Merry Christmas!

The studio closes at noon today and we're grateful for the busy season that it has been for us but we are also looking forward to a week's respite with family and friends. What gets me through this jam packed season that is really supposed to be about expectant waiting and preparation is a new book of meditations I treat myself to each year, all the delicous sugary treats, and laughing at commercial advertisements for "the season". Here were a few commercial slogans that gave me a chuckle this year:

• Let’s make Christmas! (how could we "make it" better than it's already been made?)


• You can give them Christmas (for a jewelry store)


• A million reasons to Believe (for a department store)

Merry Christmas to you and yours. We look forward to the next year of helping you celebrate the visual with stoles and worship banners from our studio.

Greeting Cards

It's the season to receive an influx of Chrismas cards. Many of those with religous art images will be reproductions of Renaissance paintings. Paintings from this time period were produced for churches, for the home, or for people to travel with and show others to inspire or help others contemplate a scene in hopes that they would draw closer to the meaning of the life of Christ. The symbolism is extensive in these paintings. A wonderful article is found here if you'd like to learn more about decoding specific symbols such as why Joseph is often portrayed as an old man, why we don't see more paintings that include a cave, and what the order of the wisemen and how they are standing might mean. I love the idea of the Renaissance notion that the art can be a teaching tool or open the door for conversation with a friend. This isn't so foreign an idea for us today. We sometimes just need reminders that there is a vast amount of people that respond to the visual. Enjoy your Christmas cards and consider setting them in obviously places for others to see or saving the artwork to use at a later "teachable moment".

Looking for a Christmas Craft?

Here's an idea based on an old favorite activity...

Create a "Chain of Blessings" that will decorate your christmas tree: using colorful slips of construction paper, have each family member or church member write down blessings that they have enjoyed throughout the year; attach the slips together to make a paper garland of blessing around the christmas tree.

If you've like to go the extra mile and create a chain that can be enjoyed and added to for many year you can make it out of fabric and write your blessings with a fabric maker. Here is a tutorial.

Chains like this are great because they can be made by all ages, can be a great "team" project, and the repetative activity can actually be soothing and calming cause us to sit and pause during what is supposed to be a reflective season. Have fun!

And the winner is....

Drum roll please...G.S. from Virginia is today's winner of 50% off a stole from our website! He is a longtime client of our studio and enjoys officaiting at weddings. An interesting fact regarding his ministry is that he says the official blessing for the participants at his local breat cancer awareness walk in the fall.

Thanks to all that participated with such interesting comments, nuggets of history, and insight as to why we celebrate Christmas in December!

Keep checking the Carrot Top Studio blog--you never know when the next contest or special offer will be.

First Ever Christmas Trivia Contest!

The Holy Family, Giorgione, probably 1500, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

This past Sunday I ushered in Advent by worshiping at a church that is not my home church. I was there to hear a candidacy sermon and observe the congregation calling a new associate pastor. It was joy filled and if you have time to pause and listen to the 11/30 sermon you may do so here.

Digesting the sermon prompted the topic of Carrot Top Studio's first ever trivia contest. Comment on the trivia question on this blog post and you will be entered to win a 50% off coupon for any stole on our website excluding the Haiti stole series (because we don't want to take away from the profits that go to this mission). The coupon may be used anytime in the next six month. If you don't need a stole and you win the 50% off coupon you may let us know that you are gifting the certificate to someone that might enjoy it. If you're not a "blogger" emails us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com and we'll make the entry for you.

What's the trivia question? .... Why do we celebrate Christmas in December?

All commenters will be entered to win and one name will be drawn to be the winner.Contest closes at midnight, December 7, EST. Winner will be notified on 12/8/08.

We're Reading...

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas compliled by Plough Publishing House. It contains a meditation for each day of the Advent season and is easy to pick up and put down as time allows. The complided authors include Bonhoeffer, Eliot, Lewis, and Yancey among many other wise sages.

Senses of the Soul: Art and the Visual in Christian Worship, by William Dyrness is really making me think. It combines historical fact with contemporary research adn observations. It seems like it will be a great springboard for discussion in churches seeking to begin, expand, be more sensitive to including the visual in Christian worship.

Happy Thanksgiving

Perfect for today, The Doxology... as we celebrate the American holiday Thanksgiving...

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly host:

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Christ the King Sunday

Tomorrow is the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and we will celebrate Christ the King. It is a day to celebrate and remember Christ's kingship over all creation, as well as a time to remind us that all mankind should follow Christ. What did it mean for him to be a king? Jesus led with acts of kindness, peacefulness, and service--to all. He was a great listener. He did not hold up cultural standards to judge others. May we try with earnest to follow by his lead.

Count Down to Advent

I look forward to times of preparation. I've never been one that was able to rush into something so making a list for a large family meal like Thanksgiving, the nine months of pregnancy or the seasons of Advent and Lent are times that I look forward to and cherish. During Advent and Lent I usually chose a book to work my way through. These are typically very busy times in my professional cycle at Carrot Top Studio so having a book seems to ground me into a routine of quiet thoughtfulness and focus. God With Us edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe has been sitting on my desk for a month. I've read the intro pages and can hardly keep from peeking ahead. It focuses on "Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas" through daily meditations, scripture, historical references, and fine art from many different ages. If this lovely text sounds just right for you and you can't get your hands on it you can subscribe to receive the daily meditations at the rediscovering website hosted hosted by the editors.

The Circle

For many years I've heard about an exciting ministry in my hometown that uses a dynamic blend of music and drama in their worship services. It was joyful to finally have the opportunity to worship with the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh, PA last Sunday. They desire to be a bridge to Jesus Christ by participating in communion, welcoming all into community, listening and having compassion, growing in faith and sharing Christ’s story with the community in this area of Pittsburgh, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the world. The worship ended with Communion served as we exited to go to an outside patio. All worshipers exited, received the elements and then stood in a huge circle to pray and receive a benediction. How fitting it was to stand in a circle for this sacrament. I love the symbolism of a circle: unity, God's neverending love, the Church universal, completeness. Additionally we chose to place this ancient symbol in our new mini-banner that focuses on the story of the hemorrhaging woman as recorded in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8: 43-47. The circle is this artwork is to remind us of the committment of our whole selves to God. I'm thankful for the spiritual nourishment of present day experiences like taking Communion but also remain thankful for being able to learn from stories from the past like the couragous women of the gospels.

The Church Door

I appreciate great craftsmanship and making a house of worship special....God certainly deserves special in my mind! I'm intrigued by church doors as symbols of hospitality and a signal to those that enter of what lies ahead as they enter a worship space. For example, I'm intrigued by color, so I often find myself smiling as I drive past a row of churches in my community that all have red doors. Red can be warm and inviting, calling out to welcome a stranger or new comer. To a Christian these red doors also remind us of the Holy Spirit, alive within us and the church community within the doors. Last weekend I had an opportunity to visit the Duke University and my first stop was to see the Chapel--a grand, gothic building I have heard so much about and a faith community that I occassionaly enjoy listening to their worship services recorded online. This is one of the doors that leads to the Duke Chapel. The iron work is so unique and special I felt like the door was crying out "come in and discover what dwells within." Is your church door welcoming, intriguing, and full of Spirit? Beyond this I wonder today how we can be like a church door. Do people see us and our actions and wonder what it is that is special? Are we paving the way with welcome and hospitality for those that have not entered into a relationship with Christ to find out more? Today I set out to be a door. May God use me.

All Saints Day

Halloween and trick-or-treating provide for a very "sweet" holiday but this Sunday many churches will celebrate the even sweeter All Saints Day. Here is artist Wassily Kandinsky's (1886 – 1944), the father of abstract art, interprutation of "All Saints Day"--

Some historians believe this special day has been in existence since the year 270. This is an opportunity to honor all saints of the church even those not yet named and many include this to also celebrate unity within the entire church. We recall men and women of the Bible like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Ruth, David, Elijah, Peter, and Paul (among others), and thank God for their examples. Many congregations also memorialize those parishioners who were called to be with the Lord in recent years, particularly in the last year. Finally and most importantly, on this day we glorify God not just for the faithfulness of the saints, but for His faithfulness to the saints. Celebrate by gathering with friends and family at a special meal and discuss atttributes of saints you strive for, light candles in cemetaries, toll bells in your church buildings and celebrate in prayer in worship.

Let There Be Light!

My hometown of Pittsburgh, PA is celebrating it's 250th birthday this year. Throughout the year we are getting to celebrate in many different ways. Currently we are celebrating the transformational quaility of light as a reminder that Pittsburgh has also been transformational throughout history. Under the direction of Lucette de Rugy of Artlumiere, international designers have transformed building facades into stunning works of art. Pictured here is the Cathedral of Learning of the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, numerous Houses of Worship are lighted in subtle ways, under the direction of Adam Koe Leong, to showcase architectural detail and stained glass best seen at night. Pittsburgh recognizes the importance that faith and worship has played in its history.

Last night I had the opportunity to witness several of these buildings. They were absolutely stunning! As my daughter reacted dramatically to the effect it led me to think of times in worship that the experience had been enhanced with unique lighting. I remember an Easter sunrise service, an Advent Taize service lit by candelight, and a Lenten Tenebrae service. We try to remember the senses outside of auditory when planning worship...such as the visual which typically means stoles, paraments and banners, or the sense of smell with incense or a fresh baked loaf of bread for Communion. How does the use of light come into play when we plan a worship service? Bright light, no light, directed light, diffused light, lights that change, natural light, colored light....so many options...thanks be to God for light!

Harvest Thanksgivings

I must confess I love fall! Among other things it's the colors, the smell of the air, and the sight of the leaves swirling down from the tree branches. This change of seasons is very energizing to my creative soul. For example, since May I have been trying to support our local economy and eat healthier by buying all of my family's produce at the farmer's market. We've discovered that artichokes can be grown in Pennsylvania if it rains at the right time, that brussel sprouts grow on a stalk, and we're currently eating varieties of apples that we'd never even heard of before. This has been a fun endeavor that has expanded my cooking reportorie, opened up our palates to new tastes, and has made me very thankful for those that dig the earth, plant the seed, and lovingly nurture the produce that ends up on our tables. I've supported this experience by slurging on a new cookbook, In Season, by Sarah Raven. It's of course not about liturgical seasons, but celebrates the seasons of the earth.....so, for example, if you stumble upon something like a quince and have no idea what to do with it you can use this book as a reference and it will give you several practical recipes that use quinces.

It's rare that I can separate my personal life from my life in the studio because my studio life is very much a part of who I am. All the wonderful fall produce at the farmers market and the upcoming American time of Thanksgiving found us creating a new harvest stole design. It's a bargain on ebay this week and in the future you can find it here on our website.

I'm signing off to go celebrate the harvest and this God's great creation by making cauliflower soup from the largest, most magnificent looking head of cauliflower I've ever seen before.

Art for Lectionary Text

One of the lectionary text's this week is Matthew 22:15-22...the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

What an interesting text given the economic state of the United States and the upcoming presidential election here. I look forward to hearing messages from the pulpit this coming Sunday.

Contemporary Texas artist, James B. Janknegt has a uniquely refreshing style of retelling Biblical stories in his art. I particularly enjoy how he intertwines contemporary issues and instances to emphasize how the Bible never stops applying to our lives. The work featured here is titled Rich Fool. The artist's explanation is offered here. I suggest you also look at the work and think about:

• what do you see?
• what title would you give this work?
• what might be the purpose of this art?
• do you recognize any images?
• what kind of movement does the art suggest (speed, frenzy, rhythm, stillness, etc.)?
• what does the color remind you of, or what feeling does it give?

It's always exciting to discover contemporary Christian artists and I encourage you to take a break from your daily routine and explore this artist's website.

Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time is a lengthy celebration in the Church Year calendar. Don't let it become...well, too ordinary! This is the time when we study and grow based upon what the Bible teaches. This should be an extraordinary time! What are some ways you can celebrate life and hope?

• ...families can be encouraged to use this relaxed time of year to learn the ritual of keeping the Sabbath. As we enter the often hectic Advent and Christmas seasons this day of rest will bring all the more rejuvination and focus.

...encourage an attitude of gratitude. Find specific ways to show God's love. For example, in our neck of the woods the leaves are dropping from the trees and it's easy to find people that need extra helping hands with yard clean up.

...think of ways to be peace makers...with your congregation, your small group Bible study, or a family could make a banner of peace that expresses your ideas and will be a visual reminder of working towards fulfilling them.

...go green....green is the liturgical color for Ordinary Time to help us focus on this time of growth. Ministry leaders wear green during this season but, we can also celebrate the green of creation by learning to take care of our world in better ways. Recycling our office paper and unused worship bulletins, using earth friendly products like paper instead of styrafoam coffee cups, and cleaning supplies without chemicals are easy things that many of us do at home that can easily translate to our church facilities.

Confirmation Stole Kits

Confirmation Stole Curriculum Kits now avaialable!

Soooo....you're preparing for confirmation but wishing you had something unique to add to the experience. Another funny skit, a mud wrestling competition, or a sing along with banjos are just not what you had in mind. What you need is a hands on actitivty that would be personal to each student and allow you to incorporate it into worship so the entire church congregation can help celebrate and embrace the committment the students are making. Our kit leads you step by step through a detailed project that can take 1-3 hours depending upon which actitivities you chose for your group. For example, you will be guided in what supplies to gather to incorporating spiritual gifts inventories, to why leadership wears a stole in worship, and the actual creation of each youth's stole. Read more about it and learn how to order here!

New Resurrection Stole Design

We love it when clients share ideas for new products with us! Recently a client shared his personal story of why the Resurrection bird (the hummingbird) had a special meaning to him due to his unique relationship with the foster care of several special children born HIV positive. The pictured Resurrection stole is the result of his story. It is full of symbolism that would apply to many in ministry. It is white to represent the purity of Christ. The spring flowers remind us of rebirth and the lilies for purity and the Resurrection (because of it's rebirth from a seemingly lifeless bulb). Hummingbirds are the crowning glory as a reference to their legend as resurrection birds: they seem to die and be reborn on another day. You can read a New York Times article regarding the hummingbird here.

Ministry leaders know best what they can't find in the commercial market. We love to be able to fill the gap with our handcrafted stoles. We welcome you to share your ideas with us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com.

Praying in Color

I saw the book title Praying in Color and quickly suspected it would be something I would enjoy. I've been doodling and finding respite in simple line drawings since I was a child (that was many moons ago!) Author Sybil MacBeth is not an artist but she has realized the power of the doodle drawing during prayer time as a means of focus, a method or relaxation, and a tool to help one draw closer to God in the intimacy of prayer. MacBeth's thoughts and suggestions will of course be appealing to people that are visual but I also think they'd be a welcome reprieve for people that haven't doodled since elementary school. Beyond using her techniques personally this book is a great find for those that lead children, youth groups or those that have a difficult time saying prayers out loud in a community setting. If you find this intriguing you will certainly enjoy learning more at the website Praying in Color.

In the News

It was intriguing to stumble upon this photo in my alumni newsletter from the College of Arts and Artchitecture at Penn State University. The accompanying article explained that architecture students placed these blocks around campus so the public would have the chance to make their voices heard on public policy issues during Constitution Day. Containers of chalk near the blocks encouraged passers-by to share their views by writing on the blocks. Reportedly the response was tremendous. Writing is good--people might write what they're not willing to say, people might read what they're not willing to listen to, and by using this medium everyone has an equal entry point in sharing their thoughts. How can this idea be translated to our faith communities? It might be something as simple as a wall with a large piece of butcher block paper attached to it with a subject or piece of scripture at the top for people to respond to. Or, repsponses or even prayers could be written down and then incorporated into a worship banner created out of paper or fabric. The writer's block is an idea that worked because it was simple, non threatening and little bit different. We should be able to apply this concept to our sharing, growing together and respecting each other in our churches too.

A Funny

From the newspaper 9-14-08....

(click to enlarge image)

You never know where the phrase "Carrot Top" will be used next!

New Worship Banners

Where does a pastor, worship team or Carrot Top Studio come up with an idea for worship banners? The possibilities are endless! You might consider a liturgical season like Advent, a special occassion such as a wedding, or a visual interpretation of a piece of scripture. Our latest banners (seen at left) are actually an expansion of the church logo and their motto..."Gathered by His love for us -- Scattered by our love for Him!" We took the logo and created two images (instead of the existing one) and surrounded the images by the arch shape which echoed the sanctuary architecture. The predominant red was chosen as the traditional represention of the Holy Spirit. This was a great collaboration between a worship team that had a vision for a special Sunday that would include an ordination and the team at our studio.

Rituals and Family Traditions

It’s back to school time in my house. Even though my children are teenagers we continue to have the rituals of a new hair cut, something special to wear the first day of school, and a trip to the office supply store to gather the prescribed new notebooks and mechanical pencils. Another family tradition my children remain especially fond of is requesting that cookies be coming out of the oven as they walk in the door from their first day back to school. It can’t be a bag of their favorite store bought sandwich cookie or even a homemade cookie that was baked on a prior occasion and frozen for convenience (I am quite the freezer queen!) I believe it’s the act of the cookie that is coming directly from the oven that is symbolic of the warmth and security that they need to feel at the end of a day that is ushering them into a change in their norm. I must admit I love fulfilling this request but, it also makes me think about how important ritual and family traditions are and how this overlaps into the rhythm of the rituals in our Christian lives. These established procedures and routines also bring us comfort within the Church year. Gertrud Mueller Nelson writes that “Through rites we raise what is happening to us to a level of conscious awareness and in doing so we actively seek to be transformed.” Nelson wrote one of my favorite books on ritual and family tradition: To Dance With God.It has been available for several decades but its message and ideas are timeless. Pick up a copy to use within your own home, in your larger community or for a friend that needs encouragement that family ritual and celebrating the rhythm of the year is a wonderful connection to each other and the life of Christ. All of this thinking about celebrating has spilled over into Carrot Top Studio so we’ve added a “Colors of the Church year” stole to our collection. See it here!

I must leave you now...I think there is one cookie left...and I’m claiming it!

Olympic Banners

The Olympic closing ceremony in Bejing included wonderful, dramatic banners. They were hung from guide wires and draped across the central space to direct our focus to the action. At Carrot Top Studio this makes us wonder how many different ways a worship banner could be hung. Each worship sapce is special and unique and we should think beyond just hanging a banner against a wall!

The Lectionary Text--in Art

This week's text from Matthew 16:13-20 says, When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Artists have been depciting Peter and the stories that surround Peter for many generations.

This tempera painting of Peter is by Marco Zoppo who painted it in the 1400's and it hangs in the US National Gallery.

This work is by Jan Richardson and you can read more about her interpretation at The Painted Prayerbook.

When you look at these pieces of art and think about the Word you might also ponder:

• what title would you give the art?
• what feeling do the colors give you?
• what does the artist want you to think/feel about what is in the artwork?
• what does this art mean to you?

We respond to art in personal ways. These two very different works can both serve a purpose in relating to the lectionary text this week. How wonderful that have such a wealth of art to respond to.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 summer Olympics were a splendid, visual feast! The colors, the lights, the costumes, the movement were all superior and left me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. I found it particularly moving and symbolic to see the parade of athletes walking in the stadium and across an area of wet paint. The movement and direction of their footprints formed a gentle arc of a rainbow on the ground. It became a sign and symbol of athletes the world wide, representing many different lives, cultures, and colors coming together as one in peace. This of course made me think of how we try to visually stimulate and engage through color and symbols for times that we come together in community to worship God. I am thankful that God has given us the ability and direction to include the visual to draw us closer to Him in worship!

Malawi, Africa

We're excited that at this moment this stole and coordinating banner are on their way with a group from Pittsburgh, PA traveling to Malawi, Africa. The banner and stole represent "The Lord is My Shepherd" as David described in Psalm 23. God is seen as a caring shepherd and a dependable guide. The shepherd's cross on the stole helps us imagine Jesus as a shepherd, guiding us and looking after us. Additionally on the banner, the sun: the life giving force, is symbolic of Christ, the moon reminds us of the passage of time, the rainbows: a symbol of God's faithfulness, and the river calls to mind Christ's referenece to living water in John 4:10.

Our faith community has a partnership with a similar community in Malawi, Africa. We exchange missionary visits to learn and grow from each other. The people of Malawi are some of the most cheerful, positive outlooking I have ever met. Carrot Top Studio hopes that these pieces of fiber art will be a reminder to our friends that we are the church together..."so that we may be mutually encouraged by each others faith" (Rom. 1:12).

Inspiration

I've just returned from New York City where I had the extra special, opportunity of seeing The Lion King on Broadway. My seat was at the back of the theatre, but it was still a great seat. This location caused me to reflect upon how we can't think of our worship spaces from just one up close "good" seat. How do you make the visual important from every angle of the congregation? In this photo from the performance the costuming demonstrates how very simple, yet dramatic color combinations can be one way to make a visual stand out. Conversly there are many times you don't want to call attention to a visual...you just want it to enhance an entire service. The patterns on the stage in this photo are an example of how the visual can be a supporting element in what we do in our worship spaces. When Carrot Top Studio works on a banner commission I always sit in many different seats within the worship space prior to confirming the plan for banners. It's an interesting task....give it a try!

Lessons from the Raspberry Patch

As an artist I tend to be a visual leraner (go figure!). Connections are made at times that I sometimes don't expect. Last night I was in my small raspberry patch enjoying the luscious, ripe fruit. We have never had such a bountiful crop of extremly large berries. What is different this year to produce such a wonderful harvest? Is it the water, the soil, the light, or did I actually remember to do the tedious chore of pruning the prickly branches last fall? While munching and collecting berries John 15:2 came to mind. It says: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. As a gardner and as a Christian I have learned that even fruitful branches need pruning. So this week I am thankful for the visual of the raspberry bushes that have reminded me that the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. So I look inward to see what I need to prune from my life today (I'm afraid there is always much to choose from)...and hopefully this fall I will remember to prune the raspberry bushes also!

A detail...

...of what we're working on. Can you predict the scripture this goes with?

What I'm Reading....

...Art in Service of the Sacred by Catherine Kapikian. Kapikian is the director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary and I have long been an admirer of her work. A DVD is included in the book with wonderful visuals to use while reading the text.

The book jacket promotes this wonderful work with this: "Art in Service of the Sacred encourages congregations to take seriously the role of visual art in worship and in the broader life of the church. This rich resource explores the dynamics between art, artist, and the church. It proclaims the power of art when used as art, reclaims the presence of religious symbols in worship, asserts the importance of the aesthetic dimensions of ecclesial space, and recovers the role of visual art to engage our senses and imaginations as we seek to encounter God in our lives."

I couldn't put this book down when it arrived and have gone back through it with several times sense. It is recommended as a vital resource for the artist/church relationship. Enjoy!

It's Good to Be Green!

In my youth and then through my own children I've watched my fair share of Sesame Street and recall that Kermit the frog didn't think it was very easy being green. If you don't remember this moment you can watch it here. Carrot Top Studio loves celebrating green during Ordinary Time and thinks it's very easy to be green! Green has traditionally been associated with new life and growth. Even in Hebrew in the Old Testament, the same word for the color “green” also means “young.” In Christian tradition, green has come to symbolize the life of the church following Pentecost, as well as symbolizing the hope of new life in the resurrection. The palette is inspired by the many greens God has gifted us with. But, Ordinary Time certainly does not need to be "ordinary," and is not meant to mean that somehow we get a break from the Liturgical Year. The opposite is true: Ordinary Time celebrates "the mystery of Christ in all its aspects." Our website has new stoles in many categories including Baptism, Ordinary Time, and the "even more stoles" category. Additionally if you like a bargain, you can try to win one of our stoles on eBay by looking here!

Resurrection Symbols

I grow garlic in my garden. It is a really fun plant to watch transform...first the appearance of the long skinny green leaves shooting into the air from the bulbs that are hidden under ground where they have laid dormant for so many months, then the long snake like stem with a bud wrapped tightly at the end. When it's time for the bud to open we wtach it transform throughout the day as the tissue paper like wrapping splits open and the bloom opens up.

This reminds me of other Resurrection symbols. I think of the transformation a butterfly goes through before it emerges, the lily likewise emerging from a seemingly dead bulb (grave), and the pomegranate whose seeds bursting forth are likened to Christ bursting forth from the tomb on Easter.

How does your garden grow?

Planning for New Banners

Today it was great fun to attend a meeting for a prospective banner commission. Beginning a new commission is always exciting...the ideas are brainstormed, the goals are set, and the creativity starts to churn as you try to meet the needs of the physical space in combination of integrating art that enhances but doesn't distract from worship. This meeting had some extra bright spots. First, I don't usually get to meet my clients face-to-face. Most work is done via email with an occassional phone call. Secondly, it was delightful to learn some of the history of this sanctuary. For example, the main stained glass window was actually taken from another church building that was no longer going to have a congregation and was installed when this sanctuary was built. I think this is a lovely symbol of the Church continuing--just in another location. Lastly, this group was particularly open to new ideas. Ideas were flying...long skinny banners instead of wide ones, flags with symbols telling the story of the church hung the length of the nave, painting of the walls (and ceiling!), and processing with the worship banners on the first Sunday that they were to be used. What is working for your worship space visually? What do you dream of adding to your worship space. Try this: take a photograph of your worship space and study it. Sometimes you'll see and think of things in a different observational mode with this technique. Dream, think, pray, plan, and search for those in your community that have the gifts to meet your needs!

The photo in this post is of a commission that took much prayer, planning, and time to execute so it would be ready for Advent 2007. And the commission all began with a vision of doing something a little different from whta had been done prior in this congregation!

Three Rivers Arts Festival

For me, it's always good to be amongst artists. This year's trek to the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA provided an interesting bit of installation art at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Trinity Episcopal is by itself a grand space that allows you to realize it is sacred. Artists Jeffrey Mongrain and Nicholas Kripal created several pieces that are a response to the site itself. "Our work involves creating ceramic pieces that respond to the history, congregation and architectural iconography of the church," Kripal says. Read more in the Post Gazette article here. If you're anywhere in the area Sunday is the last day....open 7-1:30.

Pittsburgh, like many cities, has wonderful old churches that reflect the culture, history and faith of the community. If you can't get to Trinity Cathedral tomorrow, but are in Pittsburgh another time you might be interested in a Pittsburgh. Learn more about the Pious Pittsburgh tour here.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Last night I had the fun opportunity of teaching an art class at my home church to 23 second through fifth graders. It's always energizing to step back to my professional roots of art education. The group was creating art that will be used in an exhibit in our church art gallery. Guess who's the curator of the gallery? ME! The gallery has the mission statement of "...to encourage artists, individuals, and the congregation to engage the visual arts in the spiritual life of the church. Westminster Presbyterian Church values the significance of visual imagery in spiritual formation and the development of faith." To me this includes the artistic gifts of the children in our community so, the children will display their art work during the month of July. I got a warm feeling when one of the little girls in the class showed me her work (shown) that was in response to Joshua 1:9-"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Before creating our art we discussed all of the places that God would be with us. This creative group came up with a wide variety of ideas including at the amusement park, to in the middle of a tornado, to while I'm at school. I particularly enjoyed this picture of God is With Me at Church. We get a glimpse of church inside and we can see church outside...a great example of the fact that the church is not the building. And, don't miss the fun detail on the left hand side of the congregants doing cartwheels! This art reflects the joy of God being with us at church seen through the wise eyes of a nine year old.

Devotion

I came across the following from the Rule of St. Benedict (AD 480-547).

Let us consider, then, how we ought to

behave in the presence of God and his
angels and let us stand to sing the
psalms in such a way that our minds

in harmony with our voices.

These thoughts on coming together for worship make me think of Psalm 63 illustrated here by Magrit Prigge an artist residing in South Africa.

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

You might think about these questions while examining this art:

• What might this artwork's purpose be?
• Do I recognize any images? If so, what?
• What kind of lines do I see?
• What kind of movement do they suggest?
• Are there any visual metaphors in the artwork?
• Does each visual metaphor look like something in or outside of the artwork?
• What does this art mean to me?

On My Travel List

I'm a list maker. I'm afraid I go well beyond the "what to buy at the grocery store" list. I have lists of books I want to read, movies I'd like to watch, things my children should pursue this summer, gift ideas, ways that I might fund my children's college educations, vines to try, etc. etc. I love to travel. For the time being most of my travel is in my dreams....so I keep a list of all those places I will go someday when time and funding allows. On the list is the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France. Henri Matisse used shape and color toward the end of his career to design this Chapel. I feel drawn to the simple and quiet and the photographs of this space tell me I'd love to experience it first hand.Isn't it wonderful?

Thinking of simple I'd also like to share with you one of the books I'm working my way through. The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life, by Paula Huston is about the author's search for simple living modeled after the lives and writings of the great monastic saints. Using her first hand experiences she relates a variety of practical, day-to-day measures that we might apply to our lives. Yes, it was on my summer reading LIST!

Healing Meditation Banner

Carrot Top Studio is now offering a selection of small banners on our etsy site. The image to the left is our newest creation.

This 24 x 30" art quilt would be meaningful hung in a church, retreat center or the quiet spot of your home. Use it to help you focus and center your thoughts and prayers.The images remind us of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4:1-26. The jug recalls the woman seizing the opportunity to get water from the well. Jesus uses the water as a metaphor to teach the woman. It is seen on the banner horizontally and vertically. The stones disappear visually to remind us that living water through Jesus "washes away" our sin. The woman goes to the well but receives so much more!

This inspirational banner is created out of cottons in a multitude of fabrics. The symbols are all machine appliqued. It is backed with a coordination dark blue cotton broadcloth. It has a 3" hanging sleeve that runs across the back for you to run your own dowel, curtain rod, or natural branch through for hanging (see photo).

Email us to arrange a purchase ($115 + 6.00 S&H/US) of this banner jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com!

Announcement

The green stole created for our birthday celebration is no longer available at the special price as mentioned in the previous blog post. Thank you to all our clients that chimed in.

If you love a bargain, great deals are still available for our celebration on ebay. Auctions end Thursday at 9:45 EST!

It's Our Birthday!

It's been three years since I took my faith, my quilting, art quilt, painting and educational skills and combined them to create my business at Carrot Top Studio. We love every day (I'm so not kidding as my teenagers would say). It's a pleasure to offer unique, handmade stoles and worship banners to ministers, pastors, priests, churches and wedding officiants worldwide. To celebrate we're offering stoles at $3 opening bids on eBay! These special auctions will close Thursday, May 29th.

We are also offering the green stole shown on this post for $33.33 + 6.00 S&H to US clients, 10.00 S&H to Canada and 12.00 to Europe. This offer is available to the first three people that email us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com. The stole is 49" long. It is embellished with a voided cross on the chest as a reminder that we are called to preach the gospel to all corners of the world. The border fabric is a lovely batik that carries many colors of Ordinary Time. It is lined with a solid green broadcloth and is interfaced for added body. Our clients and friends are wonderful....we have greatly appreciated your support the past three years. We welcome any suggestions of how to better serve you for the next three years at Carrot Top Studio. Thank you!

Trinity Sunday

This Sunday many people will celebrate Trinity Sunday. It commemorates and honors not an event, but a reality: the Holy Trinity. Trinity Sunday falls on the Sunday after Pentecost. The Trinity is a mystery. By mystery the Church does not mean a riddle, but rather the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension that we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. Symbols for the Trinity include three interlocking rings, shamrocks, the Chi-Rho, and an equilateral triangle. We see these in art, worship baners, architecture, and on vestments among other places.

A prayer I like for Trinity Sunday is:

Father, who sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three Persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever. Amen

For worship, Creating God, Your Fingers Trace is a Trinity Sunday hymn with the text based on Isaiah 45:7 The auther (Jeffrey Rowthorn) uses present participles to draw our focus to a God who is still working in our world.

And how would you explain the Trinity to children? You could try using a mobius strip. Children would even love making their own!

The how to:

Cut a length of adding machine tape — about 30 inches long — for each child. Show the children how to write the words "God" and "Jesus" on their strips spaced one on each end of the same side. Then flip the strip over — so the words are face down — and upside down. Then write "Holy Spirit" in the middle. Turn one end of the strip 180 degrees and fasten the two ends together securely, taping both sides. Twist the paper once and bring the ends together so that the paper forms a continuous loop (with one twist that won’t be very obvious). Tape the ends together. Now run your fingers over the paper from the word "God" to "Jesus" and keep on going. The word, "Holy Spirit" that started on the other side of the paper, is now on the same side as God and Jesus. If you fiddle with the paper, you can shape it into a triangle — and God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can all be read. What will the children say these strips tell us about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?

Pentecost

On this Pentecost Sunday it is fitting to think visually. This oil painting on wood is titled Pentecost and is by Chris Shreve. Chris states that he uses his art as a prayer, a meditation. The story of the birth of the church is familiar to many of us. The Bible is a gift that can be read and reread with new meaning and understanding gleaned from each exposure. The story is found in Acts 2 and begins with: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Relating to the art of Mr. Shreve you might consider the following questions:

• What is this a painting of?
• Is it fancy or plain?
• Do I recognize any images?
• What kind of lines do I see? How are the lines used?
• What colors did the artist use? Are they warm or cool colors?
• What does the color remind me of, or what feeling does it give me?
• What does this artwork seem to tell me about the subject?
• If I made this artwork, how would I explain it to others?

May this art draw you closer to the season of Pentecost as we explore and examine what it means to us personally.