Flip Flops

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

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!

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"

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!

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!

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....

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