Previously posted February 14, 2020 — How did we become Carrot Top Studio?

Although I didn’t realize it in the moment I can now see God’s hand in setting the stage for the success of this small business. Isn’t that the way? I shouldn’t be surprised! But I do remain very grateful.

Here’s the short story:

I come from a long line of sewers and sewing cards were often in my hand as a preschooler. Do you remember those?

My mother taught me how to use a sewing machine. I think I was in second grade when I had the first experience. My dad was in the naval reserves and one summer while he was away for an extended time my mom taught me how to make a skirt I could wear. And then I was off and running!

Growing up I was drawn to (pun intended!) anything artistic. I dreamed of being an artist. Teaching was also a gift and I eventually earned a degree in art education from Penn State. Teaching in private and public preschool, early learning centers and elementary schools was a joy that carried me through my young adult years while living in Chicago and Houston.

Two children expanded our family and I stepped back from full time teaching to focus on mothering. But I am who I am and teaching remained a small activity via recreational art classes taught out of my Pittsburgh, PA home studio and I got back to sewing by taking up quilting.

Then one day the phone rang! A friend from church had the confidence to call and ask if I’d make banners for the church sanctuary. I’d never done anything like this before and I credit the Holy Spirit for giving me the nudge to agree to this big project. A year later I had completed leading a team to create banners for the entire church year calendar. AND I had loved doing so! By this time the children didn’t need my hovering as much and I wondered if I could turn banner making into a business.

The trick with banner making is that they should be scaled to fit the size and architectural needs of a particular worship space. I really hoped to have an online store to offer ready made work. One thing led to another and upon my husband’s suggestion I tried my hand at clergy stoles. They really are like miniature worship banners aren’t they?

The test market was via eBay. I had already developed the skill of selling online as I had a passion for combing estate sales for eBay-able items. Yet another example of the groundwork being laid for Carrot Top Studio success!

Eventually a website was developed. If you were one of the first clients who bought off that online store I thank you for accepting and trusting the simplicity of that space!

Education has not left me bucket of tools. I feel that the stoles are educational pieces and I always enjoy writing the descriptions to explain why we’ve used the symbols that we have. Being an artist is our primary job — a childhood dream come true! Occasionally we still find ourselves in a classroom type situation guiding a making activity or providing a lecture about visual connection in the church and that raises our blood pressure in a happy way.

For 15 years stoles have been our main product. Carrot Top Studio occasionally dabbles with other things. If you follow on Instagram you know that we are revisiting our drawing sills and applying them to all that drawing on an iPad offers. We don’t know what this might mean for down the road but we’re certainly enjoying the learning process. Stay tuned!

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