Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Project

On the website here.

In the past few weeks I have thought often of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I have never personally experienced a natural disaster so I can not really imagine what this has been like for the people of Japan. The enormity of this tragedy is difficult to grasp. To lose a family member, a home or to not have daily needs as simple as food or water is hard to comprehend. Pondering the news reports caused me to reach to the bookshelf and open Ann Weems' Psalms of Lament. I was drawn to Weems' Psalm Twenty-five which starts like this:

On eBay here.

O God, what has happened to your creation?

What kind of world is this

that the innocent die?

Where is your hand

that it does not stop the killing?

How long will you watch

while the world calls you names?

How long will you wait while the river of blood

floods your streets?

Will you let the innocent die

and the guilty go free?

Will the guilty laugh cruelly

in the streets,

while the innocent lie cold

in their graves?

And the last stanza....

O God of justice, stop these plagues,

and stoop to comfort your people,

for you, and you only, are our refuge.

My yoga instructor shared that her young son caught her watching the news report of the recent devastation. He was distraught. She thankfully remembered Rev. Fred Roger's advice after the horror of 9/11. He advised adults to guide children to watch the 'helpers.' We can't always explain bad things but we can focus on the positive of the response from those that are willing to help. Additionally our faith can lead us to establish that in even larger quantities is the presence of God in the midst of the destruction.

The inspiration fabric.

In the studio I personally feel a need to create when I am troubled, distraught or upset. It's often my way of working through the emotion. Inspired by this Asian fabric that reminds me of the beauty of the arts in Japan we have created a limited edition stole. One version is up for bid here on eBay and another version is here on the website. Today, I can't go to Japan and work for, pray with and give hugs to those that are in need. But I take comfort that there are disaster assistance groups already doing some of this. So Carrot Top Studio will try to be "a helper" with all the profit from the sale of the mentioned stoles going to One Great Hour of Sharing to support their disaster assistance efforts. One Great Hour of Sharing is "an offering that makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or severe economic hardship, and for those who serve them through gifts of money and time." If you haven't had a chance to be a "helper" for this calamity maybe this stole and cause is for you.

Piecing Together Our Faith Heritage

Where does our faith come from? From God alone? From an inner mysterious source? Through the study and proclaiming of scripture? Through good works? Wow, this could generate some lively discussion! I am not a theologian and it is not Carrot Top Studio's calling to answer these questions. We see the studio as a vehicle for connecting the visual to the Word through the use of colors and symbols. Something else I know is that there have been a long line of women in my family that the church has been a central part of their life. This photo shows just a few...my grandmother, great aunt, and mother (that's me on the floor.) Many of you probably have very similar photos in your family archives. Coming across this photo and seeing a stash of reproduction fabrics from the 1930's on the studio shelves got our design minds and stitching fingers movin' in the studio this week. Thinking about women (and men) of the 1930's makes me smile. I know it was a time of the "great depression" but I smile because of the lessons we can learn from this time:

• don't spend what you don't have,
• don't pay someone else for something that you can learn or do or make yourself,
• immediate gratification from obtaining 'things' is not as important as relationships with family, others and God.

So the 1930's reproduction fabric we had in our stash has become a statement/reminder of those times where these virtues were embraced. They are virtues that we can hold true today no matter what we believe of where faith comes from. We hope the pieced fabrics are a reminder of some of the best ways to "hold things together" in times of challenge. And that the butterfly will remind us of the promise of the Resurrection and the cross of our faith in the Triune God.


If these stoles interest you....find the one on the left at a special price here on eBay and the one on the right here on the Carrot Top Studio website. 

Watch For the "Funny" Ideas

This stole is available here.

Many years ago my husband and I were bouncing around ideas for Carrot Top Studio. We're both creative people in our own way and have always enjoyed this kind of activity. Trying to honor the brainstorming rule of "no idea is a bad idea" when my better half suggested stoles with Velcro parts I really couldn't imagine this idea coming to fruition but of course I didn't shoot it down (although I think we both were laughing). Well, the laughing probably should have been a clue that this wasn't a truly c-r-a-z-y idea! Fast forward to last fall when a very faithful client suggested a purple Advent stole that told the story of Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled and celebrated. Our clients responded by purchasing this design and even asked for it in a blue version (sorry it's currently sold out). This caused us to think about the concept being applied to the Lenten journey. Our design idea required purple Velcro which it turns out is not easily available. The good news is that we found it half way around the world! The down side was that it wouldn't be shipped soon enough for our new design to be sold in advance of Lent 2011. This story wraps as we can now reveal our new Lent story stole! It is purple with a gold Lenten cross. The hem of the front of the stole has discreet pockets that hold ten symbols that will help tell the story that leads us to Easter. We're hoping the palms, donkey, money bag, bread and chalice, praying hands, rooster, leather strip, crown of thorns, nails, and dice will help you share the story of Jesus and his gift of salvation with the young and young at heart.


Our lessons learned....our clients have great ideas, brainstorming continues to be a source that feeds our creative juices, and pay close attention to the ideas we think are the funniest!


Blessings for your Lenten journey.

Ash Wednesday Closet Cleaning

Next week we will begin Lent with the observation of Ash Wednesday. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshipers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. We claim responsibility for ourselves, noticing everything around us such as the possessions we hold valuable and the persons we love. We know that all will one day turn to dust. 

This Communion stole is on sale!

Looking at the history of the symbolic use of ashes it is interesting to note an old custom. From what I understand in Italy it was the tradition at the end of winter to burn all the old junk one had accumulated over the year. The village square was the collection spot for the whole community's discards. Rather than have a yard sale, or a garage sale, everyone simply had a good house cleaning and piled up the old chairs and mattresses. From this came the tradition of spring cleaning. 

Ash Wednesday is a somber day of reflection on what needs to change in our lives if we are to be fully Christian. Is spring cleaning a type of self-examination? We clean house, inside and outside. We let in the fresh air, shake out the rugs, clean out the closets. We can assemble all the inner useless accumulations of our life style and throw them in with the dust and ashes that we take up each church calendar year on Ash Wednesday. 

This baptism stole  is on sale!

I can think of quite a few areas of my personal life that need some spring cleaning...the kitchen cabinets could use a good overhaul and the attic is showing signs of being way too full of items not ever used. My prayer life will hopefully be "cleaned up" during Lent as I work my way through "Lord Teach Us to Pray", A Guide to Prayer produced by the Office of Spiritual Formation of the PCUSA and Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer in a Culture of Prosperity by James Mulholland and get on a better path that draws me closer to God. And at Carrot Top Studio we've sorted through the online store and put some new items in our sale category. Many of these have just one left in stock so don't miss the opportunity to grab a unique, handcrafted ministry stole for $49 + S&H.


How do you mark Ash Wednesday?

Inspiration

Let's start with a confession. I'm not gifted in scripture memorization! But I am more successful in remembering scripture if I've learned it through a hymn. God's Word even calls us to do this...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16). Thanksgiving for this! I think what helps me is that the words actually impress a visual in my brain. Maybe this is like the flashcards my children make to help them learn their SAT vocabulary and terminology for plant biology? At ages 15 and 19 they are finally realizing there is a better connection when different learning strategies are employed to work towards one goal. And, this is what our horn always toots at Carrot Top Studio...people often need a visual to connect with the spoken Word to help the lesson sink deeper within our soul.

This past Sunday, in the church I attend, we sang one of my favorite hymns, God, You Spin the Whirling Planets. This hymn that speaks to the creation story in Genesis 1:26-27 conjures up wonderful visual images in my mind. In fact last summer Carrot Top Studio even created a stole inspired by the text as seen to the left and on our website here. If you're not familiar with this contemporary hymn written by Jane Huber you can here a rendition here. 

What hymns bring visual images to your mind? We're looking forward to the season of Ordinary Time after Easter when we can explore stitching for the themes of Christianity that are not focused on major celebration days and seasons. As always we'll look forward to hearing from you...maybe you know a hymn that will inspire a stole!

How to Display a Stole

The studio recently received this email:

I found your facebook and blog site through a search.  I am trying to find ideas for a friend who wants to display her stole in her home. 

I am not a fabric artist (I am a painter and poet), but a couple of years ago, my friend commissioned me to create a stole for her ordination.   Now she is interested in displaying it on a wall in her home as fabric art, but also wants it easily accessible to wear when she needs to.  Have you ever been involved in hanging a stole on a wall?  And do you have any ideas for her in terms of what to use?  


My answer was:
If I were displaying a stole in a home or an office I would use a similar method but dress it up a bit. I’d use a decorative curtain rod with finials that was suspended from the wall by decorative wall brackets. Kimonos are often displayed as art in this same manner. So the front long skinny pieces of the stole would drape over the rod. The back tip would hang over the rod and the inside of the back tip would face the viewer. You could use a rod the same color as the wall so it melted away visually or use one that stood out boldly and let it become part of the fiber art. This method of draping a stole over a rod would be especially lovely if the stole were reversible.


The artist replied with the good idea of adding a bit of felt to the top of the hanging rod would allow the stole not to slide off. And actually for the photo in this post the stole is rather light weight so it is being held in place by two straight pins holding the layers together from the back side.


Jane (that sent the email) is an artist who's work is bold and lively yet fresh and the addition of her poetry is lovely. See here work here. Don't miss the wonderful stole she writes about under the "other artwork" category and the commission tab has a lovely opportunity from this artist to have one of a kind works of art for special occasions and people created.

The Presentation

Presentation at the Temple

If you follow the lectionary then you know that one of the texts for this week is about Jesus's presentation at the Temple by Mary and Joseph as told in Luke 22-40.




This charming tempera and gold leaf on parchment depicts that story. It is dated 1030-1040 and is part of the Getty Museum collection. The art history notes from the Getty include this description: In this miniature, a series of large arches frames the figures of Joseph carrying the doves for sacrifice on the left, the Virgin holding the month-old but adult-bodied Jesus in the center, and the priest Simeon on the right. The architecture places the scene in the Temple in Jerusalem, but the altar and chalice refer to the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist. Jesus' placement above the altar further alludes to the Eucharist because during that rite Jesus' body and blood are understood to be present in the bread and wine that are consecrated on the altar. 


I marvel at new life during presentation ceremonies and at infant baptisms (which are not interchangeable but often occur at the same time in the little one's new life so I'm lumping them together here). I'm supposing that I'm drawn to all this because I find babies irresistible and that there is also a lot of symbolism involved...and that fits right in there with our work at Carrot Top Studio! Among these Christian symbols we can count water, a shell, the color white and the family coming together with the church that stands around them. Along these lines I recently read about a pastor that after doing an infant presentation sent the child's parents home with a letter to be opened by the child when he turned 12. The letter told the child how he'd been prayed for by his parents and church family and that he was a gift from God. It continued to encourage the child to trust in God as he traveled on his journey in life. Simeon told Mary and Joseph what their child was to become. The pastor I have told you about urges children at this coming of age time that they too can follow God's plan. 


The symbols and colors we use and the way we mark an event or milestone in our faith are quite varied. As God has instructed us, "There is a time for every season...." and as we pass through these seasons (such as welcoming new life) may take the time to give them the attention they deserve. It is because of these children that the church will have a future.


Carrot Top Studio offers several stoles for Baptism you may find them here and the line of stoles that might connect visually with children can be seen here.

The Story of A Commission

Detail of commissioned stole

Client email: I've been reading your blog for some time and I'm excited to now be able to order some stoles! 


The artist is humbled that someone actually reads the blog, she yelps with excitement about the order and then responds: Thanks for your order and we'll be glad to combine the shipping costs to save you a few dollars. 

Adaptation of commission on the website

Client phone message (several days later): Thanks for the shipment...I'm pleased with your work...and I'd like to commission a purple stole for Lent that could also be worn for Advent and might visually connect with the Easter stole that I have. Is that possible? I like the following stoles on the website (number this, number that and number this). Can you translate those designs into purple, and  could the colors be more subtle and could the plant symbols be more indigenous to our environment so the congregation can relate to what they're seeing?

Another version offered on eBay

The artist response via email because inquiring pastor is wearing many hats and can't get to her phone: Absolutely, we can help you! In fact we think you're on to a good idea. See, our pastors know best as to what is needed and we'd like to share your idea with our clients. When this happens we are able to reduce the price of the commission and offer a similar design on our website and to our eBay buyers. Would that be ok with you?


Client email response: That's splendid. Happy sewing! 


The Epilogue
Because one client had become familiar with our style at Carrot Top Studio she was a great encourager so we could help meet her needs but also expand our inventory for you. The commissioned stole is now hanging in that pastor's closet waiting for Lent to begin. Hopefully the congregation will see the connection between the vine of buds and flowers and the ones on the Easter stole that this pastor will wear during that joyous season. The website offers two versions of this stole without the flowered wreath and on Thursday a third version will be auction item #150552169029 on eBay. We love hearing your thoughts and ideas. Have something on your mind? Email us here.

Wrestling With Chocolates, Fabrics, and a Good Book

I am thankful for having a variety choices, assortments of options, and a multiplicity of opportunities. Am I a spoiled American? Probably. I am thankful for these things but am humbled when I realize that the children at the mission my church helps to support in Haiti, eat the same meal of beans and rice almost every day. There is no variety. Yet these little one are so thankful and excited to have this food which is often their only meal of the day.

Recently I was gifted the ability to make a purchase at a beautiful chocolate boutique. I took my daughter with me and we were so overwhelmed with the amount of chocolates and exquisiteness of our choices that the excursion took a crazy amount of time for the small amount we would be purchasing. Then yesterday I had the need to head to my local fabric store. I hadn't been in about a month and had gone with the intent of purchasing one piece of solid purple to complete a new Lenten stole design I'm working on. But here again I felt like the "kid in a candy shop"...overwhelmed with new colors, textures and patterns. The assortment was as scrumptious to me as what the chocolate shop had offered several days earlier. Oh, the privilege of so much variety!

In the midst of all this I've finally gotten' around to reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Rich Stearns. It's been on the nightstand for several months. The promo for the book reads: Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns believes it can happen again. I'm glad that I'm reading it in this wintry time where I reside in Pennsylvania because with this title it's lovely to have unrushed reading time. There's so much to think about in this book I just have to take it in small chunks. Many days lately have been so cold, icy or snowy that I'm glad to have a book to curl up with instead of to venture outside into the garden. Those days will come (ahhh....the variety of seasons!)

So I'm wrestling with the fact that there is variety in my life. I am artistically motivated to offer a diversity of stoles at Carrot Top Studio. I believe in celebrating the liturgical church year that allows us an array of visual opportunities in worship. But then I have a book like The Hole in Our Gospel in my lap or I hear about what joyous, happy, thankful people our friends, that have so little materialistically, in Haiti are and this gets me wondering. I'm not sure what path God is taking me with all this. A friend once gave me this card that says, "Work your grief up into art and it is gone." I'm going to trade the word "wrestling" for "grief" and head to the sewing machine to ponder and pray about all of this. 


PS-promise I won't get sticky, chocolaty fingerprints on those new stoles we're stitching! ....and thanks for listening.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Why do dogs like to roll in the snow?

While my trusty studio companion Abby the labby preferred to romp in the snow today,

The studio is exploding with purple fabrics for Lent.

I chose to sort fabrics for Lenten stoles and clean out the studio book case. The book case led me to discover a notebook I'd compiled many years ago yet haven't opened for quite some time. It contains articles I've found inspirational on the topic of worship and the arts. So on this Wednesday I will share a few bits of this collected wisdom...

• "Focusing our attention on the meaning (of art) helps move our appreciation for an art piece beyond its form or style to our wonderment of God, just as the ark of the covenant once did for those wandering in the wilderness." The author of this statement gives examples of different types of Communion chalices. One vessel is enrobed with thorns. In its use we might imagine in a new way the suffering Christ went through on our behalf. Alternatively there is an example of a vessel that is glass covered in gold. When used for Communion we would see ourselves reflected on its surface enabling us to rejoice more deeply in the resurrection and glory of Jesus Christ. Have you thought about the message your visuals in your church's worship space are saying theologically? -from "Ears that Hear and Eyes that See" by Elizabeth Steele Halstead, Reformed Worship vol. 82

• It is necessary to recognize that art has two lives--first for tis maker, then for its receiver. Making art is the pleasure and mystery of the creative act: the actual experience of technique and process, of freedom, serendipity and discovery. For the receiver art celebrates the beautiful, uncovers beauty that might have escaped unseen, and seeks to show truth even when it is not beautiful.An artist making art is experiencing God. God is never finished creating, never finished redeeming creation. Visual art should not be neglected in Christian worship because it can be a pathway to God. - Brian Fee, "Beauty Glimpsed" for the Calvin Institute

• And lastly, here's one to make you laugh...when working on a project that will involve a committee, such as worship banners, Jill Liddell in The Patchwork Pilgrimage suggests that designs will probably have to be vetted by a number of people, all of whom will have something to say about it. Resist the temptation to try and please everyone. Remember the old saying , "a camel is a horse designed by a committee," Do not let your ideas turn into a camel!

Banks Do It, Coffee Shops Do It, Churches Can Do It Too!

What do banks, coffee shops and even libraries have in common with churches? They all have the ability to encourage the visual arts by hosting exhibits by local artists. Churches should find ways to embrace the visual arts and artists beyond Sunday worship. Reading For the Beauty of the Church this past summer reinforced to me the following stanza from the hymn "for the Beauty of the Earth". We sing....

For the joy of ear and eye,

for the heart and mind's delight,

for the mystic harmony,

linking sense to sound and sight;

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

The art gallery at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, PA.

One way to include artists in your community is by welcoming their work into a church gallery. By sharing their work we are helping to complete their ability to be an artist by supplying an audience. Art needs to be viewed and considered! 

What would it take to have a gallery in your church?

1. A space that has foot traffic preferably all week (not just on Sunday).
2. A mean's of hanging the work. As seen in the photo above it's lovely to have a system that is permanent such as these fabric covered homasote boards but this certainly isn't required. There are plenty of affordable professional hanging systems.  Before diving into something permanent you might consider a temporary option such as folding screens covered in chicken wire that a hook on the back of a frame can latch onto. Or if you have art that is matted and not framed you can even use a cardboard refrigerator type box...paint it a solid neutral color and adhere the art with Command brand poster strips.

Things to think about...

• who will be responsible for the space...one curator or a committee?
• how often will the exhibits change?
• how will you find the artists? will it be church members only? will the artists have to be Christians? or will you show Christian hopsitality by opening your doors for any artist in your neighborhood?
• what will the guidelines for the artists be? 
• will the art be for sale? if so, how will the sales be handled? 
• how will the exhibits be publicized?
• will you have artists receptions and/or invite the artists to teach a class or workshop in conjunction with the exhibit?

The galleries in my church aim to exhibit a diverse body of work from a variety of artists--young through the much older, professional and the amateur. As the curator I am overwhelmed with the possibilities and enjoy exploring unique exhibiting potential. For example we have twice hosted the work of our prayer shawl ministry by draping their "art" over dowel rods. This group also knits items that can be dispensed through our food pantry and the photo below shows how the "art" was displayed. The ministry that is usually a quiet behind the scenes group in our congregation received a bit of 'oohing' and 'awwing' over before the items were sent to those in need.

Knit in His Spirit exhibit, Westminster Presbyterian February 2010

We include the visual arts in worship with banners, vestments, paraments, bulletin covers and more. How can you and your congregation think beyond worship to involve and encourage the activity and God given gifts of artists? Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. May the visual become a hymn of grateful praise.

*products referred to in this post are not necessarily an endorsement of that particular item....they are referred to specifically to encourage you that there are products readily available to aid your pursuits.

Christmastide

We're in the midst of Christmastide. Christmastide is what we can call the period of time from Christmas Eve to the 5th of January. Some know it as the Twelve Days of Christmas or Yuletide.

My boys walking to the "star of Bethlehem, PA"

During this week the studio is relatively quiet. Activity that fills me instead tends to be eating an unusual amount of cookies, savoring the Christmas cards that have come in the mail from friends far away, and keeping the coffee pot filled for unexpected visitors. My family also takes a few days to travel to to see my husband's family in Bethlehem ....Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that is! As we approach Bethlehem, PA we see a star hovering above the mountainside (I kid you not!). Even though this star is a man made out of steel and lightbulbs I always marvel at how far away we can see it as we drive into town and wonder if this feeling of amazement is what it was like for the magi.

Of course we don't really know what it was like that first Christmas therefore we've been artistically interpreting it for many years. Here is a unique painting called The Star of Bethlehem by Sir Edward Burne-Jones depicting the Adoration of the Magi  with an angel holding the star of Bethlehem. 

This painting is the largest watercolor of the 19th century and was created as a design for a William Morris tapestry. There are many theories about the star that led the magi. Regardless of what you believe the star is or was on that first Christmas it is a sign of God's presence in the miraculous and mysterious story of Christ's birth. As Matthew told us in 2:9, And there, ahead of them, went the star...it stopped over the place where the child was.

May the Love of Christ

shine brightly on you during Christmastide 

and throughout the New Year

Preparing for Christmas

As I was fretting about my "task list" in preparation of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I stumbled upon Psalm 97. This scripture has helped me be more settled. Therefore I'm sharing this video interpretation while bidding you a blessed Christmas filled with hope and joy! Merry Christmas...

Christmas Bells

In the Book of Exodus (39:1-31), it is explained that the high priest in the temple was to wear a gown that had a bottom trim of pomegranates--a symbol of seeds and new life--and bells. It is explained quite clearly that the bells will allow those in the Temple to know when the high priest is coming, and when he departs. Today our Christmas bells are not necessarily a warning to any dark force...but they are a joyous announcement of the fact that the Holy One is coming. And today the pomegranate can be a reference to the church the crown on the top en-robing the seeds or the people.


The priests' garments were reportedly rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but today the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. May the pomegranates and bell trim on this new prototype design stole be a reminder of the good news! We're testing the waters with this design by offering them here for pastors and here for deacons on eBay this week. We'd love your feedback even if these two stoles are not destined to your mailbox.

A Recipe for the Season

We're always looking for and thinking about how the visual can connect us with God's Word. Here's a recipe that would be fun to do with children while you talk about the Christmas story. I can visualize using some of those "I wonder" kind of questions to generate a stimulating conversation--I wonder what swaddling clothes are?, I wonder what Mary was thinking when baby Jesus was born?, I wonder if baby Jesus cried?, etc. We're sharing this from The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas by Jeff Smith.

It's hard for us to resist a good cookie!

Babes Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes

Makes 4 1/2 dozen

The dough

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 8 oz. container sour cream
• 2 egg yolks (reserve the whites for the meringue filling below)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• confectioner's sugar

Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in the butter until grainy. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream egg yolks, and lemon juice. Blend the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture. Knead together to form a smooth dough. Place the dough on plastic wrap and pat it into a 6 x 8-inch rectangle. Wrap and refrigerate 2 hours, or overnight.

The filling

• 2 egg whites, reserved from the making the dough
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped fine
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Whip the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gradually whip in the sugar to form a meringue. Whip until the meringue holds soft peaks. Fold in the remaining ingredients. Dust a rolling pin and the counter with flour. Roll the chilled dough out into a thin (1/8 inch maximum) rectangle on the floured counter. Trim the edges so the rectangle measures 24 x 15 inches. Cut the dough into 3-inch squares and dust with confectioner's sugar. Place a rounded teaspoon of the filling in the center of each dough square. With a tiny bit of water, dampen two opposite corners. Fold the two opposite corners over each other and press the center together lightly. Place the cookies on a nonstick baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Of course, if you prefer to stick to "non caloric" visual images on fabric you can see our selection of Christmas stoles here. It's not too late to place an order....shipping is always 2-3 business days USPS priority service.

The Advent Candle

One of my fondest memories from my childhood is family worship around the Advent wreath (thanks Mom!) Each Sunday in Advent we'd light the candles, read scripture, sing, and sometimes even do a craft. The rhythm of this ritual was carried into my family when I became a parent. 


It's enriching to learn of other family's traditions. I recently heard a variation of the candle tradition... You will need a tall candle. Mark it with 24 short lines from top to bottom. Each day during Advent find a few quiet moments with your family when you can light the candle and let it burn from one notch to the next, read an Advent thought or piece of scripture for the day, and say a prayer together. This quiet time as a family would be a lovely counterpoint to getting swept up in the extravaganza that society has turned the birth in the stable into.


This photo is of my children from nine years ago. It seems like yesterday to me. I can't believe how fast the years have gone! . It's times like simple, family worship during this season of preparation that help me slow down and stay focused. What are some of your traditions?

St. Andrew

St. Andrew's Day is celebrated by many on November 30th. We're inspired by Andrew and have created a stole that helps tell his story so we may learn from his example. A few facts about Andrew:

• he was one of the Twelve Apostles and a brother of Simon Peter. He was a fisherman by trade, who lived in Galilee
• The original fisher of men (Mt. 4:18-20) Andrew made no excuses--he just followed immediately. 
• Andrew accepted John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus and immdediately went to tell his brother AND he was eager to introduce others to Jesus.

A seventh century church tradition tells that Andrew is believed to have died on a diagonally transversed cross, which the Romans sometimes used for executions. The cross St. Andrew was crucified on has been adopted as the national flag of Scotland. The blue that is typically associated with Andrew stands for the sky.


Andrew is one of those that make me think of my actions. Do I follow immediately or do I have a list to get through before I do for Christ? Do I actually take others to see Jesus? 


Carrot Top Studio's stoles representing saints and celebrating special days can be found here.

Christ the King

Pietro Lorenzeti, Christ Before Pilate

"...for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth." Jesus, in John 18:37b


We celebrate Christ the King this coming Sunday and this passage from the book of John and the  artwork by Pietro Lorenzetti are most appropriate to examine at this time. First, a look at the art. The artist was Italian and the painting was completed at the onset of the Renaissance. 

• what reaction do you have to the soldiers by the way they are dressed?
• what emotion is the Jewish leader depicting?
• Pilate is seen nervously twisting a tassel on his mantle. What does this say about his thoughts and actions?
• Looking at Jesus' posture and gaze what does this articulate about this moment?

Secondly, I am not a theologian but I am drawn to this bit of scripture and I will share a snippet of my thoughts. Pilate seems to recognize the truth when Jesus tells him that He is a king. But Pilate is also an example of one that choses to ignore it. He was willing to please both sides. Preparing for Christ the King focused on worship this Sunday makes me more conscious of whether I move through my days following the truth or playing both sides. This is a great example of how I appreciate cycling through the Church year calendar for these special days and seasons to be a reminder of the lessons I need to continually hear and learn from. And may it be also with you!

A Tribute to Dorcas (and Button Day)

Today, November 16th is officially recognized  as "Button Day." It's not because it's cold outside and you need to button up nor is it an opportunity to tell someone to button up because they talk too much. It's a tribute to that small disk or knob that you use to close your garments. The button is at least 3000 years old and was originally just used for decoration. Intrigued for more information? You might like to read about the National Button Society.


Learning these bits of trivia has led us to the story of Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) and the need to design a ministry stole with buttons on it! This green stole is perfect for remembering the work of those that sew for the needy the way Dorcas did.  Acts 9:32-43 teaches us that Dorcas made an enormous impact upon her community by sewing for and helping the poor.  There's no way Dorcas could "push our buttons" other than to motivate us to focus on the gifts we've been given and figure out how to best use them to further the kingdom.


Find this stole and other stoles recalling saints and special days here on the Carrot Top Studio website.