5 Year Anniversary Celebration-DAY ONE

Our anniversary is a time
For sharing our affection;
It’s obvious that with our friends and clients we
Have quite a deep connection!


We send greetings of gratitude
And heartfelt thanks, too,
For the five years you've helped us build our business
Through everything you do.


OK...so we obviously aren't in the poetry business! But today we celebrate with a greeting card giveaway. The pictured, five handcrafted cards will be sent to a winner randomly determined twelve hours from now. To be entered in the drawing just post a comment that you'd "like to win!"

The Trinity

We will celebrate the Trinity in worship this Sunday...Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Trinity has allowed artists throughout history to make a visual interpretation based on their theological views and the culture of their day. Here's an interesting piece:

This type of representation of the Trinity-the Man of Sorrows held by God the Father with the Holy Ghost in the likeness of a dove-was widely adopted in European art around 1400 when it was customary to show particular reverence for the dead Savior. The artist is unknown but it is thought to be of Hungarian roots and might have been part of a triptych or diptych. Exploring and examining a piece of art can enhance our feelings and draw us closer to our beliefs. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What title would you give this work of art?
• What kind of lines do you see (straight, curved, etc.)? Why do you think the artist used these? Does this suggest a kind of movement?
• Is there a light source? What type of colors were used? What kind of feeling does this give you?
• Are the images painted expressively or realistically?
• Does the craftsmanship (whether it is highly crafted or sloppy in appearance) contribute to or detract from your experience looking at this art?
• What is the story the artist is trying to tell?

Inspiration

I believe we're all creative and use creativity in our daily lives. Weren't you creative when you explained to your children why they couldn't watch a movie at 9:00 p.m. on a school night, when you last had a job interview and had to apply your experience to the interviewers questions or when you had to problem solve during a church committee meeting on how your members could be encouraged to be more invitational? Creativity does not escape many aspects of our lives.

Running a design studio I look forward to creative moments. This might be in the way that we market our work, how to answer a client that needs a Christmas stole overnighted to them because they forgot that Christmas happened on December 25th, or by finding design inspiration in daily occurrences. Here are a few of our past studio projects and the story behind how we were "creatively" inspired.

Both of my parents grew up in Kansas and I have vivid memories of driving to my grandparents house past splendid fields of sunflowers. Maybe this is why I have always been fond of this plant. When I read that sunflowers are symbolic of adoration because of the way they turn their heads to the sun and that some people use this as a play on words as a symbol of turning their head to the "son" I knew I needed to create a stole with sunflowers on it.

One summer my home congregation's Vacation Bible School had a theme of the gifts of the Spirit. The curriculum had messages that spoke to me and this stole design came from that dynamic time of music, craft, recreation and Bible study centered on Isaiah 11:2--

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— 

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, 

the Spirit of counsel and of power, 

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD

This stole is currently available in our ordination collection here.

We worked with a client that introduced us to African symbols known as adinkra that are ever-present in Ghana. The symbols represent popular proverbs. They do not stem from Christianity but we were inspired by the heart symbol used in this culture that represents patience and tolerance and the circle that means greatness and leadership. Combined these symbols seemed a perfect inspiration for an Advent stole. 

I often also find motivation in church architecture and in bookstores. For example, when I see an anchor cross in a worship space I feel inspiration from this symbol/reminder of hope. One afternoon while having a creative stumbling block I headed to my local bookstore to hang out in the stacks. There I came across a wonderful book that documented and described the history of different cross symbols. We have used that reference to create many different versions of a stole that represents crosses of different cultures. This is one is in our current collection here (and it includes an anchor cross!)  

In conclusion I'll share what Alice Bass writes about creativity--"God is around us, above us and in us. When we explore our creativity in him, he is not shocked by our huge ideas. Our giant dreams shatter only our own puny agendas and the glass minds of those around us. We are safe in him." Through Carrot Top Studio I am thankful for the clients that support our creative endeavors. May we all all continue be open to using our inspiration and creativity because it has the potential to  lead to great things someday...as prescribed in Isaiah 43:19....See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up' do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  

Thy Mystery Continues

At Christmas time Christians celebrate the mystery of God becoming man through the virgin birth. As the Church year calendar rolls on we have recalled the mystery of Christ's death on the cross and this Sunday many of us will focus on His Ascension. Then on to Pentecost. Pentecost has always appealed to me. Probably because the story draws wonderful images and wonderments in my mind. I imagine what it would have been like the day the church was born to experience the violent wind, to see the tongues of fire and react to so many people speaking in so many different languages.


I recently read of a group of worshipers that read the Pentecost story from Acts in unison. Then a group of parishioners stepped forward and read in unison from each of their different mother tongues. Wouldn't this be a lovely demonstration of the Spirit being given to all for the common good. We are one body.


My congregation traditionally celebrates Pentecost Sunday by encouraging everyone to wear red to symbolize the Holy Spirit. We often share a birthday cake and fellowship after worship. Trying to keep things visually stimulating we've also had years that have included banners made of streamers that the wind danced through, balloon launches with spiritual messages attached to the strings so the Word can be spread far and wide, eating red foods (like strawberries that are delicious at this time of the year in Pennsylvania) and inviting another congregation to worship with us. Some of this seems trivial but it does typically stir something in our marginally stoic congregation that reminds me of the hope the Spirit gives us. It is the hope of renewal of purpose and mission. 


May we work toward carrying this hope beyond Pentecost Sunday!


To add to the "visual" message on Pentecost Sunday, Carrot Top Studio offers a variety of red stoles. See our collection here.

Wisdom

I've been think about words of wisdom lately. This is partly because I've been reading a Henry Nouwen book from the 1970's. If the copyright wasn't in the book cover you'd never know that the original text was that old. In With Open Hands, Nouwen has written about prayer based on scripture. The categories of silence, acceptance, hope, and compassion are giving me much wisdom to reflect on. 

Secondly, my oldest child will graduate from high school next month. Knowing the graduation ceremony is ahead of us I've tried to recall my own high school graduation. What were the words of wisdom that were laid upon me that day? Sadly I have no idea. My son has already many choices in life that are wiser than what I did at his age. I am thankful for his 18 year old version of wisdom.

Thirdly, a bird has built a new nest inside an old nest on top of our studio back door. I wonder if this is wisdom from the aviary world--kind of a reduce/reuse/recycle mentality? Or maybe this robin is wise simply because this is a proven, safe and secure spot to bring new life into the world.

All of this led me to the new limited edition green stole we're working on. As you can see the lower fabric is a beautiful floral design accented with an outline of gold. The flowers struck me as a fitting motif for Ordinary Time because we focus our energies on Christian growth. So what to use as the symbol on the upper portion became the question. We've decided to use the Christian "fish", the symbol of the first believers. The fish outline was a wise symbol for the early Christian church to adopt. Not only was fish a common food of the day, it was also used by Jesus during His ministry. It is a very simple shape to draw - just two curved strokes. It could be drawn quickly, and erased just as quickly if there was no sign of recognition on the part of the stranger when a Christian was trying to determine alliance. For the early Christians their choice to follow Jesus might have been dangerous. This stole's design can be a visual reminder that we are called to follow regardless of our life circumstances. Maybe it will make others wonder what that is really to mean as they make daily choices. We'll be adding a cross to this stole and then look forward to offering it on our website with several other options for Ordinary Time.


I am not always "wise" but am grateful to be surrounded by examples such as these that I can strive for.

World Labyrinth Day-May 1st

May 1st is world labyrinth day. The labyrinth society describes this occasion as:  a day that brings people from all over the planet together in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol, a tool, a passion or a practice.  This can be a day to inform and educate the public, host walks, build permanent and/or temporary labyrinths, make labyrinth art or more.


Carrot Top Studio is pleased to offer a line of stoles for labyrinth leaders and lovers. We offer short and full length and a variety of color options. Our stoles are created in limited editions, so check our inventory often because it changes frequently! Our current collection can be found here.

Earth Day Musings

Another Earth Day celebration is upon us. A day to pause and honor the creator by thinking about some of the choices we make regarding this planet. I've had a couple of high and low 'earth day type' moments recently. Several weeks ago my son and I ventured to Philadelphia for a weekend. We were both impressed by the rain collection barrels sitting in the backyard of a college housing system my son was visiting. It was a nice sign that the school was as eco-friendly as they claim to be. A down moment was the landscape designer who I had visit my home for a consultation. She suggested I just needed to throw all my plants away (they weren't any good!) and start over. How wasteful is that notion? But another up moment was hearing my daughter recount with pride that she'd gotten the hosts of a sports team pasta dinner to recycle all of their disposable drink containers. She was one of the last to leave the table and was exasperated that her teammates had just left all of their items for the trash. Nice to know our at home habits are going with her out into the world.


With all of these musing we can't ignore the fact that when Carrot Top Studio thinks green we see the color green in our stoles! Our eBay auctions that begin tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST will all be the color green! The one of a kind prototype pictured in this post will be one of them. We're trying a new fabric collage technique and thoroughly enjoyed combining different fabrics, stenciling of the word "peace" in four different languages, and embellishing with textured fibers and bits of sheer fabric. We look forward to shipping this off after the winning bid is placed in one week. We also offer eco-friendly stoles on our website whenever possible....reclaiming and reusing fabrics and by using fibers such as bamboo. You can see an example here with our white labyrinth stole made from a tone on tone bamboo fabric.


There are so many ways to 'plant' our focus on Earth Day. Regardless of how we do it I hope we do it out of respect to the Word. Our foundation for this Earth Day celebration should be the story of God's creating the heavens and the earth and of God's loving care in redeeming a fallen people and reinstate creation to its unspoiled beauty so that it can once again adore the Creator. May we go about honoring that!

Love Is In the Air

We're approaching the time of year when many weddings occur. It's made me pull out my wedding photos (wow did we look young 24 years ago!) and go down memory lane. I also dusted off The Four Loves of a Successful Marriage that our pastor gave us. It is based on C.S. Lewis' Four Loves and is great to revisit every few years because marriage takes work!


When I got married I of course got caught up in the meaning of the symbols...why does a bride wear white, why use a veil,  why a wedding ring, why the bride and groom feed each other cake at the reception and so on and so on. Even though I love visual symbols still today (that's one reason why our Carrot Top Studio is a fun business) I do firmly believe these are just outward symbols of what is more importantly happening on the inside. I was thrilled to see that my local newspaper ran a letter in an advice column yesterday from a future bride that was miserable working very long days in order to save 10,000 dollars for her wedding. I was pleased to see that the responding advice was hope that the bride would invest this much time and energy in her marriage because for the long run that was more important.


This week as we think of weddings we offer several wedding minister and officiant stoles at bargain prices on eBay!

The Quiet Center

Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter,
Find the frame where we are freed;
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
Clear our eyes, that we may see
All the things that really matter
Be at peace and simply be.
--"Come Find the Quiet Center" Shirley Erena Murray



Last week we continued our tradition of closing the studio for Holy Week. This year that meant traveling to a place on a beach to sit and watch the rhythm of the waves and tides, a time to ponder and recall the events of Holy Week, and moments of worshiping with Christians that we've never met before. These are all things I cherish and am thankful for. It was very fitting that through our travels we stumbled upon the above sign one day. How many places actually require you to go so slowly? 


We know closing the studio may prevent some of our clients from being able to acquire the stoles that they need. We are sorry if this was an inconvenience but we are grateful for the time that allowed us to find the quiet center as the words from Ms. Murray's hymn remind us of. 


We are rested and ready to be designing, stitching and serving again. Through the joy of the Resurrection we now look forward to celebrating the church's birthday...stay tuned for new Pentecost designs!

The Seven Last Words-conclusion

Georgia O'Keefe, Black Cross

May the Spirit of Christ be with you, may His faith and trust abide within you, and may the knowledge of his love support you both now and forevermore. Amen

The Seven Last Words-The Seventh Word

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. (Luke 23: 44-49)

Matthias Grunewald, Isenheimer Altar

The Isenheimer Alter executed for a hospital chapel in the French Provence of Alsace.

Lucas Cranach the Younger (an alterpiece)

Look carefully at this painting. You might discover that the most prominent of the figures gathered at the foot of the cross is Martin Luther. Just as Luther, Christ and others are made contemporary to us by the word and sacraments.

William Johnson, Mount Calvary

Artists often paint reflecting the community they are in. For example, Florentine artists painted Italians at the foot of Christ's cross. Here Johnson depicts his African American community as the Biblical figures.

Edvard Munch, Golgotha

Munch paints death as transforming of not only Christ but also the onlookers at the foot of the cross, whose faces seem as least as skeletal and spectral as his. He was painting in 1900 when many were seeking scientific answers such as Darwinism and others were taking secular approaches to traditional religious motifs. Munch has chosen to paint this anguished scene in a modern rural setting to help us relate the story to our daily life.

The Seven Last Words-The Sixth Word

When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished", and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Graham Sutherland, The Crucifixion

Artist Graham Sutherland uses his art as an avenue for visual metaphor. He painted this in 1946 and relates the subject matter to the terrible destruction Europe suffered in the Second World War.

Stephen Frost, Crucifix with Antlers

This illustration was painted by Stephen Frost who is an ordained Catholic priest. He has a vast, diversified education that includes time spend studying with the Dalai Lama. Think back to the art of Friedrich, The Cross in the Mountains. Stephen Frost also is his own way is bringing the natural world into solidarity with the death of Jesus. He orchestrates this by placing the antlers of a deer on the image of the crucified Jesus.

Diego Valazquez, Christ on the Cross

And he bowed his head-in this moment we relive through other scripture, times that Jesus bowed his head...in private prayer, in attention to a small unnoticed detail, in consideration of what lay before him, in public worship and in teaching. All this was a foreshadowing of this final bowing of his head.

The Seven Last Words-The Fifth Word

After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst," A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. (John 19: 28-29)

Horace Pippin, The Crucifixion

This is the Crucifixion by Pennsylvania artist, Horace Pippin. Pippin was a self taught folk artist.

Caspar David Friedrich, The Cross in the Mountains

In contrast to Pippin's work, Friedrich painted in the romantic style of the 19th century. The highlight of this period is bringing together man and nature. Here the artist makes Christ the one reconciling man and nature, bringing together the conscious and unconscious.

The Seven Last Words-The Fourth Word

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabachtha'ni?" That is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

Marc Chagall, Yellow Crucifixion of 1943

In 1943 Marc Chagall was inspired to paint and emphasize Jesus the Rabbi living as a Jew, and dying as Jew. Even while dying on the cross he recited words from the Jewish scriptures. Chagall has painted a world that is about to know the horror of Auschwitz, he accentuates the Jewishness of Jesus in life and in death. Jesus wears a leather pouch containing scrolls with passages of scripture on his head as a devout Jew would. He has prayer straps on his arm, and at his right hand is the scroll of the Torah.

Why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus was not questioning God; he was quoting Psalm 22, a deep expression of anguish he felt when he took on the sins of the world, which caused him to be separated from his Father. 

Antonella da Messina, Christ at the Pillory

From the 6th hour to the 9th hour, noon to three of this day darkness fell over the land. Three hours of mounting physical anguish and now absolute moral and spiritual darkness. Da Messina paints with luminous color applied in a new technique of his time called 'oil painting.' Because of his new found technique with oil paint he was able to achieve the feeling seen in this painting. He introduced oil painting into 15th century Venetian art. His ability to build form with color instead of line and shade would prove to be inspiring to artists for many generations to come.


My God, My God, why hast though forsaken me?" There is no statement to rival this one from Jesus in all the Gospels!

The Seven Last Words-The Third Word

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19: 25b-27)


Even while dying on the cross, Jesus was concerned about his family. He instructed John to care for Mary, Jesus' mother.

Carmen Lomas Garza, Tamalada

Carmen Lomas Garza is a Mexican American artist. She prides herself in painting celebrations of everyday life in the Chicano culture. Here we have a glimpse of a family preparing Tamales-taking care of the family. This also provides an image of the Last Super--finding reflection in the activity of the family.

Faith Ringgold, Church Picnic

Born in Harlem in the 1950's, Faith Ringgold transforms her childhood memories into her art. Here the quilt maker and artist has painted on fabric. She tells the story of a church picnic. Like the story of Lent and Easter it is a story of hope. It is the story of our greater family.

Our families are precious gifts from God, and we should value and care for them under all circumstances. Neither Christian work nor key responsibility in any job or position excuses us from caring for our families. What can you do today to show your love to your family?

The Seven Last Words-The Second Word

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him, "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence. We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23: 39-43)


Luke writes of a strong, gracious Jesus.

 The Life of Christ, Keith Haring

Keith Haring, artist of the 20th century, combines his pop figures with the style of ancient Russian icons. In this altarpiece (which is located in Grace Cathedral in San Francisco) Haring conveys his interpretation of Christ--a cross, a glowing heart, a baby nested in arms, with blessings flowing down equally on all humankind. This last work of love and resurrection was completed two weeks before Haring's death.

Man of Sorrows Between the Virgin and St. John, Nicholas Tzafuris 

This work shows the suffering and death on the cross that was at the opposite end of the earthly ministry of Christ from his baptism. Working on the island of Crete in the years following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Tzafuris adapted and perhaps "westernized" the Byzantine tradition he'd come from of showing Christ as the Man of Sorrows.

A suffering yet triumphant Jesus, forever in Paradise.

The Seven Last Words-The First Word, part two

"Father forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Charles White, The Prophet

The rose is often used a s a symbol of perfection, and thus of God. This prophet's gaze upon the rose seems to suggest a life centered around the holy. As is said in Jeremiah 31:33, "I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people." 


Jeremiah provides the covenant of the Old Testament. The foundation of the Covenant of the New Testament is Christ. Jesus is saying Father forgive them-we know the way to the kingdom is the way of the cross.

The Seven Last Words-The First Word, part one

Can you recall the seven of our Lord's last words on the cross? These 'seven words'-brief sentences spoken by Him-give us our Savior's sacred parting instructions, messages intended not only for their few immediate listeners on the hill of Calvary, but spoken to all generations by way of Holy Scripture. Nothing that our Lord said or did is without meaning for each of us today. Despite Jesus' agony on the cross, these words do not express desperation or anger, but rather the strength of a person in full command of His faculties to the very end. These seven last phrases are abounding with that immense and far more than human love for us which was unquenchable in our Lord, even by torture and the approach of death. John exemplifies this in chapter 13, verse 1 when he says: "He loved them unto the end."


Over the next few weeks I'll share, an artistic journey from art masters, depicting Christs's last days. I hope you'll return for each post! Let us begin with the first word--

"Father , forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Two others also, who were criminals , were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23: 32-34)

John 19 tells us, when "Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the Man!" (John 19:5). With these words Pontius Pilate was referring to the figure of Jesus as the Man of Sorrows, despised and rejected. This is how artists in the Flemish town of the Bruges from the early sixteenth century have captured the scene. Other translations use the words "behold the Man!" instead of here is the man. This may also be indicating Jesus as the revelation of the mystery of the nature of humanity, the Representative Man.

Lent Meditation Banner

This is an example of a client giving us an idea for us to transform it into a small meditation banner. It measures 24 x 30". The broken cross and scattered wood are symbolic of Good Friday...the old moving to the new to come.The brown crown of thorns radiates into a gold crown as another symbol of Christ's journey to Resurrection. And last but certainly not least we see a bit of red to symbolize the blood shed for us.


Lord, may we always remember
To be kind and care.
And ever watchful
For opportunities to share.Reflecting good with all our might
Inspired by Your holy light!


We hope that this work will help heighten the people our client leads to an increased time of reflection and prayer.

Why Purple for Lent?

Purple, often a somber, dark shade, is worn during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. Purple signifies great solemnity, with connotations of both penance and royal dignity. 


Purple is associated with mourning and so seeing it helps us anticipate the memory of the pain and suffering of the crucifixion. Purple is also the colour associated with royalty because it was originally a color only the wealthiest could obtain.Jesus was clothed in purple as a sign of royalty, but also in mockery of His claim to be the promised Messiah and  heir to the throne of David.


As Christians we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, therefore purple is the perfect penitential color.

Preparing for Lent

l

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday is quickly approaching. The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of confession and doing penance. During the week before Lent, historically, Christians were expected to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season of turning to God. Growing up in the Dutch area of Pennsylvania, Shrove Tuesday was much anticipated because it was "donut day". For this sweets lover this was the best! There are many other traditions surrounding this day. The popular celebratory aspect of the day developed long before the Protestant Reformation, was associated with releasing high spirits before the somber season of Lent. From what I understand many of these of this are associated with food...like in my current hometown where people gather at churches for "pancake day" feasts. 


Preparing for this year's Lent makes me think of not a last hurrah of sugar treats but of the things that we take for granted and for the many things that we have in our lives that are not truly necessary for living. As I write we are experiencing our second major snowstorm in Pittsburgh since Saturday. Many people are without power so their homes are cold and grocery stores are reporting that staples such as milk have been sold out. I know I take my food and shelter for granted and learning of so many neighbors without has caused me to think about this. Additionally this weekend my family welcomed our oldest home from his first mission trip to Haiti. He tells us of the joy for the Lord the Haitians have and are able to express while they don't have so many of the things we consider to be necessary for living. Both of these situations are making me wonder how to approach Lent this year. Granted we will probably continue my childhood tradition of having donuts on Shrove Tuesday, but I will also be thinking of how to approach the mystery of Lent. How do we experience this season properly so we are prepared for the joy of transformation from dying and rising, the joy of Easter?


*Carrot Top Studio stoles for Lent can be found here. It's not too late to order--we ship Priority mail (2-3 business days).

Lord's Prayer Banners

It's good not to neglect my background as a teacher so I always enjoy jumping back into the classroom for brief stints. Last night our church started a four week workshop for third and fourth grade students that focuses on the Lord's Prayer. Each night the children will rotate through a lesson on prayer, a drama station, and the art room. In the art room we're making worship banners! The goal is to have a different color represent each phrase of the Lord's prayer. So the children broke into small groups and brainstormed color associations. Some of their interesting comments included:

• "our Father" should be the color of silver or gold...because those are the best and that's what our Father is.
• it was also suggested that "our Father" be the entire colors of the rainbow because "God is everything."
• "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" should be light blue because being forgiven would be peaceful like this color.
• "lead us not into temptation"...several groups declared purple to be the perfect color for temptation. Interesting.
• "but deliver us from evil"....the color red was chosen as 'evil' by every one of the groups.
• "Amen"....should be bold like a bright yellow-because if you're going to say it you should mean it!

Children can be such great thinkers. I suspect that I will be learning much from their perspective as the weeks go by. 

Stay tuned for details of how the banners turn out!

*the above image in this post is from a Carrot Top Studio workshop several years ago....children focused on symbols of faith through a series of exercises and we created banners based on their insight.


Update...The banners are done! They hung in worship on Sunday and the children were so proud of their work and they made a great visual statement/connection.

What's New?

They're not really "new" but they seem to be getting "new" uses...what are we talking about? Our stole blanks!

At left is our confirmation stole blank. Of course we get excited about their use at the culmination of confirmation as a symbol in worship, but we also are also thrilled about alternative uses. One creative client ordered this short stole blank to embellish on her own. Why a short stole? She is a labyrinth leader and the length was perfect for the movement she does in her ministry. 


At right you can see or "Design-a-stole" blank that is sold with fabric markers and a set of suggestions for embellishment. Clients have used this stole in the same way people use signature quilts to capture on-site memories on a special day. Additionally one client bought this stole for an ordination service where she knew a lot of children would be in attendance. While the message during worship was being delivered she slyly took the children out of the sanctuary to embellish this stole. When it was time to ordain the candidate the stole was used as a symbol of this new pastor's ministry to children as it was placed around his neck. And a new favorite story...yesterday a client purchased this stole with the hint that she was "up to" something that had to do with the Super Bowl. Hmmmm.....now that will make for an interesting worship moment!


So we encourage you to "think outside the box" as the favorite catch phrase says. And, if you have an idea but aren't sure if it will work contact us and we'll help you problem solve!

An Excuse to Eat M & M's

For many Protestant church traditions, the season of Epiphany extends from January 6th until Ash Wednesday. We love the following visual reminder of the season because it involves chocolate!

"As you hold some M & M candies in your hand and turn them, you will see.  The M becomes a W, an E, and then a 3.  They tell the Christmas story, it’s one I’m sure you’ll know. It took place in a stable, a long, long time ago.  The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright, The M is for the Manger, where Baby Jesus slept that night. The 3 is for the Wise Men, bearing gifts, they say they came.  W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name!

So as you eat these candies, share them with a friend.  Remember the meaning of Christmas through Epiphany, it’s a Love story that never ends."

**This saying is not original to us. Author unknown.