in the best light possible. You are careful to choose the most professional materials and best avenues for advertising and promotion. Name recognition is a key success factor for your company. Consider….embroidery. Whether your employees or your customers wear your logo, it is a very effective way of advertising! You want your employees to look professional as they are representing your company.

You may have heard that embroidery is very expensive, that you have to order a large number of items, or that there are limited choices of garments that you might actually wear! As “your own personal embroiderer” I can assure you these are myths and that having your logo transformed into stitches may be one of the best investments you make. Your “brand” can be sewn onto caps, bags, shirts, and jackets. It’s the perfect gift for your best customers and for employees to reward a job well done. I offer no minimums, a quick turn around time and best of all, personal service in choosing items to embroider.
Consider this….your logo will be seen everywhere, even when you’re not

Monogramming for Children

2007-10-18T16:52:00.000-06:00

Monogramming for Children…a current trend in children’s fashion and accessories is the hot topic these days in the embroidery world.

Today, the monogram reflects our personal style. Think of it as a personal “stamp” to set your child apart in our cookie cutter society. Monogramming children’s clothing and accessories is a great way to not only personalize their belongings, but to give attention to their very individual personalities. Consider a creative crazy font in a wild color for the outgoing child or a more traditional, conservative font in a subtle color for the reserved child. All one has to do is check out a trendy children’s shop or department store to see the wide array of monogrammed items. Little girl’s dresses are adorned with a monogram on the bodice or on a sweater for those chilly nights. You could put a very tailored monogram on the bib of a baby boys overalls or on his own cute little button down or polo shirt.

Remember those scratchy nametags you mom sewed into your clothes at the beginning of every school year? Names were etched on our lunchboxes and pencil cases. All are a form of identification for our belongings. Even though these were great ideas, you can now have your child’s initials or name discreetly monogrammed on the inside of their jacket or hat… the same results without the itch! While monograms are a trendy way to personalize children’s garments, safety experts caution against using the child’s name in an easily visible spot on the garment. This can help protect children from potential predators.

Monogramming your child’s clothing is a great way to highlight their own unique personalities and to affirm who they are!

Monogramming and Etiquette

2007-10-17T15:14:00.000-06:00

When I was a girl, my mother and I would rise early on a Saturday morning and wait for a bus to take us to the urban shopping district of Kansas City. She would use this opportunity to teach about etiquette and the fine points of being a lady!

The most memorable lesson was to duck into a doorway before you arrived at your destination and blow your nose with a handkerchief. You would then arrive at the restaurant or store with a dry nose. No sniffles or runny noses!

Handkerchiefs first appeared in history in approx. 300 AD as a reference to a “cloth to clean one’s nose”. During this same period of time is was customary to wave a handkerchief to greet the appearance of high ranking persons in the theatre or in place of applause!

During the 19th century when young people were carefully chaperoned, a system of signals was developed that enabled them to communicate across the room. For instance, if a young lady drew the hankie across her lips, while looking at a young man, it meant that she was ready to make his acquaintance. If she already knew the young man, signals could get personal, such as:

Drawing a hankie across her cheek meant “I love you”
A hankie held to the right cheek meant “yes”
If held on the left cheek it meant “no”
A hankie drawn across the forehead signaled “we are being watched.”
If thrown over the shoulder, the message meant “follow me”

Today, there is debate on cloth handkerchiefs being unhygienic pieces of cloth bearing germs, or used as a way to conserve natural resources.

Whether used as “a cloth to clean one’s nose” or to dry your eyes when they needlessly water, the cloth handkerchief is a beautiful and elegant nod to our grandmothers and a simpler way of life.

Monogramming....Your Own Personal Logo

2007-10-17T11:56:00.000-06:00

This is the first article that I wrote for the North Colorado Woman. Monogramming has seen a revival in the past few years, especially in the southern areas of the country. I am on a personal mission to "revive" it here in Colorado. I'll keep you posted on that venture!

Monogramming...Your Own Personal Logo

I became interested in the “fiber arts” a few years ago and have realized that, even though there is a significant amount of information on the subject, it has not been readily shared! This is the first of many articles on the “fiber arts” and deals with monogramming. In the 19th and early 20th century, embroidering initials (one or two letter monograms) onto linens became fashionable. Currently, the standard three-letter layout is the most popular and uses the initial from the last name as the middle and largest letter. Monogramming is used on bags, clothing, handkerchiefs, towels, table linens, and bed linens.

Monograms, or personal logos, are an inexpensive way to decorate and make a wonderful gift for your Valentine or special person in your life. Imagine a lace handkerchief embroidered with a personal initial or a set of fluffy bath towels with a beautiful monogram stitched in a complimentary color. For that special dinner, think about how beautiful your table would look with a monogrammed runner, matching napkins, and placements. For a professional look at work, have the collar or cuff of your blouse or shirt monogrammed. There are as many ideas for monogramming as individuals so let your imagination soar!

In the next publication, I’ll be discussing “fiber art” ideas for Easter and Mother’s day.
TIP: To iron a monogram, turn it upside down on a terry cloth or towel and iron the back. This keeps the monogram from being flattened and the stitching from being damaged.

BIO: Sara Harrow, “Your Own Personal Embroider” and owner of By Faith Alone Custom Embroidery, has been monogramming and embroidering for over 10 years. By Faith Alone is located inside the Front Range Sewing Center, 2032 35th Ave, Greeley, CO 80634. For fine linens, monogram ideas and all of your embroidery needs; contact Sara at 970.405.6071 or byfaithalone@comcast.net.

Northern Colorado Woman Newspaper

2007-07-26T10:56:00.000-06:00

This past year I have been advertising in the Northern Colorado Woman Newpaper. It has been a wonderful growing experience for me, as I have had to break out of my comfort zone and write! I have written about momorgrams being "Your Own Personal Logo", Monogrammed Handkerchiefs, Embroidered Logo's for Businesses and Monogramming for Children.

In the next few posts I will publish all of them. You can see the complete newspaper at www.NorthernColoradoWoman.com

Treasure

2007-07-18T10:21:00.001-06:00

We were in Kansas City last week for a Caster family reunion. I found treasure there, and it wasn't even the kind I expected!

First of all....what a great family! There were five brothers, one of which was my dad. We have lost all but one of them in the last few years. I guess it's like the Joni Mitchell song "You don't know what you've got till it's gone"... I could go on about that, but I am about to cry, so I'll move on...........

One of the purposes of this get together was to divide up the belongings of our Uncle Bob and Aunt Edna. Now, to make a very long story shorter, B & E had in their possession a picture that had belonged to our Grandma and Grandpa Caster. I had loved that picture when I was a child, and when it went to them years later, I knew I could never have it in a million years! (I did not know that my mom wanted it when my grandmother's things were divided) But Edna had it and I knew she did not like me. (another revelation....I found out last week that she didn't like most of us!) I'm not sure why that is, but I will take the high road and try to understand why she was the way she was....move on again Sara.........

Over the last 30 years, and I am not kidding about this, I have looked in every antique shop I've ever been in for "the picture." I even had Gerry and our kids looking for it. (They had never seen it so it was a challenge. Last year, my brother John found a black and white version on ebay, but it just wasn't the same! We did find out that the artist was English and his work was found primarily there.

So, at the reunion we were told we were going to have a lottery to choose the items we wanted. I had told myself, my brother John, Gerry and the kids that I really didn't care and if it was meant to be, the picture would be mine! John came around with an envelope full of numbers and told me it was my turn to draw. I turned my head and stuck my hand in the envelope..............fumbled to open the folded bit of paper....it said #1. I cried.

So here is the short part....the picture is mine! I have to believe in divine intervention at this point. It was damaged in shipping, so the glass will be replaced and I am going to have it reframed.

Now, I said before that I found treasure on this day. Well, I would have thought it was the picture, but it wasn't. My brother John had taken care of our aunt and uncle's estate as they had no children. He did a wonderful job of distributing their assets to 17 nieces and nephews on both sides of their family. While he was getting their house ready for sale, he ran across boxes of diaries. It turns out that our grandmother, Ora Caster had kept a daily diary for maybe fifteen years or so. John read them and each one of us got a year that we had been referenced in. In my case, it was 1976, the year Gerry and I were married. What an amazing gift. It was like getting a snap shot of those days! She was very short and to the point, but for me it was like a being transported back to Jan. 3rd 1976. This is one of the reasons I wanted to start a blog. Maybe someday Claire and Luke will look back on this and say Wow, Nana Sara was quite a lady!

Who knew I could get so long winded? I promise not to do that all the time. I just really wanted to tell how I found treasure in KC!

Beginnings

2007-07-16T20:45:00.000-06:00

Take a deep breath.....Now dive in to a whole new world! This venture proves that you CAN teach an old dog (or in this case, semi-old) new tricks!

I have observed the world of blogging through my 20 something daughter and her friends for a while and find it amazing to read about their lives and adventures. They seem to communicate so well with each other and stay in touch in spite of the many miles they are apart.

I decided I wanted to be a part of the blogging world and use it to showcase the work that I do, have a place to post pictures of my grandkids and other things that are important to me!

So.......here goes.....the launch of By Faith Alone...the BLOG!