Connecting with Keepsakes

It would make sense to look at the first keepsake you might receive and that would obviously be at birth. (Although the keepsake has been around a long time, it could not have been yours until you arrived into this world.) It is not uncommon for baptismal gowns to be a form of keepsakes and to be passed down generation to generation. Even though this sacred piece of clothing is worn by many babies, it technically may not find a home, but just becomes a part of the process and then it is carefully stored in a box until the next birth requires it. Handing it off from one family to the next becomes the ritual. If you do not have a "family" baptismal gown, there are other baby keepsakes that can be cherished and passed down.

Here is a site to check out:
http://www.cornerstorkbabygifts.com/bestsellers.

Footprints and handprints of the new baby are always fun and a great way to remember how small your child was once. Not only are these made in clay or other mold creating avenues. Framed prints, often with other details such as full name, birth weight and time, are hung on the wall. Some parents save their child(ren)'s teeth, hair, and even the umbilical cord.

This gown and hat was worn by many of my family members at their baptism - my father, uncles, sisters, and myself. It was made by my grandmother.

http://www.littlekeepsakes.com/ink_prints/ink_prints.html

Do you have a wedding dress that will not be used again - due to size, color or style? Turn it into a baptismal gown. This is an ideal way to recycle and create a precious keepsake. If you have no children perhaps for a niece or nephew. It's also an idea if you want to make a baptismal gown for your own child and can get your hands on a discarded wedding gown. It's a nice tradition to start with that first child and use as your family grows.

How to Turn a Wedding Dress into a Baptismal Gown

The quote, "A picture is worth a thousand words," from what I can tell, has not been nailed down as to who originally said it. The adage has been attributed to a Chinese proverb, Napoleon Bonaparte, Fred R. Barnyard, and even Fred Brooks. It seems they all can be attributed to using this phrase in one variation or another. But I would have to agree with whomever said it. Some pictures need no words, the location, attire, and facial expressions can say it all. We've all seen snapshots that have conjured up all kinds of emotions - making us laugh, or feel proud, in awe, emotional or even confused. Since the camera was developed, humans have been trying to preserve events happening around them. Photos, like most technology, just keep getting better and better. Pictures help to keep the memoires alive of those who have passed on before us. Maybe even helping us understand that person a little better. Being able to track the person's life from birth(days), confirmation, high school, college, armed services, his(her) wedding and anniversaries through photos helps to bridge the gap a little of not getting to meet him(her). Children love looking at pictures of their parents when they were youngsters. With the cost of cameras much more reasonable and digital, it's so much easier to collect those favorite shots to share.

Tintype of a young woman born in 1814 in Fairfax, Virginia

History of Photography

It's probably safe to say that today the art of scrapbooking has become one of the most popular ways of preserving those special moments in life. In past decades it used to be just putting the pictures in an album, but those pictures are now used to emphasize a theme - a birthday, first haircut, first day of school, first bicycle, first ________, well, you can fill in the blank. The scrapbook pages are full of decorative words, stickers, or stamps relating to the occasion. Often more descriptions are written about the event for posterity. The devout scrapbookers form a loyal group that often hold scrapbooking parties to work together and share tools as they each individually design their pages. These are similar to the quilting bees of the past.

Food has been around since Adam and Eve. (You remember the apple?) We have to eat to survive, so food is a given as a necessity. And as long as we have to eat, I'm all for making it the best tasting. Most women when they take over a household have more than one cookbook on the shelf. Of course, if you can't find what you're looking for there are recipes on the internet. There is even a cooking network that can keep you enthralled for hours with great looking dishes and cooking contests. As you watch the judges on these shows you know there is much more to the dish than just the ingredients. Have you ever walked in to the house and the smell alone sent 'warm feelings' throughout your body - like the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking on a cold day? The taste and texture of a red velvet cake might conjure up all kinds of memories. And this leads us to understand how that great recipe Aunt Matilda had for her "specialty" cake can be preserved and made again and again in the kitchens of descendants. Ask any great cook if she has a "keepsake" recipe handed down in her family and I'm sure she'll have trouble choosing just one.

With all the gardens in our family, we had many dishes with carrots, potatoes, corn, lettuce, beets, and beans. Following is a few recipes that have been passed down generation to generation in our family:

HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD - Great-grandma Hedwig's Aunt's recipe

3 ½ pounds of potatoes (makes about six cups of sliced cooked potatoes)
6 slices of bacon (fry, drain, and cut into pieces)
½ cup chopped onions (sautée softly in a little fat from the bacon)
¼ cup flour (mixed in a skillet with the bacon pieces using a little fat from the bacon)
1 ½ cups of water
½ cup cider vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Mix together all ingredients and stir with a wisk until thickened
Add potatoes and four sliced hard boiled eggs.
(Serve warm and if you are not going to eat it right away - omit the eggs). Will keep at least a half a week in the refrigerator.

Making Homemade Sauerkraut - Usually made in the Fall

Shred and weigh 5 pounds of cabbage (about 5 large cabbages makes 5 gallons)
Mix the shredded cabbage with 3 1/2 TBS coarse salt and 1/2 tsp sugar
Pack into a 5 Gallon Crock (or use a plastic pail) until juicy
Pound it down with your fist, not all at one time, but in layers
Add more until the pail is full - always pressing down until juicy on top
Layer large outside cabbage leaves to cover
Place wooden press board and a heavy, clean stone on top
Tie towel over the top
Let set about 2 - 3 weeks in a warm place so it can ferment (In hot weather store in basement 10 days)
Discard large leaves

CANNING THE SAUERKRAUT

Use 2 large heads makes about 7- 8 quarts
In a large heavy stainless steel kettle
Bring saurkraut just to boiling
Can into large mouth 1 quart jars
Process in hot water bath 15 minutes
Remove, cool, and store

The following five MODULES will display just some of the keepsakes that have been requested. Each piece is customized for the individual person and circumstance, such as a wedding, birth, child's drawing, favorite saying, etc. You can stretch your imagination and be as creative as you want when it comes to designing your keepsake. Also, do not be afraid to ask on any idea you have - the creator works very well with the client. The goal is for each and every hand made piece to be treasured and passed down.

In this picture we show a mother's and father's hands cupping the small feet of their triplets. This particular photo has been turned into a pendant and a magnet.

Your wedding day ranks right up there with one of life's most memorable days. Often many months of researching, planning, and decision-making take place by both the future bride and groom. Discussions about rings, location, date and time, invitations, bridal party, guest lists, photographers, flowers, caterers, music, and honeymoon fill much of the time spent together by the newly engaged couple. Just reading that list is tiring - but love and excitement take hold and each wants their special day to go off without a hitch and be the "perfect day" they had always imagined. Remaking Memories is honored to create a necklace, ornament, magnet, or coasters from your wedding invitation or any wedding pictures you choose.

In this picture you see the couple's wedding invitation and from that design the pendant and ornaments are created. The bride and groom's names and the wedding date is imprinted on one side of the ornament to personalize it even more.

Wedding Bouquet Charms are distinctive little pendants that become a significant part of the bride's bouquet. Their purpose varies and can be as simple as decoration to as sentimental as having them represent, by a picture, a loved one unable to attend the ceremony. A scripture verse from the wedding sermon, initials, or a few chosen words are some other options. One or more charms can be worked into the flower arangement or attached to the stem. After the ceremony the charm can be used as a pendant, keychain, or charm and cherished as a wedding keepsake.

This "charming" charm does double duty in that it is reversible: see charms on the website -

Remaking Memories Reversible Charms

Coasters are a perfect way to preserve memories for many, many years. They can even be passed down generation to generation and thus become a great keepsake. Coasters can be ordered as a set of two or four - additional ones can be added as well. Coasters can display pictures of children, for example wedding pictures or newborn pictures of your children. They make great and usable wedding gifts - just use the last initial in a fancy font or the entire last name. Save those favorite drawings the kids made and hung on your refrigerator or give a set of specially drawn ones to the grandparents. Making this keepsake can be a lot fun! The results are sure to be cherished and kept.

Here we show youngsters' drawn pictures for daddy for Father's Day. They look great upon Dad's desk, whether at home or at his workplace.

Favorite ornaments can not only be used on the Christmas tree, but hung year round. They may have a special verse or saying that is inspirational or be a cherished picture. Hanging them on suction cups at the window or on the gold or silver ornament holders keep the ornament in site for you and others to see. First baby ornaments are often tied to packages for the little one's first Christmas. Remaking Memories' loves Christmas and is excited to make any and all ornaments - birth announcement, engagement, and/or wedding pictures, names and dates; children's artwork, scripture verses, family photos, documents, diplomas - the list is endless.

This particular ornament with the red ball tree design shows up great against the green limbs of the Christmas tree.

New babies lend themselves perfectly to generating keepsakes. Years ago it was not uncommon to see brass plated baby shoes setting on tops of televisions throughout America. Those first pair of tiny baby shoes just could not be tossed. Parents often were also given baby's first footprints lovingly made by the nurses shortly after delivery. Moms also couldn't resist making plaster castings of baby's little hands. We all know how quickly babies grow up and it is always so much fun to look back and remember when they were so little. Remaking Memories can turn footprints, handprints, names, dates, or newborn pictures into keepsakes.

This picture is taken from an ultrasound. It's cool that you can see the little boy's hand, almost as if he is making the peace sign, with his fingers against his forehead.

Sound and sight are very powerful senses. To hear a voice and to see the person and their actions and mannerisms are part of the foundation of 'knowing' a person better. Those sparkling eyes, quick smile, tilt of the head, and confident stance are part of who you are. Body language is a giveaway of the person's true feelings. Face to face interaction is always a better approach. Another quote, debated over the origin, is "The eyes are the windows of the soul." Looking into someone's eyes can tell you a lot. There have been many books written and television shows that are based on what the body language says. Today, there seems to be cameras everywhere that can capture anything at a moment's notice. Many cellphones have recorders and cameras installed. Video taping and voice recording can be a fun way to make a cherished keepsake to pass down. Grandparents can be recorded reading books to grandchildren and even leaving words of wisdom to future generations. They can do a record of their lives and how it was growing up in a different era. There are so many possibilities!