Thursday, May 28, 2009

Red for Pentecost


Pentecost Sunday approaches so I'm thinking about the color red. Technically, red is used only for the Sunday of Pentecost, although some churches use red for the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost Sunday. The red symbolizes both the fire of Pentecost as well as the apostles and early followers of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room for the empowerment from God to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.Here are a few other interesting bits of 'red' trivia:
  • As a former painter I know that the pigment in paint is a special one. Originally the pigment was squeezed out of insects and because of this tedious process there was an industry that traded and bartered for this precious item.
  • Wearing red coats was the exclusive right of the nobility in medieval times and the red robes of kings, cardinals, judges and executioners announced their power over life and death.
  • The hair of the Virgin Mary and the robes of Angels were depicted red in medieval paintings.
  • Red is included in some colorful phrases: Paint the town red, to see red, in the red, red-letter day, red-neck, red tape, red-hot, not worth a red cent, caught red-handed, red-carpet treatment, better dead than red.
  • Pentecost stoles are our second best selling item at Carrot Top Studio. Because they are typically only worn once a year we've found this very itneresting. Maybe it's because psycholigcally red is teh most emotionally intense color?
Happy Pentecost!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Commissioned Ministry Stoles

Last week we blogged about stoles that had been commissioned as sets. We of course also accept commissions for single stoles. Here are some of our past projects. We hope they'll inspire you!

An Ordinary Time stole designed by the pastor's husband who is an artist...we translated his drawing onto fabric.
A baptism stole that was used in a worship service for a child adopted from Guatemala.
A stole for a wedding officiant that includes a poem she wrote.
Another wedding officiant stole. The butterfly images echo her business logo. 
A communion stole for a children's ministry pastor to wear when she teaches about the sacraments.
We'd be glad to help you with a commission--simple or complex. Please contact us for more details at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Another Commissioned Stole Set


Christmas stole: the birth of a king.
Lent stole: a different type of crown for our King.
Easter stole: Christ reigns the ruler of the world.
Pentecost stole: the Holy Spirit dwells among us.
Would you like more information on how to commission a stole? Contact us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com. We'd love to hear your ideas!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Commissioned Ministry Stoles

When Carrot Top Studio began four years ago we didn't visualize commissioned stoles as part of our repertoire. But when clients started ask for unique, one of a kind stoles we were thrilled with this type of creative challenge. Occasionally we have the added treat of doing a series. The following collection was commissioned by a seminary student preparing for minstry. The collection is bound together visually by the use of silk that is hand dyed by woman entrepreneurs in a ministry connected with our home church in Pittsburgh, PA. Every time we use this colorful, silk we make a donation to La Femme de la Croix to help grow their project which in turn goes to further their education so they can rise above poverty. We hope you'll be inspired by the follow:
An Advent/Lent stole symbolizing the story of the old and new testament and life cycle of Jesus.
This stole celebrates God bringing order out of chaos, the seven gifts of the Spirit, the anointing power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit descended as a dove.  
A joyful stole for Christmas and Easter that includes hummingbirds as a symbol of the Resurrection and a recollection of its imagery in the Native American culture.
And last but not least a stole for Ordinary Time that celebrates creation.

Curious about commissioning your own stole or set of stoles...or maybe this would be the perfect gift for the newly graduated entering into ministry? Contact us (jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com) with your ideas and to inqure about details of the process.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Pentecost Banners



Looking to make a Pentecost statement in your office, chapel, or mediation area at home? Carrot Top Studio currently has two small Pentecost banners in stock. More details here.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Baptism

If you follow the lectionary you know that this week one of the themes that emerges is "baptism." It is found in Acts 10: 44-48. As an artist I tend to think visually. So I've searched out a baptism piece of art from history. This is "I Baptize Thee" by William Johnson. It was painted in 1940 and rests in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum of Art. The preacher and congregants stand in a creek or a pond to symbolize crossing the River Jordan into a new life.   I think the energy in the forefront of this painting matches the excitment felt by Peter and Cornelius when it was discoverd that God's plan included both of them--two people from very different backgrounds. That is Good News!

In need of a stole for baptisms? Find the collection at Carrot Top Studio here.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

When Did You Draw Last?


The former art educator in me loved listening to a recent
NPR interview with author and illustrator Mo Willems about getting adults to draw.Why do we stop drawing? It's such a natural expression as a child. It's a prewriting activity...and we certainly don't stop writing! Mr. Willems has interesting suggestions on how to keep adults drawing. He speaks about having "family draw night". This involves  the family around a table with paper in front, someone dictating a theme and then the drawing begins. Thinking about this I get a lovely vision of time spent together. I bet a lot of good things come from this activity beyond the creative activity of drawing...family bonding, great conversation, learning more about each other, and a time of relaxation and sabbath. How does this apply to our faith communities? I see drawing time incorporated into Sunday School classes of all ages, Bible studies, confirmation lessons, leadership meetings, staff meetings and MORE! An added bonus for those of us that crave a simple life....the supplies for drawing are so easily attainable! Go dig through your drawers and set out the pencils, pens, crayons and paper (you can even go green and doodle on your unwanted junk mail!) O.K. I feel I can put my soap box away for the moment. Happy drawing!

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Liturgical Orange?


If you follow this blog, you know that Carrot Top Studio is fairly traditional.We love following the liturgical calendar as we offer ministry stoles to help make visual connections through color and symbol to those that you minister to.  For example we've just finished prepping our Pentecost inventory.  Our website has a few new offerings and the fun bargains are always on eBay. We think we're fairly creative but I don't think we've ever figured "orange" into the liturgical line up. But never fear! Someone else has come up with a way. If you need a good laugh you should check out the swine flu vestments here. I actually laughed out loud...hope this has provided a little joy moment in your day also!

Monday, May 04, 2009

Rainy Days!

It's raining outside our studio...has been off and on for a few days and we have a few more ahead of us.  Our raspberry patch loves the rain at this time of year. So we're thankful. We like being inside to get a little more stitching done on new Pentecost designs. So we're doubly thankful. Abby, the studio dog, is really the only one that's not too happy--she'd rather be basking in the sun. The showers do though make me wonder what it really would have been like for Noah and his family on the ark.  ....and as the clouds periodically break I'm always keeping an eye out for a rainbow!

*Only one Noah's ark stole left in stock....a portion of the proceeds go to an educational fund for women in Haiti. Buy it here!