I created the stole at left for Rev. Dr. Martin Nabor who completed his Doctor of Ministry program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. I created this stole for him to wear at his ordination ceremony when he returned home to his home in Accra, Ghana.
I used authentic Ghanaian fabrics and traditional Ghanaian symbols which I found in researching the subject. The Ghanaian people are fond of pure, saturated colors so the stole is an exuberant mix of bright solids alternating with bold patterns which are echoed in the embroidery.
Martin requested that "PC Ghana" (Presbyterian Church of Ghana) should appear somewhere on the stole in Old English lettering which I worked in gold metallic thread
The Ghanaian crosses were hand appliqued over the crazy quilt patches and finished with a bold navy blue blanket stitch. If you look closely, you will recognize rivers, eyes and other motifs in the embroidery detail.
The gorgeous wedding stole featured in the photos above was commissioned by Margaret Ross and her daughter, Katie Kinzie-Ross on the occasion of Katie's marriage to Dan Ganzer on May 5, 2012. It was presented to Rev. Dr. Jane Fahey as a special gift for officiating at their wedding at the family homestead in Kentucky. The theme for the stole is plants cited in the Bible. Each plant is carefully and accurately represented.
Reading from top to bottom on the left panel the plants are Cummin, Crown of Thorns, flax, grapes, and Galbanum. On the right panel top to bottom: Fitches, wormwood, Spikenard, wheat, frankincense and myrrh. The stole is worked on Irish linen and is backed with a fine polished cotton. The Celtic crosses at the bottom are worked with gold felt and edged with gold blanket stitch. The entire project took over 8 months to complete.
The stole above was created as a going away gift for my friend Christina Graham. Christina served as pastor to the youth at Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia before moving to California. I designed this stole with two themes in mind; the vine and the wheat representing the elements of communion and red and white roses, symbolizing the purity and sacrifice of Christ. The varied colors in the grapes are achieved with many differing shades of hand-dyed silk ribbon. The wheat is worked in silk thread as well which gives it extra luster and depth. The crosses at the bottom of each panel are worked in purple velvet and edged with gold braid. The stoles are worked on a beautiful white cotton jacquard fabric, creating a rich and beautiful interpretation; a treasured gift.
