Previously posted January 29, 2019 — If you are a long time follower of Carrot Top Studio you know we love taking on unique commissions. We’ve incorporated a lot of unique things on stoles in the past. Surprisingly these have included fire trucks, pets, old shirts, and a favorite lighthouse. We love the creative challenge! Recently a congregation wanted to honor a pastor’s 40 years in ministry. He is much loved for his passion in what he does so we appliquéd a 40 on a heart that was placed inside the stole in the spot where it would rest on the pastor’s own heart.

One of the pastors and congregations passions is an annual clothing drive held for those in need. As with many of our liturgical items the color gold is incorporated to symbolize rejoicing, purity and specialness. So the gifters of the stole collected gold fabric from the clothing drive and we used it for some of the appliquéd symbols on the stole.

The most unique request was , “could we subtly incorporate something that represented this pastor’s favorite football team — the Pittsburgh Steelers? Having formerly lived in Pittsburgh and still remaining a Steelers fan this was an extra fun request. But how would the bold black and gold be incorporated? The solution was in the border symbols that illustrated the scripture Romans 8:38-39 and Matthew 6:25-34. One of the blades of grass became black and gold. How fun is that!

it was special to take on this commission and especially lovely to experience how this congregation so appreciated the ministry of this pastor.